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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/11/2003 P&Z MinutesAPPROVED MINUTES CITY OF LINO LAKES PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MINUTES I.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Schaps called the Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning Board meeting to order at 6:36 p.m., June 11, 2003. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Schaps requested additions or deletions to this evening’s agenda. Hearing none, the agenda was approved as submitted. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 14, 2003 Mr. Corson made a MOTION to approve the minutes of the May 14, 2003, meeting of the Lino Lakes Planning and Zoning Board, and was supported by Mr. Rafferty. Motion carried 5-0-1. Ms. Lane abstained. IV.OPEN MIKE Chair Schaps declared Open Mike open at 6:37 p.m. No one was present for Open Mike. Ms. Lane made a MOTION to close Open Mike at 6:37 p.m., and was supported by Mr. Rafferty. Motion carried 6-0. DATE: June 11, 2003 TIME STARTED: 6:30 P.M. TIME ENDED: 7:14 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Corson, Hyden, Lane, Lyden, Rafferty, Schaps and Tralle MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jeff Smyser; Michael Grochala; Tanda Gretz; James Studenski Planning & Zoning Board June 11, 2003 Page 2 APPROVED MINUTES V.ACTION ITEMS A. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING, Bruggeman Properties, SE corner of Birch Street and Hodgson Road, Prelimin ary Plat, Rezone, CUP and Site Plan Review – Jeff Smyser Chair Schaps advised that this application has been withdrawn by the applicant and will be resubmitted as a new application to include the entire property. Mr. Tralle made a MOTION to close the public hearing at 6:39 p.m., and was supported by Mr. Rafferty. Motion carried 6-0. Mr. Corson inquired if the residents will receive a new notice regarding this public hearing. Chair Schaps responded in the affirmative. B. PUBLIC HEARING, Discount Ti re, 633 Apollo Drive, Site Plan Review and CUP – Mike Grochala Chair Schaps noted that this public hearing will be continued to July. Ms. Lane made a MOTION to continue the public hearing to July of 2003, and was supported by Mr. Tralle. Motion carried 6-0. VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Banners, as they relate to the City Sign Ordinance – Jeff Smyser Mr. Smyser presented the staff report regarding banners as they relate to the Sign Ordinance and advised that staff has seen an increase in these signs of late in Lino Lakes. He presented staff’s analysis along with photocopies of several instances of banners and other temporary signage currently found in Lino Lakes. Mr. Smyser asked for direction from the Board on how to address the issue. Chair Schaps noted it appears in certain cases the ordinance is being violated, probably unknowingly. Mr. Rafferty stated this relates to aesthetics and the City should step forward and curtail it. Mr. Corson suggested a maximum square footage such as 32 square feet be enforced, which is the limit enforced in other cities. He commented they need to keep the situation under control so they do not look like Las Vegas. Ms. Lane suggested some limits be placed, as banners begin to look tattered if they have been up for too long. Planning & Zoning Board June 11, 2003 Page 3 APPROVED MINUTES Mr. Tralle inquired about the use of flags shown in one of the photographs. Mr. Smyser replied these are streamers, they fall under the classification of portable signs and are not typically allowed without a permit, like banners. There are places that get told to take them down and six months later put them back up. Mr. Hyden asked if a permit is required each time a sign is put up. Mr. Smyser responded a permit would be required each time a portable sign is put up. The cost would be less than $100 for the permit. Mr. Lyden stated there is a difference as to whether the sign is attached to the building or not. These restrictions would do what he w ould like, however, he does not want to over- regulate either. He noted ninety % of the banners will be regulated to liquor stores and those types of places. He also stated while they are discussing aesthetics, the grass that is ten feet high in front of the City Hall is an eyesore coming into the City. Chair Schaps asked if the Council has discussed this. Mr. Smyser responded they have not discussed it to any degree. Business owners came to a Council worksession stating that they should be able to have banners when they had been informed to take them down. The Council directed staff to look into this. He indicated staff will come back to the Board with a matrix of different options at the next Commission meeting. The Board directed staff to come back with a fee schedule also. B. Fabric Accessory Structures, used as