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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/2007 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2007 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Harland Hess Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Joe Walton Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood Commissioner Robert Martin Commissioner Joseph Boeser Staff Present: Present Present Present Present Present Present at 6:20 p.m. Present Present Present Ken Roberts, Planner Tom Ekstrand, Senior Planner Chuck Ahl, Public Works Director Alan Kantrud, City Attorney III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Trippler seconded. The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None V. PUBLIC HEARING None VI. NEW BUSINESS Ayes - all a. Gladstone Neighborhood Streetscaping Plans (Tom Harrington, Kimley-Horn) Public Works Director Chuck Ahl explained details and projected time line for streetscaping and asked the commissioners for their comments and input. Director Ahl then introduced Tom Harrington of Kimley-Horn & Associates. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-16-07 -2- Tom Harrington of Kimley-Horn & Associates gave a slide presentation of the streetscaping plan details for Phase I of the Gladstone improvements. Some of the items Mr. Harrington discussed were street lighting, pavements, storm water drainage, plantings and trees. Mr. Harrington asked the commissioners for their input on the streetscaping plans as presented. Director Ahl noted that Phase II improvements are not included in this presentation, since there is not a developer for that part of the project yet. Several planning commissioners said they prefer the Legacy Village style of lighting, prefer having utilities buried, and suggested that pervious pavement be considered. Commissioners also discussed traffic concerns with walkers and bikers on Frost Avenue and suggested that sensors or reflectors for crosswalks or speed bumps be considered to alert traffic and iterated the importance of public safety in the design. Parks Commissioner Peter Fischer asked about the trail connection plan in the Phalen Place area. Director Ahl explained possible trail connections, but noted that the trail plan has not been completed at this time. Commissioner Fischer suggested pervious pavement might be used for the trail connection area at Phalen Place. Mr. Fischer said he prefers to have power lines buried. Parks Commissioner Don Christiansen asked whether there will be sidewalks along Frost Avenue to Highway 61 and if they will be lit. After reviewing the plans, it was determined that sidewalks are not planned along Frost Avenue to Highway 61. Parks Commissioner Bruce Roman asked if installing the trail on the north side of Frost Avenue would impact the Flicek ball fields. Director Ahl said that they are still working on the design to limit the impact, which at this time is for a six-foot sidewalk rather than a 10- foot trail. Mr. Roman asked how bikers would be impacted by the roundabouts. Director Ahl said that bikers can operate through the roundabout, but the trail designers are currently working on providing trail access in the roundabout areas. Planning Commissioner Trippler suggested including a trail connection from the bridge crossing on Highway 61 to the Gateway Trail. b. Concept Review - English Street Manufactured Home Site Redevelopment Plan (1880 English Street) Planner Roberts presented the report. Commissioners discussed densities and also asked about drainage patterns; staff responded that there is no grading plan established so drainage has not been determined. A commissioner asked if establishing housing units over mixed-use commercial had been considered for this project. Calvin Seegar of Crossroads Financial Group, LLC, responded saying that building housing units over mixed-use commercial was not feasible due to inadequate square footage. Planning Commission Minutes of 10-16-07 -3- Kevin Gardner of Metro Land Surveying & Engineering said that after looking at several density plans, it was decided that two-story housing was the best alternative. Director Ahl commented that mixed-use commercial with housing was explored previously and it was determined that four stories would be needed to be commercially viable. Planner Roberts noted the concerns of the Community Design Review Board discussed at their meeting on October 9. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. South Maplewood Study - Rose Lorsung - Schoell Madson (South of Carver Avenue) Rose Lorsung of Schoell Madson presented land use information on the South Maplewood Study. Ms. Lorsung said she hoped to have a report completed for the commission's review within a month. Ms. Lorsung also notified the commission that a walking tour of the south Maplewood area is scheduled for November 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ms. Lorsung explained information previously requested by the commission and provided particulars of several successful open space and cluster developments in the metropolitan area. The commission discussed growth rates projected by the city, possible densities and creating zoning districts with green spaces. Ms. Lorsung explained the need to set aside the study on South Maplewood and to move on to the review of the land use plan soon. She said that work will begin with Kimley-Horn on updating the comprehensive sewer plan. Ms. Lorsung also informed the planning commission that her firm has been hired to continue work on creating a zoning ordinance for Gladstone. She said she would be presenting a draft to the commission in four to six weeks. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Planner Roberts reported on the October 8 City Council meeting. b. October 22 City Council meeting: Mr. Martin will attend. c. November 12 - No City Council Meeting scheduled due to Veterans Day holiday. d. November 26 City Council meeting: Mr. Walton will attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Planner Roberts informed the commission that the next Planning Commission Meeting is Monday, November 5 due to election night being on the 6th Planning Commission Minutes of 10-16-07 -4- b. City Attorney Alan Kantrud explained the proposed sign code revision information given to the commission in their packet, along with background information regarding proposed revisions to the sign code due to the Clear Channel billboard near 1-494 and Century Avenue. Staff responded to questions from the commissioners regarding the proposed revisions to the sign code. Tom McCarver of Clear Channel spoke regarding sign technology and content. The commission discussed controls for signs such as impacts of colors, brightness levels, elevations, and requiring a longer display time than Clear Channel's existing 8-second display time for flashing messages in order to lessen driver distraction. Commissioner Hess suggested that since Clear Channel appears to be in violation of the sign code, a short-term solution would be to freeze the sign at one selected display until it is determined if Clear Channel will be allowed to continue advertising in a changing mode. Commissioner Yarwood moved the Planning Commission table this item for additional time to further review the information and also to request a recommendation from staff on a more thought out ordinance. Commissioner Hess seconded. Commissioner Yarwood suggested this item could be discussed further at the next commission meeting. The commission then voted: Ayes - Yarwood, Hess, Fischer, Walton, Martin Nays - Desai, Boeser, Pearson, Trippler Commissioner Yarwood said he is okay with the ordinance revisions as written in the city of Eagan ordinance. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.