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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ MINUTES 07-26-21/ City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of July 26, 2021 Commission Chair Risner called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Risner, Graen, Mueller, Steil, Vrieze, Weeks COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: none STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Roberts, City Planner Prchal Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 PM Commissioner Introduction: New Planning Commissioner Micah Vrieze Approve Agenda: M/S/P: Steil/Weeks moved to approve the agenda. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously. Approve Minutes: M/S/P: Graen/Mueller moved to approve the Planning Commission minutes of June 28th, 2021. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously. Public Hearings: Variances and Lot Division – 3100 Lake Elmo Avenue (Dorschner) City Planner Ben Prchal presented the staff report. He explained that City has received two variance requests from applicant Dale Dorschner, for the property located at 3100 Lake Elmo Ave. The first request is for a variance from the City Code minimum lot width requirement of 125 feet in the Rural Single Family (RS) district. He also noted that the second variance request is to have a front yard setback of 30 feet from the County Road right-of-way instead of 50 feet as required for properties within the Shoreland District. The proposed lots would meet the allowed size for the property and should meet all other setbacks and impervious surface requirements. Prchal explained that the Commission is being asked to hold a public hearing, review, and make a recommendation on the variance requests that would allow for a lot to be subdivided into two lots, resulting in a one lot that would meet all zoning requirements (there is an existing home on the lot) and one lot that would not meet the zoning district’s minimum lot width requirement or required setback from the County Road right-of-way. Mr. Prchal noted that City staff notified all the property owners within 350 feet of this property about the public hearing about the variance requests. City staff received three comments: Theodore & Ellen Kohn 3160 Lake Elmo Ave – Not Supportive. Mark Zdechlik 3078 Lake Elmo Ave. – Not Supportive. Todd & Marjorie Williams 3025 Lake Elmo Ave. – Supports the lot split but does not support the setback variance request. Applicant Dale Dorschner spoke about the history of the lot and the reasoning behind the variance requests. Mr. Dorschner reiterated that there is no plan to build a home on this site at this time. Commissioner Risner opened the public hearing at 7:42 PM Mark Zdechlik - 3078 Lake Elmo Ave – spoke against this variance and lot division. William Charlton 3095 Lake Elmo Ave N – spoke against this variance and lot division. M/S/P: Risner/Weeks moved to close the public hearing Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Risner closed the public hearing at 7:52 PM. M/S/P: Weeks/Steil moved to recommend approval of the variance request of 13 feet for the proposed Parcel B for the property located at 3100 Lake Elmo Ave that will allow for the creation of a new lot with a minimum lot width of 112 feet which allows the proposed lot split to occur. There was discussion amongst the Commission, brought up by Commissioner Graen, that the language of the motion needed to be made clear. M/S/P: Graen/Risner moved to amend the motion which calls for the striking the verbiage that allows for the proposed lot split to occur, and the creation of Parcel A potentially non-conforming, given the measurements that were provided by the applicant to the City at time of review. Vote: 6-0, amendment carried unanimous. M/S/P: Weeks/Steil moved to recommend approval of the variance request of 13 feet for the proposed Parcel B for the property located at 3100 Lake Elmo Ave creation of a new lot with the minimum lot width of 112 feet and the creation of Parcel A potentially becoming non-conforming based off of measurements provided to the City. Vote: 5-1, 5 Ayes, 1 Nay (Vrieze) motion carried. M/S/P: Steil/Vrieze moved to recommend denial of the front yard setback variance request of 20 feet, which would allow a 30 foot front yard setback instead of the required 50 feet for the property identified as Parcel B, south of the property addressed as 3100 Lake Elmo Avenue with recommended findings and conditions. Vote: 5-1, 5 Ayes, 1 Nay (Weeks) motion carried. b. Zoning Code Text Amendment – Setback Requirements in the Agricultural (A) Zoning District City Planner Ben Prchal presented the staff report. He explained that the Agricultural (A) zoning district now requires a 200 foot setback from all property lines for all buildings. Staff has done a review of surrounding Cities to understand if Lake Elmo has a larger than normal setback for buildings in the agricultural district. Being that zoning district descriptions can vary from City to City it should be known that Staffs evaluation was primarily focused on districts obviously classified as agricultural or rural. Also, the setback(s) measurements that were reviewed were only from property lines not wells, HWL, etc. Prchal explained that the Planning Commission is being asked to hold a public hearing and review the proposed ordinance amendments about the required setbacks for buildings within the Agricultural Zoning District. Commissioner Risner opened the public hearing at 8:34 PM There were no comments from the public. Commissioner Risner closed the public hearing at 8:34 PM. The Commission then discussed the pros and cons of the proposed ordinance amendment that would change the minimum required setback for buildings in the Agricultural Zoning District from 200 feet to 100 feet. M/S/P: Vrieze/Graen moved to recommend approval of the proposed code amendment(s) that would reduce the required setback(s) for buildings within the Agricultural Zoning District as they have been drafted. Vote: 4 Ayes– 2 Nay (Steil, Weeks). Motion passed. Communications/Updates City Council Update 07-06 2021 Meeting – Planning Commission Appointment – Micah Vrieze 07-20-2021 Meeting – Zoning Code Text Amendment (Accessory Structures in Shoreland District), Tree Preservation Ordinance Amendment Staff Updates: Director Roberts noted that August 2, 2021 would be Mr. Prchal’s last day working for the City. He publicly thanked him for his service to the City. Upcoming PC Meetings: August 9, 2021 August 23, 2021 Meeting adjourned at 8:51 PM. Respectfully submitted, Diane Wendt Permit Technician