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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/08/2023 P&Z Minutes APPROVED MINUTES CITY OF LINO LAKES PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Root called the Lino Lakes Planning & Zoning Board meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. on March 8, 2023. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. SWEARING IN OF BOARD MEMBERS Mayor Rafferty was present to swear in Mr. Kohler and Ms. Stewart to the Planning & Zoning Board. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The election of Chair and Vice Chair is postponed until a full Board is in attendance. Mr. Evenson moved to postpone the election. Motion was seconded by Mr. Vojtech. Motion carried 5 – 0. 5. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR The election of Chair and Vice Chair is postponed until a full Board is in attendance. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Vojtech moved to approve the February 8, 2023 meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Mr. Evenson. Motion carried 5 – 0. DATE: March 8, 2023 TIME STARTED: 6:31 P.M. TIME ENDED: 7:59 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Nathan Vojtech, SaraJo R. Stewart Michael Root, Neil Evenson, Patrick Kohler MEMBERS ABSENT: Isaac Wipperfurth, Perry Laden STAFF PRESENT: Michael Grochala, Katie Larsen, Mayor Rafferty, Kelsey Gelhar, Julie Whitney Planning & Zoning Board March 8, 2023 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES 7. OPEN MIKE Vice Chair Root declared open mike at 6:35 p.m. There were no public comments. Mr. Evenson moved to close open mike. Motion seconded by Mr. Vojtech. Open mike was closed at 6:35 p.m. 8. ACTION ITEMS A. Public Hearing: Conditional Use Permit for Centennial Middle School for Tennis Court Relocation and Parking Lot Addition Ms. Larsen presented the staff report. Centennial Middle School is located at 399 Elm Street. The applicant is proposing to relocate the tennis court and a parking lot. The property is zoned PSP, Public and Semi- Public and allows for schools (public and private) with a conditional use permit. Any change involving a structural alteration requires an amendment to the conditional use permit. The Board requested clarification on fencing material, snow removal, and the necessity of the storm water pond. Ms. Larsen stated that stormwater management is needed for the hard surface. Mr. Kohler expressed concern for the children in the area and questioned if there would be a fence around the pond. Ms. Larsen stated they do not put fences around stormwater ponds. Vice Chair Root invited Mr. Justin Nielsen with Larson Engineering to the podium to add any information to the discussion. Mr. Nielsen said everything had been covered and there were no further questions from the Board. Vice Chair Root opened the public hearing at 6:45 p.m. Ms. Amy Peterson, 301 Elm Street, Lino Lakes MN 55014, stated it would be ideal if there were any alternatives to the placement of the tennis court and parking lot. She said there are a couple of homes with private water wells and wanted to know how they could be impacted by the stormwater runoff. She also requested that all privacy screening remain in any further discussion regarding this project. Ms. Peterson expressed concern over additional noise there could be by adding the extra parking spaces. Ms. Katherine Carlson, 321 Elm Street, Lino Lakes, MN 55014, expressed how she did not think the movement of the tennis court and parking lot was a good idea in order to get Planning & Zoning Board March 8, 2023 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES additional parking spaces. She is concerned the lights will be on year around, vehicles will be parked abutting her back yard and there will be noise from snow plowing and garbage removal. She also expressed her wishes for the fencing to be taken care of because it had not been in prior years. She would like to keep the tennis courts where they are and move the parking lot elsewhere. Mr. Evenson moved to close the public hearing. Motion seconded by Mr. Vojtech. Motion carried 5-0. The public hearing was closed at 6:51 p.m. Staff and the Board answered the public hearing questions as follows: • The City requirements are being met for noise and lighting. Ms. Larsen added it could be recommended that snow plowing only be permitted at certain times to cut down on noise in the early hours of the morning or late at night. • Traffic will only be increased by five cars due to the addition of only five parking spaces. • Fencing will not be removed from the plan as it is part of the plan and an official document. • Plants will be placed on the other side of the fence to create a buffer to the parking spaces. • Private wells