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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-2006 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, April 13, 2006 Call to Order / Approval of Agenda: Chair Runk called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Caspers and Liljegren; City Planner Richards, City Administrator Johnson and Commission Liaison Doerr. Absent: Commissioners Dwyer and Wasescha. Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to approve the Agenda, as presented. Carried 3 -0. Adjourn to Annual Meeting /Call Annual Meeting to Order: Chair Runk adjourned the regular meeting and called the annual meeting to order. Chair Runk noted that Commissioner Dwyer was ineligible for reappointment and that he also indicated that he was not seeking reappointment. Chair Runk noted that Commissioner Caspers has submitted a letter stating that she was not seeking reappointment. He noted that he was seeking reappointment by the City Council for a full term. Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to recommend the City Council reappoint Mike Runk to a fill 3 -year Planning Commission term, which would culminate in May of 2009. Carried 2 -0 -1, Commissioner Runk abstained. Chair Runk noted that the Chair and Vice Chair were elected in 2005 and since the terms were for two years, thus pending his reappointment there was no action needed at this time. Commissioner Caspers, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to close the annual meeting and reconvene the regular meeting. Carried 3 -0. Approve Minutes of March 9, 2006: Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 3 -0. Department /Commission Liaison Reports /Other Reports: A. Commission Liaison B. St. Croix Crossing Update Commission Liaison Doerr reported that the final EIS is being work on and that there is a tentative date for a June meeting. C. Other: Visitors /Public Comment: None. Planning Commission WILIWS April 13, 2006 Page 2 of 5 Public Hearings: A. Continued - Jacob Holdings of 60 t1i St. LLC Conditional Use Permit Amendment and Variance— 14738 60"' St. N. City Planner Richards reviewed his planning report of the applicants request for amended conditional use permit relative their auto sales operation. Richards noted legal letter related to timelines. Chair Runk opened the hearing for public comment and invited the applicant to speak. Bill Rambo, Hecker Automotive Project Manager addressed the Commission and addressed the conditions of the planning report and the potential security requirements based on clean up activity and the future development application for a new auto dealership at the site. There being no other visitors to the public hearing, Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Chair Runk, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 3 -0. Brief discussion ensued as to the conditions. Commissioner Liljegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers, moved to recommend City Council approval, subject to the amended timeline conditions: The applicant shall submit a development application by December 31, 2008 to the City for a new dealership building and site improvements that include the properties at 14702 60' St. N. and 14738 60"' St. N. The applicant shall be required to post a security with the development application for the total cost of the development improvements to be held until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the City for the project completion; or 2. The applicant shall complete the conditions of the conditional use permit granted for the subject property on December 9, 2003 no later than December 31, 2008. If neither of the above stated conditions is complied with, the applicant shall remove all of the vehicles from the property at 14738 60` St. N. and cease all auto dealership operations as the site no later than December 31, 2008. Carried 3 -0. B. Xcel Energy — A.S. King Plant Revisions to MPCA Permit and Amended Conditional Use Permit for changes to Final Cell Development at the A.S. King Fly Ash Disposal Facility, City Planner Richards reviewed his planning report relative proposed changes to the fill operation, adding that the MPCA had already approved the request for minor modifications to their original 1996 approval. Richards noted that the proposed changes make the fill process less intrusive to the neighbors east of the site and that the post closure access road would be moved to connect the existing cul -de -sac at 58 t1i St., N, by Cover Park Manor. Planning Commission Minutes April 13. 2006 Page 3 0l' Chair Runk opened the hearing for public comment. Ken Neumann — East Oaks Homeowner Association Board Member & Resident stated that his property is west of the fly ash site and questioned how the proposed changes would affect his neighborhood. Darrell Knutson. Project Manager — Xcel Enemy stated that a site study was completed to effectuate the changes being proposed and that they are designed to ease the impact upon the neighboring community while allowing maximum capacity for the site through its estimated life which is estimated to be roughly late 2006. He discussed what was currently permitted, how operations will be altered by their proposal and commented that Xcel Energy will do what they can to accommodate the requests of the City. Brian Jones — 15331 58 t1i St. N. stated that he felt that the proposed changes look better than the original plan and commented that he doesn't understand the condition regarding the trees since those left behind in the area where homes were removed for the bridge projcct are mainly dead. Discussion ensued as to access location, security gate placement, roadway cover materials, arborist review of trees, their placement and general care. Mr. Jones stated that he would like to receive an update as to what is happening at the site. City Administrator Johnson invited him to stop by City Hall and stated that he would be happy to go over what he knows. Commissioner Liliegren, seconded by Commissioner Caspers moved to close the public hearing. Carried 3 -0. Discussion ensued as to an alternate road path if 58` St. is not utilized and potential impacts of the roadways. General consensus was that the proposed is an improvement. Marjorie Neumann— East Oaks Resident inquired as to the long -term environmental impact of the fill placement at the site. City Planner Richards outlined the fill process, water filtration and its secondary treatment at the wastewater treatment facility. Darrell Knutson discussed evaporation and other elements of the facility's structure, its process and site monitoring. It was noted that the monitoring of the site is an ongoing process and does not end with the fill operation process. Commissioner Caspers, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to recommend City Council approval of the request for amended Conditional Use Permit, subject to the following conditions: 1. All ash hauling to the site shall continue to be from the Beach Rd. access. No access for fill operations shall be from the 58 t1i St. access. Access to 58" St. shall not be permitted until such time as the access at Beach Rd. is discontinued. Emergency vehicle access shall be provide in the long -term from 58 St. Planning Commission Minutes April 13. 2006 Pagc 4 of 5 Xcel Energy shall replant and maintain trees, according to a plan approved by the City Arborist, to satisfy the City's tree replacement requirements. 3. The City Council shall consider a payment in lieu of taxes for the landfill site. The fee amount and terms shall be determined by the City Council. 4. The plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. The location of the gate and fencing for the post - closure access road shall be subject to City approval. Carried 3 -0. New Business: None. Old Business: A. Sign Ordinance Consider scheduling workshop and inviting business owners to join Commission in discussion. Chair Runk commenced discussion and questioned whether or not there were any sections of the sign ordinance that may be handled better administratively and also what will be put in place to enforce the ordinance. City Administrator Johnson stated that staff has attempted to be more aggressive in enforcement and will continue to do so as best manageable, noting that overwhelming workload does not always make it possible. On the administrative functioning of the ordinance, he noted that the largest issue and majority of the violations have been temporary signage /banners. He stated that it might be easier to enforce this type of signage administratively and suggest that stepping away from time limits and moving toward consistency and possibly attaching a fee to temporary signage may be the way to address the situation. The thought is that an established administrative process would be easier understood and would likely achieve broader adherence. Chair Runk stated that he would be comfortable with such a process as described by City Administrator Johnson and asked that staff prepare something outlining such a process for the Commission to review. General discussion of temporary signage types (window paint, balloons, banners /bannerettes and temporary signage placement on vehicles) was discussed. City Planner Richards discussed the mega - billboard issue and noted that the City Council would be considering a moratorium of them at their upcoming meeting. Planning Commission Minutes April 13. 2006 Page 5 0t'5 Informational: Chair Runk reminded the audience that applications were being accepted until the end of the day, May 1, 2006 for the Planning Commission vacancies and that the applications could be found at City Hall. A. Next Meeting May 11, 2006 7:00 p.m. — Regular Meeting B. Council Representative April — Commissioner Caspers May — Commissioner Liljegren Adjournment Commissioner Caspers, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to adjourn at 8:02 p.m. Carried 3 -0. Respectfully submitted, 9 !' I Ju,ie A. Ilultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: May 11, 2006 — 5 -0