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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-14-2005 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, July 14, 2005 Call To Order: Chair Runk called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and welcomed new Commissioner, Valessa Caspers. Present: Commissioners Caspers and Liljegren. City Administrator Johnson, City Plamler Richards and Commission Liaison McComber. Absent: Commissioner Dwyer. Commissioner Wasescha arrived at 7:09 p.m. Approval of Agenda: Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to approve the Agenda, as presented. Carried 3 -0. Approve Minutes of June 9, 2005: Chair Runk, seconded by Vice Chair Lilj egren, moved to approve the Minutes with amendments noted by Commission Liaison McComber. Carried 3 -0. Department /Commission Liaison Reports /Other Reports: A. Commission Liaison B. St. Croix Crossing Update Commission Liaison McComber announced that a draft final copy of the St. Croix Crossing Environmental Impact Study has been received and will be one subject of discussion at the upcoming Stakeholders Committee meeting on July 19, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Stillwater City Hall. C. Other Visitors /Public Comment: There being no visitors to the meeting, Chair Runk moved to the Public Hearings portion of the Agenda. Public Hearings: A. Ron Gullickson To consider a request for Conditional Use Permit, allowing a 4 -plex residential dwelling in an R -2 zoning district, located at 5480 Stagecoach Trail, N. City Planner Richards reviewed the July 6, 2005 Plamiing Report to the request, provided an issue analysis and recommended conditions in the event the Planning Commission elected to recommend City Council approval. Discussion as to the report content and recommendations ensued between City Planner Richards and the Planning Commission. Chair Runk opened the public hearing for comment. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 2 of 8 Ron Gullicicson — 5480 Stagecoach Trail, N. introduced himself as the applicant, provided the Commission with a materials board for their review and discussed, with them, the proposed project and conditions of planning report. Commissioner Wasescha arrived at 7:09 p.m. Discussion ensued as to the conditions of the report and Mr. Gullicicson addressed questions from the Commission as to the project. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Vice Chair Lilj egren, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4 -0. Chair Runk, seconded by Vice Chair Liljegren, moved to recommend City Council approval of the request for Conditional Use Permit, subject to the amended conditions of the July 6, 2005 Planning Report, specifically: Proposed uses of additional rooms, approximate additional square footage of floor area are submitted. 2. The new addition and existing structure shall be made compliant with MN State Building Code and Standards Division per section 1306.003.E.(1), regarding fire sprinkler systems and MN Building Conservation Code per section 104 as required by the Building Official. Wall and floor plan is submitted and subject to Building Official approval. 4. Location of the expansion meets R -2 standards for setbacks. Permission must be granted from adjoining property owner to the north to construct retaining wall and driveway less than five (5) feet from the property line. 5. Expansion construction is consistent with the architecture and materials of the existing home. 6. Landscape plan is subject to City Arborist approval. Plan must include demarcation of screening /plantings in accordance with Section 401.15.E. Purchase Agreement is submitted from Xcel Energy for the parcel acquisition of seven thousand five hundred and seventy -five (7,775) square feet. Grading and drainage plan is submitted and subject to approval of the City Engineer and the Middle St. Croix Watershed District. 9. Utility plan is submitted and is subject to approval of the City Engineer and the Public Works Director. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 3 of 8 10. Construction and occupancy must be complete within nine (9) months of City Council Conditional Use Permit approval. 11. No work may commence until all real estate parcels /lots are legally joined through the City's minor subdivision process into one unified tax parcel. This process requires the submission of a Certified Survey depicting the current and final property lines and final legal description. 12. A site plan shall be submitted indicating location of at least four (4) outdoor parking spaces, in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance, subject to review and approval of City staff. Carried 4 -0. B. Stillwater Motors To consider requests for Signage Variance and Conditional Use Permit, allowing retail, service and parking expansion to Stillwater Motors, located at 5900 Stillwater Blvd. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the July 7, 2005 Plamiing Report to the request, provided an issue analysis and recommended conditions in the event the Planning Commission elected to recommend City Council approval. Chair Runk opened the public hearing for comment. Ward Sessing — Sessing Architects addressed the Commission on behalf of the applicant. Mr. Sessing provided the Commission with materials samples, a rending of the completed project proposed and made himself available for questions. Brief discussion ensued among the Mr. Sessing and the Commission as to the planning report and its conditions. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4 -0. Commission review and discussion ensued as to the planning report and its conditions. Commissioner Wasescha, seconded by, Vice Chair Liljegren, moved to recommend City Council approve the requests for Conditional Use Permit and Signage Variance, subject to the conditions of the July 7, 2005 planning report as amended, specifically: 1. The Planning Commission recommends that all parking and curbs and an updated storrnwater system be constructed and brought into compliance as part of the current building and parking expansion project. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 4 of 8 2. Revisions to the landscape plan showing shade trees along 59"' St., the frontage road to Hwy. 5, and in appropriate places around the parking area. Revision to the landscape plan shall be subject to review and approval of the City Arborist. 3. The grading, drainage and utility plans shall be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer. 4. Customer, employee and display parking shall be delineated on the site plan and all customer parking stalls shall be appropriately signed. Detailed and completely labeled building elevations shall be resubmitted to show all building materials and colors. A materials board shall be submitted for City Council review. 6. A detailed photometric plan showing the lot perimeter and street centerline foot candles shall be provided. All lighting shall be installed or retrofitted to be in compliance with the lighting standards of the Zoning Ordinance. 7. An approval of the sign variance allowing a total of ten wall signs and eliminating the two 34 square foot "showroom" signs as proposed on the building elevations. The applicant shall provide an accurate rendering of all wall signs for review and approval of the City Council. The City Council shall approve the overall number and square footage of allowable wall signage for the project. 8. The applicant shall remove the large pylon sigh at the northwest conger of the site and all checkered banners, prior to issuance of a building permit for the project improvements. 9. The materials utilized for the proposed trash enclosure shall be the same as materials used upon principal structure. 10. All automobile repair activities shall be limited to within the principal structure and the doors to the service bays shall be kept closed except when vehicles are being moved in or out of the service areas. 11. There shall be no exterior storage of automobile parts or related items on the site. All storage shall be internal to the building. Any vehicles stored outside of the building shall be in full working order. 12. All noise created from operations on this site shall be in conformance with Section 401.15.B.11 of the Zoning Ordinance. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 5 of 8 13. The outdoor paging system shall be replaced with a personal communication that is non - audible beyond its property lines. 14. Applicant shall secure and retain, if required, a Hazardous Waste Generators License from Washington County for the Stillwater Motors business operation. Carried 4 -0. C. Fox Hollow To consider requests for Planned Unit Development Amendment and Minor Subdivision, allowing construction of one office building to replace previously approved design plan for two office buildings, located south of 60 St. N. and East of Osgood Ave., N., known as Fox Hollow PUD. City Planner Richards reviewed the July 7, 2005 Planning Report to the request, noting that the request eliminates the smaller office structure and increases the larger office structure upon the formerly approved footprint. Richards provided an issue analysis and recommended conditions in the event the Planning Commission elected to recommend City Council approval. Chair Runic opened the hearing for public comment and invited the applicant to speak. Jeff Hause of J.G. Hause Construction introduced himself and stated that he had no comments as to the report and made himself available for questions. Steve Ward of Stevens Engineering along with Jeff Hause discussed questions related to landscaping, roadway travel and interaction of roadway users, parking stall design, drive aisle requirements and traffic flow directional signage and pavement markings. Kevin Grube of Grube Architects clarified signage allowance and requirements with City Planner Richards. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4 -0. Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by, Chair Runk, moved to recommend that the City Council approve the request for Planned Unit Development — General Plan Amendment approval, subject to the amended conditions of the July 7, 2005 Planning Report, specifically: The Planning Commission and City Council find that the 25 foot front yard setback for the office buildings is acceptable as part of the general plan of development approval. 2. Lot 1, Block 1 shall be merged with the adjacent lots for tax purposes and deed restrictions shall be placed upon the lot so that no construction can occur on the property in the future. The lot merger and deed restriction documents shall be subject to review and approval of the City Attorney. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 6 of 8 3. The parking lot drive aisles shall be properly signed as one -way where applicable. The parking lot signage plan shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 4. The grading and drainage plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer and applicable watershed district. 