HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2010 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010
Call to Order: Commissioner Bye called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present: Commissioners Dougherty and LeRoux; City Administrator Johnson,
City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Abrahamson. Absent:
Commissioners Liljegren and Powell.
II. Approval of Agenda: Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Commissioner
Dougherty, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 3 -0.
III. Approval of September 16, 2010 Minutes: Commissioner LeRoux, seconded
by Commissioner Dougherty, moved to approve the Minutes as presented.
Carried 3 -0.
IV. Department /Council Liaison Reports: Commission Liaison Abrahamson
updated the Commission as to recent City Council approval to a communication
from the City addressed to Oak Park Heights business owners regarding where the
City is at with discussions with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on
local issues and briefly discussed with the Commission some of the outstanding
issues.
V. Visitors /Public Comment: None.
VI. Public Hearings:
A. Gartner Restaurant Holdings: to consider requests for Site Plan/Design
Standards Review and a Conditional Use Permit for a drive - through
related to the construction of a Dairy Queen Chill & Grill restaurant to be
located at 14447 60 St. N.
City Planner Richards reviewed the October 7, 2010 Planning Report
related to the request, discussing related issues and the potential
requirement of an easement at 60 St. for utility relocation that may result
for potential alterations of Hwy. 36 and 60 St. by MNDoT. It was noted
that though the project has been discussed, the City has not yet received
any plans for such alteration.
Richards suggested hearing from the applicant and then reviewing the
approval recommendation conditions proposed within the planning report.
Chair Bye opened the public hearing for comment and invited the
applicant to address the Commission.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2010
Page 2 of 4
Mick Lynskey of Lynskey & Clark, introduced himself as representing the
applicant, Gartner Restaurant Holdings, LLC. Mr. Lynskey noted that the
applicant is from the Stillwater area and currently operates the Dairy
Queen in downtown Stillwater. Mr. Lynskey noted that he had Brian
Larson of Larson Brenner Architects and Steve Johnson of R.H.O.
Development Consulting with him to address any questions the
Commission may have regarding the project.
Building material samples were shared with the Commission and their
Design Guidelines Standards compliance discussed.
Discussion ensued between the Commission, Mr. Lynskey, Mr. Larson
and Mr. Johnson as to the building style, color scheme, structure location
on the site, site access, MNDoT related issues, and signage.
City Planner Richards reviewed the proposed conditions within the
planning report and the same were discussed by the Commission and the
applicant representatives, including discussion relative to an easement
requirement, the pylon sign and the installation of a sidewalk /trail.
Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Commissioner Dougherty moved to
recommend City Council approval of the conditional use permit request,
subject to the amended conditions and recommendations contained within
the October 7, 2010 Planning Report, specifically:
1. The applicant shall provide an executed copy of the Boundary
Development agreement prior to issuance of the building permit.
2. Ten foot utility and drainage easements along all lot lines shall be
provided to the City. The easement shall be recorded on the
property subject to review and approval of the City Attorney and
City Engineer. If requested by the City at a later date, the
applicant agrees to dedicate an additional ten foot easement, for a
total of twenty feet, from the front property line of 60 Street.
3. The two access points are subject to review and approval of the
City Engineer and permitting by the Minnesota Department of
Transportation.
4. The grading, drainage and utility plans shall be subject to the
review and approval of the City Engineer. The drainage plans
shall be subject to the review of the Middle St. Croix Watershed
District.
5. All lighting fixtures shall be full cut off and installed in
compliance with the lighting standards of the Zoning Ordinance.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2010
Page 3 of 4
6. The outdoor lighting shall be turned off one hour after closing,
expect for approved security lighting.
7. The applicant has indicated that the color of the pole mounted and
building light fixtures will be black. That was agreeable to the
Planning Commission.
8. The LED flexible tube accent lighting shall not be used and shall
be removed from the final plans.
9. The landscape plans are subject to review and approval of the City
Arborist.
10. All signage, including directional signage, shall be subject to final
review and approval of City Staff.
11. The Planning Commission was favorable to the design of the
proposed pylon sign, but requested that the applicant move it
further from the front property line.
12. Mechanical equipment that is located on the roof and visible from
the street level or from neighborhood properties shall be screened
with materials that blend harmoniously with the building facade
materials.
13. The applicant addressed sustainability initiatives for the project to
the satisfaction of the Planning Commission.
14. The Planning Commission was favorable to the proposed front f
agade transparency.
15. T he Planning Commission was favorable to the building material
selection and colors, and the awnings.
16. The Planning Commission recommended that the applicant
consider the location of a future trail connection from the site to
60`" Street and determine if a trail access should be placed on the
east or west sides of the property.
Carried 3 — 0.
VII. Old Business:
A. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grant:
City Planner Richards recapped the areas of discussion at the September
Planning Commission meeting and noted that the focus of the current
meeting discussion was review of the draft Alternative Energy Systems
Ordinance.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2010
Page 4 of 4
Richards reviewed and discussed with the Commission the proposed
Alternative Energy Systems Ordinance 401.17. Brief discussion ensued as
to content layout and the desire to have it laid out for ease of use and
understanding.
Richards stated that if the Commission was comfortable with the changes
that have been discussed, they should move to set a public hearing for the
consideration of amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Ordinance as they relate to the energy efficiency and conservation project.
Commissioner Dougherty, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to
schedule a public hearing at their November 18, 2010 meeting to consider
amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance as they
relate to energy efficiency and conservation.
Carried 3 — 0.
VIII. New Business: None.
IX. Informational:
Upcoming Planning Commission Meetings:
November 18, 2010 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers)
December 16, 2010 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers)
January 13, 2011 7:00 p.m. (Council Chambers)
Council Representative: October — Commissioner Powell
November — Commissioner Liljegren
December — Commissioner Bye
X. Adjournment:
Commissioner LeRoux seconded by Commissioner Dougherty, moved to adjourn
at 8:21 p.m. Carried 3 - 0.
Res .ectfully submitted,
1-,
Juli dI ultman
Pia ing & Code Enforcement Officer
Approved by the Planning Commission: 11-18-10.