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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/04/2004 MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, October 4,2004, 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 8, 2004 5. Public Hearings 7:00 Avis Rent A Car Conditional Use Permit (Sears - Maplewood Mall) 7:15 Maplewood Imports Auto Center (2450 Maplewood Drive) Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) Land Use Plan Change (CO and M-1 to M-1) Zoning Map Change (CO and M-1 to M-1) Conditional Use Perm it 6. New Business Resolution of Appreciation - Paul Mueller 7. Unfinished Business None 8. Visitor Presentations 9. Commission Presentations September 13 Council Meeting: Mr. Bartol September 27 Council Meeting: Ms. Dierich October 11 Council Meeting: Ms. Fischer October 25 Council Meeting: Mr. Pearson 10. Staff Presentations 11. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Eric Ahlness Commissioner Jeff Bartol Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai Commissioner Mary Dierich Commissioner Michael Grover Commissioner Daniel Lee Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Dale Trippler Staff Present: Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Ken Roberts, Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mr. Roberts reported the public hearing for Maplewood Imports Auto Center has been cancelled because the applicant has withdrawn their current application. Commissioner Desai moved to approve the agenda, as amended. Commissioner Bartol seconded. The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ayes - Ahlness, Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Grover, Lee, Pearson, Trippler Approval of the planning commission minutes for September 8, 2004. Chairperson Fischer, Commissioner Dierich and Commissioner Trippler had corrections on pages 3 and 4 of the September 8,2004, minutes. The corrections were made and posted on the City of Maplewood website. Commissioner Dierich moved to approve the planning commission minutes for September 8, 2004, as amended. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes - Bartol, Dierich, Fischer, Lee, Pearson Abstentions - Ahlness, Desai, Grover, Trippler Planning Commission Minutes of 10-04-04 -2- Mr. Roberts welcomed Commissioner Eric Ahlness back to the planning commission. The city council reappointed him to the commission on September 27, 2004. Mr. Ahlness replaces Commissioner Paul Mueller who resigned September 10, 2004. v. PUBLIC HEARING (7:05 p.m.) a. Avis Rent A Car Conditional Use Permit (Sears - Maplewood Mall) Mr. Roberts said Mr. Jeff Higginbotham, representing Avis Rent a Car, is requesting that the city approve a conditional use permit (CUP) to set up an automobile rental office in the Sears store at Maplewood Mall. The request would include a service counter and the storage of about 10 rental vehicles on the west side of the Sears store, north of Beam Avenue. Staff recommends approval of the CUP. Commissioner Trippler asked if the cars would be sitting in the mall parking lot overnight or over the weekend? He is concerned about car vandalism that may occur if the cars sit in the parking lot. Mr. Roberts said he understands from the representative that cars would be reserved and ready for pickup but there wouldn't be a stock of cars sitting in the parking lot waiting for people to rent. There is mall security which could help watch for vandalism but basically he doesn't see this being a problem. However, the applicant should be able to clarify the situation for the commission. Chairperson Fischer asked the applicant to come forward and address the commission. Mr. Jeff Higginbotham, Agency Manager for Avis Rent a Car, addressed the commission. He said Avis Rent a Car has seven stores in the Twin Cities. Avis rents cars for both business and leisure. The cars wouldn't get serviced in this location, they would be serviced and maintained at the airport. They propose to have 10 to 12 cars parked in the parking lot at anyone time so there could be cars sitting in the parking lot overnight but the staff would secure the vehicles. Avis Rent a Car plans on being a member of the Chamber of Commerce and wants to be involved with the city functions in Maplewood. Chairperson Fischer asked if anyone in the audience wanted to speak regarding this proposal? No one in the audience came forward. Commissioner Pearson moved to adopt the resolution on pages 11 and 12 of the staff report. This resolution approves a conditional use permit for an automobile rental office in the Sears Store at 3001 White Bear Avenue. The approval is subject to the following conditions: 1. The owner or operator shall follow the site plan approved by the city. The director of community development may approve minor changes. 2. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 3. The normal hours of operation shall be seven days a week, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-04-04 -3- 4. The maximum number of parking stalls for rental cars at this site is limited to 10. 5. The contractor must obtain the necessary building and sign permits from the city. Commissioner Desai seconded. Ayes - Ahlness, Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Grover, Lee, Pearson, Trippler The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on October 25, 2004. VI. NEW BUSINESS Resolution of Appreciation - Paul Mueller Mr. Roberts said Paul Mueller resigned from the planning commission and his letter of resignation is attached in the staff report. Staff recommends the planning commission approve the attached resolution of appreciation for Paul Mueller. Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the attached resolution of appreciation for Paul Mueller. Commissioner Dierich seconded. Ayes - Ahlness, Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Grover, Lee, Pearson, Trippler The motion passed. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Will Rossbach, Maplewood City Councilmember residing at 1386 County Road C East, Maplewood, addressed the commission. Mr. Rossbach stated Lorraine Fischer had asked if the Land Use Plan was correct forthe Maplewood Priory property. Afler further checking he reported the land use was correct. Mr. Rossbach said if the planning commission has further evidence to dispute this that they should contact city staff. IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Mr. Bartol was the planning commission representative at the September 13, 2004, city council meeting. The only item discussed was the Cottages of Legacy Village which was approved by the city council as submitted. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-04-04 -4- b. Ms. Dierich was the planning commission representative at the September 27,2004, city council meeting. Items discussed included the Mapletree Townhomes that was approved by the city council, the Ramsey County Courthouse which was approved, and the Summerhill Senior Cooperative which was denied by a 3 to 2 vote. (Four votes were needed for approval). c. Ms. Fischerwas to be the planning commission representative at the October 11, 2004, city council meeting, however, there are no planning commission items to discuss. d. Mr. Pearson will be the planning commission representative at the October 25, 2004, city council meeting. The only item to discuss will be the Conditional Use Permit for Avis Rent a Car at Sears at the Maplewood Mall. x. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Mr. Roberts discussed Maplewood Imports Auto Center and the reason for withdrawing their proposal for the public hearing this evening. The engineering department raised several issues regarding the project and the developer wanted to work with the engineering department and the watershed district to ensure a better plan. The engineering department encourages the use of an underground filtration system and or rainwater gardens as part of the drainage system. The applicant will bring the proposal back to the commission at a later date when the issues have been worked out. Commissioner Trippler was concerned about the city's proposed requirement to have an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for this proposal when the city didn't require the other car dealerships to have an EAW when they built in Maplewood. Mr. Roberts said this is a large parcel of land and there is a potential for environmental risks. There are 2,200 parking spaces proposed for this property and there are many concerns to be addressed. Mr. Roberts said the applicant stated each car manufacturer may want their own building. A new car dealership that is not already represented in the city may move in or one of the multiple dealerships may request to have their own building. For example the Mercedes, Audi and Porsche dealerships are located in one building and the applicant has stated the Audi dealership wants to have their own building. Mr. Roberts said this project if approved by the city, would be done in phases and construction could start in 2005. Commissioner Trippler said at a past planning commission meeting he asked staff to check with the city attorney regarding the right to step onto personal property while visiting a site in preparation for the planning commission meeting. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-04-04 -5- Mr. Roberts checked with the city attorney and was told it depends on the situation. The city attorney advised city staff to revise the application forms adding a disclaimer on the form alerting the applicants that city staff and or board/commission members may be visiting the property in person. If it's a single family home, city staff, board or commission members should go knock on the door and let the homeowner know they are there to visit the site in preparation for the meeting. If it's a commercial property there is the expectation that city staff or commission members would be visiting the site and there shouldn't be any problem. Mr. Roberts asked Rose Lorsung to address the commission and give an update on the Gladstone area. Rose Lorsung, Planning Intern, introduced herself to the planning commission. She stated a survey, proposed timeline and maps have been posted on the city website forthe revitalization of the Gladstone area. This survey is to gauge the Gladstone neighborhood regarding the different concepts for the Gladstone area that have been put forward by the consultant. The city staff will post an article in the Maplewood Review which comes out every Wednesday to inform residents of the Gladstone survey. The other possibility is to send another mailing out to residents and business owners in the Gladstone area letting them know about the survey, proposed timeline and maps. Mr. Roberts said there would be a Gladstone redevelopment presentation at the next planning commission meeting. Shann Finwall, Tom Ekstrand and Melinda Coleman along with a consultant have been working on the Gladstone area project. The Gladstone moratorium is proposed to end March 2005 and could be extended by the city depending on what the council decides. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.