HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, JULY 15 2010
I. Call to Order: Commissioner Bye called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Commissioners Dougherty, LeRoux, Liljegren, and Powell; City
Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison
Abrahamson.
11. Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner
Liljegren, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 5 -0.
III. Approval of June 10, 2010 Minutes: Commissioner Powell, seconded by Chair
Bye, moved to approve the Minutes as presented. Carried 5 -0.
IV. Department /Council Liaison Reports: None.
V. Visitors/Public Comment: None.
VI. Public Hearings:
A. White Castle: to consider requests for Planned Unit Development:
General Plan approval, Conditional Use Permit, and Site Plan & Design
Guidelines Review related to the construction of a White Castle restaurant
located at 5950 Norwich Ave. N.
City Planner Richards reviewed the July 8, 2010 planning report relative
the requests, providing an issue analysis, design guidelines review and
discussing the same.
General Commission discussion ensues as to traffic entry and flow
through the site and roof -top mechanicals screening.
Chair Bye opened the hearing for public comment.
Craig Eilers of White Castle introduced himself and Mike Velloff of
Clayton Engineering and shared a materials board with the Commission.
Mr. Eilers stated that City Planner Richards had reviewed their request
thoroughly and commenced to review and discuss the conditions noted
within the planning report.
Mr. Eilers reviewed and discussed each of the conditions contained within
the July 8, 2010 Planning Report.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2010
Page 2 of 5
Items of discussion included the plan for the drive through to be 24 -hour
operational, access and traffic flow at the site, directional signage, need for
some type of engineered plans for the conduit placement requirement, the
foundation of the requirement that powerlines be buried underground,
sustainability elements such as white membrane at roof top, instantaneous
hot water heater, updated energy efficient equipment and appliances, and
landscape elements geared toward energy efficiency, building front facade
transparency, building materials and placement, White Castle "white" as
an identifier important to their success historically, awning color and
striping design element, building light fixture colors, common seating,
bike rack and potential for increased green area by removing one parking
stall from plan.
City Richards noted Arborist Widin's landscaping comments and
discussed the revised conditions based upon the applicant and
Commission's shared discussion of them.
Mr. Eilers pointed out that it made sense to have the parking lot light
fixtures match those of the building.
Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Chair Bye, moved to recommend
City Council approval, subject to the following conditions:
1. The grading, drainage and utility plans shall be subject to the
review and approval of the City Engineer.
2. All lighting fixtures shall be full cut off and installed in
compliance with the lighting standards of the Zoning Ordinance.
The light fixture in the northeast corner of the building shall be
brought into compliance.
3. The outdoor lighting shall be turned off one hour after closing,
except for approved security lighting.
4. The landscape plans are subject to review and approval of the City
Arborist.
5. All signage, including directional signs, shall be subject to final
review and approval of City Staff.
6. Mechanical equipment that is located on the roof and visible from
street level or from neighborhood properties shall be screened
with materials that blend harmoniously with the building facade
materials.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2010
Page 3 of 5
7. The City requests that White Castle install a conduit in the 60"'
Street right -of -way to facilitate the possible burial of Xcel
distribution powerlines located adjacent to the site. Installation of
the conduit shall be subject to the approval of the City Engineer.
8. The Planning Commission recommends the sustainability
initiatives proposed by the applicant.
9. The Planning Commission asked the applicant to provide options
for front fagade transparency so that the building is compatible
with the Design Guidelines. The City Council shall approve the
final building plans.
10. At such time as the White Castle franchise ceases to exist in this
location, the tower parapet elements shall be removed and the
building appearance restored to a reasonable condition as
determined by the City.
11. The Planning Commission recommends the following building
materials and colors:
a. The white brick and tan rock face block proposed by the
applicant.
b. Tan rock face block shall be used on all four sides of the
corner tower.
C. The applicant may determine if it will use the tan rock face
block as an architectural feature at the first drive -up
window.
d. Solid blue awning with no stripes.
e. Use of bronze colored wall and freestanding light fixtures.
f. The applicant may determine the color of the bollards.
12. The Planning Commission recommends that one parking space be
removed at the northwest corner of the building to allow for
additional landscaping, a bench and a bicycle rack. The CSM
development, known as Oak Park Commons, was approved with
adequate parking to accommodate the loss of one parking stall at
the subject site.
Carried 5 -0.
VII. Old Business: None.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2010
Page 4 of 5
VIII. New Business:
A. Ener2v Efficiency and Conservation Grant: City Planner Richards
informed the Commission that the City has been awarded an Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Grant and that as part of the grant elements
the Commission would be reviewing the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Ordinance /Design Standards and updating them to update them,
incorporating energy efficiency /conservation elements.
Richards stated that discussion would begin in August and work would
continue to meet an October deadline, nothing that a special meeting may
be needed to accomplish the review and incorporate changes to meet the
deadline.
City Administrator Johnson described the nature of the grant, made
available through the State of Minnesota Office of Energy Security and
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and discussed some of the voluntary
elements planned for undertaking in 2010 including reviewing
ordinances /policies and making improvements geared toward energy
efficiency /conservation, upgrades to Brekke Park lighting, and energy
audit of the City's facilities, a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and
management plan, and an energy fair component to the City's Annual
Party in the Park/National Night Out event.
Johnson noted that at the energy fair, each Oak Park Heights household in
attendance will receive one free compact fluorescent bulb and may receive
a second by brining an incandescent light bulb in exchange. He
encouraged Oak Park Heights residents to visit the event and bring their
incandescent bulbs to exchange.
IX. Informational:
UDcomin2 Planning Commission Meetinvzs:
August 12, 2010 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers)
September 16, 2010 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers)
October 14, 2010 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers)
Council Representative: July — Commissioner Bye
August - Commissioner Dougherty
September — Commissioner LeRoux
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2010
Page 5 of 5
X. Adiournment:
Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to adjourn at
8:19 p.m. Carried 5 -0.
Respectfully submitted,
J ' Hultman
Planning & Code Enforcement Officer
Approved by the Planning Commission: 08 -12 -10