HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-9-88 PZMThe Planning Commission is an advisory body to the City
Council. One of the Commission's functions is to hold public
hearings and make recommendations to the City Council. The City
Council makes all final decisions on these matters.
Lake Elmo Ordinances require that certain documents and
information be included in applications. The Planning Commission
may postpone consideration of an application that is incomplete
and may for other reasons postpone final action on an application.
For each item, the Commission will receive reports
prepared by the City Staff, open the hearing to the public, and
discuss and act on the application. If you are aware of
information that hasn't been discussed, please fill out a "Request
to Appear Before the Planning Commission" slip; or, if you came
late, raise your hand to be recognized. Comments that are
pertinent are appreciated.
AGENDA
LAKE ELMO PLANNING COMMISSION
MAY 9, 1988
7:30 MEETING CONVENES
1. Agenda
2. Minutes: April 25, 1988
3. Concept Plan --Willard Morton/Bob Engstrom
4. Building Heights - (Continuation)
5. Residential Estates
6. Comprehensive Plan (Update)
7. Other
8. Adjourn
LAKE ELMO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
MAY 9, 1988
Chairman DeLapp called the Planning Commission meeting to order at
7:35 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Present: DeLapp, Williams,
Bucheck, Simpson, Kunde, Stevens, Enes, Hunt, Haacke. Absent:
Johnston, Johnson
1. Agenda
Add: Tree City U.S.A.
M/S/P Enes/Williams - to approve the May 9, 1988 Planning Commission
agenda as amended. (Motion carried 9-0).
2. Minutes: April 25, 1988
M/S/P Williams/Simpson - to approve the addendum to the April 25, 1988
Planning Commission minutes. (Motion carried 9-0).
M/S/P Williams/Hunt - to approve the April 25, 1988 Planning
Commission minutes as amended. (Motion carried 8-0-1<Abstain: Enes›).
3. Concept Plan - Willard Morton/Bob Engstrom
Willard Morton, who developed Tartan Meadows 1,2 & 3, and Bob
Engstrom, a landscape architect, provided a concept plan for 18 lots
on approximately 50 acres which lies south of loth Street and on the
west side of Lake Elmo Avenue. Although the Residential Estates Zoning
district is not yet a reality, Mr. Morton is proposing RE zoning,
along with a concept for an R1 development.
The site is heavily wooded with jackpine, mature blue and green spruce
and a spotty area of Norways. On the far west side of the site, there
is a large dry lake bed which could be stocked with wildlife. The
site is long and narrow so they created a single road service (1,850
feet long) which entered this site and meandered through the woods.
The-shoMeet-Bead-€eeetage- e-5.a-€eet wide. The typical road frontage is
250' with one lot proposed to have 50 ot road frontage.
ht ave
Mr. Engstrom sugges d tha in, is, ubd'vi io the roars e1 &1 t± Deo24
feet wide which NOIg-WOR1-441I*0021444A0Pgae ° Most public works
administrators have a theory that bigger is better until an accident
where a child looses his life because of the fast traffic --then stop
signs are erected. Engstrom likes to make the streets as narrow as
possible and still be functional and bring in vegetation close because
that is what most of the people want because it automatically slows
everbody down. In Champlin there are executive homesites
that have a 24 foot road (face to face) with vertical concrete curbs.
Curbs protect the sod from the snowplows. Bloomington has the widest
streets in the Metropolitan area and when the superstorm happened they
were flooded the worst,because of the large amount of impervious surfaces.
LAKE ELMO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 9, 1988 PAGE 2
Engstrom felt the ideal road would be a curvy 22 foot blacktop road.
He also suggested an interlocking walkway system located on the NSP
easement in the City. The Commission suggested that the Parks
Commission look into this.
As far as cul-de-sacs length, Engstrom stated this goes back to the
way cities fought fires years ago. When cul-de-sacs were first
invented, the fire hydrants were still located on the main street.
