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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/10/1996 P&Z Minutes• CITY OF LINO LAKES PLANNING & ZONING BOARD MINUTES DATE : January 10, 1996 TIME STARTED : 6 :38 p.m. TIME ENDED : 7:52 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Gelbmann(arrived at 6:42 p.m.), Herr, Johnson, Mesich, Robinson, >.Schaps, MEMBERS ABSENT : Schones ALSO PRESENT : Planning Coordinator Wyland, Planning Consultant Kirmis, Economic Developer Wessel, Engineer Ahrens. I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Al Robinson made a MOTION to approve the minutes of the November 8, 1995 meeting as submitted and was supported by William Johnson. Motion carried 5 -0. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Item III A., Election of Chair and Vice Chair for 1996 was added to the agenda. Chair Schaps noted for the audience that items A and B Public Hearings, had been requested to be continued by the applicant and items D and E Public Hearings, will be opened and continued to the February meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board. A. Elect Chair and Vice Chair for 1996 William Johnson made a MOTION to nominate James Schaps as Chair of the Planning Commission for the year of 1996 and was supported by Al Robinson. William Johnson made a MOTION to close the nominations for Chair of the Planning & Zoning Board and was supported by Al Robinson. Al Robinson made a MOTION to nominate William Johnson as Vice Chair of the Planning & Zoning Board for 1996 and was supported by Guy Herr. All voted in favor of James Schaps serving as Chair of the Planning & Zoning Board for the year of 1996. The motion carried. All voted in favor of William Johnson serving as Vice Chair of the Planning & Zoning Board for the year 1996. The motion carried. IV. OPEN MIKE: Chair Schaps declared the Open Mike portion of the meeting open at 6:42 p.m. Commissioner Gelbmann arrived at 6:42 p.m. • • PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 Hearing no public comments at this time, Tom Mesich made a MOTION to close the Open Mike portion of the meeting at 6:43 p.m. and was supported by Al Robinson. All voted aye. Motion carried. V. ACTION ITEMS: A. CONTINUATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING - 95 -31 -Z, Rezoning, Esther Wenzel Noren, South of Aqua Lane, West of County Park, Rezone from GB to R3. Chair Schaps noted a request had been received by the applicant to continue the Public Hearing until further notice. Guy Herr made a MOTION to continue the Public Hearing regarding the Rezoning for Esther Noren, South of Aqua Lane, West of County Park, Rezone from GB to R3 until date determined by the applicant at which time the Public Hearing will be republished and was supported by Thomas Mesich. All voted in favor. Motion carried. B. PUBLIC HEARING - 95 -32 -Z, Rezoning, Roger Hokanson, North of Aqua Lane and East of Lake Drive, Rezone from R4 to GB Chair Schaps noted a request had been received from the applicant to table this matter. Al Robinson made a MOTION to table the request for Rezoning, Roger Hokanson, North of Aqua Lane and East of Lake Drive from R4 to GB until further notice at which time the Public Hearing will be republished and was supported by Thomas Mesich. All voted in favor. Motion carried. C. 96 -1 -S, Site Plan Review and Variance, Anoka County Correction, 7555 4th Avenue, Juvenile Detention Facility Planning Coordinator Wyland briefly reviewed the staff report regarding the request of Anoka County Corrections for site plan review and variance to allow construction of a 36 bed Juvenile Detention Center, approximately 10,664 square feet in area, on its property at 7555 4th Avenue (south /west corner of Lilac and 4th Avenue). Additionally, they are requesting a five foot side yard setback variance. Ms. Wyland recommended approval of the site plan subject to the following conditions: 1. Proper building permits be obtained prior to construction, this building permit shall include utility fees as calculated by the City Engineer. 2. Proper sign permits shall be obtained prior to any sign installation. • • • PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 3. Final utility, drainage and grading plans shall be approved by the City Engineer. 4. The parking area shall be provided with a hard surface with concrete curb and gutter surrounding all access drives and parking areas. 5. Existing screening shall be maintained along Lilac Drive. 6. The County shall provide additional street lighting on 4th Avenue, Lilac Drive and Apollo Drive as determined by the City Engineer in conjunction with the Police Chief. Ms. Wyland stated staff is suggesting the Planning and Zoning Board recognize the variance but with the intent of the express condition that Anoka County purchase the required additional five feet from the State of Minnesota. Anoka County has agreed to make a good faith effort to acquire the necessary property. Chair Schaps asked if the present facility had ever been used to house violent offenders of any age. Dan Ceynowa, Superintendent stated the facility has. The current facility is licensed by the Department of Corrections as a Secure Juvenile Center and is licensed to house violent offenders. The proposed structure will be licensed to house criminal offenders, some will be of violent nature and others property offenses. Chair Schaps asked if the intent was to seek a violent crime house in Lino Lakes. Mr. Ceynowa stated this facility would not be specific to violent offenders. Chair Schaps asked Mr. Ceynowa if he was aware of the concerns expressed by the police department. Mr. Ceynowa stated he and Chief Pechia would be meeting on January 18 to discuss these concerns. He noted the biggest concern would be to develop the emergency response plans. This would relate to ambulance and fire issues. Chair Schaps asked since this was a state - funded project operated by Anoka County, was it a profit or non - profit business. Mr. Ceynowa stated the project was funded 50% by the State of Minnesota and 50% by Anoka County. 