HomeMy WebLinkAbout02_1022City of Falcon Heights
Planning Commission Minutes
October 22, 2002
Chair Heideman called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
PRESENT: Heideman, Lageson, DeLeo, Harris, Middleton, Tracy, Ryan. Also present were Peter Lindstrom, Council Liaison, and Deb Jones, Zoning and Planning Coordinator.
ABSENT: Maher, Ziebarth
MINUTES: The minutes for August 27, 2002, were approved as written.
COMMISSION SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
By consensus the Commission agreed to hold the November meeting on Tuesday, November 26, the regular date, in spite of it being the week of Thanksgiving. As there will likely be a public
hearing, it is important to have a quorum present. A poll of Commissioners indicated that enough of them will be able to attend. As the regular Commission meeting date in December
is the 24th, it was also the consensus of the Commissioners not to meet in December unless there is business that must be done. By next month there will be confirmation on whether or
not the Commission will need to meet in December and, if so, what evening that will happen.
MOTION FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LOT COVERAGE ORDINANCE
Commissioner Tracy moved, Deleo seconded, that a public hearing should be called at the next meeting of the Planning Commission, Tuesday, November 26, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, to discuss
the proposed amendment to the City Code regarding impervious lot coverage. Motion carried.
DISCUSSION OF GARAGE SEPARATION:
Ms. Jones reviewed the discussion to date and brought forth the point that, if the recommendation of the consultant is followed, a number of properties (particularly in the Northeast
quadrant) will be rendered non-compliant because their garages are already closer to the main structure than 12 feet. This may prove to be counter-productive and lead to more variances.
The Commissioners need to consider this along with the other potential complications raised at earlier meetings. One option is to go no further with this proposed code amendment and
"leave well enough alone."
Commissioner Tracy raised the issue of fire safety. The Commissioners discussed this topic at length. If we do not require separation, the building code will still require the fire
rating on construction. The building code already addresses this; it is not really a zoning code issue. However, the Commissioners were still concerned about community safety. Commissioners
Tracy and DeLeo said that at the very least there should be an education effort to encourage residents to make their garages more fire-safe in all neighborhoods of the city.
The Commissioners then revisited the reason for bringing this issue forward in the first place. This potential code amendment was recommended by the consultant in response to a request
of the City Administrator to address what seemed to be a gap in the city code regarding placement of detached garages where there is no alley. Commissioner Middleton expressed concern
about hardship this new requirement might impose on particular neighborhood. Several other Commissioners commented again about their concern for fire safety. The Commission requested
more information on the fire code and on the history of garage fires in Falcon Heights and nearby neighborhoods of St. Paul, also clarification on what the fire code actually says.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Heideman and Ms. Jones gave a summary of issues discussed at the meeting of "inner ring" suburbs which they attended on October 11. For cities, much depends on who is the
next governor of Minnesota. Commissioners were encouraged to read up on the Met Council's "Blueprint 2030" by going to the website of the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities.
The consensus of the "inner ring" group seems to be to continue to meet and communicate and work for their common interests through the A.M.M. and the League of Minnesota Cities. Commissioners
were encouraged to try to attend future meetings.
Councilman Lindstrom informed the Commission about the citizen survey being published with the next issue of the city newsletter and invited Commissioners to think of zoning questions
they might like to put on the survey and contact him if they have any ideas.
Ms. Jones drew the Commissioners' attention to a memo with attachments from the City Administrator (handed out at the beginning of the meeting) regarding the SE Corner development. No
action is required now, but this matter will be coming to the Planning Commission very soon. Commissioner Harris questioned the date given for the January Planning Commission meeting
in the attached project schedule. It is a week before the usual date. Ms. Jones will find out if this is correct.
Councilman Lindstrom told the Commissioner about two possible "bio-incubator" business that may be located in Falcon Heights, one on the UM campus and one on top of the parking ramp
at the TIES building. A "bio-incubator" is "a business incubator with labs," according to Lindstrom. The facility at the TIES building will probably require Commission action on zoning.
Commissioner Harris brought up the subject of access to DSL internet access. It is not available in Falcon Heights because of our location; we only have access to cable broadband.
The Commissioners talked about their experiences trying to find faster internet access and the inconsistent answers they have received from internet providers, the phone company, etc.
Commissioner Lageson pointed out that the University has high speed access; is there some way this could be extended to the city? The Commissioners feel this is a planning issue and
asked Ms. Jones to find some information on options for the next meeting.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Jones
Zoning and Planning Coordinator