HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-10 CDRB Minutes
MINUTES OF THE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
1830 COUNTY ROAD BEAST, MAPLEWOOD, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2009
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Ledvina called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Boardmember Jason Lamers
Chairperson Matt Ledvina
Boardmember Michael Mireau
Boardmember Ananth Shankar
Vice-Chair Matt Wise
Present
Present
Present
Absent
Present
Staff Present:
Michael Martin. Planner
Shann Finwall. Planner
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Boardmember Lamers moved to approve the agenda as presented.
Boardmember Mireau seconded
The motion passed.
Ayes - all
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. October 13, 2009
Boardmember Lamers moved to table the minutes of October 13, 2009 due to lack of a quorum.
Boardmember Mireau seconded
The motion passed.
Ayes - all
V. DESIGN REVIEW
a. T-Mobile Telecommunications Tower, 1961 County Road C (Harmony Learning Center)
Planner Michael Martin presented the staff report for the request from T-Mobile to erect a
75-foot-tall wireless telecommunications tower for cellular telephone operations on land
leased from Independent School District No. 622 at the Harmony Learning Center located at
1961 County Road C East. The pole is proposed to be located where a 30-foot light pole
currently exists within the school's parking lot.
Amy Dresch of FMHC and representing T-Mobile addressed the board. Ms. Dresch said
other locations for the tower were evaluated, but none were feasible. Ms. Dresch said the
school district was not open to exploring other areas of the Harmony Learning Center site.
Boardmember Ledvina asked why the tower site was not moved to the other side of the
parking lot to the north. Ms. Dresch responded that there are ball fields and bleachers in
that area and the school district did not want to locate the tower in that area.
Community Design Review Board 2
Minutes 11-10-2009
Chairperson Ledvina asked for comments from the public.
Linda Olson, 2005 County Road C East, said she lives immediately next door to this site.
Ms. Olson said she feels the tower location at this site is an accident waiting to happen. Ms.
Olson said she spoke with the pastor from the neighboring church and said it would be
possible to locate this tower in the undeveloped part of the church property. Ms. Olsen said
the church would appreciate a cell phone tower located on their site. Ms. Olson showed
photos of other cell phone towers in Maplewood. Ms. Olson said safety is a concern with
this tower location and asked that statistics be kept on safety and vandalism on the site.
Boardmember Ledvina said he understands Ms. Olson's concerns regarding the positioning
of the tower and alternative sites, but he feels her concerns are land use issues and outside
the scope of the board's discussions this evening. Boardmember Ledvina said these issues
are best discussed at the planning commission.
Boardmember Wise said he feels this tower location is an obnoxious use as close as it is to
residential and asked how much lower the tower could be and still provide coverage. Mr.
Wise said he has no concerns regarding the proposed cedar fencing. Mr. Wise said he
disagrees with Mr. Ledvina on the scope of the board's review which includes site planning
saying this is a use on a particular site. Mr. Wise encouraged city staff to track vandalism
and concerns from citizens on congregating or damage to this structure, particularly the
fencing.
Boardmember Ledvina suggested that bollards be installed inside the fencing for additional
safety. Boardmember Wise agreed.
Boardmember Mireau said the tower will be highly visible anywhere it is located on this site,
but moving the tower to the north side of the parking lot would provide more screening. Mr.
Mireau said he would like to hear the issues for not locating it near the ball field area. Mr.
Mireau said he is not opposed to the tower site as proposed.
Boardmember Lamers said if this tower is going to be vandalized, it would be vandalized
anywhere on the site. Mr. Lamers said the proposed location of the tower is not of great
concern for safety or vandalism, but his concern is more aesthetic. Mr. Lamers said he is in
favor of the 8-foot-tall cedar fence rather than building another structure on the site.
Boardmember Lamers moved approval of the site and design plans stamped October 14,
2009 for a 75-foot-tall telecommunications monopole and ground equipment within the
parking lot of Harmony Learning Center at 1961 County Road C East. Recommendation is
based on the findings required by code and subject to the applicant doing the following:
1. Repeating the review in two years if the city has not issued permits for this project.
2. All work shall follow the approved plans. The community development staff may approve
minor changes.
3. The flush mount design for the telecommunications tower shall be utilized.
4. The lighting fixtures installed on the tower shall comply with city ordinances and shall be
approved by city staff.
Community Design Review Board 3
Minutes 11-10-2009
5. An 8-foot-tall cedar fence shall screen both the ground equipment and the base of the
tower.
6. The applicant shall provide cash escrow in the amount of 150 percent of the cost of the
landscaping before a building permit will be issued.
7. The applicant shall address the safety concern relative to the proximity of vehicles by
adding bollards internal to the fencing arrangement.
Boardmember Ledvina seconded
Ayes - Lamers, Ledvina, Mireau
Abstention - Wise
The motion passed.
VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Sign Ordinance Amendments
Planner Shann Finwall presented the staff report and reviewed the sign ordinance amendments as
proposed. Boardmember Ledvina suggested that the first part of item (d) on page one is
superfluous and should be deleted. It was also suggested that the definition of "window" be better
defined to consider the use of different types of glass. Planner Finwall agreed with both
suggestions. The board discussed opinion signs and felt that all opinion signs should be limited to
16 square feet in size. The board further discussed proposed changes and made suggestions for
modifications to staff.
Chris Green, a local Realtor who lives in Maplewood, addressed the board saying he heard "really
good stuff" from the board tonight, agreeing that signage needs to be regulated somewhat and he
discussed real estate and open house signage.
Boardmember Ledvina moved that the Sign Ordinance be forwarded to the city council for
consideration at the November 23, 2009 city council meeting.
Boardmember Wise seconded Ayes - all
The motion passed.
VII. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS
None
VIII. BOARD PRESENTATIONS
None
IX. STAFF PRESENTATIONS
a. November 23 City Council Meeting Representative: Matt Ledvina
b. December 14 City Council Meeting Representative: Michael Mireau
X. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:22 p.m.