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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-10-2009 Minutess CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES ' Thursday, September 10 2009 Call to Order: Chair Wasescha called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Bye, LeRoux and Liljegren; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Runk. Absent: Commissioner Powell. Agenda Approval: Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 4 — 0. Approve Minutes of August 13, 2009: Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Chair Wasescha, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 4 — 0. Department /Commission Liaison & Other Reports: None. Visitors /Public Comment: None. Public Hearings: None. New Business: A. Potential Property Acquisition City Planner Richards reviewed his memo regarding the potential purchase of land west of Stillwater Motors and owned by them for future use in situation a well and water tower. Richards noted that Minnesota Statutes requires that the Planning Commission review the potential purchase in relation to the City Comprehensive plan and report on any issues they find related to the potential purchase and proposed use. Richards noted that the area is designated as highway business /warehouse in the Comprehensive Plan, wherein utility structures and uses are regarded as reasonable and that the property is zoned B -3, Highway Business and Warehouse which does allow for government and public utility buildings and structures as a permitted use. Discussion ensued as to the need for a well and /or water tower, service capacity issues, future planning perspective, historical use of the property, location of Xcel Energy transmission lines and how such a purchase is funded. Chair Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to support the City Council in the purchase of the property for utility purposes and that it is in compliance with the Comprehensive Plan. Carried 4 — 0. At this point in time of the meeting, Chair Wasescha noted that the Commission would be moving onto the item B. Sign Regulations /Special Events & Destination Retail Highway District under Old Business. Planning Commission Minutes September 10, 2009 Page 2 of 3 Old Business: B. Sign Regulations /Special Events and Destination Retail Highway District City Administrator Johnson noted that this matter had been discussed at the August Planning Commission meeting, wherein the Commission directed that more information pertaining to the request of Stillwater Motors for changes to Ordinance 401.15 as it relates to sign regulations and special events in the Destination Retail Highway District. Johnson noted that he met with D.J. Raduenz of Stillwater Motors regarding his request and discussed his findings with the Commission as outlined in his memo to them and made part of their meeting packet. Johnson acknowledged the presence of Mr. Raduenz in the audience and invited him to clarify his request also. Johnson stated that the request generally seeks a greater number of events and event days per calendar year in order to accommodate promotional events such as those directed by his corporate partners and those local promotional events such as community oriented car shows. Such events could be classified differently, defining a Sales Event as a promotional type event and a Special Event as a local business oriented event or advertisement. Johnson clarified that the City generally may not regulate signage content and added that it also does not have the ability to delineate between types of sale events. City Planner Richards suggested that the Commission may wish to look at limiting such a change to the Destination Retail Highway District specifically, which would encompass all the businesses within that specific district. Richards noted that some language could be created to broaden the existing language to be more generous for promotional events that are mandated of local businesses by their corporate or national partners. Chair Wasescha clarified that the focus of the discussion is on the number of events and number of event days versus the language in place for what items may be used for a special event. Mr. Raduenz stated that he desired to have the length of time expanded for sales events and described the typical requirements of one of his national partners, General Motors for quarterly events that result in the dealership syncing with their national advertisement campaigns and having an active appearance of involvement. Commission Liaison Abrahamson inquired as to the possibility of exempting specific types of events, such as auto sales from the ordinance requirement. Discussion ensued as to the exemption possibility, ordinance amendment specific to a district, type of promotional schedules and events, nature and number of devices used for promotional events, event numbers, event durations and how an ordinance amendment would be managed enforcement wise. Chair Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren moved to have City Planner Richards draft proposed text for an ordinance amendment based on discussion held and to schedule a public hearing for the amendment for October 8, 2009. Carried 4 — 0. Planning Commission Minutes September 10, 2009 Page 3 of 3 Adjourn to Worksession: Chair Wasescha adjourned the regular meeting to a worksession, wherein the Commission would be discussing Design Guideline. Reconvene Regular Meeting: Chair Wasescha reconvened the regular meeting of the September 10, 2009 Planning Commission at 8:20 p.m. and continued with the Item A. under Old Business. A. Design Guidelines: Chair Wasescha stated that the Commission, during their worksession, reviewed comparable examples for inclusion to the City of Oak Park Heights Design Guideline standards, adding that they were pleased with the material assembled by City Planner Richards. Wasescha directed that City Planner Richards continue refinement of an updated Design Guidelines document based on shared discussion and return to the Planning Commission for continued discussion at their next meeting. Informational: A. Uocoming Planning Commission Meetings: October 8, 2009 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) November 12, 2009 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) December 10, 2009 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) January 14, 2010 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers) B. Council Representative October — Chair Wasescha November —Commissioner LeRoux December — Commissioner Powell January ' 10 — Commissioner Liljegren Adjournment: Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Bye, moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Carried 4 — 0. Respectfully submitted, Jy re A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: October 8, 2009.