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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/16/2000MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, October 16, 2000, 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road B East 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes a. October 2, 2000 Unfinished Business a. AT & T Monopole Conditional Use Permit (1745 Cope Avenue) 6. New Business a. Lot Area and Lot Width Variances (Roselawn Avenue and Kenwood Drive East) 7. Visitor Presentations Commission Presentations a. October 9 Council Meeting: Mr. Thompson b. October 23 Council Meeting: Mr. Ledvina c. November 13 Council Meeting: Mr. Mueller 9. Staff Presentations 10. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2000 II. III. IV, CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. ROLL CALL Commissioner Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Jack Frost Commissioner Matt Ledvina Commissioner Paul Mueller Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner William Rossbach CommissIoner Milo Thompson CommissIoner Dale Trippler Present Present Present Absent Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Ken Roberts, Associate Planner Recording Secretary: Lori Hansen APPROVALOFAGENDA Commissioner Frost moved approval of the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes-All The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commission Frost moved approval of the minutes of October 2nd, 2000 as submitted. Commissioner Pearson seconded the motion. The motion carries. Ayes-All (Abstention-Mr. Ledvina) UNFINISHED BUSINESS AT & T Mono.Dole Conditional Use permit--1745 Cope Avenue Ken Roberts presented the staff report. AT & T Wireless is proposing to install a monopole up to 125 feet tall and an equipment building for wireless telecommunications. They would like to install the monople and building at 1745 Cope Avenue, on the southwest corner of the existing parking lot. The original request was submitted to the commission on September 7th, but was tabled at that point to give AT & T more time to try to work with Qwest communications about co-locating on the property on Gervais Court. Qwest was unable to meet AT & T's needs as they are not structurally able to extend the existing pole to the 122 foot height that AT & T would require and they do not have enough room on their site to allow for the installation of another monopole. -2- Staff and the owner of the Monson Insurance building at 1737 Cope Avenue are concerned about the proposed location of the monople and equipment building. There are other locations in this general area that staff considers more preferable for this facility. Any of these alternative locations for the monopole would have less impact on the Monson Insurance building and it would put it further from the residential properties south of Cope Avenue. In response to commission questions, Mr. Roberts noted the property owner for each of the properties in question was the same, and he is leasing the Taste of India building out to the operators of the restaurant. The currently proposed site does meet the city ordinance for monopoles. Even though it does meet the ordinance, the staff feels there are other locations on site that would balance some of the oppositions. Commissioner Ledvina asked whether there would be any alternative sites located in the northwest corner of the property. Commissioner Thompson felt there could be some obstruction to the Taste of India signage. He also noted unlicensed vehicles parked in the lot north of Strauss Skates. Commissioner Trippler noticed the Strauss building had a delivery door in back, and wondered if AT & T would be subjecting themselves to possible damage from trucks backing up. He also questioned the response from AT & T regarding the alternative locations. Mr. Trippler also wondered why the property owner was not interested in other sites on the property. Julie Townsend was present from AT & T Wireless Services (2515 24th Avenue South, Mpls.) to answer questions. She stated the location they have selected is the location that is approved and preferred by the owner of the property, Mr. Charbonneau. Ms. Townsend noted that Mr. Charbonneau is opposed to the suggested alternative locations for various reasons. She also stated that Mr. Charbonneau has future plans for the Strauss property and anything on the Strauss property would not be acceptable. Mr. Charbonneau's largest opposition was to the location directly in the center of property, which was unacceptable to him, and hindered any type of redevelopment in the future. In response to Commissioner Trippler's question as to whether she has talked to the owner from Monson Insurance, Ms. Townsend stated she had attempted to. She tried to contact Monson Insurance to talk to someone to discuss any landscaping they could possibly do, and discuss the building style of the proposed building that would make it somewhat less obtrusive. She left messages for the owner of Monson, his brother and an attorney, with no response. Ms. Townsend said