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Planning & Zoning Board <br />December 8, 2021 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />APPROVED MINUTES <br />Ms. Larsen, City Planner, presented the staff report. <br /> <br />The applicant, MTO Properties, submitted a land use application for a final plat on a <br />1 acre lot in order to construct a 2,873 sq. ft. commercial office building for Thrivent <br />Financial. <br /> <br />Staff recommended approval of the final plat and site & building plan review for <br />MTO Properties Addition and Thrivent Financial subject to conditions listed in the <br />staff report. <br /> <br />Board Comments <br /> <br />Mr. Laden asked if Ms. Larsen received a lighting plan from the applicant. <br /> <br />Ms. Larsen said a lighting plan was submitted, reviewed by staff, and all the <br />requirements were met. She stated the lighting is down lit and the majority of the <br />lighting would be on the building’s exterior. She also recalled there are two parking <br />lights proposed in the parking lot. <br /> <br />Mr. Laden asked if Ms. Larsen recalled the height of the light poles. <br /> <br />Ms. Larsen said she did not remember the height of the light poles. <br /> <br />Mr. Laden stated he was concerned about how lit the parking lot will be as the site <br />will be immediately adjacent to a residential home. <br /> <br />Mr. Root commented Hodgson Road is quite busy in the morning and afternoon hours <br />and it may be difficult for individuals to turn left onto Hodgson Road from Blue <br />Heron Drive during peak hours. He asked if staff had any traffic concerns for <br />customers visiting the site and for the residents on Blue Heron Drive. <br /> <br />Ms. Larsen stated, although traffic will be increased, it is not uncommon for current <br />residents to take a left turn from Blue Heron Drive onto Hodgson Road. <br /> <br />Applicant’s Comments <br /> <br />Scott Mower, 4920 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Lake, MN 55110, with Progressive <br />Architecture, said the light poles in the parking lot will be 20 ft. to 25 ft. high. With <br />regard to accessing Hodgson Road, he commented Blue Heron Drive will be safer <br />than implementing an alternative access road. <br /> <br />Public Comments <br /> <br />Susan Drabek, 6684 Sandhill Drive, expressed concern that a traffic study was not <br />conducted. She stated traffic on Hodgson Road has increased significantly since the <br />1985 plat due in part to the construction of the new middle and elementary schools