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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-13 Planning Commission Meeting Minutesof Oak Park H.,, L G PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, March 13, 2025 Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance: Chair Van Denburgh called the meeting to order. Present: Commissioners Van Denburgh, Husby, Kremer, Nelson, and Van Dyke; City Administrator Rife, City Planner Richards and City Councilmember Liaison Representative Liljegren. II. Approval of Agenda: Chair Van Denburgh stated that he would like to add a conversation about the Bylaw to New Business on the Agenda. Commissioner Husby, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to approve adding Bylaws Conversation to the Agenda under New Business. Carried 5-0. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke, moved to approve the Agenda as amended. Carried 5-0. III. Approval of November 24, 2024 Meeting Minutes: Commissioner Husby, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 5-0. IV. Department / Commission Liaison / Other Reports: City Administrator Rife passed along the Mayor's message that she had surgery recently and is doing well. City Councilmember Liaison Representative Liljegren noted that he and City Administrator Rife met with the Fire Advisory Committee, which includes the City of Bayport and the Townships of West Lakeland and Baytown. Liljegren and Rife discussed activity on PFAS, noting that the City is currently within the Federal guidelines but exceed the State's health -based guidelines. Liljegren testified in front of the House Investment Committee seeking bonding funds for the design and construction of water facilities to assist in addressing the PFAS and sustaining the City's water quality. Planning Commission Minutes March 13, 2025 Page 2 of 5 Rife provided an update on the Well 3 project at Memorial Ave. N. Construction is anticipated to occur in late May, early June this year, with the well and pump house to both be completed by Summer of 2026. V. Visitor / Public Comment: None. VI. Public Hearings: A. JACC Capital Holdings LLC — 5846 Stagecoach Trail N: Review and consider an application for Conditional Use Permit for building parking for a proposed 6-unit condominium building. City Planner Richards reviewed the February 6, 2025 Planning Report, discussing previous activity to the property, changes made to the plan and noted that the request before the Commission was a conditional use permit to exceed the number of parking spaces required by City Ordinance. Brief discussion as to the changes made to the building interior to comply with density requirements and conditions within the planning report being applicable due to the nature of the request being a conditional use permit. Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Husby moved to open the public hearing at 6:21 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Chair Van Denburgh invited public comment, noting that three letters of public comment had been received; those being from Steve Paulson, Carissa Stimpfel, and Brenda Paulson. He added that each has been reviewed and will be considered as part of the public comment and will also be forwarded to the City Council. Carissa Stimpfel — 5856 Stagecoach Trail N. opposes the request. She feels that the parking remains insufficient for residents and visitors to a building of the proposed size. Her concerns for increased traffic and residential neighborhood parking remain and asks that a traffic study be required prior to any parking increase approval. Chris Grubb — 5870 Stagecoach Trail N. opposes the request. He stated that he agrees with many of the concerns expressed by Carissa. Mr. Grubb expressed his concern that the blind curve at Stagecoach is dangerous, that there would be a lack of places for construction vehicles to park should the building be constructed and his concern of density increase regardless of how the rooms in the units are shown. Julie Nottingham —5838 Stagecoach Trail N. opposes the request. She noted that she lives directly across the street and expressed that the building is too large, that 13 parking spaces would not be adequate, and parking would overflow to the neighborhood streets, where pedestrians would need to cross Stagecoach Trail to visit the building, which would be dangerous. She expressed concerns about light and noise pollution from the site, lack of Planning Commission Minutes March 13, 2025 Page 3 of 5 green space and privacy. She asked the Commission to vote no and provided her written comments to Chair Van Denburgh. Brenda Paulson — 5718 Stagecoach Trail N. noted that she had provided written comment, she opposes the request and does not feel that the parking will be adequate, adding that she lives on a narrow road and would not want to be blocked in by parking that overflowed to the neighborhood. Pam Patrick — 15365 58th 5t. N. opposes the request. She is concerned about the speed, traffic safety and parking situation. She asked if parking was permitted on Stagecoach Trail. Discussion was held as to the roadway being a County road and that there are no signs posted