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Home My WebLink AboutPCAgenda_07Oct23City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission City Hall 2077 W. Larpenteur Avenue Tuesday, October 23, 2007 7:00 p.m. AGENDA A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 p.m. B. ROLL CALL: Long Lukermann Mercer-Taylor Noble Rodich Salzberg Watkins Council Liaison Kuettel City Administrator Miller Staff Liaison Jones City Attorney C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 28, 2007 D. PUBLIC HEARING: Proposed amendment to the PUD ordinance for Falcon Heights Town Square for a pediatric clinic sign. E. AGENDA ITEM: Discussion and recommendation to City Council on proposed PUD amendment F. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS G. ADJOURN CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS 2077 W. Larpenteur Avenue Falcon Heights, MN 55113-5594 email: mailC~ci.falcon-heights.mn.us Phone - (651) 792-7600 website: www.ci.falcon-heights.mn.us Fax - (651) 792-7610 MEMORANDUM To: Members of the Planning Commission CC: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Laura Kuettel, Council Liaison From: Deb Jones, Staff Liaison Subject: Planning Commission Mee ing on August 28, 2007 Date: October 19, 2007 The regular meeting of the Commission will be held this coming Tuesday evening at the usual time. The only item of business is a proposed amendment to the Falcon Heights Town Square planned unit development. You will hold a public hearing and then discuss and make a recommendation to the City Council, which will make the final decision. A quorum is essential! Please let us know right away if you will not be present. The purpose of the PUD amendment is to allow a new sign for the pediatric clinic that exceeds general limitations in the sign ordinance. The amendment applies only to this one sign and meets design guidelines recommended for the site. Complete details are in the packet. Written notices were sent to property owners within 350 feet, as required by statute, so it is possible there will be attendees who wish to take advantage of the opportunity to bring up unrelated issues and concerns about the Falcon Heights Town Square complex. We hope the focus can be kept on the case at hand. Comp Plan Update There is no workshop this time. We have been working all out to get the next draft done and all the maps and figures incorporated, but it is not quite ready. It should be posted on the website in a few days. See you Tuesday! HOME OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AND THE U OF M INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER MEMORANDUM To: Members of the Planning Commission CC: Justin Miller, City Administrator; Laura Kuettel, Council Liaison From: Deb Jones, Staff Liaison Subject: Planning Commission Meeting on August 28, 2007 Date: October 19, 2007 The regular meeting of the Commission will be held this coming Tuesday evening at the usual time. The only item of business is a proposed amendment to the Falcon Heights Town Square planned unit development. You will hold a public hearing and then discuss and make a recommendation to the City Council, which will make the final decision. A quorum is essential! Please let us know right away if you will not be present. The purpose of the PUD amendment is to allow a new sign for the pediatric clinic that exceeds general limitations in the sign ordinance. The amendment applies only to this one sign and meets design guidelines recommended for the site. Complete details are in the packet. Written notices were sent to property owners within 350 feet, as required by statute, so it is possible there will be attendees who wish to take advantage of the opportunity to bring up unrelated issues and concerns about the Falcon Heights Town Square complex. We hope the focus can be kept on the case at hand. Comp Plan Update There is no workshop this time. We have been working all out to get the next draft done and all the maps and figures incorporated, but it is not quite ready. It should be posted on the website in a few days. See you Tuesday! City of Falcon Heights • Planning Commission Minutes August 28, 2007 PRESENT: Commissioners Long, Lukermann, Rodich, Noble, Salzberg, Watkins and Councilmember Kuettel. Also present was City Administrator Miller, City Attorney Soren Mattick and Staff Liaison Jones. ABSENT: Commissioner Mercer-Taylor. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Rodich at 7:02 p.m. The minutes of the June 26, 2007, meeting were approved. PUBLIC HEARING: Variance for front fence setback at 1423 California. Prior to the opening of the hearing, staff liaison Jones presented the staff report. The applicant, Sandra Roth of 1423 California Street, had taken out a permit to build various fences on the property, including a decorative fence in the front yard. The applicant had also had a survey done on the property and property lines marked with stakes. In the process of acquiring the permit, the applicant had asked for and received comprehensive information on the fence ordinance, including a copy of the ordinance and verbal instruction by staff at the front counter (two witnesses were present). While under construction the front fence was found to be in violation of the code and terms of the permit in being placed too close to the • front property line. Aone-foot setback from the right of way/front property line is required. Instead the applicant had in error instructed the contractor to build a foot away from the sidewalk, which placed the entire front line of the fence inside the setback zone. The front property line was clearly marked at the time. Rather than move the fence back during construction as advised by staff, the applicant proceeded to complete the project and apply for a variance after the fact. Although staff findings of fact did not find any detriment to the community caused by the fence, the findings also indicated no uniqueness to this property, which is typical of hundreds of residential properties in the neighborhood, and no hardship to the owner in complying with the letter of the code. Uniqueness and hardship being the nucleus of grounds for a variance, staff did not recommend approval. Staff had received five written comments from nearby property owners prior to the hearing, four of which did not favor the variance. The Chair opened the hearing and offered to allow the applicant to speak first, but she declined and asked to speak last. Lynanne Warren, 1426 California, expressed her dissatisfaction with variances previously granted in the neighborhood and other cases where projects were done illegally before variances were applied for. She is not in favor of allowing this kind of precedent to be set and feels that this kind of activity has had a detrimental effect on neighborhood appearance and character. She also said sidewalk snow removal could be a problem with the fence in question. Rise Davis, 1407 California, asked why there is a one foot setback for property lines adjacent to the right of way. She also asked how the front lot line is determined and stated that she, too, City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of August 28, 2007 -Page 1 of 3 would assume it is adjacent to the sidewalk. The city attorney responded that there could have been many reasons why this provision was originally added to the code. Allowance for snow removal might be one, but it is unknown at this date why the required setback was originally placed in the code. The provision has been part of the code for many years. It is something the City could reconsider but it is on the books at this time. Haudy Kazemi, 1879 Tatum, said he was also curious about the ordinance and thought perhaps it should be reconsidered. He felt the nature of the fence should be taken into consideration. Jo Behm, 1417 California, said she would like to see the right-of--way fence setback left in the code. She is concerned that granting a variance after the fact sets a bad precedent and said she saw no hardship in the case. Ron Shaw, 1447 California, asked how far the fence would have to be moved. The answer from staff was approximately 4 inches at one end and 8 at the other. Lynanne Warren repeated her concerns about a perceived deterioration of neighborhood quality. The applicant, Sandra Roth, 1423 California, spoke at considerable length. She addressed other fences in the city, also walls and hedges, and took her neighbors to task, individually and as a group, for their opposition to improvements and changes she is making on her • property and the other property she owns at 1410 Larpenteur. She insisted that she had not been informed of the requirements of the code and that staff had not told her she needed to stop building the fence. She said the fence only needed to be moved 2 to 4 inches and that she wasn't going to get rid of it, which is what she said the neighbors want. Jo Behm came to the podium again to answer certain statements made by the applicant. Then, as no one else came forward to speak, the Commissioner Rodich declared the hearing closed. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Commission discussion was opened. Commissioner Noble began by questioning the value of the existing ordinance. Commissioner Watkins also questioned the purpose of enforcing such a small margin. Mr. Salzberg said the amount of the error/violation does not matter. He also suggested reasons other than snow removal why the requirement might be in the code. For instance, it might be to allow access and foot traffic around extensive excavation in the boulevard and sidewalk area. Mr. Rodich expressed reservations about approving a variance sought as "forgiveness" rather than "permission." Several commissioners agreed with the essential findings: no uniqueness to the property and no hardship in requiring the letter of the code to be met. Ms. Jones agreed that she did not use the words "cease" or "stop" on her visit to the fence in progress, but she stated that she clearly told the applicant and contractor that the fence was illegal where it was sited and that it would have to be moved. She assumed most people would not interpret this as permission to go ahead. • Commissioner Lukermann moved, Commissioner Salzberg seconded, that the Commission recommend denial of the variance, adopting staff findings of fact. Discussion was called for. There was additional discussion, including the possibility of re-evaluating this ordinance as City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of August 28, 2007 -Page 2 of 3 part of the comprehensive plan update. There was consensus that the variance must technically be denied in spite of the small amount of correction required. The question was called and the motion to recommend denial was passed unanimously. Jones announced that the Council will make a final decision on September 12. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mr. Salzberg pointed out that someone is making considerable noise at about 10:30 at night recently and also on occasion at about 2:00 in the morning. (The former is the State Fair; the latter would be the severe thunderstorms that have recently passed through! ) ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned to a workshop at 8:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Jones, Staff Liaison WORKSHOP: Comprehensive Plan Draft • The Commissioners, being provided with the latest preliminary draft of the comprehensive plan, including the portions provided by S.E.H., were invited to ask questions or submit comments to staff. Staff noted commissioners' comments, including a number of errors to be corrected. There will be opportunity for additional input from Commissioners in a future workshop or individually. The commission will not formally vote until the draft has been through the period of review by adjoining jurisdictions and other required entities, some time next year. C City of Falcon Heights -Planning Commission Meeting of August 28, 2007 -Page 3 of 3 Planning Commission 10/23/07 • ITEM: Proposed Amendment to Falcon Heights Town Square P.U.D. SUBMITTED BY: Deborah Jones, Zoning and Planning Director REVIEWED BY: Justin Miller, City Administrator Roger Knutson, City Attorney Background• Central Pediatric Clinic, new commercial tenant of Falcon Heights Town Square building on the southeast corner of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues, seeks to place a sign on the wall of the building on the Snelling Avenue side. The purpose of the sign is to direct people approaching the urgent care clinic to the entrance and access to parking further east on Larpenteur. Although the sign meets the design guidelines provided by the the City's consultant several years ago, those guidelines are not part of the original P.U.D. agreement. Thus the sign would fall under the provisions for signage in the B-3 district, which restricts signs projecting from a wall to a projection of one foot or less. The appicant wants a sign that projects two feet in order to provide reasonable visibility for drivers trying to find the urgent care clinic, especially after dark. The clinic and the property owner, Sherman Associates, Inc., are applying for an amendment to the planned unit development ordinance in order to allow this sign. Analysis: The request is reasonable and in keeping with the design standards recommended by the consultant. The proposed sign is relatively modest in size relative to the scale of the building. A sign that meets the one-foot projection requirement would be difficult to see for motorists approaching from a distance. The sign will face only commercial properties and have no impact on nearby residential neighborhoods. The location of the sign is adjacent to utility access panels, not windows of apartments in the building. This amendment applies only to this proposed sign. