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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/03/2005 MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, October 3, 2005, 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road BEast 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. September 6, 2005 5. Public Hearings 7:00 Ramsey County Public Library (3025 Southlawn Drive) Land Use Plan Change (BC (business commercial) to L (Library)) Conditional Use Permit for Planned Unit Development (PUD) Revision 7:20 Maple Ridge Leaf Business Center (2483 and 2497 Maplewood Drive) Conditional Use Permit NOTE: The applicant requested the planning commission table action on this item until October 17, 2005. Therefore, no staff report and no action required at this meeting. 6. New Business None 7. Unfinished Business None 8. Visitor Presentations 9. Commission Presentations September 12 Council Meeting: 11 (was to be Mr. Ahlness) September 26 Council Meeting: Mr. Kaczrowski October 10 Council Meeting: Ms. Dierich October 24 Council Meeting: Ms. Fischer 1 O. Staff Presentations a. Letter of request from WBABA b. Possible Planning Commission Training c. Reschedule 12-5 Meeting - Tuesday 12-6 or Wednesday 12-71 11. Adioumment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2005 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Eric Ahlness Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai Commissioner Mary Dierich Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Michael Grover Commissioner Jim Kaczrowski Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood Absent Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Melinda Coleman, Assistant City Manager Ken Roberts, Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary Staff Present: III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Ms. Coleman requested additional discussion under Staff Presentations. She requested adding item d. Gladstone Meeting for October 17, 2005, item e. Update on Appreciation Event October 20, 2005, and item f. city council vacancy update. Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the agenda as amended Commissioner Trippler seconded. The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ayes - Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Grover, Kaczrowski, Pearson, Trippler, Yarwood Approval of the planning commission minutes for September 6, 2005. Commissioner Trippler had a correction on page 6, first paragraph, 8th line, after the word "owner" delete the words "tho application". Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the planning commission minutes for September 6, 2005, as amended. Commissioner Dierich seconded. Ayes - Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Kaczrowski, Trippler, Yarwood Abstentions - Grover, Pearson Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -2- The motion passed. Commissioner Trippler said because he has asked this question before he would like staff to get an answer to his question regarding how many parking spaces were approved for Best Buy and were the parking spaces approved at 9 feet wide or gYz feet wide? V. PUBLIC HEARING a. Ramsey County Public Library (3025 Southlawn Drive) (7:03-7:30 p.m.) Mr. Roberts said Mr. Frank Janes, of the Hartford Group, has submitted applications for the relocation of the Ramsey County Library to Legacy Village. Ramsey County has outgrown the current library building on Beam Avenue and would like to build a new facility at the southwest corner of Southlawn Drive and Legacy Parkway in the Legacy Village PUD (planned unit development). The proposed library would be approximately 35,000 square feet on this 4.7 -acre site. The county is also proposing to put in a coffee shop with a drive-up window as part of the usual library operations. (The submitted site plan is conceptual at this time. Ramsey County will make application for architectural and site plan approval later.) Commissioner Trippler asked if the city would receive any tax dollars if this proposal is passed by the city cou ncil? Mr. Roberts said this property would come off the city's tax roll. That issue is outlined on page 2 of the staff report in the tax abatement analysis by Mr. Steinman, the financial advisorforthe city. Mr. Steinman stated that the construction of the new library (a tax-exempt use) would not have a significant impact on the city's projected tax abatement ability related to Legacy Village. The loss of taxable land value would be $3 million. This is only 1.9 percent of the projected total taxable overall value of $162,175,000. Therefore, a small decrease such as this being proposed with a potential reduction in value by $3 million will not have an impact on the abatement. The positive thing is Ramsey County would try to sell the existing library building on Beam Ave., and if the property is purchased by a private owner, it would go back on the tax rolls. Commissioner Trippler asked if he understood the analysis correctly, he asked if the financial consultant considered just the taxable value of the property or did he consider the taxes that would have been generated by the two restaurants and the retail building that were planned for that area? Ms. Coleman said it is her understanding that Mr. Steinman made his analysis based on the taxable value of what it would have been versus the completion with the building value that will be there. The overriding development agreement has some assessments that Hartford Group will pay for that would help contribute to the tax abatement plan and road and other improvements that will occur in this area. Ms. Coleman said each lot in the Legacy Development had an assessment tied to it that will be paid which will help pay the cost of the overall improvements for the project. In a sense the city is collecting some of the costs that the city would have gotten over the years of taxable property taxes. