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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/2003AGENDA MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD Tuesday, October 14, 2003 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of the September 11, 2003 Minutes 5. Unfinished Business: None Scheduled 6. Design Review: Draft Mixed-Use Zoning District 7. Visitor Presentations: None Scheduled 8. Board Presentations 9. Staff Presentations: Community Design Review Board Interviews 10. Adjourn I1. III. MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2003 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Ledvina called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Matt Ledvina Diana Longrie-Kline Linda Olson Ananth Shankar Staff Present: Present Present Present Present Shann Finwall, Associate Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OFAGENDA Board member Longrie-Kline moved to approve the agenda. Board member Olson seconded. Ayes - Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar IV. The motion passed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the CDRB minutes for September 11,2003. Board member Olson asked to change the second from the last paragraph on page 7, in the fourth sentence, altering the word shocking to strong. Board member Shankar moved approval of the minutes of September 11,2003, as amended. Board member Longrie-Kline seconded. The motion passed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. Ayes---Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 2 VI. DESIGN REVIEW a. Draft Mixed-Use Zoning District Ms. Finwall said to ensure the city council reviews the proposed ordinance by the moratorium deadline of October 27, 2003, staff's goal is to present the mixed-use zoning district to the city council for their review at the October 27, 2003, city council meeting. Prior to the city council authorizing the rezoning of the Hillcrest Village redevelopment area to the mixed-use zoning district, staff will present the ordinance to all property owners located in the Hillcrest Village redevelopment area for review and comments. Rezoning of the city's first mixed-use district in the Hillcrest area should then take place by the end of this year. Staff recommends that the CDRB review, comment, and make a recommendation to the city council on the mixed-use zoning ordinance. Board member Olson said previously she asked about porches and entries. She asked if there was a way to define that as "entry/exit" porches as opposed to three/season porches or overhang porches? She doesn't think the category porches and entries are specific enough. Ms. Finwall said the last line in the porches and entries paragraph is more the intent statement and the rest of the paragraph just needs to be better defined to say "front entry" porches. Board member Shankar asked staff if they meant for porches to be on the front and the side of homes or was the intent to have the porches on the front of the houses only? Ms. Finwall said the intent is to increase the aesthetics of the front of the home towards the street. She is not sure that a porch should be mandated but they should be encouraged to add an architectural element and brings people out in front for a livable aspect. Board member Olson said she thinks it is important to have the word "entry" porch or "front entry" in front of the word porch each time. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if this would apply to porches on the back or rear of the home? Chairperson Ledvina said right now that would apply according to the wording in the first sentence. Ms. Finwall said the statement "porches may extend 6 feet into the required setback" should remain. Board member Longrie-Kline said even if the porch is in the front or the back of the house? Ms. Finwall said no, that would be front porches because the backyard setback is so minimal. Chairperson Ledvina said if it is clarified that this applies to front porches and not be restrictive to other types of porches that may solve the dilemma. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 Board member Longrie-Kline asked what a porch is? Does a porch have walls, screens; are they open, do they have roofs? Maybe we need a better definition of porches and entries? Ms. Finwall said she would write a better definition of porches and entries to better define things. Board member Olson asked if handicap accessible ramps and decking is included in this porch and entry definition or not? Ms. Finwall asked if she meant as far as setbacks? Board member Olson said yes. Ms. Finwall said the existing ordinance allows ramps within the required front yard setback. Board member Olson asked if there were any other code requirements like foundation, materials, or height of railings that should be included? Ms. Finwall said nothing in the zoning code. Board member Olson asked if any of those code requirements should be put into this ordinance? Ms. Finwall said the construction is bound by the building code, which has updates and changes yearly. Chairperson Ledvina said he would suggest that the last sentence in the paragraph be the first sentence in the paragraph for the intent. Board member Olson asked if there would be a need for an emergency vehicle or utility vehicle . -...