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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-1998 MinutesCITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, OCTOBER 15, 1998 Call To Order: Chair Hedlund called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Dahlquist, Vogt, and Wasescha. Staff Present:. City Planner Richards, Community Development Director Danielson, Administrative Assistance Mesko, and Community Development /Recording Secretary Hultman. Agenda Additions: Added to "New Business ": (1) Council Meeting Representation Schedule, (2) American Planning Association Update, and (3) Stillwater Evening Gazette "City Page." Visitors: Richard Keller, 14140 Upper 54t St. N.; Greg Johnson for Carriage Homes; Donna Gray, 14812 58t St. N. #31); Clyde Thiets, 14935 57t St. N.; Judith Harmer, 14933 57t St. N.; and Chuck Kotval, 14787 Upper 56t St. N. Approve Minutes: Dahlquist, seconded by Vogt, moved to approve the minutes of September 17, 1998. Carried 3 -0. Wasescha abstained, as she was not present at the September 17, 1998 meeting. Public Hearings: A. Variance Request To Consider A Five (5) Foot Side -Yard Setback For A Garage Addition At 14140 Upper 54 St. N. : Chair Hedlund opened the hearing at 7:03 p.m. Hardship was determined due to inability of applicant's being able to construct garage addition on any other are of the lot, due to the configuration and style of his home. Vogt, seconded by Dahlquist, moved to recommend approval of request for a five -foot side -yard setback for the garage addition. Carried 4 -0. Administrative Assistant Mesbo arrived at 7:10 p.m. B. Carriage Homes Request For Preliminary Plat /Fina Conditional Use Permit, and Variances To Allow For Sr. Apartment Buildino An d Professional Office Uses At 56` St. N. And Osman Ave. N. : Chair Hedlund opened the hearing at 7:10 p.m. and noted that a letter had been received from Kingwood Management on behalf of Valley View Garden Homeowner's Association, requesting that plans of the project be made available for viewing. Richards provided a brief history of the project and noted that a number of issues remain with the applicant, including the submission of a preliminary plan, and recommended that this matter be held over until all necessary application items are received. Richards provided an overview of the zoning uses for the area. Greg Johnson presented the proposed project design for Carriage Homes and answered questions from the Commission and the audience. Property owners, adjacent to the proposed project were also present. Donna Gray indicated that she was not in favor of the proposed project, Judith Harmer welcomed the project but expressed that she felt the amount parking proposed was too little. Clyde Thiets also expressed concern as to the amount of parking being plan and inquired if there was a possibility of the developer acquiring additional land for parking. Charles Kotval, who live across the street from the proposed project, expressed concerns about parking and increased traffic. Discussion ensued as to the type of apartments proposed, building layout and size, type of professionals in office space, increased traffic, and parking. The central issue of discussion was parking; specifically, that there are too few parking spaces for the project and that more need to be created b obtaining additional property for parking and /or scaling the building project down in size. Wasescha stated that she was concerned with the adequacy of the number of handicap parking stalls in light of the number of parking stalls in general and that the apartments are designed for senior residents, who will most likely require more than are proposed. Vogt, seconded by Dahlquist, moved to hold the public hearing open until the Commissions meeting of November 19` when the issue will be revisited. Carried 4 -0. C. Consideration of Design Guidelines For Commercial and Industrial Properties Within The City of Oak Park Heights Chair Hedlund opened the hearing at 8:10 p.m. Richards provided a brief history of the guidelines preparation. The purpose of the guidelines is to serve as a vehicle to promote quality building, addressing visual aspects so as to create harmony within the building areas. These guidelines will not encompass zoning and building guidelines, which are addressed by the Building Department. He noted that the Planning Commission would function as the Design Review Board and make recommendations to the City Council. He further noted that once the guidelines are approved by the City Council, they would be printed and made available at the City Hall in the Community Development Department. Wasescha, seconded by Vogt, moved to recommend approval of Resolution 98 -405, approving Design Guidelines for the City of Oak Park Heights. Carried 4 -0. Old Business: A. Park Dedication Richards advised the Commission that the City Council and the Parks Commission met jointly, October 13` and that it was determined, at this meeting, that there was a need for a Parks Comprehensive Plan for the City. He indicated that a land -value based parks dedication will be put in place for future park dedications and further indicated that the Planning and Parks Commissions will be working together to complete the Plan. He will communicate with administration as to timeline and direction for proceeding with the plan preparation. Chair Hedlund called for a five- minute recess at 8:30 p.m. The meeting re- convened at 8:35 p.m. New Business: A. Council Meeting Representation A six -month schedule was determined for Commission representation at the City Council meeting. The schedule is as follows: 1998 — October and November, Vogt; December, Wasescha; 1999 — January, Schultz; February, Dahlquist; and March, Hedlund. B. American Planning Association Conference Update Chair Hedlund and Commissioner Vogt, who attended the conference, provided the Commission and staff with an overview of the conference and noted that it was very informational and that they enjoyed it a great deal. Hedlund collected information from the conference to share with the rest of the Commission. Vogt has obtained a copy of Commissioner Braun's bridge report to share with the Commission. Administrative Assistant Mesko left the meeting at 8:45 p.m. C. Stillwater Evening Gazette "City Page" The first edition of the "City Page" was shown to the Commission. Deadline and article submission information was discussed. It was noted that this page is of an informational nature only and that articles should be written accordingly. The Commission thought it looked very nice and discussed possible article topics for future editions, including stories of human interest, design guidelines and Valley Sr. Services Alliance. Informational /Update: A. Community Development Director City Planner Richards introduced Kris Danielson who has been employed as the Community Development Director for the City. The Commission welcomed her. B. Special Meeting: Comprehensive Plan — Public Informational Meeting Richards indicated that this meeting will take place at the City Hall, November 5, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. This will be a joint meeting with the City Council. A meeting notice will be placed in The Courier. Adjournment: Chair Hedlund, seconded by Wasescha, moved to close the regular meeting of the Planning Commission and move onto the Comprehensive Plan Discussion and Update Workshop. Carried 4 -0. Next Regular Meeting: November 19, 1998 — 7:00 p.m., Oak Park Heights City Hall. Respectfully submitted, Julie A. Hultman Community Development/ Recording Secretary