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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/09/2007 MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9,2007 (ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION INVITED) I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Olson called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Board member John Demko Vice-Chairperson Matt Ledvina Chairperson Linda Olson Board member Ananth Shankar Board member Matt Wise Present Present Present Absent Present Staff Present: Shann Finwall, Planner Chuck Ahl, Public Works Director Ginny Gaynor, Naturalist Alan Kantrud, City Attorney Environmental and Natural Resources Board Members: Chair Jim Beardsley III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Board member Ledvina moved to approve the agenda as amended, adding item a.-Clear Channel (City Attorney Alan Kantrud) under IX. Staff Presentations. Board member Olson seconded. Ayes - all The motion passed. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the CDRB minutes for September 13, 2007. Ms. Finwall noted a correction needed to agenda item 6. a.-The Shores, adding a condition of approval requiring the removal and maintenance of buckthorn, as discussed at the meeting. Board member Wise questioned whether the developer would be allowed by the city to remove buckthorn around and in the ponding area. Ms. Finwall responded that the city would allow removal of a noxious weed such as buckthorn within the wetland buffer. City naturalist Ginny Gaynor explained that buckthorn is classified by the state as a noxious weed, but does not legally require that buckthorn be removed. The city removes buckthorn from city land when possible and encourages property owners to remove buckthorn from their property. Staff fully supports the board's recommendation to require the developer of the Shores to remove and maintain all buckthorn from the property, including around the wetland area. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-09-07 2 Jim Beardsley of the city environmental and natural resources commission encouraged board members to require property owners to remove buckthorn from their property when possible. Board member Wise moved approval to add on page seven of the minutes of September 13, 2007: Item c. 7) - Removal and maintenance of all buckthorn from the property. Board member Olson seconded The motion passed. Ayes - all Board member Wise moved approval of the amended minutes of September 13, 2007, adding on page seven to agenda item 6. a. - The Shore: Item c. 7) - Removal of all buckthorn from applicant's property. Board member Demko seconded. Ayes - Olson, Demko, Wise Abstention - Ledvina The motion passed. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None VI. DESIGN REVIEW a. Gladstone Streetscaping - Presentation by Thomas Harrington, landscape architect with Kimley-Horn and Associates, on the proposed concepts for streetscaping in the Gladstone Redevelopment Area Public Works Director Ahl reported on the project plan and time line. Thomas Harrington of Kimley-Horn & Associates presented the details for the Phase I streetscaping improvements and projected timelines. Some of the topics Mr. Harrington discussed were sidewalks, decorative lighting options, plantings and materials, and irrigation. Board member Wise asked whether utilities would be buried. Director Ahl responded that staff will recommend that utilities be buried, but this will be an added cost. Mr. Wise also commented that ground level solar lighting in the trail areas might be considered. Board member Ledvina asked if the proposed trails would be linked with the Phalen trails. Mr. Harrington explained which trails could be linked. Board member Wise suggested plantings be chosen for the roundabout which would show flowering throughout the seasons. Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) Commission Chair Jim Beardsley questioned whether porous pavement and solar powered lighting have been considered. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-09-07 3 Mr. Harrington responded that both are being considered at this time, but porous pavement is generally more expensive and harder to maintain. ENR Chair Beardsley also commented on appropriate kinds of trees to be planted. Chair Olson suggested installing low maintenance pavements and crosswalks, lighting similar to the Legacy Village project with a historic perspective, and that recycled plastic or resin materials might be used for the benches rather than using wood. Mr. Ahl explained the streetscaping options would be presented to the planning, parks, and historical commission on October 16, and will then be brought to the city council for final review. Phase I streetscaping improvements in Gladstone will be implemented spring 2008. Since the applicant for item 6. b. was not yet present at the meeting, the board moved on to consider item IX. Staff Presentations. IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. City Attorney Alan Kantrud-Clear Channel City attorney Alan Kantrud discussed a city council referral to the board regarding a modification to the city sign ordinance. Mr. Kantrud, on behalf of the city council, asked the board to review the data and report to the council any advice or information for their consideration regarding: (1) the ordinance change striking prohibited sign language, (2) the proposed ordinance regulating dynamic signs within the city, and (3) the settlement agreement. The board discussed the issues concerning the proposed changes to the sign ordinance and the settlement agreement proposal. Chair Olson recommend that a conditional use permit be issued for the existing sign on 1-494 operated by Clear Channel, that a settlement agreement of $1 00,000 in cash for the construction of this sign in violation of existing codes be presented to the city, and that the board work with the city council regarding prohibited and dynamic sign language changes. Board member Ledvina seconded the motion for discussion, but said he was uncomfortable with naming a settlement amount in the motion. Board member Ledvina withdrew his motion second; the motion died for lack of a second. Board member Ledvina recommended the board work with the planning commission and city council to adopt the proposed changes to the ordinance and draft dynamic sign language concurrently at a future meeting. Mr. Ledvina further recommended any settlement the city may make with Clear Channel should not involve the erection of more dynamic signs. Board member Ledvina seconded Ayes - Wise, Ledvina, Demko Nay - Olson The motion passed. Chair Olson stated the reason she voted against the motion was due to the fact she would prefer language in the recommendation regarding the amount of the settlement. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-09-07 4 Continuation of Design Review items. VI. DESIGN REVIEW b. Concept Review - English Street Manufactured Home Site Redevelopment in the Gladstone Neighborhood (1880 English Street) Planner Shann Finwall presented the staff report on this proposal. Cal Seegar of Crossroads Development explained the project. The only way they think this development would be cost effective is to ensure a higher density development. That is why they are proposing the 38 units. The board discussed the proposal and agreed that the project has a very tight fit to the property (i.e., very little green space). They suggested having a greater setback to allow for tree plantings. They also discussed that the project would be more marketable if the developer installed functioning balconies, rather than walk outs. The board stated that since this is proposed as an active senior development, more parking stalls would probably be needed. In addition, they felt roof dormers and other building details should be implemented into the project. VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS No visitors present. VIII. BOARD PRESENTATIONS No board presentations. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.