Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-1999 PC . PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 5, 1999 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m., May 5, 1999. Since both Chairperson Peterson and Vice Chairperson Stevenson were absent, consensus was reached to designate Commissioner Miller to Chair the meeting. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Interim Acting Chairperson Miller, Commissioners Berke, Hegland, Johnson, Kaden, and Laube. Members Absent: Chairperson Peterson, Commissioner Braathen, and Stevenson with prior • notice. Also Present: Community Development Director Rick Jopke, Council Liaison Roger Stigney, and Recorders Carla Wirth and Trish Pearson. Index to Minutes Page Staff Reports/Items of Information 2 Chairperson and Planning Commissioners Reports 5 3. Citizens' Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda No citizen requests or comments on items not on the agenda were considered. 4. Approval of Minutes A. April 7, 1999 • MOTION/SECOND: Laube/Johnson to approve the April 7, 1999 meeting minutes as presented. Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 2 Ayes - 6 Nays - 0 The motion carried. 5. Staff Reports /Items of Information A. Billboards Community Development Director Jopke explained the Council has asked the Planning Commission to continue to look into and make recommendations on whether billboards should be allowed and what process should be used if it is determined that the City wants to allow billboards at the golf course. He stated that he was not a"fan" of billboards and has serious misgivings about granting variances to allow billboards on the golf course and other sites in Mounds View. He stated he believes this would constitute a use variance which is prohibited by State Statutes. He suggested, as an alternate method of addressing this if the City wishes to permit billboards, that they consider a Code amendment. Jopke stated if the City wishes to proceed to approve billboards, he would recommend the Code be amended to allow billboards by conditional use permit and that specific standards for billboards • be specified in the Code. He reviewed the types of standards that could be included (maximum sign area, maximum sign height, minimum distance between billboards, pole type, sign face configuration, minimum distance and/or screening requirements from residential property, total number of billboards allowed, permitted locations, maximum length of permit, and minimum setback requirements). Jopke stated a second issue that would have to be overcome is that the billboard company will have to also obtain a permit from MnDOT which requires that billboards must be located in commercial or industrial zoning district. The golf course is zoned CRP and it is unclear whether MnDOT would approve permits in that zoning district. An alternative would be to rezone the golf course to PF since golf courses are permitted uses in the PF district. However, the current sign code technically does not permit any signage in the CRP or PF zone. Under this scenario, the Code could be amended to allow billboards in PF and/or CRP districts if a conditional use permit is obtained. Jopke suggested the Planning Commission discuss the general concept outlined as well as what kind of public input process should be utilized. Based on direction from the Planning Commission, staff could then prepare draft ordinance amendments for their consideration at a future meeting. Commissioner Johnson asked if this will "open the door" for Highway 10 billboard requests. 411 Jopke suggested the Code specify specific areas and where billboards would and would not be permitted with a CUP process. Highway 10 would not need to be listed as a permitted area. 111 Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 3 Commissioner Johnson asked how many signs the golf course would be limited to. Jopke stated he thinks eleven potential sites were identified but two did not have access and several of the remaining nine were not on the golf course property. Commissioner Laube agreed that several, perhaps three, were not on the golf course property. Commissioner Berke asked if there will be a problem with State approval of the permit. Jopke stated that could be the case. Berke asked if this process should be completed so State approval is first ascertained. Commissioner Kaden asked if it would "open the door" for anybody to get a CUP. Jopke stated it is correct that anyone who abides by all of the conditions would be able to make application. Commissioner Laube asked if there will be problems should the golf course be rezoned. Jopke stated this will depend on the zoning selected. If PF, he stated he would not anticipate major problems since golf courses are permitted in that district and would not "open the door" for a lot of other requests. • Commissioner Laube suggested staff contact the State to see if they would allow billboards in a PF zoning district prior to the Commission spending a lot of time on the issues. He stated if the State has no problem with billboards then the Commission could start looking at what surrounding communities have for billboard requirements such as size, height, etc. Also, the State may have maximum standards that can be reviewed. Commissioner Kaden asked staff to find out if Shoreview permits billboards. Acting Chairperson Miller explained the Golf Course Superintendent was charged with finding additional sources of revenue but she wonders if there may be other opportunities that are not as cumbersome as the billboard process. Commissioner Berke asked if there is any indication of the revenue estimated from the billboards. Council Liaison Stigney advised it was estimated at $1,000 per sign per month. Jopke agreed the revenue ranged from $1,000 to $2,000 per sign per month. Commissioner