Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-11-2013 CCW Mayor Pearson called workshop to order at 6:0PM PRESENT: Mayor Pearson, Council Members Bloyer, Smith, Park, and Nelson Also Present: City Administrator Zuleger, City Engineer Griffin, Finance Director Bendel, Program Assistant Gumatz , and Planning Director Klatt. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Nelson moves. Bloyer seconds Smith and Park at 6:27pm A. HIGHWAY 36 CONCEPT DESIGN – 6:00 P.M. – Jack Griffin City Engineer Griffin explains. Transportation funding from Adam Josephson at MnDOT. After Council approves, they will seek approval from Washington County, MnDOT, and the City of Grant. SRF Consulting presents 4 concepts. Marie Cody (?), Pat Corkle (?). Bloyer asks how far into future we are looking at breaking ground on any of these plans. City Engineer Griffin says depends on City or what MnDOT is doing. They do construction on Hwy 36 periodically. So, want to be ready whenever the time comes. Concept Plan A is presented and discussed. This plan does not keep the County and MnDOT’s main priority the way they would like it. This plan has a 2-way frontage road. Concept Plan B is presented and discussed. Washington County and MnDOT have a priority of keeping easy access from Manning to Hwy 36 down to Hwy 5 and this plan does not really keep that priority. MnDOT will like the spacing of this plan. There is an overpass for Keats Ave to go over Hwy 36. There is also an overpass for Demontreville. Concept Plan C is presented and discussed. Slip ramps at intersections and one way streets on each side of Hwy 36. This plan provides a one-way frontage road system with bridges to get across Hwy 36. Council agrees that Lake Elmo Ave access is a priority. Concept Plan D is presented and discussed. This one has more of a continuous frontage road on each side with a split diamond interchange. There are also more J-Turns. Plan B is brought back up and discussed further. Plan A is brought back up and discussed further. Consensus of the Council was that they liked Plan B the best for West of Keats Ave and that they liked Plan D best for East of Keats Ave. Mayor Pearson moves a recess at 7:21 P.M. B. FENCE ORDINANCE – 7:28 P.M. City Administrator Zuleger states that City Code is very out of date and that we are trying to clean up old code and create a code that makes more sense and creates enforceability so that there are clear cut standards. We are not trying to create new code, we are remodeling old code. Planning Director Klatt goes over the major changes from the previous Council meeting and explained the new Fence Ordinance. There is discussion on where fences should be erected, as far as on property lines or off of the property line. Mayor Pearson would like language added that states, “any and all ….. must show monuments for final inspection.” Council consensus is that City would like to allow fence on the property line. And, if monuments are shown and get neighbor signature, then it’s fine. If neighbor does not agree, then you must get a certified survey. There is also discussion of Easement Encroachments and whether or not it is something that staff can just approve rather than bringing it to the Council for approval. Council Member Bloyer, as well as Mayor Pearson, would like staff to be able to sign off on these. Council consensus on this point, language in the Ordinance will be cleaned up. Fence height on smaller lots was discussed. Council Member Smith disagrees with solid wall fences being put up on smaller lots because it does not look good and does not fit with the open space preservation piece of what Lake Elmo offers. Solid wall fences are discussed further. Council Member Park suggested letting the decision be up to the neighborhoods. There was discussion of adding a distinction, or option, for lot sizes that are ½ acre or less. Council Member Bloyer disagrees with this option because it could be seen as discrimination against those who own ½ acre or smaller lots. There was discussion about what is allowed by the current code. C. SIGN ORDINANCE – 8:31 P.M. City Administrator Zuleger presents the proposed sign ordinance. The six points listed under 154.212A are the main points that the ordinance attempts to regulate. He believes that it is very fair and balanced and really captures both the old and new feel of the City. Planning Director Klatt talked about the purpose of a sign ordinance is to level the playing field and making sure that everyone is treated fairly. He discussed the Council comments from the previous City Council meeting. There was discussion on having the downtown area be a special sign district. Mayor Pearson and Council Member Nelson were not in favor or having it be a special district. Council Member Bloyer agreed. Council Member Smith disagreed and doesn’t think that the downtown area should be treated the same as I-94 area because they are completely different. Allowing billboards was discussed. There is Council consensus to keep these restricted and prohibited. Sign application requirements were also discussed. The number of colors and materials used for signs was also discussed. The language will be stricken when the Ordinance comes back to the next Council meeting. The language for landscaping and perennial planters is updated to allow grass to be on the ground next to sign poles. Section F.2.c.ii. was discussed and updated by staff to reflect Council concerns. The apartment or condominium display sign section was updated to allow up to 4x8 signs (32 square feet.) The number of off-premise signs for Agricultural Sales Business was discussed and changed to allow more flexibility. There was also discussion about the Changeable Color Copy Signs and how many colors should be allowed and how long before the sign changes to a new message is discussed. There was also discussion on the awning signs as well as hanging signs. The size limit for political signs was removed, this complies with state statute. There was also discussion of the penalty for violating the Sign Ordinance. The penalty is an administrative citiation which carries a fine of $0-2,000. City Administrator Zuleger discussed how bringing Council comments to the Planning Commission was well received. Council comments will be presented as Public Comment just as from anyone else. Mr. Zuleger stated that it is important 9447 Stillwater Blvd being cleaned up. Junk has been removed and is now outside. Hardy House also being worked on. Petition has been filed by Roger Johnson and 100 others to do an EAW on our Lake Ordinance because the 60 added hours will have added ?? Mayor Pearson talked about Speak Your Peace and how it will be presented piece by piece at each Council meeting and that he will be presenting the first one at the next meeting. He asked that each Council Member present one topic throughout the summer. D. ADJOURN - 9:30 P.M.