HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-13 CDRB Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chairperson Ledvina called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Boardmember John Demko
Vice-Chairperson Matt Ledvina
Chairperson Linda Olson
Boardmember Ananth Shankar
Boardmember Matt Wise
Absent
Present
Absent
Present
Present
Staff Present:
Michael Martin. Planner
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Boardmember Shankar moved to approve the agenda as presented.
Boardmember Wise seconded
The motion passed.
Ayes - all
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. November 25, 2008
Boardmember Wise moved approval of the minutes of November 25, 2008, as presented.
Boardmember Shankar seconded
The motion passed.
Ayes - all
V. DESIGN REVIEW
a. Feed Products North Office Building, 1300 McKnight Road
Planner Michael Martin presented the staff report explaining the request by Feed Products
North to build a 5,800-square-foot, two-story office building and possibly some lease space
on the westerly portion of the property, located on the east side of McKnight Road west of
the Lakewood Drive bridge.
Boardmember Ledvina asked staff if there were screening concerns by residents during the
planning commission's public hearing regarding the south boundary of this site. Planner
Martin responded that the resident from the southeast corner of the site was present at the
public hearing with concerns of light spillage onto his property and he was concerned that it
would be screened.
Bob Moser of Moser Homes was present representing the applicant. Mr. Moser said he was
present at the planning commission public hearing and assured the residents that the
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applicant is receptive to redesigning the lighting plan as necessary to achieve what is
required by code, as well as to accommodate the neighbors.
Mr. Moser said a screening plan has not been submitted, but a fence is likely since it is
difficult to achieve an 80 percent opaque coverage with trees.
Mr. Moser said the parking lot plan design did not meet the setback requirements, but this
has been resolved by incorporating an angle into the parking lot and it now conforms to the
required setback off of Lakewood Drive. Mr. Moser said because of the grade in this area a
short retaining wall has been proposed also.
Mr. Moser presented sample materials of roofing, Andersen windows, and siding color and
accents to be used on the building. Mr. Moser explained that a Timberline dimensional
shingle, which is shake-like in appearance, has been proposed for the roof. Mr. Moser said
they would like to have the option to install maintenance-free siding material on the exterior
building and use the Hardy plank materials for accent areas. Mr. Moser said there would
also be maintenance-free composite decking installed on the building. Mr. Moser said the
stone to be used on the building has not yet been selected.
Mr. Moser said they are receptive to all of the staff recommendations and will follow their
lead on those items.
Boardmember Shankar asked if the buff colored maintenance-free siding will replace the
orange colored sample shown on the rendering. Mr. Moser replied affirmatively.
Boardmember Wise asked Mr. Moser to comment on their intentions for site lighting fixture
design. Mr. Moser responded that one type of fixture he is accustomed to using for a
commercial setting is a tall pole going vertically and then horizontally with a box-type
canopy to divert the light down. Mr. Moser said this design is very functional in terms of
restricting the area the lights are disbursed to. Mr. Moser said he has experience with
constructing commercial buildings close to residential areas. Mr. Moser said they may need
to concentrate more of the lighting in the parking lot to meet required city code and less
lighting on the south side of the property.
Boardmember Ledvina asked if the windows will be tinted. Mr. Moser responded negatively
and added that the windows proposed are standard residential window units.
Boardmember Ledvina asked if a ledge-stone product design would be used. Mr. Moser
responded affirmatively.
Boardmember Shankar asked if gutters would be used on the building. Mr. Moser
responded that they have not selected anything yet, but gutters would be need at the
entrances and decks. Mr. Moser said they would try to put them in the least conspicuous
side of the building keeping them as subtle as possible, getting the gutter materials in the
same or a very similar color to the exterior siding.
Boardmember Ledvina asked if Mr. Moser has talked with the residents regarding the type
of screening to be used. Mr. Moser said he talked with some of the residents after the
planning commission meeting and they were in agreement with a fence screening. Mr.
Ledvina asked if a berm has been considered with trees planted. Mr. Moser said he would
need to check the elevations and discuss it with the engineer to be sure it would not cause
any problems.
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Boardmember Shankar moved approval of the plans date-stamped November 4, 2008, for
the proposed Feed Products North office building. Approval is based on the findings for
approval required by ordinance and subject to the developer doing the following:
1. Repeat this review in two years if the applicant has not obtained a building permit by
that time. After two years this review must be repeated.
