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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-2001 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES • , . 7 - 3now 1 1 Call To Order Chair Vogt called the meeting to order at 7:0 p.m. Present: Commissioners Dwyer, Hedlund, Powell and Runk; City Planner Richards and Council Liaison McComber. Absent: Community Development Director Danielson Approval of Agenda Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner Hedlund moved to approve the Agenda with Sigstad Carpet Procedural Issue and Organization of Sign Committee added as items under New Business and City of Maple Grove Business District Tour added as an item under Informational. Carried 5 -0. Approval of August 9, 2001 Minutes Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Commissioner Runk, moved to approve the minutes with minor typographical changes. Carried 5 -0. Visitors None. Public Hearings A. Continued: Walgreen's Pharmacy Conditional Use Permit Variance and Site Plan Review To consider a conditional use permit request, variance, and site plan review for construction of a Walgreen's Pharmacy at 6061 Osgood Ave. City Planner Richards provided a review of the applicant's requests for a conditional use permit and variances to construct a Walgreen's Pharmacy at 6061 Osgood Ave. N. Richards provided an overview of the Planner's report regarding the proposed project and noted correspondence received from the City Engineer and Washington County Department of Transportation and Physical Development. Commission discussion commenced as to issues concerning sidewalks, right -of -way, conflicting communication form Washington County Department of Transportation correspondence; easements; parking, landscaping, screening and issues in conjunction with the same. Chair Vogt opened the public hearing at 7:27 and invited the audience to address the Commission as to the matter. Fred Kalinoff of Kalinoff Properties 6143 and 6157 Osgood Ave N - Owns property to the north of site and is concerned about his parking the joint easement in place. Richards indicated that there should be no change in parking due to the easement as per the plans submitted by the applicant. Discussion ensued as to easement issues and benefits derived from parties from the same. Issues related to drive through, parking, access, traffic flow pattern and density. Planning Commission Minutes September 13, 2001 Page 2 of 3 Jim Bradshaw of Bradshaw Funeral Home 6061 Osgood Ave N - Owns the property at issue. Mr. Bradshaw stated that the site currently has five access points into the property and that while searching for a purchaser for they searched diligently for one that seemed the most appropriate for the site and that would remove the building. He discussed some of the concerns mentioned regarding access and changes proposed for roadways surrounding the property. He stated that Bradshaw has tried to be a good neighbor to Mr. Kalinoff and that he feels they have both relied on each other for sharing of the parking area presented by the joint easement and that Walgreen's has expressed that this relationship could continue. John Kohler of Semper Development - Mr. Kohler stated that he is the developer, working with Walgreen's on this matter. He stated that it was his understanding that MnDOT retains right -of -way regardless of roadway changes. He expressed his opinion that MnDOT is not likely to return any right -of -ways until Hwy. 36 changes have been decided and completed. He displayed site plan and described the proposed project's layout, building materials and design, hours of operation and manner of servicing and deliveries. Additionally, he discussed issues such as access, parking, traffic volume, and landscaping. Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Commissioner Hedlund, moved to close the public comment portion of the public hearing. 5 -0. Chair Vogt called for a five- minute recess at 5:20 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:26 p.m., with continued Commission discussion regarding the requests of Walgreen Pharmacy. Discussion commenced as to desire for a site plan, showing exits from the site and dimensions of drive. Commissioner Runk expressed his desire to see a traffic plan in relationship to Mr. Kalinoff's property. Concern expressed about traffic moving into joint easement and the lack of communication between this property owner and the applicant. Traffic concerns were discussed at length with respect to access, volume, nature of traffic, and pattern of traffic flow. The Commission expressed that they would like to afford Mr. Kalinoff and the applicant the opportunity to work through some of the issues affecting them jointly and to pursue clarification from Washington County as to their plans for the surrounding roadways. Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer, moved to continue the public hearing to the meeting of October 1 Ith, to allow time to resolve the right -of -way issues, obtain clarification and detail from Washington County Department of Transportation regarding what they are looking for at the site, to allow the applicant and Mr. Kalinoff the opportunity to work on resolving their issues and to allow the applicant the opportunity to provide a site plan that show all the drives and answers questions as to traffic and safety. Carried 5 -0. Planning Commission Minutes September 13, 2001 Page 3 of 3 New Business A. 2002 Budge update Richards provided an update on the issue and noted that the City Council is moving ahead with meetings scheduled for September 27 and October 4th for continued discussion. B. Sigstad Carpet Procedural Issue Chair Vogt raised the question as to whether or not the Commission had improperly handled the Sigstad Carpet request as suggested by a City Council member at a recent City Council meeting. Richards discussed the nature of the process followed and indicated that the City Council may desire to have some issues settled prior to the applicant coming before the Commission and that he would expect to receive direction from the City Council as to any changes in procedure. C. Organization of Sign Committee Chair Vogt briefly described the consensus of the Commission to ask that the City Council consider a request to approve funding and formation of a committee to discuss sign issues for ordinance revision, that such be comprised of council, city residents and business owners and be formed in January 2002. Chair Vogt that the request is a result of discussion by the Commission during their work sessions on the matter. Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer, so moved the request. Carried 5-0. Old Business None Informational /Update: A. City of Maple Grove Business District Tour Council Liaison McComber reminded the Commission that a tour of the business district at the City of Maple Grove would take place on September 20th and that a group would be living the Oak Park Heights City Hall at 9:00 a.m. She encouraged Commissioner attendance by those who were able. Adjournment Commissioner Hedlund, seconded by Runk, moved to adjourn at 8:58 p.m. Carried 5 -0. Respectfully submitted, ti {_ ,. ii Julie Hultman Community Development Approved by the Planning Commission: October 11, 2001