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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-02-2013 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 2, 2013 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Carvelli-Yu at 7:06 p.m. for January 2, 2013. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Carvelli-Yu, Elofson, Miller, Rundle, Schiltgen, Stevenson (arrived at 7:13 p.m.) and Smith. Absent and Excused: None. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Special Order of Business 1 Approval of Minutes 2 Discuss City Code Amendment for Accessory Buildings 2 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Special Order of Business A. Oath of Office for Commissioners Planning Associate Heller administered the Oath of Office to Commissioners Cindy Carvelli-Yu, John Elofson, Paul Schiltgen and Holly Smith. Mounds View Planning Commission January 2, 2013 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ B. Election of Officers – Chair and Vice-Chair Commissioner Schiltgen nominated Gary Stevenson to be the Chair of the Planning Commission. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Rundle. To Elect Gary Stevenson as the Chair of the Planning Commission for 2013. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Commissioner Smith nominated Schiltgen to be the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Smith/Chair Stevenson. To Elect Paul Schiltgen as the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission for 2013. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. Approval of Minutes November 7, 2012. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve the Minutes of the November 7, 2012 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Planning Cases None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Other Planning Activity A. Discuss City Code Amendment for Accessory Buildings Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that staff has been asked by residents what styles or types of “buildings” or materials are allowed to be used as accessory buildings. The Mounds View Planning Commission January 2, 2013 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ zoning code specifies a few types of materials that are not allowed (such as tubular and canvas structures) and states that the exterior must be weather resistant. Associate Heller indicated the Planning Commission has made changes to the zoning code regarding accessory buildings, and there has been a lot of discussion over how much to regulate the styles of these buildings. Regulations for the roof pitch and style were added to the Code a few years ago, but in general, the Planning Commission has decided not to regulate the building style. The exception to this is when a conditional use permit is approved for a structure over 952 square feet. One of the conditions is that the accessory building shall have a uniform appearance with the house. Associate Heller explained that staff has recently discovered a residential property in the City that is using a steel shipping container as a shed. Staff does not feel that this type of structure is appropriate in a residential district (or possibly any zoning district) and is suggesting that the Planning Commission consider adding language to the zoning code that would not allow these to be used as storage buildings. Staff requested the Commission discuss the information and provide staff with direction on how to proceed with the proposed amendment. Commissioner Smith indicated that the flat roof of the steel shipping container was not allowed per the existing zoning code, so is that enough to eliminate the concern of residents using these. Associate Heller feared that the property owner could build a make-shift pitched roof over this container in order to make it compliant with the code. Commissioner Carvelli-Yu understood the shipping containers could be rented for moving purposes. She asked how long the unit has been onsite. Associate Heller stated the container has been on this property for several years. Chair Stevenson inquired how long a “pod” unit could be stored on a property. Associate Heller explained the City worked with homeowners that are moving or working through remodeling projects on the length of time that a storage container is kept on the property. Chair Stevenson suggested that temporary “pods” and roll-off dumpsters be addressed in conjunction with the accessory building zoning code language. Associate Heller stated timelines could be developed for temporary use of storage pods and dumpsters. Chair Stevenson did not see that the shipping container was an acceptable storage shed. Commissioner Rundle agreed. Mounds View Planning Commission January 2, 2013 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Smith did not oppose the steel container being used for storage and suggested the unit could be roofed and sided. Commissioner Schiltgen asked if the homeowner were to build a structure around and over the container, if this would be acceptable. Associate Heller stated that steel containers were not typically found in residential districts. She commented that a flat roof would still not be allowed. Chair Stevenson asked how other cities addressed this concern. Associate Heller commented there were many ways to address this issue. She explained she could provide the Commission with language examples from other cities at a future meeting, and the Commission could decide how to proceed after reviewing more information. Chair Stevenson was in favor of proceeding in this manner. ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. January 16, 2013 B. February 6, 2013 C. February 20, 2013 ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, Heidi Heller Planning Associate Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.