HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMin_95Nov27• MINUTES
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
November 27, 1995
7 p.m.
PRESENT:
Paul Kuettel
Wendy Treadwell
Lee Barry
Betty Wilcox
Wayne Groff
ABSENT:
Tom Brace
Alex Henschen
ALSO PRESENT:
Council liaison Sue Gehrz
Administrator Susan Hoyt
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM by Acting Chair Paul Kuettel.
Commissioner Treadwell moved to approve the minutes of the June 26, 1995 meeting. The
motion passed unanimously.
Chair Lee Barry arrived at 7:05 PM.
• The first item of business was an update on the comprehensive planning study being done
with Hoisington/Koegler. Administrator Hoyt explained that the city's planning consultant is
reviewing the way that the southeast corner and community business district are handled in
the city's comprehensive plan so that the city is prepared for any future activity in that area.
Hoyt said that in this regard, she and Fred Hoisington met with three developers and one
property manager regarding options for the southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur. In
sum, all parties interviewed felt that redevelopment would be desirable, but the financial
constraints surrounding made it unlikely in the near future.
The second item of business was a brief explanation of the city's participation in the Livable
Communities Act which was passed by the legislature in 1995. Administrator Hoyt
explained that the act was passed to encourage more affordable housing throughout the
metropolitan area. She explained that Falcon Heights essentially meets the affordability
benchmarks established by the Metropolitan Council, which is administering the act..
Commissioner Kuettel asked why the city felt it should participate if it met the affordability
criteria. Hoyt explained that it demonstrates a commitment to affordability throughout the
metropolitan area and that legislatures will be taking note of cities that are willing to join this
effort. She also explained that it is a one year commitment.
The third item of business was a brief explanation of land use trends in the metropolitan
area for the past three decades. Administrator Hoyt pointed out that Falcon Heights has seen
little change in its land use configuration whereas Ramsey County and the metropolitan area
• as a whole are developing.
• The fourth item of business was a discussion of proposed changes to the zoning code that
would clarify the code. Administrator Hoyt presented the first proposed change which was
intended to guarantee that if a garage was remodeled into housing space, it would be replaced
with a garage. After some discussion, commissioners agreed that this language made sense,
but that the text should not require any minimum size of garage.
The second proposed change was to limit vehicle access to garages to one side of the garage.
However, after some discussion, commissioners decided that this was not a necessary change
and that there may be some circumstances that warrant having vehicle access doors on two
sides of a garage.
The third proposed zoning code amendment dealt with not permitting new street access to
properties that currently are accessed only from the alley. Administrator Hoyt explained that
this is to maintain the urban design structure which was part of the original development of
the city -with front yards that were uninterrupted by driveways and vehicles. The
commission concurred with this recommendation.
Other minor corrections included clarifications of parking restrictions, sign area and
driveway surfacing requirements.
The commission agreed to a public hearing on these proposed changes for the January
meeting.
• The fifth and final item of business was scheduling a planning commission meeting on
December 11, 1995 to hear a variance request. The regularly scheduled meeting falls on
December 25.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM.
Susan Hoyt, Administrator
•