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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/18/2009 P&Z Minutes APPROVED MINUTES CITY OF LINO LAKES PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Chair Tralle called the Lino Lakes Planning and Zon ing Board meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. on November 18, 2009. II. APROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved as presented. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October 14, 2009 Mr. Hyden made a MOTION to approve the October 14, 2009 Minutes. Motion was supported by Mr. Nelson. Motion carried 6 - 0. IV. OPEN MIKE Chair Tralle declared Open Mike at 6:38 p.m. Mr. John Freimuth, 7381 Jon Ave, stated that he is interested in moving three businesses into the city. Through his discussions with city s taff, he was informed that one business does not fit into the existing zoning for the prope rty. This business is an appliance and recycling company, and city ordinance does not allo w junk yards in the zone he is interested in. The building he is looking at is lo cated at 6931 Lake Drive, formerly Bill’s Rental Center. Mr. Freimuth explained that his bus iness is specifically a recycling collection center. He is licensed to collect appli ances that involve hazardous waste, such as refrigerators with freon, compressors with oil, and fluorescent bulbs with mercury. He would store all items inside and follow proper disp osal procedures for all items. He is DATE : November 18, 2009 TIME STARTED : 6:37 P.M. TIME ENDED : 8:37 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Elizabeth Brady, Michael Hyden, Perry Laden, Robert Nelson, Brian Pogalz (Vice Chair), Michael Root, Paul Tralle (Chair) MEMBERS ABSENT : None STAFF PRESENT : Paul Bengtson, Michael Grochala, Jeff Smyser, Jim Studenski Planning & Zoning Board November 18, 2009 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES also a licensed insurance agent, and the building h as an 800 sq. foot office with a basement. He would run a data storage company to s tore data for websites, but the city did not have issues with the part of his business. He stated that the recycling business would be open to the public, and he would be able t o accept many items free of charge. He has state, county and federal government permit approval for recycling as well as a hazardous waste generator license and freon license . He accepts appliance deliveries about two to three times per week from a 20-yard ro ll-off. He currently runs his recycling business in Columbus. He is aware that a dditional work would need to be done to the existing building. He is interested in movi ng into the site as soon as possible. He would like to get city approval and purchase the bu ilding before the draft Comp Plan is adopted and goes into effect. He knows that the sp rinkler system is insufficient, and he would speak to the fire department about the possib ility of converting to a dry pressure system. Paul Bengtson, Associate Planner, explained that th e location of the building crosses the property line of the adjoining lot. Mr. Freimuth w ould need to combine the lots, or remove the back portion of the building that crosse s the lot line. He stated the parking area should also be combined. Mr. Freimuth responded that he is interested in pur chasing both lots. The Board asked what would be necessary for a recyc ling company to be allowed. Mr. Bengtson stated that the interpretation by staf f of the zoning ordinance is that this use qualifies as a junk yard. An applicant could reque st a change, and the city would then have to consider all possible effects. Mr. Freimuth would like to occupy and fix the exist ing building and make future improvements if he is financially able. He is awar e that the site would require considerable screening. Jeff Smyser, City Planner, reminded the board that the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Panel considered this site a gateway area to the ci ty. Therefore, they guided the site for commercial use in order to facilitate higher value development there that could finance extending city utilities to the site. Chair Tralle commented that this piece of property has been vacant for some time, and felt that Mr. Friemuth could work with the city to improve and use the site. Otherwise, it may remain unused for a long time. He pointed out the importance of a positive business owner interested in an unused site. Staff explained that an application would have to b e submitted to the city, along with appropriate fees and an escrow deposit. Review cou ld potentially take up to six months before the site could be used. Mr. Freimuth stated that he was looking for directi on from the board before making a financial investment. Planning & Zoning Board November 18, 2009 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES The majority of board members agreed that they were generally in favor of this type of use in the city, but not necessarily at this partic ular location. Board members pointed out that this is a “gateway” location to the city. The Board suggested that Mr. Freimuth could consider a different property. Jason Snyder, 7090 20 th Ave S., owner of Bobby & Steve’s Auto World, is in terested in a bigger sign on the freeway. He