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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/17/19991. Call to Order MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, May 17, 1999, 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road B East 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes a. April 19, 1999 4. Approval of Agenda 5. Public Hearings a. 2000-2004 Capital Improvement Plan 6. New Business a. Easement Vacation - Hoyt Avenue right-of-way, east of Sterling Street b. Centres Group Ltd. Retail Development Zoning Map Change (F to BC) (White Bear and Lydia Avenues) c. F. M. Frattalone Excavating Mining Permit Conditional Use Permit (West of Highway 61) 7. Visitor Presentations 8. Commission Presentations a. April 26 Council Meeting: Mr. Mueller b. May 10 Council Meeting: Mr. Thompson c. May 24 Council Meeting: Mr. Rossbach d. June 14 Council Meeting: Ms. Fischer Staff Presentations a. American Planning Association (APA) Audio Conference - May 26, 1999, 3-4 PM b. Open Space Update - Mike Ericson, City Manager's Office 10. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MAY 17, 1999 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Lorraine Fischer Present Jack Frost Present Matt Ledvina Present Paul Mueller Absent Gary Pearson Present William Rossbach Present Michael Seeber Present Milo Thompson Absent Dale Trippler Present III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 19, 1999 Commissioner Pearson moved approval of the minutes of April 19, 1999. Commissioner Ledvina seconded. Ayes--Fischer, Frost, Ledvina, Pearson Abstain--Rossbach, Seeber, Trippler, The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Rossbach moved approval of the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. 2000-2004 Capital Improvement Plan Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented the staff report. He introduced Mike McGuire, the city manager, and Dan Faust, the city finance director. Mr. McGuire listed the highlights of the plan and the new projects by department. A 20-minute video was shown that reviewed these capital improvements that are scheduled or proposed for the next five years. Mr. McGuire confirmed that an error was made in the figures for the 1999-2003 segment of the listing of new projects in the CIP manual. The figures were one year off, so Mr. McGuire gave the correct amounts. The commissioners asked various questions about the proposed projects. Mr. McGuire said the bridge intended for Hazelwood Avenue and Highway 36 would allow for better traffic circulation and would aid in the mobility of public safety vehicles. He said both Highway 61 and White Bear Planning Commission-- Minutes of 05-17-99 -2- Avenue are extremely busy and this bridge would be a means for local traffic to bypass some of the congestion. Commissioner Rossbach asked if the call time for emergency-vehicle response to these area neighborhoods was lacking. Mr. McC~uire said he "wouldn't put it that way" but he assured Mr. Rossbach that it was "common sense" if you drove one of these vehicles to know that it takes longer if you are waiting in traffic. Mr. Rossbach asked if it would be cheaper to expand the fire stations on both sides of the highway. Mr. McGuire explained that this would be difficult to do with a volunteer fire department because of staffing problems. Commissioner Trippler asked what the money from the sale of used fire trucks is used for. Mr. McGuire said these amounts are typically so minor that they are not included in the CIP but they do go toward buying the new trucks. Fire trucks that are sold usually go to small communities. Mr. McGuire said the final projects to be included in the 1999 referendum have not been approved by the city council. Commissioner Rossbach inquired about the lighting schedule for the soccer fields and softball complex at County Road C and Hazelwood. Bruce Anderson, parks and recreation director, said lights would be out at 10 p.m. (same as the current policy). Commissioner Trippler questioned about the community center land purchase at County Road B and White Bear. He could not understand why the city would spend $0.5 million to acquire a piece of property with no specific use in mind. Mr. McGuire said this was "planning ahead" because it is the only land available for any future expansion on the community center site. Chairperson Fischer commented that it was difficult to distinguish water from undeveloped land in the maps. Melinda Coleman, director of community development, said this will be changed. Ms. Fischer also noted that there was a small strip of land near McKnight and Woodlynn that was shown on both the residential and commercial maps. Staff will also check on this. Bruce Anderson said there would be possible participation by District 623 on the Edgerton proposal because the school district owns the portion south of the trail that runs east and west through the center of the park site. The district has contributed $60,000 towards the playground equipment and has "special interests" to be included in this new development. Mr. McGuire said because of infill and redevelopment, new dwelling construction is projected for future years. According to Ms. Coleman, the city anticipates seeing "a lot of pressure for two or three, four dwelling units." These number projections are used to look at the debt per capita and to estimate revenue raised from park availability charges. Chairperson Fischer opened the public hearing for comment from the audience. There was no one present who wished to speak so the hearing was closed. Commissioner Frost moved the Planning Commission recommend approval of the 2000-2004 Capital Improvement Plan. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. Planning Commission-- Minutes of 05-17-99 -3- VI. NEW A. BUSINESS Easement Vacation--Hoyt Avenue Right-of-Way, East of Sterling Street Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented the staff report. He said that the vacated street went to the properties to the north and became part of the Bradley Oaks plat. Mr. Roberts said the resolution is written to cover vacation of the entire easement lying east of Sterling Street. Bob McAdam, the president of Landmark Custom Homes, was present. He said water was being trapped on this parcel of property as they were building on it. If this easement is vacated, Mr. McAdams said the water from the property will then drain into the existing wetland pond in the back. There were no questions for Mr. McAdam. Commissioner Pearson moved the Planning Commission adopt the resolution which vacates the north 23 feet of the public drainage and utility easement over the vacated Hoyt Avenue right-of- way, east of Sterling Street. The city should vacate this easement because: 1. It is in the public interest. 2. The city and the adjacent property owners have no plans to build a street or utilities in this location. 3. The adjacent properties have access to public streets and utilities. Commissioner Frost seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. Centres Group Ltd. Retail Development Zoning Map Change (F to BC) (White Bear and Lydia Avenues) Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner Trippler asked how it could be determined that changing a 6-acre farm into a commercial development would have no affect on the nature of the neighborhood. Mr. Roberts said it was staff's opinion that, with the proper setbacks, screening and landscaping and the fact that this property is bordered on three sides by commercial use, this development would not detract from the neighborhood. He said the green strip between the parking lot and the property line must have either a berm or landscaping/fencing to create screening and the distance from the property line to the back of the building has to be at least 100 feet. Melinda Coleman, director of community development, said staff has had contact with the manager and some residents of Concordia Arms, the facility to the east. These people have been working with Paul Bilotta of the Centres Group on screening and berming. Ms. Coleman added that Concordia Arms was not opposed to the project. Commissioner Trippler wondered where the information comes from to make the absolute statements contained in staff's recommendation. Melinda Coleman, director of community development, explained that the city attorney admitted, when speaking about how findings are made, that there is some subjectivity. She said if the commission felt this didn't make sense or the language should be changed, this could be looked at in the future. Commissioner Rossbach was of the opinion that there hadn't been a farm on this site for years--only farm buildings. He said it was always thought that this would become a commercial area. Planning Commission-- Minutes of 05-17-99 -4- Commissioner Seeber questioned whether the increase in traffic in the area needed to be addressed. He felt there was already a traffic problem on White Bear Avenue. Ken Haider, city engineer, thought traffic moved reasonably well on Beam and White Bear Avenues. He said it was consistent with a regional shopping center. Paul Bilotta, with Centres Group, was present. There were no questions of the applicant. Mr. Bilotta said the loading docks have been turned so that the back Office Depot dock would not face Concordia Arms. The view of the Pier 1 dock is blocked by the Office Depot building. The existing berm between the site and Concordia Arms will be lowered at the request of Concordia Arms. Concordia Arms also requested a six-foot-fence on this side to match the fence on the east side of their building. Centres Group has agreed to do this but will keep the berm if the city requires it. Commissioner Ledvina moved the Planning Commission adopt the resolution which approves a rezoning from F (farm residential) to BC (business commercial) for the 6.26 acre property at the southeast corner of White Bear Avenue and Lydia Avenue (presently addressed as 2980 White Bear Avenue). Approval is based on the following findings: 1. The proposed change is consistent with the spirit, purpose and intent of the zoning code. The proposed change will not substantially injure or detract from the use of neighboring property or from the character of the neighborhood, and that the use of the property adjacent to the area included in the proposed change or plan is adequately safeguarded. 3. The proposed change will serve the best interests and conveniences of the community, where applicable, and the public welfare. The proposed change would have no negative effect upon the logical, efficient, and economical extension of public services and facilities, such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and schools. 