Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-05-2009PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting August 5, 2009 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. August 5, 2009. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Chair Stevenson; Commissioners Cramblit, Lang, Miller, Rundle, and Walsh-Kaczmarek. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Meehlhause. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller, Community Development Director Roberts Index to Minutes Consideration of a Zoning Code Amendment, Development Review And Conditional Use Permit to Allow a Car Wash at the `The Station" Review Accessory Building Code Amendment 3. Approval of Minutes June 17, 2009 Page 2 3 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek/Commissioner Miller. To approve the minutes of the June 17, 2009 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes — 6 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases August 5, 2009 Page 2 A. Consideration of a Zoning Code Amendment, Conditional Use Permit and Development Review for a Car Wash at "The Station" located at 2280 County Road I: Planning Cases: TX 2009-001, CU2009-002, and DE2009-001 Planning Associate Heller stated that Leon Theis, the property owner of "The Station," located at 2280 County Road I, has applied for three different planning requests. The first request is for a zoning code text amendment to allow car washes as a conditional use in a B-2 zoning district. She added the property was originally a legal non -conforming business until 2007, when Mr. Theis purchased additional property which increased his parcel up to the minimum lot size for a fuel station and applied for a zoning code amendment to allow small "neighborhood fuel stations" as a conditional use in B-2 districts. She stated if the current code amendment request was approved, it would affect other B-2 zoned properties; however, the business would still need to obtain a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission and City Council. Planning Associate Heller stated the second request is for the conditional use permit to add a car wash to the site assuming the code amendment is approved. She stated the Comprehensive Plan encourages the expansion of existing businesses and introduction of new businesses within Mounds View when compatible with surrounding uses. She stated "The Station" has operated as a fuel station for 50 years and the character of this area should not change with the addition of a car wash. She stated one item to consider is the close proximity of the multi -family housing however, The Station's property does not directly abut any housing. She stated the location of the proposed car wash and the surrounding buildings should block much of the noise. She added staff is recommending limiting the hours of operations for the car wash to the noise ordinance hours, which are 7 am to 10 pm. She added that traffic would likely only increase a small amount with a car wash and there are adequate utilities and access roads available. She indicated the owner wants to improve and expand his business. Planning Associate Heller stated the items to consider for the Development Review discussion are the parking, setbacks and traffic. She added the applicant has more than adequate parking for the gas station, and there would not be any additional parking required for a car wash. She added the car wash would be 10 feet from the south property line and this setback is the minimum required setback. The unique issue with this area is that Fedor's Market building is directly on the property line, so there would only be 10 feet between the proposed car wash and Fedor's. She added one of the conditions that staff is recommending is, the 10 -foot strip of land between the buildings must be maintained in order to prevent the area from becoming a dumping ground or overgrown. Staff has received three comments from nearby residents, and all were in support of a car wash at The Station. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting August 5, 2009 Page 3 Planning Associate Heller stated before the Planning Commission are two resolutions. The first resolution is approving the zoning code amendment to Chapter 1113, and the second is approving the Conditional Use Permit and Development Review for a car wash at "The Station", 2280 County Road I. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek wanted clarification regarding Resolution 907-09 and the 10 - foot residential district boundary. She confirmed with staff that The Station's property does not abut a residential district. Commissioner Miller asked about the delivery truck drivers that park in The Station's parking lot. They deliver to The Station, and then deliver to Fedor's while still parked at The Station. Mr. Leon Theis, 2280 County Road I, indicated there is plenty of room for the trucks and customer parking. Commissioner Miller added the improvements that Mr. Theis has done to the property are great. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Stevenson/Commissioner Lang. Resolution 907-09, approving a zoning code amendment to Chapter 1113, to add car washes as a Conditional Use in B-2 zoning districts. Planning Case No. TX2009-001 Ayes — 6 Nays — 0 Motion carried. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek/Commissioner Rundle. Resolution 908- 09, Approval of a Conditional Use Permit and Development Review for a car wash at "The Station", located at 2280 County Road 1. Planning Cases CU2009-002 and DE 2009-001. Ayes — 6 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Review Accessory Building Code Amendment Community Development Director Roberts stated the Planning Commission reviewed this code amendment at their last two meetings. He stated it was brought before the City Council, who had concerns with the 20 foot height limitation and felt that was too tall. The Council was concerned that a resident could build a 20 -foot tall flat roof building, or have a rambler style home and a 20 -foot high accessory building that would be taller than the primary structure. Commissioner Cramblit suggested specifications for different styles of homes. Director Roberts stated the City Council did not want to get that specific, but was more concerned with accessory buildings built with a steep roof like a chalet, which is completely different from the house. He added the City Council is concerned about larger accessory Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting August 5, 2009 Page 4 buildings and would like the roof to match the house roof style. He thought the City Council was trying to get away from design of the structure. He indicated the issue is not resolved and staff is looking for ideas from the Planning Commission. He added staff will make some more changes and this will be back before the Planning Commission at the August 19th meeting. Chair Stevenson suggested to remove the language "whichever is less" from Chapter 1104 Subd. 3; Height Limitations. Secondly, to address the flat roof issue, we could add language such as "a minimum of a 2-12 pitched roof is required." Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek added that if a resident wants to put in a green roof, the roof would need to be flat to grow the plants. Director Roberts stated if a resident wants to have a flat roof for a garden, the resident would need to apply for a variance and come before the Planning Commission. Commissioner Lang indicated he wanted to keep the proposed language in Chapter 1104.03 subd. 3 Height Limitations: "not to exceed the principal structure, whichever is less". Chair Stevenson questioned if 20 feet was too high. He added that when the Planning Commission suggested 20 feet, it was for residents to be able to store RV's inside their garages. Director Roberts asked if 18 feet would be adequate. Commissioner Cramblit suggested the code language should read if it is a two story home it should not exceed 20 feet to the peak and if it is single story it should be a foot less than the peak of the house. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek stated that by changing the way the height is measured, it is not necessarily changing the currently allowed height by all that much. She asked staff if there were a lot of requests for variances for building height. Planning Associate Heller stated the trend in the last few years for new garages has been residents wanting storage space above the garage so they are building them as tall as they can. Occasionally a resident will submit plans for an accessory building that exceeds the height limit, but they will alter the plans rather than apply for a variance. Director Roberts indicated the new drafted language would be brought before the Planning Commission at the August 19th meeting. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. August 19, 2009 B. September 2, 2009 Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session August 5, 2009 Page 5 There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, <;a'�'� Ke Roberts Community Development Director Transcribed by: Barbara Suciu TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.