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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_95May24CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 24, 1995 214 Mayor Baldwin convened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. PRESENT Baldwin, Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, and Jacobs. Also present were Hoyt and Asleson. COMMUNITY FORUM There were no comments from the floor. MINUTES OF APRIL 12, 1995 AND MAY 10, 1995 Minutes were approved as presented by unanimous consent. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Administrator Hoyt noted that there was an additional item to be added to the consent agenda. There being no objections from members of the council, item C-6 was added to the consent agenda. Motion was made by Councilmember Gibson Talbot to approve the following consent agenda. Motion carried unanimously. 1. Disbursements a. General disbursements through 5/18/95: S 102,172.83 b. Payroll, 5/1 /95 to 5/15/95: S 11,490.51 2. Licenses 3. Approval of summer recreation program and park maintenance seasonal staffs 4. Cancellation of the June 14, 1995 council meeting 5. Awarding of bid for 1995 sealcoating improvements 6. Authorization to purchase a box scraper attachment for the public works department POLICY AGENDA CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 95-18 REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ADDITIONAL BUILDING HEIGHT AT 2129 W. LARPENTEUR AVENUE Planner Asleson explained that Lawrence Greenberg and Carol Kindschi of 2129 W. Larpenteur Avenue are building an addition to their home and have requested a conditional use permit for seven feet of additional building height beyond the maximum of 25 feet allowed in the zoning code. Their existing home is 35 feet high and the proposed addition would be 32 feet high. Asleson noted that this house is uniquely located in Falcon Heights. It is not part of a residential neighborhood but stands alone adjacent to the University of Minnesota golf City Council Minutes May 24, 1995 Page 2 ~~. course and Gibbs Farm. Therefore, the addition will not be dissimilar to other buildings in the area or cause a blighting influence. Furthermore, the proposed addition is in keeping with the architectural style of the existing building. A 25 foot high addition would be out of scale and would more closely resemble a garage than an addition to the principal structure. Mr. Tom Reinan, the architect on the project and representative for the applicants, noted that the 32 height is necessary in order to match the pitch of the existing building. He also stated that the addition would be constructed of materials to match the existing building. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to approve Resolution 95-18, granting a conditional use permit for additional building height at 2129 W. Larpenteur Avenue. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 95-17 REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR ADDITIONAL SIGN AREA AT 1795 HOLTON STREET Planner Asleson reported that Falcon Heights United Church of Christ has applied for a conditional use permit for additional sign area. The church is permitted 50 square feet of sign area without a conditional use permit. Due to apre-existing use, the church already has over 80 square feet of sign on the property. The proposed sign would be approximately 12 square feet in area and would resemble a real estate sign, with hooks to hang metal signs. The church proposes to use the sign to highlight the Falcon Heights playroom and other church events, thus eliminating the need for temporary, non-durable signs. Since the sign closely resembles a real estate sign and would eliminate some potential blight from non-durable temporary signs, the request meets the zoning code's requirement that the sign not be dissimilar to the surrounding neighborhood and that it not be a blighting influence. Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to approve Resolution 95-17, granting a conditional use permit for additional sign area at 1795 Holton Street. Motion passed unanimously. Asleson further noted that the church had requested that the S 165 in planning fees be waived, since the city's playroom will be advertised on the sign during part of the year. Mr. Warren West, representing the church, commented that the playroom is a very successful and desirable joint venture and that it is the opinion of the church council that the city should share in the costs of the playroom advertising. Mayor Baldwin stated that he is uncomfortable with waiving planning fees outright, but would be open to the idea of the city purchasing some of the sign space or the cost of the sign. After discussion among the council, it was determined that the church should pay the entire conditional use permit processing fee, but that the city would cover its share of the cost of the sign. City Council Minutes May 24, 1995 Page 3 2 ~ ,c Motion was made by Councilmember Hustad to pay Falcon Heights United Church of Christ 595 for the city's share of the cost of the indoor playroom sign. Motion passed unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 95-04, ADDING THE TERM "SIDEWALK SALE" TO THE DEFINITIONS SECTION OF THE ZONING CODE Administrator Hoyt explained that staff had recommended that the term "sidewalk sale" be added to the definitions section of the zoning code. Outdoor sales of merchandise are permitted in B - 3 zones only in conjunction with sidewalk sales, and the term needs to be clearly defined. The planning commission has reviewed the proposed definition and recommended its adoption Mayor Baldwin voiced his concern about sidewalk sales potentially taking up parking spaces in shopping center areas, forcing shoppers to park on the streets in residential neighborhoods. Hoyt replied that the planning commission did not expect that most property owners would do this, but conceded that it was a valid concern. Councilmember Gehrz noted that other events in the city can impact residential parking to a greater degree, and sidewalk sales only occur twice per year. Baldwin stated that he would be comfortable with the definition as recommended by the planning commission; if there are parking problems, the definition can be revisited. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs to adopt Ordinance 95-04, adding the term "sidewalk sale" to the definitions section of the zoning code. Motion passed unanimously. REQUEST TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL REPLACEMENT STREET LIGHTS FOR FOLWELL AVENUE EAST OF COFFMAN STREET Administrator Hoyt reported that several of the city-owned street lights in the Grove neighborhood need replacing, as the parts to repair them are not available. Four options are available to the city for replacement including: 1) replace the five lights with the same lights as located to the west of Coffman at the same intervals currently located (total cost: 510,028); 21 replace the five lights with 25' high aluminum poles and a shoebox light to keep the same height as existing lights and the same light intensity (total cost: 517,153); 3) replace the five lights with seven of the same type of light as those west of Coffman (total cost: 510,928); and 4) ask N.S.P. to redesign the placement of the lights on both sides of Folwell (total cost estimate not available until design is completed). Councilmember Gehrz stated that this issue is important to many Grove residents. The current lights are in need of replacement. The noted that the current lighting is very bright and that there may not be enough light if the existing lights are replaced with the lower- level type of light like those west of Coffman. She asked about the feasibility of adding seven lights to this area. Administrator Hoyt stated that N.S.P. would need to determine where the new lights would be positioned if seven lights would be installed instead of five. N.S.P. has minimum City Council Minutes May 24, 1995 Page 4 ~. distances and physical constraints to consider when redesigning street light locations, so the new light would not necessarily be placed in the same locations. Councilmember Gehrz proposed that staff discuss the potential new locations with the residents of the neighborhood before proceeding with installation. Councilmember Hustad asked how the city would proceed if there were some homeowners in disagreement over the new locations. Mayor Baldwin commented that the issue could be brought back to the council if there is no consensus among the residents and the Grove Association. Motion was made by Councilmember Gehrz to authorize the purchase and installation of up to seven new streetlights in the Grove neighborhood, pending discussions with N.S.P. and solicitation of comments from affected residents. Motion passed unanimously. CITY INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Baldwin reported on the parade and Arbor Day program at Falcon Heights Elementary School. He also noted, for the benefit of the viewing public, that the University of Minnesota Wildlife Rehabilitation Institute is available to advise the public on how to deal with sick or wounded wild animals. Administrator Hoyt noted that another successful citywide garage sale had been held the previous weekend with no complaints from the public despite large numbers of people coming through town for the sales. She also reported that the fire/rescue department had held a successful rescue open house and mass casualty incident drill the previous week. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m. ~~~ ~ Tom Baldwin, or C~~ ~~ Carla Asleson Recording Secretary []