They were not put down at the end of the cul-de-sac so the length of
the cul-de-sac was a function of how much hose the pumper would need.
Marge Williams suggested they look at the length of driveways at the
same time they discuss the length of the cul-de-sacs.
Restrictive covenants could require an association to maintain the
islands in the center and entrance approach. Also you could require
planting natural landscaping on the back 10 feet of your lot. A
natural planting area was required in Champlin that was a minimum of
225 sq.ft. (15 x 15). Engstrom felt this was not an excessive
requirement because you could buy seedlings from the DNB very
reasonably. A book with convenants and association bylaws was given
out to the Commission.
Mr. Engstrom provided pictures of rocks for landscaping and islands
with trees in the center of cul-de-sacs in Eagan and Minnetonka.
Marge Williams felt this was one of the best designs for a development
that she has seen. It meets the Planning Commission's highest
expectations --preserving wildlife, offsetting houses rather than put
them in rows, and was very pleased with the design and presentation.
Chairman DeLapp asked that they keep in contact with himself or with
the City Staff. When the Planning Commission makes the presentation
of RE zoning to the Council, Chairman DeLapp felt it would be
advisable for Mr. Engstrom to be in the audience to make some
comments.
4. Building Heights - (Continuation)
Several responses were received from the City of Bayport, Forest Lake
and Afton on building heights in Washington County. A letter from Al
Goodman, Washington County Planner stated what Washington County did
was change the definition as to how to arrive at the specified height,
not the height itself.
A copy of Section 409 of the Uniform Building Code was provided. This
is what Washington County has copied verbatim. The staff believed the
UBC guidelines are what have been used in most communities, even
though a local zoning definition may read differently, such as it does
in Lake Elmo.
The Planning Commission concurred with this rule that has been used so
the Commission recommended amending our code so our definition of
building height coincides with the practice that is being used.
LAKE ELMO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MAY 9, 1988 PAGE 3
M/S/P Haacke/Simpson - to recommend to the City Council to adopt the
definition of building heights in Section 409 of the Uniform Building
Code instead of the definition we now have in our city ordinance.
(Motion carried 9-0).
5. Residential Estates
Commission member Al Kunde provided a draft on Residential Estates
Type 1 & 11 for the Commission's review. There was discussion on item
(11) to change the word Encourage to Discourage the continuation of
existing agricultural uses on parcels of 40 or more acres within the
rural estates area and consider zoning for agricultural preserves
where appropriate and requested.
Chairman DeLapp suggested the wording "The intent of RE zoning, as a
floating zone, is not meant to discourage the continuation of existing
agricultural uses on parcels of 40 acres or more."
Marge Williams saw no reason not to promote agricultural uses in the
City. Marge felt if the Commission didn't take a stand on this, we
would have to rewrite the entire Comprehensive Plan. There should be
areas in the City that should be promoted as continuing, existing
agricultural uses. Ann Bucheck stated the goal of the Comp Plan is to
maintain the City's low density growth and preserve the rural
atmosphere. If RE Zoning should be approved by the City Council,
Chairman DeLapp stated there would be changes in the Comp Plan and
this would change the character of it.
M/S/P Haacke/Simpson - to change the wording of Item #11 and move it
to Goal #3 "The intent of this section outlining Residential Estates
Zoning as a floating zone is not meant to discourage the continuaton
of existing agricultural uses on parcels of 40 or more acres within
the rural estates area and consider zoning for agricultural preserves
where appropriate and requested" (See EXHIBIT A). (Motion carried
6-3<Williarns, Enes, Bucheck›).
M/S/P Simpson/Stevens - to accept the floating zone map as presented
on 5-9-88. (Motion carried 8-1<Bucheck: was not in favor of the map
because there was too much land included in this floating zone›).
6. Comprehensive Plan (Update)
Planning Commission member Marge Williams will have an updated copy of
the Comprehensive Plan for the Commission's review at their May 23rd
meeting.
7. Other
The Planning Commission unanimously expressed its appreciation to the
City Staff for their extra effort during the past six months while
covering for the vacancy in the City Administrator's position.
M/S/P Enes/Stevens - to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting at
10:55 p.m. (Motion carried 9-0).
EXHIBIT A
RESIDENTIAL ESTATES TYPE 1 & 11 DRAFT 5-9-88
A. GOALS:
•
1. Maintain the city's low density growth and preserve the rural
atmosphere by encouraging residential development on lands
other than prime agricultural land and by encouraging residential
development in areas generally unsuitable for agricultural uses.
2. Keep the need for public expenditures at a low level consistent
with the public facility and service needs generated by
development trends by:
a) retaining low density, single family housing development
rather than permitting high density, multiple family housing:
b) focusing on low density residential development in order to
maintain a low level of public service costs for streets,
fire and police protection.
3. The intent of this section outlining Residential Estates Zoning
as a floating zone is not meant to discourage the continuation
of existing agricultural uses on parcels of 40 or more acres
within the rural estates area and consider zoning for
agricultural preserves where appropriate and requested.
4. Practice sound planning principles that will eliminate the
need to install central sewer and public water services.
B. POLICIES:
1. Limit residential density to one dwelling unit per:
a) two and one half (2.5) acres for type I;
b) five (5) acres for type II.
2. Since lot size alone does not determine a parcel's
suitabiity for on -site sewage treatment system, (such
suitability depending upon soil types, depth to water
table and bedrock, slope and other physical features)
requires some lots to be larger when physical conditions
warrant.
3. Permit no commercial uses in the Rural Estates area.
4. Require a building permit for construction of a residence
in order to assure compliance with all zoning regulations
and maximum preservation of the natural environment.
5. Establish a minimum lot size of two and one half acres
with a minimum buildable area of one acre. Buildable
area shall be defined as land having a slope of 13% or less
and enough soils suitable for the installation of two
on -site sewage disposal systems.
6. Require 300 feet of frontage on a city street for all lots
except those in platted subdivisions in order to:
a) Provide adequate separation of houses to preserve the
rural atmosphere;
b) reduce the need for setback variances by providing an
adequate lot width;
c) provide adequate separation of and limit the number of
driveways onto collector streets in rural areas to
ensure safe access and traffic flow;
d) eliminate long and narrow lots that are difficult to
develop and subdivide.
7. Require each applicant for a building to demonstrate that
there is sufficient area to construct a house, all allowable
accessory structures and two septic system drainfields within
the buildable area of the lot.
8. Enforce all regulations developed to protect the natural
environment.
9. Require landowners to install and maintain driveways to such
a standard that emergency vehicles will have ready access to all
buildings.
10. Prohibit clear cutting of woodlands. When clearing a wooded
site for construction of a home and accessory structures, no
more than the minimum number of trees shall be cut.
11. In areas where agricultural and non-agricultural uses interface,
the non-agricultural developer is to be responsible for any
desired screening or fencing that does not interfere with the
agricultural use.
12. Prohibit land uses inconsistent with a rural lifestyle in the
RE area which might place an excessive demand on city services.
13. Permit rezoning of agricultural land to rural estates only for
those parcels as indicated on the floating zoning map.
14. Allow existing buildable substandard parcels to be developed
under the regulations of the rural estates:
a) type I. Parcels of less than 20 acres may be subdivided at
a ratio of 3 lots for 10 acres;
b) type II. Parcels of less than 40 acres and greater than 20
acres may be subdivided at a ratio of 2 lots for 10 acres;
15. Confine nuisance restriction for noise, animals, odors and so
forth to those requisite to the health, safety and welfare of
the public and which do not inhibit normal practices and
operations.
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lake zoning RP1
elmo districts DB
agriculture
one family residential
public parks
highway business
general business
prihl i r fani 1 i tl_es
R-3 manufactured home park
R-R rural residential
/f$d//4p'cti A417 (deleted)
[ 1.J conditional use permit
lfl5J agricultural preserves
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