HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-27-01 PZM4
CITY OF
LAKE
jiikELMO
Y
City of Lake Elmo
Phone: 651-777-5510
Fax: 651-777-9615
3800 Laverne Avenue North / Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042
The Lake Elmo Planning Commission will meet Monday, August 27, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in
the Council Chambers of City Hall, 3800 Laverne Avenue North, Lake Elmo, Minnesota.
AGENDA
1. Agenda
2. Minutes - August 13, 2001
3. Public Hearing: Hiner Development
Keats & I-94
Variance, Preliminary Plat & Site Plan Review
4. Public Hearing: Zoning Text Amendment
"Fitness Centers" in General Business Zone
5. INTERVIEWS WITH CONSULTANTS: COMMUNITY FACILITIES
7:00 p.m. DMG-Maimus/Juran & Moody
8:00 p.m. TKDA
9:00 p.m. Virchow, Krause
6. Other
7. Adjourn
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t4: printed on recycled paper
Approved 9/10/01
Lake Elmo
Planning Commission
Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 27, 2001
Chairman Armstrong called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall,
3800 Laverne Avenue North, Lake Elmo, Minnesota. Present: Commissioners Brass, Deziel,
Helwig (6:31), Sedro, and Sessing. Absent: Commissioners Berg, Herber, Mandel, Ptacek, Taylor,
Talcott, Dege, and Gustafson. Also present: Planner Dillerud.
1. Agenda
M/S/P Sessing/Deziel - to approve the agenda, as presented.
(Motion Passed 5-0).
2. Minutes
M/S/P Sessing/Sedro - to approve the meeting minutes for August 13, 2001, as presented.
(Motion Passed 5-0).
3. PUBLIC HEARING: Zoning Text Amendment
"Fitness Centers" in General Business Zone
Planner Dillerud explained that the purpose of the Planning Commission initiated Public Hearing
was to consider amending the list of Conditional Uses in the General Business District to add
"Fitness Centers." He presented a definition of "fitness studio" as "a place or building where passive
or active exercises and related activities are performed for the purpose of physical fitness, improved
circulation or flexibility, and/or weight control. The activities shall be conducted entirely within an
enclosed building. Fitness studio may include exercise equipment (motorized equipment which does
not require physical exertion) but excludes equipment used for weight control or muscle building,
and, shall exclude massage in any form."
Chairman Armstrong opened and closed the comment portion of the Public Hearing,
having heard NO COMMENTS.
Commissioner Deziel stated that some massage parlors are meant for legitimate therapeutic massage,
and others are the first introduction to prostitution. He stated this concerned him, and said he
wanted massage parlors as a Conditional Use in the General Business Zone.
Planner Dillerud reminded the Commissioners that the concept of massage parlors was a subsequent
agenda item.
The Commissioners discussed the actual activities of a fitness center and amended the definition.
M/S/P Sessing/Sedro - to recommend the City Council amend Section 150 (Definitions) of
the Municipal Code adding "Fitness Studio", defined as follows:
"A place or building where passive or active exercises and related activities are
performed for the purpose of physical fitness, improved circulation or flexibility,
and/or weight control. The activities shall be conducted entirely within an enclosed
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 27, 2001 page 1
building. Fitness studio may include exercise equipment and, shall exclude massage
in any form."
(Motion Passed 5-0).
M/S/P Deziel/Brass - to recommend the City Council add "Fitness Centers" to Section
300 of the Municipal Code as a conditional use in the General Business Zone.
(Motion Passed 5-0).
M/S/P Deziel/Armstrong - to direct staff to call a Public Hearing to incorporate
"Therapeutic Massage Centers" as a Conditional Use within the General Business (GB)
Zoning District.
(Motion Passed 5-0).
4. PUBLIC HEARING: Hiner Development
Keats & I-94
Variance, Preliminary Plat, Site Plan Review
Planner Dillerud reviewed the previously discussed Hiner Development reminding the
Commissioners that the proposal is a Preliminary Plat, and not a Planned Unit Development. He
also noted that the Commissioners would be addressing the re -zoning of the parcel from Rural
Residential (RR) to Limited Business (LB), and the Site Plan Review.
(Helwig 6:31 p.m)
Planner Dillerud explained that it might be difficult to provide findings for the variance requesting
multiple buildings on a single parcel. He said it would have been advantageous if the City Council
had been in attendance to provide more input regarding the entire proposal.
Commissioner Sessing suggested two separate solutions, those being; approach the situation as a
Planned Unit Development, or, change the Municipal Code to allow a use such as this as a
"Permitted Use" in the Limited Business Zone.
Chairman Armstrong also suggested an amendment to the Municipal Code, citing the success of the
OP Ordinance, and stated it would be worth looking at the set up standards that are more flexible.
He said he was still intrigued by the concept of smaller, privately owned commercial buildings on a
site.
Commissioner Deziel said he felt the City moved too slowly on these kinds of projects, and said the
problem was probably in the process.
