HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-15 PC Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
1. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order
at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Fischer.
2. ROLL CALL
AI Bierbaum, Commissioner
Joseph Boeser, Commissioner
Tushar Desai,Commissioner
Lorraine Fischer, Chairperson
Robert Martin, Commissioner
Tanya Nuss, Commissioner
Gary Pearson, Commissioner
Dale Trippler, Commissioner
Jeremy Yarwood, Commissioner
Present
Present at 7:08 p.m.
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Staff Present:
Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner
Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the aqenda as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Pearson.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Under 6 b. Annual Report the commission requested that they agreed to not hold the annual tour
for 2011 since new construction projects are down. The commission said, however, that they
would consider holding a tour, or visiting a particular project or development should a subject of
interest come up during the year.
Commissioner Yarwood moved to approve the January 18. 2011. Planninq Commission minutes
as amended.
Seconded by Commissioner Pearson
Ayes - Chairperson Fischer,
Commissioners Bierbaum,
Pearson, Trippler & Yarwood
Abstentions - Commissioners Desai,
Martin, Nuss
The motion passed.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
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None.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Conditional Use Permit Revision for the Ramsey County Family Services
Center, 2011 Van Dyke Street
1. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the report on the CUP revision for the
Ramsey County Family Services Center and answered questions of the
commission.
2. Jim Anderson, Planner, Ramsey County Community Human Services, 160 Kellogg
Blvd, East, #9500, St. Paul.
Commissioner Pearson moved to adopt the resolution approvinq a conditional use
permit revision for the Ramsev County Familv Services Center. located at 2001 Van
Dvke Street. to increase the number of persons served in the facilitv from 55 to 65
(additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out):
1. All construction shall follow the site plan approved by the city. The director of
community development may approve minor changes.
2. The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council
approval or the permit shall become null and void. The council may extend this
deadline for one year.
3. The city council shall review this permit in one year.
4. The county shall add more parking to the site if the city council deems it necessary.
5. The allowed capacity of the facilitv shall be to provide shelter for 65 persons. There
shall be no increase in size or capacity of the structure without city council approval.
6. The county shall assume financial responsibility for all services provided to the
residents of the shelter that would normally be charged to the citizens (example:
ambulance and paramedic runs).
7. All elements of the listed Emergency Housing Program Parameters shall remain in
force unless a change is agreed to by the city council at a subsequent CUP review.
8. Ramsey County agrees to spend at least $70,000 on improvements to the county
fairgrounds and campus such as new lighting, a sign plan, a pedestrian/traffic safety
plan and staff/consultant time for working on grants for the restoration of the county
barn. All such plans or improvements shall be reviewed and comment on
improvements on the campus. Ramsey County also shall donate $70,000 to
Maplewood for building repair or improvements at the Bruentrup Farm at 2170 County
Road D. The county shall make this payment to Maplewood by October 1,2001,
unless the city council agrees to a time extension.
9. Parking spaces on the north side of the designated east-west Van Dyke Street shall
be redesigned in accordance with the concerns of the Fair Board in the use of this
area. The new layout shall meet with the approval of the Fair Board and the city. Each
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year at a prearranged time before and during fair week, all these new parking areas
shall be evacuated from the use of the Fair board at their discretion, if the use of
these is to be an advantage to them.
10. If at the time the city council determines there is a need, the county will contract for, or
provide from their own staff, security patrols in the complex, bounded by the Willard
Munger Trail, White Bear Avenue, Ripley Street and the Goodrich Golf course. Times
and extent of the patrol will be established at that point in time.
11. The conditional use permit shall be reviewed annually, and if the opinion of the city
council, any evidence of negative repercussion to the area, or valid reason that the
facility has caused undue hardship to the residents, the city may revoke the
conditional use permit with no financial obligation to the city and the normal
amortization process would not apply. The county would then have one hundred and
twenty (120) days to cease operations as a homeless shelter and devote the structure
to an acceptable planned backup use such as elderly care.
12. Ramsey County shall be responsible for the maintenance and plowing on the
sidewalk along White Bear Avenue from the county facilities to the Gateway Trail. The
city may take over the snow removal based upon an aqreeable arranqement with the
county. subiect to the approval of the city enqineer.
