HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 03-19 PC Minutes
March 19, 2024
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
1
MINUTES
MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
7:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 19, 2024
City Hall, Council Chambers
1830 County Road B East
A. CALL TO ORDER
A meeting of the Commission was held and called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Desai
B. ROLL CALL
Tushar Desai, Chairperson Present
Lue Yang, Vice Chairperson Present
Paul Arbuckle, Commissioner Present
Frederick Dahm, Commissioner Present
John Eads, Commissioner Present
Allan Ige, Commissioner Absent
Tom Oszman, Commissioner Present
Staff Present: Elizabeth Hammond, Planner
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Dahm moved to approve the agenda as presented.
Seconded by Commissioner Arbuckle Ayes – All
The motion passed.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. January 16, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Dahm moved to approve the January 16, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting
Minutes as submitted.
Seconded by Commissioner Oszman Ayes – Chairperson Desai
Vice Chairperson Yang
Commissioner Dahm
Commissioner Eads
Commissioner Oszman
Abstain – Commissioner Arbuckle
The motion passed.
E. PUBLIC HEARING
1. MSP Commercial, 1081 Highway 36 East
a. Conditional Use Permit Amendment Resolution
b. Setback Variance Resolution
Elizabeth Hammond, Planner, gave the presentation.
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Chairperson Desai opened the public hearing.
The following individuals addressed the commission and answered questions:
Michael Brass of Titus Commercial Real Estate
Eric Vang of Fresh’n Up Car Care
Rob Loftus of MSP 1081 LLC
Chairperson Desai closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Dahm moved to approve a conditional use permit amendment resolution for the
property at 1081 Highway 36 East, subject to certain conditions of approval.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Maplewood, Minnesota, as follows:
Section 1. Background.
1.01 MSP Commercial (property owner) has requested to amend the Conditional Use Permit
for the property located at 1081 Highway 36 East.
1.02 The property located at 1081 Highway 36 East is legally described as:
Section 9, Township 29, Range 22, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Tax Parcel Identification: 092922310001
1.03 The conditional use permit allows used vehicle sales to operate on the property.
1.04 The property owner requests to amend the conditional use permit to allow a vehicle
maintenance garage to operate on the property.
Section 2. Standards.
2.01 General Conditional Use Permit Standards. City Ordinance Section 44-1097(a) states that
the City Council must base approval of a Conditional Use Permit on the following nine
standards for approval.
1. The use would be located, designed, maintained, constructed and operated to be in
conformity with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Code of Ordinances.
2. The use would not change the existing or planned character of the surrounding area.
3. The use would not depreciate property values.
4. The use would not involve any activity, process, materials, equipment or methods of
operation that would be dangerous, hazardous, detrimental, disturbing or cause a
nuisance to any person or property, because of excessive noise, glare, smoke, dust,
odor, fumes, water or air pollution, drainage, water run-off, vibration, general
unsightliness, electrical interference or other nuisances.
5. The use would not exceed the design standards of any affected street.
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6. The use would be served by adequate public facilities and services, including streets,
police and fire protection, drainage structures, water and sewer systems, schools and
parks.
7. The use would not create excessive additional costs for public facilities or services.
8. The use would maximize the preservation of and incorporate the site’s natural and
scenic features into the development design.
9. The use would cause minimal adverse environmental effects.
Section 3. Findings.
3.01 The proposal meets the specific Conditional Use Permit standards.
Section 4. City Review Process
4.01 The City conducted the following review when considering this conditional use permit
request.
1. On March 19, 2024, the Planning Commission held a public hearing. City staff
published a hearing notice in the Pioneer Press and sent notices to the surrounding
property owners. The Planning Commission gave everyone at the hearing a chance to
speak and present written statements. The Planning Commission recommended that
the City Council approve this resolution.
2. On April 8, 2024, the City Council discussed this resolution. They considered reports
and recommendations from the planning commission and City staff.
Section 5. City Council
5.01 The City Council hereby _______ the resolution. Approval is based on the findings
outlined in section 3 of this resolution. Approval is subject to the following conditions:
1. All previous CUP conditions, including the CUP granted on July 14, 2014, are
terminated.
2. The city council will review the permit in one year.
3. Should there be changes to the building's tenant mix, the property owner must submit
these details to the city for review. Before a new tenant operates on the property, the
owner must receive approval from the city.
4. Outdoor sales, storage, and display are prohibited on the property unless reviewed by
the city council.
