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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-08-2007 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, November 8, 2007 Call to Order: Vice Chair Wasescha called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners LeRoux, and Runk; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Abrahamson. Absent: Commissioners Liljegren and Powell. Agenda Approval: Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to approve the agenda as presented. Carried 3 — 0. Approve Minutes of October 11, 2007: Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Commissioner Runk, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 3 — 0. Department /Commission Liaison & Other Reports: None. Visitors /Public Comment: None. Public hearings: A. WCL Associates, Inc. & Robert Brackey — Proposed Zoning District Amendment from O, Open Space District to B -2, General Business District, Conditional Use Permit, Site Plan Review, Preliminary & Final Plat Approvals to allow construction of a multi- tenant retail commercial building, including a Best Buy store to be located at the corner of Krueger Lane N. and 60"' St. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the October 26, 2007 planning report relative to the request, providing an issue analysis and discussing the same. Richards noted that there were a number of conditions proposed should the Planning Commission elect to recommend City Council approval of the request as presented. Richards further noted correction to proposed conditions numbers 8 and 19. Brief discussion ensued as to the pylon sign and access to the site, after which Vice Chair Wasescha opened the public hearing and invited public comment. Chad Berreau of WCL Associates, Inc., architects to the project, presented a display board of exterior materials planned for use at the Best Buy store and discussed the store design and placement of the materials as presented on the display as well as other amenities to the store design, exterior and site. Mr. Berreau shared discussion relative to lighting, architectural feature use, and other elements to the building exterior appearance, including the location of the automotive electronics service area and the sizing of the overhead doors at the location. Planning Commission Minutes November 8, 2007 Page 2 of 6 Curtis Neft of Westwood Professional Services, engineers to the project, asked for a clarification of what was being requested in proposed condition 20, regarding 60"' St. utility line removal, of the planning report. City Administrator Johnson provided Mr. Neft with a clarification and noted manners in which the same condition has been addressed with other developers. Chad Berreau of WCL Associates, Inc., reviewed and discussed the proposed access points, path of traffic travel and building location placement. Lengthy discussion ensued as to the parking layout and its design for safety, with concern being expressed as to the amount of traffic that could be anticipated to come from Krueger Lane into the site and the likely prospect of internal roadway congestion. Vice Chair Wasescha suggested that one -way entry and exiting could be placed at different points to alleviate the congestion internally and to promote reduced congestion at Krueger and safer vehicle travel in general. Jim McGovern introduced himself as the project manager for the Robert Brackey, the landowner. Mr. McGovern clarified his understanding that proposed condition 20 within the planning report, as discussed earlier, would not explicitly require that they bury the lines but that they would have several options available to address the issue as noted by City Administration Johnson earlier in discussion. Mr. McGovern also addressed the Menard's pylon sign, noting that Menard's had obtained a variance from the City for their pylon sign at the time of their closing on the property purchase. As a result of this, Mr. McGovern stated that they granted Menard's and easement for the sign to be placed but never granted ownership to them for the underlying land, nor was the land connected back to the land purchased by Menard's. Mr. McGovern noted that when they were advised by the City Attorney that the conditions of the variance has not been met they contacted Menard's regarding the situation. He added that they were not opposed to the requirement of the sign being removed or relocated but due to their easement agreement with Menard's, they have no legal authority to force either. Mr. McGovern stated that since Menard's is in violation of the ordinance, the City should be responsible for requiring they remove or relocate it and questioned whether or not proposed condition 18 of the planning report could be rewritten to reflect that the applicant will work with the City to facilitate the request of the condition but that they lack legal authority to require the removal or relocation of the sign directly due to their easement agreement with Menard's. City Administrator Johnson stated that staff has recommended the sign be removed and that while the situation may be as described by Mr. McGovern, he recommended leaving the language unchanged for the scope of the public hearing and leaving it to be addressed by the City Council and City Attorney. Mr, McGovern clarified that he expressly desired the Commission to know of the legal bindings to the issue, of their efforts in light of the information in contacting Menard's, and that Robert Brackey owns the land where Menard's has their sign situated. Planning Commission Minutes November 8, 2007 Page 3 of 6 Lastly, Mr. McGovern stated that they were opposed to proposed condition 4 of the planning report for several reasons. The first being that they do not feel the requirement to be rationally related to the site plan for which they are seeking approval; secondly that they do not feel that the requirement meets the needs of the recreational bicyclist and pedestrians of the City at this time; and lastly that to require them to design and build a trail in a place where they may need to relocate it later as a result of site planning for the area is not good planning practice. Mr. McGovern sought understanding and clarification of anything he misunderstood as it related to the trail request and the current use of City trails. Discussion ensued, wherein it was noted that trails are part of the Parks Commission integrated trail plan as well as the City's Comprehensive Parks and Trail Plan. The need for trails and the timing of their placement were discussed as were manners in which trails are implemented and how other existing trails have been phased with development to adhere to the City's trail plan. Vice Chair Wasescha, seconded by Commissioner Runk, moved to close the public hearing. Carried 3 — 0. Commission discussion ensued as to the proposed conditions of the planning report, including condition 4 relating to trail installation. Commissioner Runk, seconded by Vice Chair Wasescha moved to recommend City Council approval of the request for rezoning from O, Open Space District to B -2, General Business District, of the Phase 1 and 2 Planned Unit Development: Concept Plan, of Phase 1 of the Planned Unit Development: General Plan, of the request for Conditional Use Permit as it relates to minor automotive repair for electronics installation to vehicles and signage, of both the Preliminary and Final Plat and of the Site Plan and Design Review, subject to the amended conditions proposed in the October 26, 2007 planning report, specifically: The preliminary /final plat is subject to review and approval of the City Engineer and City Attorney. 