Carports – Jeff Smyser Mr. Smyser advised that a number of residents are constructing temporary fabric structures, primarily for storage of vehicles. This is a relatively new product that typically consists of aluminum poles with plastic fabric stretched over the poles. He presented the staff report and explained that staff is bringing the issue to the Planning & Zoning Board for discussion to if see sta ff should pursue adding language to the Zoning Ordinance to address this type of structure. Chair Schaps stated the very nature of these structures is temporary. Mr. Tralle suggested the structures not be a llowed in the front yard or visible from the front street. Mr. Rafferty stated neighbors do not have an interest in looking at something like this and it causes rifts in neighborhoods. The people that put these up do not protect the rights of the individuals that live next to them. This relates to aesthetics and the City should step forward. Mr. Lyden commented residents can be fiercely independent, whether it concerns the wrecked vehicle or the garbage ordinance. This will be a ‘slippery slope’ and he questions where they will end if they start here. He noted some people may not want to allow something like trampolines. He agrees with a requirement for the structures to Planning & Zoning Board June 11, 2003 Page 4 APPROVED MINUTES meet setbacks and the City has brought this on by allowing houses to be built on such small lots. Ms. Lane suggested the structures be restrict ed from visibility from the street, with a placement restriction in the back yard so side neighbors do not have to view them. Mr. Corson suggested as a minimum the structures should be well maintained. Mr. Hyden indicated he agrees in allowing the structures for temporary use. If they are used for storage the property owner should obtain an accessory structure permit. Chair Schaps stated this should be recognized as a temporary structure, which can be allowed with a permit for a time period of several months. It would not be wise to put these structures up in the winter due to possible damage by snow. Mr. Smyser explained this issue has not been discussed by the City Council. There has not been any enforcement action on these structures. When residents have inquired what is allowed with the structures staff has informed them they must meet setbacks and accessory square footage requirements on the lot. There is nothing in the ordinance, however, that states that. Many of the stru ctures have been put up without notifying the City. He advised if something is done from a regulatory standpoint the zoning ordinance would need to be amended. He explained when staff first started seeing these structures a few years ago they questioned if they would be a safety hazard due to the possibility of them being crushed by snow. Most of the structures, however, are to cover things such as boats. Staff did not believe there would be safety issues from that standpoint. Chair Schaps suggested there be an exception to the permit requirement for a situation such as a party, as the structure would only be needed for a day or two. He directed staff to bring the suggestions of the Commission to the Council for discussion. Mr. Tralle commented not all of these structures are cheap. There are some structures that can house four rv’s at a cost of $6,000. Chair Schaps inquired if a structure of that size would fall under the accessory structure ordinance. Mr. Smyser responded it is very common in situations like this for the manufacturer to say a permit is not required. That, however, is up to the individual municipality. Mr. Tralle asked how a large structure like this would fit into a rural zone. Mr. Smyser responded currently the amount of allowed accessory building space is dependent on the size of the lot, and the temporary structures could be included in this. Mr. Tralle questioned if passing an ordinance in relation to these structures would create another ordinance that is not going to be enforced. Mr. Lyden asked how many inquiries or complaints staff receives regarding these structures in a one year period. Mr. Smyser responded in the last 12 months staff has Planning & Zoning Board June 11, 2003 Page 5 APPROVED MINUTES been contacted regarding this approximately 12 times, with two or three of these being complaints. They are not peppered with complaints, but by the time we are, there would already be a problem. He indicated staff will discuss the suggestions of the Commission and bring back the possibilities to be considered. They may not even want to deal with it, but he thinks it is important to have the discussion. VII.ADJOURNMENT Mr. Rafferty made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 7:14 p.m., and was supported by Ms. Lane. Motion carried 6-0. Respectfully submitted, Carol Hamer, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc .