Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-09 PZMAPPROVED AS PRESENTED: 5-11-09 City of Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2009 Chairman Van Zandt called to order the meeting of the Lake Elmo Planning Commission at 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Anderson, Bidon, Britz, Fliflet, Hall, Pearson, Van Erem, Van Zandt, and Ziertman. Absent: McGinnis and Ptacek. STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Klatt, Planner Matzek, Assistant Engineer Stempski, and TKDA Consultant Bryant Fusek. Agenda M/S/P, Hall/Fliflet, to approve the agenda as presented. Vote: 9:0. Minutes - March 9, 2009 Commissioner Fliflet stated that the minutes do not identify who seconded the motion on the last page of the minutes. Planner Matzek said that she did not have that information as the tape of the meeting was cut off. M/S/P, Anderson/Pearson, move to approve as presented. Vote: 9:0. Public Hearing – Comprehensive Plan Update, Transportation Chapter Klatt gave a brief overview of where the city is at in the Comprehensive Plan update process and what the city is required to do. Assistant Engineer Stempski said the draft Transportation Plan chapter of the Comprehensive Plan is now complete and ready for the commission’s review. Bryant Fusek, TKDA Transportation Engineer Mr. Fusek said the proposed draft plan was built off the previous Lake Elmo transportation plan. He spoke of the goals and objectives, roadway system, transit facilities, trail system, rail, aviation, and plan implementation. He showed maps to illustrate a base scenario and an improved scenario for State Highway 36. Two proposed changes to the plan are to downgrade Lake Elmo Avenue from an arterial to a major collector and to eliminate one of the policy statements from the previous transportation plan. Commissioner Fliflet asked for clarification on what is meant by maintaining East and West access to Highway 36 from County Road 17. Mr. Fusek said traffic should be able to turn left or right onto Highway 36 at the intersection. Chairman Van Zandt asked how far a frontage road on the north side of Highway 36 would run. Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-09 APPROVED AS PRESENTED: 5-11-09 Mr. Fusek said it would run the full length of the road on the north side of the highway. Commissioner Ziertman identified a chart on page twenty-one that models travel demand based on land use. She disagrees with the numbers as various businesses along Highway 36, such as Rock Point Church, are not taken into consideration. Planning Director Klatt said that although staff did notice that distinction as well, those employment areas were not calculated in the county’s model, so we did not include them in the city’s model. Mr. Fusek said that although the city does not want to dismiss that information, the impact on traffic volumes would likely not make any changes to the recommendations in the plan. He also said that one of the proposals the model does not take into consideration is a roundabout on Highway 5 as it can also reduce the volume. Commissioner Fliflet said that trail use as a means to a destination should be further emphasized in the transportation plan. Commissioner Van Erem asked if there was a timeline for implementing the recommendations of turning the road back to city and the quiet zones for the railroad. Mr. Fusek said it could be implemented at any time, but it could be costly. Commissioner Fliflet said that safety and parking at the elementary school should be further emphasized as they are problems. Mr. Fusek said the plan does identify that intersection as a problem because of the crash rates. Commissioner Fliflet suggested adding a pedestrian/child/safety zone/school area section to the plan as it would heighten its importance. Planning Director Klatt said the plan should reference the Safe Routes to School study with proposed improvements. THE CHAIRMAN OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:26 P.M. No one spoke. THE CHAIRMAN CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 8:27 P.M. M/S/P, Fliflet/Hall, move to recommend approval of a revised transportation plan with a few additions: heighten awareness of school zones and the importance of those intersections; emphasis on trails system with regards to destinations; and with the implementation section that was handed out. Vote: 9:0. Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-09 APPROVED AS PRESENTED: 5-11-09 Lake Elmo Planning Commission Minutes; 4-13-09 Business Item – Comprehensive Plan Update: Park Plan; Review of Metropolitan Council’s response Planner Matzek identified that the Park Plan is further along than the other three components being updated this year. After years of work and public input, the plan was sent in for an informal review by the Metropolitan Council. They provided four comments: to include eight “in-holding” parcels for future acquisition for the Lake Elmo Regional Park Reserve, to move the Special Use Park Search Area so it did not overlap with the Park Reserve, to add text for the Washington County Greenway Regional Trail which was already shown on a map, and to submit the trail plan for their formal review. None of the requests have any impact on the intent or function of the plan. M/S/P, Van Zandt/Ziertman, move to recommend approval of the changes. Vote: 8:0:1. Pearson abstained as he was uncomfortable with the possible future lake access on Lake Elmo. Informational Item: Village Area AUAR Update Planning Director Klatt stated that the City Council authorized the distribution of the Final AUAR for a 10 day comment period with April 13th as the deadline. He then outlined what the city has done so far including the basic background engineering work. One of the next steps will be to estimate the costs associated with the project. City Council Update Planner Matzek said that the council reviewed and discussed the Hugec variance at 2931 Jonquil Trail North, but tabled the application to a future date. Adjourned at 8:49 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kelli Matzek Planner