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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMin_85Mar11MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 11, 1985 • The Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman Al Stefanson. Stefanson, Black, Trent-Sullivan, Olson, Northrup, Grittner, Wallin, and Chenoweth. Also present was Council Liaison Hard. Mead. Member Olson moved, seconded by Member Black, that the February 4, 1985 Planning Commission Minutes be approved as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Stefanson read Member Chenoweth's letter of resignation from the Planning Commission as Member Chenoweth had been appointed to the Falcon Heights City Council. PRESENT ABSENT FEBRUARY 4, 1985 MINUTES APPROVED Member Chenoweth reviewed the information and changes made to the Development District No. 1 and Tax Increment Financing Plan for Housing District No. 2 APPROVAL OF (University of Minnesota Retirees Project). After a short discussion, TIF PLAN FOR Member Olson moved, seconded by Member Wallin, to approve the plan as HOUSING DIST. presented. Motion carried unanimously. IN DEVELOPMENT DIST. ~E'1 Sue Delange and John Withersten reviewed their goals, their working calendar year, operation hours and class size for the proposed purchase • of property located at 1899 West Larpenteur Avenue. Several plans were presented showing the existing parking as well as six different schemes indicating where proposed parking could be located. They advised that the maximum amount of money expended on the project would be $30,000. The exterior of the addition would match the existing structure and be stucco, the addition would match existing roof lines and the addition would keep within the space of the existing garage. Member Trent-Sullivan asked what age groups the children who attend classes would comprise and Ms. Delange advised that the children run in age from 4/5 years old through high school. Stefanson felt several-problems could arise from the approval of the variances which include: encroaching commercial business into a residential area, traffic, number of variances needed and parking. Further, with a sizeable and costly expansion--approximately $30,000, this could be a major problem later, if parking and traffic problems arise. The City would have a difficult time terminating the variances granted after allowing such a large investment to take place based upon granting of these variances. He approved of the dance studio concept but had reservations. VARIANCE REQUEST DELANGE DANCERS STUDIO, 1899 WEST LARPENTEUR TRENT/ SULLIVAN STEFANSON Ms. Delange advised that she had carefully examined the neighborhood MS. DELANGE and felt that her dance studio would not have a negative impact and is willing to work with the neighborhood by adjusting class schedules to keep down traffic congestion. As the Director of the school, she . .could work closely with the parents of the children attending to accomplish that goal. Member Black expressed concern regarding no enclosed parking as well BLACK as the variance requested on the rear lot line which could dimminish the value of the lot to the north. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 11, 1985 • PAGE 2 Member Northrup was concerned about the volume of traffic on Tatum NORTHRUP and asked if the other teaches would require parking to which Ms. Delange advised that only one teaches would teach at a time since there is only one classroom. Member Trent-Sullivan was concerned about the width of the driveway TRENT- for parking of cars and sees more than the variances that were requested. SULLIVAN Ms. Delange advised that the width of the driveway would be no more than what is presently existing. Member Grittner advised that he had been a member of many neighborhood GRITTNER committees and the residents would like to see businesses in Falcon Heights that they themselves use and finds the dance studio to be an attractive use. Felt there may be a problem with classes abutting each other so requested that classes be appropriately spaced but saw no problems with their hours of operation. Member Olson looked very favorably upon the request. Member Northrup OLSON/ then asked if there would be any plantings upon the property and Ms. NORTHRUP Delange advised that they would provide whatever landscaping that would be required. Member Wallin advised that he had no problem with the use of the right-of- WALLIN way for parking (cars may overhang onto the right-of-way), had no problem with not having a garage but felt there may be problems expressed by the neighbors with occasional street parking on Tatum. He basically liked the proposal. After further discussion, Member Sullivan moved, seconded by Member VARIANCE Grittner, to grant the various variances requested by Susan Delange REQUEST to include: No enclosed parking,. on the property, allowing the extension FOR DELANGE of a family room to 16 .feet of the rear lot line, allowing more than DANCERS three students to engage in dance classes and require class time STUDIO, spacing (20-30 minutes) confined to the limits of the proposal as 1899 WEST requested. Member Black moved to amend the original motion to require LARPENTEUR the removal of the garage that currently exists and functions as a APPROVED garage. The amendment was seconded by Member Wallin. Upon a vote being taken, the amendment to the motion was approved unanimously. After further discussion, the main motion and amendment were withdrawn and Member Sullivan moved as follows: allow more than three students at one time to engage in dance classes, to remove the garage that currently functions as a garage, to schedule hours to minimize traffic congestion, to allow the extension of a family room to 16 feet of the rear property line, to allow no enclosed parking, to allow the current width of the driveway, to require the construction of a culvert under the current driveway if that is necessary in order to maintain proper drainage, the variant ~ are personal to Susan Delange and will not run with the land and the parking will conform to the limitations (scheme C or E) in Ms. Delange's proposal. Upon a vote being taken, the following voted in favor thereof: Black, Trent-Sullivan, Olson, Northrup, Grittner and Wallin, and the following voted against the same: Stefanson for the reasons before mentioned. Motion carried. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 11, 1985 PAGE 3 Tom Hermes, representing Hermes Floral Co. requested a variance for a 14 foot set back from the east lot line and a conditional use request to construct a steel utility building. Mr. Hermes presented sketches of the proposed building showing placement and the type of building. The building will be located behind the present structure and will not be seen from Larpenteur. They are expanding their wholesale business and adding new employees and as a result need more space. The present request is Phase I with a Phase II to hopefully come to be in five years. Member Wallin moved, seconded by Member Olson, to approve the variance and conditional use request. Motion carried unanimously. Roy L. Spaulding, 1879 Arona, requested a conditional use request to install a utility building for storage of lawn mowers, snow blowers, etc. The building would be of wood construction fastened onto a concrete floor. The placement requested is approximately 20 feet from the south property line and five feet from the rear property line. Member Grittner moved, seconded by Member Black to approve the conditional use request. Motion carried unanimously. Next Planning Commission meeting is April 1, 1985. Member Wallin moved, seconded by Member Trent-Sullivan to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 P.M. Motion carried unanimously. ~~~ ~N ~~ ~ J rry Wa lin, Secretary