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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2009PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting December 16, 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. December 16, 2009 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Cramblit, Lang, Meehlhause, Miller, Rundle, Stevenson and Walsh-Kaczmarek. Absent and Excused: None. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller and Community Development Director Roberts. Index to Minutes Page VR2009-003; Variance Request to Allow a Zero -Foot Driveway Setback at "The Station" 2 2010 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule 3 Renumber Three Resolutions 4 3. Approval of Minutes October 7, 2009 MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Miller/Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek. To approve the minutes of the October 7, 2009 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission December 16, 2009 Regular Meeting Page 2 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. 5. Planning Cases A. VR2009-003; Variance Request to Allow a Zero -Foot Driveway Setback at "The Station's" new Car Wash Planning Associate Heller stated the applicant Leon Theis, owner of The Station gas at 2280 County Road I, is requesting a variance to permit the entrance driveway at his new car wash to have a zero -foot setback from the west property line. She indicated the Planning Commission recommended approval of a development review for a new car wash at The Station earlier this year. When the architect brought in the site plan drawing for the car wash, staff reviewed it and noticed the entrance driveway only had a very small setback from the west property line. This is the property line that runs between the car wash and the neighbor, the Alano Society's, garage. When staff brought the setback amount to the architect's attention, he changed the setback amount to the required five feet on the site plan. Staff is guessing that the setback error was made due to inaccurate measurements, and that the change on the site plan was not communicated to the contractor, who just used all the space available for the driveway in order to make it function better. For the Planning Commission to act favorably toward this application, there must be a demonstrated hardship or practical difficulty associated with the property that makes a literal interpretation of the code overly burdensome or restrictive to a property owner. Chair Stevenson stated he wasn't in favor of approving a project after it has already been done. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. Leon Theis, applicant, indicated he is very surprised to be in front of the Planning Commission tonight. He indicated he had researched the car wash for over a year and he thought he had covered all issues. He was surprised about the property line issue. John Risgaard, member of the Alano Society at 2284 County Road I, indicated the driveway had originally been built five feet onto the Alano's property. He talked with Mr. Theis who was very cooperative and removed five feet of the driveway so that it was only on his property. He discussed with Mr. Theis about adding the posts to protect the garage and Mr. Theis was very cooperative with this also. Mr. Risgaard expressed that the Alano Society Board is satisfied with the current driveway layout. He added he hoped the Planning Commission would approve the variance. Commissioner Lang questioned the site plan and the credibility of the architect that provided the information to the applicant. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting December 16, 2009 Page 3 Planning Associate Heller indicated that staff trusted the architect to have measured correctly. Commissioner Lang questioned why there was a five-foot setback at all. Planning Associate Heller stated previously in the code there was a one foot setback and the city found there were issues with this setback so it was increased to five feet. Community Development Director Roberts indicated this site plan was somewhat "old school" in that it was an actual drawing, and not a computerized layout, which is typically what is submitted for commercial projects now. He indicated that he does not see any negative issues with this situation. He stated however, he did agree with Chair Stevenson and does not like approving variances after the work has been completed. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek indicated it appears there is still sufficient room for the Alano Society to make repairs to the side of the garage if need be. Commissioner Meehlhause stated he shared in the concerns that Chair Stevenson and Commissioner Lang expressed. However, he believes Mr. Theis has made an honest mistake and has taken care of it. He added that he did not have a problem with approving this variance. Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing at 7:26 pm MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Cramblit/Commissioner Meehlhause. Resolution 920-09; Resolution recommending approval of a variance for a zero -foot driveway setback for the car wash entrance at The Station, 2280 County Road 1; Planning Case VR2009-003 Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 6. Other Planning Activity A. 2010 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule Planning Associate Heller indicated the 2010 Planning Commission meeting schedule continues with the first and third Wednesday of every month, and no holidays interfere with those dates. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Miller/Commissioner Stevenson. Approving the 2010 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission Regular Meeting B. Renumber three resolutions December 16, 2009 Page 4 Planning Associate Heller indicated there were three resolutions that were numbered incorrectly with duplicate numbers while she was on leave. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Stevenson/Commissioner Meehlhause. Approving renumbering three resolutions that were numbered incorrectly. Ayes — 7 Nays — 0 Motion carried. 7. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. January 6, 2010 B. January 20, 2010 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, Ken Roberts Community Development Director Transcribed by: Barbara Suciu TimeSaver OffSile Secretarial, Inc.