restricting parking on the roadway. Chair Van Denburgh suggested she discuss her concerns with parking on Stagecoach with the County as the City cannot speak to that. Shari Ahrens— Westwood Professional Services introduced herself as the civil engineer on the project, working with CJ Randazzo and that she was present to respond to questions regarding request for additional onsite parking to provide adequate parking for the residents and guests beyond the required six spaces. Commission discussion with the applicant representative was had, where it was clarified that the interior and exterior total number of parking spaces is 13 being requested. There being no additional public comment, Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to close the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. Carried 5-0. Commission discussion was held as to the request for additional parking and the feeling that the building and its parking needs cannot be separated and that the criteria for a conditional use permit were not being met. The former A-1 Maintenance building operation and poor condition building, which was demolished after roof failure, was discussed in relation to whether the proposed use will tend to depreciate the area or add value. It was noted that the project could be done without an increase in parking and that the request for the parking increase is an attempt to meet public hearing concerns expressed with regarding to parking and overflow. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to deny the request. Chair Van Denburgh asked for a roll call vote to "yes" deny the request, "nay" to not deny the request. Planning Commission Minutes March 13, 2025 Page 4 of 5 Roll Call: Commissioner Husby — Nay Commissioner Kremer — Yes Commissioner Nelson —Yes Commissioner Van Dyke —Yes Commissioner Van Denburgh —Nay Motion for denial carried 3-2. Chair Van Denburgh called for a 5-minute recess and recalled the meeting to order at 6:56 p.m. VII. New Business: A. Annual Mee�n : Commissioner Terms & Election of Officers Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to recommend City Council appoint Jennifer Van Dyke to an extended one-year appointment, culminating May 31, 2026. Carried 4-0-1, Van Dyke abstained. Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Kremer, moved to elect Commissioner Van Denburgh as Chair and Commissioner Husby as Vice -Chair to two -years terms, culminating at the Annual Meeting in 2027. Carried 3-0-2, Van Denburgh and Husby abstained. B. Review 2025 Meeting & Council Representative Schedules: Discussion was held as to whether it being necessary to have a schedule for a Planning Commission representative at the City Council meetings. Commissioner Kremer stated that when the schedule was put in place it was to have a body present and be available for questions if needed. It was noted that Commission members are always welcome at the meetings and if there is a topic that the Commission feels they should have a representative attend, which can be determined at their meeting. Commissioner Van Denburgh, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to end the prescribed Commission Liaison schedule for City Council meetings and to implement attendance designation as desired at their meetings on a topic. Carried 4-1, Kremer nay. Planning Commission Minutes March 13, 2025 Page 5 of 5 C. Bylaws: Chair Van Denburgh noted that the Bylaws need to be reviewed and updated for current policy and practices and asked the Commission for a motion to direct staff to review them for updating. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to direct staff to review the Planning Commission Bylaws for amendment and bring them back to the Planning Commission for their review and approval. D. Schedule Commissioner Interviews: City Administrator Rife updated the Commission as to no new applications have been yet received and confirmed that we will be moving forward with the recommendation for a one- year appointment for Commissioner Van Dyke. Rife advised the Commission that the application process has been updated for both Parks and Planning Commissions. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis, which will be held if there are no current vacancies at the time of receipt, for when there are future vacancies. Commissioner Kremer stated that there may be a vacancy in the future and that he plans to resign whenever there is a replacement available. There is no need to schedule interviews at this time; when applications are received, staff will communicate to the Commission and interviews will be held prior to a regular Planning Commission meeting. Vill. Old Business: None. IX. Informational: A. Upcoming Meetings: Provided meeting list receipt acknowledged. B. Council Representative: There is no longer a scheduled Council Representative; however, Chair Van Denburgh stated that it would be good to have someone present at the March 25, 2025 City Council meeting. Commissioner Kremer will attend. X. Adjourn. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to adjourn at 7:07 p.m. Carried 5-0. R ly submitted, Julie Itman Buil in Official (Approved May 8, 2025 / 5-0)