Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/25/20022. 3. 4. 5. 6. AGENDA MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD June 25, 2002 6:00 P.M. Maplewood City Hall Council Chambers 1830 County Road B East Call to Order Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of the June 11, 2002, Minutes Unfinished Business: None Scheduled Design Review: a. Sinclair Gas Station - 223 Larpenteur Avenue East b. Hmong Alliance Church - 1770 McMenemy Street Visitor Presentations Board Presentations Staff Presentations: a. Annual Tour Update b. Community Design Review Board Representation at the July 8, 2002, City Council Meeting c. Upcoming Items: 1 ) Access Power Office Warehouse Facility - Gervais Court 2) Beaver Lake Townhomes - South of Maryland Avenue, between Sterling Street and Lakewood Drive 10. Adjourn I1. III. IV. Vg MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2002 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Shankar called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Matt Ledvina Craig Jorgenson Diana Longrie-Kline Linda Olson Ananth Shankar Absent Absent Present Present Present Staff Present: Shann Finwall, Associate Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Board member Olson moved to approve the agenda. Board member Longrie-Kline seconded. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the CDRB minutes for June 11,2002. Ayes-Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar Board member Longrie-Kline made a correction on page 5 in the 13th paragraph. Change the word commons area to common area. Board member Olson moved approval of the minutes of June 11, 2002, with the amended change. Board member Longrie-Kline seconded. The motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. Ayes---Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 VI. DESIGN REVIEW a. Sinclair Gas Station - 223 Larpenteur Avenue East Ms. Finwall said Sinclair Oil Corporation is proposing to expand and remodel the Sinclair gas station located at 223 Larpenteur Avenue East. The expansion includes a 290-square-foot addition to the convenience store, refacing of the convenience store, and construction of a 50- foot x 56-foot, 2,800-square-foot, fuel-island canopy. The six existing fuel dispensers will be replaced with four new dispensers. With two vehicle- fueling stations each, for a total of eight, and will allow for payment at the pump. The proposed expansion and remodeling will be consistent with Sinclair's Rice Street gas station remodeling that was approved by the city council last October. The applicant is requesting that the city approve the following: A conditional use permit to operate a motor fuel station within the business commercial, BC, zoning district. 2. Design review The three existing automobile service bays will be removed and a 290-square-foot addition will be constructed on the east side of the building. Interior of the building will include a convenience store, office, and restrooms. The existing roofline on the exterior of the building will be refaced with a new fascia system to create a flat-roof appearance. Exterior building materials include stucco, brick, and windows. The canopy will be 2,800 square feet in area and 19 feet in height, which is three feet higher than the building. Overhead canopies within a motor fuel station are required to be set back at least 15 feet from the street right-of-way. Sinclair's new canopy will be set back 15 feet from the Larpenteur Avenue right-of-way. Four round steel columns will support the canopy. The columns will be painted white to match the underside of the canopy. The canopy fascia will be nonilluminated, but signage proposed for the canopy will be illuminated. This proposal does not include signage, which will require separate sign permits and must comply with the city's sign ordinance. There are two existing driveways located on Larpenteur Avenue. City code specifies that driveways must be set back at least 30 feet from intersecting rights-of-way. Sinclair's westerly driveway is approximately 18 feet from the intersecting Adolphus Street right-of-way. Chris Cavett, Assistant City Engineer, states in his review of the project on page 23 of the staff report that the west driveway should be eliminated and a new driveway constructed on Adolphus Street. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 3 The driveway should be centered on the pump aisle, which is approximately 26 feet from the intersecting rights-of-way and approximately 50 feet from the intersecting pavement portion of the roads. While the 26-foot setback does not meet city code, the removal and relocation of the westerly driveway will create better traffic operations on the site and a safer traffic environment on the street. Dan Solar, County Traffic Engineer, also concurs with the proposed driveway elimination. Mr. Solar states that the west driveway is located too close to Adolphus Street, which hinders traffic exiting the gas station and traffic exiting Adolphus Street onto Larpenteur Avenue. Mr. Solar also recommends that the remaining driveway on Larpenteur Avenue be straightened. Currently the driveway angles from the site to the east. The driveway on Adolphus Street may have an impact on the city-owned housing replacement lots located across the street. The ultimate scenario would be to line up the Sinclair driveway with a driveway into the redeveloped lots. Because there is no redevelopment plan in place, the city must ensure that any future driveway