Commissioner Brass expressed her frustration at the City Council not being in attendance, and asked
if the Planning Commission could send this to them directly.
Mr. Hiner said he felt the City Council might have a fear of a Planned Unit Development in this
scenario because the idea was that the applicant might have more control over the final outcome of
the project. He requested a decision because the next phase would require considerable costs such
as a traffic study for 12-15 thousand, and water for nearly 20 thousand. He said he did not want to
proceed without an answer, but was very willing to work with the City on a procedure.
Planner Dillerud said that he did not know if opposition to Planned Unit Developments was the
reason the project did not proceed at the City Council level.
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 27, 2001
page 2
M/S/P Sessing/Armstrong - to approve Resolution No. PZ 2001-063 denying a Variance
request to Hiner Development for placement of multiple structures on a single parcel in the
LB Zoning District.
(Motion Passed 5-1). Abstain: Deziel
M/S/P Armstrong/Helwig - to recommend the City Council deny the approval of the
Rezoning from Rural Residential to Limited Business, Preliminary Plat, and Site Plan for
Hiner Development, finding that the proposal does not conform to the standards of the
Limited Business Zoning District.
(Motion Passed 5-1). Opposed: Deziel.
M/S/P Armstrong/Helwig - to request the City Council provide the Planning Commission
guidance to pursue multiple structure uses in the Limited Business Zone.
(Motion Passed 6-0).
The Commissioners agreed to postpone discussion concerning "Equivalent" performance standards
for exterior surfacing to a subsequent meeting.
ADJOURN AS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION
CONVENE AS MAINTENANCE ADVISORY SPECIAL PROJECTS
As indicated, the Planning Commission was prepared to interview representatives from three (3)
consulting firms regarding the Community Facilities/Staffing Forecasts segment of the Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) procedure distribution.
Each firm representative(s) presented a review of its proposals then fielded questions from the
Planner and seven attending Planning Commissioners.
The order for presentations was as follows:
Representing:
7:00 - 8:00 DMG/Maxitnus-Juran & Moody
Dennis Pond (Team Leader)
8:00 - 9:00 TKDA-Springsted
Dick Thompson (Team Leader)
John Powell
Theresa M. Olson
Nicholas Dragisich
Paul Steinman
9:00 - 10:00
Virchow, Krause & Company
Michael Ley (Team Leader)
Ms. Stacy Anderson
Ms. Jessie Hart
(All three firms were asked a series of questions, which follow along with responses, by consultant.)
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 27, 2001
page 3
Planner Dillerud asked each representative if they understood that the budget for the proposal was
fixed, not to exceed ($40,000.00). He also asked how the firms intended to incorporate the "local
flavor" into its forecasting. He noted that, regarding staff involvement in the information gathering
phase, consultants should remember the City if already short-staffed, and to establish meeting
schedules [with employees] in advance. He asked how the consultant time would be on site.
Chairman Armstrong said the City is a "cheap" community with low per capita expenditures for
services and staffing, requesting that be factored in when preparing the forecast. He noted Lake
Elmo has a spirit of independence, and volunteerism.
Commissioner Sedro asked that the consultants remember to categorize Lake Elmo by
"specialness."
Commissioner Deziel asked if firms had the capacity to analyze and forecast based on current
development patterns.
Commissioner Stanley asked how the data gathering/output percentage of the forecast would be
gathered.
Commissioners Helwig asked which staff members the consultants would meet with to gather
information.
Responses:
DMG-Maximus/Juran & Moody
Mr. Pond stated his company understood the CDBG funding limits; the time spent interviewing
staff will be minimal; a key component will be to address the public works and public safety to
determine a level of service; will address outsourcing comparing costs by getting quotes from other
cities; rely on the information found in the Comprehensive Plan as a source of help with projections
to maintain a certain level of quality; has not formed an existing opinion of Lake Elmo; will rely on
staff for direction regarding growth; much of the resulting forecast will be based on comparison
with other cities.
TKDA-Springsted
Mr. Thompson said his company understood the CDBG funding limits; would create a matrix,
based on numbers, then set thresholds; realizing each community has its own values -choose 5-6
other cities to start an interactive process of comparison; would use other cities, but approach Lake
Elmo recognizing its unique sense of character; would address outsourcing; needing a representative
sample -would refer to the Comprehensive Plan.
Virchow, Krause
Mr. Ley stated an understanding of the rules and budget for the proposal; would conduct extensive
interviews with Mayor and Department Heads; would develop a "quick read" on the community
values; will supplement interviews by gathering community expectations; would select 7-8 peer
communities only as informational value to point out the differences; expects to spend half of the
proposed time on site [Lake Elmo]
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 27, 2001 page 4
The Commissioners took a "show of hands" vote resulting in the following informal
recommendation:
DMG-Maximus/Juran &Moody 0
TKDA-Springsted 3
Virchow, Krause 4
Chairman Armstrong adjourned the meeting at 10:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Young -Planning Secretary
Lake Elmo Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 27, 2001 page 5