2. Obtain a conditional use permit from the city council for the proposed office building.
3. Comply with the requirements of Shann Finwall in her report dated December 26, 2008.
4. Comply with the requirements of the engineering report by Steve Kummer dated
December 2, 2008. The site plan shall be revised, as shown to the commission at the
public hearing, with a retaining wall along the east side of the parking lot near Lakewood
Drive. The retaining wall and site grades shall be subject to the approval of the city's
engineering department.
5. Comply with the requirements of Ginny Gaynor in her report dated November 26, 2008.
6. Take into account the suggestions by Lieutenant Shortreed as stated in his report.
7. Revise the site plan to provide a 15-foot parking lot setback from the Lakewood Drive
right-of-way line. If a 15-foot setback cannot be provided, the applicant must apply for a
setback variance.
8. Any retaining walls over four feet tall shall be designed by a structural engineer and
have a protective guard rail or fence on top.
9. The applicant shall install in-ground lawn irrigation in formal landscaped areas.
10. The landscaping plan shall be revised to include the following:
a. A six-foot-tall and 80 percent opaque buffer along the south side of the property
to screen the area between both parking lots and the connecting drive aisle. The
community design review board recommends that the use of berming and
landscaping be used for the buffer on the south side.
b. Five over-story trees along the east side of the east parking lot. The three
evergreens can be deleted.
c. Four ornamental deciduous trees on the west side of the proposed building.
d. Additional landscaping in the "front yard" in front of the building's main entrance
(easterly side), subject to staff approval.
11. Obtain any necessary permits from the Ramsey/Washington Metro Watershed District.
12. All work shall follow the approved plans. The city planner may approve minor changes.
13. All pole-mounted site lights shall comply with the 25-foot height maximum. The site
lighting plan shall be redesigned so that the light intensity does not exceed .4 foot-
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candles at the property lines. All lighting fixtures shall be designed so lenses and bulbs
are recessed or shielded to avoid nuisance complaints. All site lights are required to
shine inward toward the site and not toward any residential neighbors. The community
design review board highly recommends that the applicant look at the use of residential
type site lighting fixtures that are more in character with the building design.
14. If outdoor trash storage is used, such containers must be kept in a screening enclosure.
The design and placement of the enclosure shall be subject to staff approval.
15. Before obtaining a building permit, the applicant shall provide cash escrow or an
irrevocable letter of credit in the amount of 150 percent of the cost of completing
landscaping and other site improvements. An irrevocable letter of credit shall include the
following provisions:
a. The letter of credit must clearly indicate that it is an irrevocable letter of credit in
the name of the City of Maplewood, payable on demand, to assure compliance
with the terms of the developer's agreement.
b. The letter of credit must allow for partial withdrawals as needed to guarantee
partial project payments covered under the terms of the letter of credit.
c. The letter of credit shall be for a one-year duration and must have a condition
indicating automatic renewal, with notification to the city a minimum of 60 days
prior to its expiration.
Boardmember Wise seconded
The motion passed.
Ayes - all
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. 2030 Comprehensive Plan Review
Planner Martin explained that Jennifer Haskamp of Pulse Land Group would be presenting
information on the Sustainability Chapter of the draft comprehensive plan update.
Ms. Haskamp gave a presentation and requested the board review the Sustainability
Chapter again to ensure that the chapter addresses their issues and concerns. Ms.
Haskamp asked the board for comments or questions they might have about this chapter or
the document.
Boardmember Shankar said he felt the document is very well put together. Mr. Shankar
asked if the board would have an opportunity to submit comments in the next month or two.
Ms. Haskamp assured the board that she will continue to work with the city on this
document and board members can contact her or Planner Mike Martin with any comments.
VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None
VIII. BOARD PRESENTATIONS
a. January 26 City Council Meeting Representative: Ananth Shankar
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IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. Sustainable Maplewood
Planner Martin said an informational disc of the students work was included in board members
packets from planner Shann Finwall. Planner Martin said Ms. Finwall will attend a February board
meeting to further describe the students' recommendations and how the board can begin to work
with them.
b. Planner Martin informed the board that DuWayne Konewko, recently appointed director of
community development and parks, will be attending a February board meeting.
X. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 6:55 p.m.