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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2012PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting March 21, 2012 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Vice -Chair Meehlhause at 7:00 p.m. for March 21, 2012. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Cramblit, Meehlhause, Miller, Schiltgen, and Smith. Absent and Excused: Commissioners Rundle and Stevenson. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes VR2012-001. Consideration of a Variance Request to Allow an Accessory Building to Exceed 30% of the Principal Structure Size on a Business Zoned Property Review Proposed City Code Amendment to Allow Massage Therapy As Home Based Business 3. Approval of Minutes January 18, 2012. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve the Minutes of the January 18, 2012 regular Planning Commission meetings as slightly amended. Ayes — 5 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission March 21, 2012 Regular Meeting Page 2 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases A. VR2012-001 Consideration of a Variance Request to allow an Accessory Building to Exceed 30% of the Principal Structure Size on a Business Zoned Property — Bill Lloyd — BHL Services, Inc. — 2975 County Road 10 Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, Bill Lloyd, owner of BHL Services, Inc. has a purchase agreement for the property at 2975 County Road 10. Staff discussed the past uses of the site, noting the property was built in 1959. Mr. Lloyd wants to purchase the building and move his construction management business there, but needs a garage for secure storage of supplies and vehicles. The applicant is requesting a variance to allow the size of the detached accessory building to exceed the maximum size limit of 30% of the floor space of the principal use. Associate Heller stated the existing building at 2975 County Road 10 was 1,421 square feet in size. Based on this, the Zoning Code would only allow for a 426 square foot garage on this site. She reviewed the proposed improvements for the site, noting the existing dumpster enclosure would be removed. Mr. Lloyd has requested to build a 728 square foot garage (26' x 28'), which would be 51% of the floor space of the building. Associate Heller explained the Planning Commission may issue a variance to provide relief to the landowner. She commented the commercial property at 2975 County Road 10 was unique as it was less than half the size of most commercial sites in the City. Staff mailed notices to all property owners within 350 feet of the subject property and a notice was published in the Sun Focus newspaper. She had not received any comments to date. Vice -Chair Meehlhause opened the public hearing at 7:18 p.m. Vice -Chair Meehlhause closed the public hearing at 7:18 p.m. Commissioner Cramblit questioned if the back side garage doors would remain. Bill Lloyd, the applicant, stated they would be removed, as the entire building would be converted into office space. Commissioner Cramblit asked if the proposed garage could be attached to the existing building. Mr. Lloyd stated there was a great deal more expense if the garage was attached to the existing building. He then provided further information to the Commission on his business and clientele. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 21, 2012 Page 3 He noted he was a licensed contractor in over 40 states. He stated nine new high-quality jobs would be brought to the city through his business. Vice -Chair Meehlhause indicated the jobs were great, but the improvements to the building would also benefit the community. Commissioner Miller inquired if the small shed would remain. Mr. Lloyd stated the shed would be removed from the site. He discussed how the rear area of the building would be improved along with the fencing. Commissioner Schiltgen asked if the purchase of the building was finalized. Mr. Lloyd stated all terms were agreed upon pending the approval of a variance from the City. He noted a Phase I environmental review would also have to be completed per bank requirements. Vice -Chair Meehlhause noted the proposed garage was 26' x 28' with two garage doors. He questioned if the company's two trailers and pick-up track would fit into the garage. Mr. Lloyd stated the two trailers aren't very big (6' x 12') and have been out of town on sites for the last nine months. He indicated the trailers are usually at construction sites for material storage. He wants the garage this particular size so that the truck and trailer could be backed into to the building and left connected. Vice -Chair Meehlhause asked which side of the garage the garage doors would be located. Mr. Lloyd commented the doors would be located on the east side of the garage, facing the parking lot. He indicated the garage was positioned at an angle to match the way the existing building sits on the site. The garage would be covered with brick to match the principal structure. He noted he would be spending approximately $100,000 to improve the existing structure and build the detached garage. He anticipated the improvements would take about five weeks to complete. Commissioner Miller was pleased with the proposed improvements. Vice -Chair Meehlhause inquired if the Commission should reference removal of the existing storage building and trash area in the resolution. Associate Heller stated this could be added to the resolution if the Commission felt it was necessary. Commissioner Cramblit felt this would be addressed through the construction of the new garage and remodeling of the main building, and not necessary to state in the resolution. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting March 21, 2012 Page 4 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve Resolution 957-12, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance to allow an Accessory Building to Exceed 30% of the Principal Structure Size on a Business Zoned Property for Bill Lloyd, BHL Services, Inc. at 2975 County Road 10; Planning Case No. VR2012-001. Ayes — 5 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Review Proposed City Code Amendment to Allow Massage Therapy as a Home Based Business Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that at a City Council meeting in October, a resident asked the Council whether they would be willing to amend the City Code to allow massage therapy as a home based business in Mounds View. The City Council discussed the idea at their November work session. The Council supports amending the City Code, and asked that the Planning Commission make a recommendation. Associate Heller explained the Planning Commission has discussed several options about how to amend the City Code to allow massage therapy as a home based business and agreed that the only additional requirement should be approval from the property owner if the massage therapist is not the property owner. Staff will create a form for this approval, which will be submitted with the business license. She then reviewed the proposed Resolution and recommended approval. Vice -Chair Meehlhause questioned if a homeowner could start a car repair business in its garage. Associate Heller stated this is not typically the kind of home based business that the City would encourage, but if the work was completed inside a garage and had no outdoor storage or noise, it may not be a problem. However, if the City received complaints, then staff would investigate and possibly stop the business from operating at the home. Commissioner Smith supported the Resolution and the Code Amendment language change. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Smith/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve Resolution 958-12, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Code Amendment language change to allow Massage Therapy as a Home Based Business. Ayes — 5 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting 7. Next Planning Commission Meetings: A. April 4, 2012 B. April 18, 2012 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session March 21, 2012 Page 5 There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Vice -Chair Meehlhause adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, C° Heidi Heller Planning Associate Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.