HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-08-01 PZMA
CITY OF
LAKE
ELMO
City of Lake Elmo
777-551
3800 Laverne Avenue North / Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission will meet on Monday. Tanuary 8, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers of City Hall, 3800 Laverne Avenue North, Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
AGENDA
1. Agenda
2. Minutes - December 11, 2000
3. Organizational: a. Announce Appointments
b. Election of Officers (Chair; Vice -Chair; Secretary)
c. Adopt 2001 Meeting Schedule
d. Discussion: Planning Training Seminar Date(s)
4. Public Hearing: (continua finmD«anher 11, 2000) E & E Properties
Rezone RR to AG, CUP, Zoning Variances
5. Public Hearing: Amend Zoning Ordinance
OP (Open Space)
6. Site Plan Amendment: Heart of America
Machine Shed Restaurant & Wildwood Lodge
I-94 & Inwood Avenue
7. Other
8. Adjourn
it. 4printed on recycled paper
Approved
Lake Elmo
Planning Commission
Meeting Minutes
Monday, January 8, 2001
Chairman Armstrong called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall,
3800 Laverne Avenue North, Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Present: Commissioners Berg, Brass, Deziel,
Helwig, Ptacek, Sedro, Sessing, and Taylor. Absent: Commissioners Herber and Mandel. Also
present: Planner Dillerud and Council Member Delapp.
1. Agenda
M/S/P Helwig/Sessing - to accept the agenda, as presented.
(Motion Passed 9-0).
2. Minutes
M/S/P Berg/Brass - to approve the Minutes from the December 11, 2000 meeting, as
amended.
(Motion Passed 8-0-1). Abstain: Helwig.
3. Organizational
a. Chairman Armstrong announced the appointment of Commissioners Brass, Herber, and
Mandel to three-year terms on the Planning Commission.
b. Election of Officers for 2001:
Chairman: Tom Armstrong (8-0-1). Abstain: Armstrong
Vice -Chair: Bob Helwig (8-0-1) Abstain: Helwig
Secretary: Jeff Berg (8-0-1). Abstain: Berg
c. 2001 Meeting Schedule
M/S/P Helwig/Deziel - to approve the 2001 meeting schedule.
(Motion Passed 9-0).
d. Chairman Armstrong announced a Planning Seminar - Saturday, February 10, 2001,
Professor Gunnar Isberg, leading the discussion.
4. PUBLIC HEARING: (eta December 11, 2000)
E & E Properties
Rezone RR to Ag, CUP, Zoning Variances
Planner Dillerud briefly discussed the applicant's proposal from the December 11, 2000 meeting.
He added that the Planning Commission had tabled consideration to enable the applicant to further
consider a revised site plan that depicts the viewshed along Hudson Blvd. with a berm/landscaping
strategy partially replacing the 200 foot setback; a modification to the text of the Low Impact AG
ordinance that would accommodate a setback reduction where other viewshed protection measures
are incorporated; and, additional work on the concept of permitting applicants to exceed the 26,000
pound weight limitation of the Ordinance for the storage of certain types of strictly off road
equipment.
Tim Freeman
Folz, Freeman, and Dupay
(Representing applicant)
Mr. Freeman presented a graphic board that illustrated the revised proposal. He noted the storage
area was moved back from the property line as far as possible, which was originally setback 50 feet
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 8, 2001 page 1
from the road, and is now setback nearly 90 feet. He explained that the berm is 50' wide at the base
and slopes to allow equipment to plant trees on the top.
Commissioner Taylor asked where the nearest resident was to the site. Mr. Freeman said the closest
would be Cimarron residents. Commissioner Deziel expressed his concern for erosion on the berm.
Terry Emerson — applicant- said trees could be planted on the slopes of the berm to further enhance
the site and prevent erosion.
Chairman Armstrong opened the comment portion of the Public Hearing at 7:45 p.m.
Steve DeLapp
Councilman DeLapp suEgested a provision in the contract that uould -require the property owner to designate the
remaining land to a land trust, thereby providing permanent open space to the City.
Chairman Armstrong closed the comment portion of the Public Hearing at 7:47 p.m.
Chairman Armstrong noted that all Conditional Use Permits are reviewed on an annual basis, and if
ever any changed are indicated, the entire business portion of the site would have to go, noting no
residential use for the remainder of the site could occur.
Mr. Freeman said he would provided the Planning Commission with a written request to extend the
Conditional Use Permit request, and agreed to work with staff regarding the screening to the north
of the site.
M/S/P Armstrong/Sensing - to request staff call a Public Hearing for Monday, January 22,
2001, adding changes to the setback requirements for Low Impact AG uses.
(Motion Passed 8-1). Opposed: Taylor; the proposal changes the ordinance to fit a specific
business, is an inappropriate use, will not benefit the City, does not offer an appealing
entrance to the City, the berm will look like a pyramid and will look terrible.
M/S/P Armstrong/Sensing - to address agenda item 6. Heart of America before agenda
item 5. Public Hearing/OP Zoning Ordinance.
(Motion Passed 9-0).
6. Heart of America
Machine Shed Restaurant & Wildwood Lodge
I-94 & Inwood Avenue
Planner Dillerud gxplained that the original site plan for this two -structure site was approved by the
City Council at its August 3, 1999 meeting, together with the Planned Unit Development Plan and
Plat for Eagle Point Business Park, of which this site is a part. He noted that construction of the
restaurant and the foundation portion of the hotel were initiated in the Fall of 2000, with the
restaurant scheduled for opening within 60 days, and the hotel some time later in the Spring of 2001.
He said the applicant now proposes to amend the previously approved Site Plan to relocate the
restaurant monument sign 120 feet north of the approved location; to increase the site size by .62
acres; to increase the off street parking on the site by 46 stalls; and, to modify the approved exterior
surfacing of the hotel structure. He said the sign subject is already installed at the proposed new
location. He noted staff recommends approval of the amended site area, subject to approval of the
increased parking as proposed, and the processing of a "lot line adjustment" as required by State
Law and Section 400 of the City Code. He also recommended approval of the amendment to
increase off street parking by 46 spaces, conditional upon the approval of the increase in site size
and approval of the necessary lot line adjustment, and modification of the Site and Landscape Plan.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 8, 2001 page 2
Planner Dillerud suggested that the modification to the previously approved exterior surface may be
a bit more complicated in that the applicant's proposed amendment for the hotel is to replace the
vinyl lap siding with cedar lap siding. He said the cedar should be more aesthetic than vinyl, but the
ratio of cultured stone to other facing materials does not appear to approach 85/15 ratio required.
Kirk Whalen
Heart of America
Mr. Whalen said Heart of America had originally estimated $100-110 daily rate, but the market for a
more upscale hotel ($150+ daily rate) is targeted for this hotel. He explained that the proposed stone
and cedar exterior surfacing created the "look" they wanted, also noting that the increase in the lot
size and parking stalls would be a result of the $150+ night. Mr. Whalen said the modification to
the sign was an error, but felt the change fits better than the previously approved sign plan. He said
a 3-story building surfaced with all one material might be somewhat overwhelming.
Commissioner Deziel complimented the applicant on the proposal, noting it may be hypocritical to
vote in opposition of wood exterior when City Hall has a wood exterior surface. Councilman
DeLapp responded to Commissioner Deziel explaining the difference in the areas (Old Village vs. I-
94 Corridor), with wood is appropriate in the Old Village.
M/S/P Ptacek/Deziel - to recommend approval to amend the previously approved Site
Plan of Heart of America/Machine Shed/Wildwood Lodge as follows:
1. To relocate the restaurant monument sign 120 feet north of the approved location;
2. To increase the site size by .62 acres;
3. To increase the off-street parking on the site by 46 stalls;
4. To modify the approved exterior surfacing of the hotel structure.
(Motion Passed 9-0).
M/S/P Armstrong/Sessing - the Planning Commission did not consider the submitted
illustration representative of the 85/15 ratio, as required.
(Motion Passed 7-1-1). Opposed: Ptacek; Abstain: Deziel.
5. Public Hearing: Amend Zoning (OP) Ordinance
Planner Dillerud said he has had many sessions with the City Council on this matter since the
Planning Commission's earlier recommendations. He briefly reviewed the draft amendments, and
reminded the Commission that if adopted, the OP Ordinance should become a new sub -section of
Chapter 300. He noted the existing 300.97, 0 sub -section (the OP Ordinance) would be repealed in
its entirety.
Chairman Armstrong opened and closed the comment portion of the Public Hearing at 9:26
p.m., NO COMMENTS.
Commissioner Helwig expressed his concern regarding the "open space" of a development at times
resulting in "potholes", rather than usable land.
The Commissioners discussed the amendments and made several recommendations, and Planner
Dillerud agreed to make further amendments to the draft ordinance, and bring back to the Planning
Commission at its Monday, January 22, 2001 meeting.
Chairman Armstrong adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Young -Planning Secretary
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 8, 2001
page 3