Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/05/1998 MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, January 5, 1998 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers, 1830 County Road B East Call to Order Roll Call Approval of Minutes December 15, 1997 4. Approval of Agenda 5. New Business a. Resolution of Appreciation - Kevin Kittridge b. Delavari Convenience Store (County Road C and Highway 61) - Variance From Residential Property Line - Parking Lot Setback Variance - Conditional Use Permit - Fuel Station and Car Wash - Conditional Use Permit - Hours of Operation - Parking Reduction Authorization Visitor Presentations Commission Presentations a. b. C. 1997 Planning Commission Annual Report December 22 Council Meeting: Mr. Rossbach January 12 Council Meeting: Mr. Thompson January 26 Council Meeting: Mr. Rossbach 8. Staff Presentations a. Reschedule January 19 Meeting (Martin L. King holiday) - January 20? 9. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA JANUARY 5, 1998 I. CALLTO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Bunny Brueggeman Commissioner Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Jack Frost Commissioner Kevin Kittridge Commissioner Matt Ledvina Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner William Rossbach Commissioner Milo Thompson Absent Present Present (arrived at 7:03 p.m.) Absent (was present in audience for item 5.a. only) Present Present Present Present II1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 15, 1997 Commissioner Rossbach moved approval of the minutes of December 15, 1997, as submitted. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved approval of the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Ledvina seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. V. NEW BUSINESS a. Resolution ofAppreciation--Kevin Kittridge Ken Roberts, associate planner, stated that Kevin Kittridge is going to be on the Maplewood City Council. Mr. Roberts submitted a resolution of appreciation for Mr. Kittridge's service on the Maplewood Planning Commission. Commissioner Rossbach pointed out that three former members of the planning commission are now on the city council. He thought this spoke highly of the people who have been on the commission. Mr. Rossbach also said the planning commission will greatly miss Mr. Kittridge's attendance at its meetings. Chairperson Fischer seconded Mr. Rossbach's comment regarding Mr. Kittridge and said he added a "certain something" to commission discussions. Commissioner Pearson moved the Planning Commission recommend approval of the resolution of appreciation for Kevin Kittridge. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-98 -2- Commissioner Rossbach seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. Mr. Kittridge left the planning commission meeting at this time. Delavari Convenience Store (County Road C and Highway 61)--Variance from Residential Property Line, Parking Lot Setback Variance, Conditional Use Permit-Fuel Station and Car Wash, Conditional Use Permit-Hours of Operation, and Parking Reduction Authorization Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented the staff report. He also answered questions from the commissioners. Commissioner Rossbach referred to the shoreland ordinance that states only developable property should be counted in requirements to qualify for an impervious surface area bonus of from one to twenty percent. He questioned how the eastern portion of this property, which is considered undevelopable, could be used in these calculations. Ken Haider, director of public works, said the city typically tries to hold out for a "significant facility" to improve water quality and, therefore, can allow the twenty percent bonus. He said it was his intent to require a skimmer device on the outlet pipe so that petroleum pollutants would not enter Kohlman Lake. Commissioner Rossbach suggested that, for future reference, the code book should be updated because it does indicate that there is a set criteria, approved by the city council, to determine the percent of bonus. Melinda Coleman, director of community development, said the portion of this property east of Maplewood Drive is buildable property if the road was not present or if this land was attached to the adjacent parcel to the east. Commissioner Rossbach said he does not foresee this strip of land remaining vacant and attached to this proposed parcel. He thought it would be a "big mistake" to approve the shoreland use for this development and not have it available for future development in the area. Commissioner Pearson asked about the possibility of having a requirement to haul snow from this site. He also mentioned the potential traffic problems because of the increased use of this space. Commissioner Ledvina suggested that the single pump on the west end of the fuel-dispenser island be eliminated because of the restricted vehicle-circulation area. He also mentioned that the drive on the south side of the building should be signed for one-way traffic. Mr. Ledvina was concerned that the lights of the cars exiting to the east would disturb the residents of the dwelling at 1215 County Road C East. Commissioner Thompson thought the berm would shield these lights. Ben Taheri of Taheri Architects, the architect of this project, said he was in total agreement with the staff report. Mr. Taheri