HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ Minutes; 07-12-10APPROVED AS PRESENTED; 9-13-10
City of Lake Elmo
Planning Commission Meeting
Minutes of July 12, 2010
Chairman Van Zandt called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission
at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Bidon, Hall, McGinnis, Pearson, Pelletier,
Van Zandt, Williams, and Ziertman. Absent: Britz, Fliflet, and Van Erem. STAFF
PRESENT: Planning Director Klatt, Planner Matzek, Planning Intern Bailey
Agenda
M/S/P, Williams/Hall, move to approve as presented. Vote: 8:0.
Minutes - May 24, 2010
M/S/P, Hall/Pearson, move to approve as presented. Vote: 4:0. Abstained: McGinnis,
Pelletier, Van Zandt, and Williams.
June 14, 2010
Commissioner Ziertman said on the second to last page she said that although the
developer was referring to accessory buildings as agricultural buildings she believes it
does not meet that definition criteria. She also wanted it stated that she agreed with
Commissioner Williams that the land with the accessory buildings on it should not be
counted as open space.
M/S/P, Pearson/Ziertman, move to approve as amended. Vote: 5:0. Abstained: Bidon,
Hall, and Pelletier.
Business Item – Administrative Enforcement Item
Planning Director Klatt stated that the City Council directed staff to update the
enforcement section of code so an alternative penalty method could be utilized.
Planning Intern Bailey said the proposed administrative process and resulting ordinance
would allow a quicker process and would create a system of compliance. The court
procedures currently in place often take more time than residents would like to see.
Because the cost would be split evenly between the city and the resident, this would be
less expensive than the other route.
Commissioner Williams suggested that after license add the words “or permit.”
Planning Director Klatt said that the city’s general policy has been to operate in response
to complaints. He elaborated that in instances where staff finds something is not being
compliant then there is follow up. He said the City Council asked staff to do periodic
sweeps for illegal signage.
Commissioner Williams asked who is being authorized to issue the citation.
Planning Intern Bailey said it would typically be the Building Official, but it could be
opened up to other staff.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 7-12-2010
Planning Director Klatt said it should not be limited to just city employees as the
ordinance should give continued authorization to the Washington County Police
Department.
Planning Intern Bailey said she will look into the typos pointed out by the commission.
M/S/P, Williams/Pearson, move to recommend with amendments. Vote: 8:0.
Business Item – General Planning Update Items: I-94 Corridor Planning; Zoning
Ordinance; Future Planning Issues
Planning Director Klatt said this topic was to discuss items being dealt with at the staff
level and is not intended for an indepth conversation. He said Washington County has
adopted new rules for sewage treatment systems which the city must respond to by the
end of September. He stated that staff has discussed a process for proceeding with
zoning regulations for implementation of development in the village area and the I-94
corridor. Planning Director Klatt said the City Council recently discussed the
arrangement of land uses guided in the I-94 area and what the market would support.
The council discussed creating a master plan or vision for that corridor, possibly through
a committee.
Chairman Van Zandt stressed the importance of using mass transit whenever possible and
said he would like to see that as part of the discussion. He said he was impressed with
the Arendt information shown before the meeting and suggested implementing some of
the ideas set forth in the DVD such as a site walk for development applications.
Planning Director Klatt verbally gave information to the commission about form based
codes.
Commissioner Williams said he recently attended a training session that was inline with
the Arendt presentation. He suggested using this process along the I-94 corridor, in the
Village area and throughout the city. He asked for a schedule of when the commission
will get into the details of the future development.
Planning Director Klatt said the details are in the next step and there is an outline of the
process. He said one of the key issues is to figure out how to make the Open Space
Preservation (OP) development process easier for developers as the city does not require
OP developments. He said additional future discussion is needed on the transfer of
development rights concept.
Commissioner Williams suggested finding some models for transfer of development
rights that have been tested in court elsewhere to use as a model.
Commissioner Pearson suggested looking at Troy Township by Hudson, WI.
Chairman Van Zandt said the city needs to consider options like tax forgiveness and
giving free land to get businesses into the city.
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Planning Director Klatt handed out a code example from Leander, Texas and gave some
information on form based codes.
Commissioner Hall said that form will dictate the function of the building.
Commissioner Pelletier said she would recommend a task force made up of residents,
commission members, council members, a landscape architect, and property owners in
the village area and the I-94 corridor.
Commissioner Williams said he understands a task force for the I-94 area, but that the
Village Area committee worked for years on this topic already.
M/S/P, Pelletier/Pearson, move to recommend a task force for visioning in the I-94
corridor. Vote: 8:0.
Updates
Planning Director Klatt said that the wayside stand ordinance amendment was approved.
He said the home occupation ordinance was tabled and the Heath easement was vacated
which allowed them to build their garage. He said the City Council will be presented
with the rural area density analysis the commission previously saw and staff will move
forward with an urban area analysis.
Commission Concerns
Commissioner Williams asked if there are regulations that would regulate the selling of
animals or lawn ornaments as he recently saw signs advertising such.
Van Zandt – we don’t have staff to police the short term events
Planning Director Klatt state the existing code regulates kennels and that the selling of
lawn ornaments would fall under home occupation or garage sale regulations.
Commissioner Hall said he had attended a training session and received a follow up email
from the Minnetonka attorney regarding the issuance of variances and a recent court case.
He thought it would be beneficial to forward to other commissioners.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned 8:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelli Matzek
Planner