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Home My WebLink AboutPZ Minutes; 8-10-15Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-10-15 City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of August 10, 2015 Chairman Dodson called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Dodson, Dorschner, Williams, Fields, Larson, and Griffin Kreimer (joined late) COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Haggard STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Klatt, Contract City Planner Gozola, and Interim Administrator Schroeder Approve Agenda: The agenda was accepted as presented. Approve Minutes: July 13, 2015 M/S/P: Williams/Fields, move to approve minutes as presented, Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously. Presentations: Manning Avenue Project Presentation – Washington County Ticknor presented an overview of the project and the corridor. There is a proposed realignment of Trunk Highway 5 and Manning Avenue. Highway 5 was recently turned back to the County. The Council is interested in how some of these alternatives will affect the land use for this area. Manning is an important corridor as it is the primary north/south arterial roadway and is part of the regional transportation system. Larson stated that it is a good plan but is concerned about intersections at TH5 and access from neighborhoods. Why not add a round-a-bout or other controlled intersection to help manage this traffic. Ticknor stated that the proposed spacing would allow for future signalization. Williams asked why the realigned 14 would not follow the section line? Ticknor stated that the proposed alignment allows for turning movements into the Holiday Station store, shifts the road further from private property owners along the corridor, and minimizes the curve of the road through existing farmland. 2 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-10-15 The Commission had questions about the cul-de-sac. Dodson asked where the airport safety zones crossed this area and what happens north of the project area. Ticknor stated that they will need to expand to four lanes and the county is looking at the need for a signal at 50th Street. Dodson asked if a new traffic signal at 17 will make it easier to get on and off of Highway 5? Ticknor stated that there is not much of an impact. It is mostly driven by overall increases in development. Dodson asked if the narrower shoulders will be six feet minimum. Ticknor stated that yes on both sides and saves four feet. Klatt presented a summary of land use issue in the area. There is a question regarding the commercial at the existing intersection and also about the airport buffer zones. There were other questions from the Planning Commission. Public Comments: John Hodler, Fields of St. Croix Assoc, proposed removing the existing highway 5 from the plans to help eliminate shortcuts and other problems. Jim Ogren, Fields of St. Croix Assoc, Concern with lack of signal, cut-through traffic using the old highway 5 road. He would like to see techniques used to slow traffic including some signage. Williams would like to see a signal at old highway 5 and Manning Avenue. Concept C with a signal at old Highway 5 would be preferred. M/S/P: Williams/Larson, Move to support signal light at old Highway 5 and Manning along with concept C that shows road going through, Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously. Williams would like to see airport zones and realignment before the land use can be talked about. Klatt presented a runway plan and stated that the City’s position would be to adopt zoning first as a negotiating tool to use with the MAC. Dorschner thinks there might be an opportunity for mixed use zoning. M/S/P: Dodson/Williams, Move to endorse maintenance of buffer zone throughout this area, Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously. M/S/P: Dorschner/Griffin, Move to recommend a mixed use similar to the I-94 corridor zoning category allowing a wider range of options, Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously. Fields would like the City to consider preserving land for commercial development and to keep it for higher value uses. 3 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-10-15 Public Hearing: Open Space Development Concept Plan – Legends - Withdrawn Public Hearing: Preliminary Plat/Plan and Final Plat/Plan – Owners Insurance Company Gozola presented summary and report concerning proposed preliminary and final PUD plans for Auto Owners Insurance. This application would replat Outlot A to create HOA 3rd addition within the Eagle Point Business Park in order to construct an approximate 30,000 square foot office building with potential future expansion to 44,000 square feet. The company predicts they will bring 150 new jobs to the City with that number rising to 250 with the expansion. This plans shows 2 signs on it, but if this plan is approved, the signs and locations would not be approved with it. That would be a separate review. The building does meet size and setback requirements. The height is met as well as the design standards. There will be no roof equipment. That will all be inside. The lot is accessed off of Eagle Point Circle. This site is served by City Sewer and Water. They will be required to meet the BMP for Surface Water Management. There is 156 stalls for parking which meets City requirements and setback requirements. There will be a sidewalk connecting to the Machine Shed. Staff is recommending approval with conditions in staff report in addition to 2 suggested by the City Engineer. Williams has concern with the roofline as it has no peaks or valleys and no articulation in the walls. He feels other buildings in the business park have a better design. There was a general discussion and questions for the applicant. Dan Keefe, Auto Owners, stated that they are excited about this opportunity to build in Lake Elmo. They are a fortune 500 national business and will be celebrating their 100 year anniversary in business. Todd Gutt, the architect spoke regarding the plan and roofline. The applicant was open to looking at alternatives for the roofline. Public Hearing opened at 9:38pm The City received no written or electronic correspondence. Public Hearing closed at 9:39 pm Gozola recommended addition of 2 conditions suggested by the City Engineer and one additional condition concerning a storm water easement, which Gozola suggested should read, “ The applicant shall enter into an agreement with the property owner to 4 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-10-15 the West agreeing to take on that site’s stormwater as identified by the proposed plans”. These conditions would be numbered 11, 12 and 13. M/S/P: Dorschner/Fields, Move to recommend approval with findings as drafted with the 13 conditions as recommended, Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously. M/S/P: Williams/Larson, motion to amend, findings B – add “but the design could benefit from additional roofline and wall façade articulation.” Vote: 7-0, motion carried unanimously. Business Items: Zoning Text Amendment – Subdivision Identification Signs Klatt started his presentation by going through the history. This item went to City Council on July 21, 2015 and the Council requested that the Planning Commission consider reducing the maximum size of the neighborhood identification sign from 32 square feet to 24 square feet. The draft ordinance has been updated to reflect that change. Williams is concerned with the size of the support structure and would like to see it proportionate to the actual sign. Klatt stated that the monument signs are part of the subdivision submittal with the landscape plan. He brought up the Savona sign for an example for discussion. M/S/P: Williams/Fields, Move to recommend the size of the sign be 24 square feet and add 6th section that face area of support structure shall be no more than 2x the area of the sign, Vote: 5-2 motion carried. Kreimer voted no as he is ok with the size, but not regulating support structures. Dorschner voted no as he wants to make sure the sign can look nice and is concerned about dictating size of support structure. General discussion regarding the number of signs. The Commission consensus was to keep it at 2 per neighborhood. Council Updates – July 7, 2015 Meeting 1. Zoning Text Amendment – Accessory Building Setbacks Urban Districts – Passed. 2. Lennar Twin Home Preliminary Plat – Passed. 3. Easton Village Trunk Sewer Update. 4. Zoning Text Amendment – Commercial Wedding Venue – Tabled. 5. Preliminary & Final Plat – Halcyon Cemetery – Tabled. 6. Final Plat, Final PUD and Zoning Map Amendment – Wildflower at Lake Elmo – Passed. Staff Updates 5 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 8-10-15 1. Upcoming Meetings a. August 24, 2015 b. September 14, 2015 Commission Concerns Dorchner asked about the status of Hammes Estates. Klatt stated that there has been a dispute between the trust, the land owner and the developer concerning aspects of the project. Klatt stated that they are beyond the deadline for getting the plat recorded. There has been grading done, but that was done under the mining operation. At this point, there has been no specific approvals given by the City. Dodson would like to request commercial buildings put in bike lockers and shower facilities for commuters. The rest of the Commission felt that a decision like that should be left to each business owner. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm Respectfully submitted, Joan Ziertman Planning Program Assistant