HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-16 PC Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 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 Absent
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
Commissioner Ige moved to approve the agenda as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Dahm. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Kempe moved to approve the November 21, 2017, PC minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Dahm. Ayes – Chairperson Arbuckle,
Commissioner’s Dahm, Eads,
Ige & Kempe
Abstention – Commissioner Donofrio
The motion passed.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
a. 7:00 p.m. or later: Approval of a Wetland Buffer Variance for a New House at 832
McKnight Road South
i. Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin gave the report on the Approval of a
Wetland Buffer Variance for a new house at 832 McKnight Road South and answered
questions of the commission.
ii. Previous landowners, John Mohr, 1283 Holly Avenue North, Oakdale, addressed the
commission.
iii. Applicant, Louis Knippenberg addressed the commission and confirmed the conditions
are ok in the staff report.
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Chairperson Arbuckle opened the public hearing.
Chairperson Arbuckle closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Kempe moved to approve the resolution in the staff report authorizing a 67-foot
wetland buffer variance for 832 McKnight Road South for the construction of a new single family
house. 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 include mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts
to the wetland. These include restoration of the disturbed portions of the wetland buffer and
the installation of wetland buffer signs.
3. Approval would meet the spirit and intent of the ordinance with the construction of a new
single family house on a vacant lot that is zoned and guided in the city’s comprehensive plan
as residential.
Approval of the wetland buffer variance shall be subject to the following:
1. Prior to issuance of a grading permit for the new single family house the applicants must
submit:
a. A tree plan which shows the location, size, and species of all significant trees located on
the lot, and the trees that will be removed with the construction of the new single family
house. Removal of significant trees with the construction of the single family house must
comply with the city’s tree preservation ordinance and tree replacement requirements.
b. A wetland buffer restoration plan to be approved by city staff. The restoration plan will
reflect native plantings in the areas disturbed by grading that is located north of the 945-
foot elevation to the wetland edge.
c. A wetland buffer sign plan to be approved by city staff. The number and location of
wetland buffer signs to be installed along the edge of the wetland buffer. The signs
indicate that no building, grading, mowing, or cutting is permitted within the buffer.
d. Wetland Buffer Mitigation Surety: Submit a cash escrow or letter of credit to cover 150
percent of estimated cost of the wetland buffer mitigation and wetland signs.
2. Prior to release of the wetland buffer mitigation surety, the wetland buffer native plantings
must be established and the wetland buffer signs must be installed.
Seconded by Commissioner . Ayes – Chairperson Arbuckle,
Commissioner’s Dahm,
Donofrio, Ige & Kempe
Nay – Commissioner Eads
Commissioner Eads voted against the proposal because he did not approve of the wetland buffer
variance.
The motion passed.
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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
This item goes to the city council February 12, 2018.
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update
i. Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin gave an update on the 2040
Comprehensive Plan and answered questions of the commission. Staff will provide a
printed copy of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan for the planning commission.
No action is required at this time. For more information on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan please
visit www.maplewoodmn.gov/2040.
b. Planning Commission’s Rules of Procedure – Annual Review
i. Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin reviewed the Rules of Procedure for
the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Donofrio asked staff about the possibility of eliminating Visitor Presentations from
the agenda in the Rules of Procedures.
Commissioner Kempe suggested Rules of Civility be added to the Rules of Procedure.
Commissioner Donofrio moved to eliminate Visitor Presentations from the Planning Commission
agenda.
Seconded by Commissioner Dahm. Ayes – 3
Nays - 3
The vote was tied.
Commissioner Dahm moved to strike Visitor Presentations from the Planning Commission
agenda with the addition that if someone wants to make a presentation to the commission they
can request that through city staff 2 weeks in advance of the meeting and staff will add the
request to the agenda.
Seconded by Commissioner Ige. Ayes – Chairperson Arbuckle,
Commissioner’s Dahm,
Donofrio & Ige
Nays – Commissioner Eads & Kempe
The motion passed.
Commissioner Kempe moved that the Rules of Civility be printed on the back of the Planning
Commission Agenda.
Seconded by Chairperson Arbuckle. Ayes – All
The motion passed.
Staff will forward these requests to the city council. The final decision will be made by the city
council.
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c. City Council Meeting Attendance Schedule for Planning Commissioners
i. Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin discussed the city council attendance
schedule for the planning commissioner’s representation.
No action was required.
d. Presentation of Annual Report to City Council – February 12, 2018 (No Report)
i. Economic Development Coordinator, Michael Martin discussed the presentation of the
Annual Report at the city council meeting on February 12, 2018.
No action was required.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
8. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None.
9. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
a. December 11, 2017 city council meeting (Commissioner Arbuckle)
● Conditional Use Permit, Residential Accessory Building, 1788 Kennard Street was
approved by the city council.
b. February 12, 2018 city council meeting (Commissioner Ige)
● Wetland Buffer Variance, New House, 832 McKnight Road South
10. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
None.
11. ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Arbuckle adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m.
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