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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2013PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting February 6,2013 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Stevenson at 7:00 p.m. for February 6, 2013. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Elofson, Miller, Rundle, Schiltgen, Stevenson and Smith. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Carvelli-Yu. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes Review Planning Commission Bylaws Discuss City Code Amendment for Accessory Buildings 3. Approval of Minutes December 5, 2012. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Smith. To approve the Minutes of the December 5, 2012 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes — 6 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting February 6, 2013 Page 2 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases None. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Review Planning Commission Bylaws Planning Associate Heller explained the Planning Commission's Bylaws state that the Commission shall review and approve the Bylaws on an annual basis. MOTION/SECOND: Chair Stevenson/Commissioner Rundle. To Adopt the Planning Commission Bylaws. Ayes — 6 Nays — 0 B. Discuss City Code Amendment for Accessory Buildings Motion carried. Planning Associate Heller noted this was a continued discussion from the January 2"d Planning Commission meeting. At that time, the Commission agreed with staff that shipping containers are not appropriate as a permanent use in residential districts, but felt that there are situations where these, or other portable storage containers, could be allowed temporarily, such as moving or for construction projects. Associate Heller reviewed several ordinances from other cities with the Commission noting many cities are adding regulations for storage containers. Staff supports allowing the containers for short periods of time, but not for long term or permanent storage. Staff also recommended not allowing the existing shipping containers in the City to remain as non -conforming. She suggested property owners be given a certain amount of time to remove the container. Associate Heller requested the Commission discuss the code amendment in further detail and provide staff with direction on how to proceed. The Commission reviewed the definition of a cargo container in detail. Chair Stevenson questioned if the City currently had a time limit for temporary storage containers, such as PODS. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting February 6, 2013 Page 3 Associate Heller indicated the City did not have an established timeline, but any cargo containers that the City sees are monitored by Code Enforcement Officer Anderson. She suggested a maximum time limit be set within the code amendment. Staff did not feel it was necessary to create a permitting process for temporary container units. She recommended storage containers be allowed on a temporary basis on a hard surface for 120 or 180 days. The Commission agreed with this recommendation and suggested allowing them for up to 180 days. Commissioner Rundle expressed concern that companies were now renovating cargo storage containers, adding windows and doors. He wanted to be assured that the new code would not allow this to be a permitted storage shed. Associate Heller stated the language could address the renovation of the cargo containers. Commissioner Smith was in favor of allowing renovated containers so long as they were properly remodeled to appear like a typical storage shed with a peaked rook, with doors and windows. She then asked if the containers had to be located on an improved surface. Associate Heller stated that is what staff was recommending. Commissioner Schiltgen questioned if other cities in Minnesota were experiencing the same concerns. Associate Heller stated this was a growing concern everywhere as cargo containers are more available and an alternative for storage buildings that people assume are long lasting and maintenance free. Chair Stevenson recommended the current cargo containers in the residential zoning district the City be removed and not allowed to be grandfathered in as non -conforming uses. Associate Heller indicated the City would allow them 180 days to remove the units from their property before action would be taken against them. Commissioner Smith requested the code language state that temporary cargo containers could not be stacked and that no utilities be run to them. Associate Heller thanked the Commission for their input. She noted she would put together an ordinance based on the suggestions received for the Commission to review at a future meeting. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. February 20, 2013 B. March 6, 2013 Mounds View Planning Commission February 6, 2013 Regular Meeting Page 4 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:30 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.