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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-03-2012PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting October 3, 2012 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 October 3, 2012. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Cramblit, Meehlhause, Miller, Rundle, Schiltgen, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Smith. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes 1 VR2012-005. Consideration of a Variance for Reduced Driveway 2 Setback Discuss Modification to the Project Plan for the Mounds View Economic 4 Development Project and TIF Districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3 3. Approval of Minutes August 15, 2012. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Miller. To approve the Minutes of the August 15, 2012 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes— 6 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission October 3, 2012 Regular Meeting Page 2 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases A. VR2012-005 Consideration of a Variance for Reduced Driveway Setback Applicant: Ryan Meyer, JRM Estates, Inc. Address: 8155 Red Oak Drive Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, Ryan Meyer, the property owner of 8155 Red Oak Drive is requesting a variance to allow the driveway to have a 21/2 -foot setback. It was noted City Code requires that interior lots be 75 feet wide but the subject property is only 51 feet wide. The existing house was built in 1938 and the driveway location has likely existed with a less than 5 -foot setback since that time. The applicant recently purchased the property and plans to demolish the existing home and rebuild, but keep the existing detached garage. Associate Heller explained City Code requires a five-foot setback for driveways without a variance. She then discussed the variance review criteria in detail. Staff recommends the Commission hold a public hearing and approve the variance as requested. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Chair Stevenson asked if the driveway beyond the fence would move in or remain as is. Ryan Meyer, 8155 Red Oak Drive, explained his intention would be to make the driveway 10 feet in width from the street to the new garage. He stated the block retaining wall on the south side of the driveway would remain in place. Chair Stevenson questioned where the new home would sit on the lot. Mr. Meyer indicated the new home would align more closely with the other homes and would be pulled closer to the street. He reviewed the proposed floor plan with the Commission in further detail. Commissioner Meehlhause inquired how the old garage would be refinished. Mr. Meyer stated he would repaint the existing structure to match the new home. Aren Mahlum, 8145 Red Oak Drive, expressed concern with how cars would maneuver out of the new garage if the existing garage remains on the property. He explained it was his intention to extend his white picket fence along the property line. Another concern would be where the snow would be pushed in the winter months. He suggested the driveway remain as is with the 4 - foot setback. Mounds View Planning Commission October 3, 2012 Regular Meeting Page 3 Mr. Meyer commented there was 11 feet from the front of the garage to the side of the house, in addition to the 10 -foot driveway. It was his opinion this was enough space to allow for a car to maneuver out of the garage without driving on the neighboring property. He commented the snow removal could be a hassle, but not much different than it has been in the past. Commissioner Cramblit did not feel the snow removal was a concern, as the new homeowner would have to work through these issues. He suggested a retaining wall or some sort of barrier be placed between the two properties to assure the neighbor's fence was not hit. Commissioner Miller asked why this lot was narrower than the surrounding properties. Mrs. Mahlum explained the lot used to have a detached garage for the home she lives in next door, but was split off and sold. Mr. Mahlum suggested the existing garage be replaced or resided as it was in tough condition. This would assure the structure matched the new home more closely. Commissioner Meehlhause asked for the minimum driveway width standards. Associate Heller stated the City did not have a minimum driveway width. Commissioner Meehlhause questioned if the Commission could consider an eight -foot driveway instead of the 10 foot width. Mr. Meyer indicated this may be an option, however, with snow in the winter months, the extra width would be essential. He did not want the new owner to have concerns entering and exiting the property. He stated the new driveway would also align with the current curb cut. Chair Stevenson did not object to having a 4 -foot setback from the south lot line in the front yard. Mr. Meyer reviewed the lot layout saying he was hoping to save an existing maple tree. He stated if the retaining wall was to remain in place, he would have to cut into the bank supporting the tree. Commissioner Meehlhause suggested the applicant consider a nine -foot driveway width as a compromise. Commissioner Cramblit and Chair Stevenson agreed with this recommendation. Chair Stevenson stated he would be in favor of the driveway being no closer than three feet to the property line, which would allow for a two -foot variance. Commissioner Cramblit agreed with this suggestion. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting October 3, 2012 Page 4 Commissioner Miller asked if the neighbors were in favor of this recommendation. Mrs. Mahlum commented this was not an ideal situation and perhaps a different home design would resolve the situation. Commissioner Cramblit indicated the extension of the retaining wall would assure that cars were not driving into the neighbor's fence. Chair Stevenson suggested the existing retaining wall remain, but that it not be required the entire length of the driveway to the garage. Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Miller. To approve Resolution 972-12, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance allowing for a Three Foot Driveway Setback; Planning Case No. VR2012-005. Ayes — 6 6. Other Planning Activity Nays — 0 Motion carried. A. Modification to the Project Plan for the Mounds View Economic Development Project and TIF Districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that the City is modifying the Mounds View Economic Development Project and TIF Districts Nos. 1, 2 and 3, in order to identify parcels that the City would like to acquire through the use of tax increment generated from these districts for redevelopment. The City has created a list of potential redevelopment properties which was discussed in detail with the Commission. It was noted the expansion of this list would provide for greater flexibility for redevelopment in the future. Staff recommended approval of the proposed modifications. Chair Stevenson asked how many more properties were added to the newly revised list. Associate Heller estimated that an additional 250 properties were added to the new list. Commissioner Meehlhause questioned how many properties were removed from the list. Associate Heller explained that through development and demolition of some properties, approximately one-third of the properties on the original list were removed. She noted some of the properties were vacant or landlocked. Chair Stevenson thanked staff for spending time to review each property in the City. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting October 3, 2012 Page 5 Commissioner Meehlhause was pleased with the expansion of this list as it would provide for greater flexibility to redevelop these properties. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Meehlhause/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve Resolution 971-12, a Resolution Recommending Approval of the Modifications to the Project Plan for the Mounds Vice Economic Development Project and TIF Districts 1, 2 and 3. Ayes — 6 Nays — 0 Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. October 17, 2012 B. November 7, 2012 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session Motion carried. There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 8:04 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.