HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-08 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 6Aoi Oak Park He.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
• Thursday, May 8, 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; and City Planner Richards. Absent: City Administrator Rife and City
Councilmember Liaison Representative Liljegren.
II. Approval of Agenda:
Commissioner Husby, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke, moved to approve the Agenda as
presented. Carried 5-0.
III. Approval of March 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes:
Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Kremer, moved to approve the Minutes as
presented. Carried 5-0.
IV. Department/ Commission Liaison /Other Reports:
City Planner Richards reported on potential items of discussion for the June Planning
Commission meeting.
V. Visitor/ Public Comment: None.
VI. Public Hearings:
A. Nguyen Short-Term Rental/Transient Lodging CUP—5702 Penrose Ave. N: Review and
consider an application for a Conditional Use Permit to allow short-term rental/transient
lodging at 5702 Penrose Ave. N.
City Planner Richards reviewed the May 1, 2025 Planning Memorandum to the request,
noting that public comments received and were provided with the Commission meeting
packet.
Brief discussion was had as to the methodology of the property line measurements from
one transient lodging site to another.
Planning Commission Minutes
May 8,2025
Page 2 of 6
Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to open the public hearing
at 6:07 p.m. Carried 5 -0.
Chair Van Denburgh opened the public hearing and invited public comment.
Trung Nguyen—5705 Penrose Ave. N. introduced himself as the property owner, thanked
City Planner Richards for his summary, noted that he planned to operate the short-term
rental through VRBO and/or Airbnb during periods of time when he is away for work.
Mr. Nguyen responded to Commission questions regarding anticipated rental frequency and
his plan to manage the cleaning from guest periods.
There being no additional public comment, Commissioner Van Dyke, seconded by
Commissioner Husby, moved to close the public hearing at 6:11 p.m. Carried 5-0.
Commission discussion acknowledged support of the applicants' neighbors, clarified that
the CUP would stay with the property if the applicant decided to sell it. City Planner Richards
affirmed and noted that if the new owners wished to continue with the use, they would
need to apply for a Home Occupation permit and meet all the requirements to do so. If the
CUP is not utilized for a period of one year, it is no longer valid. Tracking of such use is done
through checking VRBO and Airbnb sites. Richards noted that review and site inspection as
noted in the recommended conditions typically would occur on a complaint basis.
Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke, moved to recommend
approval of the request, subject to the conditions noted within the May 1, 2025 Planning
Memorandum, specifically that:
1. The applicant shall maintain this as a Homestead property, use the property as their
principal residence, and maintain all required licensing, including a home occupation
permit from the City of Oak Park Heights.
2. There shall be a limit of three (3)transient guests per bedroom for the transient
lodging/short term rental unit.
3. Dining, if provided, and other facilities shall not be opened to the public but shall be
used exclusively by the registered guests of the facility.
4. Guests shall be directed to utilize the driveway only and not park on the street.
5. Any excessive occupant noise reported to the City and in violation of City Code shall
receive a warning on the first offense and a citation on the second. Continued citations
shall be grounds for the suspension or revocation of use permits by the City Council.
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May 8,2025
Page 3 of 6
6. All transient lodging conditional use permits may be reviewed, including site inspections,
by the Building Official at any time. Any violations of the City Ordinance, Building Code,
Fire Code, or conditions will result in the owner, at minimum, receiving a written
warning. Depending upon the nature and circumstance of the violation(s), the City
Administrator shall be authorized to schedule a public hearing of the City council to
review the conditional use permit and conditions. Upon review, the City Council may
revise or cancel the conditional use permit.
7. Any applicable lodging or room tax shall be paid by the owner of the property on an
ongoing basis, as required by State Statute, City Code and City policies and procedures.
8. All taxes owned for 2024 and 2025 shall be paid prior to the issuance of the Conditional
Use Permit.
9. Any other conditions of the Planning Commission, City Council and City Staff.
Motion Carried 5-0.
B. Hatalla Detached Garage CUP— 15117 65th St. N: Review and consider an application from
Douglas Hatalla for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a detached garage in the front yard
setback and to allow a reduction to the setback requirements at 15117 65th St. N.
City Planner Richards reviewed the May 1, 2025 Planning Memorandum to the request.
Brief discussion was had as to regulations for impervious surface and drainage
requirements, lot line setbacks regarding CUP requirement for the location of the structure
and what the standards size garage height is.
Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to open the public hearing
at 6:25 p.m. Carried 5 -0.
Chair Van Denburgh, noted public comment received from Michel Rota, who did not express
opposition to the request, but noted that it would reduce visibility at the65th and Paris and
questioned if the City had considered making the intersection a 4-way stop.
Chair Van Denburgh opened the public hearing and invited public comment.
Mimi Hasselbach—6460 Paris Ave. N. introduced herself as the next-door neighbor to the
applicant and stated she did not object to the request. She added that the garage may be a
benefit to her creating privacy and potentially causing folks to slow down and stop at the
intersection.
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May 8,2025
Page 4 of 6
Meghan Hatalla— 15117 65th St. N. introduced herself representing herself and her husband
Doug as the applicant. She discussed the rationale for their request to place a garage at their
property to provide storage for their vehicles, general and property maintenance items. She
noted that they do not feel that the garage will hamper traffic visibility but may force traffic
to stop and look, adding that they have reached out to the County for traffic slowing help,
with no success and welcomed any help with that.
Mrs. Hatalla responded to questions about garage access and maneuvering space to access,
location selection for the garage placement, and the shared driveway with Ms. Hasselbach.
Wendy Dick—606 150th St., WI introduced herself as Mrs. Hatalla's Mom and inquired about
the suggestion of the repositioning the garage and its access. Discussion ensued with the
Commission as to alternate scenarios for the location of the garage to bring it closer to
compliance.
There being no additional public comment, Commissioner Husby, seconded by
Commissioner Nelson, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 5-0.
Commission discussion was held as to the traffic on Paris and requesting the County to make
the intersection a 4-way stop,the positioning of the garage structure and its footprint.
Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Van Dyke, moved to recommend
approval of the request, subject to the conditions noted within the May 1, 2025 and asking
that the City reach out to the County regarding the intersection.
Chair Van Denburgh noted that he had not called for a motion and that discussion was still
in process. Following brief discussion as to additional comment and if another motion could
be presented, Chair Van Denburgh noted Commissioner Kremer's motion and asked for a
roll call.
Roll Call: Commissioner Kremer—Yes
Commissioner Husby—Nay
Commissioner Van Dyke—Yes
Commissioner Nelson—Nay
Commissioner Van Denburgh—Nay
Motion Failed 3-2.
Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Husby, moved to recommend approval of
the request, subject to the conditions noted within the May 1, 2025 amending them to add
that the garage be turned 90-degrees, that its size be adjusted to meet all setbacks and to
ask the City to request the County place a 4-way stop at the intersection.
Chair Van Denburgh called for discussion.
Planning Commission Minutes
May 8,2025
Page 5 of 6
Discussion was held as to the garage direction being rotated so that the garage doors should
be facing East and the busy traffic at Paris Ave. N. from 65th St. N. to 62"d St. N. City Planner
Richards clarified the amended conditions per the motion.
Chair Van Denburgh asked if there was any further discussion. Hearing none, he called for a
roll call on the motion, presented by Commissioner Nelson recommending the conditions of
the May 1, 2025 Planning Memorandum to be approved as amended, specifically that:
1. The City Engineer will review the drainage for the site.The final grading for the proposed
structure shall be subject to approval of the City Engineer.
2. Any exterior mechanical equipment associated with the garage shall be screened.
3. The exterior of the proposed garage shall be finished with siding and in a color to match
the current principal building exterior.
4. No kitchens or bathrooms shall be allowed in the proposed garage.
5. The applicant shall apply for and receive a building permit for the structure. All
applicable Building Code requirements shall be met.
6. The structure shall be turned 90 degrees and placed at the south setback line of the
property.
7. The structure shall be adjusted in size (if necessary) so that the 30-foot setback from 65th
Street, 30 feet from Paris Avenue, and the five-foot setback from the south property line
is met.
8. The City shall ask the County to consider a four-way stop at the intersection of 65th
Street and Paris Avenue, North.
Roll Call: Commissioner Kremer—Yes
Commissioner Husby—Yes
Commissioner Van Dyke—Yes
Commissioner Nelson—Yes
Commissioner Van Denburgh —yes
Motion Carried 5-0.
VII. New Business: None.
VIII. Old Business: None.
Planning Commission Minutes
May 8,2025
Page 6 of 6
IX. Informational:
X. Adjourn. Commissioner Kremer, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, moved to adjourn at 7:07
p.m. Carried 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,tsi,L,__
Juli H Itman
Buil i g Official
(Approved July 10,2025/3-0)