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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-17 PC Minutes MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 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 Absent Present Present Present Present Absent Present Absent Absent City Staff Present: Tom Ekstrand. Citv Planner III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Hess moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Trippler seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. October 20, 2009 Commissioner Boeser moved to approve the minutes of October 20, 2009 as submitted. Commissioner Hess seconded Ayes - Fischer, Hess, Martin, Trippler Abstentions - Desai The motion passed. V. PUBLIC HEARING None The commission decided by consensus to rearrange the agenda to consider Item 7. a.-Unfinished Business- Conditional Use Permit- T-Mobile Cellular Phone Tower before Item 6. a.-New Business. Planning Commission Minutes of 11-17-09 -2- VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Conditional Use Permit- T -Mobile Cellular Phone Tower, 1961 County Road C Planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report for the request from T-Mobile to erect a 75-foot-tall wireless telecommunications tower for cellular telephone operations on land leased from Independent School District No. 622 at the Harmony Learning Center located at 1961 County Road C East. The pole would be located where a 30-foot light pole currently exists within the school's parking lot. Pat Conlin of FMHC and representing T-Mobile, 7400 Metro Drive, Edina, Minnesota, addressed the commission. In response to commissioners' comments, Ms. Conlin said the water tower is located too far south to locate the cellular tower and that the school district is not interested in moving the tower to another location on their property or in having an access road constructed on their property. Ms. Conlin said the school district would allow a taller tower to be constructed on the site. Ms. Conlin said the church site does not have the possibility of replacing an existing light pole on church property. Commissioner Martin moved to open this item for visitor comments from Linda Olson. Commissioner Hess seconded Ayes - all The motion passed. Linda Olson, an adjacent neighbor at 2005 County Road C East, said she has taken photos of every cell phone tower in the city. Ms. Olson said all of the towers in the city are located near property lines, fencing, dumpsters or have some kind of protection around them. Ms. Olson asked the commission not to allow any taller tower than what is being proposed. Commissioners felt the tower location was not favorable and questioned why staff is recommending approval at the proposed site. Staff responded that this request meets the criteria of the city ordinance. The commission discussed other possible locations for the tower and the possibility of creating a specific site for locating cell towers. Commissioner Trippler moved that staff ask the applicant to look at relocating the tower to the church property and if the church cannot reach an agreement with the applicant, then to go ahead to adopt the resolution approving a conditional use permit for this proposed 75-foot-tall wireless telecommunications tower 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. The 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 collocation of other providers' telecommunications equipment on the proposed tower. T-Mobile shall submit a letter to staff allowing collocation before a building permit can be issued. Planning Commission Minutes of 11-17-09 -3- Commissioner Desai seconded Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Martin, Trippler Nay - Hess The motion passed. Mr. Hess said he voted no because he does not like these kinds of towers in a residential and school area. Commissioner Martin moved that city staff explore a comprehensive microwave transceiver tower plan for the City of Maplewood. Commissioner Trippler seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all VII. NEW BUSINESS a. East Metro Regional Fire Training Facility-Informational Presentation Fire chief Steve Lukin explained a proposal for a multi-jurisdictional partnership for a fire training facility. Chief Lukin explained that a partnership of local fire departments and public safety organizations is proposing to build and operate the East Metro Regional Fire Training Facility. Chief Lukin said the facility will be funded and managed through a joint powers agreement of the partners. Chief Lukin said they have been working on the environmental issues with Ron Cockriel. Ron Leaf of SEH Engineering gave a presentation explaining the site features and environmental aspects of this proposal. Mr. Leaf said the wetlands have been reviewed in detail to improve the quality of the wetlands on this site. VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS None IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. City Council Meetings of October 26 and November 9, 2009: There were no commission items. b. City Council Meeting of November 23, 2009: Commissioner Boeser is scheduled to attend. X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Planner Ekstrand updated the commission on the commission's election of officers procedures. Planner Ekstrand explained that the code amendment relating to officer elections in the Rules of Procedure has already been approved by the city council, so there is no need to proceed with an ordinance revision. Commissioner Trippler recommended that the ordinance be amended to add language into Sec. 2-248 (c) of the ordinance stating that planning commissioners whose appointments have expired may continue to serve on the planning commission until they are either reappointed or replaced by the city council. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.