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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-21 PC Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2009 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: Absent Present Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present at 7:02 p.m. Tom Ekstrand. Senior Planner Shann Finwall. Environmental Planner Michael Thompson. Citv Enqineer III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Trippler seconded The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. April 7, 2009 Ayes - all Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the minutes of April 7, 2009 as presented. Commissioner Hess seconded The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING Ayes - Fischer, Hess, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Abstention - Desai a. 7:02 p.m.: Conditional Use Permit-Tanners Lake Substation Expansion, Xcel Energy, 2500 Conway Avenue Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report for this request from Xcel Energy to expand the Tanners Lake electrical substation located at 2500 Conway Avenue at 3M Center. Planner Ekstrand said the proposed 16-foot by 107 -foot expansion includes moving existing chain link fencing 16 feet to the west and adding a 13.8kV electrical feeder in this area. Mr. Ekstrand said the proposed expansion would be at the rear of the site and not visible to the public. Planning Commission Minutes of 04-21-09 -2- Commissioner Hess asked where the feeder would be located and what the footprint looked like inside the easement. Planner Ekstrand referred this question to the applicant. Commissioner Desai commented that staff noted that 3M Company is approving this proposal, but there is nothing in writing that 3M is approving this. Planner Ekstrand responded that the applicant said they are in negotiations with 3M on the easement agreement and would have this completed soon. Planner Ekstrand also noted that condition five of the staff recommendation requires that Xcel Energy obtain an easement from 3M Company for this expansion. Chris Rogers, the applicant from Xcel Energy, gave a presentation on the proposed substation expansion and responded to Commissioner Hess' questions. Mr. Rogers said that the concrete slab on the site was used years ago as a testing site by 3M to spray salt water to test for corrosion and that the slab and drain in this area will be removed as part of the construction. Mr. Rogers said the site area to be purchased as an easement will be used as a buffer zone and will not have any energized equipment on it. Mr. Rogers explained that there will be at least 15 feet of clearance from the feeder to the fence. Mr. Rogers noted there will not be any transformer work done while work is being done on the feeder. Commissioner Martin asked if there is anything running underground on the site. Mythili Chaganti, a substation engineer with Xcel Energy, responded that all of the distribution feeders would access the substation underground and the transmission lines would enter the site overhead. Mr. Rogers said the underground distribution feeders would not run under the easement. The public hearing was opened for comments from the public. There were no comments; the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Hess moved to adopt the resolution approving a conditional use permit for Xcel Energy to expand the Tanners Lake Substation located at 2500 Conway Avenue. The city bases this approval on the findings required by the ordinance. This approval is subject to the following conditions: 1. All construction and activities on the site shall follow the site and project plans dated March 26, 2009 as approved by the city. City staff may approve minor changes to these plans and the city council must approve major changes to the approved plans. 2. Any fence over six feet tall requires a building permit issued by the city. The city building official will require the submittal of a structural plan for the proposed fence approved by a registered engineer with the building permit materials. All slab installations for the proposed equipment will require a building permit as well. 3. Xcel Energy must start the installation of the new transformer and associated site work within one year of council approval or the permit shall become null and void. The council may extend this deadline for one year. 4. The city council shall review this permit in one year. 5. Xcel Energy must obtain an easement from 3M Company for the proposed expansion. Commissioner Pearson seconded Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Hess, Martin, Pearson, Trippler Abstention - Yarwood The motion passed. Planning Commission Minutes of 04-21-09 -3- VI. NEW BUSINESS a. White Bear Avenue Improvements, City Project 08-13 City engineer Michael Thompson presented the staff report on the final plans and specifications for the White Bear Avenue improvements that were authorized by the city council last December. Engineer Thompson gave an overview of the project and asked the commission for their input. Mr. Thompson said the project includes reconstruction and widening of White Bear Avenue. Engineer Thompson said Maplewood property owners involved in the construction want assurances that they will not be negatively affected by the road widening. Mr. Thompson said the property owners have concerns regarding lot size, setback, parking requirements and zoning considerations. John Horn, of Kimley Horn & Associates, gave an overview of the project and spoke about the right-of-way issues associated with the project. Mr. Horn gave examples of three parcels involved in the construction and some of the issues created along the corridor. Commissioner Desai said that he does not feel that this should be brought to the planning commission since it does not come under the purview of the commission's responsibilities and city code already addresses what can be done to these parcels. Commissioner Hess said if the planning commission will be dealing with a large number of these property owners, it would be easier for the commission to meet with property owners if the construction were broken down into smaller segments for smaller group discussions. Commissioner Trippler said that there would be no point in the commission reviewing properties that are out of compliance and their compliance would not change, but for those properties that will become more out of compliance and will be closer to the easement line there would be a variance condition. Mr. Trippler said he thought it would be wise for the commission to review those situations. Commissioner Pearson asked how Ramsey County might handle a situation where one of these parcels loses property value due to the improvements and if the property taxes would be reduced. Jerry Auge, project manager representing Ramsey County, said each parcel is appraised and then assessed for damages, which the property owner would in turn be paid for those damages. Mr. Auge said the tax liability on the parcel would be reduced on the square-footage taking. Commissioner Pearson mentioned the zoning on the parcel relating to future redevelopment might be affected. Commissioner Desai asked if the auto strip mall setback were reduced 15 feet due to the street widening, what setback requirement would the next developer constructing a new building on the site be required to comply with. Engineer Thompson responded that they would be required to meet the 30-foot setback from the right-of-way line prior to the road widening project. Commissioner Yarwood said he agrees it is a good idea for the commission to identify the issues with parcels and also, try to find creative approaches to address the issues with those parcels where the configuration is odd or there are serious setback issues. Commissioner Desai asked if a final plan could be brought to the commission for review after all negotiations are completed. Engineer Thompson suggested that the right-of-way plan could be brought to the commission after it is approved. Mr. Thompson explained that the right-of-way plan Planning Commission Minutes of 04-21-09 -4- will show both the temporary and permanent takings for all of the parcels. Engineer Thompson said the planning commission would forward a recommendation to the city council for their review and approval. It was decided by consensus that staff will document some of the potential issues created by the road widening and bring this back to the commission in four to eight weeks for a recommendation. Engineer Thompson said he does not believe this will require a public hearing, but will review this question with the city attorney. VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. April 13, 2009 City Council Meeting: Planner Finwall reported on this meeting. b. Upcoming City Council Meeting April 27, 2009: Commissioner Martin X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Development Review Process-Presentation by staff Planner Ekstrand gave a presentation explaining the development and review process that staff goes through when reviewing land development applications and answered questions from the commission. Engineer Thompson noted that the city collects either escrow or a letter of credit to ensure that a project is completed and in compliance with the conditions required by the city for approval. Commissioner Trippler suggested that problems that are encountered with projects be documented and shared with staff as part of a record relating where problems are likely to occur. Commissioner Martin asked if an applicant is required to submit design specifications with detailed drawings for a project. Planner Finwall explained that once the planning conditions are in place, a building permit application is submitted and reviewed by city staff for compliance with city regulations. There is a multitude of inspections that follow during the construction period where problems would be caught. Planner Finwall mentioned that city staff who are involved in reviewing and inspecting these projects meet biweekly to discuss any issues with the projects. Engineer Thompson also noted that design specifications are submitted as part of the project plans that show deeper details. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.