described the traffic patterns within the site. Rick Sorenson, the owner of 1215 County Road C East, gave some background information on this property. He felt that headlights coming from the proposed project would not be a problem because of the grade of the two properties. Mr. Sorenson requested that consideration be given to the current residential status of the neighborhood. He said none of the neighbors desire this project. Mr. Sorenson also spoke about traffic problems in the area, potential gas odors, and the possibility of ice on the roads in the winter caused by the car wash. Chairperson Fischer felt it was appropriate for the planning commission to require skimmers on 'the ponding area as part of the conditional use permit requirements. Mr. Haider requested that maintenance of the pond also be included in the conditions. Commissioner Pearson said he would have a difficult time supporting this proposal unless the traffic in the area was handled Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-98 -3- better. Commissioner Rossbach said he feels this proposed development is "too intense" to go in at this point. He also felt the east strip of land should not be included with this proposal. It was his opinion that this development does not meet the shoreland ordinance. Mr. Rossbach thought the parking arrangement was impractical and inadequate. He did not anticipate that people would park at the north end of the lot and walk to the convenience store. Mr. Rossbach felt the neon proposed for all four sides of the building was not "residential-friendly." Commissioner Pearson noted that the change in zoning happened around a residential use. He was concerned about the 350-foot setback requirement for a commercial business to protect a residential neighborhood and didn't feel he could support this proposed project. Commissioner Thompson thought the definite "duplicity" in the eastern strip of property negated its use in calculations. Chairperson Fischer agreed with Commissioner Thompson. Commissioner Rossbach moved the Planning Commission recommend: Denial of the resolution which would approve a conditional use permit to build a fuel station and car wash at the northeast corner of Highway 61 and County Road C. Denial is based on the following findings: 1. The project noes not meet the intent and requirements of the shoreland ordinance. 2. The intensity of the project would: a. Change the existing or planned character of the surrounding area.. b. Depreciate property values. Involve activities, processes, materials, equipment or methods of operation that would be dangerous, hazardous, detrimental, disturbing or cause a nuisance to any person or property because of excessive noise, glare, smoke, dust, odor, fumes, water or air pollution, drainage, water run-off, vibration, general unsightliness, electrical interference or other nuisances. d. Create traffic patterns which could cause congestion and unsafe access to and from the site. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. Commissioner Pearson moved the Planning Commission recommend: Denial of a conditional use permit to extend the hours of operation for the proposed convenience store, car wash and fuel state to 24 hours a day. Commissioner Frost seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-98 -4- Commissioner Rossbach moved the Planning Commission recommend: D. Denial of a parking-space reduction to allow nine parking spaces (six fewer than the code requires) because the layout and location of the parking spaces on the site would leave only three spaces available for use by the general public within 90 feet of the front of the building. Commissioner Frost thought this motion was irrelevant. Commissioner Rossbach withdrew his motion. C. 1997 Planning Commission Annual Report Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented the staff report. Chairperson Fischer requested that a follow-up on the commercial property study be included for 1998 activities. Commissioner Frost suggested the study on development of large residential lots in the south leg of Maplewood be included for 1998. Commissioner Frost also thought the tree preservation ordinance could be added to the list. Commissioners Rossbach and Fischer also suggested the planned unit development ordinance as an activity for 1998. Commissioner Pearson moved the Planning Commission recommend approval of the 1997 Planning Commission Annual Report as amended. Commissioner Frost seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. VI. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS There were no visitor presentations. VII. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS A. December 22 Council Meeting: Mr. Rossbach reported on this meeting. B. January 12 Council Meeting: Mr. Thompson will attend this meeting. C. January 28 Council Meeting: Mr. Rossbach will attend this meeting. VIII. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Melinda Coleman, director of community development, mentioned that on January 6, 1998, Aerial Communications (formerly APT) would be holding a meeting at the Tri-District School to get neighborhood input on putting up a telecommunications tower on the Western Hills Park property. The January 19 planning commission meeting is rescheduled for January 20 because of the Martin Luther King holiday. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.