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -3- Commissioner Trippler said if the development went on as projected for two restaurants and a retail building there would have been taxable income that the city would have gotten. There also would have been employees paying taxes and some of those employees may even be residents in Maplewood which would be tax money generated as opposed to the library that would not. Ms. Coleman said correct, but as Mr. Steinman stated in the staff report, that is only 1.9 percent of the projected total taxable value overall. This is a policy issue for the city council to decide as to whether or not they want to take this parcel off the tax roll or not. If the existing library is sold and the building goes back on the tax roll that may make it more palatable for the city council. The city feels when they did the tax abatement plan the estimates were very conservative and there should be room for this proposal to happen. If the financial advisors did not think so they would have told the city right away. Commissioner Trippler said regarding the drive-up window for the coffee shop, as he understands the zoning for the current library location, a drive-up window would not be allowed because ofthe zoning. If the city didn't want a drive-up window on the south side of Beam Avenue (as the planning commission saw with the Dairy Queen proposal for a drive-up window) does the city want to see a drive-up window on the north side of Beam Avenue where this will be a high residential area. Mr. Roberts said the zoning on the south side of Beam Avenue is all BC(M) (business commercial modified) which would not allow a drive-up window. The theory behind that is there is residential property immediately abutting those properties to the south of Beam Avenue especially near Southlawn Drive. The difference between that area and the new proposal is there is a sculpture garden on one side of this parcel and Ashley Furniture to the north. The nearest residential property is across the trail and ponding area. Yes there is a lot of residential building in Legacy Village but not right next to the library site which could have occurred along the south side of Beam Avenue. The way the current library site was configured the library could not make any revisions to the site which is why the planning commission is looking at this new proposed site for the library. Commissioner Dierich said she was considering the issue of the drive-up window and coffee shop as well. She asked how this could occur on a library site compared to a business commercial site? She asked if the profits from the coffee shop would go to the library? Would taxes be paid on the coffee shop portion of the building? Mr. Roberts said he would let the library representatives answer the financial questions along with the use of the property. The coffee shop is an accessory use for 2,500 square feet versus 35,000 square feet for the whole library building. Some could argue that this coffee shop could be an attractive feature to the library. As an example, look at the Roseville Library site with the coffee shop that was added to their library. Chairperson Fischer asked the applicant to address the commission. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -4- Ms. Susan Nemitz, Director of the Ramsey County Library, addressed the commission. Ms. Nemitz gave the recording secretary a handout from Sandy Welsh, the Manager of the Ramsey County Library in Maplewood, to distribute to the planning commission regarding how they would like to see the Ramsey County Library site. Ms. Nemitz said the Roseville Library coffee shop pays property taxes and the operational revenue from the coffee shop goes to support the Roseville Library. This has been a positive partnership and since opening the coffee shop it has raised the library circulation 10% just in the first year of opening the coffee shop. Commissioner Yarwood asked who runs the coffee shop? Ms. Nemitz said the Roseville Library coffee shop is run by Dunn Bros. and they have been a wonderful partner. The Ramsey County Library may go to an RFP process for the Maplewood site to create an equal playing field. Commissioner Desai asked how large the current Ramsey County Library site is versus what is being proposed at the new library site? Ms. Nemitz said the current Ramsey County Library site is 22,000 square feet. The Department of Public Health is renting some of the property in the basement. One thing they discovered over the last 15 years, especially with technology, is that it is very expensive to run a two-story library. They propose to create a single-story, 34,OOO-square-foot library on the proposed site in Maplewood. Commissioner Trippler asked how the drive-up window for the coffee shop would operate. Chili's and Outback Restaurants have drive-up service where customers call ahead and the restaurants bring the food out to the customers. He asked if that type of thing would work for the coffee shop? Ms. Nemitz said they are willing to look at anything. While working with the exploration process for Dunn Bros. at the Roseville Library site they worked with commercial real estate agents and they in turn were talking with coffee vendors, and the coffee vendors said they could substantially increase their revenue with a drive-thru window. The purpose of creating a drive-thru window for the coffee shop was to create a profitable venture for a private partner and for the library as well. Commissioner Trippler asked if it would be possible for the employees of the