in the redevelopment lots line up with Sinclair's driveway or that appropriate screening be installed along Adolphus Street. Currently, the Adolphus Street right-of-way is only 30 feet wide at the Larpenteur Avenue intersection. In order to ensure that the city maintains the required 60-foot right-of-way in this area, staff is recommending that a 15-foot-wide strip of land along the west side of Sinclair's site be dedicated as a right-of-way easement. Also, an additional 15 feet of right-of-way should be obtained from the city-owned housing replacement lot across the street at 215 Larpenteur Avenue when the lot is developed. Sinclair Oil Corporation is receptive to giving the city a right-of-way easement and has depicted that easement on their site plan on page 15 of the staff report. City code requires a motor fuel station to have at least four parking stalls, plus one stall per fuel pump. The parking stalls in front of the fuel pumps count toward the overall parking requirement. Sinclair Oil Corporation is proposing eight parking stalls in addition to the eight parking areas in front of each fuel pump. The existing parking lot does not have curb and gutter and is constructed up to the Larpenteur Avenue right-of-way and approximately 12 feet at its closest point to Adolphus Street. City code requires that all parking lots have curb and gutter and be set back 15 feet from street rights-of-way. With the reconstruction of the parking lot, Sinclair is proposing curb and gutter as well as a 10- foot setback to Larpenteur Avenue and a 20-foot setback to Adolphus Street. Increasing the parking lot setback to the required 15 feet on Larpenteur Avenue is not possible because of limited space between the fuel island pumps and the new parking lot curb. The new 10-foot parking lot setback to Larpenteur Avenue will create a more conforming parking lot. For this reason, and because the parking lot will be located 30 feet from the paved portion of Larpenteur Avenue, staff finds the 10-foot pavement setback adequate. Landscaping proposed for the site includes 10 evergreen trees and 52 shrubs. This plan is a vast improvement over the current nonexistent landscaping of the site. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 4 However, in order to accommodate the new curb cut along Adolphus Street, and ensure some screening from the existing and future residential properties to the west, staff recommends a revised landscape plan be submitted. The revised landscape plan should include moving the five scotch pines proposed on the west side of the site to the north side of the new driveway. These pine trees should be at least six- feet in height, as opposed to the proposed four-foot height. Also, with the removal of the west Larpenteur Avenue driveway, the landscaping proposed on the south side of the site should be expanded to the west property line. The lighting on the site is a particular concern due to the fact that there are residential properties to the west. The city's lighting ordinance states that exterior lights must not produce glare to adjacent residential properties, must not exceed 0.4-foot candles at the property lines, canopy lights must be flush-mount type fixtures, and the maximum height of parking lot lights is limited to 25 feet. Lighting proposed for the site includes 16 flush-mount canopy lights and two 16-foot high parking lot lights. The photometric plan submitted shows the canopy light luminary exceeding the required .4-foot-candles at the Larpenteur Avenue property line. A revised photometric plan must be submitted which shows compliance with the city's lighting ordinance. To accommodate the addition, an existing fenced trash enclosure and shed will be removed from the east side of the site. Sinclair proposes to construct a new trash enclosure constructed of six-foot-high chain link fence with white slats. Samples of the fence with slats should be submitted for staff approval in order to ensure that the fence is 100 percent opaque. On June 17, 2002, the planning commission unanimously recommended approval of Sinclair's conditional use permit to operate a motor fuel station within the BC zoning district. Chris Cavett, Assistant City Engineer's comments are outlined in the staff report on page 23. Staff recommends that all grading and drainage concerns as outlined in the report be addressed with the city engineering department prior to issuance of a building permit. Lieutenant John Banick had no public safety concerns. Dave Fisher, Building Official, said Sinclair Oil Corporation must obtain two building permits, one permit for the canopy and one permit for the remodeling of the convenience store. Butch Gervais, Fire Marshal, said Sinclair Oil Corporation must submit a letter with information on underground tanks including the age and installation date. The building appears to be under the allowable area for sprinkler requirements, but further information on building size will be needed. Board member Longrie-Kline asked staff if there was an ordinance regarding the height difference of the canopy and the height of the building? Ms. Finwall said no. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 Board member Longrie-Kline asked what the distance was between the easterly drive and the freeway exit ramp? Ms. Finwall said that was discussed with the county engineer and she believes it meets the required 30 feet. Board member Longrie-Kline said she is concerned about the kind of shrubbery that will be used on Larpenteur Avenue and along the freeway exit ramp. The height of the shrubbery may cause a visibility problem for drivers coming from both directions. Ms. Finwall said the applicant has proposed scotch pines that can grow quite high. Staff will take those comments into consideration. Chairperson Shankar asked if the 19-foot canopy at the Sinclair gas station is standard? Ms. Finwall said the 19-foot height is the same as the canopy at the Sinclair gas station on Rice Street that was approved last October. Board member Olson commented that she liked the city engineer's recommendation to move the driveway entrance from Larpenteur Avenue to Adolphus Street. She also agrees with board member Longrie-Kline's comments about the height of the trees by the pylon sign and the visibility for the cars. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if the one handicap-parking stall proposed is van accessible? Ms. Finwall said a handicap stall must have an access aisle. This does meet the requirements. Board member Olson asked if the parking lot meets the ADA standards for number of handicap accessible stalls? Ms. Finwall said there must be one handicap-parking stall for every 25 parking stalls so this does meet the standard. Larry Feldsien, the engineer and applicant for Sinclair Oil Corporation, addressed the board. He said they may have a problem with the photometric plan. The lights they are proposing to use are the flush mounted lights and are identical to the lights being used at the Rice Street location. He believes at the Larpenteur Avenue property line the lights are at .8-foot candles. They may have some difficulty meeting the .4-foot candles. If they have to they may have to cut back the wattage of the lights. He said they would like to continue to use the same light fixture and wattage as they do at the Rice Street location. On the Adolphus Street they can make the .4-foot candles and it may be difficult to make the foot-candles on the Larpenteur Avenue side. Dave Warner the area representative for the Sinclair Station addressed the board. This store is a 24-hour operation currently but when the store is converted to a company store the hours will be 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. as requested by the city. The pay-at-the-pumps will be shut off at that time as well. Board member Longrie-Kline asked staff when the city-owned lots across the street will be developed? Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 Ms. Finwall said there probably would not be any development taking place until next year some time. Board member Longrie-Kline said the reason for the question is because the illumination may cause a problem onto the new development across the street. Chairperson Shankar asked the applicant what the color scheme would be? Mr. Feldsein said the canopy and the fascia would be the standard white with green striping. The building will be off-white. The face brick on the rear elevation will remain the same. He said the window frames would be standard polished aluminum. Because of the expense of the landscaping they will probably put in a sprinkler system. Board member Olson noticed the gas station is going to be open from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. because of the recommendation from the city. Ms. Finwall said the city ordinance states that gas stations within 350 feet from residential must limit their hours of operation from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Budget Towing is currently operating in this location and running 24 hours a day. When Sinclair Oil takes over the station they will be operating from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Board member Olson said because of this location right off the freeway she would like to see this station continue operating 24-hours a day. This is a courtesy for customers who would be exiting from the freeway. Especially during bad weather and for safety reasons having a station open all night would be helpful for customers. If the landscaping and the lighting would protect the residential area she would be in favor of keeping this a 24-hour operation. Chairperson Shankar asked if the applicant wanted to make this a 24-hour operation? Mr. Warner said they would accept a permit to operate 24 hours. Most of their other stores are open 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. The other option is to allow pay-at-the-pumps 24-hours a day unattended. With the freeway access they may have customers who could use their station in the middle of the night, this would be a great asset for the public. Chairperson Shankar said although the CDRB is not approving hours of operation at this meeting your comments will be shared with the city council. Chairperson Shankar said he had a concern about the brick transition at the corner of the building. He recommends having at least two feet of new brick wrap around the back of the building. He states that peeling paint may occur on the backside of the new building. Board member Olson moved to approve the plans date-stamped May 10, May 16, and May 23, 2002, for the building addition, remodeling, and construction of a new canopy and fuel islands for the Sinclair gas station at 223 Larpenteur Avenue East. Approval is subject to the following conditions: Repeat this review in two years if the city has not issued a building permit for this project. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 bo Submit the following for staff approval before the city issues a building permit: (1) A revised site plan showing: (a) Removal of the westerly driveway on Larpenteur Avenue and the replacement of all required curb and gutter along Larpenteur Avenue and the parking area. (b) At least a 24-foot-wide driveway entrance on Adolphus Street. driveway must be centered on the fuel pump islands. The (c) The easterly driveway on Larpenteur Avenue widened to 36 feet. Three lanes should be marked with paint and arrows to include an entrance lane, a left-turn exit lane, and a right-turn exit lane. (2) Revised grading, drainage, utility and erosion control plans. (3) A revised landscape plan showing the following: (a) Moving the five scotch pines proposed on the west side of the site to the north side of the new driveway. These pine trees should be at least six- feet in height, as opposed to the proposed four-foot height. (b) Expanding the landscaping proposed on the south side of the site to the west property line, due to the removal of the westerly Larpenteur Avenue driveway. (c) Installing in-ground sprinkler system for all landscaped areas. If the installation of a sprinkler system is not feasible because of existing pavement, the applicant must submit written agreement to hand water all landscaping. (d) Edging and mulching all planting beds. (4) Revised canopy elevations showing that the lights beneath the canopy are flush mount. The lenses of the lights must not drop below the opaque portions of each lighting fixture. (5) A revised photometric plan showing that the site lighting complies with the city's lighting ordinance. (6) Trash enclosure fence sample must be submitted to staff to ensure the fence is 100 percent opaque. (7) A right-of-way easement covering the westerly 15 feet of the site. The easement must be recorded with Ramsey County prior to issuance of a building permit. (8) Revised elevation plan extending the brick two feet around the sides on the back of the building prior to issuance of a building permit. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 do Complete the following before occupying the building: (1) Restore and sod damaged boulevards. (2) Install all pavement, curb, and gutter. (3) (4) Install stop signs at both exits and a handicap-parking sign for the handicap- parking stalls. Widen the easterly Larpenteur Avenue driveway to 36 feet. Three lanes should be marked with paint and arrows to include an entrance lane, a left-turn exit lane, and a right-turn exit lane. (5) Install the approved trash enclosure. (6) Install all required landscaping. If any required work is not done, the city may allow temporary occupancy if: (1) The city determines that the work is not essential to the public health, safety or welfare. (2) The city receives cash escrow or an irrevocable letter of credit for the required work. The amount shall be 150 percent of the cost of the unfinished work. Any unfinished landscaping shall be completed by June 1 if the building is occupied in the fall or winter or within six weeks if the building is occupied in the spring or summer. (3) The city receives an agreement that will allow the city to complete any unfinished work. This approval does not include the signs. All proposed signs require a separate sign permit and must comply with the city's sign ordinance. All work shall follow the approved plans. The director of community development may approve minor changes. Board member Longrie-Kline seconded. The motion passed. This goes to the city council on July 8, 2002. Ayes-Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar Board member Olson asked if Sinclair is going to put in a dinosaur on the site. Mr. Feldsein said they will take that into consideration and if they get enough people requesting a dinosaur they may put one in. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 b. Hmong Alliance Church - 1770 McMenemy Street Ms. Finwall said the St. Paul Hmong Alliance Church, at 1770 McMenemy Street, is proposing to build an addition onto the south side of their existing parking lot. They also are proposing to add a playground to the east side of the church building and a new driveway from the expanded parking lot to DeSoto Street. The applicant is requesting: A conditional use permit (CUP) revision. Specifically, they want city approval to change the approved site plan to expand their parking lot, to add the new driveway to DeSoto Street and to add a playground. The city code requires a CUP for churches. 2. Approval of project plans. On May 12, 1997, the city council approved a CUP revision and the design plans for this site. These requests were for the church to expand their building by adding space for Sunday school and a solarium to the front of the church. On June 17, 2002, the planning commission recommended the CUP but denied the driveway access onto DeSoto Street. The church is meeting the conditions of their CUP and staff is not aware of problems, other than the traffic from the site, with the church. The proposed parking lot expansion meets the requirements for the CUP and would fit the site. If approved, the parking lot would grow from 95 spaces to 254 spaces (an increase of 159 spaces). This expansion should meet the parking needs of the church for the next several years. Proper landscaping and screening will ensure that nearby homes are buffered from the parking lot. The proposed playground should be a good fit and should not cause any problems. In addition, the city has approved several CUPs for church expansions in the past few years. Ms. Finwall