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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-02-2017- APPROVED - PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting August 2, 2017 Mounds View City Hall 2401 County Road 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Stevenson at 7:00 p.m. for August 2, 2017. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Rundle, Schiltgen, and Stevenson. (A quorum was not present) Absent and Excused: Commissioners French, Klander, Klebsch and Love. Also Present: Planner Jon Sevald, Council Member Gary Meehlhause, and Council Member Bill Bergeron. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page MU2017-001 MWF Properties Development Review 2 Discussion of Amending Zoning Code to decrease the front yard 3 Setback for covered porches Approval of Minutes 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Special Order of Business None. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission August 2, 2017 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. MU2017-001: MWF Properties, LLC: Resolution 1076-17, Recommending approval of a Development Review of “Boulevard”, a 60-unit apartment building, generally located at the NW corner of Mounds View Boulevard and Groveland Road Planner Sevald stated the applicant MWF Properties, requests approval of a Development Review for a 60-unit apartment building to be located at the northwest corner of Mounds View Boulevard and Groveland Road. A Development Review is required for construction activity in which a principal building is increased in size by more than 10%, or more than 10,000 square feet (excludes single-family and two-family dwellings). In this case, the proposed 60-unit apartment building will be 25,000 square feet in size. The property is zoned R-4 High Density Residential, is within the County Road 10 Corridor Overlay District, and is guided as Mixed Use Planned Unit Development in the Comprehensive Plan. Planner Sevald reported MWF Properties has applied for financial assistance (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). This is a competitive program. MHFA awards will be announced in October, 2017. If an award is not received, it is anticipated that MWF Properties will request an extension to the approvals (CUP, Preliminary Plat, and Development Review), and then reapply to MHFA in 2018. Planner Sevald explained the Planning Commission considered this application at their July 19th meeting, where the Preliminary Plat was approved and the Development Review was tabled to invite Ramsey County staff to attend the August 2nd Commission meeting to discuss access and traffic concerns. He explained the City Council reviewed the Preliminary Plat at their July 24th meeting and was tabled. Staff summarized the response the City received from Ramsey County and the recommended that the Commission continue this item to their August 16th meeting. He reviewed the 60-day time period rule and noted this request could be extended another 60 days. Commissioner Schiltgen requested further information on the traffic study. Planner Sevald commented on the additional information that was being requested within the traffic study. Chair Stevenson asked if the number of accidents at this intersection has been considered. Planner Sevald stated the data shows between 2011 and 2015 there were 23 accidents at this intersection with two injuries. He reported the data does not show where in the intersection the accidents occurred. Chair Stevenson questioned why Silver Lake Commons was not included in the market study information provided to the City. Chris Stokka, MWF Properties, stated he hired a third party to complete the market study. He stated he would investigate Silver Lake Commons and would report back to the City. Mounds View Planning Commission August 2, 2017 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Chair Stevenson inquired where the six-foot cedar fence would be located along the rear property line. Mr. Stokka reviewed the location of the proposed cedar fence. Planner Sevald commented on the City’s requirements regarding fences and buffers. Commissioner Schiltgen commented on how this apartment complex would impact the school district. He stated it was his understanding the school district was already aware of the proposed development. Planner Sevald stated this was the case. Chair Stevenson believed the proposed rental rates were properly aligned. He then asked if Mounds View had too many rental units. Planner Sevald was of the opinion the City could support more rental units. Chair Stevenson asked if how many of the new tenants would need access to public transportation. Mr. Stokka stated he did not have exact statistics but explained public transportation was a good selling point and noted the closest bus stop was approximately one- quarter of a mile from the proposed apartment complex. Commissioner Schiltgen questioned if the developer was hoping to have access from Mounds View Boulevard. Mr. Stokka explained he was not as familiar with Mounds View as the Commissioners or the County and stated he would follow the recommendation from the experts. Being that there was no quorum present, the Commission took no action. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity A. Discussion of amending Zoning Code to decrease the front yard setback for covered porches Planner Sevald stated within the R-1 Single-Family Residential zoning district, the minimum front yard setback is 30’ for a house, including covered porches. An exception is if all of the homes on the same side of the block have a greater setback (e.g. 50’+), then the minimum setback shall be equal to the home with the least setback (e.g. 50’). The minimum front yard setback for a patio or deck is 2’. Planner Sevald explained recently, a resident has asked to build a covered porch onto the front of their house. The house is setback 30’, as are adjacent homes. The requested porch is not allowed. The resident has an option of applying for a Variance if there is a practical difficulty unique to this property. Another option is to consider amending the Zoning Code to decrease the setback for a covered (open) porch. He explained that with this request, staff found there to be no hardship. Planner Sevald reported in recent years, the City has granted two variances to allow a decreased setback for a front porch. One was less than 30’ and one greater than 30’ from the front property Mounds View Planning Commission August 2, 2017 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ line. Staff discussed the setback requirements in further detail with the Commission and requested feedback. Chair Stevenson supported this matter being further discussed when the Planning Commission had a quorum present. He stated he could support amending the City Code. Planner Sevald explained he would further investigate how other cities address this matter and would report back to the Commission at a future meeting. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases & Activity Planner Sevald discussed upcoming planning cases noting the items the Commission would be addressing on August 16th. B. Staff Updates Planner Sevald provided the Commission with an update from staff. He thanked all of the Mounds View residents that participated in Night to Unite. C. Council Updates Council Member Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council noting the Council approved a ballot question for a special election that would approve the hire of an additional Police Officer for the Mounds View Police Department. This additional officer would be a part of the Ramsey County Drug Task Force. He noted the Council hired Springsted Waters to assist with the hiring of a new City Administrator. D. Planning Commissioner Reports None. 8. Approval of Minutes Action on the July 24, 2017 was delayed to the August 16, 2017 Planning Commission meeting. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, August 16, 2017 B. Wednesday, September 6, 2017 ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission August 2, 2017 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Jon Sevald Planner Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.