coffee shop to bring the coffee out as opposed to using microphones or would that be too confusing? Ms. Nemitz said they are happy to explore anything but she suspects a consequence of a decision like that would be a lower rent rate. They are interested in maintaining the integrity of the wetland and they think the library will enhance the quality of the park and the sculpture garden. They think this could be an extraordinary library for the citizens of Maplewood and for the surrounding cities. The handout discusses how this new proposal could be different from the Beam Avenue site. The Beam Avenue site is also on a wetland. Unfortunately at the time the library was built 15 years ago, the building was built backed up to the wetland rather than facing the wetland, and they don't want to make that mistake again. Their hope is to integrate the new library with the park and the sculpture garden and vice versa. They are establishing contacts with the city so they can work with the Parks and Recreation Director to make this an extraordinary facility. She thanked the planning commission for their time and consideration. Chairperson Fischer asked if anybody else in the audience wanted to address the commission. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -5- Nobody came forward. Chairperson Fischer closed the public hearing portion of the meeting. Commissioner Yarwood said he has issues with the coffee shop being run by a separate entity. Other than that it seems like the library is the ideal building to go on this site. It's a good use of the land and it fits well in the overall intention of the site combining the library with the local park. He thinks this is a better use of the land than the original proposed commercial use with two restaurants and a retail building. He hoped the rest of the planning commission felt the same way. Ms. Coleman said from a staff prospective she would echo Commissioner Yarwood's comments. The library is trying to be very creative and aggressive in trying to find a public/private partnership with the city and contributing to the Legacy Village development which will bring other people in from other communities. Having a coffee shop is a creative way to bring in funds in hard economic times. The city is always looking forthis type of opportunity for additional revenue to be brought in so she thinks this is a positive thing. If the city can collect additional property taxes on the coffee shop portion, then that is a positive thing as well. A coffee shop will definitely draw people to the library. She recently went to the Roseville Library and waited in line 10 minutes for a cup of coffee because there were so many customers. She got her coffee and enjoyed her time at the library with a good book. Ultimately the city council makes the final decision but as a staff person she sees this is a very creative way to help supplement the funding issues that we have in government today. Commissioner Trippler said the location forthe proposed library is marvelous, they would have a built in audience with all the building in the area and certainly this proposed parcel is a nicer location than the current location. As a taxpayer in the city he doesn't like the idea that government builds a building and 15 years later decides they need a new building. He wishes the county would have more foresight and think ahead more. He likes the idea of a coffee shop but he isn't sure about the microphone system with the drive-up window. He wants to make sure the library will be considerate of the people who will be living in the area and the problems that drive- ups can cause. Commissioner Dierich said this is a great idea and a great use of the land. She loves the fact that this is where "the people" live. The current library site is difficult to get to. As a person visiting the park she wouldn't like to listen to the loud speaker and she would hope they consider that when putting together the plan for the drive-thru window. Commissioner Pearson said this is an ideal situation and an ideal spot for this proposal and he is in full support of the plan. Commissioner Pearson moved to adopt the resolution approving a comprehensive land use plan amendment from BC (business commercial) to L (library) for the proposed Ramsey County Library to locate at Legacy Village. Approval is based on the following reasons: 1. Libraries are desired and beneficial facilities in both residential and commercial areas. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -6- 2. The proposed library would not negatively affect the approved tax-abatement financing plan for Legacy Village. Commissioner Pearson moved to adopt the resolution approving a PUD (planned unit development) revision for Legacy Village to allow the proposed Ramsey County Library. Approval is based on the findings required by ordinance and subject to the following conditions (additions are underlined and deletions are crossed out): 1. Compliance with the following PUD revisions: 6) Librarv Commorcial Site (Outlot D): a. This Tho commorcial site is planned in concept only within the PUD and will come in for design review and approval at a later date, but the use is allowed as long as the provisions of the BC zoning district and conditions outlined here are met; b. The librarv Ono of the lilUildings on the commercial site should be sited close to the corner of Southlawn Drive and Legacy Parkway, within 30' of the Southlawn Qfive right-of-way or as close as practicable; c. Allowed signage should only be wall signage or ground-mounted monument signs no more than 12' in height; d. The architectural character and exterior building materials must be in keeping with the nearby senior assisted living building, town