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Home My WebLink About2012-05-01 PC Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2012 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 Tanya Nuss, Commissioner Gary Pearson, Commissioner Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Present Absent Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the aqenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes - All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Boeser moved to approve the March 20. 2012. PC minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Trippler. Ayes - All The motion passed. 5. PUBLIC HEARING a. 7:00 p.m. or later: Sign Setback Variances for Holiday Stationstore, 280 McKnight Road South i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand addressed the commission and gave the report to the commission. ii. Michael Cronin, Holiday Stationstore, 280 McKnight Road South addressed and answered questions of the commission. May 1, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 Commissioner Boeser moved to approve the resolution approvinq the followinq siqn-separation variances for 280 McKniqht Road South: Northerlv Freestandinq Siqn . Reduction of the spacing requirement from the Ramsey County Regional Park from 200 to 90 feet (110 foot variance). . Reduction of the spacing requirement from the town home property to the south from 200 to 180 feet (20 foot variance). Southerlv Freestandinq Siqn . Reduction of the spacing from the town home property to the south from 200 to 25 feet (175 foot variance). . Reduction of the side yard spacing requirement from 100 feet to 25 feet (75 foot variance). Approval of these variances is based on the following findings: 1. Because of the right-angle orientation of the two signs, along with the wooded nature of the nearby regional park, the proposed sign panels would be in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the ordinance. This orientation would prevent them from being seen at the same time and becoming potentially distracting to drivers as could same-orientation signs. 2. The proposed dynamic display sign panel on the north pylon sign is set at a right angle to the wooded open space across Lower Afton Road making it less noticeable from that direction. 3. The two proposed signs would be consistent with the comprehensive plan. They provide commercial-development elements that would be compatible with this commercial site and conform to the goals of the comprehensive plan. 4. There are practical difficulties in complying with the spacing requirements of the ordinance. According to statute, practical difficulties mean tha the applicant would use the property in a "reasonable manner" not permitted by the ordinance. In this case, it seems reasonable to staff to allow both signs, because: . The evergreens on the south side of the property would buffer the proposed sign from the nearby neighbors. . The two proposed Holiday dynamic display signs would be set at right angles to each other preventing the appearance of "sign proliferation," "sign clutter" or adding to "sign distraction." . The abutting part of the Battle Creek Regional Park is a non-active park. The sign would not be a detraction since this is a wooded area and the only active element is a trail section within the woods. . The site is extensively developed with a commercial building, fuel islands, fueling center and lighting. It is also affected by a significant amount of commercial activity. Considering that, two four by eight foot signs would not be a significant addition ot this existing commercial site. Approval is subject to compliance with the following condition: May 1, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2 1. All of the evergreen trees on the south side of the site and south of the southerly pylon sign shall remain. If these evergreens are removed for any reason, whether by the natural death of the trees or by their intentional removal, the south-facing dynamic display sign panel shall be removed. There shall be 100 percent opaque screeninq from the south pvlon siqn maintained at all times for the residential dwellinq windows to the south. 2. Turn all power off to both siqns on McKniqht Road and Lower Aflon Road outside of the store's normal operational hours. Seconded by Commissioner Pearson. Ayes - Chairperson Fischer, Commissioner's Bierbaum, Boeser, Nuss & Pearson Nav - Commissioner Trippler The motion passed. Commissioner Trippler voted nay because he believes the city council should look into revising the ordinances so they don't have to be granting variances that are almost 100% of the setbacks. Later during the planning commission meeting the planning commission decided they wanted to add additional information to item 5 a. Commissioner Trippler moved that the planninq commission recommend staff to look at the siqn code ordinance to see if it can be modified to handle these special situations or put lanquaqes into the ordinance so the citv is not put in a difficult position of havinq to qrant 87Y:! percent variances from the ordinance. Seconded by Commissioner Pearson. Ayes - Chairperson Fischer, Commissioner's Bierbaum, Boeser, Pearson & Trippler Nav - Commissioner Nuss The motion passed. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Ordinance Amendment Regarding Variances for Commercial Use Antennas and Towers, Section 44-1334 i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand addressed the commission and gave the report. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the resolution amendinq Section 44-334 as it relates to qrantinq variances to the Commercial Use Antennas and Towers Ordinance. Seconded by Commissioner Bierbaum. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on June 11, 2012. b. Ordinance Amendment Regarding Variances for Metal Storage Buildings, Section 12-5 (d) May 1, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 3 i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand addressed the commission and gave the report. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the resolution amendinq Section 12-5 (d) as it relates to qrantinq variances to the Metal Storaqe Buildinq Ordinance. Seconded by Commissioner Pearson. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on June 11, 2012. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner report for the city council meeting of April 9, 2012. Commissioner Nuss was scheduled to attend however there were no items scheduled for the planning commission at this meeting. b. Commissioner report for the city council meeting of April 23, 2012. Commissioner Bierbaum was scheduled to attend however, there were no items scheduled for the planning commission at this meeting. c. Upcoming city council meeting of May 14, 2012. The Holiday stationstore sign variances are scheduled for this meeting. Chairperson Fischer is scheduled to attend. 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand discussed the idea of combining the Planning Commission & Community Design Review Board together. The idea of combining boards and commissions will be discussed at the City Council Workshop scheduled for June 4, 2012. Commissioner Nuss liked the idea of combining the boards and commissions. The planning commission should be involved in some of the areas that the CDRB covers. Commissioner Boeser said the meetings used to run late a few years ago so that could be a concern combining the boards and commissions. Commissioner Trippler asked how many members there would be if the boards and commissions were combined. 11. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fischer adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m. May 1, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 4