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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/01/2008 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, APRIL 1,2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Commissioner Joseph Boeser Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai Chairperson Lorraine Fischer Commissioner Harland Hess Commissioner Robert Martin Commissioner Gary Pearson Commissioner Dale Trippler Commissioner Joe Walton Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood Staff Present: Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present Ken Roberts. Planner Shann Finwall. Environmental Planner Tom Ekstrand. City Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Commissioner Hess seconded The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. March 18, 2008 Ayes - all Commissioner Pearson moved approval of the amended minutes of March 18, 2008, amending the comments of Mr. Hess on page two, paragraph one. Commissioner Desai seconded The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING Ayes - all 7:04 p.m. Ordinance Amendment - Sign Code Planner Shann Finwall presented the staff report and discussed the League of Minnesota Cities' research regarding on-site dynamic display signs. The commission discussed exempting public safety signs from this dynamic sign code. Commissioner Yarwood said he has concerns with the language in the findings section of the code regarding distraction of drivers leading to traffic accidents and the liability to the city. Planning Commission Minutes of 04-01-08 -2- Commissioner Trippler suggested several modifications to clarify language in the code. Mr. Trippler suggested that the twelve-second display change for off-site signs is not long enough and should be at least a minute. Mr. Trippler suggested adding language to the brightness standards section stating that "city staff has the sole authority to approve and determine compliance with the following brightness standards for all dynamic signs." Mr. Trippler also suggested adding a clause "h - Public Safety" stating that "in the event of a traffic accident found to be caused by a driver's distraction by a dynamic sign, the dynamic sign which was the cause of the said distraction and accident shall be removed permanently within thirty days. No other dynamic signs shall be permitted within 1,000 feet of that location." The commission discussed political signage requirements and the state requirements for political signs. The public hearing was opened for comments from the public. There were no comments; the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Hess said he favors eight rather than twelve seconds changeover time for off-site dynamic signs, since drivers may be distracted by waiting for the sign to change. Commissioner Yarwood suggested language be added to "allow city staff to determine whether a sign's properties or location is a safety hazard, that staff has the right to make that determination and to address the safety concern." Commissioner Boeser said he favors not regulating the dynamic signs with any particular display change time since he feels the code will not be enforceable, but rather allowing dynamic display signs only if they remain static. Commissioner Trippler said he feels dynamic signs are installed to attract drivers' attention away from driving and he feels this is wrong and he will not vote in favor of allowing these signs. Commissioner Pearson said he is in favor of prohibiting on-site dynamic signs since he feels it will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis according to setbacks and will be a difficult code to regulate. Mr. Pearson said he feels the proposed on-site dynamic code should be denied and continue regulation with the existing on-site code. Commissioner Trippler moved the planning commission recommend to the city council that they prohibit on-site and off-site dynamic display signs in the City of Maplewood, but those signs that are in place be grandfathered in. Commissioner Pearson seconded Ayes - Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Yarwood Nays - Boeser, Desai, Martin The motion passed. Commissioner Trippler moved the planning commission recommend to the city council that if the city council does allow dynamic display signs in the city that they should use the ordinance as recommended by the community design review board with additions and deletions as described by the planning commission during the meeting including exempting public safety signs from the ordinance and adding a public safety condition which would require staff to direct the removal of a dynamic display sign if the sign was found to be a hazard by the police. Commissioner Fischer seconded Yarwood Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Pearson, Trippler, Planning Commission Minutes of 04-01-08 -3- Nays - Boeser Abstention - Martin The motion passed. VI. NEW BUSINESS a. 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update - Land Use Plan Review and Discussion Planner Ken Roberts presented the staff report and introduced Michael Martin and Rose Lorsung from MFRA. The consultants, Mr. Martin and Ms. Lorsung, gave a presentation on the review and discussion of the Land Use Plan update. Mr. Martin presented the land use map including the new classifications to the commission for discussion tonight. Mr. Martin said the current land use plan has 25 classifications and this has been revised down to the 12 new classifications created for the new plan. Mr. Martin presented three areas for discussion and direction by the commission of land use designations. The first area for discussion for classification was Larpenteur Avenue at Parkway Drive. Commissioner Desai said he feels the Larpenteur Avenue at Parkway Drive site should remain commercial, due to the current heavy traffic in the area. Commissioner Yarwood said he favors a mixed use classification for this area. Commissioner Boeser agreed that a mixed use classification would be preferable for this area. Commissioner Trippler said he favors a high density residential classification for the parcel west of Parkway Drive and favors business/business commercial for the triangle shaped parcel with Parkway Drive being the dividing line. Commissioner Hess said he is in agreement with a high density residential classification for the parcel west of Parkway Drive. The second area for classification discussion was near Lakewood Drive south of the railroad tracks. Commissioner Pearson said with high traffic volume concerns on Lakewood Drive, he favors keeping this area classified as industrial. Commissioners Trippler and Hess agreed this area should remain classified as industrial. The third area for discussion was the Highways 61 and 36 corridors. Commissioner Hess suggested this area be reclassified from industrial to business commercial. Commissioner Desai said he favors classifying the entire Highway 61 corridor as business commercial. Commissioner Trippler agreed with classifying the Highway 61 corridor as business commercial. The commission agreed by consensus that these corridors be reclassified from industrial to business commercial. The last area for discussion was south Maplewood. Planning Commission Minutes of 04-01-08 -4- The commission discussed lot size and densities and discussed creating a sewer plan for this area. Planner Roberts said the Bailey nursery property has been graded flat, trees removed, and there is no longer any natural beauty left on this land. The commission discussed classifying the Bailey nursery property under a mixed use classification. Commissioner Fischer said that if there are not sewers in this area, she would not be comfortable with less than a two-acre lot. Ms. Fischer said that if sewers are in, RE (residential estate) sized lots would be acceptable. Commissioner Trippler said that a rural low density land use was not included as one of the twelve classifications and that if there is a need to keep to 12 classifications, he would suggest that they include the following residential: (1) Rural Low Density, (2) Low Density, and (3) Higher Density, which would cover both medium and high density. Planner Roberts said the 11 x 17 map has listed current classifications only. Mr. Roberts said that as part of tonight's discussion, it is hoped to get a consensus on the commission's desires and that these new residential classifications could then be included in the new map classifications. Commissioner Pearson said he favors the % unit per acre with no sanitary sewer and keeping the area south of Carver Avenue unsewered. Mr. Pearson said the issue is not whether it is sewered or unsewered, but maintaining the existing character. Mr. Michael Martin updated the commission on the upcoming schedule of meetings. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS Council member John Nephew commented on the commission's dynamic sign code discussion. IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS . March 24/31 Council meeting: Mr. Yarwood reported on this meeting. . April 14 Council meeting: Mr. Desai will attend. . April 28 Council meeting: Ms. Fischer will attend. . May 5 Council meeting: Possible special meeting date. . May 12 Council meeting: Mr. Hess will attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Annual Tour Date: June 30, 2008 b. Next commission meeting: COPAR XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:23 p.m.