2. The City Engineer shall comment on the traffic analysis provided by the applicant. The traffic circulation plan accesses and required improvements shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 3. 60 Street access shall be approved by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. A copy of the approved access permit shall be provided to the City. 4. The Parks Commission should comment on the private and public trail and sidewalk system for the area. The Planning Commission recommended that the applicant provide a north/south trail connection west of Menards and extending north on the west side of the wetland to 60 Street. The location and construction of the trail shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. Planning Commission Minutes November &. 2007 Page 4 of 6 5. The Planning Commission finds the landscaping and screening from the loading dock areas adequate as proposed. 6. There shall be no outdoor storage of trash, recycling, or delivery trucks and containers. 7. The Planning Commission and City Councils find the proposed building layout and setbacks to be adequate and approve of the general site plan as proposed. Only Phase 1, the Best Buy store, is approved as a Planned Unit Development: General Plan. The City Engineer recommendations for roadway, traffic, access and utility improvements, as outlined in the November 6, 2007 letter, shall be implemented by the applicant. The grading, drainage and erosion control plan are subject to review and approval by the City Engineer and the applicable Watershed District. 10. The submitted utility plan is subject to review and approval by the City Engineer. 11. The landscape plan shall be revised to reflect the comments of the October 23, 2007 landscape plan review and subject to the approval of the City Arborist. 12. The building materials and color samples provided by the applicant were found acceptable to the Planning Commission and are subject to review and approval of the City Council. 13. The five proof of parking stalls at the northwest corner of the building shall be constructed by the applicant if required by the City Engineer. 14. The eleven parking stalls on the concept plan for Phase 2 at the access drive to Krueger Lane shall not be permitted and shall be removed from the plan if required by the City Engineer. 15. The applicant shall provide noise specifications for the trash compactor subject to the approval of the City. 16. The applicant shall revise the building cross sections to clearly show the screening of the roof mechanical units. The views shall be from Krueger Lane and Highway 36. 17. The front building fagade of the Phase 1 and 2 buildings shall be limited to a total of five percent (5 %) vivid or primary colors. Planning Commission Minutes November 8, 2007 Page 5 of 6 18. The applicant shall select one of three options for addressing the Menards sign issue: a. Remove the Menards sign. b. Move the Menards sign to property owned by and physically connected to Menards. c. Subdivide Brackey 4"' Addition to create a parcel of land that extends to the sign and that is legally combined with the primary Menards parcel. 19. The car display on the Best Buy sidewalk shall be limited to one vehicle or object at a time. 20. The Planning Commission recommends that the building elevations be revised at the south and west elevations, such that the red brick color extend into the vertical columns. The elevation plans shall be revised and are subject to City Council review and approval. 21. The utility lines along 60 Street shall be removed as required by Section 1008 of the City Code and as specified in the development contract. 22. All parking lot lighting shall be full cut off, shoe box style fixtures, with lenses that are fully shielded and that do not exceed 25 feet from ground level to the top of the fixture. 23. All building lighting shall be full cut off, shoe box style fixtures with lenses that are fully shielded. There shall be no flood lighting of building facades. 24. A revised light plan with photometrics shall be submitted, meeting all Zoning Ordinance light intensity requirements, subject to review and approval of City staff. 25. All outdoor lighting for parking lots shall be turned off one -hour after store closing, except for security lighting. The applicant shall provide a plan, subject to approval of City staff for lighting shut off. 26. All automobile installation 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 service areas. 27. All noise created from operations on the site shall be in conformance with Section401.153.11 of the Zoning Ordinance. 28. All signs shall include illumination of only the text and log portion of the messages. 29. Signage shall be limited to a total of three wall signs and one freestanding sign not to exceed a total of 585 square feet of sign area. Planning Commission Minutes November 8, 2007 Page 6 of 6 30. A condition of this approval is that the applicant enter into a development agreement, as prepared by the City Attorney and approved by the City Administrator, containing provisions, including but not limited to, the construction and placement of financial security for site improvements, payment of applicable City connection fees, placement of financial security and requirements for extension and /or construction of City roadways, utilities for the site and related water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer improvements. Carried 5 — 0. New Business: A. 2008 Regular Meeting and Commissioner Representation Schedule — Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to carry item to December meeting. Carried 3 — 0. B. Design Guidelines Standards - City Planner Richards pointed out that recent development applications and building designs have indicated that the City Design Guidelines standards are not as clear as they could be and suggested that the Planning Commission consider reviewing them and updating them as appropriate. Richards indicated that he would prepare something and put the matter an upcoming meeting agenda. Old Business: None. Informational: A. Upcoming Meetings December 13, 2007: 6:30 p.m. — Comprehensive Plan Update Committee (Large Conference Room) 7:30 p.m. - Regular Planning Commission Meeting (Council Chambers) B. Council Representative November — Commissioner LeRoux December — Commissioner Powell Adjournment: Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:52 p.m. Carried 3 — 0. Respectfully submitted, Ju 'e A. Hultman Planning & Code Enforcement Approved by the Planning Commission: January 17, 2008.