HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMin_80Jun2PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
June 2, 1980
7:30 P.M.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairmen,
Les Larson. Present were Harold Nilsen, Les Larson,
Jim Bourquin, Al Stefanson and Elving Anderson.
Mr. and Mrs. Malzer, 1903 Tatum, appeared before the Commission
and requested permission to erect an 8` x 10' building, with
hip roof, in the rear of their property. They had presented
signatures of neighbors approval. There was some discussion
as to whether being 2' from the side and back lot lines was
sufficient, with Harold being certain it should be 5'. A vote
was taken and it was 4 to 1 in favor of permitting them to
keep it 2' from each side and rear lot line. It is now recommended
to the City Council that they permit the building of this
structure.
We met with Carl Dale, the planner, and he passed out the prelim-
. inary Comprehensive Plans for all of us. There will be some
additional pages, which he was unable to have completed, which
,will be dropped off at each, members home sometime next week.
Mr. Dale felt we should take the extension that has been granted,
as it would require that we rush through this plan, as well as
having the public hearing and council reading of this plan,
• and it also i~ not sufficient time to let adjacent cities have
a chance to read and comment on the plan...
Mr. Dale and Glen VanWarner, Traffic Engineer, made a rather
extensive survey of the Snelling-Larpenteur intersection and
came up with several suggestions:
1. Close existing service drive (near GTA terminal) and move
the entrance downa little south of its current position, in
that it would help move traffic more smoothly than what is
currently being done, and this would remove very little parking.
2. Change the service drive on the Southeast side of the
inter's'ection (tear Pizza Hit and Submarine Sandwich) and have
a "Do Not Enter" sign posted on the corner by the Sandwich shop,
that they could not come. in at that point; however, they could
have 2-way street entrance up to and including the Pizza Hut,
entering from-Hoyt.
3. Closing part of the service drive on the Northeast side
of the intersection (by Flower City), as it is not utilized
very much and only having it open at the alley and up toward
Embers and the"Liquor Store, so access could still be made
at that point.. It was also suggested that tine service drive
by the Amoco .Station be closed to prevent cars cutting through
there.
Planning Comm. Minutes -2-
June 2, .1980
4. Greening areas would then be put in front of the buildings,
all on Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues, to make it much more
attractive and act as a buffer to the traffic areas.
a. The question of financing and cooperation of
businesses came up and Mr. Dale said that some
other cities have, when a building permit has
been required by a business, state that they
may surely have the permit; however, they must
fix up the front of the building, or whatever
the plan might call for.
5. Maintenance of all the landscaped areas could be taken
care of in several ways, i.e., hiring a landscape firm, having
city employees in Public Works, taking care of the landscape,
hiring high school youths or CETA employees to take care of
the area, or a garden club or businesses.
Mr. Dale showed several different pictures of lighting
structures, which would be maintained by NSP, and one in
particular was the most prominent: It produced the high
pressure sodium lighting, but residential areas could be shielded
from the source of the light, and it casts a shadow that was
quite large and would illuminate the area very well.
We also went-into aspects. of other beautifying aspects of
the. business districts, i.e., vandal proof planters, benches,
trash disposers, etc.
He spoke about the population and felt it would behove us
to look very clcsely into additional multi-dwelling type housing
that would assure us that our population would. not drop below
the "magic" 5000 figure--in the future. He suggested putting.
some behind the property that St. Jude's is considering, perhaps
subdividing some of the deeper properties (at which point Sandy
Larson said that included her property and she really wasn't
too interested in ,that)
The University doesn't have a policy on housing and there
is relative no funding for student housing anyway, but they.
would add additional housing if funds were available, on the
campus--approximately room for 100 additional persons.
The family is decreasing in size and there are other
situations that could affect our population in the future.
We should strive to attract young families and he went into
several aspects of this.
Employees will be up and actually we are in the same category
. as Arden Hills, Shoreview and North St. Paul.
Planning Comm. Minutes -3- June 2, 1980
Mr. Dale will show all surrounding areas on the land map
that we will be getting, putting in all that is su~gested
in adjacent cities' plans. He is trying to cover all bases"
that Met Council will approve our plan when submitted.
Harold Nilsen suggested buying Union 76 and Flameburger
property for public parking lot. Mr. Dale said that could be
an option but it should be studied very carefully before moving
on such action.
There was a short discussion of the proposed preliminary
City Hall sites and Elving Anderson would like a study made
regarding the separation of the fire station from City Hall.
It was mentioned that cost would go up at that point and
it would be a little difficult to find sufficient space for
two buildings, rather than just one.
It was suggested that we need an additional meeting this month
to continue with the Comprehensive Plan and the next meeting
will be Monday, June 16, 1980, at 7:30 p.m.
Motion made and carried that we adjourn-at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Larson, secretary pro tem