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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03_0226City of Falcon Heights Planning Commission Minutes February 26, 2003 Chair Tom Lageson called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. PRESENT: Lageson, Harris, Maher, Heideman, Ryan, Tracy and Alternate Commissioner Toni Middleton. Also present were Heather Worthington, City Administrator, and Deb Jones, Zoning and Planning Coordinator. ABSENT: Lukermann, Ziebarth, Council Liaison Lindstrom The minutes of the February 4, 2003, meeting were approved. DRAFT OF THE INTERIM USE PERMIT FOR THE FARMER'S MARKET AT TCC Ms. Worthington presented the draft of the Interim Use Permit and reviewed the main points of the document, the ordinance that was passed at by the Planning Commission on February 4 (and subsequently by the Council) and the I.U.P. process. The next step is for the Commission to make a recommendation to the Council on the I.U.P. A draft was made available to the Commission and to neighbors before this meeting. A number of comments were received and incorporated into this final draft. A major new feature is that the City has worked cooperatively with the property owner to provide 50 extra parking places in the City lot on Market days. Commissioner Harris asked for a clarification of the hours. Farmer's Market representative Jack Gerten confirmed that 1 1/2 hours is ample time for clean up. In response to a question from Commissioner DeLeo, Ms. Worthington confirmed that this market is essentially the same as the one at Har Mar. Commissioner Lageson asked for more explanation of the 50 parking places at City Hall. Ms. Worthington said that of the 58 parking places at City Hall, no more than 8 are usually needed for staff and visitors on an ordinary work day, so this will work with the City schedule. Commissioner Harris pointed out that the dates of operation are not set in the draft. Mr. Gerten said the market will operate June through October. In response to a question from Lageson, he said that he feels the market's customer base in the area is familiar with Larpenteur and will find the new location easily. HEARING ON THE INTERIM USE PERMIT FOR A FARMER'S MARKET AT TWIN CITY CO-OPS The public hearing was opened. The first speaker was Mr. Youn of 1742 Tatum who presented a parking and traffic analysis at the February 4 meeting. He expressed some anger that his concerns had not been addressed and predicted severe traffic jams in nearby city streets. He raised a new concern about noise control at the market site, especially the use of bullhorns and other sound amplification at 6:30 in the morning. Mr. Gerten replied that the St. Paul Farmer's Markets do not use bullhorns or other sound amplification. A small bell is rung to signal the opening of the market. Vendors are required to turn off their vehicle engines when unloading; conversation is not allowed. He added that Har Mar neighbors had fought to keep the market there and that the Burnsville site had existed for 15 years without neighbor complaints. The commissioners took up the issues of parking and traffic in response to Mr. Youn's concerns. In response to a question from Commissioner Harris, Mr. Gerten confirmed that each vendor does require two parking spaces. Commissioner Maher asked how many parking spaces were available at Har Mar. Ms. Worthington estimated that there were no more than 200 spaces available during the 10 a.m. to noon time when the parking was shared with the shopping center (and those were scattered around the center). Commissioner Heideman said she had never observes as many as 200 people at the Har Mar market at any one time, as Mr. Youn predicts. Mr. Gerten said that generally there were at most 100 people in the market at a time in peak hours. They had never had cars backed out to the street. Heideman cited her experience of the market at St. Luke's, which has no off-street parking and no complaints she has heard. She said that Mr. Youn's expectation of 400 cars seems extreme. Mr. Gerten said that the Burnsville site has 400 parking spaces and 100 growers. It does reach capacity at peak, but never runs out of parking in the rear. He had no documentation but said he could provide references. He added that the Farmers' Market organizations has very strict fines and suspensions for misconduct of growers. They also have a dress code. Commissioner Harris, looking at Mr. Youn's study, said she thinks the revised permit draft takes care of his concerns, especially with the extra parking at City Hall. Mr. Youn agreed that "the gap has been narrowed," but he pressed his concern over noise, including the banging of folding tables and tents being set up. He wants a prohibition of sound amplifying devices. Commissioner DeLeo thanked Mr. Youn for coming and for his concerns and asked how he got the figures in his study. Mr. Youn said he had made personal observations of how many stalls growers take up. He had no solid data on cars at the Har Mar market but had made assumptions which he outlined. He came up with a peak volume of 1050 cars. He figures customer parking at the Larpenteur site needs to be at least 263 spaces, but could fluctuate as much as 25% higher. He repeated his concerns about traffic on Tatum and queuing on Larpenteur. DeLeo pointed out that the assumptions Mr. Youn made were critical to his arriving at his conclusions. The consensus of the Commission was that there is no way to predict the traffic and parking problems that might arise without giving the market a try. Manley Olson of 1974 Summer spoke in support of the Farmer's Market. He attended the first meeting and saw the others on cable, and he said he was struck by comments from residents that reminded him of negative comments heard when the Maple Grove townhomes were first considered. If those opinions had prevailed, Maple Grove would never have been built. As for wear and tear on the streets, he asked, what about all the garbage trucks? He compared the expected traffic with the State Fair and pointed out that this is an issue the city already deals with very well. When were Mr. Youn's traffic counts done, he asked. He pointed out that the market would take place mostly in summer when UM traffic is less. He feels that adequate safeguards have been written into the I.U.P., and that the permit gives the City tools to cope with problems that may come up. The next speaker was Todd Barduson from Twin City Co-ops. He repeated that the Co-op is not doing this to cause problems, that the intent is to partner with the City. He pointed out that some sound deflection will be provided by the large berm, fencing and trees between the market site and residences; other improvements are expected. Co-op staff are aware of the parking situation and will schedule activities off-site on Tuesday mornings. Many will be on vacation during the months the market is in operation. His observation is that the State Fair impact has a greater impact than the market would have. The final speaker was Ms. Amel Soliman of Garden Avenue. She thanked the City for addressing her concerns in the permit and said that her family's minds were eased. They also appreciated the provisions for terminating the permit if needed. There being no others wishing to speak, the hearing was closed. CONSIDERATION OF THE I.U.P. Commissioner Tracy moved, Maher seconded, to recommend that the Council approve the I.U.P. In the ensuing discussion several friendly amendments were offered to improve the terms and language of the I.U.P. Commissioner Heideman was in favor of forbidding sound amplification equipment. Commissioner Harris wanted the specific time frame of the market season added to the permit. Commissioner Ryan suggested some changes in the language on parking provisions and asked that Twin City Co-ops be named consistently throughout. Harris moved, Ryan seconded, that the above amendments be made to the I.U.P. The motion carried unanimously. The vote was called on the original motion, which carried unanimously. The Commission recommends to the City Council approval of the I.U.P. as amended. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. Staff Liaison Jones gave some background on the Neil Kwong award and asked Commissioners to think of any deserving young citizens they might wish to nominate. Commissioner Heideman reported on the recent meetings of the Fully Developed Communities Group which has been meeting in Richfield monthly since September. There has been some interest from local foundations in giving some financial support to this group's efforts. She conveyed a request from the group for a letter of support from the City. They need it by March 6, the next meeting of the group. Staff will draft a letter and email the draft to Commissioners for comment. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Jones, Staff Liaison