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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-04 PC Minutes June 4, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairperson Fischer. 2. ROLL CALL Paul Arbuckle, Commissioner Present Al Bierbaum, Commissioner Present Tushar Desai, Commissioner Absent John Donofrio, Commissioner Absent Larry Durand, Commissioner Present Lorraine Fischer, Chairperson Present Allan Ige, Commissioner Present Bill Kempe, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff requested 6.b. Postponing elections of Chair and Vice Chair until June 18, 2013, due to two commission members being absent. And 10.a. Discussion of whether there will be a quorum for the July 2, 2013, planning commission meeting with that being the week of the fourth of July and 10. b. A Discussion regarding receiving an electronic planning commission packet verses the paper packets the commission currently receives. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Arbuckle. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Bierbaum moved to approve the May 21, 2013, PC minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ige. Ayes – Chairperson Fischer, Commissioner’s Arbuckle, Bierbaum, Durand, Ige, & Kempe Abstention – Commissioner Trippler The motion passed. June 4, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 25. PUBLIC HEARING None. 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Consideration of Commercial vs. Residential Land Use and Zoning for Van Dyke Street Properties i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the report on commercial vs. residential land use and zoning for Van Dyke Street properties. In summary the planning commission does not support a plan amendment and rezoning to commercial without a specific development plan to consider. Then it would depend on elements such as traffic impact, traffic flow, screening from residential neighbors and compatibility with neighbors. 1. There was concern that the roundabout, with one lane, would not accommodate turns into the city lot very easily. They felt that if it could be widened to have two lanes, it would be less encumbering for a car to turn into the site since it would allow a following-car to pass by on the inside. Staff stated they were sure the roundabout was designed to meet proper standards for traffic management. 2. The commission felt that if the city lot was combined with the lot to the south as one buildable parcel, then access may be best to come from the undeveloped street south of that lot. This would take the traffic burden away from Van Dyke Street, at least for the conflict of turns in and out of these lots. 3. The commission was not very comfortable in re-guiding and rezoning this without a specific development proposal. The commission did not feel that establishing these as commercial properties was wise since then any BC use could go in which may not be appropriate in this area that has residential neighbors. 4. The commission felt some commercial uses would be acceptable, but not all. Less intensive uses like a neighborhood coffee shop or sandwich shop may be ok. The example of a car wash was a definite “no”. 5. The commission’s views were no different if the potential was for the city lot to be developed as commercial vs. residential if the city lot was combined with the lot to the south. Basically, they did not like a change to BC without a specific plan to consider. That, in fact, has been the city’s attitude for such changes – it has not been considered to be a good idea to change a zoning unless we know “for what use.” A student that was in attendance, Jessica Boujae, shared comments regarding the Van Dyke street properties. b. Election of Chair and Vice Chair (no report) The election of Chair and Vice Chair is postponed until June 18, 2013. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. June 4, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 38. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Kempe will be the Planning Commission representation for the June 10, 2013 city council meeting. The items scheduled for review are the conditional use permit revision for the First Evangelical Free Church and the Resolution of Appreciation for Stephen Wensman. 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Discussion of whether there will be a quorum for the July 2, 2013, planning commission meeting with that being the week of the fourth of July. Most commission members said they would be available for the meeting but staff will check back at the next planning commission meeting. b. Discussion regarding receiving an electronic planning commission packet verses the paper packets the commission currently receives. Staff asked how the commission felt about receiving an electronic packet verses a paper packet. Commission members felt they either had to print the packet and use their own paper at home or the city continues to print the packet and pay postage to mail the packets. Either way it doesn’t save paper in the end. The commission asked how they would view attachments or booklets provided by the applicant if they received the electronic version of the planning commission packet. 11. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Fischer adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.