homes and other buildings if present; e. Access to the site will be off Legacy Parkway and onto South lawn if approved by the city engineer; f. All ground-mounted and roof-mounted mechanical equipment will be completely screened from eye level of adjacent streets and adjacent properties, including the park and trail around the ponding area to the west; g. Tho parking lot on this sito must provide thFClugh connections aAs Gr-DSS parking om;omonts with the parcel te the south (Outlot E); h. There must be sidewalks connecting eAtries to all buildings on site to Legacy Parkway, Southlawn Drive and the path around the pond to the west, and to Outlot E. Such sidewalks must be separated from the parking lot at curB levol, not parking lot level; The developer must enter into a development aqreement with the city to dedicate a trail alonq the south side of the property to connect the existinq park trail to a future sidewalk alonq Southlawn Drive. The developer must construct these trails and sidewalks, and any others deemed necessarv bv the citv enqineer. i. Uses on the site are encouraged to take advantage of the park and trail system around the ponding area to the west by providing outdoor seating, plazas, overlooks or similar features; Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -7- j. Overstory trees must be planted along the north side of Legacy Parkway and the west side of South lawn Drive an average of 30' - 40' on center. k. An easement over the power line trail on this parcel will be provided to the city for access and maintenance. 7) Restaurant Site (Ol,ltlot E): a. The rostaUr1mt site is planned iA GonGopt only within the PUD aAs '.vill Gome in for dosign re'/iew and al3l3roval at a later date, but the use is allov/ed as long as the pro'/isions of the Be zoning distriGt and cenditions outlines horo are met; b. Allowed signago should only be wall sigRage or ground mOl,lntod monumeRt signs no moro than 12' in height; G. The arGhitectl,lFGI sharamer and exterior building materials must be in keel3ing with the nearby senior assisted living lll,lilsing, tovmhomes and other bl,lilsings if present; d. .'\GGess to tho site will be off a shares srivo.....ay with tho shopping center I3roporty to tho south, provides oasements and agreoments can lle roaGhed with that 13f-el3erty owner to provise sl,IGh aGGess. AGcess will be provides eRto South awn if apl3foved by the Gity engiAeor; e. All ground mounted ans roof mounted meGhanical equipment will be Gompletely sGreened from eye level view of adjaGent streets and asjaGent prol3erties, inGluding the park ans trail around the pondiRg aroa to the west; f. The parkiAg lot on this site must I3rovide through GOAneGtions and cross parking easements with the parGel te tho north (Outlot D); g. There must be a sidewall< en tho south side ef tho site GonneGting Southlawn Dri'le with the trail arouns the ponding area te tho west. There must also be sise'llalks GonneGting the lll,lilding entry to the shared driveway on the south side, SouthlawA Drive, and to Outlot D. Sl,IGh sidewalks must llo separated fr-em the parkiAg lot at Gurb level, Aet l3arking lot le'lel; h. Uses on the site aro enGourages to tako advantaga of the park and trail systom arol,lns tho ponding area to tho wast by providiRg outdoor seating, I3lazas, overlooks or similar foaturcs; i. Overstory treos must be planted alaRg tho .....cst side of South lawn Drive and the Aerth side of the driveway aGEless on the side of tho site at an average of aQ' or 10' on Genter. 2. The developer shall comply with the requirements of the city's wetland-protection ordinance. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -8- 3. All construction shall follow the site plan (review pendinq) approved bv the citv. The director of communitv development mav approve minor chanqes. 4. The proposed construction shall be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. The council mav extend this deadline for one vear. 5. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 6. If the proposed librarv has anv impact on the terms of the development aqreement for Leqacv Villaqe, the applicant or county shall pay for any costs associated with the library proposal. Commissioner Yarwood seconded. Ayes - Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Grover, Kaczrowski, Pearson, Trippler, Yarwood The motion passed. This item will go to the city council on October 24, 2005. b. Maple Ridge Leaf Business Center (2483 and 2497 Maplewood Drive) Mr. Roberts reported the applicant for the proposed Maple Leaf Ridge Business Center has requested a postponement of their public hearing and review by the planning commission. They are redesigning the site as a three-building project instead of the four-building layout shown on the current plans. This will increase the proposed setback from the westerly lot line and improve the grading and drainage plan. This item will be rescheduled for a public hearing for October 17, 2005. Staff mailed notices to the neighbors to inform them of this change. VI. NEW BUSINESS None. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Mr. Ahlness was the planning commission representative at the September 12, 2005, city council meeting. Mr. Ahlness was absent from this evening's meeting so Mr. Roberts reported the only item to be discussed was the Woodlands of Maplewood (McMenemy Street north of Kingston Avenue) for the Land Use Plan Change, Zoning Map Change, Street Right-of-Way Vacation, CUP and Preliminary Plat that was heard for the second time. The applicant had revised plans for the city council to review and the proposal was approved ayes all. