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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2007 Minutesr: CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, April 12, 2007 Call to Order / Approval of Agenda: Chair Liljegren called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present: Vice Chair Wasescha, Commissioners LeRoux, Powell and Runk; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Abrahamson. Vice Chair Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Runk, moved to approve the agenda as presented. Carried 5 — 0. Approve Minutes of March 8, 2007: Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to approve the Minutes as amended, correcting the time that the meeting was called to order. Carried 5 — 0. Department /Commission Liaison & Other Reports: None. Visitors /Public Comment: None. Public Hearings: A. Boutwell's Landing Care Center Expansion - Consider application for Planned Unit Development: Amended Concept & General Plan approvals and Building Height Variance at 13575 58` St. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the April 4, 2007 planning report relative to the requests for General PUD and Building Height Variance approvals for a 106 bed care center and noted that the City Council concept plan approval was extended through December 31, 2008. Richards noted that a shortage of this type of housing was recognized in the St. Croix Valley community and that the applicant is required to locate and purchase existing nursing home beds from areas of the State that have a surplus, thus the number of bed they have will be restricted to the number of beds they can locate and purchase, up to the 106 beds being requested for the care center. Richards provided an issue analysis, discussing zoning requirements, trails and sidewalks, grading, drainage and utilities, lighting elements, signage, 911 calls and the proposed building design which requires a variance for the building heights due to the designs gabled roofs, dormers and tower elements and provided the Commission with a planning recommendation with conditions for their consideration. Chair Liljegren opened the public hearing and invited public comment. Ken Hooge of Senior housing Partners representing Valley Senior Services Alliance addressed the Commission and responded to their questions; noting that the emergency generator will operate from natural gas; discussed plans to coordinate efficient flow of human and vehicular traffic at and around Boutwell's Landing; stated that signage to the care facility would be similar to existing campus signage, noting the possibility of additional directional signage being needed; stated that ambulance service comes to the front door of the building address where it is needed and that current plans do not have a provisions for housing an emergency vehicle on campus. Planning Commission Minutes April 12, 2007 Page 2 of 4 Discussion ensued between the applicant and the Commission relative to having an emergency vehicle kept on site, access points for emergency vehicle travel, the number of 911 calls to Boutwell's Landing, measures undertaken by Valley Senior Services Alliance to reduce the number of calls and how emergency situations are anticipated to be handled throughout the various segments of the campus. The requirement for full -cut off light fixtures was clarified. Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 5 -0. Commission review and discussion ensued as to the conditions of the planning report Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to recommend City Council approval of the requests for General Planned Unit Development and Building Height Variance, subject to the following conditions: The City Engineer shall approve all driveway locations from 58"' St. N. 2. The City Engineer shall comment on the traffic study and potential impact of the expansion to 58"' St. N. and Oakgreen Ave. N. The four propane tanks shall be removed from the site and not be installed unless approved by the City. 4. The landscape plan is subject to review and approval of City Arborist The site plan shall be revised to include plans for the outdoor play area, subject to review and approval of City staff. The applicant shall provide additional plans for the grading and installation of prairie grasses on the east side of Autumn Hills Park. The plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer and City Arborist. The grading and drainage plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer, Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization and Brown's Creek Watershed District. 8. The utility plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 9. All newly installed freestanding light fixtures shall include a conforming full cut -off lens. A detailed lighting plan for the building light fixtures shall be submitted for City staff approval prior to installation. All new light fixtures shall comply with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. 10, All signage installed on site shall comply with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. A plan, subject to approval by City staff, shall be submitted by the applicant indicating appropriate directional signage. Planning Commission Minutes April 12, 2007 Page 3 of 4 11. The Planning Commission is favorable to the proposed building architecture and materials. 12. The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve a building height to the mid -point of the highest roof of 42 feet. 13. As part of the PUD approvals, the Planning Commission recommends and the City Council approves a conditional use permit allowance for tower elements to not exceed 60 feet in height. 14. The City will conduct an annual review to address the issue of 911 calls and potential emergency vehicle sitting on campus at a later date. 15. A snow removal and storage plan shall be submitted by the applicant. 16. The Police Chief and Fire Chief should comment on any safety vehicle access issues of the access points, driveways or of the general plan. 17. A development agreement amendment shall be executed subject to review and approval of the City Attorney. The issue of payment in lieu of taxes will be addressed as part of the agreement. Carried 5 — 0. B. Swager Park — 14290 58"' St. N. — Consider request for a five -foot variance to side yard setback requirement for parking area improvements at Swager Park. City Planner Richards reviewed the April 3, 2007 planning report relative to the request for a five -foot side yard setback and provided an issue analysis, discussing the parking lot design, adjacent uses to the site, and not encroaching upon the usable play area at the park being the nature of hardship for the variance request. Richard noted that his report recommends approval with no conditions. Discussion ensued; City Administrator Johnson stated that the new parking lot lighting will have fill cut off lenses and comply with the zoning ordinance. Commissioner Runk asked if there was any new signage included with the improvements. Johnson stated that the Parks Commission was having their annual park walkthrough next Monday and would address the matter of signage and other City parks needs, including Swager Park, at that time. It was noted that the trail at Swager Park would extend into Andersen Corporation's parking lot and that the parcel of land between the park and the parking lot is owned by Andersen's holding company and that the City has not received any comment as to their doing any additional landscaping there. Johnson stated that Andersen Corporation has no objection to the trail placement and noted that part of the funding for the trail is coming from them as part of the Planned Unit Development Agreement for their site. Planning Commission Minutes April 12, 2007 Page 4 of 4 There being no visitors to the public hearing, Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner Powell, moved to recommend that the City Council approve the request for variance without condition. Carried 5 — 0. New Business: None. Old Business: A. Comprehensive Plan Update City Planner Richards reported that the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update Committee met prior to the regular Planning Commission meeting and that discussion focused on the plans format and social inventory issues and opportunities. The next workshop meeting is May 10, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the large conference room at City Hall. Informational: A. Upcoming Meetings May 10, 200' 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. B. Council Representative April May - 7: Comprehensive Plan Update Committee (Large Conference Room) Regular Planning Commission Meeting (Council Chambers) — Commissioner Wasescha - Commissioner Runk Adjournment: Commissioner Powell, seconded by Vice Chair Wasescha, moved to adjourn at 8:32 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Respectfully submitted, L L A . 4o-4r nay-� Jul e A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Approved by the Planning Commission: 05 -10 -2007.