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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/08/2023 P&Z MinutesAPPROVED MINUTES CITY OF LINO LAKES PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Root called the Lino Lakes Planning & Zoning Board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on November 8, 2023. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as presented. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Kohler moved to approve the October 11, 2023 meeting minutes. Motion seconded by Mr. Wipperfurth. Mr. Vojtech abstained. Motion carried 5 – 0. 5. OPEN MIKE Mr. Root declared open mike at 6:31 p.m. There were no public comments. Mr. Evenson moved to close open mike. Motion seconded by Mr. Laden. Open mike was closed at 6:32 p.m. 6. ACTION ITEMS DATE: November 8, 2023 TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 9:32 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Isaac Wipperfurth, Nathan Vojtech Michael Root, Perry Laden, Neil Evenson, SaraJo Stewart, Neil Evenson MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Michael Grochala, Katie Larsen, Diane Hankee, Julie Whitney Planning & Zoning Board November 8, 2023 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES A. Lyngblomsten PUD Amendment #2-North Lot Line Fence and Pickleball Court Ms. Katie Larsen presented the staff report. The applicant, Lyngblomsten at Lino Lakes, LLC, submitted a Land Use Application for PUD Amendment #2 to the PUD Preliminary Plan and Final Plan. They are requesting the proposed fence along the north lot line not be required. They are also requesting a pickleball court be constructed in the southwest corner of the development. Mr. Evenson questioned the elevation and Ms. Larsen confirmed that it did vary in elevation. Mr. Evenson asked if the neighbors on Rohavic Lane, due to the variance, would be able to see over the fence? Ms. Larsen stated the developers could address this question further and added the homeowner at 288 Rohavic Lane was in favor of the fence. Mr. Wipperfurth questioned if there were originally any plans in the PUD for the southwest corner. Ms. Larsen said it was going to be open space. Mr. Kohler inquired about the cost for a noise study. Ms. Larsen said she was unsure. Mr. Kohler thought this discussion should be tabled until a noise study could be completed. Mr. Kohler also questioned the definition of mid-size trees that would be used in lieu of the fence. Mr. Grochala stated caliper trees and coniferous trees would be used and could potentially fill in the area within 5 years. Mr. Vojtech wanted to know if the black hills spruce trees would be enough to fill in the space and be a barrier to the street. Ms. Larsen said that it would when mature. Mr. Root wanted to add requirements for use of the court. He thought no lighting should be allowed and restricted hours. Mr. Root also thought the SE corner should have spruce trees wrapped around the corner up against the chain link fence for additional screening. Judd Fenlon, Grand Real Estate Advisors, 90 Dale Street S, St Paul MN 55102. Mr. Fenlon stated the original design does not always align with the as built as is the case with the fence on the north property line. He added the change in grading heading east has a considerable dip. The east end of the property is elevated and he thinks the fence would not be aesthetically appealing and believes trees would serve a better purpose. He also added the pickleball court is considered private and there would only be one court and it would therefore have less traffic. Mr. Fenlon said it would not be illuminated and there will be restricted use to the Lyngblomsten community. Mr. Laden wanted to know if any other areas on the property were considered for the pickleball court? Mr. Root thought that the court could be moved further to the northeast. Mr. Felon said a civil engineer looked at the property and it was determined to be the best area for drainage and enough room for handicapped accessibility. Mr. Root opened the public hearing at 6:58 p.m. Planning & Zoning Board November 8, 2023 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES Courtney Hoadley, 255 Ash Street, Lino Lakes, MN. Ms. Hoadley said when she measured her house to the proposed court it was 12 feet from her fence and 60 feet from her home. She said the court is exposed to her back yard and front yard. She said there is no privacy fence and only some bushes that are there. She said pickleball is a loud sport and the sound hitting the paddle in pickleball is at 70 decibels. She indicated that the City report had 40 to 70 but stated 40 was for tennis. She said 60 decibels was the maximum exposure for baby and toddlers and she has a toddler and a baby on the way and anytime they are outside they will be exposed to the additional noise. There are several townhouses and there is a possibility the game could be played all day. She said another