Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPZ Minutes; 01-11-10APPROVED AS AMENDED; 3-8-10 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 1-11-10 1 City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of January 11, 2010 Chairman Van Zandt called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Bidon, Britz, Fliflet, Hall, Pearson, Van Zandt, Williams, and Ziertman, Van Erem. Absent: McGinnis. STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Klatt Election of Officers: Van Zandt noted that Brenda Anderson has resigned from the Commission, and with this resignation, Britz is a full voting member and Williams is now in the first alternate position. Klatt discussed that the Commission needs to conduct its annual meeting, during which time it appoints a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. M/S/P Pearson/Hall to cast a unanimous ballot to elect Van Zandt as Chair of the Planning Commission. Vote 9:0 – motion carried. M/S/P Bidon/Britz to cast a unanimous ballot to elect Fliflet as the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission. Vote 9:0 – motion carried. Van Zandt nominated Ziertman for Secretary of the Planning Commission. M/S/P to accept the nomination. Vote 9:0 – motion carried. Agenda: M/S/P Williams/Hall to approve the agenda as presented. Vote 9:0 – motion carried. Minutes No minutes were presented at this time. Business Item: Eder’s Century Pines Sketch Plan Review Planning Director Klatt reviewed a staff report concerning a proposed subdivision to be called Eder’s Century Pines. He noted that the Subdivision Ordinance requires the Planning Commission to review a sketch plan before a preliminary plat may be submitted for consideration. The proposed subdivision would re-subdivide 78.5 acres of land that is located west of Keats Avenue, east of Julep Avenue, and to the north and south of 47th Street. The purpose of the subdivision is to facilitate the division of the family farm property among the remaining family members. The proposed plat will contain 6 separate lots, plus two small outlots, ranging in size from a minimum of 10.6 acres to a maximum of 12.8 acres. There is no development planned with this request, and all lots would be served by access to existing roads all of which are part the MSAS system. The applicant’s engineer, Todd Erickson of Folz, Freeman, and Erickson, Inc., reviewed the sketch subdivision plan with the Commission. He noted that soil tests and a wetlands APPROVED AS AMENDED; 3-8-10 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 1-11-10 2 delineation have been prepared for the property, and that a Valley Branch Watershed District permit will be required for the subdivision. Erickson responded to the Staff report with the following comments: 1) that the requested easement along the eastern property line may not be necessary since the future water main would likely following existing City streets, 2) that a new lot will be created on the plat to incorporate the Delmar Eder property, and 3) that there is no plan to use any driveways to the east. Erickson further stated that the encroachments identified by the City Engineer are a private matter and should have no bearing on the final plat, and that ghost platting would not be practical for the City since the applicant has no plans to further subdivide the property. He indicated that ghost platting would be more appropriate in a future urban development area. Williams suggested that a more appropriate lot line arrangement might be possible along the southern boundary of Lot 1, Block 1. Erickson responded that such an alignment might not he possible or practical given the current location of homes in this area. Fliflet questioned how the Planning Commission should be dealing with the slowing pace of development within the City, and in particular, the trend away from the overall housing unit projections in non-sewered service areas. Klatt replied that in order to achieve the densities projected for this area in the Comprehensive Plan, this site would need to be developed as an Open Space Preservation District. Such a development would only be possible under the current regulations if parcels within the proposed subdivision were combined to meet the minimum threshold of 40 acres for such a development. Klatt noted that a ghost plat would only need to show how the parcels could be re- subdivided, and would not otherwise be recorded with a final plat. The minimum lot size in a Rural Residential zone is 10 acres; therefore, there could be no further divisions of the land without either a variance or consolidation of parcels. Erickson stated that because the property could not be further subdivided under the current regulations, that a ghost plat would not be a reasonable exercise. Williams noted that the large lots in this subdivision are consistent with the rural character everyone favors, therefore a ghost plat is not required in order for the City to maintain the rural character of the area. Hall explained that the platting of this land could be done in many different ways and that it is not possible to predict how it might look in the future. Pearson expressed concern that a ghost plat would unduly overburden the applicant and did not recommend requiring one in this instance. Van Zandt conducted a poll of Commissioners and noted that the consensus was to move forward with a preliminary plat but to not require a ghost plat as part of future City reviews. APPROVED AS AMENDED; 3-8-10 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 1-11-10 3 Business Item: Revised Floodplain Ordinance Final Review Klatt reviewed the final draft version of the proposed Floodplain Management Ordinance with the Planning Commission. He noted that the Council had made a few minor modifications to the Ordinance, but that is was essentially the same ordinance that had been reviewed previously by the Commission. The City Attorney has indicated that no additional public hearings will be required prior to formal adoption of the ordinance by the City Council. M/S/P Willaims/Pearson to recommend approval of the revised Floodplain Management Ordinance as presented. Vote 9:0 – motion carried. Business Item: Planning Commission Terms Klatt distributed and reviewed a revised listing of Planning Commissioners with updates to their corresponding terms. It was noted that the Council is seeking applicants for the open second alternate term. City Council Updates: Klatt explained that the City Council approved the revisions to the buffer setbacks within OP Open Space Districts as recommended by the Planning Commission. The Commission suggested that individual property owners be notified of these changes. Fliflet suggested including an update on this issue in the City newsletter. Williams further suggested making the individual subdivision maps available on the City website. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned 8:31 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kyle Klatt Planning Director