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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-13-2005 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS ,. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, October 13, 2005 Call To Order: Chair Runk called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Caspers, Dwyer, Liljegren and Wasescha. City Planner Richards, City Administrator Johnson and Commission Liaison McComber. Approval of Agenda: Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to approve the Agenda, as presented. Carried 5 -0. Approve Minutes of September 27,2005: Commissioner Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 5 -0. Department /Commission Liaison Reports /Other Reports: A. Commission Liaison B. St. Croix Crossing Update Commission Liaison McComber reported that the Stakeholders Group and Visual Quality Sub- committee met recently and that the bridge design is moving forwarded. It is anticipated that there will be an open house scheduled in December. 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. Kathleen MacDonald To consider a request for a 22 -foot Variance to rear -yard setback requirements, allowing an addition to an existing residential dwelling located at 5810 Olinda Ave. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the October 5, 2005 Planning Report as to the request, provided an issue analysis and recommendation for the same. Chair Runk opened the public hearing for comment. Planning Commission Minutes October 13, 2005 Page 2 of 4 Kathleen MacDonald introduced herself as the applicant and discussed the rationale for her request. She noted a physician letter supporting her request in order to construct a handicap accessible master bathroom addition, shared photos of other homes within her neighborhood as well as a letter, signed by her neighbors, supporting her request. Ms. MacDonald noted that she had discussed the staff recommended addition location with her builder and it was determined that such a location was impractical due to window placement and her gable roof style. As to the property lines, she explained that when looking into survey's they were very expensive and that she and her neighbors have been maintaining what they have assumed to be their yard in all of the time she has been in her home, which she noted as been nearly 21 years. Discussion ensued as to property ownership and potential development of vacant land to the rear of her home, property lines and surveys, existing non - conformance of applicant's home to setback requirements, location of addition, accessibility of restroom amenities, past variances granted to homes within the same neighborhood, and variance hardship criteria. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Vice Chair Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 5 -0. Commission discussion ensued as to limitations /rationale for not being able to retrofit existing bathroom or to construct addition in location that would comply with zoning ordinance, existing non - conformance, setback requirements, property line issues, precedent setting, physicians support letter, neighborhood variance history, potential use of vacant land behind applicant's property and lack of information to satisfy hardship criteria. Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Commissioner Wasescha, moved to recommend City Council denial of the request. Carried 5 -0. B. United Properties To consider requests for Variance to signage requirements for Oak Park Ponds Shopping Center, allowing additional signage to pylon sign and for Kowalski's Market, allowing additional signage to monument sign - 5801 Neal Ave. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the October 6, 2005 Planning Report as to the request, provided an issue analysis and recommendation for the same, including conditions for approval should the Planning Commission elect to forward an approval recommendation to the City Council. Chair Runk opened the public hearing for comment. Greg Dolphin - Burger King -5970 Neal Ave. N. addressed the Commission as to the request, noting that he wasn't opposed to the request but rather wanted clarification as to what was being requested for approval consideration. He noted that in 1999 he was denied a variance to signage requirements in the same area and that he would like to receive equal treatment in signage consideration. Planning Commission Minutes October 13, 2005 Page 3 of 4 Brief discussion ensued in response to his request for clarification and the circumstances of his 1999 request and the changes made to the Zoning Ordinance and signage allowances since that time. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Vice Chair Liljegren, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 5 -0. Discussion ensued as to the monument signage placement and design with applicant representative, Beth Holmgren. City Administrator Johnson noted his meeting with the sign contractor as to the signage being requested. Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Vice Chair Liljegren, moved to recommend City Council approval of the request, subject to the following conditions of the October 6, 2005 Planning Report: The area identification pylon sign shall be allowed to be increased in size to a maximum of 310 square feet and contain individual tenant identification. 2. The pylon sign shall not exceed a total height of 35 -feet. 3. Kowalski's Market shall be permitted to have up to a total of 520 square feet of wall and freestanding signage. 4. All sign panels shall be lit in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance sign provisions, including the requirement that signs with internal lighting shall include illumination of only the text and /or logo portion of the message. Carried 5 -0. New Business: None. Old Business: A. Commission Council Representation Schedule Revised schedule for review, revision and approval. Chair Runk reviewed the proposed schedule and asked if there were any changes needed to the same. There being no changes brought forward, Chair Runk asked for a motion to accept the schedule as presented. Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Vice Chair Liljegren, moved to accept the 2005 -2006 Meeting and Council Representation Schedule as presented. Carried 5 -0. Planning Commission Minutes October 13, 2005 Page 4 of 4 Informational: City Administrator Johnson noted that new Zoning Ordinances and map had been prepared for the Commission and were left at their seat for them to take with them. He noted that these are current with all recent changes made and having been approved. He asked the Commission to recycle their old materials and thanked staff and City Planner Richards for their work in getting them done. A. Next Meeting November 10, 2005 7:00 p.m. — Regular Meeting B. Council Representative October — Commissioner Runk November - Commissioner Caspers Adjournment Commissioner Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to adjourn At 8:07 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Respectfully submitted, / t Julie A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: November 10, 2005.