5. The utility plans are subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 6. The landscape plans, tree removal plans, and preservation plans are subject to review and approval of the City Arborist. 7. All lighting fixtures shall be in compliance with the lighting requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. 8. The proposed monument sign shall be provided with a landscaped base or planter and the signage portion of the sign must be no more than eight feet in height. 9. The Planning Commission finds that the building design is consistent with the Design Standards. 10. A development agreement amendment as required by the City Attorney, between the City and applicant, subject to review and approval of the City Attorney. 11. All conditions approved by the City Council on August 24, 2004 for the Fox Hollow development general plan of development approval. 12. All other conditions of City staff and the City Council. Carried 4 -0. D. Zoning — B -4, Limited Business District To consider a Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to replace the CBD, Central Business District Zone with B -4, Limited Business District Zone and a Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezoning of the area currently zoned CBD, Central Business District to Limited Land use and B -4, Limited Business District. City Planner Richards reviewed the July 7, 2005 Planning Report and revised B -4, Limited Business District draft, noting that the revised document reflected comments of the City Council and Planning Commission from their June 28, 2005 workshop. Richards stated that the B -4, Limited Business District is intended to replace the current CBD, Central Business. District. Chair Runk opened the public hearing for comment. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 7 of 8 Bart Montanari — 13481 60 St. N. discussed parking permitted along 60 St. N. and clarified that the proposed zoning district change would not affect the parking arrangement for his business. Brief discussion was had by Commission as to zoning area from the Eagle's Aerie 94 Club to McCormack's B -2, General Business rather than B -4, Limited Business District. Mr. Montanari thanked the Commission for their consideration along that line and indicted that it would be his preference to see his business zoned B -2. Pete Houser — 940 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls. introduced himself to the Commission as a land owner of property near Wal -Mart. He stated that his property, when purchased, was intended for a Midas Auto operation. After his purchase the area was zoned CBD, Central Business District. He discussed his attempts to have a business operation put in place and stated that he feels the larger businesses have been accommodated with their requests for rezoning and would like to receive similar consideration and would desire to see his parcel zoned B -2, General Business rather than the B -4, Limited Business District proposed. Charles Pingel - 5840 Oakgreen Ave. N. expressed concern as to increased traffic upon Oakgreen Avenue with any new development to the area and asked what was going to be done about the roadway. He stated that it is a speedway and is very dangerous as it is presently. City Administrator Johnson discussed the issues affecting any changes to the roadway and that the bottom lines falls to funding for roadway alterations and that presently the City is bound by the MnDOT process. Pat Estes — Oakgreen Ave. N. also expressed concern about the amount of traffic on Oakgreen Ave. stating that adding more traffic to the road did not make sense. He also expressed concern that his nice residential neighborhood is disappearing. He stated that the neighborhood has been kept in limbo for five years with potential development possibilities affecting them and no roadway improvements. He would like to see a decision made one way or the other for his neighborhood. Discussion ensued among the audience, Planning Commission, City Administrator and City Planner as to the number of proposals that have been around, affecting the neighborhood along Oakgreen Ave. and at Pondview Condominiums. City Administrator Johnson summarized activity to the area in the way of tax increment financing applications and if an application were to be granted by the City Council, what he understood the process of activity for the same to be. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by, Commissioner Wasescha, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 4 -0. The Planning Commission discussed sign regulations for the proposed district. Planning Commission Minutes July 14, 2005 Page 8 of 8 Commissioner Wasescha , seconded by, Vice Chair Liljegren, moved to recommend that the City Council approve the requests for Comprehensive Plan Amendment, B -4, Limited Business District draft approval, removal of the CBD, Central Business District from the Zoning Ordinance and removal of the Central Business District Design Guidelines. Carried 4 -0. New Business: None. Old Business: None. Informational: A. Next Meeting August 11, 2005 7:00 p.m. — Regular Meeting B. Council Representative July — Commissioner Dwyer August — Vice Chair Liljegren Adjournment Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to adjourn at 9:05 p.m. Carried 4 -0. Respectfully submitted, _ Julie A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: August 11, 2005. 3 -0.