5. There shall be no exterior storage of inoperable vehicles related to a vehicle
maintenance garage on the property or the adjacent public streets. All vehicles waiting
for repair or pick-up must be stored inside the building.
6. There shall be no exterior storage of vehicles listed for sale related to a vehicle sales
business on the property or adjacent public streets. The owner must request an
amendment to the conditional use permit for any exterior display of vehicles for sale.
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7. The owner will submit a trash enclosure plan for the property. A trash enclosure is
required around all trash containers or dumpsters on the property and shall be 100
percent opaque. The enclosure must meet city ordinance requirements. The enclosure
is required to be maintained at all times.
8. The owner will submit a parking lot striping plan to the city for review. All parking areas
will be repaired, and the appropriate size parking stalls and drive aisles must be
striped on the property. The parking lot shall be maintained at all times.
9. Should the tenant layout in the building change or if a new use is proposed, all parking
requirements must be reviewed by staff beforehand, and all parking requirements
must be achieved before a new use can operate on the property.
10. All vehicle deliveries and transport unloading shall be done on-site, not along public
streets.
11. All signs shall meet the City of Maplewood sign ordinance. The property owner will
obtain sign permits as required.
12. Before a vehicle maintenance garage can operate on the site, the property owner shall
provide interior floor plan specifications and details on the type of paint corrections
and paint blending to occur, including planned paint storage on the site. The property
owner will meet the requirements of the Fire Marshal and install a paint booth and
ventilation systems as necessary.
13. The property owner must contact Rasmey County and obtain a hazardous waste
license if required.
14. The property owner must contact the city’s licensing division and obtain any required
licenses for the businesses that operate on the property. The city will not issue a
business license until the property owner submits a trash enclosure plan and a parking
lot striping plan to staff for review.
Seconded by Commissioner Arbuckle Ayes – All
The motion passed.
Commissioner Dahm moved to approve a setback variance resolution for the property at 1081
Highway 36 East.
SETBACK VARIANCE RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Maplewood, Minnesota, as follows:
Section 1. Background.
1.01 MSP Commercial (property owner) has requested a setback variance to allow a vehicle
maintenance garage to operate on the property closer than 350 feet from a residentially
planned property.
1.02 The vehicle maintenance garage would be approximately 200 feet from a residentially
planned property.
1.03 The property located at 1081 Highway 36 is legally described as:
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Section 9, Township 29, Range 22, Ramsey County, Minnesota
Tax Parcel Identification: 092922310001
Section 2. Standards.
2.01 Variance Standard. City Ordinance Section 44-13 refers to a state statute that states a
variance may be granted from the requirements of the zoning ordinance when: (1) the
variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this ordinance; (2) when
the variance is consistent with the comprehensive plan; and (3) when the applicant
establishes that there are practical difficulties in complying with the ordinance. Practical
difficulties mean: (1) the proposed use is reasonable; (2) the need for a variance is
caused by circumstances unique to the property, not created by the property owner, and
not solely based on economic conditions; (3) the variance if granted, will not alter the
essential character of the locality.
Section 3. Findings.
3.01 The setback variance request meet the required standards for a variance. Staff finds:
1. That the need for a variance is caused by circumstances unique to the property, not
created by the property owner, and not solely based on economic conditions;
2. That the proposed use is reasonable; and
3. That the variance will not alter the essential character of the locality; and
4. That the need for a variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of this
ordinance; and
5. That the variance is consistent with the comprehensive plan.
Section 4. City Review Process
4.01 The City conducted the following review when considering the variance requests.
1. On March 19, 2024, the planning commission held a public hearing. The city staff
published a hearing notice in the Pioneer Press and sent notices to the surrounding
property owners. The planning commission gave everyone at the hearing a chance to
speak and present written statements. The planning commission recommended that
the city council approve this resolution.
2. On April 8, 2024, the city council discussed this resolution. They considered reports
and recommendations from the planning commission and city staff.
Section 5. City Council
5.01 The city council hereby _______ the resolution. Approval of the application is based on
the findings outlined in section 3 of this resolution.
Seconded by Commissioner Oszman Ayes – All
The motion passed.
This item will go to the city council on April 08, 2024.
F. NEW BUSINESS
None
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G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
H. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
None
I. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
None
J. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None
K. ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Dahm moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Seconded by Commissioner Oszman Ayes – All
The motion passed.