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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-2011PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting July 20, 2011 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 7:02 p.m. for July 20, 2011. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Cramblit, Meehlhause, Miller, and Schiltgen. Absent and Excused: Chairperson Stevenson; Commissioners Rundle and Smith. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes 1 VR2011-006. Consideration of a Variance for a Reduced Rear Yard Setback 2 Code Amendment for Chapter 1121.09 3 City Code & Zoning Code Amendments for Variance 3 3. Approval of Minutes June 1, 2011. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Miller. To approve the Minutes of the June 1, 2011 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. EN None. Ayes — 4 Nays — 0 Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting 5. Planning Cases July 20, 2011 Page 2 A. VR2011-006 Consideration of a Variance for a Reduced Rear Yard Setback at 8088 Sunnyside Road Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicants, Gordy and Cynthia Druvenga, at 8088 Sunnyside Road are requesting a rear yard setback variance to allow for an addition to the back of their house. The property layout was unique in that the lot depth was 146 feet but this block of Sunnyside has large front setbacks since all the other lots are 85 feet deeper. This large front setback left the backyard only 42 feet deep. The homeowners want to build a 14' x 28' addition to the rear of the house. Mr. Druvenga has spoken to the adjacent property owner to the west and the neighbor submitted a letter in support of the variance. City staff reviewed the variance approval guidelines with the Commission and recommended approval of a variance allowing for up to a four -foot encroachment into the required 30 -foot rear yard setback. Commissioner Miller questioned what the addition to the home would add. Associate Heller stated the homeowner would add a family room, laundry room on the main floor and a deck to the rear of the house. She further reviewed the site plan with the Commission. Gordy Druvenga, 8088 Sunnyside Road, explained he has lived at his property for 22+ years. He enjoys the neighborhood and the proposed addition would allow him to remain in the property through retirement. Mr. Druvenga requested the Commission support the four -foot variance. Commissioner Meehlhause asked if any utility lines would be affected by the construction to the rear of the property. Mr. Druvenga stated the overhead power lines are not in the way of an addition, but underground sewer or water pipes may need to be dealt with depending on where they connect to the house. Vice Chair Meehlhause opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. There were no comments from the public. Vice Chair Meehlhause closed the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Commissioner Schiltgen questioned the timeframe the applicant had to build before the variance would expire. Associate Heller indicated the variance would expire in one year, but the homeowner could request an extension before the one year expires. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting July 20, 2011 Page 3 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve Resolution 945-11, a Resolution Approving of a Four Foot Variance or Twenty -Six Foot Rear Yard Setback at 8088 Sunnyside Road; Planning Case No. VR2011-006. Commissioner Miller clarified a grammatical correction to be made to the Resolution. Ayes — 4 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Code Amendment for Chapter 1121.09 Associate Heller stated this was the formal action for the detached parking code amendment as discussed at a previous Planning Commission meeting. This would add language to the code stating that a detached parking area that is used frequently, it must be serviced by an improved driveway connected to the primary driveway. Staff recommended the Commission approve the Resolution as presented. Vice Chair Meehlhause read the Resolution revisions aloud for the record. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Schiltgen/Commissioner Miller. To approve Resolution 946-11, Approving to an Amendment to City Code Chapter 1121.09, to Address Accessing Detached Parking Areas. Ayes — 4 Nays — 0 B. City Code & Zoning Code Amendments for Variances Motion carried. Associate Heller informed the Commission that the proposed changes to the City Code regarding variances were in response to the recent State code language changes. She indicated the variance language in the State code has removed the word hardship and replaced it with "practical difficulty." With this change, the Mounds View City Code will be consistent with the updated State language. The City Attorney submitted these proposed changes and City Staff recommends approval of the Code amendments. Vice Chair Meehlhause opened the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. There were no comments from the public. Vice Chair Meehlhause closed the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. Commissioner Schiltgen questioned if most cities were revising their variance language to coincide with the State's language. Mounds View Planning Commission July 20, 2011 Regular Meeting Page 4 Associate Heller stated this was the case. Vice Chair Meehlhause indicated he felt the new language was easier to understand. Commissioner Miller asked how administrative variances were handled. Associate Heller indicated administrative variances are simpler and do not require a public hearing, although only a few cases will qualify for an administrative variance. Instead of a public hearing, only immediately adjacent property owners are notified of the request and the Planning Commission reviews the request. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Miller. To approve Resolution 947-11, A Resolution Recommending Amendments to the City Code to Address Variances. Ayes — 4 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 7. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. August 3, 2011 B. August 17, 2011 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Vice Chair Meehlhause adjourned the meeting at 7:35 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.