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -9- b. Mr. Kaczrowski was the planning commission representative at the September 26,2005, city council meeting. The only planning commission item was the conditional use permit for K and W RolI-Offs at 1055 Gervais Avenue, which was passed by the city council. c. Ms. Dierich was scheduled to be the planning commission representative at the October 10, 2005, city council meeting, however no representation was needed. d. Ms. Fischer will be the planning commission representative atthe October 24, 2005, city council meeting. The only planning commission item to discuss is the Ramsey County Public Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive for the Land Use Plan Change and for the PUD revision BC(business commercial) to L (Library). X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Letter of request from WBABA Ms. Coleman passed a letter out from the White Bear Avenue Business Association (WBABA) dated September 16, 2005, regarding the northeast corner of White Bear Avenue and Beam Avenue. The letter was regarding the July 18, 2005, planning commission meeting when the commission recommended the adoption of the land use planning change for the west 290 feet of the vacant property from limited business commercial to business commercial. Then on August 8, 2005, the city council voted to deny that recommendation and the proposed zoning change. Ms. Coleman said part of that is because there is still a dispute between the property owner and Premier Bank which leases the property where they want to have Walgreen's built. That issue is still to be resolved. The owner of the property is not interested in allowing a Walgreen's to be built on this property. The letter was presented to try to persuade the planning commission to pursue a zoning change of the subject property which would allow a Walgreen's Pharmacy to be constructed on the said property. The WBABA offered five reasons why they think the zoning change should be approved. Commissioner Desai asked why the letter from the WBABA was not signed. Ms. Coleman telephoned Premier Bank and spoke with someone she knows there. She asked if he knew who sent the letter from the WBABA because it was not signed by anyone. He said he would ask around and pass it on that there was no signature on the letter. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -10- b. Possible Planning Commission Training Ms. Coleman asked the planning commission to think of ideas for items to discuss or something they would like to receive additional training on. This is something that would be done when there are no agenda items to have a meeting for. They would hold the meetings in the Maplewood Room and the meetings would not be cablecast. Items commissioners would like to have training on or discuss include: a. 9-foot-wide parking stalls versus gY>-feet-wide parking stalls. b. In-fill development: most ofthe property in Maplewood is full now. Many ofthe proposals the commission sees lately are demo and rebuild. Ordinances may need to be updated or changed. How do these changes affect the neighborhood characteristics and historical property. Developments seem crammed in but are below the city's criteria for number of units. c. The planning commission has been changing the land use plan and zoning for various reasons. How does this fit in with the overall plan for the city? Why does the planning commission have to make land use plan and zoning changes just to fit the applicant needs? d. Reconsider the density ordinance for both single family homes and multi-family homes. e. Southern Maplewood property (Schlomka property) and how the city wants to move forward on that property regarding number of units, what type of housing etc. f. Identify other redevelopment areas in the city or areas the city doesn't want to redevelop. c. Reschedule December 5, 2005, planning commission meeting until Tuesday, December 6,2005, or Wednesday, December 7,2005, because of a budget meeting. The planning commission decided to reschedule the Monday, December 5,2005, planning commission meeting to Wednesday, December 7,2005. Commissioner Grover has a conflict with his turn to represent the planning commission at the Monday, November 14, 2005, city council meeting and asked planning commissioners to check their calendars to see if anyone could exchange dates with him. d. Gladstone Joint Meeting October 17, 2005. Ms. Coleman said there will be a joint meeting between the HRA, PC, CDRB, Parks Department, and Open Space Commission at 6:00 p.m. in the city council chambers to discuss the Gladstone Redevelopment process. Following the Gladstone joint meeting will be the regularly scheduled planning commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the city council chambers. For more information on the Gladstone Redevelopment area you may go to the city website at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us e. October 20, 2005, Appreciation Event. Ms. Coleman reminded the planning commission of the Appreciation Event on Thursday, October 20,2005, from 5:45-9:00 p.m. at the Maplewood Community Center. Tickets are required and are limited for the performance of comedian Alex Cole. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-03-05 -11- f. City Council Vacancy Update. Ms. Coleman stated with the resignation of former city councilmember Jackie Monahan- Junek there is a temporary city council position opening. If you are interested in applying you may obtain an application by going to the city website www.ci.maplewood.mn.us and clicking on Maplewood City Council Vacancy or contact Melinda Coleman directly at 651- 249-2052. Applications are due on October 14, 2005, and interviews for the city council opening will be held October 17, 2005, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.