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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-13-2002 MinutesCITY OF OAK COMMISSION PLANNING Thursday, June 13, 2002 Call To Order Chair Vogt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Powell, and Runk; Community Development Director Danielson, City Planner Richards, and Council Liaison McComber. Arriving Late: Commissioner Liljegren. Absent: Commissioner Dwyer. Approval of Agenda Community Development Director Danielson noted that three items continued from the May 9th meeting were not on the Agenda, and stated that it will be explained further in the meeting. Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner Powell, moved to approve the Agenda. Carried 3 -0. Approve Planning Commission Minutes: Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Runk, moved to approve the minutes of May 9, 2002 with minor changes. Carried 3 -0. Department /Commission Liaison Reports 1. levy. 36 Partnership Stuff Mary McComber reported that the partnership committee met on June 12th and found itself deadlocked, stating that the group is evenly split on which concept to choose for handling the issue. McComber added that the Hwy. 36 Partnership Study will continue on into September. 2. Other Commission / Liaison . Reports : None. Visitors /Public Comment 1. Pete Groth, 115 Myrtle Street Pete Groth requested that the City do something about vehicle noise, specifically the sounds emitted from car radios and vehicles missing mufflers. He stated that he believed all vehicles should be required to have mufflers, especially inside city limits. He asked that the City do something, perhaps set up a roadside display to show drivers their vehicle's decibel level like the roadside speed displays. He stated that he would like to see the City start promoting cluster development, and that he would appreciate seeing more green space about the City. He concluded by stating that he believed Boutwell's Landing was overdone, and that he would like to see more affordable housing in the area. Chair Vogt informed him that City Council would be the best group to voice his concerns about loud vehicles to, and that the City of Oak Park Heights is working on affordable housing. Public Hearings Planning Commission Minutes June 13, 2002 Page 2 of 6 A. Century Poorer To consider a request for conditional use permit for building addition and remodeling, located at 5920 Memorial Ave. N. City Planner Richards provided an overview of the applicant's request and a summary of his report regarding the same. Chair Vogt opened the hearing for public comment at 7:24 p.m. Robert Stiglich - General Contractor provided the Planning Commission with drawings of the proposed structure, and brought in samples of the building material. He stated that the new building would be using the same colors and materials and the existing structure, and that they would be creating new windows and horizontal designs to break up the structure's facade. Alan Kretman - Project Consultant stated that they would be meeting with the Brown's Creek Watershed District on Monday June 17th. He informed the Commission that they hope to create rain gardens, which will slow the rainwater down to allow particulation without needing on -site ponds. He informed the commission that the Century Power site would not be in compliance with the City's Tree Ordinance, but that as many trees were placed on the site as possible. Community Development Director Danielson replied that this would not be a large issue, pointing out that a donation can be made to the City's Tree Planting fund instead. He concluded that he would be meeting with Arborist Widin during the week of July 17th to determine the number and variety of trees that would be lost. Discussion was held on the storage of outside vehicles, both those used by Century Power and those for sale. Community Development Director Danielson noted that Century Power could comply with City Ordinances by simply fencing in or screening their service vehicles from public view on the south side of their building. Further discussion was held over the signage for Century Power, specifically how large the sign can be. Planner Richards stated that the current sign does not fit with the 50ft requirement of the B -3 zoning district, and that Century Power may request to keep their current sign. Commission Liaison McComber inquired as to why some parking stalls were 18ft, instead of the required 20. Planner Richards stated that the ordinance allows for 18ft stalls with 2ft overhangs, which are present at the site. Commissioner Runic, seconded by Commissioner Powell, moved to close the public hearing at 7:52 p.m. Carried 4 -0. Planning Commission Minutes June 13, 2002 Page 3 of 6 Commissioner Runk, seconded by Chair Vogt, moved to recommend that the City approve the applicant's request for a conditional use permit for a building addition and remodeling, subject to the amended conditions within the June 6"', 2002 City Planner's Report, as follows: 1. Outdoor sales items shall not be displayed in required parking stalls. All vehicles for sale must be placed on a concrete or asphalt surface. 2. Outside sales shall be limited to 20 percent of the interior retail sales area or 3,000 square feet. 3. Service vehicles shall be confined to a screened area on the south side of the building and shall be properly screened by landscaping as approved by the City Arborist. 4. All repairs must be conducted inside the building. No parts storage or parts vehicles shall be stored outside of the building. 5. Any allowance for display of outdoor merchandise for sale in the yard or on grass areas shall require application of a variance, as specified in Section 401.01 of the Zoning Ordinance. 6. The site plan has been revised to accommodate at least 115 parking stalls. Proof of parking stalls will be allowed, as provided for on the approved site plan. The City Council may order, at any time, the construction of the proof of parking stalls. 7. The 18 -foot parking stall length is adequate for the outside perimeter parking stalls on this site. 8. The landscape plan and tree preservation plan shall be subject to review and approval of the City Council, and City Arborist. 9. Screening of heating /air conditioning units, electrical transformers, air handling equipment, trash receptacles, and roof top equipment shall be required as part of the landscape plan and building plans, subject to review and approval of City staff. 