Seconded by Commissioner Yarwood.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
b. Renewable Energy Ordinance
Environmental Planner, Shann Finwall gave the report on the renewable energy
ordinance. During this month's review of the ordinance staff requested that the
planning commission discuss whether or not the city should allow wind turbines in
residential districts.
Commission comments included:
Several commissioners commented that a conditional use permit should be required
for wind turbines in residential zoning district.
Include a maximum blade length for wind turbines.
How are the wind turbines going to be monitored as far as upkeep and possible
abandonment issues?
Limit the kilowatt use of wind turbines for residential homes to 25kw.
The City of Maplewood should be on the front end of the curve rather than the back
end of the curve. How can we protect our homes and the impact these turbines would
have on the neighborhoods.
The city does not have to allow wind turbines in Maplewood. These turbines generate
noise, the units throw ice in the winter, and it will be difficult to ensure they are
maintained properly.
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In Maplewood there is not very good wind coverage, unless you live on a hill.
One commissioner commented that he can't support large WECS in planned unit
developments.
The large wind turbine systems don't have a place in residential or multi-family
districts.
Roof mounted wind turbines should be allowed to be mounted on the side of a wall
also.
This renewable energy ordinance will go to the city council for their first review during a
workshop on March 7, 2011.
c. Open Space and Parks Properties Zoning Map Changes to OSP
1. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the report on the Open Space and Parks
Zoning Map Changes to OSP and answered questions of the commission.
Staff also recommended the following changes:
1. The Harambee School site on County Road B east of Rice Street was included
since it was publicly owned by three school districts however, school properties
should not be rezoned to OSP.
2. The Edgerton Elementary School building site was shown to be rezoned OSP.
This site should remain F (farm) as currently zoned for the same reason as the
Harambee School site. School sites should not be zoned OSP.
3. The Maplewood City Hall campus was shown to be rezoned to OSP since it was a
city owned property. This should not be rezoned to OSP.
4. The MnDot right-of-way in the Holloway Marsh area should not be classified with
the OSP zoning since it is technically right-of-way which should not have a zoning.
The abutting Ramsey County owned parcels should be zoned OSP as proposed.
5. The Gethsemane Senior Housing site should remain as PUD and not be rezoned
as OSP.
Ramsey County Correctional Facility and Golf Course Property
One last property proposed for OSP rezoning is the Ramsey County Correctional Facility
site. It was shown this way because the correctional facility and golf course are on one
property. The dilemma was whether the city should rezone the entire parcel with the
correctional facility to OSP, or split the zoning to OSP for the golf course and to F, the
current farm zoning, for the correctional facility.
The city has recently been undergoing the rezoning properties with "split zones," or those
having two zoning categories, so that they have only one zoning. Staff recommends a full
rezoning to OSP for continuity in zoning within this parcel. In any event, changes made to
the correctional facility would require a conditional use permit no matter what the zoning is.
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Commissioner Nuss moved to approve the rezoninq of the 272 properties throuqhout the
city of Maplewood quided bv the 2030 Comprehensive Plan as either open space or park
and publiclv - owned to OSP (open space and parks) alonq with the proposed chanqes
from staff. minus the PIDs that will be removed from the list. Also approvinq the Ramsev
County Correctional Facilitv and Golf Course Property be rezoned to (F) Farm.
Seconded by Commissioner Trippler.
Ayes - All
The motion passed.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None.
9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
a. Commissioner Report on the city council meeting of January 24, 2011.
Commissioner Boeser attended. The item reviewed was the Woodland Hills Church
conditional use permit to operate a temporary homeless shelter.
b. City council meeting of February 14, 2011. Commissioner Yarwood was scheduled
to attend. The items scheduled for review are the 2010 Planning Commission Annual
Report and the Planning Commission's Annual Review of their Rules of Procedure.
c. Upcoming City Council meeting of February 28,2011. Commissioner Nuss is
scheduled to attend. At this time, the anticipated items for review are the Open Space
and Parks properties rezoning to OSP and the Ramsey County Family Services
Center CUP Revision.
Commissioner Bierbaum shared his experience with changing from a well to city water in
Maplewood.
10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand said because he will be gone the beginning of March the
next Planning Commission meeting will be at the second meeting of March.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Fischer adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
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