HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ MINUTES 12-12-23Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: 12-11-23 1
City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting
City Council Chambers – 3880 Laverne Avenue North
Minutes of Regular Meeting of
December 12, 2023
CALL TO ORDER: Commission Chair Steil called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Risner, Bohlig, Geffre, Rehkamp, Steil, Vrieze
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Planner Sophia Jensen, Nathan Fuerst with Bolton & Menk
Pledge of Allegiance at 7:00 PM
Approve Agenda:
M/S/P: Steil / Vrieze: made a motion to approve the agenda. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously
Approve Minutes:
M/S/P: Geffre/Rehkamp made a motion to approve the 11-13-23 meeting minutes. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
a) Carmelite Nun Conditional Use Permit. The Discalced Nuns of St. Paul have submitted a conditional use
permit application for an addition to their monastery, originally built in 1955. A conditional use permit is
required for expansion of a legal nonconforming use; religious institutions are a conditional use in the public
facilities zoning district.
Sophia Jensen, City Planner, gave presentation and answered questions.
M/S/P: Bohlig / Geffre moved to open the public hearing at 7:07 PM. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments:
None
M/S/P: Rehkamp / Steil moved to close the public hearing at 7:08 PM. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
Applicant Reverend James Burn, 8249 Mount Carmel Road, and Tom Nonnemacher, McGough Construction, 1826 ½ Buerkle
Road, White Bear Lake, spoke and answered questions.
M/S/P: Steil / Bohlig moved to recommend approval of a Conditional Use Permit for the Discalced Nuns of St Paul
Monastery Addition with the listed conditions based on the findings listed in the staff report. Vote: 6-0, motion carried
unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
b) At Home Apartments Prelim Plat and PUD. At Home Apartments LLC has submitted an application for a
preliminary plat and PUD for a 48 unit rental townhome units (14 buildings). The project is located on PID
13.029.21.22.0029 and 13.029.21.21.0007.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: 12-11-23 2
Nathan Fuerst, Bolton & Menk, gave presentation and answered questions.
Applicant Leanna Stefaniak, 1722 Diane Rd, Mendota Heights, with At Home Apartments LLC, spoke and answered questions.
M/S/P: Steil / Rehkamp moved to open the public hearing at 7:56 PM. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments:
Don Place, 4010 Monarch Lane N, thanked the applicant for previous conversations with residents regarding this project, he
did voiced concerns with tree removal, barrier proximity, street width, sidewalk snow clearing.
David Bourman, 11070 39th St N #319, has concerns regarding a surface water plan.
Bryan Sorensen, 4032 Swallowtail Lane N, has concerns regarding traffic issues, and asked for a traffic volume study to be
done.
Tom Engstrom w/ Robert Engstrom Companies, 4801 W 81St St #101 Minneapolis, MN: has concerns regarding the street
width, and tree preservation.
Susan Dunn, 11018 Upper 33rd St N, has concerns regarding the tree preservation and agrees that there needs to be a traffic
study.
M/S/P: Vrieze / Bohlig moved to close the public hearing at 8:14 PM. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
M/S/P: Risner / Steil moved to recommend approval of the preliminary PUD plan and preliminary plat as requested by At
Home Apartments for the subject property based on the findings of fact and recommended conditions of approval listed
in the staff report. Vote: 3-3 (Risner, Steil, Vrieze – Aye. Bohlig, Geffre, Rehkamp – Nay.), motion did not pass.
Applicant Leanna Stefaniak, 1722 Diane Rd, Mendota Heights, with At Home Apartments LLC, spoke regarding issued brought
up by Planning Commissioners.
M/S/P: Geffre / Rehkamp moved to recommend tabling preliminary PUD plan and preliminary plat as requested by At
Home Apartments for additional discussion. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously
PUBLIC HEARING
c) Zoning Text Amendment. MYP Landscaping has submitted a zoning text amendment application to Table 9-
1 of LEC 105.12.620 to request yard waste recycling and landscape supply be added conditional uses in the
agricultural zoning district.
Sophia Jensen, City Planner, gave presentation and answered questions.
Applicant Joe Valdes, 9591 60th Street N, spoke and answered questions.
M/S/P: Vrieze / Rehkamp moved to open the public hearing at 8:44 PM. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
Public Comments:
John Burban , 9612 57th St N – Voiced concerns regarding the operation of the recycling facility and sound and odor
associated with the use. The resident also commented on the lack of working with neighbors throughout the process. The
resident spoke a second time and noted Washington County yard waste sites.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: 12-11-23 3
Richard Egersdorf, 9960 57th St N – Voiced concerns with the sound and odor associated with the business. The resident
commented on concerns with the scale of the operation on the property. The resident noted they did not receive the
mailing since they are outside of the 350’ range.
M/S/P: Rehkamp / Steil moved to close the public hearing at 8:51 PM. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
Applicant Joe Valdes, 9591 60th Street N, spoke to address public comments.
M/S/P: Steil / Geffre moved to recommend adoption of the proposed text amendment to Section 105.12.620 Table 9-1
and Section 105.12.110 Zoning Use Types and Classifications as presented by City Staff Vote: 6-0, motion carried
unanimously.
New/Unfinished Business
a) Upper 33rd Street Townhome Conditional Use Permit Extension Request
Sophia Jensen, City Planner, spoke and answered questions.
Applicant Ryan McKilligan, 1095 Woodhill Drive, Roseville, spoke and answered questions.
Public Comments:
Susan Dun, 11018 Upper 33rd Street N, read a written personal statement mentioning the contamination and Comprehensive
Plan meeting.
M/S/P: Rahkamp / Geffre moved to recommend approval of an extension of the conditional use permit deadline for the
Upper 33rd St Townhome project to January 17th, 2025. Vote: 6-0, motion carried unanimously.
Communications/Updates - City Council Updates
i. Old City Bldgs. Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Zoning Map Amendment. Approved 11/21/23
Upcoming Meetings
i. January 8, 2024
ii. January 22, 2024 iii. City Council Joint Workshop 2-13-24
Meeting adjourned at 9:12 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Wendt
Permit Technician