HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/25/2005
AGENDA
CITY OF MAPLEWOOD
COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
Tuesday,October25,2005
6:00 P.M.
Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall
1830 County Road BEast
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Approval of Minutes: September 27, 2005
5. Unfinished Business: Ashley Furniture Neon Lighting
6. Design Review: Edgerton Manor - 2021 Edgerton Street
7. Visitor Presentations:
8. Board Presentations:
9. Staff Presentations:
a. Sign Code Revision Update
b. World Town Planning Day - November 8, 2005
c. Reminder - November 8 CDRB Meeting Rescheduled to November 9 Due to
Elections
d. Community Design Review Board Representation at the November 14, 2005,
City Council Meeting
10. Adjourn
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25,2005
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Longrie called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Board member John Hinzman
Board member Matt Ledvina
Chairperson Diana Longrie
Vice chairperson Linda Olson
Board member Ananth Shankar
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Staff Present:
Shann Finwall, Planner
Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Board member Olson moved to approve the agenda.
Board member Hinzman seconded.
Ayes - Hinzman, Ledvina, Longrie,
Olson, Shankar
The motion passed.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of the CDRB minutes for September 27, 2005.
Board member Hinzman moved approval of the minutes of September 27, 2005.
Board member Olson seconded.
Ayes ---Hinzman, Ledvina, Longrie,
Olson, Shankar
The motion passed.
V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ashley Furniture Neon Lighting
Ms. Finwall said Ashley Furniture's design review was approved by the CDRB earlier this year.
After approval by the CDRB neon lighting was added to the building exterior. City staff has
been trying to reach a representative of Ashley Furniture to address this issue but has been
unsuccessful. City staff would like the board to make a formal motion to indicate that the
CDRB would like Ashley Furniture to come before the CDRB for an amendment to the design
review if Ashley Furniture would like to maintain the neon lighting. Ashley Furniture has the
option to appeal the board's decision to the city council.
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Minutes 10-25-2005
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Chairperson Longrie asked what steps the city normally takes when changes are made to
building designs that weren't approved by the board.
Ms. Finwall said the staff member that worked on that project through the planning stage would
follow up with the issuance of the building permit. We review the building plans and ensure all
of the conditions are met that were approved by the city council. If the building did not meet the
guidelines city staff would notify the appropriate person and they would be required to revise
the plans or obtain an amendment from the board for the design. The director of community
development can make minor changes to the plan administratively but anything other than that
should come back before the CDRB.
Chairperson Longrie asked if there were any provisions for fines or citations?
Ms. Finwall said there are possibilities for issuing a citation for violation of the CDRB conditions
in the city ordinance. Another situation would be for conditional use permit review. A CUP
allows the city to have more control over a project and would allow the city council to review
the design change with the possibility of shutting down the actual use if there was a violation.
Board member Ledvina said this has been discussed in the past and the CDRB has indicated
their concern regarding the neon lighting and the best thing to do is to make a motion and
recommend moving forward.
Board member Olson said she would like her comments reflected in the minutes. The neon is
very bright and it can be seen from St. John's Hospital, Sam's Club parking lot which is on the
other side of the freeway, and from the residential neighborhoods adjacent to Ashley Furniture.
The CDRB didn't approve the neon lighting and she feels the neon light is too bright. She
would like to see a light meter reading of this neon lighting because The Myth nightclub lighting
is much dimmer than the lighting on Ashley Furniture which is an intrusive feature on the
building and it affects the surrounding area.
Board member Ledvina recommended that the CDRB direct city staff to place Ashley Furniture
on notice that they must either make an amendment to the approved plan or remove the neon
lighting.
Board member Olson stated she would be satisfied if the neon lighting was turned off. The light
shouldn't be on all night long.
Board member Ledvina said the neon lighting was not part of the approved design and it
should be removed or Ashley Furniture should apply to the board for an amendment.
Board member Shankar seconded.
Ayes - Hinzman, Ledvina, Longrie,
Olson, Shankar
The motion passed.
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Minutes 10-25-2005
3
Chairperson Longrie said if Ashley Furniture comes before the CDRB with an amendment to
the design the CDRB can then discuss the conditions such as when the lights can be on or off
or the intensity of the neon lighting. She would support Ashley Furniture coming before the
CDRB with an amendment. She is disappointed that Ashley Furniture has not responded to
city staff's calls to open up the dialogue.
Board member Shankar asked if Ashley Furniture could go right to the city councilor did
Ashley Furniture need to come before the CDRB?
Board member Ledvina said that is a procedural issue that staff would work out.
Ms. Finwall said Ashley Furniture could remove the neon lighting and the issue would be
resolved or if Ashley Furniture applied for an amendment to the design for the neon lighting it
would have to come before the board to make a recommendation on to the city council.
The motion passed.
VI. DESIGN REVIEW
a. Edgerton Manor - 2021 Edgerton Street
Mr. Alan Menning, Manager of the Edgerton Manor at 2021 Edgerton Street, is proposing to
redesign the existing front door along Edgerton Street in order to allow entry at grade level and
provide a covered building entrance.
Ms. Finwall said the building was constructed in 1971, prior to state handicap accessibility
requirements. The front entry along Edgerton Street currently consists of a looped driveway
with a double stairwell leading up one flight of stairs to the uncovered front door. The existing
stairway is in need of repair or replacement.
The applicant proposes to remove the exterior stairway and front door and replace it with a
small vestibule located on the ground level as well as a covered building entrance. Only the
covered entrance will extend into the required 30-foot front yard setback by 20 feet, 4 inches.
The exterior of the vestibule will be a white-colored stucco, and the covered entryway will have
white columns with a brick base to match the building.
In addition to the entryway, the applicant proposes landscaping improvements to include two
small retaining walls constructed of brick to match the building. Within the retaining walls, the
applicant proposes new plantings to include three ornamental trees, 12 evergreen bushes. 28
deciduous bushes, and 38 perennials.
Board member Shankar asked if the handicapped entrance would take people to an elevator
not shown on the plans?
Ms. Finwall said yes.
Board member Longrie asked the applicant to address the board.
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Minutes 10-25-2005
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Mr. Alan Menning, Manager, Edgerton Manor 2021 Edgerton Street, Maplewood, addressed
the board. He said there is an elevator at the ground level as you walk in and right now there
is no access to get to an elevator for handicapped people. You need to go down the garage
ramp, through the garage, and up a ramp to the elevator. This is very difficult for people in a
wheelchair or for anyone with a walker. There are a number of predominately older residents
that live in this building that have either a walker or a cane.
Chairperson Longrie asked if the applicant had any materials to show the board?
Mr. Menning said no but he brought photos of the existing building. They are going to match
the existing building materials as closely as possible. Mr. Menning went through the photos
one by one and described the building materials and colors for the board.
Board member Olson asked if the applicant would be removing any trees on the site?
Mr. Menning said no.
Board member Shankar asked why the new doors are going to swing inward?
Mr. David L. Harris, Project Architect, 17675 Hogan Avenue, Hastings, addressed the board.
He said doors are a building issue. Whatever the building code states and what the building
official says is required is what they will be doing. He would have to check the occupant load
and he has not done that yet.
Board member Shankar said the reason he asks the question is that the applicant is spending
all this money to make this building entrance handicapped accessible and it appears on the
plan that if a person in a wheelchair is going to go through the first set of doors there is hardly
enough space before you get through the next set of doors.
Mr. Harris said he is aware of the handicapped codes in the State of Minnesota and when they
present the plan for a building permit that will be verified.
Board member Shankar said it seems to him that the crux of what the applicant is trying to do
is to make this handicapped accessible and you will need to give as much space as possible in
the vestibule.
Mr. Harris said yes and if the board is concerned about this that could be a condition of
approval.
Board member Hinzman said the shingle color of the entry area looks lighter than what
currently exists?
Mr. Harris said the colors represented on the plans are incorrect and the building materials will
match as closely as possible.
Board member Shankar said the colored canopy appears to be 13 feet 9 inches and he asked
if they are confident that clearance is high enough?
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Mr. Harris said they designed the canopy to comply with the standards of the fire department
which should exceed all reasonable standards. They could post the height; that might be
prudent.
Board member Shankar said he is concerned about the shingle color not matching.
Board member Olson said there is a note on the plans that states all new materials are to
match the existing building materials per David L. Harris, Architect, so she believed that would
be covered.
Board member Hinzman asked if the motion could be separated into two different motions?
Chairperson Longrie said that would be fine.
Board member Hinzman moved to adopt the front yard setback variance resolution attached in
the staff report. This resolution approves a 20-foot, 4-inch front yard setback variance for the
construction of a covered entryway for Edgerton Manor located at 2021 Edgerton Street.
Approval is based on the following findings:
a. Strict enforcement of the code would cause undue hardship because of circumstances
unique to the property and not created by the current property owner. The building was
constructed in 1971, prior to any handicap accessibility requirements. At that time the
building was constructed 37 feet, 8 inches to the Edgerton Street right-of-way, limiting
the buildable area for a handicap accessible entryway.
b. Construction of the proposed handicap accessible entryway will better serve the tenants
and meet the Minnesota Handicap Accessibility requirements.
c. The right-of-way along Edgerton Street in this area is inconsistent and there is existing
development on the west side of the street which is closer than that being requested for
the handicap accessible entryway.
Board member Ledvina seconded.
Ayes - Hinzman, Ledvina, Longrie,
Shankar, Olson
The motion passed.
Board member Shankar had additional questions regarding the building materials before the
next motion is made. Board member Shankar asked if the existing windows on the building
were painted white or vinyl clad?
Mr. Harris said everything on the building is in good shape and doesn't require replacing. The
photos he displayed earlier are an example of what actually exists on the building exterior.
Board member Shankar said the new sketch shows a wood grain material on the windows so
he was just trying to clarify that.
Mr. Harris said the applicant wants maintenance free products so the products are either going
to be maintenance free aluminum or vinyl clad but not wood.
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Board member Shankar asked what the new entry doors would be made of?
Mr. Harris said they are not sure what material the doors are going to be or which particular
door they will use.
Mr. Menning went through the building material colors on the existing building and everything
will match the existing structure. At this time he is not sure what color the entry door would be
but possibly a hunter green with white trim. Using a white door would not look nice next to the
stu ceo.
Board member Shankar moved to approve the plans date-stamped September 20, 2005, for
the proposed covered entryway at Edgerton Manor located at 2021 Edgerton Street. Approval
is subject to the following conditions: (changes made by the CDRB if added are
underlined.)
a. Repeat this review in two years if the city has not issued a building permit for this
project.
b. Before getting a building permit, the applicant must submit to staff for approval the
following:
1) A revised landscape plan showing all sizes of the proposed plant species.
2) Sample building materials to be approved by staff. The new entry door frame
shall be hunter oreen to match the existino shutters. All other buildino materials
shall match the existinq buildinq materials.
c. The applicant shall complete the following before final inspection of the covered
entryway:
1) Install all required landscaping.
2) Make all necessary repairs to the existing driveway due to damage by
construction.
d. All work shall follow the approved plans. The director of community development may
approve minor changes.
Chairperson Longrie seconded.
Ayes - Hinzman, Ledvina, Longrie,
Olson, Shankar
The motion passed.
This item goes to the city council on November 14, 2005.
Board member Ledvina said this is going to be a nice addition for the residents and it will be a
nice improvement to the site. He commended the applicant for a very extensive landscaping
plan and thinks this is very well designed improvement to this building.
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Chairperson Longrie agreed.
VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
No visitors present.
VIII. BOARD PRESENTATIONS
None.
IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. Sign Code Revision Update
Ms. Finwall gave an update regarding the sign code revision. She said in September
staff finalized the draft sign code and since then city staff has been working on making
those updates and putting the sign code on the city's website with highlighted changes
to the code. The city is also doing an advertisement campaign and a small article was
included in the Maplewood City News. This article directs people to the city website.
The article will also be printed in the Maplewood Review. City staff also sent notices to
200 random business owners in Maplewood asking for feedback on the highlighted
changes of the sign code and directing people to the full sign code on the website. Staff
is looking for feedback on the proposed sign code by November 25, 2005, at which time
city staff will compile the information and bring it back to the CDRB for discussion with
possible changes to the draft. City staff will then proceed to the city council with the
new code.
Board member Olson asked how many businesses are in Maplewood?
Ms. Finwall said she didn't have the exact figures but estimates 700 businesses.
b. World Town Planning Day - November 8, 2005
Ms. Finwall included in the board packet information regarding World Town Planning
Day which is sponsored in the United States by the American Planning Association and
its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners. This is a special
day to recognize the role of planning in creating livable communities by promoting an
awareness, support and advocacy of community and regional planning among the
general public and all levels of government. The 56th annual World town Planning Day
will be celebrated this year in approximately 30 countries on November 8, 2005.
Ms. Finwall said the city council adopted the proclamation at the Monday, October 25,
2005, city council meeting. The proclamation is attached. The city wanted to thank the
members of the board for their planning efforts.
c. Reminder - November 8, 2005, CDRB meeting has been rescheduled to
Wednesday, November 9, 2005, due to elections.
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d. Community Design Review Board Representation at the November 14, 2005, city
council meeting.
The only item to discuss is the design review of the Edgerton Manor, 2021 Edgerton
Street and Chairperson Longrie volunteered to be the representative at the city council
meeting.
x. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.