will not be affected by the stormwater ponds. It is a requirement for the flat surface and all requirements have been met. Vice Chair Root asked Mr. Nielsen if it were possible to move the parking lot further from the homes. Mr. Nielsen stated the parking lot is being relocated due to vehicles unsafely parking in the bus loading/unloading area. The proximity to the fields will provide safer mobility to and from the fields. Vice Chair Root asked if it could be moved further to the north. Mr. Nielsen stated there are underground utilities in that area and some well-developed trees that would be affected. Mr. Grochala added what utilities were present and the extra cost to the school for excavation. Mr. Nielsen also added that the fence is proposed as wood but there is an additional bid for maintenance free vinyl fencing. Mr. Evenson asked if the lights would be on all night and Mr. Nielsen did not know. It will be added as a condition in the conditional use. Mr. Kohler questioned if evergreen trees could be put in near the fencing to minimize the light and sound. Mr. Nielsen stated there would be Black Hill spruce trees, Cranberry shrubs and Isanti dogwood trees providing screening. Ms. Carlson requested the school move the parking to another area and Mr. Nielsen stated the area she indicated was already a soccer field. Ms. Stewart expressed the lights should remain on for safety reasons. Mr. Grochala stated the school and public safety would be aware of any safety concerns. He thought it Planning & Zoning Board March 8, 2023 Page 4 APPROVED MINUTES would be possible to turn them off when there are no events but also questioned if by doing so would attract nuisances. He said it could be discussed with public safety and a recommendation could be given to City Council. Mr. Evenson moved to approve the conditional use permit subject to conditions listed in the staff report and the condition for a time limit be placed on the lighting. This will be reviewed by Public Safety. Motion seconded by Mr. Kohler. Motion carried 5-0. B. Watermark PUD Concept Plan for Amendment #4-Land Use Plan Ms. Larsen presented the staff report. Watermark is a 372-acre master planned residential community consisting of 692 single family lots and 172 townhome units totaling 864 housing units. Lennar is proposing an amendment to the north end of the Watermark PUD Development Stage Plan and Land Use Plan to modify lot sizes and housing product types to address demand changes in the housing market. The proposed amendment does not change any architectural requirements or the total number of housing units. Mr. Vojtech requested clarification if the tot lot would be private and if a dog park is included. Ms. Larsen thought the tot lot would be public and the Board could make it a recommendation or requirement for the dog park. Mr. Kohler addressed the responsibility for the private roads. Ms. Larsen confirmed they are private and would be maintained by the HOA. Mr. Josh Metzer from Lennar, 16305 36th Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55446 stated the reason for the plan change was due to the Villa product not performing and the need for single family homes at a lower price point. He understood the preference from the City was to have fewer townhomes from a density perception and more green space. This is the reason for the reduction of townhomes in their preferred Plan A. This plan also affords 12.6 acres of open space with a tot lot in the plans. He stated the open space would be maintained by the HOA unless the City wanted to take it over for a park. Mr. Vojtech stated due to the small price difference he thought the townhomes could be taken out completely and Venture homes be put in. Mr. Metzer said they could, but the townhomes are selling very well. He also said if the townhomes go, then the open space will go with it. Vice Chair Root concluded there is more favor for the additional open space and with the possible dog park and tot lot. Two plans were presented, and the majority preference was for Plan A. Vice Chair Root advised the Board that they were merely providing feedback at this time. Some of the concerns were to have more single-family homes and to keep with 55 square foot and above lot sizes, more green space other than behind the Planning & Zoning Board March 8, 2023 Page 5 APPROVED MINUTES townhomes would be ideal, and building more houses rather than townhomes due to the small difference in price point was conveyed. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Project Updates Staff provided an update on projects. Mr. Vojtech moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Mr. Kohler. Meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Julie Whitney – Community Development Administrative Assistant