concern is the court is visible from her front and back yard and wherever she is on her property she will be exposed to the court. Mrs. Hoadley thought the least that could be done if they do not move the pickleball court is to provide them with a 6 foot privacy fence that was offered to other residents. Martin Shockency, 255 Woodridge Lane, Lino Lakes MN 55014. Mr. Shockency said his concerns were noise, extra people and that Lyngblomsten did some things that were not good such as removing trees from his property. He said he was reimbursed for them but did not feel it was anywhere near what the trees were worth. He said he appreciated the Hoadley’s as neighbors and feels the treatment done to them is unnecessary. He also said his back yard used to be dark until the dump station came in and the light floods his back yard. Jessica Hidding, 692 County Road J West, Shoreview MN. Ms. Hidding wanted to know why the pickleball court was not in the original plan two years ago. She also said she is kiddy corner from where they are proposing the court go and said that the trees that they are proposing are not going to cover the area. There are trees there now that have been there for years and do not cover it. She feels the best option is to move the court. She has concerns about the noise, hours of operation and access. Ms. Hidding also addressed the buildings and businesses proposed for the property and thinks the pickleball court would be best indoors. She also feels communication from the City could be better. Thomas Dzik, 268 Rohavic Lane, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Mr. Dzik was not in favor of the fence due to his location and that he would see right through it. He said he also does not want to see the wetland boxed in. He is intending to plant trees in the back and would like to see the wildlife remain. Bill Olson, 283 Hammerly Court, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Mr. Olson said his patio is 30 ft to the top of the berm which is 4 to 6 ft high. He said if the 6 ft fence were put on the berm it would be a 10 ft block out. Mr. Olson presented a written statement with resident signatures in opposition to the fence height. The received written statement is attached for inclusion in the permanent record. Wallace Guptill, 298 Rohavic Lane, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Mr. Guptill had been in favor of the fence, but he lives in a two story house and the fence does not offer any obstruction to the court. He is in favor of using trees to screen the area. He said it is Planning & Zoning Board November 8, 2023 Page 4 APPROVED MINUTES private property and if they chose they could cut down the trees. He said it is not their preference and he would like to see more trees added to that area. Mr. Guptill said when they came in and cut trees down to make room for their homes, the red oaks began dying due to the added sunlight and dry weather. Jack Turner, 267 Hammerly Court, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Mr. Turner is in favor of the pickleball court. He understands the resident’s concerns but feels there is value to the residents to have the pickleball court and does not feel the effects of the court would be terrible. He researched pickleball courts and would argue that passing traffic or a toilet flushing is louder than a strike of a paddle from a 70 year old. He has no opinion as to where it is located but feels there is great value in having it and believes it would prolong the life of the residents. Marie Hammond, 263 Hammerly Court, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Ms. Hammond is not in favor of the fence and appreciates being close to nature. She thinks a fence would not be aesthetically appealing or would serve a purpose. Mr. Vojtech moved to close the public hearing. Motion seconded by Mr. Kohler. The public hearing was closed at 7:23 p.m. Mr. Root summarized resident concerns and asked the representative of Lyngblomsten to answer some concerns. Mr. Root asked about the trees that were taken down by mistake. Mr. Fenlon said the contractor did remove the trees and the resident was compensated. Mr. Root addressed the bright lighting at the lift station and Mr. Grochala said there were things they could do to adjust the lighting and the City would look into it. Mr. Wipperfurth stated he was against the pickleball court and the fence. He is in favor of adding more landscaping than was proposed. Mr. Laden thinks the pickleball court should be placed somewhere else on the property. Mr. Laden would like to see more landscaping on the property of Lyngblomsten so the buffer will stay intact. Mr. Root supported amending the PUD to not have the fence requirement and also agrees with a requirement for additional landscaping. Mr. Root is not in favor of the pickleball court at this time. He added that if it is the Board’s decision to go ahead with the pickleball court that there