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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-01-18 PC Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 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 Absent Present Absent Absent 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 Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the December 7.2010. minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Pearson. Ayes - Chairperson Fischer, Commissioners Bierbaum, Boeser, Pearson & Yarwood Abstention - Commissioner Trippler The motion passed. 5. PUBLIC HEARING None. January 18, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Renewable Energy Ordinance i. Environmental Planner, Shann finwall gave the Renewable Energy Ordinance report and answered questions of the commission. ii. ENR Commissioner, Ginny Yingling answered questions of the commission. Planner finwall gave an introduction of the renewable energy ordinance. The Environmental and Natural Resources Commission reviewed the ordinance during several meetings in 2010 and recommended approval of the ordinance in December 2010. The ordinance will help the city promote and regulate renewable energy sources including wind, solar, and geothermal. This is the first time the planning commission will review the ordinance. Because of the detail involved, staff is hoping to touch on the highlights and gain initial feedback on the ordinance during this meeting. Questions and items discussed by the planning commission in regard to the ordinance include: . Roof mounted turbine heights. . City liability issues for turbines that fall over. . Aesthetics of turbines. . Ice throws from turbines. . How will the city enforce the noise ordinance with wind turbines? . Turbines will require large equipment to maintain. Is this appropriate in residential areas? . Allowing wind turbines in residential areas does not seem like an acceptable use. There are too many nuisance issues that could result from this. . Turbines in planned unit developments. Planner finwall summarized that the planning commission's main concern with the proposed ordinance which had to do with allowing wind turbines in residential districts. During the next planning commission review of the ordinance, staff will discuss this issue further including requiring certain lot sizes, increased setbacks, or neighborhood approval. b. 2010 Planning Commission Annual Report i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the 2010 Planning Commission Annual Report and answered questions of the commission. The commission 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 Trippler moved to approve the 2010 Planninq Commission Annual Report with suqqestions to staff to double check the numbers tallied in the staff report Seconded by Commissioner Pearson. Ayes - All The motion passed. January 18, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2 c. Planning Commission Rules of Procedure Annual Review i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the Planning Commission Rules of Procedure Annual Review and answered questions of the commission. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the Planninq Commission Rules of Procedure Annual Review with the recommendation to eliminate the reference to "Park Department and Parks Director". Seconded by Commissioner Boeser. Ayes - All The motion passed. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Ron Cockriel, Maplewood. Spoke about the CIP proposal for the East Metro Fire Facility/Marshlands. Presented as East County Metro Fire Facility/Marshlands. Mr. Cockriel spoke about the land and wetlands at that location where this facility is being proposed to be built. The commission requested that Mr. Cockriel speak to the City Council about revisiting the CIP for this proposal and share his concerns with the council as a whole. 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Report on the City Council Meeting of December 13,2010. Commissioner Boeser was unable to attend. The items reviewed were the first reading of the Open Space and Parks Ordinance, the second reading of the Cellular Telephone Tower Ordinance amendment and the rezoning of 2433 Highwood Avenue from F to R1. b. Commissioner Report on the City Council Meeting of January 10, 2011. Commissioner Trippler was scheduled to attend but was called that it was not necessary for him to attend. The items to be reviewed were the conditional use permit revision for Woodland Hills Church (but the applicant was unable to be present so it was tabled) and the second reading of the Open Space and Parks Ordinance which staff took care of. c. Upcoming City Council Meeting of January 24, 2011. Commissioner Desai is scheduled to attend but is unable to attend so a substitute is requested. There are no anticipated items for review at this time. Commissioner Boeser offered to attend for Commissioner Desai and Commissioner Trippler offered to be the alternate. 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS None. 11. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fischer adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. January 18, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 3