HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-16 CUP Compliance Site Review Memo City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.
P.O. Box 2007
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Phone: 651.439.4439 Fax: 651.439.0574
Memo
To: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
From: Julie Hultman, Planning & Code Enforcement Officer
Date: August 16, 2011
Re: A -1 Maintenance — 5845 Stagecoach Trail N. — Site Review
Building Official Butler and I visited the A -1 Maintenance site and conducted a review of the
site in relation to the conditions imposed upon it by the Conditional Use Permit issued to Jon
Nelson on November 15, 1994 for its operations.
The following conditions remain unmet or are in violation:
• Item II -C of Mr. Nelson's CUP does not permit outside storage of materials or
equipment.
There is considerable outdoor storage of equipment (trailers, chipper, plows, etc.), materials
(blocks, pallets, etc.) and general debris.
• Item II -H of Mr. Nelson's CUP directs that (a) the parking and driveway areas be
surfaced with an asphalt material to control dust; and (b) that nine 8' x 20' parking
spaces and one 16' x 20' handicap accessible parking space be created and that the
applicant submit a site plan for City Engineer review for the same, including curb and
gutter requirements. The incorporated Planners Report suggests placing additional
parking spaces parallel to the driveways which extend to the garage doors on either
side of the building due to the limited size of the lot.
I found no record of a site plan having been provided to or reviewed by the City Engineer for
approval.
There are approximately three parking spaces and one handicap accessible space at the north
side of the front drive and approximately five at the south side, with one of them filled with a
dumpster and other materials /items. None of these parking areas are striped as required by
item 1.3 of the CUP approval, nor is there any curb and gutter in place.
The City Council reviewed Mr. Nelson's CUP in 1997. The 11 -25 -1997 City Council Minutes
reflect City Planner Richards stating that the driveway is supposed to be completely paved
and the City Council stating that that Mr. Nelson was to pave the lot. Presently, the drive
area is hard - surfaced from Stagecoach Trail, inside the fenced area to the front of the building
and just beyond to the garage door area. Areas to each side of the building and the rear have
not been paved and appear to be well traveled.
At the time of visit, there were 7 vehicles parked to the outside of the northern fence and 1 to
the outside of the southern fence, upon the grass. City Ordinance 401.15 does not allow for
vehicle parking upon yards. The ground appearances at these locations suggest that this has
been a regular practice. The vehicles parked were passenger vehicles and did not bear any
company identification upon them.
• Items II -E and II -F of Mr. Nelson's CUP directs screening in the form of two fences at
the west side (facing Stagecoach Trail) of the property that extend around the corner
of the lot at each side of the centrally located drive be placed with landscaping that
shall include trees and additional low height vegetation in front of the fences.
There is a screening fence at the property front, at each side of the centrally located drive,
that extends approx. 31' around the north and south sides of the property. The side fence
sections, particularly to the north are in rough shape, with some sections falling over. The
landscaping /screening in front of the fence includes one mature tree to the north section and
two to the south section. Both sections have minimal low height vegetation.
• Item 1.2 noted that no exterior lighting shall be implemented on the premises except
as may be approved by the Building Inspector and that lighting shall be hooded and so
directed that the light source is not visible from the right -of -way or from a residential
zone or use.
Security type lighting has been installed to the north and south sides of the building front. I
found no record of their installation being reviewed by the Building Inspector. The flood lights
installed do not comply with full cut off requirements as outlined in City Ordinance 401.
• Item 1.3 addressed site improvement which were detailed in the 1994 planning report,
including (a) an awning for the building front with logo; (b) painting of the building
exterior; and installation of a small bay window at the building front.
The awning had been installed but was removed in 2009 when they resided the building
front. It has not been replaced. There is a small window at the front, near the entry, though
it is not a bay window. The building appears to have been painted at least once having been
white and blue in 1997 and is now white and green; though the white is not solid in all areas
and overall the building appearance is somewhat shabby.
• Item II. K of Mr. Nelson's approval relates to drainage and directs you to the 1994
planning report incorporated as part of the conditional use permit document.
I find no specific language to drainage in the 1994 planning report; however there is visible
erosion to the north, east and south side yards of the property to the rear of the building. It
also appears that the side yards have been used as a dumping area for brush.
c: Jim Butler, Building Official