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the proposed amendment. Attachments• • Copy of the zoning application, signed by property owner and clinic management • Contractor's drawing of the proposed sign, showing location. • Legal notice for the public hearing published and sent to owners of property • Memo from Dan Cornejo, Planning Consultant, outlining recommended design guidelines for signage at Falcon Heights Town Square. Actions Requested: • Hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment • Vote on a recommendation to the City Council • Staff Report: Proposed Amendment to Falcon Heights Town Square PUD, October 23, 2007 Page 1 of 1 1 1 ~.ti.. ~ ~, rp.... ~. r { ~. ~ ~. fir' .a ~~' . t ,;, ~f ~ ~'al~~rt F~~ightS Plan~inc~ ~pp~I~a~Qn 1Q0~ ~` 1 ~~t#c~r~ R~qu~st~d gy: ~~~ # rt~~at~ rty C}~vner ...._t..~C:.` 1 t 1~ 1 `~z ~ ~ ~ , ~..~ ...:: '~ '~ ~°~ c~.' .. . ~.~.,~ ...~..,,(..~,.t ..~ _.,.Y_.. ~~.~.._ ..~ ~:z..~..N,~~:..~,~.~ ~ 114. t~9~m cab ~prli~4 cif ~#i~#errit) .._________~~ ~ _._._. .....,~_,~......._ .,..,. ~/~~° ..~...~~w_.__~...w,~.,_ ,~...~..K,~.~.._. ~ldr ~c~n F~rYr~perly {rtut~#v~;c~: , p11 , ~~ ~1J W. t~.pv C~. ice! 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I IIi~. {ill.-"'~1r-i{,l, I~A~'t111,NI:1\~' ;23}1' t~j,li'~ilt+tl~, 'l>~ `,s~i~t°trt, \\`i: E1~31";• i j?tCjt1E"<' :31;-23[:°21~Ii° t?,ti~ \V"I1:3I jE1C al~~'31 \\3~1 1(~i,ak 11~;~,>, \~'t; ~~uti~ I7t)~t, Ij 153`[ I~l~ ~ I?\ ~v~;+';ilfi`. ~s~11~'i::t`c`l1 . ,~y;~." ~ 1tY31Ir7a;~3 cllx) t'i.tt~°~tta~ C~1?'c~twt~~:r • C] March 3, 2005 Ms. Heather Worthington City Administrator City of Falcon Heights 2077 West Larpenteur Falcon Heights, MN 55113 Re: Signs for Town Square Dear Heather: In response to your request for guidance on the type and placement of several proposed signs for the Town Square development, this letter (1) reviews the design guidelines, with respect to signs, that were endorsed by the City back in March/April of 2001, and (2) makes recommendations • regarding business signage in the east-west first floor walkway through the apartment building, the apartment identification sign, and the signage intended to "announce" the whole Town Square development. 1. Urban Design Guidelines for SE Corner of North Snelling and Larpenteur. These Guidelines call for a unified sign pro ram, directing that all signs should be part of a coherent and integrated system that would accommodate the "logo" desires of individual businesses, but would also have all signs conform to a larger program that had a measure of uniformity regarding materials, size, and location. Clearly, the overall objective here is that since signs influence the overall character and appearance of the streetscape, they should be designed to complement the architecture. With respect to materials, the Guidelines call for metal and wood as preferred materials. However, they also state that plastic and neon signs could be permitted. With respect to sign types and location, the Guidelines permit attached wall signs, projecting and hanging signs. Prohibited were awning signs, box or cabinet signs (except for logo signs approved as part of the unified sign program), pylon or freestanding signs, billboards, and roof signs. • ~CINEMUNITY P~.ANNtN + DEStCN • 2. Signa~e Recommendations. Suns for the Walkway First of all, the elevation drawing submitted by WCL Associates Inc. for the Pizza Hut- Wing Street (south elevation) walkway signs do not accurately depict the building facade as built. The easternmost doorway is depicted as just a doorway; however, during my site visit I observed that this doorway includes not only a door but also an adjacent window on the east side of the door. This is significant because the sign location as proposed is actually not big enough for the proposed sign, due to this window. There is also a small light already installed where the sign is proposed. Another factor to consider is that almost directly across from this door/window entrance to the "Tenant 2" space are two windows (facing north into the walkway) that are part of the community room. I assessed the possible effect of the proposed signs on the use and enjoyment of the community room What I have concluded is that the proposed easternmost sign is probably in the most appropriate location (in terms of not glaring into the community room) however the sign should be smaller, and should be installed in the area now occu ip ed by the small light fixture. However, this sign should NOT be used by Pizza Hut/Wince Street but rather by Tenant 2. This sign area is iust outside the door entry to the Tenant 2 space With regard to the other sign (actually two small si ns) proposed to be located on that wall, towards the western part of the walkway, I believe those signs are acceptable in terms of location, size, and design. With regard to the sign bands iust above the Walkway entrances on the west and east facades, I believe that a small Falcon Heights Town Square identification sign should be placed on the