10. The building plans have been revised to include additional vertical elements and building detailing, especially on the north and south facades. The plans are acceptable to the Planning Commission, and subject to review and approval of the City Council. 11. Building samples are acceptable to the Planning Commission and subject to the approval of the City Council. 12. The lighting plans shall be revised and updated to include fixture elevations and photometrics that are compliant with Section 401.15.7 of the Zoning Ordinance. 13. No signage approval is given with this application. An application for a sign variance will be required for moving the existing pylon. 14. The applicant shall submit a plan for site snow removal. Planning Commission Minutes June 13, 2002 Page 4 of 6 15. All grading, drainage, and utility plans shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 16. Browns Creek Watershed District approval of the plan is required. 17. The existing /proposed building shall be brought current with all building /fire codes as required by the Fire Marshall and Building Official. Carried 4 -0. B. Continued - Oakgreen Village Villas To consider amendment to City of Oak Park Heights Ordinance 401 as it pertains to signage. Community Development Director Danielson summarized the history of the application. Chair Vogt opened the hearing for public comment at 5:11 p.m. Ken Hooge of Sr. Housing Partners informed the Commission that tax credits that the project qualifies for requires that the buildings be occupied by the end of 2003. He continued, stating that Sr. Housing Partners would have new plans submitted by the end of the week of June 17th, and that they would like to begin construction by the end of 2002. While the group would like construction to begin as soon as possible, he stressed that he understood that planning reviews take time. He said that Sr. Housing Partner's is redesigning their development, and that this version was significantly different from the last plan. This version contains lots of open space, conforms closer to the CBD guidelines, maximize views from the buildings, determine road access, and that he believes they are on the right track. Commissioner Runk asked if Sr. Housing Partners had contacted the Pondview Association concerning the project. Community Development Director Danielson informed him that the two groups had been given each other's telephone numbers, but that the City was not aware of any conversations. Commissioner Runk replied that he would like to see that the group was aware of the project before it begins and they show up at City Hall. Discussion was held over the length of the extension, and it was determined that the project had been extended into August. Ken Hooge stated that Sr. Housing Partners may not have all the required information ready for the Commission by the June 21 st deadline for the July Planning Commission meeting, but they would try to get it all in. Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to continue the public hearing to the next meeting of the Planning Commission. Carried 4 -0. Planning Commission Minutes June 13, 2002 Page 5 of 6 C. Continued - 401 Ordinance Amendment: To consider amendment to City of Oak Park Heights Ordinance 401 as it pertains to signage. City Planner Richards informed the Commission that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the new draft of the City's sign ordinance had not been prepared. He stated that the Commission would have a copy of the document by their July meeting, and that the Commission had been provided a copy of the ordinance's definitions. New or changed definitions have been highlighted or underlined. Chair Vogt opened hearing for public comment at 8:23 p.m. Jim Thienes, Safeway Driving School 5859 Neal Ave He informed the Commission that he was concerned with his business' lack of visibility from 58th street and Neal Ave. He tells customers that he is located next to Dominoes, a neighboring business with a non- compliant sign in the rear of their building. City Planner Richards noted that the issue of signage at the rear of buildings has been addressed by the sign committee, and that several of the committee's recommendations have been more lenient than the current ordinances. However, he stated, this issue will need to be discussed later on. Commissioner Runk, seconded by Commissioner Powell, moved to continue the public hearing to the next meeting of the Planning Commission. Carried 4 -0. New Business None. Old Business None. Informational/ Update Oakgreen Village /McKean Square Application Status Community Development Director Danielson informed the Commission that the applications for the Oakgreen apartments, townhomes, and McKean Square West have been withdrawn, as well as the shared services agreement for McKean Square East. While these applications have been withdrawn, she stated that she believed new plans would be submitted for the projects. 2. Re- appointment of Commissioner Dwyer Chair Vogt noted that Commissioner Dwyer had been re- appointed to the Planning Commission by the City Council and offered his congratulations. 3. Routson Motors 8v Stillwater Ford Sign Issues City Planner Richards stated that he and Building Official Butler investigated the two sites to ensure that they were in compliance with the conditions of their approval. Planning Commission Minutes June 13, 2002 Page 6 of 6 He reported that at Stillwater Ford, the Lincoln Mercury and Stillwater Ford logo signs were reversed, due to the curvature of the signs. Also, the monument sign at the south of the dealership has not been installed yet, possibly because there are too many cars parked in the area. Planner Richards stated that Stillwater Ford faced no penalty for not installing the sign and that they would be permitted to construct it at a later date. Community Development Director Danielson informed the Commission that there would be a meeting scheduled in the future to look at other issues at the dealership, including the not -yet- constructed employee parking lot and the missing planter boxes. City Planner Richards stated that questions have been raised about the sign lights on the Routson Motors dealership. He has been unable to view the signs at night, but Planner Richards has heard that the signs are lit with a box light effect, not a halo. He informed the commission that he would be driving by the dealership after the meeting to determine if this is the case. Adjournment Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to adjourn at 9:48 p.m. Carried 4 -0. Respectfully submitted, Scott Johns Community Development Approved by the Planning Commission: July 11, 2000. 5 -0.