Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-21-2014 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 21, 2014 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Schiltgen at 7:00 p.m. for May 21, 2014. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Birken, Carvelli-Yu, Elofson, Love, Rundle, and Schiltgen, Absent and Excused: Commissioner Stevenson. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes 1 VR2014-002 Consideration of Variance for an 8-foot Fence in Second 2 Front Yard of a Corner Lot VR2014-003 Consideration of Variance for a 6-foot Fence in Second 2 Front Yard of a Corner Lot VR2014-004 Consideration of Variance for a Second Curb Cut 3 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approval of Minutes April 16, 2014. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Carvelli-Yu. To approve the Minutes of the April 16, 2014 regular Planning Commission meeting as presented. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. VR2014-002 Consideration of a Variance for 8-foot Fence in Second Front Yard of a Corner Lot Applicant: Michael Winkel Address: 7701 Bona Road Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, Mike Winkel, is requesting a variance to install an 8-foot tall fence in the “second front yard” of his corner lot located at 7701 Bona Road. She explained the property is located at the southeast corner of Bona Road and County Road I. Since two streets border corner lots, they have two front yards. As such, the City Code requirement for front yard applies to two sides of the property, which means that corner lots have additional limitations. The Zoning Code indicates that no fence in front of the front line of a building in a residential district may exceed four feet in height. The applicant would prefer to have an 8-foot tall wood fence for screening from County Road I since his yard is a little lower than the sidewalk, and thus has applied for the variance. Staff had no objection to the proposed variance and recommended the Commission approve the variance. Vice Chair Schiltgen opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Michael Winkel, 7701 Bona Road, thanked the Commission for considering his request and thanked staff for their assistance with this matter. Vice Chair Schiltgen questioned when the fence would be installed. Mr. Winkel anticipated that the fence would be replaced in the next two or three weeks. Vice Chair Schiltgen closed the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Carvelli-Yu/Commissioner Birken. To approve Resolution 1003-14, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance for an 8-foot Fence in Second Front Yard of a Corner Lot; Planning Case No. VR2014-002. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ B. VR2014-003 Consideration of Variance for a 6-foot Fence in Second Front Yard of a Corner Lot Applicant: Blaine Fyksen Address: 5045 Eastwood Road Mounds View Planning Commission May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, Blaine Fyksen, is requesting a variance to install a 6-foot tall fence in the “second front yard” of his corner lot located at 5045 Eastwood Road. The property is located at the southwest corner of Eastwood Road and County Road H. Since two streets border corner lots, they have two front yards. As such, the City Code requirement for front yard applies to two sides of the property, which means that corner lots to have additional limitations. The Zoning Code indicates that no fence in front of the front line of a building in a residential district may exceed four feet in height. The applicant would prefer to have a 6-foot tall wood fence for screening from County Road H, and thus has applied for the variance. Staff had no objection to the proposed variance and recommended the Commission approve the variance. Vice Chair Schiltgen opened the public hearing at 7:08 p.m. Blaine Fyksen, 5045 Eastwood Road, commented he has lived in his home for the past 2½ years along this busy road. He discussed the improvements he has made to his home noting he was working to improve the curb appeal. Vice Chair Schiltgen closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Elofson. To approve Resolution 1004-14, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance for a 6-foot Fence in the Second Front Yard of a Corner Lot; Planning Case No. VR2014-003. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ C. VR2014-004 Consideration of Variance for a Second Curb Cut Applicant: Frands Jensen Address: 7800 Groveland Road Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, Frands Jensen, property owner of 7800 Groveland Road, is requesting a variance to allow a second curb cut and driveway on his property. The City Code allows one curb cut on each R-1, Single Family Residential zoned property without a variance. Staff did not support this action as the review of the practical difficulty criteria appear to not warrant approval. For this reason, staff recommended denial of the variance request. Vice Chair Schiltgen opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. Commissioner Elofson questioned why the applicant constructed a garage without first receiving approval for a second curb cut. Associate Heller stated that they could build a garage without a driveway or curb cut. She commented that she told the applicant and his contractor at the time the garage permit was Mounds View Planning Commission May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ applied for that a second curb cut is not allowed. The Jensen’s have requested a variance to allow the second curb cut. Frands Jensen, 7800 Groveland Road, commented that when he purchased the property, he was instructed by his realtor to apply for a variance for the second curb cut given the fact Oakwood Drive was not a busy street. Judith Jensen, 7800 Groveland Road, explained that Oakwood Drive was a very quiet street with few driveways and little traffic. She did not believe that the second curb cut would have a negative impact on the neighborhood. Vice Chair Schiltgen questioned what was being stored in the garage. Mrs. Jensen indicated they stored an RV trailer and ATV, and it served as a garden shed. Mr. Jensen explained that the garage attached to the house was quite small. Commissioner Birken asked if access could be made from the original curb cut. Associate Heller commented this was possible, but would create a very long driveway. Vice Chair Schiltgen inquired the expense of a second curb cut. Associate Heller did not have a price, but noted it would be the applicant’s responsibility. Commissioner Birken stated this situation arose because the applicant decided to face their garage on Oakwood Drive. Therefore the applicants created this problem and she could not support the variance request. Commissioner Elofson questioned if there were other corner lots in the City with two curb cuts. Associate Heller noted there were a few that have been grandfathered in, but some have been removed when the streets were reconstructed. She estimated that there were less than 20 corner lots with two curb cuts in the City. She indicated the Public Works Department did not recommend lots be allowed to have two curb cuts. Commissioner Elofson did not see the harm in this property having two curb cuts. Commissioner Love believed that it was a disadvantage to this property owner to not have a second curb cut given the improvements made to this property. She commented that it could be a traffic hazard as well. Commissioner Birken asked why the additional garage space was not added onto the existing garage. Mounds View Planning Commission May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Mrs. Jensen reported there were mature trees on that side of the home and she believed there was not enough space. Commissioner Birken reviewed the variance criteria noting the Jensen’s did not meet each of the items. Commissioner Elofson recommended the Commission be flexible on this matter and consider the needs of the resident. Vice Chair Schiltgen questioned whether the Jensens were made fully aware before they constructed the garage that a second curb cut may not be approved. Vice Chair Schiltgen closed the public hearing at 7:26 p.m. Associate Heller indicated the applicant would have had room to expand their garage onto the existing structure, but the mature trees on the side of their home may be in the way. She commented this could be used as a finding if the Commission was considering approval. Another option available to the Commission would be to table action on the matter to the next Planning meeting. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Birken/Commissioner Rundle. To approve Resolution 1005-14, a Resolution Recommending Denial of a Variance for a Second Curb Cut; Planning Case No. VR2014-004. Ayes – 3 Nays – 3 (Love, Schiltgen, Elofson) Motion tabled. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. June 4, 2014 B. June 18, 2014 ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Review Minutes: A. May 7, 2014 The Commission discussed the May 7, 2014 meeting minutes. Mounds View Planning Commission May 21, 2014 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ 9. Staff Updates A. Upcoming Planning Cases Planning Associate Heller discussed upcoming planning cases. She noted the Planning Commission would be meeting jointly with the City Council on June 2nd. She reported the Abiding Savior Subdivision was beginning and five single-family lots would be created. She indicated Apple Tree Dental should be opening in June. 10. Chairperson and Planning Commissioners Reports None. 11. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Vice Chair Schiltgen adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Heidi Heller Planning Associate Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.