3 PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 411 Chair Schaps asked how the structure would benefit Anoka • • County and the City of Lino Lakes. Mr. Ceynowa stated the area does not currently have a maximum security facility. Hennepin and Ramsey Counties have had such facilities for a long time and have had no escapes at the facilities. Mr. Ceynowa reported the building they are currently using is 32 years old. It has been renovated to try to create maximum security. He noted the benefit of a structure such as this was to create a more secure alternative for Anoka County youth and youths of other counties. There has been an increase in the amount of serious juvenile crime and it is important to improve the quality of security provided. Chair Schaps asked how this facility would compare to the facility in Red Wing or the St. Croix Camp. Mr. Ceynowa stated St. Croix Camp is a minimal security facility and Red Wing is classified as a medium security facility. Mr. Mesich asked how many jobs the facility would provide. Mr. Ceynowa stated the facility would employ approximately 20 probation officers and detention officers along with a superintendent, treatment specialist and three teachers. Chair Schaps questioned the land purchase issues. Planning Coordinator Wyland suggested that rather than grant the variance, since there is not the criteria to grant the variance, it be made a condition of occupancy of the building that the five foot issue be resolved. Chair Schaps asked when the building would be ready to be occupied. Mr. Ceynowa stated the building should be ready in approximately 16 months. Planning Consultant Kirmis recommended the variance not be granted due to the fact that it did not meet the City's criteria. An alternative would be to approve the site plan with a condition that the building not be occupied until the building setback has been met or the additional land required has been purchased. Ms. Margaret Langfeld, Anoka County Commissioner, stated similar situations exist where the County has been trying to purchase land from the State of Minnesota for years 4 • • • PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 and the issues have not been resolved. She stated she could not honestly say that the issue could be resolved within 16 months. Mr. Ceynowa expressed his concern that this could create a situation of a four million dollar facility being completed and not being allowed to be occupied. He noted Anoka County is actively pursuing the purchase of the land. Mr. Johnson asked if the condition could be attached and if in 16 months, the issue is not resolved, the time period could be extended in some way. He also questioned if such a condition would encourage the State of Minnesota to resolve the issue more quickly. Mr. Ceynowa noted Mr. Jerry Soma, Director of the project, does have the intent to pursue the security of the land but in many fashions has no control. Mr. Mesich noted the Planning and Zoning Board had granted variances for the size of buildings for a church and a Dairy Queen due to the unique circumstances involved. He stated he felt a variance could be justified for the same reasons in this circumstance. Chair Schaps asked about the City's request for additional lighting. Ms. Langfeld stated that issue would have to be considered by the Anoka County Board and Public Works Department. She stated their budget was extremely tight. She noted some of the requested lights were a fair distance away from the facility. She stated Anoka County had agreed to pursue the issue. Chair Schaps asked if a holding cell would be included in the facility. Mr. Langfeld stated this issue has been discussed in a work session with the City Council. This is an issue for many local governments and is hoped to be included in the project. She stated the big issue surrounding this is transportation. Mr. Ceynowa stated there is a meeting scheduled with Chief Pechia and hopefully a firm decision will be reached prior to the City Council meeting. Mr. Tom Dunwell, Architect, explained the reason the facility was being located adjacent to the existing Juvenile Center is that there is an existing gym which would be shared by both facilities. There will be cells 5 • PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 on two levels. Due to security issues, the cells have to be located on the side so as not to look at the rest of the Juvenile Center. The size of the facility is mandated by the State Correction Department and has been reduced to the minimum allowed size. The property line goes at an angle. The site is so restrictive that it seems reasonable to allow a five foot variance. Mr. Dunwell noted there is a considerable amount of open space. He stated Anoka County does intend to actively pursue the purchase of the necessary land but does not feel the opening of the facility should be tied to whether the County is successful or not. He reported this project involves 11 other