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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/27/2004AGENDA MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD Tuesday, January 27, 2004 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers - Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 10. New Business: Design Review: Street Call to Order Roll Call Approval of Agenda Approval of the December 16, 2003, Minutes Gladstone Neighborhood Redevelopment Update Ohlson Property Maintenance and Landscapes - 1949 Atlantic Visitor Presentations: None Scheduled Board Presentations Staff Presentations: a. Legacy Village Ponds/Trails/Amenities b. Community Design Review Board Annual Report c. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair d. Community Design Review Board Representation at the February 9, 2004, City Council Meeting Adjourn II. III. IV, MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD 1830 COUNTY ROAD B EAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2004 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Ledvina called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Matt Ledvina Board member Diana Longrie-Kline Board member Linda Olson Vice-Chairperson Ananth Shankar Present Present Present Present Staff Present: Shann Finwall, Associate Planner Lisa Kroll, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OFAGENDA Board member Shankar moved to approve the agenda. Board member Olson seconded. Ayes - Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar The motion passed. APPROVALOFMINUTES Approval of the CDRB minutes for December 16, 2003. Board member Olson moved to approve the CDRB minutes of December 16, 2003. Board member Shankar seconded. Ayes ---Ledvina, Olson, Shankar Abstention - Longrie-Kline The motion passed. NEW BUSINESS a. Gladstone Neighborhood Redevelopment Update Ms. Finwall said the Gladstone area is an aging neighborhood considered by many long-time residents to be the core of the city. This neighborhood contains businesses that have generally not invested in large-scale property improvements. As a result, the commercial properties have a tired appearance with a disjointed array of businesses in need of revitalization. Surrounding the commercial properties is a strong residential neighborhood as well as recreational amenities like the Gateway and Vento Trails that bisect the area. Also in this neighborhood is the city-owned open space at the southwest corner of Frost Avenue and English Street. Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 2 Chairperson Ledvina asked if the city was considering constructing buildings or homes on a portion of the open space? Ms. Finwall said that had been suggested by the planning consultant. However, that is something that the city would like input from the neighborhood and all parties involved such as the board, planning commission, and city council. Chairperson Ledvina said he understood the original purpose of purchasing that property and the designation of the property. He thought it should be evaluated and included in the options for redevelopment of the remaining study area. Ms. Finwall said those are the types of comments the city would be looking for at the upcoming Gladstone meetings. She said if board members are unable to attend the meeting they could relay the information to her by telephone or e-mail and she will bring it to the meeting for discussion. The format for the neighborhood meetings would be like an open house for the neighborhood and surrounding business owners to share their concerns and questions. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if any of the meetings were public hearings? Ms. Finwall said the city is hosting an open house in March which will be open to the public. The initial meeting, however, will be a workshop for the city council and advisory boards. Staff will attempt to have this meeting videotaped and played on the access channel. Board member Longrie-Kline said she thought it would be very important to have the meeting cablecast. VI. DESIGN REVIEW a. Ohlson Property Maintenance and Landscapes - 1949 Atlantic Street Ms. Finwall said Erik Ohlson and Stephanie Jacques (Ohlson) and Thor and Jenny Oehrlein are proposing to subdivide 1949 Atlantic Street into two parcels. This property is located north of Frost Avenue and south of the Gateway Trail, within the Gladstone neighborhood. The Oehrleins will retain Parcel A for the storage of equipment associated with their property maintenance business, Outdoor Property Maintenance. The Ohlsons would retain Parcel B for the development of a 3,264-square-foot metal building for their landscaping business, Ohlson Property Maintenance and Landscapes. Ms. Finwall said on February 24, 2003, the city council approved two conditional use permits (CUP) and design review associated with the development of a 6,800-square-foot metal building on a .72-acre site at 1949 Atlantic Street. The building was proposed to house the applicants' businesses, Ohlson Property Maintenance and Landscapes and Outdoor Property Maintenance. Since that time the applicants have decided not to develop a building together, but now they want to subdivide the land and utilize the separate parcels individually for each business. Ms. Finwall said the applicant provided a revised parking plan date-stamped January 27, 2004, which shows the parking lot paved with six exterior parking spaces. Community Design Review Board 3 Minutes 1-27-2004 Ms. Finwall said the new parking plans have not been reviewed by the city's engineering department but appear to meet all requirements as specified in the January 5, 2004, engineering report. Board member Shankar said the employee parking lot is shown at a 60-degree angle on the plans. He wasn't sure how cars would be able to maneuver into the parking spot, which is located right in front of the driveway access. He asked if the parking spaces would be better spaced at a 90-degree angle? Ms. Finwall said perhaps the applicant could address that issue. Chairperson Ledvina asked the applicant to address the board. Ms. Stephanie Jacques Ohlson, representing Ohlson Property Maintenance and Landscapes at 1949 Atlantic Street, residing at 1706 Barclay Street, Maplewood, addressed the board. She said she reviewed the parking plans recently and believed one of the parking spaces could be eliminated to make more room in the driveway access for trucks to enter the lot. Chairperson Ledvina asked the applicant if she had any concerns regarding the staff report? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said no. Board member Shankar asked for more information regarding the storage bins. Ms. Jacques Ohlson said there are four separate storage bins that are six feet high. The bins would contain cypress mulch and rock and nothing that would generate sediment for run off. Board member Longrie-Kline asked who the property owner was for the parcels? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said the two property owners are Eric Ohlson and Thor Oehrlein. Board member Ohlson asked when the property is subdivided would there be two different owners for the two parcels? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said yes. Board member Longrie-Kline said the reason she asked was with the possible redevelopment of the area she was concerned with future property acquisition. Board member Shankar asked if there would be any electrical transformers or other equipment sitting on the ground? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said no. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if the applicant brought any building product samples to show the board? Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 4 Ms. Jacques Ohlson said unfortunately their architect was out ill, however the building products approved at the CDRB meeting in 2003 remain the same. The beige exterior color and hunter green roofing material will look like the Keller Golf course building. Ms. Jacques Ohlson said she would like to discuss the west end of the building. She said there is a concern regarding water runoff behind the west end of the building and whether it's a good idea to rock or sod the area. They have discussed sodding the area and creating a swale so the runoff goes to the parking lot and into the infiltration basin. She said because of the overhang of the roof there would be a lack of sun and asked if they could use landscape rock extending out two feet and sod the remaining area? Board member Olson asked what type of fence currently existed in the area? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said there is a chain-link fence. She said since the issue of the chain link fence came up she wondered if they could use beige or tan slats instead of the green slats in the chain linked fence? Chairperson Ledvina thought it was important to have sod and or landscaping behind the building on the west side. He doesn't see a problem with the roof over hang and getting grass to grow in the area. He said he was okay using the tan slats in place of the green slats. Board member Longrie-Kline asked how much of an overhang there would be on the building? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said there would be a two-foot overhang. Board member Longrie-Kline said she would be agreeable to using two or three feet of landscape rock and then sod. With the possible redevelopment of the area she wouldn't want to see the applicant plant a lot of sod especially since they aren't installing a sprinkler system. This is less expensive than having to sod the whole area. Board member Shankar said he would agree to using three feet of landscape rock and then sodding the remaining area. Ms. Jacques Ohlson asked if they could discuss the issue of the storage bins. She would like to use precast concrete bins and paint the bins instead of the using timbers for the storage bins. She said timbers are good for a wall but maneuvering a bobcat or a dump truck near the bins may damage them causing the need to replace the whole timber. Chairperson Ledvina asked for more information regarding the concrete bins. Ms. Jacques Ohlson asked Erik Ohlson to address the board for a better explanation. Mr. Eric Ohlson, Ohlson Property Maintenance and Landscapes at 1949 Atlantic Street, residing at 1706 Barclay Street, Maplewood, addressed the board. He said the concrete bins would look similar to what is used at Patio Town on Highway 36. Chairperson Ledvina asked if staff had any comment regarding the storage bins? Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 Ms. Finwall said she had no problem with using concrete storage bins but she questioned the painting of the bins. She asked if the concrete could be impregnated with color rather than applying paint to the bins? Ms. Jacques Ohlson said they propose to use a light paint color. She added the arborvitaes would cover up much of the exterior of the concrete storage bins. Mr. Ohlson said the only problem with paint is eventually it peels off and would have to be repainted so he would prefer to keep the concrete unpainted. Board member Shankar said he's fine with the concrete storage bins; however, he does not want to see gray concrete or concrete block used. Ms. Jacques Ohlson said the concrete storage bins would be a precast product not concrete block. Chairperson Ledvina said his concern was why did the applicant wait until this evening's meeting to discuss the change in using concrete for the storage bins instead of timbers? He liked the look of the timbers and wasn't sure why a landscaping timber couldn't be constructed sturdily to handle the abuse of a bobcat and dump truck. Mr. Ohlson said his concern for using timbers for the storage bins was when the bobcat or dump truck is used there is a lot of pressure on the timbers, this loosens the timber pushing the structure into the landscaping and possibly into the fence causing extensive and expensive damage. The reason they were going to use the timbers to begin with originally was the timbers would have been up against the Gateway Trail and they were concerned with the proper screening. He said now with the slot fencing the DNR wouldn't see the storage bins. Board member Longrie-Kline