HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ Minutes 02-22-21 /
City of Lake Elmo
Planning Commission Meeting
Minutes of February 22, 2021
Commission Chair Risner called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:06 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT Virtually: Risner, Graen, Aldinger, Weeks, Steil
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Mueller
STAFF PRESENT Virtually: Planning Director Roberts, Assistant City Administrator Jake Dickson
Pledge of Allegiance at 7:06 PM
Approve Agenda:
M/S/P: Steil/Graen moved to approve the agenda. Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously.
Approve Minutes:
M/S/P: Weeks/Aldinger moved to approve the Planning Commission minutes of January 25th, 2021, with one spelling change Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Hearings:
a. Subdivision and Zoning Ordinance Code Amendments
Director Roberts introduced and presented this item to the Planning Commission. He indicated that City staff has been directed to prepare amendments to the City’s Subdivision Ordinance
(Chapter 153). The requested changes are to clarify and add language to the Subdivision code about premature subdivisions and development in the City. He also explained there are some
aspects of the subdivision and zoning ordinances the City could amend to clarify processes and to meet current City standards. As such, staff has included other changes to the Subdivision
and Zoning Ordinances as part of this review.
Roberts further explained that the proposed code change would add language to both the Subdivision and Zoning Codes listing the criteria for the City to determine if a preliminary plat
or a final plat or a development or redevelopment could be deemed premature by the City and thus denied by the City Council. The proposed changes also include amendments to Section
153.11 and to Section 153.12 about variance standards and variance procedures in the City Subdivision Ordinance. The proposed changes will include revisions to the findings required
by the City to approve variances related to subdivisions.
Commissioner Risner asked for clarification of how §153.025 PREMATURE SUBDIVISION PROHIBITED. Section A, #3 “lack of adequate/available water” is defined by the City of Lake Elmo.
Director Roberts stated that the definition is whether the area has sufficient water to provide water for the basic needs for the residents. He reiterated that the City of Lake Elmo
does need an additional water tower in the southern part of the City.
Chairperson Risner opened the public hearing at 7:28 PM.
No questions were asked by the public.
Public hearing closed at 7:28 PM.
M/S/P: Graen/Risner motioned to recommend approval of the Subdivision and Zoning ordinance amendments as proposed by the City Staff. Vote: 4-1
b. CODE AMENDMENTS: Tree Preservation Ordinance (Section 154.257) and the City Landscape Requirements (Section 154.258).
Director Roberts presented the proposed Code Amendments to the Commission. The requested changes are to clarify many of the City standards and requirements about tree preservation and
landscaping for construction, new development and redevelopment projects in Lake Elmo. City staff is proposing many changes to the two ordinances so Director Roberts went through the
Tree Preservation Ordinance first and took questions about that ordinance before moving on to a review and discussion about the proposed changes to the Landscape Ordinance.
Commissioner Weeks asked if there is a way to remove the redundancy of the definitions located in both of the ordinances. She stated that tree protection for non-development areas is
already covered in Chapter 91 Forest Management of the City Code. Commissioner Weeks also asked who is going to enforce the new codes if they are adopted by the City?
Commissioner Graen indicated that he was concerned about how the proposed ordinance changes could affect residential property owners. Would the proposed changes make it more difficult
for a homeowner to plant trees or to know where they could or could not plant trees on their property?
Chairperson Risner opened the public hearing at 8:36 PM.
No questions were asked by the public.
Public hearing closed at 8:36 PM.
M/S/P: Weeks/Steil moved to table action on the proposed Code Amendments to the Lake Elmo Tree Preservation and Landscape ordinances to allow for further research and editing of the
proposed changes. Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously.
New/Unfinished Business: 8:43 PM
Commissioner Graen asked if the Planning Commission’s recommendations are being heard and considered by the City Council before the Council rejects them. Commissioner Weeks asked if
there could be a Workshop meeting soon.
Communications/Updates
City Council Update - Director Roberts reported on these meetings.
02-02-2021 Meeting – No Planning or Land Use items
02-16-2021 Meeting – V-LDR Zoning Code Text Amendment (approved), Zoning Code Clean-up text amendments (tabled for further review).
b. Staff Updates - None
c. Upcoming PC Meetings:
March 8, 2021
March 22, 2021
M/S/P: Weeks/Aldinger moved adjourn meeting. Vote: 5-0, motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Wendt
Permit Technician