HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes10_0126_corrected.pdfCity of Falcon Heights - Planning Commission Meeting of January 26, 2010 - Page 1 of 2 City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission Minutes January 26, 2010 PRESENT: Commissioners Black, Gustafson, Ha segawa, Minns, Noble, Rodich and Wartick, City Council Liaison Pamela Ha rris, Staff Liaison Deb Jones. A quorum being present, the meeting was cal led to order by Commissioner Rich Rodich, 2009 vice chair, at 7:00 p.m. Staff Liaison Jones welcomed the new co mmissioners, Christopher Minns, 1784 Asbury, and Ryan Wartick, 1847 Pascal, who then each said a few words of self-introduction. The returning commissioners re-introduced themse lves briefly. Commissioners elected Randall Gustafson to serve as chair and Duane Hasegawa to serve as vice chair. Planning Commission Policies and Standing Rules – Annual Review The policies and standing rules were reviewe d. The corrections requested in 2009 had been made. Jones reminded the audience that the documents are on the website Commissioner Rodich asked about the note that the city’s administ rative manual was in revision. He recalled that it was in revision last year and asked if that process is still going on. Jones said she had not received an updated copy and would inquire about the progress of that project. She noted that some projects have been delayed due to lower levels of staffing. Noble moved, Hasegawa seconded to approve th e standing rules for the following year. The Commission voted unanimously to approve. Minutes: Approval of the September, 2009, minutes was tabled because the commissioners received them late and had not had time to review them sufficiently before the meeting. Information And An nouncements: Ms. Jones gave an update regarding the ma tter of the redevelopment proposed for 1871 Larpenteur avenue, considered at the last Commission meeting. The three requested actions were amendment of the Falcon Heights Comprehe nsive Plan to allow residential instead of commercial use, rezoning of the parcel and ap proval of the Planned Unit Development. The Commission had recommended approval of all th ree, and the City Council subsequently approved all three. In November the Metropo litan Council approved th e amendment to the comp plan, so the redevelopment can go forward. The city has not yet re ceived an application for a building permit; it may be too late in the season. Jones announced an upcoming opportunity to buy rain barrels and compost bins this coming spring. Falcon Heights is going in with Roseville and some other cities on a truckload sale of these popular items on or about May 1. There will be more information and publicity as the day approaches. Community garden applications will open up (for limited space) the second half of February. The staff contact for the community garden is City Administrator Justin Miller.
City of Falcon Heights - Planning Commission Meeting of January 26, 2010 - Page 2 of 2 The annual Winterfest event is coming up Sunday, January 31, with lots of activities for all ages, entertainment and refreshments. The event is at Community Park, 1 – 4 p.m., and all are welcome. Councilmember Harris said she also encourages people to come to Winterfest. She recalled her six years on the Planning Commission and said she is glad to be back working with the Commission as Council Liaison. Ms. Jones reminded commissioners that there are upcoming opportunitie s for training through Government Training Service, though she had no t yet received their mailing. She will forward the information when it arrives. She also o ffered the loan of a book for beginning planning commissioners owned by the city and availa ble for borrowing if any commissioners are interested. Jones announced that staff has requested that the commissioners adjourn to a workshop after the evening’s official business is completed fo r the purpose of an orientation on procedures and a refamiliarization with the new comprehensive plan to begin preparing for the implementation phase of the plan. Documents re lated to the workshop ar e on the city website. (Workshops are not on camera but are open to the public.) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m. to a workshop. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Jones, Staff Liaison PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP Orientation on Variance Procedures: Staff and commissioners reviewed the steps in the variance process and other zoning actions th at require public h earings. Commissioners discussed their res ponsibilities in depth. Comprehensive Plan Implementation Preparation: Commissioners reviewed key provisions in the land use and implementations of the Falcon Heights 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which was formally adopted by the City Council in 2009. Because of time spent on the variance orientation, this review will be continued at a future workshop.