counties. The State of Minnesota is helping to fund the project. The involved counties worked together to determine the location that would accommodate the largest at risk population. This project was required to go through a pre- design admission to justify the cost of the facility. The project saves $1 million by locating here due to the road and gym being in place. The funds for the project have now been allocated. He stated he felt the five foot variance was very necessary and should not affect the ability to go ahead with this project. • Mr. Mesich asked at what point the architect became aware of the five foot setback problem. Mr. Dunwell stated when the project was first initiated, they were intending to request a zero lot line. Now the project has been fully designed on CAD and the project is able to attain a five foot setback. Mr. Mesich asked if the building could be flipped the other direction. Mr. Dunwell noted it could not due to the location of the front main entrance and the need to face the cells away from the adult facility. Mr. Gelbmann asked how many of the 36 beds would be allocated to Anoka County. Mr. Ceynowa stated 33 beds total have been allocated. Five of the beds have been allocated to Anoka County and three beds have not been firmly contracted by other counties. Mr. Gelbmann asked what the average stay of an inmate would be in this facility. • Mr. Ceynowa stated the facility had two purposes. One was detention. This could require a two hour to a thirty 6 • • PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 day stay. The other purpose was short term treatment. This could require a stay of up to 90 days. Mr. Gelbmann asked how many transports would be made per day. Mr. Ceynowa estimated approximately three to four transports would be made per day. Mr. Herr questioned the fencing that was proposed for the outdoor activity area. Mr. Dunwell stated a contemporary fencing system will be used. This type of fence is being utilized in all maximum facilities now because it does not have any razor or ribbon wire fence. It is made with a curve and mesh so tight that nothing can get in and gravity prohibits the ability to get over. For security purposes, the facility will also utilize direct supervision and cameras. Mr. Johnson noted in the long run it would be better to move the property line than to grant the variance. He would prefer to attach a condition rather than grant the variance. If the condition is not met within 16 months, it can again be considered and an extension granted or other conditions be placed on anything else the State wants to build. William Johnson made a MOTION to approve application 96- 1-S, Anoka County Corrections, 7555 4th Avenue, Juvenile Detention Facility Site Plan Review subject to conditions 1 through 6 as stated by staff and condition 7 that proper setbacks be obtained by a land transfer prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy and the City of Lino Lakes will consider an extension of time in which to complete the purchase assuming the land purchase is not completed in the stated amount of time and was supported by Guy Herr. All voted in favor. Motion carried. D. CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING - Metal Building Ordinance Chair Schaps noted staff has requested the public hearing for this item be canceled. This item had been continued since the October meeting. The plan is to incorporate revisions to this section of the Zoning Ordinance into the overall Zoning Ordinance Update rather than address it as a separate item. Al Robinson made a MOTION to close the Public Hearing at 7:45 p.m. on January 10, 1996 for the Metal Building Ordinance and reopen and republish for the February 14 7 PLANNING & ZONING BOARD JANUARY 10, 1996 • meeting and was supported by Tom Mesich. All voted in • favor. Motion carried. E. CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING - Animal Ordinance Chair Schaps noted staff had requested this item be continued due to a city -wide neighborhood meeting scheduled for January 18, 1996. Planning Coordinator Wyland reported interested residents will be members of the committee that is meeting on January 18, 1996. A notice had been put in the paper to advertise the meeting scheduled for January 18 at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. Rick Gelbmann made a MOTION to continue the Public Hearing for Animal Ordinance until the February 14 meeting and was supported by William Johnson. All voted in favor. Motion carried. VI. DISCUSSION: Ms. Wyland reminded the Planning and Zoning board members of a work session which was scheduled to discuss the zoning ordinance on January 12 at 7:00 a.m. Mayor Landers was present and stated he had met with Centennial School and they have agreed to work to determine the number of homes the City of Lino Lakes could build and how many children could be contained in the school district without adding undue stress to the existing structures. White Bear School is in the process of doing the same and information will be available by the end of January. He stated he had talked with the Forest Lake School District and they reported the child population coming to them from Lino Lakes has decreased in the past year. A joint meeting with the P & Z and City Council will be scheduled for a later date to review the School Districts input. VII. ADJOURNMENT: Al Robinson made a MOTION to adjourn the meeting at 7:52 p.m. and was supported by William Johnson. All voted in favor. Motion carried. 8