Laube stated his recollection is that the revenue is based on size, location, and customer. Commissioner Johnson stated he does not think the community will support billboards on the golf course and he is concerned about"opening the door" for billboards along Highway 10 or 35W. Jopke stated staff will conduct further research on State requirements and whether there is merit • to pursue this option. He stated he will also ask the State and neighboring communities what Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 1999 • Regular Meeting Page 4 design standard they use. Jopke stated that staff will also research other revenue generating opportunities that would be available for the golf course. Jopke asked what type of citizen input process would be used. Commissioner Laube suggested staff obtain information on maximum size, height, number, and allowed content before citizen hearings are held. Jopke agreed that hearings will be considered once specific standards are determined. Commissioner Kaden asked if the billboard issue was raised during the Focus 2000 meetings. Jopke stated he is unsure but will find out. Kaden noted that billboards are currently prohibited. Jopke stated this is correct but existing billboards were allowed to remain. Jopke explained how the CUP process would be used for billboards including notification, public hearing, and standards to consider. Commissioner Laube suggested that a specific ordinance amendment should be developed so the 11) public knows what is being considered. Commissioner Hegland stated the Commission also needs better revenue estimates prior to making a decision. He expressed concern that this process could take a lot of time with the City getting very little out of it. Hegland suggested the billboard companies be contacted for these specific revenue numbers so the Commission doesn't have to make a decision based on a scenario. Commissioner Kaden stated he would also like to know how the revenue will be used, whether it will be designated to the general fund, golf course, and what percent of the entire budget this revenue would equate to. Commissioner Laube stated his understanding that anything on the golf course property had to be directed to the golf course budget, not the general fund. Jopke stated he will find out that information. Council Liaison Stigney explained that funding restriction was part of the golf course bond agreement and he does not know if that can be amended. B. Previous Council Action Community Development Director Jopke updated the Commission regarding action taken by the . Council at their meeting of April 26, 1999, to approve first reading of an ordinance amending • Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 5 Chapter 401 of the Code pertaining to the Planning Commission, etc., denial of the CUP for the dog kennel on Bronson Drive, and approval of a CUP for an oversized garage on Terrace Drive. Jopke reported the EDA discussed the Building N agreement and, after amendments, approved it. He advised the development will proceed and initial grading work has begun. Jopke reported on Council discussion from their work session Monday night regarding the request from the Knollwood Green homeowners association to have the City co-sign a loan to do siding improvements since they do not have enough money in their reserve fund and the bank informed them that they don't have enough collateral. The Council indicated the townhomes are in reasonably good shape and the association hasn't explored all options so the Council was not interested in proceeding. They directed staff to work with them to determine another option. Jopke stated the City had made housing grant program applications through both Ramsey County and MHFA for $150,000 to help fund the housing replacement program which would allow the EDA to purchase blighted housing, clear the property, and sell the site. He advised that Ramsey County approved a $75,000 grant for the Housing Replacement Program, plus a $25,000 joint grant with the City of New Brighton to help apartments be certified as crime-free multi-housing. 110 However, the MHFA did not approve the City's grant requests. Jopke reported that the other application made to MHFA for money to offer an interest subsidy program for single family rehab was also not approved. Jopke reported the Council and EDA reviewed the redevelopment proposals submitted for property on Pleasant View Drive and directed staff to negotiate the sale of the property with the top two bidders. He advised that the high bidder was Marquis Builders with a bid of approximately $49,500 for lot. Marquis Builders is proposing a 1,600 square foot rambler with an expansion lower level and an estimated value of$184,500. C. Planning Commissioners Journal Jopke stated the City has a subscription for this journal which is provided for the Commissioner's information. 6. Chairperson and Planning Commissioners Reports Miller reported on the advanced zoning application workshop she attended on April 29, 1999 which was a newly developed course. She described the topics of the sessions she attended and stated she received a lot of information including tips for amending the Zoning Ordinance, the • PUD process, performance zoning, sign ordinance standards, keys to working in multi- Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 6 jurisdictional planning, and billboards. She thanked the City for the opportunity to attend this worthwhile seminar. No other reports were considered. 7. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Interim Acting Chairperson Miller adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, 4 � Rick Jopke • Community Development Director Transcribed by: Carla Wirth TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. N:\DATA\USERS\BARBB\SHARE\KEEP-IT\W PDOCS\MINUTES\1999\05-05-99.WPD •