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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/05/20041. Call to Order MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION Monday, January 5, 2004, 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road B East 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of Minutes a. November 17, 2003 5. Public Headngs a. Proposed Mixed Use District Comprehensive Plan Amendment Zoning Code Amendment 6. New Business a. Easement Vacation - 2416 Teakwood (Maplewood Engineering Department) b. Planning Commission's Rules of Procedure c. Planning Commission's 2003 Annual Report 7. Unfinished Business None 8. Visitor Presentations 9. Commission Presentations a. November 24 Council Meeting: Mr. Pearson b. December 8 Council Meeting: Ms. Monahan-Junek c. December 22 Council Meeting: Mr. Trippler d. January 12 Council Meeting: Mr. Desai e. January 26 Council Meeting: Mr. Mueller 10. Staff Presentations a. Reschedule January 19 Meeting - Martin L. King holiday 11. Adjournment MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. I1. ROLL CALL Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Jeff Bartol Tushar Desai Mary Dierich Jackie Monahan-Junek Paul Mueller Gary Pearson William Rossbach Dale Trippler Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present Present Present Staff Present: Ken Roberts, Associate Planner Shann Finwall, Associate Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary II1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Fischer added item f. for Commission Vacancies to be discussed under Commission Presentations. Commissioner Rossbach moved to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Pearson seconded. Ayes- Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Monahan-Junek, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the planning commission minutes for November 17, 2003. Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the planning commission minutes for November 17, 2003. Commissioner Rossbach seconded. Ayes-Desai, Fischer, Monahan-Junek, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler Abstentions - Bartol, Dierich Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-04 -2- V. PUBLIC HEARING a. Proposed Mixed Use District Ms. Finwall said staff has been receiving comments and guidance from the planning commission and the community design review board on the creation of zoning and design standards for the Hillcrest Village Redevelopment area. These standards are based on the Metropolitan Council's smart-growth development principles, which are designed to help guide changes in an area to create a village center with an active street life that mixes shops, workplaces, housing, passive recreation and civic uses. Staff has completed the compilation of the principles in the form of a new zoning district entitled the mixed- use zoning district. Commissioner Trippler said his concern was regarding the letter from Marathon Ashland Petroleum for the Super America station at 1750 White Bear Avenue. He understood that if the mixed-use zoning ordinance gets passed the Super America station is grandfathered in as long as it is in that location. It sounded as if the mixed used zoning ordinance was passed then Super America thought they would have to move their station. He asked if staff had gotten back to the representative at Marathon Ashland Petroleum to clarify things? Ms. Finwall said she had not spoken with Samuel VanTassel, the representative at Marathon Ashland Petroleum for Super America. In reading the letter they indicate with the recent upgrades to the store Super America would not want to become a nonconforming use which would be the case because of the number of fuel islands they have. Ms. Finwall said the existing nonconforming ordinance would allow them to remain until such time that Super America went out of business for at least a year. Super America could expand with a conditional use permit as well so there are protections in place. The planning commission had various discussions regarding the mixed-use zoning ordinance. The following are the changes proposed during the discussion at the planning commission meeting: Live-work units: Allow live-work units with a conditional use rather than a permitted use. Allow catering businesses in a live-work unit only if they meet conditional use permit standards. Add language to the live-work standards that discusses the number of business vehicles allowed on site. Reduce the size of signage allowed for live-work units from 25 square feet to 15 square feet, and allow only wall-mounted sign that are located on the front facade of the building. Publishing, photocopying, or printing establishments: Separate these uses to allow a photocopy business as a permitted use, and publishing and printing establishments as a permitted use if located in a commercial use only building. Add a definition for all uses. 3. Awnings extending over the right-of-way: Add language that requires that these awnings meet all required building code standards. 4. Residential garage location: Change wording to clarify intent of garage location requirements. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-04 -3- Commissioner Trippler said he wanted to thank the staff for the work that has been done on this mixed-use zoning ordinance. It has a come a long way since the commission first reviewed the ordinance and they have done a nice job with the changes and improvements on it. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the mixed use zoning code amendment attached on pages 7 through page 17 of the staff report including changes that were discussed during the meeting. This amendment will create a new zoning district within the City of Maplewood that will allow for the mixture of Iow-impact commercial developments along with higher density residential developments. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve a comprehensive plan amendment to revise the City of Maplewood's May 2002 Comprehensive Plan as follows (additions are italicized): a. Page 31: Land Use Plan Definitions Mixed Use: The mixed-use land classification allows for a mixture of commercial and residential land uses that will create an urban center with compact, pedestrian-oriented developments. Commercial uses include Iow-impact uses that are compatible and complementary to surrounding residential uses. Residential uses include higher density housing that will help promote the viability of surrounding commercial uses. b. Page 32: Neighborhood Land Use Plan Legend Mixed Use (Commercial and Residential) Land Uses: MU Mixed-Use c. Page 33: Maximum Density of Dwelling Units Land Use Designation People/Gross Acre (approximate) Mixed-Use 40.0 Type of Dwelling People/Unit* Planned Maximum Density (Units per gross acre) Single Dwelling Double Dwellings Townhomes Multi-Family/Mixed-Use 2.9 6.0 2.2 15.0 2.2 15.0 2.0 20.0 *From the 1990 Census Commissioner Monahan-Junek seconded. Ayes- Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Monahan-Junek, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler The motion passed. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-04 -4- This item will go to the city council on January 26, 2004. Ms. Finwall thanked the planning commission members for their input and work on the mixed-use zoning ordinance. VI. NEW BUSINESS a. Easement Vacation -2416 Teakwood (Maplewood Engineering Department) Mr. Roberts said Mr. Chris Cavett, Maplewood's Assistant City Engineer, representing the city and the property owners, is asking the city to vacate an existing drainage and utility easement on the property at 2416 Teakwood Drive. Commissioner Trippler asked if it is the responsibility of the city to maintain this drainage and utility easement once it is vacated, and if so, how does the city get to the easement to maintain it? Mr. Roberts said yes it would be the city's responsibility. The homeowner's have verbally given the city permission to access and maintain the easement but the homeowner's have not signed the appropriate forms yet. Mr. Roberts said the city would not record the easement vacation until the homeowner's have signed the necessary agreement papers. Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the resolution on page nine of the staff report. This resolution is for the vacation of an unused drainage and utility easement on the property at 2416 Teakwood Drive. The reasons for the vacation are as follows: 1. It is in the public interest. The existing easement is not used or needed for drainage or utility purposes in its current location. This vacation is subject to the owner providing the city a 15-foot-wide drainage and utility easement that follows to the centerline of the existing drainage swale and signing the necessary agreements to allow the city to correct the drainage problems on the property. Commissioner Desai seconded. Ayes- Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Monahan-Junek, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on January 26, 2004. b. Planning Commission's Rules of Procedure Mr. Roberts said the planning commission should review their rules of procedure. Section L of the rules says that the commission is to review the rules at the first meeting each year. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-04 -5- Chairperson Fischer suggested on page 3 under item F. Director of Community Development that possibly the wording should state the Director's Representative rather than the Director of Community Development? The reason being Mr. Robert's is the person present at the planning commission meetings and not Melinda Coleman, the Director of Community Development? Commissioner Bartol suggested that the wording be changed to "the Director is responsible for". He said that way Ms. Coleman could delegate the responsibility to anybody she deemed fit. Mr. Roberts said he would make that change for the planning commission rules of procedure. Mr. Roberts also stated the planning commission members should be prepared to elect a chairperson and vice chairperson at the next planning commission meeting. c. Planning Commission's 2003 Annual Report Mr. Roberts said the city code requires that the planning commission prepare an annual report to the city council by their second meeting in February. This report should include the planning commission's activities from the past year and the major projects for the upcoming year. Commissioner Trippler said he would like to see a short explanation of the items that the planning commission recommended denial and the city council approved the item anyway. He said there appear to be three items in the 2003 Planning Commission Annual Report that could define the reason the planning commission chose to deny an item and the city council did not agree with the planning commissions reasoning for a denial. Chairperson Fischer asked staff if the HRA would be meeting more frequently than they had in the year 2003? Mr. Roberts said he was not sure. Commissioner Desai asked staff if the quarterly in-service training session was realistic? Mr. Roberts said staff hopes so as time allows. It may be more like twice a year. Commissioner Trippler said he would like to have an opportunity for the planning commissioners to go out to the Legacy Village site as a group or during a field trip to see what was approved and see if it is being constructed as it was proposed? He said a lot will be happening with the realignment of County Road D and the development going on at the Legacy Village. Chairperson Fischer said that would be nice to do separately from the annual tour. Commissioner Rossbach said he thinks that would be a good thing to do as a group. There has been a lot of discussion done in the planning stage and he thinks it would be a nice idea to see things as they develop in the Legacy Village. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-04 -6- Commissioner Dierich moved to recommend to the city council approval of the planning commission's 2003 Annual Report as amended. Commissioner Bartol seconded. Ayes -Bartol, Desai, Dierich, Fischer, Monahan-Junek, Pearson, Rossbach, Trippler The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on January 26, 2004. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None. IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Ms. Monahan-Junek was the planning commission representative at the November 24, 2003, city council meeting. There were no planning commission items to discuss. The only item discussed was the roundabout at County Road C and Hazelwood Street, which was tabled for a few months to see how effective the stop signs work. b. Mr. Pearson was the planning commission representative at the December 8, 2003, city council meeting. Items discussed included the home occupation license to operate a Beauty Shop at 1900 Sterling St., which passed. The Town and Country townhomes for Legacy Village was discussed and the 50-foot setback was denied but the shorter setback passed. c. Mr. Trippler would have been the planning commission representative at the December 22, 2003, city council meeting, but there were no planning commission items to discuss. d. Mr. Desai would have been the planning commission representative at the January 12, 2004, city council meeting, but there are no planning commission items to discuss. Planning Commission Minutes of 01-05-04 -7- Mr. Desai will take Mr. Mueller's spot as the planning commission representative at the January 26, 2004, city council meeting, due to his absence at the planning commission meeting. Items to discuss include the Proposed Mixed Use District Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Code Amendment, the Easement Vacation at 2416 Teakwood, and the Planning Commission's 2003 Annual Report. f. Commission Vacancies Chairperson Fischer asked for the status with the two planning commission vacancies since Commissioner Monahan-Junek and Commissioner Rossbach are leaving to serve on the city council beginning January 12, 2004? Mr. Roberts said there have been very few applications and the openings are advertised on the city website and the city will advertise in the newspaper as well. Chairperson Fischer said until the two vacancies are filled the planning commission will be a seven-member planning commission as opposed to a nine member commission and it would require a four member commission to have a quorum. Commissioner Bartol recommended when planning commissioners vote for potential candidates to be on the planning commission the vote totals should not be published and should be kept confidential. He said this can be discouraging to the other candidates when their interview is seen publicly on cable television and then their rating is shown as well. Mr. Roberts said the potential applicant should get used to having everything that is said telecast on cable television and in print on the Internet. Commissioner Rossbach and Commissioner Monahan-Junek said their farewells and thanks for serving on the planning commission and the commissioners wished the two of them well while serving their terms on the city council. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. The regularly scheduled planning commission meeting for Monday, January 19, 2004, is rescheduled to Tuesday, January 20, 2004, due to the Martin Luther King holiday. Xl. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m.