she also contacted other companies in the area about leasing out their property with little to no response. Mr. Thompson referred to a New England Journal of Medicine article regarding the study of cell phones and accidents. According to the article, the accident ratio was four times greater within five minutes of a driver used their cell phone. He questioned whether or not AT & T was prepared to accept this responsibility. Ms. Townsend did not feel she was the proper person to answer that question, and did not have her marketing and safety specialist with her that evening. Randy Monson was present from Monson Insurance, 1737 Cope Avenue, as his father was out of the country. The owners are very concerned that the tower will significantly alter the character of the surrounding area, and if it will any adverse affect on the value of their and their neighbors properties, which is largely office and commercial. He felt just north of Highway 36 their are properties that are more commercial which he felt would be better suited for this type of project. Jim Miller was present from James Miller Investment Realty Company, 1 West Water Street Suite 400, St. Paul. He has a listing agreement for a vacant property owned by the St. Paul School Foundation that is immediately to the west of the Charbonneau property. He said they would be interested in leasing to AT & T for the monopole project. This site is approximately 26,000 square feet and on the north end of the property. Ms. Townsend could not remember if they had talked to the owner of this site but thought that since the property was landlocked (so they had no access to the property) that it would not meet AT & T's needs. -3- Commissioner Frost questioned if approving the recommendation does not necessarily mean building the monopole on the present property, or if it could be adjacent land. Staff felt the specific property referred to in the resolution was 1745 Cope Avenue and the legal description for it. The land lock situation is out of the city's I~i~S;~ The User or developer of that property will have to work out an access agreement with one of the adjoining properties. There is an easement noted on the plat map. _ Ms. Thompson reiterated they are requesting approval for a conditional use permit for a specific location. The applicant does not agree to the condition in the approval that states they shall revise the site plan by moving the lease area away from Monson Insurance, and asked that it be stricken and be rewritten to state "as proposed". Mr. Trippler asked the staff if an applicant is required to bring all the expertise personnel necessary to answer questions that are likely to arise. Mr. Roberts stated they certainly hope that they would, but an applicant can not necessarily foresee every question that may come up. Mr. Pearson moved the council to adopt the resolution that would approve a conditional use permit to allow up to a 125-foot-tall telecommunications monopole and related equipment. This approval is for the property at 1745 Cope Avenue. The city bases this approval on the findings required by the ordinance and is subject to the following conditions: All construction shall follow the plans as approved by the city, including the location of the lease site. The applicant shall revise the site plan by moving the lease area away from the south property line to a new location that will have less impact on the Monson Insurance property. The revised site plan shall be subject to city staff approval. The director of community development may approve minor changes to the approved plan. The applicant shall verify the location of the property lines and existing site features around the lease area with a certificate of survey. The applicant shall prepare and follow a landscape and screening plan that would help to hide the base area of the proposed facility (for any location). The proposed construction must be substantially started within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. The council may extend this deadline for one year. 4. The city council shall review this permit in one year. o The applicant or owner shall allow the co-location of other providers' telecommunications equipment on the proposed tower with reasonable lease conditions. Any antenna that is not used for a year shall be deemed abandoned and the city may require that it be removed. The applicant or AT & T shall post a bond or other guarantee with the city to ensure proper removal of the antenna and Monopole and the restoration of the site. Mr. Ledvina seconded. Because the recommendation is for a specific address, Mr. Trippler stated he will not vote for the proposal when there is another suitable property that is available. 