has been speaking w ith city staff and is hoping that the board is interested in helping an existing business succeed. He would like to be allowed a 65-foot high sign. He pointed out that the previ ous owner, Joan Tschida, put in a request for a 65 foot sign and was denied, and she went out of business. He is looking to be more visible from the freeway, and considers him self to be a freeway business. Mr. Bengtson stated that the existing sign is the m aximum size allowable by ordinance. The motor fuel station site is separated from the f reeway by a small parcel and road right- of-way, therefore the site is not considered to be adjacent to the freeway. Mr. Bengtson also pointed out that property owners are not allow ed off-premise signs. The majority of board members agreed that they woul d generally be in favor of allowing increased sign height in relation to the freeway. Mr. Bengtson stated that a variance to the sign ord inance would not be allowed, therefore the existing ordinance would need to be amended. M r. Snyder was directed to apply for an amendment if he wished to proceed. Mr. Pogalz made a MOTION to close Open Mike at 7:31 p.m. Motion was supported by Mr. Laden. Motion carried 6 - 0. V. ACTION ITEMS A. None VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. CSAH 34 (Birch Street) Corridor Study – SRF Consult ing Group and Anoka County Brian Shorten and John Hagen of SRF Consulting Grou p, and Jack Corkle of the Anoka County Highway Department, were present to update t he board on the progress of the CSAH 34 Corridor Study. Mr. Shorten made a presentation to explain the proc ess and progress. They will return to the city to make future presentations. The goal of the study is to plan and develop CSAH 3 4 to function as a safe east-west minor arterial. Objectives include improving safet y, improving mobility, and coordinating transportation improvements and land u se plans. The study is approximately 2/3 complete. Planning & Zoning Board November 18, 2009 Page 4 APPROVED MINUTES A vehicle trace study was conducted and results sho wed that the majority of traffic on CSAH 34 has a local purpose. Traffic modeling resolved that improvements to Coun ty Road J would have little impact on CSAH 34 traffic volumes. Additional capacity on County Road J will not redue the need for CSAH 34 improvements. Proposed corridor improvements will be staged over the next 20+ years. Improvement sequencing will be triggered by safety and capacity needs, amount of corridor development, available funding, and benefits from i nterim improvements. Possible staging scenarios were discussed. County access spacing guidelines were discussed. S afety benefits such as raised medians and two-way left-turn lanes were considered. Mr. Shorten described access modification strategie s. A set of guidelines was developed to determine when access modification will be under taken. Access modification guidelines include: 1. Raised medians constructed with all new traffic sig nals 2. Painted medians and turn lanes will be used until o therwise necessary 3. Raised medians implemented more extensively with ne w road construction 4. Painted medians used until issues require the exten sion of the raised medians Current access will be maintained until traffic, sa fety and congestion needs arise or as improvements are constructed. Jack Corkle stated that feedback has shown that res idents do not want to see a four-lane roadway overnight. Residents want a gradual increa se of change only as it becomes necessary. This corridor offers more flexibility than many other in the twin cities area, with different funding sources. Without available money, improvements will need to be made in stages. In areas where there is not an ant iciped area of change in development, improvements can be staged to the future. Ms. Corkle explained that cities and counties have no authority to change speed limits. Birch Street is currently set at 50 mph and was pre viously 55 mph. An 85 th percentile of current traffic speed is what is used to set or cha nge a speed limit. It is anticpated that the speed will drop on the western end with an increase of traffic. Ms. Corkle discussed the funding process, explainin g that it is hard to get money right now. The county applies for grants to fund many of its projects. A Highway Safety Improvement Program offers up to two million dollar s, but is competitive throughout the metro area. As part of the process, they must go t hrough a benefit cost analysis, which is based on crash history, the number and severity of crashes. There needs to be a number Planning & Zoning Board November 18, 2009 Page 5 APPROVED MINUTES of injury accidents to score well, and this roadway would probably not score well. The county is always creative in trying to find new fun ding sources. Ms. Corkle added that the existing road would not m eet the state standard for two-way turn lanes. She added that two-way turn lanes are not as safe on a high-speed roadway, as head on crashes would be quite dangerous. VII. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Brady made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Motion was supported by Mr. Pogalz. Motion carried 6 - 0. Respectfully submitted, Dawn Bugge Community Development Assistant