HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-16 PC Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Fischer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Commissioner AI Bierbaum
Commissioner Joseph Boeser
Vice-Chairperson Tushar Desai
Chairperson Lorraine Fischer
Commissioner Robert Martin
Commissioner Tanya Nuss
Commissioner Gary Pearson
Commissioner Dale Trippler
Commissioner Jeremy Yarwood
City Staff Present:
Present
Absent
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Present
Tom Ekstrand. Citv Planner
Steve Kummer. Staff Enqineer
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the agenda as submitted.
Commissioner Desai seconded Ayes - all
The motion passed.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. January 19, 2010
Commissioner Pearson moved approval of the minutes of January 19, 2010 as submitted.
Commissioner Desai seconded Ayes - Desai, Fischer, Pearson, Yarwood
Abstentions - Bierbaum, Martin, Nuss
The motion passed.
V. PUBLIC HEARING
a. 7:03 p.m.: Rezoning of Land Bounded by Highway 61, Larpenteur Avenue and Parkway Drive from
R1 (single dwelling residential) and BC (business commercial) to MU (mixed use)
Planner Tom Ekstrand presented the staff report, explaining that this rezoning needs to be completed to
be in conformance with the land use classifications of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan recently adopted by
the city council. Planner Ekstrand said the city has not been approached with any commercial interest in
this property at this time.
The public hearing was opened for comments from the public.
Gary Blair, a commercial property owner in this area, spoke about previous attempts to develop his
property. Staff explained that a large part of the difficulty in developing his property has been that it is
situated on land controlled by the Shoreland Ordinance and that would not change with this rezoning.
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Mr. Blair had specific questions about the setback requirements in the mixed use ordinance. Staff gave
Mr. Blair a copy of the Mixed Use ordinance provisions and asked him to call if he had additional
questions.
There were no further comments from the public; the public hearing was closed.
Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the rezoning of the property bounded by Larpenteur Avenue,
Parkway Drive and Highway 61 (Arcade Street) from R1 (single dwelling residential) and BC (business
commercial) to MU (mixed use). This rezoning is based on Minnesota Statute 473.865 subdivision 3,
requiring the city to bring the zoning of this property into conformance with the adopted comprehensive
land use plan classification.
Commissioner Desai seconded Ayes - Bierbaum, Desai, Fischer, Martin, Nuss, Pearson, Yarwood
The motion passed.
b. 7:20 p.m.: Rezoning of 2255 Duluth Street from M1 (light manufacturing) to R1 (single dwelling
residential)
Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report, explaining that this rezoning also needs to be completed to be
in conformance with the land use classifications of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan recently adopted by the
city council.
Gordon Anderson, the affected property owner spoke, saying he bought this property and built his home
on it 50 years ago and has lived there ever since. During the update of the comprehensive plan, he
requested that his property be rezoned from light manufacturing to residential.
There were no further comments from the public; the public hearing was closed.
Commissioner Pearson moved to approve the rezoning of 2255 Duluth Street from M1 (light
manufacturing) to R1 (single dwelling residential). This rezoning is based on Minnesota Statute 473.865
subdivision 3, requiring the city to bring the zoning of this property into conformance with the newly
adopted comprehensive land use plan classification.
Commissioner Yarwood seconded Ayes-Bierbaum, Desai, Fischer, Martin, Nuss, Pearson,
Yarwood
The motion passed.
c. 7:30 p.m.: Gervais Woods Preliminary Plat, Final Plat and Lot Area Variance, South of Labore
Road and East of Arcade Street
Planner Ekstrand presented the staff report for this request by Landmark Development of Minnesota to
develop eleven single-dwelling lots in a subdivision called Gervais Woods. Staff explained a change in the
staff recommendation relating to Outlot C. Staff explained the staff report recommends the creation of
Outlot C. Subsequently, after further consideration, staff is revising that recommendation to require that
Outlot C be part of Lot 5, Block 2 and not a stand-alone lot. The county has recommended that the city
take care not to create land-locked, stand-alone lots as the have the potential to go tax forfeit.
The public hearing was opened for comments from the public.
