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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-12-2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, May 12, 2011— Oak Park Heights City Hall L Call to Order Chair Bye called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Dougherty, Liljegren, and Commissioner Powell; City Administrator Johnson, City Planner Richards, and Commission Liaison Abrahamson. Absent: Vice Chair LeRoux. II. Approval of A eg nda Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Dougherty, moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Carried 4 - 0. III. Adjourn to Worksession — Planning Commission Vacancy Interviews Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren moved to adjourn to the worksession portion of the meeting for the purpose of conducting interviews of the candidates to fill one position on the Planning Commission. Carried 4 -0. IV. Reconvene Regular Meeting Chair Bye reconvened the regular Planning Commission meeting. Vice Chair LeRoux present. V. Approval of March 10, 2011 Meeting Minutes Vice Chair LeRoux, seconded by Chair Bye, moved to approve the minutes as presented. Carried 5 - 0. VI. Department /Commission Liaison / Other Reports None VII. Visitors/Public Comment None VIII. Public Hearings A. Theresa Lannue to consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit related to the placement of an accessory building at 14174 Upper 54 St. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the May 4, 2011 Planning Memorandum to the request for placement of an 10' x 16' accessory structure to the side yard to replace a 7' x 10' accessory structure that previously existed in the side yard location. Discussion ensued, wherein the Commission moved and seconded to recommend City Council approval of the conditional use permit request, subject to the following conditions: 1. The accessory structure and the adjacent garage shall be compliant with all Building Code requirements subject to review and approval of the Building Official. Planning Commission Minutes May 12, 2011 Page 2 of 6 2. The accessory structure shall be painted the same color as the house. The trim, siding and door colors of the accessory structure shall match that of the house trim, siding and garage door. 3. The shingles of the accessory structure shall match the house shingles as close as possible. 4. The accessory structure shall be set back at least two feet from the front of the garage. 5. Drainage plans for the property with the new accessory structure and construction of the paved driveway shall be approved by the City Engineer. 6. Any other conditions of the City Council. Carried 5 — 0. B. Xcel Energy to consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment — Interim Use to allow Max Todo Marine Services, Inc. interim use of boat landing area for barge parking /staging area at Xcel Energy -A.S. King Generating Plant at 1103 King Plant Rd. City Planner Richards reviewed the May 5, 2011 Planning Report as to the request, providing an issue analysis, discussing interim use conditions for Max Todo business operations at the boat landing site and recommended conditions to be attached to any approval for the Commissions consideration. Discussion ensued, wherein the Commission moved and seconded to recommend City Council approval of the conditional use permit request, subject to the following conditions: 1. The Interim Use of the site by Max Todo Marine Services shall be limited to five years from the date of City Council approval. The applicant may request an extension of the Interim Use Permit by the City Council prior to its expiration. 2. Any freestanding lighting placed on the site shall be in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and subject to review and approval of City staff. 3. The applicant shall take measures to minimize soil run off into the St Croix River. A soil erosion plan or any grading and drainage plans for the site shall be subject to review and approval of the City Engineer. 4. The City will not require conformance with the Design Guidelines for the project. Planning Commission Minutes May 12, 2011 Page 3 of 6 5. The applicant shall position equipment and materials stored on the property in such a way as to reduce its visibility .from the St Croix River. 6. All work associated with the barge activities will occur between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, unless the equipment is needed for response to an emergency such as recovery of a sunken boat. 7. No bulk fuel tanks will be stored at the boat landing. 