4 ^yes-(Frost, Ledvina, Pearson, Thompson) 3 Nays-(Trippler, Rossbach, Fischer) Xl. NEW BUSINESS Lot-Area and Lot-Width Variances--Southeast Corner of Roselawn Avenue and Kenwood Drive east Mr. Roberts gave the staff report for the city. Mr. Dennis Campbell i_s requesting that the City approve two variances to build a house on an existing lot. They are: A variance to build on a lot that is 69.5 feet wide (on the side street). City Code requires comer lots in the R-1 (single-dwelling residential) zoning district to have 100 feet of frontage on each public street and at least 75 feet of width at the building setback line. A variance to build on lot that has an area of 8,400 square feet. City Code requires a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet for lots in the R-1 zone. This would require a variance of 1,600 square feet. Mr. Rossbach expressed concern that the back door to the home being built on the lot would open into the backyard of the abutting home which would diminish the neighbors privacy. Although the commission may only control the lot, he felt that the new house needs to be in character with the neighborhood. The new property line maps are a great tool to the commission as noted by Mr. Trippler. He also wanted to ensure, since elevations are not displayed, that the engineering department would need to approve the grading for the site before construction. Dennis Campbell, applicant, 1872 Adele St., Maplewood, was present to answer questions. He clarified that the proposed back door to the home would face the side of the neighbors home, not their backyard. He did show the proposed plans of the colonial style home to the neighbors and they seemed very pleased with the project. Mr. Ledvina suggested the grade for the project may not be up to code due to there being a 4 foot hump on the property from curb to back. He also strongly agrees without being able to control the building, the proposal could be very much out of character for the neighborhood and not serve the variances well. -- Commissioner Frost made motion to move the council to adopt the resolution that would: Approve changing the zoning for the lot at the southeast corner of Roselawn Avenue and Kenwood Drive East and for the property at 800 Roselawn Avenue from P,-1 (single- dwelling residential) to R(S) (small-lot single dwelling residential). The city is approving this change because it meets the findings required by code and because the applicant is proposing to build a single dwelling on the vacant property. Approve the resolution for a 15.5-foot variance to the zoning code to build a house on a comer lot that has 69.5 feet of street frontage (instead of the 85 feet required by code). The reasons for this variance are: 1. A house on this lot is in keeping with the character of the area. 2. The problem is due to circumstances unique to the property not caused by the owner. 3. The variance is in keeping with the spirit and intent of the ordinance. Commissioner Trippler seconded. Ayes-5 (Fischer, Frost, Pearson, Thompson, Trippler) Nays-2 (Rossbach, Ledvina) VII. VIII. IX. -5- Mr. Rossbach stated the nay votes were not in any way an attempt to prevent Mr. Campbell from building a house on this lot. Their concern was that a house could be built that would be totally out of character for the neighborhood. In making the change to the R-I(S) and granting the variance, we are doing that so that it can be in character with the neighborhood. If the house that is built is out of character with the existing architectural designs that exist and if the house is not oriented properly on the lot, it .will not be in. character. This proposal will go before the City Council at the November 13th meeting. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS No visitors were present. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS A. October 9th Council Meeting: Mr. Thompson reported on the Birch Glen project on Aerial Street and County Road D. The council did ask the plans to include a playground for children. The proposed levy certification tax rate increase was approved. This is preliminary until all of the referendum is resolved. If it goes through as proposed there will an 11.9% increase in taxes. Pineview Estates agreed to add a playground and picnic tables on the northeast portion of the property. Mr. Collins and Ms. Wasilluk will be the representatives for the Rush Line Corridor. The council also discussed a request to study the left turn signal on the corner of White Bear Avenue and Lydia. The advocacy issue came up in view of the referendum being voted on Election Day. It clarified that city employees may not use city time, phones, stationary or copiers to advocate the referendum. They can be an advocate but on their time. B. October 23 Council Meeting: Commissioner Ledvina will be attending this meeting. Emma's Place and Countryside Volkswagon will be on the agenda. C. November 13th Meeting: Commissioner Rosbach will be attending. The AT&T Monopole and the Roselawn- Kenwood Lot Variance will be on the agenda. Mr. Roberts will talk to Melinda Coleman about inviting the Police Chief to a meeting to discuss enforcement of the current and proposed parking codes. The new city manager, Mr. Fuhrsman started his new position today, and the board expressed their desire to invite him to a commission meeting. STAFF PRESENTATIONS None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.