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Mounds View Planning Commission November 16, 2016 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Klebsch recommended the shrubs be removed from this area and that a hedge be planted in its place to assist with providing additional screening of the fence. She believed this would assist with addressing the setback issue. Public Works Director Erickson stated staff could look into this further. Commissioner Love suggested arborvitae be considered for the hedge. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner French. To approve Resolution 1060-16, a Resolution Recommending Approval of the Development Review for the property located at 2466 Bronson Drive; Planning Case No. MU2016-003. Commissioner Klebsch asked why a stormwater retention pond was being added. Public Work Director Erickson explained this was a requirement from the watershed district. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Public Hearing to Consider Resolution 1061-16, approval of a Variance to reduce the front yard setback for a parking lot at 2466 Bronson Drive Planner Sevald stated the minimum front yard setback for a parking lot in the I-1 District is 40’. The applicant is requesting a Variance to reduce the setback to 13’-2” along Bronson Drive. It was noted this parking lot will serve vehicle maintenance garage bays. Because of the triangular shape of the site, alternatives are: (1) eliminate this parking lot, which would require a variance to reduce the number of stalls; or (2) replace the ballfield with a parking lot. This parking lot when not used for parking, will allow for maneuvering in and out of maintenance bays. Planner Sevald reported City Code includes seven criteria to be reviewed when considering a Variance. Staff’s analysis of these criteria is included in Resolution 1061-16. In summary, the practical difficulty is that in order to comply with the parking lot setback requirements by flipping the building (and parking) orientation north-south, instead of east-west, would require the removal of the adjacent ballfield, thereby creating a detriment to the City’s park system. Staff reviewed the Variance requirements in further detail and recommended the Commission hold a public hearing and recommend approval. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 8:04 p.m. Commissioner Schiltgen asked if staff received any comment from the public regarding the variance request. Planner Sevald reported he only received one response from the public, that being from the movie theater. Commissioner Klander believed the variance request put the Commission in a tough spot given the fact the City was the applicant. He was not satisfied that the City has worked to minimize the impact of the variance. However, he also did not want the City to incur additional expenses to modify the plans. He stated that he could support the plans if additional buffering was provided along Bronson Drive as suggested by the Commission.