HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-20 PC Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2018
7:00 P.M.
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 Arbuckle.
2. ROLL CALL
Paul Arbuckle, Chairperson Present
Frederick Dahm, Commissioner Present
Tushar Desai, Commissioner Present
John Donofrio, Commissioner Present
John Eads, Commissioner Present
Allan Ige, Commissioner Present
Bill Kempe, Commissioner Present
Staff Present: Michael Martin, Economic Development Coordinator
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Staff requested adding 10 a. April PC Meeting location to the agenda.
Commissioner Kempe moved to approve the agenda as amended.
Seconded by Commissioner Desai. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Ige moved to approve the February 20, 2018, PC minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Kempe. Ayes – Chairperson Arbuckle,
Commissioner’s Dahm, Ige
& Kempe
Abstention – Commissioner’s Desai
Donofrio & Eads
The motion passed.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
a. 7:00 p.m. or later: Consider Approval of Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan
i. Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin introduced Rita Trapp and answered
questions of the commission.
ii. Rita Trapp, Planning Consultant Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. gave an overview of the
Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan and answered questions of the commission.
iii. Chris Swanson, Environmental & Code Enforcement Officer, assisted in the public hearing
process.
March 20, 2018
1
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
iv. City Manager, Melinda Coleman addressed the commission and audience regarding the
public hearing process.
Chairperson Arbuckle opened the public hearing.
1. Attorney, Kyle Gabriel, Gabriel Law Office, 880 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota Heights,
representing the Connemara buildings. The Connemara building Association’s border Area
18 which is one of the areas that is subject to change in the 2040 Comp plan. The
associations through the club do enjoy a perpetual recreation easement over a large portion
of that area and the association love having their green space.
2. Tyler Edwards, Real Estate Division for Menards, Inc., 5101 Menard Drive, Eau Claire,
Wisconsin. Mr. Edwards asked because Menards is going from strict commercial to high
density mixed use commercial is that going to impede future development.
th
3. Gary Zabel, 2648 - 5 Street East, Maplewood. Mr. Zabel has lived in the Lions Park area for
38 years and believes going back to the 2030 land use plan is a good plan and should be
supported.
4. John Felde, 2485 Londin Lane, Maplewood. (signed up but did not speak)
5. Michelle Harbeck, 1683 McKnight Lane, Maplewood. She is concerned about the area
behind the townhomes where she lives because that’s why she bought there. It appears that
the area behind her looks to be changed into a mixed use development and she is concerned
about the loss of nature and buildings put there.
6. Tom Wentz, representing Rubicon Development, P.O. Box 1943, Minot, North Dakota. The
same area where the Connemara condominiums are in the area of the Lower Afton Road and
Londin Lane. He would support that portion of the comprehensive plan for 2014 that reguides
that to high density residential. The reason being that the parcel to the south is already high
density. These parcels in the 1970s had common ownership. The final phase of the
condominium association failed and that parcel was never developed out. There is a private
recreational easement non-exclusive and does not prevent development of this site.
7. Tom Layer, 580 Farrell Street N., Maplewood. Mr. Layer lives a block up from the Lions Park
playground. He said he agrees with the thoughts of Gary Zabel and the needs of the Lions
Park neighborhood. He is against change in the neighborhood and he would like to keep it
the way it is.
8. Tom Dougherty, 778 Mayhill Road N., Maplewood. (signed up but did not speak)
9. Kevin Berglund, Maplewood resident and Citizen Reporter News. Mr. Berglund was
displeased with the comp plan report and various negative comments were made.
10. Jim Weingartz, 1091 Ferndale Street N., Maplewood. His concern is at the corner of
Stillwater and Ferndale Street where there is a small triangular place that will be designated
as mixed use. There are 2 parcels owned by 2 different entities there. It could be a mixture
of commercial and residential zoning and he is concerned someone could buy up another
property and make it into something larger which is a concern to him.
11. Mich Arneson, 2465 Londin Lane E., #110, Maplewood, (Connemara). She was on the
Planning commission 35 years ago regarding development in south Maplewood and a
formula was done for housing density and wetlands, trees and green space. They worked
with the DNR back then and she thinks the same thing should be done now. She
recommended the city staff go back and research what was determined and decided 35 years
ago.
12. Aaron S. (unsure of spelling) a resident from 2445 Londin Lane, E., #112, Maplewood
(Connemara). As a former geologist he commented that Area 18 is not suited for building on.
It should be left as a containment area so that 35 years later they don’t come back and say
we told you not to build there.
Chairperson Arbuckle closed the public hearing.
March 20, 2018
2
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Planner, Michael Martin stated a Maplewood resident was unable to be present but wanted the
comment reflected in the minutes so he read a statement from Richard Kjonaas, 2686 New
Century Terrace East. Mr. Kjonaas was concerned about the 2040 comp plan and the increased
densities along Century Avenue and traffic and safety in the area. He preferred the 2030 comp
plan and would recommend maintaining the 2030 plan.
Chairperson Kempe moved to approve the draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan including comments
made during the public hearing.
Seconded by Commissioner Dahm. . Ayes - All
The motion passed.
This item goes to the city council on April 9, 2018.
6. NEW BUSINESS
None.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
a. Kevin Berglund, Citizen Reporter News
9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
a. February 26, 2018 City Council Meeting (Commissioner Kempe)
• Conditional Use Permit, Wakefield Community Building, 1725 Prosperity Road North
• Wetland Buffer Waiver for a Spent Lime Treatment Structure at Joy Park Neighborhood
Preserve. Both items were approved by the city council.
b. March 12, 2018 City Council Meeting (Staff Updated)
• Wetland Buffer Setback Variance, 832 McKnight Road South which was approved by the
city council.
c. April 9, 2018 City Council Meeting (Commissioner Dahm)
• Draft 2040 Comprehensive Plan
10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. April Planning Commission Meeting Location – Staff stated the PC meeting will be at the
Maplewood Community Center because the city council chambers will be under construction.
More information will be presented. ***Clarification Note: Meeting is actually being held at
Fire Station No 2 – 1955 Clarence Street North; not the MCC.***
11. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Arbuckle adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
March 20, 2018
3
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes