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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMin_87May4• MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION P~IEETING r1AY 4, 1987 Chairman Black called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Black, Mead, Finegan, Grinner, Duncan, Daykin and Boche. Also present PRESENT was Council Liaison Wallin. ABSENT Nestingen and Northrup. Duncan moved, seconded by Daykin, to approve the April 6, 1987 Planning APRIL 6, Commission Minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 1987 MINUTES Francis Crowley, 1769 Snelling, requested a variance to construct a circle APPROVED drive with two driveways. Mr. Crowley indicated that several years ago he obtained permission for a circle drive at the time of home construction but FRANCIS did not install same for financial reasons. He again contacted the MN CROWLEY, Department of Transportation and furnished an approved copy of an access 1769 driveway or entrance permit granted on April 16, 1987. The reason for the SNELLING request is for movement of cars on the property and safety (backing onto VARIANCE Snelling). No parking will be allowed along Snelling after construction APPROVED completion. Finegan stated that he felt the request was reasonable and did not have a negative affect upon the neighborhood and then moved granting the variance request. The motion was seconded by Boche and approved. • Duncan voted against the motion. Gerald McNabb, 1369 West Idaho, requested a variance to replace the existing VARIANCE garage with a two car garage, such structure to be approximately two feet FOR from the lot line and in line with the neighbor's .garage. The new garage GERALD will lie 24"x 24' in size. The proposed garage fits into the type of garages MCNABB in the area. After a brief discussion, Grittner moved, seconded by Mead, 1369 W. to approve the variance request as proposed. Motion carried unanimously. IDAHO APPROVED Mr. Kaupp, representing SuperAmerica, presented his conditional use request • to completely rebuild the property at 1350 West Larpenteur Avenue. The KAUPP present structure will be dismantled and replaced with a proposed 36' x 68' REPRESENTS building of masonry and brick construction. He presented pictures of other SUPER SuperAmerica stations to give Commission Members an idea of the type of AMERICA construction in other stations. SuperAmerica purchased the site in Pdovember CONDITIONAI and as per the preliminary drawings plans to install two pump islands with USE five pumps per island. There will be one access from Larpenteur and two from REQUEST Hamline. SuperAmerica will be closing the other station on Larpenteur and Fernwood when this building is completed. They propose a 24 hour a day operation. Use of downcast lighting is proposed so not to throw too much light into the neighborhood. Representatives advised that between 800 and 1,000 customers use the two present locations (Larpenteur/Fernwood and County Road B/Lexington). Problems with traffic flow were discussed but Mr. Kaupp felt that traffic would not present any more problems than what is present now. The improvements to upgrade the facility will cost approximately $850,000. There will probably MINUTES Planning Commission Meeting May 4, 1987 • Page 2 be two people on duty at any one time. Daykin expressed concern over the parking space nearest to Hamline as she DAYKIN felt that car when backing up would be too close to Hamline Avenue and suggested its elimination. Marvin DeMartino, 1345 West California Avenue, presented a petition from MARVIN the neighbors (a copy of which will be kept in the Off ice of the Clerk DEMARTINO, Administrator) indicating their objection to any development of the Hamline/ 1345 WEST Larpenteur corner by SuperAmerica. He indicated a traffic count was taken CALIFORNIA indicating a large amount of traffic on that corner during rush hour and felt the additional traffic generated by the SuperAmerica station would add too much congestion. The neighborhood does not warrant any more filling stations in the area. Concern was expressed about the stockpiling of snow as parking is being proposed where snow was presently piled. The plans did not indicate that there would be landscaping or drainage plans. Mr. DeMartino is especially concerned about the increased intensity of the business. dead stated that he was a member of the Planning Commission when the Comprehensive Plan was adopted and that the proposed change is a drastic change in the building in an EB zone and expressed concern about the use of the property, hours of MEAD operation and increased amount of traffic. • Black agreed and felt the fact that single family homes surround the property BLACK was not taken into consideration when the plan was proposed as important issues need to be addressed. Finegan expressed concern about the potential traffic congestion the proposal FINEGAN will create on Hamline Avenue and the negative impact on the single family homes surrounding the property. Boche felt that the plan was too preliminary and did not present enough information such as: green space, landscaping, traff is congestion and a more complete site BOCHE plan should be furnished before the Planning Commission could act. He suggested laying the request over until more information was furnished at which time a special meeting could be scheduled. Mead objected to the fact that the station will be open 24 hours a day, was MEAD concerned about the traffic problems that will be created on Hamline Avenue, and suggested input from the City Planner and Ramsey County on the amount of traffic . Mr. Kaupp indicated that three new storage tanks would be installed-(each tank KAUPP is 10,000 gallons in size) at the .time of construction. Grittner was of the opinion that the present business is marginal; the building is old and is in need of upgrading; and the tax base will be increased-but he GRITTNER expressed concern about the lights and noise into the residential neighborhood. He acknowledged the fact that the present site will never be residential but • he questioned whether a gas station is good use of the property. Mr. Kaupp indicated that SuperAmerica is very concerned about abutting neighbors and would make the property as esthedacally pleasing as possible. SuperAmerica ~Upp MINUTES Planning Commission Meeting Page 4, 1987 . Page 3 will install whatever fencing and landscaping the City nequests. He also advised that all SuperAtnerica stations are open 24 hours a day. Black stated that the neighbors have a legitimate concern. SuperAmerica BLACK runs a good operation and the present business is an eyesore but he does not feel that the corner is an appropriate location for a service station-- the residents do not need another service station in the area. He questioned that from aside from cleaning up the neighborhood what benefit, if any, the rebuilding would have for the citizens of Falcon Heights. Mead then moved, seconded by Finegan, disapproval of the conditional use CONDITIONAI permit. Grittner stated that SuperAmerican should be given the opportunity USE to come back with additional plans and be able to address the concerns DENIED expressed.. Daykin approved the general concept but not the business staying open 24 hours a day. Upon a vote being taken, the following voted in favor (disapproval) thereof: Duncan, Finegan, Mead and Black, and the following voted against (approval) the same: Daykin, Grittner and Boche. Motion carried. Boche moved, seconded by Daykin, adjournment at 9:06 P.M. ADJOURNMENT • i C~ ~~L -~/ a Edgar F' egan, Secret a, •