HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ Minutes; 4-13-20
City of Lake Elmo
Planning Commission Meeting
Minutes of Monday April 13, 2020
Commissioner Cadenhead called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning
Commission at 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Cadenhead, Risner, Graen, Holtz, Mueller, Steil, and Weeks
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Roberts, Planner Prchal
Approve Agenda:
M/S/P: Holtz/Graen moved to approve the agenda, Vote: 7-0, motion carried
unanimously.
Approve Minutes:
a. February 10, 2020: M/S/P: Steil/Graen moved to table the approval of the
minutes. Vote: 7-0, motion carried.
Public Hearings
A. Conditional Use Permit Amendment: Stillwater School District (#834) school bus
terminal (11530 Hudson Blvd.): Director Roberts presented the staff report for the
proposed conditional use permit amendment for the property located at 11530
Hudson Blvd. The Stillwater School District is asking the City of Lake Elmo to
approve an amendment to their existing conditional use permit for the property.
The proposed amendment would be to allow them to occupy and use the property
for a school bus terminal with an on-site septic system rather than connecting to
City sanitary sewer as required in the conditions of approval of the City-approved
conditional use permit.
Roberts noted that the School District had been using the property as a school bus
terminal since mid-October and that they had made many improvements to the
property but had not connected the property to sanitary sewer.
Director Roberts then answered questions from the Commission.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-20
Ms. Korrie Land, attorney representing the school district, gave a presentation to
the Commission about the history and use of the property and the School Districts
need to use property for a school bus terminal. She indicated that the School
District wanted to continue to use property for a school bus terminal with a septic
system and that the School District would agree to connect to the property to
sanitary sewer when it is available to the property.
Cadenhead open the public hearing at 8:46. Staff noted two e-mail the City
received that expressed opposition to the proposed conditional use permit
amendment. The public hearing was closed at 8:59.
The Commission discussed the proposed conditional use permit amendment and
asked City staff questions about the proposal.
Weeks moved to deny the staff recommendation to approve the proposed
conditional use permit amendment as requested by the School District. There was
no second, so the motion failed.
Graen moved, Holtz seconded, to recommend approval of the proposed conditional
use permit amendment as requested by the School District.
Cadenhead moved, Holtz seconded, to amend the requested CUP amendment to
include language that “any site plan changes must be approved by City staff” as
part recommended approval of the proposed conditional use permit amendment as
requested by the School District.
Vote: 6-1 (Weeks nay), motion carried.
The Commission took a recess from 9:55 to 10:02 PM.
B. Interim Use Permit, Variances and Zoning Map Amendment: Whippletree Farm
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(9130 55 Street North): Planner Prchal presented the staff report explaining the
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proposed requests for the Whippletree farm property located at 9130 55 Street
North. He explained that Peter Kastner, the property owner, is proposing to use the
trails and natural areas on the property as part of an agricultural entertainment
business. The City Code requires city approval of an interim use permit (IUP) for an
agricultural entertainment business in the rural residential zoning districts. He also
noted that Mr. Kastner is asking the city to approve a variance to IUP standard that
requires an agricultural entertainment business to have access to a collector or
arterial road and a variance to allow parking on grass and not on an approved
surface such as gravel or blacktop. Planner Prchal answered questions from the
Commission.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-20
Peter Kastner, applicant representing Whippletree Farm, answered questions from
the Commission and explained his proposal in more detail.
Cadenhead opened the public hearing at 10:53 pm. Prchal noted that City had
received several e-mails in support of the proposed IUP and 3 e-mails expressing
concerns or opposition to the proposed IUP. Cadenhead closed the public hearing at
11:19 pm.
The Commission discussed the elements of the proposed IUP and the two variances
requested by the applicant.
M/S/P: Steil/Weeks move to deny the variances for road access and parking as
requested by the applicant for the IUP for an agricultural entertainment business for
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the property located 9130 55 Street. Vote: 2-5 (Steil, Weeks Ayes), motion failed.
M/S/P: Cadenhead/Holtz move to send the application and requests back to staff to
review findings for possible approval of the IUP for an agricultural entertainment
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business for the property located 9130 55 Street. Vote: 5-2 (Steil, Weeks Nays),
motion carried.
C. Accessory Building Location Variance (9495 Stillwater Boulevard): Planner Prchal
presented the staff report about a front-yard setback variance for an accessory
structure for the property located at 9495 Stillwater Boulevard. Prchal explained
that the applicant had an accessory building on his property that had been
destroyed in a storm and that he asking to build a new, larger accessory structure in
the same location on his property. He also noted that because of the location of
the house, driveway, septic system and the topography of the property, there were
few locations on the property to construct an accessory structure. Because the
applicant wants to increase the size of the building and because it would be in the
same general location (which is in the front yard), the new building requires City
approval a variance.
Prchal answered questions from the Commission.
Cadenhead opened the public hearing at 11:41 pm. There were no public
comments. Cadenhead closed the public hearing at 11:43 pm.
M/S/P: Holtz/Weeks move to recommend approval of the proposed variance for
the location for a new accessory structure to be located on the property at 9495
Stillwater Boulevard. Vote: 7-0 (Ayes all), motion carried.
D. Zoning Code Text Amendment - Front yard setbacks:
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-20
M/S/P: Graen/Holtz move to table review and consideration of the proposed
ordinance amendment to a future meeting. Vote: 7-0 (Ayes all), motion carried.
New Business
None
Staff and Commission Updates
Roberts reported that at the April 7, 2020 City Council meeting, the City Council
approved the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Preliminary PUD for the Applewood
Pointe Senior Cooperative and they approved the final plat/final PUD for the Legacy at
North Star Third addition.
Roberts reminded the Commission of the upcoming PC Meetings on April 27 and on
May 11, 2020.
Meeting adjourned at 11:47 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Roberts – Lake Elmo Planning Director
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-20