said the proposed plans show a new driveway from the expanded parking lot to DeSoto Street. The neighbors near the church have mixed reactions to this part of the proposal. Those living on or near McMenemy Street thought the new driveway would be a good idea and those living on or near DeSoto Street thought that the new driveway was a poor or dangerous idea. One neighbor said the city should deny this project because there already is too much traffic from the church. City staff has not received any traffic complaints about the existing church and parking lot layout. We understand, however, that the new driveway to DeSoto Street is a change to the site and the area that is a concern to many of the neighbors. It is their opinion that DeSoto Street, because of its condition and design, could not handle the additional traffic. The neighbors also are concerned that the additional traffic from the church would make DeSoto Street unsafe for pedestrians and for the homeowners on the street. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 l0 Because of the neighbors' concerns, the church agreed to have a traffic study done. They hired Benshoof and Associates, Inc. to study the existing traffic patterns and to prepare an analysis of what will happen if the church adds the driveway to DeSoto Street. This study shows that about 60 additional vehicles would use DeSoto Street between the driveway and Larpenteur Avenue during the church peak hours on Sunday mornings. The study also notes that "the impacts of the volume increase on this segment of DeSoto Street will not be significant, because there are fewer than 10 homes along DeSoto Street south of the proposed driveway location. Also, this volume condition would occur only for a few hours one day per week. The traffic study has three conditions. Specifically, the traffic consultants recommend that the church construct the driveway for three reasons: It will not create adverse impacts on DeSoto Street. It will improve convenience for church users. It will reduce the Sunday traffic volume on McMenemy Street. The proposed landscaping plan shows the applicant planting trees and shrubs around the proposed ponding area and in the islands in the parking lot. The proposed plan, however, does not show additional landscaping along the south side of the new parking lot. Section 36- 27(a)(1) of the code says, "a landscaped and possible screened area of not less than twenty (20) feet in width shall be provided where a nonresidential use abuts a residentially zoned or planned property". "The code also says that the CDRB shall require shrubs or trees in this area (the 20 feet) unless they deem it not appropriate. In addition, Section 36-27(b)(4) of the code says, screening shall be provided where a parking lot is constructed next to a property that is used for single or double-dwelling use. The CDRB may waive this requirement if they determine that screening would not be needed or would not protect surrounding property values." Ms. Finwall said in this case, there is not a need for screening and landscaping along the entire south property line of the church property. Much of this area abuts the backyards of the houses at 1750 McMenemy Street and 1771 DeSoto Street. There is a need, however, to screen the south side of the parking lot and the new driveway to DeSoto Street when they are next to the adjacent houses. The code requires that such screening be at least six feet tall and be 80 percent opaque. The church may provide such screening with a fence, berming or trees. The applicant should provide a revised landscape plan that shows significant screening and landscaping along the south side of the parking lot and the new driveway to DeSoto Street in the areas next to the adjacent houses. This plan must meet the code requirements and should be subject to staff approval. The applicant provided the city engineer a grading plan. Staff does not have any major concerns with the proposed grading because of the substantial building setbacks and because there is a need for the additional parking. The applicant must provide, however, additional information before starting the grading. This includes an easement for the grading on the property to the south and a detailed grading and drainage plan that meets the conditions of the city engineer and the watershed district before the city will issue a building permit. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 il Ms. Finwall said 31 properties within 350 feet of the church property were surveyed. There were 15 replies. Three were in favor, nine were opposed, and three had comments. Board member Olson said she is in favor of extending the driveway onto DeSoto Street. Board member Longrie-Kline said the reason she is not in favor of the driveway being put in is because the width of the street is only 22 feet. The traffic study was based on studies for streets 28 feet wide. There are spots on DeSoto Street that are only 20 feet wide. She said it is premature to put in a driveway onto DeSoto Street before the widening takes place. It is very dangerous having two cars going down the street and trying to pass. Barry Morgan, the civil engineer with Master Engineering in Minneapolis, addressed the board. They feel they can relocate some of the landscaping around the pond onto the property. The church still proposes to move forward with the driveway to DeSoto Street. The church only anticipates using this on Sunday's for church services. The church would be willing