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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/06/2008 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6,2008 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 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 Absent Present Tom Ekstrand. Citv Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Hess seconded The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. October 7, 2008 Ayes - all Commissioner Hess moved approval of the amended minutes of October 7, 2008 changing the beginning sentence of page two, paragraph five, to read: "The applicant was asked. . " Commissioner Trippler seconded The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING a. 7:05 p.m. - T-Mobile . Conditional Use Permit Ayes - Boeser, Fischer, Hess, Martin, Pearson, Trippler, Walton, Yarwood Abstention - Desai Planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report request to erect a 75-foot-tall monopole for cellular telephone operations on land leased at Trinity Baptist Church located at 2220 Edgerton Street North. Commissioner Hess noted a neighbor's comments about phone interference from the previous monopole in that location. Mr. Hess questioned the size of the monopole's diameter dimension as to obstructions for the neighbors and also the array and depth of the antennas. Planning Commission Minutes of 11-06-08 -2- Commissioner Yarwood asked what city code states about height requirements for monopoles. Commissioner Trippler said city code allows towers to be between 75 and 125 feet. Planner Ekstrand noted that this proposal is for a 75-foot-tall tower and the previous tower at this location was 85 feet tall, but had approval to go up to 100 feet if the applicant chose to. Commissioner Boeser asked staff about procedures for the previous conditional use permit with U. S. West for this property. Planner Ekstrand replied that the previous conditional use permit would be formally ended. Paul Harrington was present representing the applicant T-Mobile. Commissioner Martin asked Mr. Harrington if this tower would have less interference with the newer technology than the previous tower. Mr. Harrington responded that each provider is licensed individually by the F.C.C. and cell phone users do not have interference problems with each other. Mr. Harrington said that the F.C.C. requires that any interference caused has to be rectified by the provider. Mr. Harrington said they have not had any complaints in the past several years about interference with the newer technology. Mr. Harrington responded to Commissioner Hess' previous questions regarding the proposed monopole's dimensions. Mr. Harrington said the diameter is approximately 20 inches and tapers slightly. Mr. Harrington said the antennas are about five feet in length. The public hearing was opened to comments from the public. There were no comments; the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Trippler moved to adopt the resolution approving a conditional use permit for the proposed 75-foot-tall telecommunications monopole and ground equipment. Approval is based on the findings required by ordinance and subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the site plan approved by the city. Community Development staff may approve minor changes. 2. 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. 3. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 4. This conditional use permit is conditioned upon T-Mobile allowing the co-location of other providers' telecommunications equipment on the proposed tower with reasonable lease conditions. Seconded by Commissioner Hess Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Fischer, Hess, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Nay - Yarwood The motion passed. Commissioner Yarwood said he voted nay because, even though he does not think this is an unreasonable request, he does not think it meets the language of current city code. b. 7:25 p.m. - Easement Vacation by Lisa and Todd Thoms, 760 Sterling Street Planning Commission Minutes of 11-06-08 -3- Planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report for this request to vacate a five-foot-wide drainage and utility easement on the north side of the property. Planner Ekstrand said this easement vacation request is a condition of a recent lot split. Commissioner Hess asked if a new certificate of survey would be issued with the easement vacation. Planner Ekstrand responded that a new survey would be issued showing the vacation of the old easement and dedication of the new easement. The applicant, Lisa Thoms, 760 Sterling Street, addressed the commission. Ms. Thoms did not have questions of the commission and agreed with the conditions in the staff report. The public hearing was opened for comments from the public. There were no comments; the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Pearson moved to adopt the resolution vacating the drainage and utility easement on the north side of the property located at 760 Sterling Street since: 1. The easement would serve no public purpose after the applicants purchase 20 feet of property from the neighbor to the north (2480 Linwood Avenue.) 2. The city has administratively approved the lot division for the owner of 2480 Linwood Avenue to sell their southerly 20 feet of property to the applicants. This vacation is conditioned upon the following: 1. The city not recording the resolution to vacate the easement until the owner of the neighboring property to the north, 2480 Linwood Avenue, has taken the new deeds for their lot split to Ramsey County for recording. 2. The applicants dedicating a new five-foot-wide drainage and utility easement along the north five feet of their future lot line. This has also been required as part of the lot division approval for 2480 Linwood Avenue. Commissioner Boeser seconded Ayes - all The motion passed. VI. NEW BUSINESS None VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None Planning Commission Minutes of 11-06-08 -4- IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS Upcoming Council Meetings and PC Representation: . October 27,2008: Legacy Shops PUD Revision Scheduled - Planner Ekstrand reported. . November 24,2008: T-Mobile Monopole, Thoms' Easement Vacation and Comprehensive Plan- Mr. Desai X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Planner Ekstrand distributed copies of the 2009-13 Capital Improvement Plan to the commissioners. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.