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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/02/2008 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 02,2008 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 Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present Present Present City Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand. Senior Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Desai seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None V. PUBLIC HEARING a. 7:02 p.m. - Maplewood Toyota Utility Easement Vacations at 2905 Maplewood Drive Planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report for this request by the city's public works department for a vacation of four utility easements for storm sewer, sanitary sewer and water main lines at the southwest corner of Beam Avenue and Highway 61. This request is due to a gap in easement coverage that was discovered during the Beam Avenue improvements this past summer. Mr. Ekstrand said the easements abut each other adjacent to the northerly road right-of-way of Beam Avenue. Planner Ekstrand noted that Steve McDaniels, owner of Maplewood Toyota, is in full agreement with this request and has already submitted the new easements for recording after the city council has approved these vacations. The commission discussed discrepancies of the addresses on various staff documents for Maplewood Toyota which listed both Maplewood Drive and Beam Avenue. Planner Ekstrand said he would check to ensure that the correct address is used on all of the documents. The public hearing was opened for comments from the public. There were no comments from the public; the public hearing was closed. Planning Commission Minutes of 12-02-08 -2- Commissioner Yarwood moved adoption of the resolutions vacating the four utility easements north of Beam Avenue at 2905 Maplewood Drive. Approval of these vacations is because it would be in the public interest, since they currently provide a gap in utility easement coverage. Approval of these vacations shall be conditioned upon the owner of Maplewood Toyota rededicating a new easement that fully covers the utilities in question. Commissioner Hess seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all b. 7:15 p.m. - Kenneth Berwald Conditional Use Permit for a residential garage at 2080 Prosperity Road Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report for this request to construct a two-car garage measuring 24 by 28 feet in size at 2080 Prosperity Road. Mr. Ekstrand said there is an existing garage foundation already in place which has been there for several years. Mr. Ekstrand explained that the property has a single dwelling that existed prior to the (M1) light manufacturing zoning designation. Mr. Ekstrand said that city code requires a conditional use permit to expand a nonconforming use, in this case, the construction of a residential garage on property that is zoned M1. Commissioners asked if the size of the proposed garage meets city code requirements. Planner Ekstrand explained what city code allows for storage for this residential lot size and that this proposed garage will easily meet city code requirements. Mr. Ekstrand said the proposed land use designation in the comprehensive plan update for this property is as mixed use and this should not be a deterrent for future development of this property. Commissioner Hess asked staff if a constructed garage was planned to be moved onto this site. Mr. Ekstrand explained the initial application was for a building relocation, but since the application that garage was sold to another person. Mr. Berwald then decided to build a new garage. Kenneth Berwald, the applicant for this proposal, said the previous homeowner originally installed the garage slab. He said the garage slab had thickened edges and should meet building code requirements. Commissioner Fischer asked Mr. Berwald if he was in agreement with the conditions of the staff report. Mr. Berwald said he is in agreement with the conditions. The public hearing was opened for comments from the public. There were no comments; the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Boeser moved adoption of the resolution approving a conditional use permit to construct a 24- by 28-foot, two-car garage at 2080 Prosperity Road. Approval is because: 1. There would not be a significant effect on the redevelopment of the parcel as it is currently zoned light manufacturing. 2. There would be no negative impact on the surrounding properties that are zoned for residential use. Approval is subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction shall follow the site plan approved by the city. Community Development staff may approve minor changes. Planning Commission Minutes of 12-02-08 -3- 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. The applicant shall verify that the existing slab has the minimum thickness of six to twelve inches of footing depth around the perimeter of where the new garage would be placed. 5. The garage shall be designed as a typical residential two-car garage and shall be subject to staff approval. Commissioner Yarwood seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all VI. NEW BUSINESS None VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS . November 24 City Council Meeting: Mr. Desai reported on the meeting. . December 8 City Council Meeting - Richie Place Lot Division and Comprehensive Plan Amendment: Mr. Yarwood will attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Staff presented the current schedule for commission representative attendance at city council meetings and asked the commissioners if they want to continue scheduling in the same manner. Commissioner Desai said past policy for council meetings has been that a commissioner not needed would get a bye and the next commissioner on the list would be scheduled for the next meeting, but negotiating can always be used for scheduling a commission representative. The leader for a Brownie Troop visiting the meeting explained that their second-grade Troop toured the police department and stopped to visit at tonight's commission meeting as they are working to earn their Citizen badge. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.