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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-19-2007 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting September 19, 2007 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order Vice Chair Miller called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. September 19, 2007 ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Gunn, Meehlhause, Miller, and Walsh-Kaczmarek Absent and Excused: Chair Stevenson, Commissioners Cramblit and Lang Also Present: Community Development Director Ericson and Planning Associate Heller ________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page VR2007-002: Consideration of a Variance for a Reduced Driveway Setback 2 at 2925 County Road H2 Comprehensive Plan 4 ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approve Minutes A. August 22, 2007. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/ Walsh-Kaczmarek, to approve the minutes of the August 22, 2007 regular Planning Commission meeting as corrected. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission September 19, 2007 Regular Meeting Page 2 5. Planning Cases A. VR2007-002: Consideration of a Variance for a Reduced Driveway Setback at 2925 County Road H2 Planning Associate Heller reported the applicant, Cory Mathiowetz, is requesting a variance to permit a driveway with a two foot setback from the property line. She stated he currently has a very narrow, 8.5 foot wide, dirt driveway about three feet off the property line, which has been in place probably since the house was built in 1940. She stated that in October 2006, a conditional use permit was approved for Mr. Mathiowetz to construct a new oversize garage. She reported new garage was built, and the applicant would now like to replace the dirt driveway with a 13.5 foot wide concrete driveway. City Code requires that all driveways be at least five feet from the property line. Planning Associate Heller stated that when the house was built, it was placed much closer to the east side of the property, which leaves a limited amount of room for a driveway to run next to the house in order to reach the garage in the rear. The house is setback approximately 19 to 20 feet off the property line. She reported that the neighbor to the east staked out where he felt the property line is, and if the applicant agrees with this location, he has a little more room next to the house than he originally thought. Planning Associate Heller reported that in 2002, County Road H2 was reconstructed and concrete curbing was installed. She stated the contractor placed each driveway curb cut in line with the existing driveways; the curb cut for this property was placed against the east property line, possibly due to the location of a stormwater drain on the west side of the driveway. She indicated that Mr. Mathiowetz would like the driveway to be fairly straight in from the street rather than having it immediately jog over five feet. She mentioned the Public Works staff has said the applicant could expand the curb cut slightly on the west side in order to keep the driveway off of the property line, but due to the stormwater drain, the expansion area is limited to about 18 inches. Planning Associate Heller reported the easterly neighbor’s property ranges from approximately two to six feet higher than the applicant’s lot, and the grade changes immediately at the property line, which causes much of the neighbor’s stormwater to drain onto Mr. Mathiowetz’s property. She stated that because of this, the applicant would like to put a 3 foot wide rock/drain tile strip between the house and new driveway, rather than having the driveway right next to the house and allowing water to run against the foundation. Planning Associate Heller stated that the hardships for this property are the existing curb cut being on the property line and the limited ability to expand it westward, the location of the house on the lot, and the much higher neighboring property. Vice Chair Miller opened the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. Mounds View Planning Commission September 19, 2007 Regular Meeting Page 3 Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek asked if the new driveway would be concrete or asphalt. Mr. Mathiowetz replied the driveway would be concrete. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek inquired about the slope of the new driveway to address drainage. Mr. Mathiowetz explained the driveway would have a two to three degree slope from east to west. He stated currently water pools in his back yard and on the driveway. He indicated that he has not yet talked to a landscaper, but something would need to be done to divert the water. Discussion ensued. Mr. Peter McIntyre, 2917 County Road H2 (neighbor to the east), stated that historically there have been water problems and if the drive did cut into the slope, the erosion problem would increase. He stated he was not sure a two-foot variance is required for the entire driveway; however, it would be needed near the street end because of the curb cut location. He stated Mr. Mathiowetz should try to increase the setback near the house. He stated that future home owners should be considered and where snow would be stored. Vice Chair Miller asked if there is anything to add to the resolution. Planning Associate Heller asked if the Commission is comfortable leaving the variance at two feet. Commissioner Meehlhause requested the proposed width of driveway. Planning Associate Heller replied it would be 13.5 feet. Mr. Mathiowetz stated he would like a driveway that is functional where passengers could get out on both sides of the vehicle and still be on the driveway. He commented there has been water intrusion in the basement and that he needs to landscape to correct this problem. Commissioner Meehlhause questioned whether a three-foot variance would correct the erosion issue. Mr. Mathiowetz replied erosion would occur either way. He stated a retaining wall would probably need to be built at least on part of the driveway. Community Development Director Ericson asked if there is survey confirmation on the property. Mr. McIntyre replied the survey stake is missing and it would be expensive to redo it. He stated that he ran a line based on the survey of his easterly property line. Mounds View Planning Commission September 19, 2007 Regular Meeting Page 4 Community Development Director Ericson commented that if the house is set back 20 feet, there should be room for a three foot setback. Commissioner Walsh-Kaczmarek pointed out it appears the curb cut is more towards the right side of the lot than what Mr. Mathiowetz is proposing to do. Mr. Mathiowetz replied that is correct. Planning Associate Heller stated Public Works indicated he could go to the grate and slope the curb again from there. Commissioner Meehlhause stated the request meets the conditions, this is the second time Mr. Mathiowetz has come before the Planning Commission to make improvements to his home, which is what the City encourages, and he is totally in favor of the elimination of gravel driveways in the City. Commissioner Gunn agreed. She commented the two-foot variance is the minimum and maybe after talking to a landscaper it could actually be worked out to be a bigger setback. She encouraged landscaping to alleviate drainage problems. Vice Chair Miller closed the public hearing at 7:36 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Meehlhause, to approve Resolution 874-07, a Resolution approving a Variance for a Two-Foot Driveway Setback at 2925 County Road H2; Mounds View Planning Case VR2007-002. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activities A. Comp Plan 2008 Update Planning Associate Heller explained she would like the Commission to review the future land use map and identify updates and corrections. Consensus reached to update the four Tyson properties to reflect either a Light or Heavy Industrial designation on all the lots for consistency. All commissioners agreed that further discussion is required with the absent commissioners. Consensus reached to update the Medtronic site designation to reflect the change in designation. Community Development Director Ericson stated there are only a few areas of the land use map that need to be addressed. He suggested dropping the mixed use designation for the areas that have been developed or re-developed. Mounds View Planning Commission September 19, 2007 Regular Meeting Page 5 Community Development Director Ericson called the Commission's attention to the Saturn dealership and the lot next to it. He stated it makes sense to tie this into the development next to it. He indicated Saturn would be relocating to Blaine; therefore, this is an opportune time to re- designate the area. He suggested this might be something to ask for input from the community. Commissioner Meehlhause recommended the liquor store lot across from Saturn be designated as single family detached. Commissioner Gunn stated she believes light industrial along the Highway 10 corridor is appropriate; however, it should be broken down into manageable chunks. She stated the vision of a walkable community should be reflected on the land use map. Community Development Director Ericson recommended the land use map be discussed at the next meeting with all the Planning Commissioners. 7. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. October 3, 2007 B. October 17, 2007 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Vice Chair Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, Jim Ericson Community Development Director Transcribed by: Dianna Wise TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION DATE: 2//2le 7 Na a Address Phone � 11- v 765, </5Z),v?,9,'