HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes06_0228City of Falcon Heights
Planning Commission Minutes
February 28, 2006
PRESENT: Commissioners DeLeo, Mercer-Taylor, Rodich, Ryan, Tracy. Also present were Council Member Kuettel, City Administrator Heather Worthington and Staff Liaison Deb Jones.
ABSENT: Lageson, Lukermann
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Ryan, Commission Chair, at 7:01 p.m. The minutes of the January 24, 2006, meeting were approved with one minor correction.
ORIENTATION: CITY MORATORIUM ON DRIVE-THROUGH BUSINESSES:
City Administrator Worthington reviewed for the Commission the process Staff is developing at the request of the Council for a study of all issues related to drive-through businesses
in Falcon Heights. The study is prompted by a moratorium on new drive-through operations passed by the City Council on February 8. The Council has requested that the study be completed
within six months, although the moratorium has been approved for up to one year.
The study has two purposes: First, to clarify the City’s interest in addressing the development impacts of sites with drive-through facilities, and, second, to establish standards and
criteria for the design of sites with drive-through facilities, integrating operational elements, site design, building design, with a focus on assisting this issue in making a positive
contribution to the surrounding context and pedestrian streetscape.
The study will consider four different areas: traffic (access, egress and pedestrian safety), quality of life issues (noise, compatibility with residential uses, glare from car lights,
litter, etc.), and lot coverage/drainage. Finally, it will include a survey of requirements and regulations in other cities.
The study will be conducted by the City’s planning consultant, Dan Cornejo. The public (residents, business owners and non-resident property owners) will be invited to participate by
attending a series of three community workshop meetings to be held April 13, May 11, and June 8. The series will begin with discussion of issues, concerns and observations brought
forward by participants and will work toward the formulation of policy recommendations. Mr. Cornejo will present his report and recommendations to the City Council at their July 12
meeting. Staff also recommends hiring a third-party mediator to facilitate the meetings in order to free staff to gather information as neutral observers. The total cost is expected
to be about $10,000.
At the request of several Commissioners, Ms. Worthington gave additional details on the cost breakdown of the study. In response to a question from Commissioner Ryan, she said that
the final product of the study will be a report put together by Mr. Cornejo, which will include any engineering studies that are done. In response to a question from Commissioner DeLeo,
she said that a draft the Planning Commission will review a draft of the report at the June meeting.
Mr. DeLeo asked who will participate in the study. Ms. Worthington said that business owners, residents and non-resident property owners will all be invited, that it will be an open,
voluntary process, and that people won’t be required to attend all three meetings. Mr. Ryan asked how the meetings will be publicized. Ms. Worthington said there will be one mailing
to the whole city with follow-up reminders in the flyers. In response to a comment from Council Member Kuettel, Ms. Worthington said that a map would be included to identify the properties
that are affected.
Commissioner Mercer-Taylor asked if the City has a facilitator. Ms. Worthington said that staff will be contacting a facilitator the City has used before, a person on the staff of the
Conflict Resolution Center at Hamline University, who comes highly recommended. This would allow staff to remain neutral observers.
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Staff Liaison Jones reminded the Commissioners of upcoming training opportunities. Details were previously distributed to Commissioners in a memo.
Ms. Jones also gave Commissioners a brief update on the group of interns working with the City on the Active Living project. The project will be ready for presentation in a few months.
Falcon Heights is very fortunate to have these students working with the City.
Ms. Jones announced that a variance application was accepted by the City for the February Planning Commission meeting, but that it had been voluntarily withdrawn. Therefore, there would
not be a public hearing this evening. Unfortunately, the legal notice of the hearing was printed in error after the application was withdrawn. Ms. Jones apologized for any inconvenience
this may have caused.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Jones, Staff Liaison