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The applicant, Nathan Fair who is with Hanson Builders and Landmark Development, discussed the
preliminary agreement with Mr. and Mrs. Gores for acquiring Outlot C. Mr. Fair suggested that a
stipulation be put in the developer's contract that if the sale of Outlot C to the Gores has not happened
within 120 days of filing the final plat, he would give Outlot C to the city for use as open space property.
John and Jolene Gores, 2870 Arcade Street, said they have a letter of agreement dated January 14 with
Landmark Development and are ready to purchase Outlot C, but it cannot be done until Outlot C is
created. The Gores discussed potential flooding on their property, possibly coming from future
development on the back of Lot 5. Staff responded that any grading or development in the back of Lot 5
would require approval from the city.
David Himmelbach, 2970 Labore Road, Little Canada, commented on his objections to this development
which he said are archaeology of stub road site, presence of northern cricket frogs and buckthorn removal.
There were no further comments from the public; the public hearing was closed.
Staff discussed possible language to be added concerning the sale of Outlot C and suggested the
following language be added: within 120 days of the final plat recording, the applicant shall sell Outlot C
to Mr. and Mrs. Gores of 2870 Arcade Street, to be combined with their property. If that does not take
place, the land shall be given to the City of Maplewood for open space purposes.
Staff engineer Steve Kummer suggested that the approved language regarding Outlot C should be added
into the developer's agreement.
1. Commissioner Yarwood moved to approve the preliminary and final plat for Landmark Development
of Minnesota for the proposed eleven lot Gervais Woods single-family subdivision located south of Labore
Road and East of Arcade Street. This subdivision is subject to the following conditions:
a. Comply with the conditions of approval in the report by Shann Finwall, the Maplewood
environmental planner and Ginny Gaynor, natural resources coordinator dated January 27, 2010.
b. Comply with the conditions of approval in the engineering report by Steve Kummer,
Maplewood staff engineer, dated February 8, 2010.
c. Approval of a final plat for Gervais Woods from the City of Little Canada.
d. The Cities of Little Canada and Maplewood shall enter into an agreement as to the provIsions
of police, fire, code enforcement services and utilities. It is the recommendation of the Maplewood
city council that Little Canada provide these services since the proposed four southerly homes would
be addressed in Little Canada.
e. The accessory building, swimming pool and any other "back yard" construction requirements
of Little Canada shall apply to the Maplewood portions of the southerly four parcels. However, any
construction in the City of Maplewood shall require that the builder obtain a building permit from the City
of Maplewood if required by code.
f. The proposed homes on the southerly four lots of this subdivision shall be constructed in the
footprints shown on the applicant's plans. This would require that they be located in the City of
Little Canada.
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g. Within 120 days of recording the final plat, the applicant shall sell Outlot C to Mr. and Mrs.
Gores of 2870 Arcade Street to be legally combined with their property. If that does not take place, the
applicant shall give Outlot C to the city for open space as he proposed to the planning commission. This
shall be a condition of the developer's agreement.
h. Approval is conditioned upon the applicant providing five, six-foot-tall evergreen trees between
the home on proposed Lot 5, Block 2 and the neighboring house at 2870 Arcade Street.
2. Adoption of the attached resolution approving lot area variances for Lot 2, Block 2, with 2,378
square feet in Maplewood and of Lot 5, Block 2, with 7,758 square feet in Maplewood. Approval is
based on the following findings:
a. Strict enforcement would cause undue hardship because of circumstances unique to the
property under consideration. This situation is unique because credit for lot area can't be given for
land outside of Maplewood. If the entire site was in Maplewood, the question of lot area would not be an
issue.
b. The variance would be in keeping with the spirit and intent of the ordinance, since the
proposed southerly lots would have more lot area than is required by both the Cities of Little
Canada and Maplewood.
Commissioner Pearson seconded
The motion passed.
Ayes - all
VI. NEW BUSINESS
None
VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
VIII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None
IX. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS
a. City Council Meeting of January 25,2010: Planner Ekstrand reported on this meeting.
b. City Council Meeting of February 8,2010: Commissioner Fischer reported on this meeting.
c. City Council Meeting of February 22,010: Commissioner Martin will attend.
X. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
Planner Ekstrand welcomed the new planning commissioners and explained that commissioners are
scheduled to represent the commission at city council meetings. Planner Ekstrand said he will revise the
schedule to include the new commissioners.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.