sign band located on the west facade (Snelling side). The sign band on the east facade (Courtyard side) should have a small Pizza Hut logo and a si~n/lo~o for Tenant 2. Please be aware that the canopy for. Tenant 3 partially obscures the northernmost portion of this sign band. See attached drawings. Apartment Building Identification Si ns There are two entrances to the apartment building, one from the Courtyard (see ESG drawing 2-A32: Courtyard Elevation Looking West) and a second entrance from Snelling (see ESG drawing 2-A31: West Elevation at Snelling). I believe apartment building identification signs (The Curtis Apartments ?) could be placed on the roof of the door canopies, consistent with much of the signage proposed for the stores. I recommend that • this residential signage be more subdued, perhaps made of metal letters. 2 • See attached drawings. Town Square Development Identification Si ns Based on our discussions earlier this week, and also on my site visits to a number of new and older quality apartment buildings/mixed use developments, I believe either a large rectangular vertical wall sign or projecting sign would be appropriate, one on each of the north and west facades. These signs should read "Falcon Heights Town Square" and incorporate a "P in rear" element, perhaps at the bottom of the signs, to direct retail customers and residential visitors to the parking area in the Courtyard. See attached drawings and photos. I trust that this letter, and the attached drawings and photos, provides the guidance you need to proceed with sign review and approval. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss my assessment and recommendations. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you again on this exciting project. Sincerely, • ~~ Dan Cornejo Principal CORNEJO CONSULTING -1657 Saunders Avenue -Saint Paul, MN 55116-2430 P 651.699.1927 F 651.698.0212 E dancornejo@comcast.net • • Walkway Sign Recommendations Apartment Building Sign (Courtyard side) Recommendation • 4 • "Falcon Heights Town Square" Development Identification Sign Recommendations • • 5 c: • • Vertical Building /Development "Announcement" Sign Examples (1 of 2 pages) r-. ~ _ j ~ ~, 3 4 ~ ~ ..~~ M ! f ' I >. err , ~ a 'r.. "' ~ ~ ~ ~. ~ r~..l6~,i~~ 1' ~ $ III R~, E : FW_ E~ .E ''~:~., . s~E ~. ; } E j . ~'j ( ~ ~y .> ~Y fix. ~7, ~"^i.4 .~ #M ~I! :CR :;: .;.. L+}n~ s.~ ~ ~ i7 ». Mk ~S ~'` ~. i n ~'`~ ~~ ;"~ ~ ~... }y ,` ~' ~,V +~ `} ~~ ~ f. r, f:~. ~~ ~~~ i~~ t. :~:~_. Y ,fix r, ~` t ". 't ~t ~;~ ;. 3 ~~, ~~ ' ~ . ,~~. 6 Vertical Building /Development "Announcement" Sign Examples (2 of 2 pages) s ~. ~. ~" ~ f r ~~ r Q • ~... ~ ~ ~ F` ~Ty. ~ ~~ .~.r :;~~ >'~ ~.~ ~~~, =*. ~ ~~' ~ !~: ~,~, ~~::_ ~~.:'~' 7 Entrance Canopy Sign Example • • r ~. . ~;. ~~ :~ ,~ -.~~.~ 8 ~~ `~~ _ _ _ .. _., 4~. C7 CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT THE CITY COUNCIL OF FALCON HEIGHTS ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Falcon Heights Town Square Second Lot 1 Block 1 is zoned Planned Unit Development in accordance with Ordinance No. 03-04. The zoning regulations of Lot 1 Block 1 are hereby amended to allow a wall sign that projects two feet out from the wall in accordance with • the plans on file with the office of the City Clerk. SECTION 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication according to law. ADOPTED this 14~' day of November, 2007, by the City Council of Falcon Heights, Minnesota. CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS BY: Susan Gehrz, Mayor ATTEST: Justin Miller, City Administrator/Clerk • 134750v01 RNK:10/ 19/2007 PLANNING COMMISSION - 2008 Name Barbara Lukermann Wendy Noble Richard Rodich Ken Salzberg Eric Watkins Term Expires Address 12/31/2008 2211 Folwell Avenue Falcon Heights 55108 12/31/2009 1539 Crawford Avenue Falcon Heights 55113 12/31/2010 1341 Idaho Avenue W Falcon Heights 55108 12/31/2009 1759 Lindig Street Falcon Heights 55113 12/31/2009 1860 Snelling Ave. N Falcon Heights 55113 Phone/EMail H-651-645-2625 W-612-625-4310 blukermann@hhh.umn. a du H-651-643-0776 wnoble@noblecreative.com H-651-646-2884 W-612-677-7388 richrodich@mac.com H-651-644-0007 W-651-523-2354 ksalzberg@harnline. edu H-612-392-2586 W-612-624-7496 ewatkins@umn.edu ~redith Anderson 12/31/2010 2280 Folwell H- 651-645-5945 Falcon Heights 55108 W- 651-259-7559 C- 612-840-5380 H: manders228O@comcast.net W: I1~Ieredith.Andersontt~state.mn.us Duane Hasegawa 12/31/2010 1750 N Albert H: 651-644-7435 Falcon Heights 55113 dkazusa@comcast.net Council Liaison Laura Kuettel Staff Liaison Deb Jones, Zoning & Planning Director 1879 Simpson H-651-646-7009 Falcon Heights 55113 laura.kuettel@isd623.org W-651-792-7613 deb.j ones@falconheights.org (01/16/0'7) •