5. The proposed change is consistent with the Maplewood Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Rossbach seconded. Ayes--all The motion passed. C. F.M. Frattalone Excavating Mining Permit Conditional Use Permit (West of Highway 61) Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented the staff report. Commissioner Rossbach asked who decides what constitutes the final grade. Mr. Roberts said these plans would be reviewed by the engineering department. Ken Haider, city engineer, said while it is not known what will be built at this site, engineering has some ideas on how a street will run through the middle. Mr. Rossbach asked where the "conflict resolution" was between the applicant's desire to move material from the site and the city's need to have the site left in a "developable condition." Mr. Haider sensed the owner of the parcel would know it was in his best interest to leave the site marketable. Mr. Haider felt there was a need for a main street down the middle of this property even if it is a cul-de-sac to County Road D that connects to Highway 61. Frank Frattalone, the applicant, said they have a grading plan with proposed grades so they will not be removing too much from the site. He said the silty sand being taken is not ideal material and can only be used on certain jobs. Mr. Frattalone said he has people interested in buying the site. Other options that he is considering are to buy the property from his partners or develop it with them. Planning Commission-- Minutes of 05-17-99 -5- Commissioner Pearson moved the Planning Commission approve the resolution which revises the conditional use permit conditions as follows: (I have underlined the additions and crossed out the deletions.) 1. The requirements in Article IV (Mining) of Chapter 36 of the City Code shall be followed. Trucks that are coming to or leaving this site shall only use Highway 61 and the frontage road. The operator shall install "CAUTION TRUCKS HAULING" signs for north and south traffic on Highway 61. o The operator or contractor shall get a mining permit approved by the City Engineer each year. No work shall be done without an annual permit. This permit shall state the amount of material that can be removed each year. The operator or contractor shall submit a site plan each year, including grading, drainage and erosion control information. The grading plan shall include contours of the existing and final grades. The erosion control plan shall be consistent with the Ramsey Soil and Water Conservation District Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook. All work shall follow the annual plan and permit. 4. There shall be no explosive detonations of any kind on the site. The contractor or operator shall install, maintain and use a suitable structure or method to remove excess dirt from trucks and trailer tires before entering a public street from the site. The contractor or operator shall submit a plan for this structure to the City Engineer for approval. 6. The permit holder is responsible for acquiring any permits from other agencies. 7. The gate shall be moved to County Road D and kept locked. 8. This permit shall end on December 1, 2001. irt-fire, ears. The City Council shall not review this permit again unless there is a problem. Commissioner Frost second. Ayes--all The motion passed. VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS There were no visitor presentations. VIII. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS April 26 Council Meeting: There was input from various members of the commission and staff on this meeting since Mr. Mueller was not present. B. May 10 Council Meeting: Melinda Coleman reported on this meeting. C. May 24 Council Meeting: There are no planning commission items on this agenda. D. June 14 Council Meeting: Ms. Fischer will attend this meeting. IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS A. American Planning Association (APA) Audio Conference--May 26, 1999, 3-4 P.M. Planning Commission-- Minutes of 05-17-99 -6- Melinda Coleman, director of community development, invited the commission members to an audio conference sponsored by the APA on Wednesday, May 26, 1999 at city hall. The subject will be "lnfill Development and Redesign of Suburban Centers." A cassette of the conference will be sent to the city for future use. Open Space Update--Mike Ericson, City Manager's Office Ken Roberts, associate planner, presented Mike Ericson who is the assistant to the city manager. Mr. Ericson is the staff representative on the city's Open Space Committee. He reported that there are five properties that have priority for open space acquisition. Mr. Ericson said he was giving a report to the commission for their review and comments. He asked that a public hearing be held, perhaps at the next commission meeting. Commissioner Rossbach asked why the owner of the Schreier property was not a "willing participant." Mr. Ericson said that Mr. Schreier is in the process of selling his property and the committee has not been able to speak directly with the developer. He said the city was able to get a grant, through the cooperation of the watershed district, that enables them to acquire some of the corridor of Beaver Creek. Mr. Ericson hoped that they would be able to expand this and get up to a 300-foot corridor through Mr. Schreier's property. If necessary because of available money, the city would purchase less of this property rather than eliminate the 5th rank site. Chairperson Fischer noted that her house was shown as open space on the map. Corrections will be made to the map. Mr. Ericson mentioned the work that was put into selecting these sites. Commissioner Rossbach said he was glad that the purchase of open space was finally being completed. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.