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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/02/2008 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,2008 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 City Staff Present: Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Tom Ekstrand. Citv Planner Steve Love. Citv Staff Enqineer III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Martin seconded The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. August 19, 2008 Ayes - all Commissioner Trippler moved approval of the amended minutes of August 19, 2008, with the following revisions: change the name Jeff Dieter to Leo Capeder on page 2; change the name Harold Sletten to Ralph Sletten on page 3; change "commercial" to "residential" in Commissioner Desai's comments on page 4; change the name Svoboda to Capeder on pages 5 and 6; and change Mr. Walton to Mr. Yarwood in the 2"d sentence of the 8th paragraph on page 8. Commissioner Boeser seconded The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Martin, Pearson, Trippler, Walton, Yarwood Abstention - Hess a. 7:07 p.m. - Sl. John's Hospital, 1575 Beam Avenue, Easement Vacation Requests Planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report for the request by HealthEast for three easement vacations since they are not needed by the hospital and they serve no purpose. Planning Commission Minutes of 09-02-08 -2- Mr. Ekstrand explained that Sl. Paul Regional Water Services has requested that a new water main easement be dedicated as part of this vacation for future access and maintenance needs. Mr. Ekstrand said the current water line will be abandoned and relocated when the new addition is buill. In response to a request by Commissioner Trippler, Steve Love, city staff engineer, noted the location of the ponding easement to be vacated and explained that the existing catch basin carries storm water drainage from the parking lot area into the system. Mr. Love said the proposed plan for drainage provides for a new ponding area in the northeast corner of the site, which replaces impervious area with restructured impervious area. Commissioner Yarwood asked where the new water main easement will be located. Mr. Love explained it will come off of Hazelwood Avenue and run between the parking ramp and new addition into the building. Anthony Thomas, System Director of Corporate Real Estate of HealthEast, addressed the commission and invited questions from the commission. Commissioner Pearson asked if there are elevator areas planned with the addition. Mr. Thomas responded that additional elevators are planned. The public hearing was opened for public comments; there were no comments and the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Yarwood moved to adopt the three resolutions vacating the water main easement, storm water easement and ponding easement on the Sl. John's Hospital property located southwest of the existing building. The vacation of these easements is recommended because it is in the public interest to do so as these easements do not serve any public purpose. The vacation of the water main easement is subject to the following conditions: 1. The applicant dedicating a new water main easement and private water main agreement with the Sl. Paul Regional Water Services prior to obtaining a building permit for the proposed hospital expansion. 2. This new easement and agreement shall be subject to the approval of the Maplewood City Engineer and the Sl. Paul Regional Water Services. 3. The applicant shall comply with any requirements of the Sl. Paul Regional Water Services as to their own easement-vacation procedures that may apply. Seconded by Commissioner Pearson The motion passed. Ayes - all VI. NEW BUSINESS None VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None Planning Commission Minutes of 09-02-08 -3- VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Upcoming Council Meetings and PC Representation: . September 8: No PC items . September 22: Sl. John's Hospital PUD Revision and Vacations - Mr. Yarwood X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Comprehensive Plan Update - Status of Consultants' Work Planner Ekstrand updated the commission on the comprehensive plan update explaining that Michael Martin has recently been hired by the city as a planner. Mr. Ekstrand said Rose Lorsung and Jennifer Haskamp have resigned with MFRA to start their own planning-consulting firm, but they will continue to work with MFRA until Maplewood's Comprehensive Plan and follow up zoning work is completed. Commissioner Boeser asked the status on the data on densities and other information that was requested from the consultanl. Staff responded that Rose Lorsung has assured staff that she and Ms. Haskamp will continue to work with the commission and will continue the existing plan review schedule. The commission discussed the earlier public hearing meeting and whether another public hearing should be held. Mr. Ekstrand explained that the previous public hearing meeting for input from residents met legal requirements and that it is generous for the city to hold another upcoming special meeting for further public comment by residents. Commissioner Martin said the information requested from the Metropolitan Council on densities is needed for the commission to move forward with the update. The commissioners then discussed their concerns regarding feasible densities for future development that need to be established in this plan, particularly for south Maplewood. They also discussed the change in calculating densities from net acreage in previous plans to gross acreage in the updated plan and noted they are still waiting for this additional data from the consultant for discussion at their September 16 meeting. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.