asked how long the applicant thought the paint would look good on the concrete storage bins before it would need to be repainted? Mr. Ohlson said he doesn't have that type of experience but is aware there are concrete paints available and wouldn't be that expensive if they had to paint the bins twice a year. He said their concern is about the structure damage of the timbers and what it could do to the landscaping and fence if it were pushed in. He felt it would be more expensive to correct the problem with the timbers rather than using the concrete storage bins and painting them once or twice a year. Board member Shankar said since the building is going to be beige in color he would be fine with the concrete storage bins painted a shade of beige to match the building exterior. Board member Longrie-Kline agreed and said there is no need for a fence along the area where the concrete storage bins would be since there would be landscaping there. Chairperson Ledvina commented that this is an improvement over the original design the CDRB reviewed in 2003. Downsizing the building gives the area more flexibility for redevelopment, should redevelopment occur and having a smaller scale building would have less of an impact. Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 Chairperson Ledvina said he is agreeable to using the concrete storage bins and painting them to match the color of the building exterior. He commented staff had done a good job with the report and conditions listed. Board member Olson said she had a concern about the parking and how the equipment would maneuver around and fit in the parking area. She is agreeable to using the concrete storage bins because they are more practical than the timbers. However, she would like the city engineer to review the plans for the parking. Board member Shankar said he knows why the parking spaces are set at such an angle. He said if the parking spaces were at a 90-degree angle they would go beyond the garage door. He would suggest rather than having four parking spaces to only have three parking spaces and then line up the three parking spaces differently. Chairperson Ledvina suggested that rather than redesigning the parking lot plan he would recommend the city engineer review the plans. Board member Longrie-Kline moved to approve the plans (grading, utility, and landscape plans date-stamped December 18, 2003; lighting plan date-stamped January 5, 2004; building plans date-stamped November 18, 2003) for a 3,264-square-foot metal building at 1949 Atlantic Street with the following conditions: (deletions to the original motion are stricken and changes are underlined and additions are in bold,) Repeat this review in two years if the city has not issued a building permit for this project. bo Provide the following for city staff approval before the city issues a grading or building permit: 1) A revised grading and drainage plan that addresses all engineering conditions as outlined in the January 5, 2004, engineering review and includes that the entire parking lot and driveway be paved. This plan must be approved by the city engineer prior to issuance of a grading permit. 2) A revised utility plan, subject to the city engineer's approval. The applicants must sign a developer's agreement with the City of Maplewood to ensure proper extension of city sewer and water to the site. 3) A revised site plan showing the following: a) The parking lot layout including the location of at least four striped parking spaces, with one of those spaces handicap accessible as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. b) The driveway with a width of at least 20 feet is paved between the street and the parking lot. Any gate along this driveway must also open to a 20-foot width. Community Design Review Board 7 Minutes 1-27-2004 c) The location of four ~qum~ee~ landscape bins,~,,,.,,,," ...... ,,,~'- ,,,.,,,.,, ,""'"- to be 8 feet wide x 8 feet deep x 6 feet high. d_). The landscape bins shall be constructed of concrete block painted to match the beige color of the building exterior. 4) Revised building elevations showing one exterior faucet located on the building. 5) Building samples of metal panels, standing seam roof, trim, doors, wainscot, and fence slats. 6) A revised landscape plan that shows the following: a) Replacement of gravel on the north ..... ,,~.,,,* ,.,,'-'-'",,., ., ,., ,, ,* ~', side of the building with grass or native plantings. b) Replacement of gravel on the west and south side of the building with landscaping rock three feet out from the building and sod used to cover the remaining ground. b) c) An infiltration basin/rainwater garden-planting plan showing an adequate number of native plantings to address infiltration needs as required by the city's engineering department. 7) The requirement for underground irrigation is waived if the applicants sign an agreement with the City of Maplewood stating that the owners will hand-water all landscaping, and any required landscape material that dies will be replaced. 8) A revised photometric plan showing the freestanding lights not to exceed 25 feet in height, including the base, and the light illumination from any outdoor light not to exceed .4 foot candles at all property lines. 9) If trash is to be stored outside of the building, plans for a trash-dumpster enclosure is required. The enclosure must have gates that are 100 percent opaque, and the materials and colors of the enclosure shall be compatible with those of the metal building. 10) A letter of credit or cash escrow for all required exterior improvements. The amount shall be 150 percent of the cost of the work. Install all required exterior improvements including paving and striping the parking lot, installation of landscaping, installation of beige fence slats to match the building exterior color, installation of outdoor lighting, etc., before occupying the building. d. 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. Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 2) The above-required letter of credit or cash escrow is held by the City of Maplewood for all required exterior improvements. The owner or contractor shall complete any unfinished exterior improvements by June 1 if occupancy of the building is in the fall or winter, or within six weeks of occupancy of the building if occupancy is in the spring or summer. eo All work shall follow the approved plans. The director of community development may approve minor changes. Board member Shankar seconded. Ayes - Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar VII. VIII. IX. The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on February 9, 2004. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS No visitors present. BOARD PRESENTATIONS Ms. Finwall updated the board on the Mixed-Use Zoning District. She said the city council approved the first reading of the Mixed-Use Zoning District as well as the Comprehensive Plan Amendment with additional language and density requirements. The Planning Commission will be reviewing the Mixed-Use Zoning District and the Comprehensive Plan Amendment map changes on Monday, February 2, 2004. The second reading of the Mixed-Use Zoning District and Comprehensive Plan Amendment map changes of the Hillcrest area would be at the city council meeting on February 23, 2004. STAFF PRESENTATIONS a. Legacy Village Ponds/Trails/Amenities Ms. Finwall said Mr. Bruce Anderson, Director of Parks and Recreation wrote the report in the CDRB packet. The report stated the concept for Legacy Village Park is to develop an internal trail system, a floating boardwalk, and rest areas while still maintaining the integrity of the wetlands and proposed storm sewer ponds. Significant reconfiguration of the storm water holding ponds and the use of culverts and weir structures has allowed the city the opportunity to develop a trail system along the high ground area and still preserve some of the existing trees. The idea is to pursue development of a passive art/sculpture park for the 10-acre wetland area. The city will be receiving between $1.3-$1.6 million in park dedication fees. Mr. Anderson is looking for input regarding the proposed Legacy Village Park. Board member Olson asked if there would still be a tot lot in the Legacy Village development? Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 Ms. Finwall said from what she understood there would be tot lots scattered within the residential developments. Board member Olson said she would've liked to have seen how this park fits into the whole development. She said it's hard to visualize without remembering what would be built in the whole area. Ms. Finwall showed the board a map of where things would be built around the proposed park area. Board member Longrie-Kline asked if this park would be dedicated to Maplewood or if the developer would be responsible for maintaining the park? Ms. Finwall said this would be a city park and would be responsible for maintaining the park. Chairperson Ledvina said he enjoyed the floating bridge at the Maplewood Nature Center but stated the floating bridge is very expensive to maintain and doesn't last very long. Board member Longrie-Kline said that was the reason she asked who would be responsible for maintaining the park. She wanted to make sure funds would be set aside to maintain the appearance of the park because it can be expensive to maintain things like floating bridges. She knows the park department is strapped for funds to maintain the current parks in Maplewood. Chairperson Ledvina said he wasn't sure this would be the right spot for a floating boardwalk because there are safety issues with the elderly and children visiting the park as well as possible impacts to the wetlands. Board member Olson said she thinks it would be a worthwhile investment. She wants to see this park enhanced and not striped of anything. She would also like to see the sculptures in the park because there is nothing else like that in Maplewood. Ms. Finwall said the issue of who would decide what sculptures would be put in the park came up at the planning commission meeting and Mr. Anderson said they might have to put an arts commission together to make that decision. Board member Olson said the CDRB should be the deciding factor of what art should go into the park. Ms. Finwall said she would pass those comments on to Mr. Anderson. b. 2003 Community Design Review Board Annual Report Board member Longrie-Kline moved to approve the 2003 CDRB Annual Report. Board member Olson seconded. Ayes - Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Olson, Shankar Community Design Review Board Minutes 1-27-2004 em Xm ]0 dm em The motion passed. This item goes to the city council on February 9, 2004. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair Chairperson Ledvina and Vice-Chairperson Shankar said they would be willing to continue serving in their capacities or would be willing to allow somebody else to take the positions if anyone was interested. Board member Longrie-Kline said she would be willing to serve as either the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson if anybody was interested in a break. Board member Olson nominated Chairperson Ledvina and Vice-Chairperson Shankar to remain in their positions. Board member Shankar nominated Matt Ledvina as Chairperson and Linda Olson as Vice-Chairperson. Board member Olson said because she was not a detail or procedural person she wasn't interested in serving in any other capacity besides board member. Chairperson Ledvina moved to recommend Diana Longrie-Kline as the new Chairperson of the CDRB. Board member Shankar seconded. Ayes - Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Shankar Abstention - Olson Chairperson Ledvina moved to recommend himself as the new Vice-Chairperson for the CDRB. Board member Longrie-Kline seconded. Ayes - Ledvina, Longrie-Kline, Shankar Abstention - Olson Board member Ledvina will be the CDRB representative at the February 9, 2004, city council meeting. Items to discuss include Ohlson Landscape and the CDRB 2003 Annual Report. Board member Olson will be the CDRB representative at the February 23, 2004, city council meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.