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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-17 PC Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, MARCH 17,2009 I. CALL TO ORDER Acting Chairperson Desai 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 Absent Present Present Present Present Absent Absent Tom Ekstrand. Citv Planner DuWavne Konewko. Communitv Development and Parks Director Acting Chair Desai introduced the newly-hired city manager, James Antonen. City Manager Antonen introduced himself to the commission and invited the commissioners to stop by his office or call for an appointment to visit anytime. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the amended agenda, tabling item 6.a. - City Attorney Discussion, due to a conflict with the city attorney's schedule. Commissioner Hess seconded The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. March 3, 2009 Ayes - all Commissioner Trippler moved to approve the minutes of March 3, 2009 as presented. Commissioner Pearson seconded The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING None Ayes - Boeser, Desai, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Abstention - Hess Planning Commission Minutes of 03-17-09 -2- VI. NEW BUSINESS a. 2008 Annual Report Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report and noted two corrections in action with the Condition Use Permits considered by the commission. Commissioner Trippler suggested that in the future when a commission meeting would be cancelled due to no agenda items for consideration, a commission training meeting could be held on that night. Commissioner Trippler also suggested that the commission make a list of items for action in 2009 and submit it to the city council for their consideration and comments. Commissioner Boeser suggested adding to the 2009 action items list a comment stating "plus any additional items so deemed by the city councilor commission as the year progresses" to make the items more useful and valuable. Commissioner Hess asked for clarification on the item referring to the commission providing input to the HRA program issues. Staff said it is not known whether this item was a request from the HRA. Community development and parks director Konewko suggested that this item be tabled to allow commissioners the time to send staff their comments and goals for 2009. Director Konewko said staff will prepare a draft report with the commissioners' suggestions for consideration at the commission's next meeting. Commissioner Martin asked if an update could be included in the report of the status of the year's large projects considered by the commission, such as whether a project was completed. Commissioner Desai suggested that this report be submitted to the city council at their next meeting for their comments and direction in order to have the council's feedback for consideration at the next commission meeting. Director Konewko said the city council is interested in meeting with the commission for shared discussion. Commissioner Desai asked if the commission could meet with the council before the 2009 annual plan is completed. Director Konewko suggested the commission could meet with the council at a council meeting. Commissioner Boeser asked if the city council completes an annual plan. Councilmember John Nephew, who was attending the commission meeting, said that an annual plan would be useful, but is not done by the council. Councilmember Nephew agreed that it would be important to follow up the comprehensive plan update with corrected zoning designations and that the goals in the comprehensive plan could also be included as goals in the annual plan. Commissioner Pearson suggested a topic for a training session could be relating to the wetland ordinance including issues such as how a biodiversity study in wetlands is done, who would do it and how they are rated. Planner Ekstrand said he has enough new information from the commission's comments to make revisions to this draft plan and bring it back to the commission at the next meeting. Commissioner Trippler moved to table this item. Commissioner Boeser seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all Planning Commission Minutes of 03-17-09 -3- VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Community Gardens CUP Status Report Planner Tom Ekstrand gave an update on the community gardens project. Planner Ekstrand said that after further consideration of the project and with the limited time until the planting season, staff has decided to proceed with just the planning phase of this project this summer. If approved by the city council, Mr. Ekstrand said the gardens would be ready for rental and use in 2010. Commissioner Martin asked for clarification on this proposal being a city-sponsored operation. Planner Ekstrand responded that the church would be donating the use of the land to the city for the gardens, but the city would manage the operation of the gardens. Director Konewko said this proposal is a joint project of the city and the church. Mr. Konewko said staff will be looking at locating the gardens in the northwest corner of the site and will also make provisions for litter, water and parking. Director Konewko said staff will revise the plans and present the proposal to the commission for review in May. Commissioner Trippler said he is in favor of this project, but he does not want the city to foot the bill for this project. Mr. Trippler suggested that rental fees be increased to cover the costs of the project and also, that a damage deposit be charged to the renter to cover the cost of cleanup of the plot at the end of the season. b. Comprehensive Plan Update Discussion Planner Ekstrand introduced consultant Jennifer Haskamp of Pulse Land Group. Ms. Haskamp gave an update and asked for comments on the draft of the comprehensive plan update. Commissioner Trippler asked if disks could be labeled with a date and version number when mailed to the Commissioners. Commissioner Boeser asked if there is a distribution list for the various commissions and agencies reviewing this document. Ms. Haskamp said she does not have a distribution list, but the document was sent to Ramsey County and cities with borders touching Maplewood. Ms. Haskamp discussed what other agencies would have received this document from the city for review. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. March 23, 2009 City Council Meeting: Commissioner Trippler will attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Planner Ekstrand informed the commission of a request from resident Elizabeth Sletten for action by the city engineer regarding the Clarence Street project. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m.