should be no lighting and controlled access. Mr. Root expressed it was a good amenity, just not at that location. Robert Hulse, 258 Rohavic, Lino Lakes MN 55014. Mr. Hulse said as a homeowner he would be willing to put in additional landscaping on his property. Mr. Root appreciated the idea but said that future homeowners could remove that buffer if it was on their property. Planning & Zoning Board November 8, 2023 Page 5 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Wipperfurth moved to amend the PUD amendment #2 subject to the removal of the fence along the north property line and with the condition that we would add landscaping completed by a landscape architect per the recommendation of staff and to not allow the pickleball court in the proposed location. Motion seconded by Mr. Evenson. Motion carried 7 - 0. B. Natures Refuge North PUD Concept Plan Review Ms. Larsen presented the staff report. The applicant, M/I Homes of Minneapolis/St. Paul, LLC, submitted a land use application for PUD Concept Plan review. The proposed residential development is a 108 lot single family conservation subdivision. The development contains 2 parcels totaling approximately 60 gross acres. It is located north of Natures Refuge and is called Natures Refuge North. Ms. Emily Baker, MNI Homes, 5354 Parkdale Drive, Suite 000, St Louis Park MN 55416. Ms. Baker covered the reasons for requesting flexibility. She said in terms of smaller lots that they are targeting the empty nesters who do not want larger lots and smaller lots would increase the availability of lower priced homes. Ms. Baker said there is an HOA that is enforced by the builder that prohibits garage use solely for storage and requires trailers and recreational vehicles to be kept in the garage when not in use. The regulation will be the responsibility of the HOA. She did say many of their plans have attic type storage and she addressed architectural features of the houses and the flexibility they were requesting. Mr. Vojtech inquired about the pricing of 80 ft wide lots. Mr. John Rask with M/I Homes stated those lots would start at around $550,000. The villa lots would be base price upper $400,000. Mr. Laden asked if the single family homes would be in the HOA like the villas and Ms. Baker stated they would not. She said they may be in a master HOA just to maintain common areas. Ms. Carol Featherstone, 631 Andall Street, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Ms. Featherstone said when she purchased the property she knew that the area was going to be developed and that a proposed road would go through her property to Nature’s Point. Ms. Featherstone stated her complaint is that her property will connect to three of the properties in the development. Ms. Featherstone said she enjoys nature and it is difficult to know that will be going away due to the development. She wanted to be sure the City was considering what the people wanted and not just what the developers wanted. She said she is concerned about the increased traffic. Planning & Zoning Board November 8, 2023 Page 6 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Wipperfurth wanted to know if there was intent to develop Wollan park more in the future? Mr. Grochala said it will be a natural open space park to improve the wetlands there and long term to get some trails. Mr. Wipperfurth went on to address concerns with street width reduction and saving trees in the area. He thinks it is an excellent opportunity for trails in that area and a non-traditional park. Mr. Laden questioned if sidewalks are required, and Ms. Larsen stated they were. He also addressed concerns with architectural standards regarding lot sizes. Mr. Laden asked if there was a park planned for this development. Ms. Larsen said there is a plan for a neighborhood park, but the comp plan also discusses an opportunity to have a partnership with the school. If the school is not interested, there would need to be further discussion with the Park Board. Mr. Root thought that the design of the house needed to be looked at more closely and did not like the “all garage” look to the house. Ms. Stewart had concerns regarding the density in the development. Mr. Root summarized that everyone seemed to be in favor of the open space and there were mixed opinions regarding the architectural standards. Ms. Larsen questioned the Board if the developer should be required to hold neighborhood meetings prior to Preliminary Plan and Preliminary Plat? The Board agreed they should. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. 49/J Streetscape Discussion Mr. Grochala presented the concept design for the roundabout at Hodgson Road and County J. B. Project Updates Staff provided an update on projects. Mr. Wipperfurth moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by Mr. Vojtech. Meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Julie Whitney – Community Development Administrative Assistant