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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/04/2008 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:04 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 - arrived at 7:07 p.m. Present Present Absent Ken Roberts, Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Desai seconded The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. February 19, 2008 Ayes - all Commissioner Trippler moved approval of the amended minutes of February 19, 2008, changing "proposed" to "proposal" in the first sentence on page two. Commissioner Pearson seconded The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler Abstentions - Martin, Yarwood 7:05 p.m. Code Amendments - Procedures, Public Hearings, Applications and Initiation Planner Ken Roberts presented the proposed amendments to the city code to clarify the practices and procedures. Staff proposed these changes in order to be consistent with current city practices. Commissioner Yarwood suggested the phrase "or take action" from the middle of the first paragraph of the code should be removed as it is not needed and confusing. After some discussion with the commission, staff agreed that it would be prudent to remove the phrase to avoid confusion. Mr. Yarwood also suggested that "shall" be changed to "may", deleting "all" and adding after the planning commission "or staff' in the last paragraph of Sec. 44-1161. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-04-08 -2- Commissioner Hess suggested language be added to ensure all property owners adjacent to the site with special land circumstances are notified of the proceedings. Staff responded that the distance for notifying property owners was increased from 350 feet to 500 feet from the site and that adding different language that would be clear and concise would be difficult. Commissioner Trippler referred to the struck language at the end of the first paragraph on page three and saying it appeared the approval of the sign by the city council without recommendation by the planning commission violated the city code. Commissioner Desai suggested the last paragraph of Sec. 44-1161 simply state that design-related applications and matters are the purview of the community design review board. Commissioner Yarwood suggested simply changing the language to state "the planning commission or staff may refer. . ." should resolve any interpretation of responsibilities. Commissioner Pearson moved to adopt the proposed ordinance amendments for Section 44-1096(a), Section 44-2096(b) and Section 44-1161, with two changes: delete "or take action" from Sec. 44- 1096(a) and adding after the planning commission "or staff may refer" and deleting "shall" and "all design-related applications" from the last paragraph of Sec. 44-1161. Commissioner Trippler seconded Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Yarwood Nay - Martin The motion passed. Commissioner Martin said he voted nay due to his discomfort with the language referring to the city council only make final decisions after receiving comments and recommendation of the planning commission. VI. NEW BUSINESS a. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - Land Use Designations Planner Ken Roberts presented the staff report and materials for the commission's discussion of the city's future land use designations. Planner Roberts stated that with this update, the Metropolitan Council is now requiring the designations be converted to net acres as the required standard, rather than gross acres. Planner Roberts explained the proposed conceptual future land use categories in the staff report and asked the commission to consider these designations in order to simplify the designations and gain more flexibility with applications. The commission reviewed surrounding cities' land use classifications. Commissioner Trippler mentioned there is the possibility of losing the ability to control a development's density with the consolidation of residential land use designations. Staff responded that it is not proposed to change the zoning map, which controls lot sizes and densities, except where inconsistencies are noted. Mr. Trippler said he would be more comfortable maintaining a large-lot, low-density residential that would include R1 R and residential estate 30,000 and 40,000. Commissioner Trippler also suggested that right-of-way areas receive land use designation as well to minimize impact. Staff responded saying the Metropolitan Council favors designating major right-of- way areas such as freeways and highways as a separate land use category. The commission suggested changes in designations be considered for Maplewood Mall, 3 M Company, and possibly creating a designation for golf courses. Planning Commission Minutes of 03-04-08 -3- Commissioner Yarwood said he also is concerned with grouping existing residential densities under the conceptual low-density residential category and suggested an ultra-low or non-sewer land use desig nation. Commissioner Fischer said that creating precise verbiage for new density categories should ensure that they function properly and asked staff to assist to make certain this occurs. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Ron Cockriel, 943 Century Avenue, commented on protecting the character of residential neighborhoods by maintaining the low-density designations. IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS . February 25 Council meeting: Planner Ken Roberts reported on this meeting. . March 10 Council meeting: Commissioner Trippler will attend. . March 24 Council meeting: Commissioner Yarwood will attend. . April 14 Council meeting: Commissioner Desai will attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. March 18 Meeting(s): 6:00 Joint Meeting and 8:00 Regular Meeting Planner Roberts explained the 6 p.m. joint meeting with the parks, trails and open space commission, parks commission and the environmental and natural resources commission, together with the city consultant, will be to discuss corridors throughout the city as part of the comprehensive plan update. b. Special PC Meeting: March 25, 26 or 27 Planner Roberts explained there may be a need for a special meeting on March 25, 26 or 27 to discuss the Copar project and polled the commissioners to see what date would work best. It was decided to meet March 25, if needed. Commissioner Martin said that he is hereby requesting a determination from the city attorney concerning whether the city council's vote is valid when a decision is made by the city council without a required recommendation from the planning commission. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.