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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-2015 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting December 16, 2015 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 December 16, 2015. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Kieffer, Klander, Love, Rundle, Schiltgen, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Elofson. Also Present: City Administrator Jim Ericson and Council Member Gary Meehlhause. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes 1 ZC2015-001 Rezoning from B1, Neighborhood Business, to B2, Limited 2 Business _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approval of Minutes November 4, 2015. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Klander. To approve the Minutes of the November 4, 2015 regular Planning Commission meetings as presented. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. December 2, 2015. Commissioner Kieffer requested a change to Page 3, noting Chair Stevenson’s comment should read: “…was anyone interested in using the site as a B1 use”. Mounds View Planning Commission December 16, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Love requested Mr. Punjani’s name be spelled correctly throughout the minutes. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Kieffer. To approve the Minutes of the December 2, 2015 regular Planning Commission meetings as slightly amended. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. ZC2015-001 Rezoning from B1, Neighborhood Business, to B2, Limited Business Applicant: Zulfiquar Punjani Address: 2408 County Road I City Administrator Ericson indicated the applicant and property owner, Zulfiquar (Julio) Punjani, has submitted an application to rezone his property located at 2408 County Road I, previously operated as a neighborhood convenience store, from B-1, Neighborhood Business, to B-2, Limited Business. The property is one of only two commercial properties presently zoned B-1. The other property is located at the southeast corner of County Road H2 and Silver Lake Road. The expressed basis for the requested rezoning would be to allow for the operation of a liquor store on the site, although the Commission would need to consider all possible uses. City Administrator Ericson reported the Planning Commission reviewed this request at its meeting on December 2, 2015. After reviewing the staff report and hearing from the property owner, the Commission expressed an opinion that the request would not be inconsistent with the Comprehensive plan and would not be out of character considering the surrounding uses. After considering the other criteria for amending the City’s official zoning map, the Commission directed staff to prepare a resolution recommending approval of the requested rezoning of the property. City Administrator Ericson reviewed the request in further detail and stated based on the direction provided at the December 2, 2015, Planning Commission meeting, staff has prepared Resolution 1039-15 recommending approval of the requested rezoning of the property at 2408 County Road I from B-1, Neighborhood Business, to B-2, Limited Business, along with findings of fact in support of the recommendation determining that the requested rezoning would not be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan, would not depreciate the neighborhood, would not be out of character for the area, would serve a demonstrated need, and that the uses would not be inappropriate for the location. Mounds View Planning Commission December 16, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 3 ______________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Love explained she printed out the list of allowed uses for the B1 zoning district and read this aloud for the record. She believed this was an extensive use for a neighborhood store. She was concerned with how the neighborhood would be impacted if a liquor store were to locate on this property. She commented that Mounds View already had more liquor stores per capita than its surrounding neighbors. She did not see a demonstrated need for another liquor store in the City of Mounds View. Commissioner Schiltgen was of the opinion that the City was not to regulate businesses, but rather should allow the free market to regulate which businesses will thrive in the community. He provided comment on the history of this property and stated a convenience store was no longer prospering at this location. He explained there were adverse effects to having the space vacant as well. For this reason, he did not oppose the site being rezoned. Chair Stevenson addressed the Comprehensive Plan along the County Road I corridor. It was his opinion that B2 would be a proper zoning classification for the property at 2408 County Road I and would offer the property owner new options for the site. He supported changing the zoning from B1, Neighborhood Business to B2, Limited Business. Commissioner Schiltgen agreed stating the rezoning would greatly benefit the property owner. He believed the rezoning would assist in revitalizing the property. Commissioner Klander requested further information from staff on how the site could become a liquor store. City Administrator Ericson reviewed the City Council review and approval process for rezonings in detail with the Planning Commission. He noted the Ordinance would require a public hearing and would not be effective until 30 days after being published. After that time, the applicant could apply for a liquor license and would have to go through an extensive background check and licensing process with the City. Commissioner Kieffer did not believe the City needed another liquor store. However, she also understood that this was one of the only remaining B1 zoned properties in the City, which limited the uses on the site. Because of this, she could support the rezoning of the property. Further discussion ensued regarding the allowed uses within the B1 and B2 zoning districts. Commissioner Rundle asked if the Council had to limit the number of off-sale establishments within the City. City Administrator Ericson reported the City had to regulate the number of on- sale establishments but could have any number of off-sale establishments. Commissioner Love requested that the information regarding liquor stores per capita be passed along to the City Council. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Klander. To approve Resolution 1039-15 Recommending Approval of the Rezoning of the Property at 2408 County Road I from B-1, Neighborhood Business, to B-2, Limited Business; Planning Case No. ZC2015-001. Mounds View Planning Commission December 16, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 4 ______________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Kieffer questioned if findings had to be listed within the motion. City Administrator Ericson reported the Planning Commission was not required to list Findings of Fact, but noted the Commission’s comments would support the motion. Ayes – 5 Nays – 1 (Love) Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases City Administrator Ericson explained he had no upcoming Planning Cases for the Commission to review. B. Staff Updates City Administrator Ericson provided the Commission with an update from staff. He noted seven interviews for the planner position were held last week and background checks were being conducted. It was his hope the new planner would be hired in early January. C. Council Updates Councilmember Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. He explained the Council approved the 2016 budget and property tax levy. He commented the 2016 levy was a 1% increase over 2015 and was the lowest tax levy when compared to neighboring communities. He indicated the City would now allow Sunday liquor sales from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. He noted Angelica Klebsch and Jason French have been appointed to the Planning Commission. D. Planning Commissioner Reports Chair Stevenson thanked Commission Kieffer for her service to the City of Mounds View. 8. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, January 6, 2016 B. Wednesday, January 20, 2016 ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission December 16, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 5 ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ Jim Ericson City Administrator Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.