HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-01-10 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, January 10, 2013 — Oak Park Heights City Hall
Call to Order: Chair Bye called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present: Commissioners Anthony, Bye, LeRoux, and Thurmes; City Administrator Johnson,
City Planner Richards and Commission Liaison Runk.
II. Approval of Agenda:
Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Chair By, moved to approve the Agenda as presented.
Carried 4 - 0.
III. Adjourn to Work Session — Planning Commission Vacancy Interviews: Chair Bye
adjourned to the work session.
IV. Reconvene Regular Meeting: Chair Bye reconvene the regular meeting.
A. Commission Appointment Recommendation: Discuss and make recommendation
for appointment to Planning Commission vacancies.
Chair Bye noted that a work session had been held to interview four applicants to
two Commission vacancies and noted that Commission consensus was to
recommend Beth Nelson for appointment to the immediate Commission vacancy and
to ask applicants Jim Kremer and Guy Sederski to return for continued discussion in
February with respect to the second vacancy becoming available later this Spring.
Commissioner Anthony, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to recommend
City Council appointment of Beth Nelson to the Planning Commission. Carried 4 - 0.
V. Approval of December 13, 2012 Meeting Minutes:
Commissioner LeRoux, seconded by Commissioner Anthony, moved to approve the minutes
as presented. Carried 4 - 0.
VI. Department /Commission Liaison / Other Reports:
Commission Liaison Runk informed the Commission that he is the Commission Liaison for
2013 and that Councilmember Dougherty is the Commission Liaison Alternate.
VII. Visitors/Public Comment: None.
Planning Commission Minutes
January 10, 2013
Page 2 of 4
VIII. Public Hearings:
A. Zoning Ordinance 401: Consider amendments allowing temporary outside sales as
an accessory use in Zoning Districts B -2, B -4 and those areas zoned Commercial
Planned Unit Development (PUD).
City Planner Richards reviewed the January 3, 2012 planning report related to
temporary outside sales uses, recommending that these uses be permitted in zoning
districts B -2, B -4, and those zoned commercial planned unit development (PUD) by
annual administrative permit. Richards discussed specific limitation
recommendations for these types of uses for the Commission to consider.
City Administrator Johnson discussed the situation of Linder's seasonal garden
center, which has been situated in the parking area at Oak Park Ponds for years and
that while Linder's has approval from the retail center leasing agent, the City is
without a vehicle to grant authority for them to operate as they have. He noted that
there have been occasions where other businesses operations have shown up to a
parking area and have established a sales point. Administrative permits would help
to facilitate these types of uses as well as provide authority to monitor operations for
safety.
Commission discussion ensued as to volume of requests for this type of use, types of
temporary outside sales, application process, permit and fee requirements and
property owner approval.
Chair Bye opened the hearing for public comment. There being no visitors to the
public hearing, Chair Bye closed the hearing.
Commissioner Anthony, seconded by Commissioner Thurmes, moved to recommend
the City Council approve the amendments recommended within the January 3, 2013
Planning Report, as amended, allowing temporary outside sales, such as garden
centers, garden produce sales, fireworks sales, or holiday decorations /tree sales by
annual administrative permit.
Carried 4 — 0.
IX. New Business:
A. Redevelopment Planning — 12969 60 St. N. Work Program & Options.
City Administrator Johnson noted that the site is under contract for purchase by The
Excelsior Group and that closing on the property was anticipated to occur within the
next week.
Planning Commission Minutes
January 10, 2013
Page 3 of 4
City Planner Richards reviewed the January 3, 2013 planning memorandum
regarding options and a work plan for the former Hecker automobile dealership
property located at 12969 60 St. N. Richards inquired as to what the Commission
felt may be an ideal land use or land use mix at the site and discussed some of the
challenges to the site such as access from the highway and limitations imposed by the
power lines at the site.
City Administrator Johnson noted that automotive dealership and fitness center
uses have been mentioned in informal conversations with the developer; however it
is his understanding that they have no established plan at this time and are open to
possibilities.
Discussion ensued as to potential uses for the site such as market rate residential —
retail mixed use, fitness center, and community center and issues related to them as
well as potential issues to the site if the owner elects to demolish the existing
building. Johnson noted that the concept of a community center in the area is a
concept that has been discussed. He reminded the Commission that the site is
approximately 4.5 acres with higher commercial value and that the City currently has
a limited capacity for future commercial development. He noted that he anticipated
the property owner to be in attendance at the February Planning Commission
meeting, at which time they would likely share their expectations for the site..
B. Vice Chair: Nominate and elect Vice Chair to fulfill outgoing Vice -Chair term to
commence January, 2013 and culminate March, 2014.
This item was continued to the February meeting to allow staff to review information
related to the election and term for the Vice Chair.
X. Old Business: None
XI. Informational:
A. Upcoming Meetings:
• Tuesday, January 22, 2013 City Council 7:00 p.m. /City Hall
• Tuesday, February 12, 2013 City Council 7:00 p.m. /City Hall
• Thursday, February 14, 2013 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. /City Hall
• Tuesday, February 26, 2013 City Council 7:00 p.m. /City Hall
B. Council Representative
• Tuesday, January 22, 2013 — Commissioner Thurmes
• Tuesday, February 26, 2013 — Commissioner Anthony
• Tuesday, March 26, 2013 — Commissioner Bye
Planning Commission Minutes
January 10, 2013
Page 4 of 4
C. Oak Park Sr. Living — 13936 Lower 59 St. N.: City Administrator Johnson
informed the Commission that the developer of Oak Park Sr. Living had been in
contact with the City as to potential changes to the building and simply wanted to
make them aware that there was a possible pending application forthcoming. He
noted that at this time nothing has been scheduled; however it is anticipated that the
developer will meet with the City Council in a work session format to discuss his
modifications in relation to the conditions granted within the approval for the
building. Johnson will see that the Commission is informed as to the status of the
matter.
XII. Adjourn: Commissioner Anthony, seconded by Commissioner LeRoux, moved to
adjourn the meeting at 9:01 p.m. Carried 4— 0.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie ltman
Plann g & Code Enforcement
Approved by the Planning Commission: 02 -14 -2013