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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-2009 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES s Thursday, June 112009 Call to Order: Chair Wasescha called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Bye, LeRoux, Liljegren and Powell; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Runk. Agenda Approval: Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 5 — 0. Approve Minutes of May 14, 2009: Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Vice Chair Bye, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 5 — 0. Department /Commission Liaison & Other Reports: None. Visitors /Public Comment: None. Public Hearings: A. McDonald's Restaurant to consider requests of Franchise Realty Interstate and McDonald's U.S.A., LLC for a drive - through Conditional Use Permit and a setback Variance related to the removal and reconstruction of McDonald's Restaurant located at 14546 60 St. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the June 4, 2009 planning report and provided an issue analysis and discussed items to the request and concluded his report with a staff recommendation, subject to the conditions noted within the report. Brief discussion ensued among the Planning Commission as to delivery times, design guidelines requirements, building location and parking arrangement. Chair Wasescha opened the hearing and invited the applicant and any visitors to speak. Dale Shimek, Area Manager for McDonalds U.S.A., LLC introduced himself and noted that the store operator was present in the audience also. Mr. Shimek addressed the conditions within the planning report and addressed questions from the Commission and discussed issues related to trash removal and enclosure, delivery times, lighting of the building and overall site, mechanical equipment screening, canopy and roofing colors, burying of overhead distribution lines along 60 St. N., canopy /building lighting, and building materials. Mr. Shimek and the store operator discussed the importance of keeping the existing freestanding sign as part of the re- constructed site in that it serves as a visual for people traveling along the Hwy. to see the location and have ample time to exit the roadway to stop there. Planning Commission Minutes June 11, 2009 Page 2 of 5 Other issues discussed by Mr. Shimek and the Planning Commission included wall signage numbers and the possibility of location two of the three proposed on the front fagade rather than all three on separate facades. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Chair Wasescha closed the public hearing and asked the Commission for comments. Commission comment was had as to the conditions as reviewed by City Planner Richards with discussion to the issues of burying the overhead power lines at 60 St. N. , accessory lighting to the building, building material colors and the freestanding sign. Commissioner Power inquired as to how long the business would be down for the reconstruction. The applicant responded that 90 days down was anticipated for the project. Commissioner Powell, seconded by Chair Wasescha, moved to recommend City Council approval of the requests subject to the conditions noted within the June 4, 2009 planning report, as amended, specifically that: The applicant shall provide a snow removal plan subject to review and approval of City staff. 2. The applicant shall provide a revised photometric and lighting plan that complies with the provisions of Section 401.15.133A of the Zoning Ordinance. All light fixtures, including those within the building and visible through the windows, shall be full cut off and compliant with the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant shall provide section drawings of the roof top units for City Council review indicating that adequate screening is provided for all mechanical equipment. 4. All noise generated from the store shall be compliant with Section 401.15.6.11 of the Zoning Ordinance. All grading, drainage, erosion control, and utility plans are subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. Storm water plans are also subject to review and approval of the applicable watershed district. 6. The applicant shall bury the overhead distribution lines along 60 Street North relative to its property. The timing of that improvement shall be coordinated with the burying of distribution lines in the area between Oakgreen and Osgood Avenues, along 60 Street North at such time as that project is undertaken either by the City or MnDOT. The applicant shall escrow sufficient funds, as specified by the City Engineer, to complete the improvement or execute an agreement with the City consenting that the City /MnDOT will complete the work and petition for the public improvement, waiving notice of public hearing and assessments, as required under Minnesota Statute 429. Planning Commission Minutes June 11, 2009 Page 3 of 5 7. The applicant shall provide a revised color for the metal canopies subject to review of the approval of the City Council. The canopy color shall be a more neutral color to match the materials found in the building. 8. The canopies, building trim, and building facade lighting shall be subject to review and approval of the City Council. 9. The Planning Commission was favorable to the building design and building materials. The applicant shall provide building material samples for City Council review. 10. The applicant shall remove the existing freestanding sign and replace it with a sign compliant with the signage requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant shall provide photos from Highway 36 of the sign for City Council review. 11. The Planning Commission recommended a variance for a total of three wall signs, one on the west facing facade and two on the north facing facade, with either the "M" or "McDonald's" being the choice of the applicant. 12. The ordinance allows two directional signs as long as they do not exceed 12 square feet. The applicant shall be allowed two directional signs at the 60 Street North entrance. 13. Outdoor lighting for the parking areas shall be turned off one hour after closing, except for approved security lighting. 14. The landscape plan shall be subject to the review and approval of the City Arborist. 15. Any additional comments or conditions of the City Council, Planning Commission, or City staff. Carried 5 — 0. B. Xcel Energy to consider request of Northern States Power d /b /a Xcel Energy for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment for construction of a fly ash transfer facility building as part of the A.S. King Plant Rehabilitation project, located at 1103 King Plant Rd. City Planner Richards reviewed the June 4, 2009 planning report and provided an issue analysis and discussed items to the request and concluded his report with a staff recommendation, subject to the conditions noted within the report. Chair Wasescha invited Commission discussion. There being none Chair Wasescha opened the hearing and invited the applicant and any visitors to speak. Planning Commission Minutes June 11, 2009 Page 4 of 5 Manny Castillo of Xcel Energy's Environmental Services division addressed the Commission and noted that the request is part of the pollution reduction methods process implemented at the A.S. King plant as part of the M.E. R. P. project. He explained the dewatering process and noted that the water used would be re- routed back through the plant for use and that the transfer facility building would make the process more manageable and also allow for a storage area for other acids they use. Mr. Castillo provided photos of other sites using the process. Making himself available for questions, Mr. Castillo noted the present of Project Manger, Tom Donahue and John Wertish of Xcel Energy in the audience. Commission discussion ensued with Mr. Castillo, wherein he noted that MN legislation has halted all new landfills within the State, that the dewatering process makes the ash easier to transfer to the Moelter Fly Ash landfill site and that MN rules does not permit any liquid material to be placed to a landfill. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Chair Wasescha closed the public hearing and asked the Commission for comments. It was noted that the request seemed pretty straight forward and clear. City Administrator Johnson noted that as part of the M.E.R.P. compliance, sometime in July or later this year the sites lighting will be inspected for compliance. Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to recommend City Council approval of the request, subject to the conditions noted within the June 4, 2009 planning report, specifically that: 1. Any freestanding or building lighting shall be in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and subject to review and approval of City staff. 2. Any grading and drainage plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer and applicable watershed district. 3. The City will not require conformance with the Design Guidelines for the project. 4. The plans are subject to review and approval of the Department of Natural Resources and any other state or federal regulating agency, if applicable. Carried 5 — 0. New Business: None. Old Business: None. Planning Commission Minutes June 11, 2009 Page 5 of 5 Informational: A. Upcoming Planning Commission Meetings: July 9, 2009 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) August 13, 2009 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) September 10, 2009 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) B. Council Representative June — Commissioner LeRoux July — Commissioner Powell August — Commissioner Liljegren Adjournment: Commissioner Powell, seconded by Vice Chair Bye, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:32 p.m. Carried 5 — 0. Respectfully submitted, Jul A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: 08- 13 -09.