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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ MINUTES 08-09-21/ City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of August 9, 2021 Commission Chair Risner called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m. No cable casting/recording of this meeting COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Risner, Graen, Mueller, Steil, Vrieze COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Weeks STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Roberts Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 PM Approve Agenda: M/S/P: Mueller/Vrieze moved to approve the agenda. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously. Approve Minutes: M/S/P: Steil/Vrieze moved to approve the Planning Commission minutes of July 26th, 2021. Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously. Public Hearings: VARAINCE: The Carmelite Hermitage of the Blessed Virgin Mary (aka Carmel of the Blessed Virgin Mary) have a requested City approval of a variance to the City requirement about having direct access onto a collector street for their facilities located at 8249 Demontreville Trail. The Lake Elmo Zoning Code requires places of worship, such as chapels, to have “direct access” onto a collector or arterial public street. Their current request is to construct a new driveway to Demontreville Trail rather than use the existing driveway through the adjacent property owned by the Jesuits to create a new access to Demontreville Trail (a collector street). This proposed new driveway would be to the north and east of the existing driveway, would serve their entire property and would be used as the access for the existing Hermitage and the proposed future chapel. Director Roberts gave staff report and presentation about the variance request. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the request from Rev. John Burns of the Carmelite Hermitage for a variance from the City’s requirement for direct access to a major collector or arterial street for a place of worship for the property located at 8249 Demontreville Trail. Reverend John Burns, representing the applicant, provided a summary of the history of the property, the previous driveway variance request and a review of the current proposal. Chair Risner opened the public hearing at 7:28 PM. There were no public comments or questions about the variance request. Chair Risner closed the public hearing at 7:29 PM. M/S/P: Steil/Graen moved to recommend approval of the request from Rev. John Burns of the Carmelite Hermitage for a variance from the City’s requirement for direct access to a major collector or arterial street for a place of worship for the property located at 8249 Demontreville Trail. This approval shall be subject to the City Engineer and Fire Chief approving the final driveway construction plans and the applicant receiving a permit from the Valley Branch Watershed District before starting the construction of the new driveway. Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously. ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT, FINAL PLAT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. Mr. Joshua Calderon, representing Enterprise Holdings, is requesting several City approvals to allow for the development of an Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility. They are proposing this new facility for the vacant lot on the east side of Jade Trail, north of Hudson Boulevard. The requests include: An amendment to the City Zoning Code to allow for the rental and sale of motor vehicles on the same site; and Approval of a final plat for the property; and Approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) to have a motor vehicle sales and rental facility on a property in the commercial zoning district. Director Roberts gave staff report and presentation. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the Zoning Code Text Amendment that adds the rental of vehicles as a conditional use for sales and storage lots in the C (commercial) zoning district, approval of the proposed final plat and approval of the conditional use permit for the proposed Enterprise facility on Jade Trail. Joshua Calderon, representing Enterprise, answered questions from the Commission about their proposal. Chair Risner opened the public hearing at 7:57 PM. There was no public in the audience to comment on the proposal. Staff noted that the City had received two emails from nearby property owners who were against the proposal. Chair Risner closed the public hearing at 7:59 PM. M/S/P: Steil/Mueller moved to recommend approval of the zoning code text amendment(s) that adds the rental of vehicles as a conditional use for sales and storage lots in the commercial zoning district. Vote: 4-0 Ayes, 1 Nay (Risner) motion carried. M/S/P: Vrieze/Graen moved to recommend approval of the Pingree Final Plat and PUD Plans with recommended findings and conditions of approval as drafted by Staff. Vote: 4-0 Ayes, 1 Nay (Risner) motion carried. M/S/P: Steil/Vrieze moved to recommend approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a motor vehicle sales and rental facility as proposed by Enterprise Holdings for the property on the east side of Jade Trail, north of Hudson Boulevard, subject to the conditions of approval listed in the staff report and based on the findings of fact listed in the staff report Vote: 4-0 Ayes, 1 Nay (Risner) motion carried. FINAL PUD PLAN AND FINAL PLAT: Mr. Robert Engstrom is requesting City approval of the Final PUD Plan and Final Plat for Wildflower and Lake Elmo 4th Addition. This request is for the 4th and final phase of the development and would create 19 prairie-style lots for single-family homes and 22 courtyard lots for villa-style single-family homes. Director Roberts gave staff report and presentation. Staff is recommending the Planning Commission recommend approval of the Final Plat and Final Development Plans for Wildflower at Lake Elmo 4th Addition with the nine conditions of approval as listed in the staff report. Bob Engstrom, the applicant, spoke about the project and answered questions from the Commission. John Molinaro, the project engineer, spoke about the proposal and answered questions from the Commission. Chair Risner opened the public hearing opened at 8:37 PM. Robert Eischen – 11674 Stillwater Blvd. N. - read his statement about a proposed paved path from this phase of the development that would be abutting the Eischen property. Barton Ness - 154 Cimarron – stated that he wants the City to delay approving this phase of the development. Chair Risner closed the public hearing at 8:45 PM. M/S/P: Steil/Vrieze recommended approval of the final plat and PUD development plans for the Wildflower at Lake Elmo 4th Addition with nine conditions based on the findings listed in the staff report. Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously. Communications/Updates Communications/Updates City Council Update 08-04-2021 Meeting – Launch/Crossroads Properties Preliminary PUD (Hudson Blvd and Lake Elmo Avenue), Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment – Setbacks in Agricultural Zoning District Staff Updates Upcoming PC Meetings: August 23, 2021 September 13, 2021 Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM. Respectfully submitted, Diane Wendt Permit Technician