to put this in as a condition The traffic study indicates that 70 to 80 cars would be using that driveway onto DeSoto Street on Sundays. In their opinion, this will have a minimal effect on the neighborhood. Church services are from 9:00-10:30 a.m. and 12:00-1:30 p.m. and there are people coming and going for bible study as well. Chairperson Shankar asked Mr. Morgan if the entire pavement is going to be 1.5 inches MnDot? Mr. Morgan said the pavement design is pretty standard for light traffic situations. Chairperson Shankar asked if there is any traffic signage proposed on the parking lot? Mr. Morgan said they are probably proposing to do some painting on the parking lot to direct traffic flow and install a stop sign at the DeSoto Street driveway. Chairperson Shankar asked where the trash enclosure is now? Mr. Morgan said it is in the northeast portion of the parking lot. It does need to be updated as a past conditional use. Mr. Kao Lee, the applicant and parking lot plan committee chair for the Hmong Alliance Church at 1770 McMenemy Street, addressed the board. He said they propose to build a trash enclosure consisting of a three-sided concrete enclosure with a wooden gate with lock. Board member Olson asked the applicant if they have specific plans on the playground and the materials they would be using? Mr. Lee said they have not decided on a builder or the materials the playground would be made of yet. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 Board member Longrie-Kline asked Mr. Lee if the public would be using this playground? Mr. Lee said it is on the church property but it would be difficult to monitor who uses the playground equipment. In his opinion the church is a public place. Chairperson Shankar asked the applicant about the lighting plan. Mr. Morgan said regarding the lighting plan, the existing light poles will be removed. They will be replaced with four poles with double heads on the inside of the parking lot. They will be 25- feet in height and cast down with a shoebox structure. They will have a three-foot concrete base to protect from car traffic and snow plows. Board member Longrie-Kline asked the applicant if he knows how fast the congregation is growing and how long this parking lot will suit the church's needs? Mr. Lee said their goal is to see their congregation grow another 1,000 members in the next 10 years. Currently the church is growing about 10% a year. Board member Longrie-Kline asked the applicant if he knew the capacity of the church. Mr. Lee said they currently can seat 400 to 500 and would like to seat up to 1,000 members in the future. Board member Longrie-Kline asked the applicant if they planned on using any fencing trees or berming for screening purposes? Mr. Morgan said they plan on using trees and berming. This would provide vegetation verses the maintenance of a fence. Chairperson Shankar opened the discussion to the public. Mr. Dick DuFrene of 1721 DeSoto Street, addressed the board. He said he lives on the stretch of DeSoto Street that is the narrowest. He is opposed to the driveway being put in for this proposal. This is basically because of the street width. People will exit the parking lot whichever is the quickest, because people are creatures of habit. He said one of the neighbors observed the parking lot on Sunday morning. There were no cars parked on McMenemy Street at all. It took 11 minutes to empty the parking lot. In a period of 40 minutes there was about 30 cars that entered the area and 10 of those cars entered the church site. He said maybe the idea of a driveway onto DeSoto Street should be revisited after the street is widened. Nobody is objecting to anything else but the driveway extension to DeSoto Street at this time. Board member Olson asked Mr. DuFrene if he is opposed to having sidewalks installed when DeSoto is widened and if he has seen people speed on this street? Mr. DuFrene said he has no problem with having sidewalks installed. People do speed on the street except when the road comes to a curve they have to slow way down. He has heard other neighbors speak about that but he doesn't really see too much of it where his house sits. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 13 If the city widened the street, put a retaining wall up and installed a sidewalk as a total package, he thinks it will be fine. Board member Longrie-Kline asked staff if they have gotten any reports of any traffic complaints on DeSoto Street as opposed to traffic complaints on McMenemy Street? Ms. Finwall said she is not aware of the police reports. Mr. Jon Carlson of 1856 DeSoto Street addressed the board. He has reported many traffic complaints for DeSoto Street just about every week. The traffic complaints were mostly from drag racers going up and down the street. He brought up at the last meeting that he thought the church could open up two driveways onto McMenemy Street to alleviate more of the congestion to empty the parking lot easier. He also thought a police man directing traffic in and out of the parking lot would help. Sunday's are also peak times for families and neighbors to be outside as well. People are in school and at work during the week and on the weekends people tend to be outside more. He is in favor of sidewalks. He grew up in St. Paul and he enjoyed having sidewalks in his neighborhood. He sees a lot of traffic off of Roselawn Avenue. Especially since the 70-unit complex was put in. Mr. Lonnie Piche of 1784 DeSoto Street addressed the board. He spoke about the varying width of DeSoto Street. Parts of DeSoto Street are 20 feet and some are 24 feet. The engineers will have their hands full when they try to redesign or even straighten this road on DeSoto Street. Some of the people only have a 20 foot front yard as it is and once you widen the road and possibly put sidewalks in that is going to take a lot of their front yards up. People are creatures of habit and they will enter and exit the fastest driveway possible. Board member Olson asked staff if the city engineer supports the driveway access onto DeSoto Street. Ms. Finwall said yes the city engineer supports the access onto DeSoto Street. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if the city engineer supported the driveway before DeSoto Street is widened or after it is widened? Ms. Finwall said the city engineer supports the driveway onto DeSoto before and after it is widened. Board member Olson said she likes the layout of the parking lot and the ponding area. She is concerned about the fact that the applicant is running out of money to do the landscaping. Board member Longrie-Kline said she likes the parking lot layout as well and she believes the proper landscaping should be provided. Chairperson Shankar asked staff if it would be appropriate for the board to make two different motions for this proposal. One motion for the parking lot addition and playground and the other motion for the driveway onto DeSoto Street. Ms. Finwall said that would be appropriate. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 14 Board member Olson moved to approve the plans date-stamped April 30, 2002, for the parking lot expansion and playground additions on the St. Paul Hmong Alliance Church, 1770 McMenemy Street. The property owner shall meet the following conditions: (changes are in bold.) 1. Repeat this review in two years if the city has not issued a permit for this expansion. 2. Before starting the construction of the parking lot and provide for staff approval the following plans: A revised landscape plan that shows significant screening and landscaping along the south side of the parking lot and the new driveway to DeSoto Street in the areas next to the adjacent houses. Such screening shall be at least six feet tall and be 80 percent opaque and may be accomplished with a fence, berming or trees. Provide a grading, drainage, utility and erosion control plan to the city engineer for approval. The erosion control plan shall meet ordinance requirements and all the plans shall meet the requirements of the city engineer. If the grading plan shows the elimination of any mature trees (eight inches in caliper or more), the applicant shall replace these trees in accordance with the woodland protection ordinance. A revised lighting plan be submitted verifying the height and style of the parking lot lights. 3. Resod the lawn that is disturbed by construction activities. 4. If any required work is not done, the city may allow temporary occupancy if: ao The city determines that the work is not essential to the public health, safety or welfare. The city receives a cash escrow or an irrevocable letter of credit for the required work. The amount shall be 150% of the cost of the unfinished work. c. All work shall follow the approved plans. The director of community development may approve minor changes. dm The applicant shall provide plans for the playground equipment and design. e. The applicant shall restripe the parking lot on the westerly side. Board member Longrie-Kline seconded. Ayes-Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar The motion passed. Community Design Review Board Minutes 06-25-2002 VII. VIII. IX, Board member Olson moved to approve the driveway access onto DeSoto Street for the Hmong Alliance Church at 1770 McMenemy Street. Board member Shankar seconded. The motion passed. Ayes - Olson, Shankar Nays - Longrie-Kline This item goes to the city council on July 8, 2002. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS No visitors present. BOARD PRESENTATIONS Ms. Finwall said the city council re-reviewed the Kline Nissan proposal. They approved the parking lot setback of 50 feet on the Northeast side of the property and 25 feet on the south side of the property. The Minnesota Department of Transportation maintains an access. Because of this Kline Nissan cannot put an access onto Highway 61 and may possibly put two entrances onto County Road D. STAFF PRESENTATIONS Annual Tour Update Ms. Finwall said the CDRB is invited to join the Planning Commission in their annual city tour. The tour will be held Monday, July 29, 2002, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The CDRB sends their thanks to the planning commission for the invitation to join them. Board member Longrie-Kline will be the Community Design Review Board representative at the July 8, 2002, city council meeting. Upcoming Items: 1) Access Power Office Warehouse Facility - Gervais Court 2) Beaver Lake Town homes - South of Maryland Avenue, between Sterling Street and Lakewood Drive. Board member Olson said when she watched the cable rebroadcast about the Beaver Lake proposal, a Maplewood citizen stood up and said the city had failed to listen to the people who spoke against the proposal. She was very unhappy with that because she felt that the city went over board to accommodate the neighbors with all of the meetings and research that went into this proposed development for over a year. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 p.m. r