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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-11-18 PC Minutes November 18, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 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 Acting Chairperson Arbuckle. 2. ROLL CALL Paul Arbuckle, Commissioner Present Al Bierbaum, Commissioner Absent Tushar Desai, Chairperson Absent 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 Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Donofrio. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Trippler had corrections or additions to the minutes on pages 3, 7, 8 & 9. On page 3, item 14, the paragraph should be reworded to read: Subleased large non historical fundraising events with 100 or more people in attendance are allowed six 40 times per year. Historical events conducted by the MAHS, events conducted by the city of Maplewood and events with less than 100 people in attendance shall not count towards the maximum number of events held each year. On page 7, b. 1. Commissioner Trippler wanted to know how the resident felt during the public hearing. The following should be added: Ms. Tarble asked the commission about site elements like lighting and signage. Staff stated that all codes would have to be met for such things. On page 8. Commissioner Trippler wanted an explanation of Commissioner Donofrio’s nay vote. Commissioner Donofrio voted nay because he felt the city should include the northerly parcel in their property sale since this site doesn’t seem very marketable. On page 9. Item b. i. Commissioner Trippler asked staff to revise the wording which was changed to: i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand opened up the discussion regarding dwelling unit size requirements for senior housing. Staff answered questions of the commission who did favor the establishment of some senior housing unit-size guidelines. November 18, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 2 Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the October 21, 2014, PC minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Kempe. Ayes – Acting Chairperson Arbuckle, Commissioner’s Donofrio, Ige, & Lindstrom Abstentions – Commissioner Kempe, & Trippler The motion passed. 5. PUBLIC HEARING a. 7:00 p.m. or later: Approval of the following requests for U-Haul to expand their business to the former Goodwill Property, 2250 White Bear Avenue: i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the presentation on U-Haul and answered questions of the commission. ● A conditional use permit for indoor storage in a business commercial zoning district ● A conditional use permit to lease motor vehicles ● A variance to lease trucks and trailers within 350 feet of residentially zoned property The commission discussed the proposed fencing, whether rental trucks could make it around the round-about, and the concern made by McDonald’s having U-Haul trucks going through their drive thru. Acting Chairperson Arbuckle opened the public hearing. U-Haul Marketing Company President, Christopher Bohlman, addressed and answered questions of the commission. Acting Chairperson Arbuckle closed the public hearing. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the conditional use permit resolution to allow indoor storage and the leasing of trucks and trailers in a BC (business commercial) zoning district, located at 2250 White Bear Avenue. Approval is based on the findings required by ordinance and subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the site plan date-stamped September 15, 2014, approved by the city in addition to the required changes below. 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. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 4. The applicant shall submit plans for their site and building improvements to the community design review board for approval. 5. The building and site changes and improvements shall include the following requirements: a. A decorative six-foot-tall solid screening fence along the easterly lot line to screen the proposed site from the New Horizon day care center building and playground. The screening fence shall be also placed in the southeast corner of the site to fill in a gap in November 18, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 3screening. Fencing in this area is subject to the requirements of the city engineer due to the drainage swale in this corner. b. Clean-up, maintenance and repair of the former Goodwill building. c. Resurfacing of the parking lot. d. Providing a connecting driveway between the existing U-Haul property and the former Goodwill site. This connecting driveway shall be curbed with concrete curbing to meet the requirements of city code. e. Restriping of the parking lot with no parking lot stripes for rental vehicles any closer than 100 feet to the south property line. f. Removal of the tall freestanding sign structure. This sign is no longer considered legal-nonconforming. 6. The applicant shall comply with the requirements of the city’s building official, assistant fire chief and city engineer. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve a variance resolution to allow the leasing of motor vehicles within 350 feet of property zoned and planned as residential. This variance is based on the findings that: 1. The proposed setback reduction to 100 feet from the southerly lot line would be in harmony with the general purposes and intent of the ordinance since the site would be screened from view from the residential properties to the south and the east by six-foot-tall screening fences. 2. The proposal is for a commercial venture which is consistent with the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan for this property. 3. There are practical difficulties in complying with the ordinance. The applicant would not be able to utilize this site for truck and trailer leasing without a variance since the entire site is within 350 feet of residential property. This approval is conditioned upon all rental vehicles being kept at least 100 feet or more from the abutting residential property to the south. Seconded by Commissioner Kempe. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item will go to the city council on November 24, 2014. b. 7:00 p.m. or later: Approval of a resolution for a wetland buffer variance to construct a garage at 1703 Jessie Street. i. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand gave the presentation on the wetland buffer variance at 1703 Jessie Street and answered questions of the commission. Acting Chairperson Arbuckle opened the public hearing. 1. The applicant, Scott Miller, 1703 Jessie Street addressed and answered questions of the commission. Acting Chairperson Arbuckle closed the public hearing. November 18, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 4 The commission had concerns about the required rainwater garden and its cost. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the attached resolution approving a wetland buffer variance for the construction of a garage at 1703 Jessie Street. Approval is based on the following reasons: 1. Strict enforcement of the ordinance would cause the applicant practical difficulties because complying with the wetland buffer requirement stipulated by the ordinance would prohibit the building of any permanent structures, substantially diminishing the potential of this lot. 2. Approval of the wetland buffer variance will redirect stormwater from the garage to a rain garden and areas near the wetland will no longer be maintained as a mowed lawn, but allowed to grow as a naturalized area. 3. Approval would meet the spirit and intent of the ordinance since the proposed garage would be built in an area that is already maintained as lawn. Approval of the wetland buffer variance shall be subject to the following: 1. Shift the garage 3 feet to the south to maintain a 5-foot setback from the house and increase the setback to the wetland. 2. Install a gutter on the north side of the garage and a downspout on the northeast corner of the garage which directs water to a rain garden. 3. Install a rain garden on the northeast corner of the garage, adjacent the driveway. The rain garden will be designed to infiltrate water from the garage roof and driveway. 4. Discontinue maintaining the area to the north of the applicants’ property line, within the city property, as mowed lawn area. Allow this area to grow as a naturalized area adjacent the wetland. If the owner would prefer to restore this portion of the lawn to native plants at their own expense, the city would allow for that but would need to approve restoration plans. 5. The applicants should submit an escrow to cover up to 150 percent of the cost of the gutter, downspout, and rain garden. The escrow will be released when the gutter, downspout, and rain garden are installed per the city’s approval. Seconded by Commissioner Kempe. Ayes - All The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on November 24, 2014. 6. NEW BUSINESS None. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. November 18, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 5 9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commission presentation for the October 27, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Diatta was scheduled to attend but has resigned. There were no items scheduled requiring commissioner representation. b. Commission presentation for the November 10, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Bierbaum attended. Items for review were the Bruentrup Farm CUP and the land use plan amendment and rezoning for the former Parkside Fire Station. Staff stated both items were approved by the city council. c. Commission representation for the November 24, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Donofrio is scheduled to attend but is unable. Commissioner Kempe will attend instead. The U-Haul CUP and the wetland buffer variance at 1703 Jessie Street are scheduled for review. d. Commission representation for the December 8, 2014, city council meeting. Commissioner Kempe was scheduled to attend but there are no scheduled items requiring planning commission representation. 10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Staff asked commissioners who are seeking reappointment to turn in their applications. b. Senior Planner, Tom Ekstrand stated he will be retiring from the City of Maplewood at the end of December 2014, and Planner, Michael Martin will be taking over the planning commission as the staff liaison. 11. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chairperson Arbuckle adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.