8. The plans are subject to review and approval of the Department of Natural Resources and any other state or federal regulating agency, if applicable. Carried 5 — 0. C. MCF -Oak Park Heights to consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit Amendment related to lighting elements of proposed parking lot security upgrade design at 5329 Osgood Ave. N. City Planner Richards reviewed the May 4, 2011 Planning Report as to the request, noting that the request related to the parking lot lighting improvements and that the conditional use permit amendment request is to increase the parking lot pole heights to greater than 25' as allowed by City Ordinance. Richards also noted that the fixtures show lenses that extend beyond the shielding and that as part of any approval, full cut off shielding would be required. Noting visitors to the public hearing, Chair Bye opened the public hearing and invited comment. Cliff Buikema of DLR Group introduced himself and noted that he had DLR Grou Electrical Engineer, Kelly Artz and MCF -OPH Warden Jessica Symmes with him to address any questions the Commission may have regarding the request in front of them. Discussion ensued with Chair Bye asked the applicant if they had any concerns or comments as to the recommendations set forth in the Planning Report. Mr. Buikema and Mr. Artz addressed the recommendations noting that the fixture lenses they propose to use are flat so that full cut off would be effectuated. Council Liaison Abrahamson noted a public hearing comment received from a Baytown resident, who is a neighbor to the prison that is concerned with increased lighting toward their and other prison neighbors' homes. Planning Commission Minutes May 12, 2011 Page 4 of 6 City Administrator Johnson noted that the parking lot upgrades and lighting were only one part of the overall improvement project to the prison and asked the applicant to briefly walk through the other aspects of the improvement plan to the MCF -OPH facility. Kelly Artz of DLR complied with City Administrator Johnson's request and discussed the security improvements planned for the site to include improved security cameras and lighting at the parking lot area, internal prison yard area, and to the facility perimeter. Mr. Kelly discussed the improvements to some detail, noting light fixture additions, direction of lighting and more. Mr. Artz and Mr. Buikema responded to questions from the Commission and discussed the project timing form implementation as well as the proposed condition of the City reserving authority to impose conditions on the security lighting or other security measures within the perimeter of the correctional facility if issues with neighborhood interference occur. Vice Chair LeRoux, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to recommend the City Council approve the request subject to the following conditions: 1. All lighting fixtures of the parking lot shall be full cut off and installed in compliance with the lighting standards of the Zoning Ordinance, with the exception of the fixture height. 2. The City shall reserve the authority to impose conditions on the security lighting or other security measures within the perimeter of the correctional facility if issues with neighborhood interference occur. 3. Any other conditions of the City Council. Carried 5 — 0. D. Zoning Ordinance 401.30 to review B -2, General Business District performance standards and consider amendments to the same. City Planner Richards reviewed the May 4, 2011 Planning Report discussing the proposed amendment. Brief discussion ensued. Chair Bye, seconded by Vice Chair LeRoux moved to recommend City Council approved the amendment as proposed by City Planner Richards in his May 4, 2011 Planning Report, amending Zoning Ordinance 401.30.E.11 adding conditional use permit allowances for buildings in excess of three- stories or thirty -five feet within the B -2, General Business District. Carried 5 — 0. Planning Commission Minutes May 12, 2011 Page 5 of 6 IX. New Business A. Commission Appointment Recommendation Chair Bye noted that five applicants were interviewed for one position and moved to adjourn for a brief worksession to discuss the vacancy, seconded by Vice Chair LeRoux. Carried 5 -0. Upon reconvening the regular meeting Chair Bye, seconded by Commissioner Powell, moved to recommend that the City Council appoint Daniel Squyres to the Planning Commission vacancy for a 3 -year term commencing June 1, 2011 and culminating May 31, 2014. Carried 5 — 0. B. Discuss Technology Devices (IPAD Etc.) for Commissioners City Administrator Johnson noted that there had been some discussion as to the possibilities of utilizing technology devices such as laptops, ipads or similar devices to move away from the use of paper materials for packets and similar and asked the Commission for their thoughts. Discussion ensued as to advantages of such a move including ready access to information to research issues at hand, reduction in paper, convenience and disadvantages such as the expense of implementing and upkeep, security. A couple of alternatives were noted in lieu of a City issued device such as using a personal device to access certain items with a link and /or password or using them to view items emailed to them. It was noted that some City Councilmembers have tried such a device in lieu of paper and have like them. City Administrator thanked the Commission for their feedback. X. Old Business None. XI. Informational A. Upcoming Meetings: • Tuesday, May 24, 2011 City Council 7:00 p.m. /City Hall • Thursday, June 16, 2011 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. /City Hall • Tuesday, June 28, 2011 City Council 7:00 p.m. /City Hall B. Council Representative: • Tuesday, May 24, 2011 — Commissioner Bye • Tuesday, June 28, 2011 — Commissioner Dougherty Planning Commission Minutes May 12, 2011 Page 6 of 6 XII. Adjourn Commissioner Powell, seconded by Commissioner Liljegren, moved to adjourn the meeting. Carried 5 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Julie �Ultman Planning & Code Enforcement Officer Approved by the Planning Commission: June 16, 2011.