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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMin_84Jun26_Public Hearing• MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING ON NEW ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONIATG MAP FOR THE CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS June 26, 19811 Chairman Al Stefanson called the Public Hearing on the New Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map to order at 8:09 P.M. Publication appeared in the Sun Newspapers and written notices were sent to all r®sidents. Chairman Stefanson stated that the Warta Zoning Ordinance, if adopted, ~ou1d repeal the former Zoning Ordinance for the City of Falcon Heights which has been in existence since December, 1961. The Old Ordinance was signed by Harold Nilsen,. Mayor of Falcon Heights at that time, and has served many years on the Planning Commission. Chairman Stefanson then referred to the background of the Project: (1) January, 1981 he was elected Chairman of the Planning Commission by his ZONING peers succeeding Les Larson, who retired; (2) first ma3or project was the re- ORDINANCE writing the zoning ordinance (January, 1981); (3) The Planning Commission had BACKGitOUND 3ust completed the Comprehensive Plan as was required by the Metropolitan Council and the Planning Commission was requested to up-date the zoning ordinance; (!~) The Planning Commission embarked on a plan to update in detail the residential and business sections, which required extra meetings between the regular meetings where the Planning Commission broke up into teams. Mr. Carl Dale was then contracted by the City to work with the Planning Commission On the Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Dale, an expert in hia • field, completed the balance of the Ordinance to ensure proper State Statutes APPRECIATION and to assure Metropolitan Council regulations were followed. As the Planning TO THOSE wH0 Commission neared completion, the Cityts legal staff was also used extensively. WORKING ON The Zoning Ordinance has been entered into the word processor at Briggs and 'CONING ORD. Morgan, which will make future updates easier. Workshops were held with the UPDATE City Council, legal staff and City Planner and (5) a sincere expression of thanks and gratitude to all those who brought the project to a successful completion-- Gurrent members of the Planning Commission--Grittner, Trent Sullivan, Black and Chenoweth, the other five who were members in January, 1981--01son, Wallin, Mead and Nilsen; Past Meanbers--Bob Blomberg, Jim Bourquin, Mary Waldo, John Labalestra, Helen Brown and .Annette Geistfeld; Council Liaisons--(:arrant Rice' Chestovich, Paul Ciernia and Sandy Larson; Others--Dewar Barnes, Clerk Administrator, Shirley Chenoweth, Executiv~9 Secretaiy,''i~ltty Zimmerman, Planning Commission Secretary, Carl Dale, Planner, a~,d Ci'tg Legal Staff . Chairman 5tefanson then turned the meeting over to Carl Dale to summarize the highpoints of the Ordinance and Zoning Map. Planner Carl Dale pointed out the problems with the existing ordinance. First he felt it was important to note that the zoning as proposed is based on the Comprehensive .City Plan that was developed over a five year period--a plan for land use, transportation, community facilities, housing and so on; in other words, the plan for the future of the entire city. It is a requirement in Minnesota that the zoning be based on that plan. When work was commenced on the Comprehensive Plan, it revealed that certain problems existed. Ona main problean was simply old age. It is now recommended that • Cities look at their Zoning Ordinances for updates every five years so such a lengthy process could be avoided. CARL DALE MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION - PU$I,IC HEARING ON ZONING O1tDINANCE PAGE 2 dune 26, 198l~ • Mr. Dale felt that the old Zoning .Ordinance contained only one apartment district, which allowed what he considered a density that was too high. Many of the present apartments were built under the existing ordinance which allowed a high density -and amounted to filling the lots with buildings and parking and not allowing for green space. Tt also allows single family homes to be built in an apartment district. When a single family home is built within an apartment district and CAKL DALE is surrounded by apartment buildings, it could make the dwelling worthless. What is needed is to keep apartments in one-area and single family homes by themselves. Another problem with the Zoning Ordinance is that the terms are incomplete; improper definitions lead to lots of~problems. Also, State .;laws need to be followed such as solar access (communities need to keep solar access open) and manufactured homes (city cannot exclude). The existing Ordinance contains no performance standards, which needs to be addressed. The existing commercial districts are a