~ to access the backyard in between the buildings and is there enough room or is there an alleyway? '~ Ms. Finwall said alleys are encouraged in this zoning district. There will be requirements for easements for drainage and utility as there are for existing subdivisions. These easements are required at a certain width depending on what needed to be done and you cannot build anything in an easement. Board member Olson said if setbacks between a multi-family home and neighboring structure are reduced too tightly and there is no other access from the back, this could be an issue. She has seen instances where utility vehicles have had to gain access in between the buildings and she wanted to make sure this would not create any problems. Ms. Finwall said the city would require a five-foot setback for each detached townhome, for a total setback of 10 feet between buildings. If a greater access area were required, it would be addressed in an easement on the lot. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 4 Chairperson Ledvina said as it relates to easements and access, there will be site plan review prior to construction. He said given the density of these plans they will be scrutinized by the police chief and fire marshal. Board members discussed the material change paragraph and staff decided to revise the definition of material change adding the words front facade and defining external corner. Board member Shankar asked for clarification for the definition of windows. He is concerned about the sentence "windows being placed at a pedestrian scale or near eye-level". He asked if it could say windows shall extend to a minimum of two feet above the street elevation? What does eye-level mean? Eye-level to the person walking on the street, or the eye-level to the person in the building? Board member Olson said the way that is written it could encourage window peeking and she is not comfortable with the way that is stated. Board member Shankar asked if this was for commercial property? Ms. Finwall said this is for commercial buildings and offices. Ms. Finwall asked if board members were comfortable with the statement "windows shall extend a minimum of two feet to the street elevation"? Chairperson Ledvina said yes. Board member Olson said to remember that we live in Minnesota and there may be snow pushed up against the windows at that height. Ms. Finwall said they put in a clause regarding exceptions so if an applicant came in with a design where the windows were three feet high above street level, the board may consider that an acceptable exception to the design standards. Chairperson Ledvina said on page 8 of the staff report he would be comfortable calling the last paragraph "Building facade" and not "Building facade width" since the paragraph says more in the paragraph than just building width such as modulation and arcades, awnings and window bays. Ms. Finwall said if the CDRB feels comfortable allowing her to make the changes they discussed this evening then she will bring this back to the planning commission on October 20, 2003, and then it may go to the city council for review on October 27, 2003. The board agreed that would be fine. VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS No visitors present. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 VIII. BOARD PRESENTATIONS None. IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Interview of Applicants for CDRB Membership Ms. Finwall said there are three applicants for the community design review board (CDRB) vacancy, which include Jeffrey Bartol, Larry Hendrickson, and Roger Posch. The three applicants are to be interviewed and ranked by the board. The vacancy is for the remainder of Craig Jorgenson's two-year term that would end January 1,2004. a. Jeffrey Bartol, 2702 Pinkspire Lane, Maplewood. Mr. Bartol said he moved to south Maplewood last March and prior to that he lived in St. Paul in the Como area for over 20 years. After moving from St. Paul he felt guilty never having given back to the city. When he moved to Maplewood he made a personal commitment to give back to the city and that is why he is applying for this board position. Chairperson Ledvina asked if Mr. Bartol understood the commitment of being on this board that meets at 6:00 p.m. twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday's of the month? Mr. Bartol said yes, he has a flexible work schedule and there should not be any difficulty making the meeting dates and times. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Bartol if he had any problems taking time to read the packets that are sent in the mail and going out to do site inspections prior to the meeting time? Mr. Bartol said his work schedule is very flexible and he has no problem taking time in the evening to read the packets and leaving work a bit early to do the site inspections. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Bartol what development he thinks was done well in Maplewood? Mr. Bartol said he likes the New Century development in his neighborhood with the Arts and Craftsman style homes that have been built. They did a very nice job combining single family and multi-family dwellings together with a very high standard making the neighborhood look nice. Each home has its own architectural detail and character and it all blends in so well. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Bartol if there was anything he didn't like that was developed in Maplewood? Mr. Bartol said he would be reluctant to come up with a derogatory or critical statement of the city. Because of the shape of Maplewood he thinks the city is challenged with being surrounded by other suburbs. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 Board member Shankar said he noticed Mr. Bartol applied for the opening on the planning commission as well as the board. He asked Mr. Bartol which opening he was more interested in? Mr. Bartol said he is interested in both the commission and the board opening and will be going before the city council as an applicant for both openings. Board member Olson said Mr. Bartol's application says he has a background in architecture and she would like more information on that background? Mr. Bartol said architecture was his first love when he was a child. He attended the University of Minnesota for his Bachelor degree in architecture. He also worked for Ellerbe Architects as a junior draftsman/architect. Working with the CAD system he gravitated towards his second love, which was computers. Because of his love for computers he continued in that field and has not practiced architecture for years now. Board member Longrie-Kline asked Mr. Bartol what he does in his current position? Mr. Bartol said he does a fair amount of project management, systems integration, needs assessment, computer database integration, and Internet data exchange. Board member Shankar asked if Mr. Bartol's passion was more towards setbacks, wetland, and density issues, which would be approved by the planning commission or would it be towards aesthetics, building materials, and landscaping, which would be approved by the community design review board? Mr. Bartol said he is torn and the planning commission asked the same question of him in his last interview. He would enjoy working with either group and he feels he is qualified for either opening. b. Larry Hendrickson, 1930 Price Avenue, Maplewood. Mr. Hendrickson said he has lived in the city over 14 years now. He has worked for 3M for 24 years now and his job function is sewing surplus and byproducts and many other things in between. He has communication skills and leads the organizational effort in both the newsletter and both work-based products at 3M. Prior to working at 3M he worked in residential and commercial construction. Chairperson Ledvina said the community design review board meets the second and fourth Tuesday's of each month at 6:00 p.m. and he asked if that would be a problem with Mr. Hendrickson's schedule? Mr. Hendrickson said no. Chairperson Ledvina asked if Mr. Hendrickson had any questions or comments regarding what was discussed at the meeting tonight? Mr. Hendrickson said no questions but he thinks the input the board members offered to the staff is very valuable. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 Chairperson Ledvina asked if Mr. Hendrickson could give an example of a recent development that he felt was done very well in terms of building and site design? Mr. Hendrickson said he thinks the city hall is a great service to the community. He likes the senior housing that has been developed in the city and there is a definite need for it. The Maplewood Mall needs some very good guidance and redevelopment is key to the area. Board member Longrie-Kline asked Mr. Hendrickson would he prefer that the building be renovated and be with an architectural plan and develop something new. if there was an old building in the city reused as a new use or totally start new Mr. Hendrickson said in St. Louis, Missouri, they took a huge old train depot and added new shops and a hotel inside it. Aesthetically, it looks phenomenal, so he would prefer to reuse the ' building depending on the condition. Board member Longrie-Kline asked Mr. Hendrickson what he does with web-based applications in his job? Mr. Hendrickson said his organization communicates to the external and internal customers and clients. They have an "lnternet" and an "intranet" to communicate items of interest, and surplus equipment that is available. The intranet is a marketing tool of resource recovery and they conduct some monthly sales and advertisements at the distribution center. The rest is confidential information. Board member Longrie-Kline said the reason she asked is that the city is moving towards a paperless society with the Internet. One day the public will access the city's Internet site for board packet information and access information so the public can be more knowledgeable. One-day society will be a paperless world and this will be very important to use web-based applicants. Mr. Hendrickson said it is a very good marketing tool and with all the ecological issues today paper will be a thing of the past. It will not be easy and it can be done but the end result will be phenomenal. Board member Olson asked what Mr. Hendrickson's background is in construction and landscaping and what could he contribute to the board? Mr. Hendrickson said he can read blue prints and can understand the infrastructure of the house and the elevations. He can look at something for the aesthetics and has the ability to decide if something will look sharp or not. As far as landscaping, he does not have a formal background in landscaping other than by trial and error. He said he could offer the board his perception of what would look nice. Board member Shankar asked Mr. Hendrickson what the drawbacks and potential are for White Bear Avenue? Mr. Hendrickson said traffic is the number one drawback of White Bear Avenue. He sees pockets of development that need to be redeveloped, He uses the roundabout at English and Frost and thinks it would be nice to have more in the city. Community Design Review Board 8 Minutes 10-14-2003 Mr. Hendrickson said the city has some big issues with the population increasing and the traffic growing and the roundabout idea may help traffic in certain areas. c. Roger Posch, 1583 County Road B, Maplewood. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Posch to tell the board something about himself? Mr. Posch said he grew up in North St. Paul and has lived in his current home in Maplewood for 24 years now. He worked at West Publishing for 22 years, and was downsized, and now he works for Coldwell Banker Burner Realty as a realtor in north Maplewood. He has two children in first and second grade at Weaver Elementary. He does volunteer work at school and church and is a member of the Red Cross. Chairperson Ledvina said the board meets the second and fourth Tuesday's of each month at 6:00 p.m. he asked Mr. Posch if that would be a problem with his schedule? Mr. Posch said no. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Posch if he would have any problem reviewing the packets that come in the mail and going out to do site inspections prior to the meeting? Mr. Posch said no. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Posch if he had any questions or comments in regards to the proceedings at this evenings meeting? Mr. Posch said no. Chairperson Ledvina asked Mr. Posch if he could give an example of developments in Maplewood that he thinks were done well regarding aesthetics and design? Mr. Posch said he thinks Maplewood Mall was done well because of the relationship to the freeway. Chairperson Ledvina asked if there was something more recently developed such as in the last five years? Mr. Posch said no, not off-hand. Board member Olson asked if he has any experience in reading blueprints and working with different types of landscaping and plant identification? Mr. Posch said he studied architectural drafting after he finished high school. The house that he is in he had built so he studied the blueprints. As far as landscaping he has been doing neighbors landscaping for some extra money. Plant identification he is not familiar with yet. Board member Olson asked Mr. Posch if he were presented with a landscaping plan would he be able to decide if the landscaping was too sparse and needed some additional plantings? Community Design Review Board 9 Minutes 10-14-2003 Mr. Posch said yes. Board member Longrie-Kline asked what Mr. Posch does in his position? Mr. Posch said he is a realtor. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if it is residential or commercial real estate? Mr. Posch said residential. Board member Longrie-Kline said she noticed on his application that Mr. Posch wanted to be a voice for his neighborhood? Mr. Posch said in the past he has talked to people and many people are not aware of what is going on in the city. He said he would go door to door and let people know what is going on in the city. Board member Longrie-Kline said that takes a lot of personal commitment, she asked if Mr. Posch has that kind of time on his hands? She asked if he would see his role on the board as a collaborative of not just driving around to the sites but going to the residents homes and letting them know about future developments and for their input? Mr. Posch said he has not done anything yet because he is not on the board yet but if he were on the board that is what he would do. Many people don't have the time to come to the meetings at the city hall and that is why he would go and knock on doors. Board member Longrie-Kline asked Mr. Posch if he has a lot of spare time because that is a very time consuming job. Mr. Posch said he would make that kind of time. Board member Olson asked as a realtor if he works with developers? Mr. Posch said no he does not; he works with existing residential homeowners. Board member Shankar said there are several car dealerships on Highway 61 and he asked if there was one dealership in particular that catches Mr. Posch's eye as far as building design? Mr. Posch said by KSTP Maplewood Imports has a nice building design and the Saturn dealership somewhere. Board member Olson asked if Mr. Posch sees anything in the city that he has a concern for that the board may be able to help address? Mr. Posch said no not at the moment. Community Design Review Board Minutes 10-14-2003 l0 The board rated each candidate. The candidate with the lowest score is the person the board will recommend to the city council. Jeffrey Bartol received 4 points Larry Hendrickson received 9 points Roger Posch received 11 points. The candidates for the board opening will be interviewed on October 27, 2003, by the city council. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if the packets would be online in the computer? Ms. Finwall said she thought the packets were already online. After checking further with the department secretary we found out that currently the city council and planning commission packets are scanned onto the Internet and the community design review board packets will soon also be scanned. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.