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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-01 PC Minutes July 1, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014 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 Desai. 2. ROLL CALL Paul Arbuckle, Commissioner Absent Al Bierbaum, Commissioner Absent Tushar Desai, Chairperson Present Yaya Diatta, Commissioner Present at 7:01 p.m. John Donofrio, Commissioner Present Allan Ige, Commissioner Present Bill Kempe, Commissioner Present Donn Lindstrom, Commissioner Present Dale Trippler, Commissioner Present Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Staff stated item 9.d. the last sentence is incorrect and should be eliminated regarding national night out. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Ige. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the June 17, 2014, PC minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Kempe. Ayes – Chairperson Desai, Commissioner’s Donofrio, Ige, Kempe & Trippler Abstentions – Commissioner’s Diatta & Lindstrom The motion passed. 5. PUBLIC HEARING a. 7:00 p.m. or later: Approval of the following requests for Chuck Whitaker to Operate a Used-Car Sales Business at 1081 Highway 36: (Revised from original agenda) 1) A conditional use permit for Used-Car Sales 2) A Variance for Used-Car Sales Closer than 350 feet to a Residential District July 1, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand revised the wording for number 1) and 2) from the original agenda and then gave the presentation and answered questions of the commission. ii. The applicant, Charles Whitaker, 1081 Highway 36 East, Maplewood, addressed and answered questions of the commission. Chairperson Desai opened the public hearing. 1. Bryan Derhim, 2431 Cypress Street, Maplewood, addressed the commission. Concerns of the commission and the resident that spoke were the condition of the building, parking, and the impact on the neighborhood from people test driving cars. The loading or unloading of cars on nearby streets or surrounding properties and the hours of operation. Chairperson Desai closed the public hearing. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the conditional use permit resolution to allow used-car sales at 1081 Highway 36. Approval is based on the findings required by ordinance and subject to the following conditions: (additions or deletions to the conditions are underlined or in bold). 1. All construction shall follow the plans date-stamped June 11, 2014, approved by the city. Staff may approve minor changes. 2. The proposed use 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 after review and good-cause is shown. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 4. This permit requires that cars for sale be kept indoors as proposed. 5. Any signs shall be installed in accordance with the Maplewood Sign Ordinance. 6. The applicant shall pave the area behind the building to eliminate the graveled parking and driveway surfaces. The property owner shall also do the same in the area behind Hirshfield’s at the same time to clean up the site. 7. The applicant shall direct his staff to avoid the residential neighborhood for test drives. 8. Cars should be unloaded on site not on the streets or nearby properties. 9. Hours of operation shall be Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the variance resolution for the proposed Whitaker used car sales business to be less than 350 feet from a residential district. The proposed use would be 190 feet away. This variance approval is based on the following findings: 1. The proposed variance would be in harmony with the intent of the ordinance. With a 350 foot separation from a residential property, the code attempts to buffer auto sales activities from residents. In this case, there would be no outdoor car sales or displays, to eliminate any neighborhood impact. July 1, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 32. The use would be consistent with the comprehensive plan since it is classified commercial and auto sales are a commercial activity. 3. There are practical difficulties in complying with the ordinance. The existing building is closer than 350 feet to the nearest residentially zoned property. This proximity is nothing the applicant can control. This “practical difficulty” is being addressed by the applicant by operating his used car sales business inside the building. Other than test drives, there would be no impact on the neighborhood. The residential district to the north, furthermore, is almost fully screened by mature trees from this commercial property. Seconded by Commissioner Kempe. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on July 14, 2014. 6. NEW BUSINESS None. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commission presentation for the May 23, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Bierbaum was scheduled to attend but there were no planning commission items that required representation. b. Commission representation for the July 14, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Donofrio is scheduled to attend. Items to be reviewed are the Days Inn CUP to convert the hotel use to senior housing, the preliminary and final plat for the Maekloth Addition and the CUP Variance for the Whitaker used car sales business. c. Commission representation for the July 28, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Kempe is scheduled to attend but there are no items that require planning commission representation at this time. d. Commission representation for the August 11, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Lindstrom is scheduled to attend. 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Planning Commission Meeting Cancellation – August 5, 2014, due to National Night Out 11. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Desai adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.