hoc~e/p+~dge; commercial uses should be listed by categories in certain districts. In the area of the single family home district, the conditional, uses are too liberal. The existing ordinance also provides poor protection for homes adjacent to businesses (for example screening, lighting). Parking regulations were out-of-date, Mr. Dale then described the institutional district 1 and 2 as it relates to the University of Minnesota property. and the Fairgrounds .;and"felt that the existing ordinance did not address the issues. He recommended in the new Ordinance the t~se of:P=1 and P-2 (Private Institutional District) for city hall, playgrounds University of Minnesota, State Fairgrounds, school grounds and other public • governmental land uses will be zoned with a base zone for that use and if sold or leased for private use the property would revert to R-1, if so approved by the City Council. The uses of an overlay district are uses that are shown on a University campus plan, fairgrounds plan, school district plan, city plan, etc. for what they intend to do. That plan should be oa file with the City so if major changes are going to be made that would deviate from that plan, the City should be given 30 days notice to determine if those public developments will have any impact on city facilities (drainage, traffic, etc.). Another apartment district is added to the new ordinance--R-3 and R-!~. The existing apartment district does not distinguish between high and low density apartments. The existing apartment district allows 20 or more dwelling units per acre which is really high--twelve units per acre is recommended, which allows green space. The R-3 would be the low density or townhouse type development (which allows up to eight units per acre) and duplexes. It also allows the conversion of existing homes into one-two or three dwelling units, which could only be done by City Council approval. The R-1~ would be the medium density apartments. Townhouses would be allowed as well as partments up to 12 units per acre. A series of commercial districts have been created. B-1 is now pure office district; B-2 is pure retail (over the counter sales); B-lA is retained which is general business; and EB has been added, which applies primarily to spot scattered commercial uses. The intent of the EB district is to simply to provide the City with away to bring about changes to business; such as providing screening to adjacent single family homes, plantings and improvements. It has • no real affect on the use of the business. MINUTES PLANNING COT~MISSION - PU3LIC HEARING ON ZONING OKDINANCE PAGE 3 JUNE 26, 1984 • Another business district which does not show on the map is the concentrated business district. It would apply to Snelling and Larpenteur. It would be used for commercial redevelopment and rennovation of that corner. Instead CARL DALE of the area being zoned B-2 and B-1A, it would provide an overlay district, which would allow those businesses to build in accordance with actual development plans as approved by the City Council. It would allow variances in setbacks, parking and so forth. Special provisions have been made for manufactured or mobile homes. Manufactured homes could be placed on property within the City if the following is met: (1) there must be a basement, the overall dimensions must be at least 20 x 50 feet; and,(2) must conform to building codes. The Planned Ur}it Development area was discu$sed and Planner Dale felt that a PUD is intended to provide flexability tc~ land owners but it can create problemns of potential increased density. The only need for a PUD would be if the University sold some of their property.. Essentially the new Zoning Ordinance adds a great deal of protection for existing homeowners. It also more accurately refleots actual land use conditions. It adds new features such as performance standards. These performance standards cover regulations some of which are set up so that .existing businesses and other uses must comzply with the different standards. It covers waste methods for exterior storage, pollution of all types, screening and landscaping, maintenance . and repair of homes which are reasonable, standards on how much light and glare can be transferred, standards on storage of hazardous materials, traffic control, dwellings that may be permitted in commercial districts, drainage, access, tennis courts, swimming pools and controls on vegetative cutting. Planner Carl Dale then reviews in detail on the Zoning Map indicating where the changes will take place. After Mr. Da1e~s complete review, Chairman Stefanson asked anyone present who wished to ask questions. Robert McGarry, 1076 West County Road B representing One Hour Martinizing, ROt~ERT MC Larpenteur and Albert, stated the present owners were concerned when the EB ~Y, 1076 designation came up and wondered if it would limit the property to a particular WEST COUNTY commercial operation in the future. Could the property be leased to someone ROAD BONE other than a dry cleaners. Mr. Dale answered that virtually any kind of HOUit business would be permitted that exists in B-2. After a discussion, Attorney MARTINI`LING Gasteazoro felt the language needed to be revised to include the B-2 use for clarity. Mr. Dale also felt that the City needs to be informed when a change of use is being made on EB property. Rollin Gates, 1865 West Larpenteur, advised that on the land along Larpenteur ROLLIN GATES, around his home there are 7 or 8 single family homes. He wondered if changing 1965f~EST the R-3 designation to R-1~ had something to do with conformance to a long-range LARPENTEUR plan for the area. Mr. Dale answered that the land has been zoned as R-3 apartments since 19b1. It gtaes the land owners certain vested rights and certain • economic values in having the apartment zone. Due to the fact that they are MINUTPS PLANNING COM4SISSION -PUBLIC HEARING ONLONING ORDINANCE PAGE 4 JUNE 2b, 1984 • facing a large traffic street in a high dense area with small houses on relatively larger lots, he felt it would sustain the R-4 designation. He reminded that the new R-4 designation is less dense than the present R-3 designation. If all the single family homeowners wished the R-1 designation, it could be accomplished. Mr. Gates advised that his home was built in the 1870~s and is currently being reviewed for addition to the national historical buildings register. Hob Moder updated the Planning Commission on his condomi.nuim office building. ,Bp3 MODER He has had a number of prospects but timing was bad for leasing and Financing. He also indicated a certain number of units must bepresold to obtain financing. He is still very interested in continuing with the project. He requested that the zoning on the property not be changed at the present time. Chairman Stefanson asked Mr. Dale that if the plans for the condominuim office building did not develop, how soon would the existing house have to be removed? Mr. Dale answered that there was no time element involved for the removal of the house. He also advised that there are other uses permitted by a conditional use permit based upon the plan for the general area. Mr. Moder then asked how the Planning Commission felt about the prospect of developing the property with a restaurant. Mr. Stefanson felt that the use of the property as a restaurant would not be desirable. After a thorough discussion on the language that should be changed on page 213 the Pl i CHANGE ON , ann ng Commission was in agreement that Subdivision 3(a) should PAGE 213 read as follows: "a. Arty structural alteration, any change, SU;3D. 3a • expansion, or intensification of structural or land use as described in B-2.n A proposed Zoning Ordinance change was proposed by Councilmember Paul LOW IlHF'ACT Ciernia that would deal with law impact public"or quasi public use and PUBLIC OR moderate impact public or quasi public .use. Planner Dale was of the t1UASI PUBLIC opinion that it makes the ordinance more complicated and puts a tremendous USE AND burden on the Zoning Administrator to measure low versus high impact. MODERATE He felt, that once a use is established, it is hard to change. Since IMPACT PUBLIC Falcon Heights is a small community, each situation could be handled by OR QUASI a conditional use permit. Jerry k~allin asked Mr. Dale if he was aware of PUBLIC USE at~y benefit that those kinds of provisions would provide to a community NOT APPROVED and Mr. Dale answered that it would cut down on some governns~nt red-tape and that was all as far as he was concerned. Jerry Wallin then moved,. . seconded by Erma°01son, that the proposed changes described as low impact public or quasi public use and moderate impact public or quasi public use not be approved or incorporated into the .Zoning C rdinance. Motion carried unanimously. Jerry Wallin then moved the adoption of Resolution 84-2. The motion was seconded by Don Mead. Upon a vote being taken, the following noted in favor thereof: Erma Olson, Harold Nilsen, Al Stefanson, Don Mead, Deborah Trent-Sullivan, Jerry Wallin and Phil Chenoweth. Motion carried unanimously. • RESOLUTION 84-2 REvbLUTIUN 84-2 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE REPISED ZONING ORDINANCE AND OFFICIAL ZONING MAP The Public Hearing was closed at 9:40 P.M. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION - PU3LIC HEARING ON ?ANING ORDINANCE PAGE 5 JUNE 26, 19811 • Members Present: Erma Olson, Haro~.tl Nilsen, A7 5tefanson, Don Mead PttESENT Deborah Trent-Sullivan, Jerry Wallin and Phil Chenoweth. Also present were Attorney Trudy Gasteazoro and Planner Carl Dale. Members Absent: David Black and Don Grittner ABSENT Jerry Wallin moved, seconded by Don Mead, that the meeting be adjourned ADJOURNMENT at 9:45 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. ~~~ ~~~~ rry W tin, Secretary •