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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-2003 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 22, 2003 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 7:02 p.m., January 22, 2003. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Stevenson, Scotch, Zwirn, Miller, Johnson and Song. Members Absent: Hegland (excused) Also Present: Community Development Director Ericson ________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Discussion of Parking on Greenfield Avenue 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approve Minutes a. December 18, 2002 MOTION/SECOND: Approval was moved and seconded. To Approve the Minutes of the Planning Commission for December 18, 2002 as Presented. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. __________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission January 22, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Continued Discussion on Restricting Parking along Greenfield Avenue Community Development Director Ericson provided an update on the parking situation along Greenfield Avenue indicating that, after the matter was brought to the attention of the Commission, Officer Broos was asked to observe the area. He then explained that Officer Brose had observed the area and recommended posting a sign no parking here to corner just north of the access point for the multifamily housing. He also indicated that it would be possible to recommend posting the entire east side of Greenfield as no parking but that may be excessive. Director Ericson indicated that at the last meeting the property owner had conveyed to him a willingness to expand the parking lot. He then indicated there is 28 feet of green space between the parking lot and Greenfield and adding one parking stall on either side would work but adding a second stall on either side would encroach into the right-of-way by 7 feet. He further commented that it would be an option but the property owner would need to apply for a variance to amend the previously granted variance to a zero foot setback as well as execute a limited use agreement to control use of the right-of-way. Director Ericson indicated the limited use agreement would protect the City from bearing the cost of removing and replacing the driveway should it become necessary to access utilities that may be in that right-of-way. He also indicated that one benefit of the variance amendment is that the Commission could require a development agreement that would give the City control of the site, which it currently does not have. He then said there have been issues at the site that could have been addressed by a development agreement had one been required and completed for this development. Director Ericson indicated that one of the drawbacks of the variance is that in order to grant a variance the hardship requirements would need to be met and Staff does not feel that the situation can meet the criteria to prove a hardship. He also indicated that there would be an impact to the green space if the parking were expanded that would detract from the residential appearance that is there now. Director Ericson indicated the City has not received an application for a variance amendment but the property owner has expressed a willingness to do so. He then indicated he had asked the public works department to comment on any potential issues with using the right-of-way but public works has declined to comment pending receipt of an application. He further commented that there is a water main in the general area that would need to be located. Director Ericson indicated a resolution for consideration had been drafted restricting parking from the corner to just north of the northern most access to Greenfield Estates. Commissioner Johnson asked if adding the two stalls would push the parking into the right-of- way. Director Ericson indicated the variance previously granted allows them a 10 foot setback and adding the two stalls would make it a two-foot setback. Mounds View Planning Commission January 22, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Miller asked if the original variance was for the number of stalls. Director Ericson indicated the variance was for the setback. Commissioner Miller asked why there was not a development agreement originally. Director Ericson indicated he was not sure why a development agreement was not required but said, in retrospect, one should have been done but they typically were not done for smaller developments and this development was perceived as a small development. He then indicated that all commercial developments now require a development agreement. Commissioner Zwirn asked why the address for the building is 2402 County Road I when it faces Greenfield. Director Ericson indicated the property owner requested the County Road I address and is allowed to do so as the property is on the corner of Greenfield and County Road I. Chair Stevenson said he feels there should be a number of feet listed in the resolution to make it clear for Council that the Commission was considering 75 feet or just north of the apartments. Director Ericson indicated that Staff would need to establish a reference point for where the 75 feet begins. Commissioner Miller indicated she thought the Officer referenced 75 feet back from County Road I. Director Ericson indicated that parking is not allowed 30 feet back from the intersection already. Commissioner Scotch expressed concern that posting no parking to 75 feet would just push the parking farther down the block. Commissioner Johnson indicated he would rather see the parking stalls added and approval of a two-foot variance before restricting parking but, if the issue is not resolved, he is not against posting the whole east side of Greenfield no parking. Commissioner Miller said she did not think it would be fair to the residents to mark the whole street no parking. Director Ericson clarified that the City does not have the power to force the property owner to apply for the variance and expand the parking lot. He then said that posting the street no parking would force the property owner to work to resolve the parking issue by applying for the variance to expand the parking lot. Mounds View Planning Commission January 22, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Scotch asked how many parking stalls are required by the City’s Code for this size building. Director Ericson indicated that a building of this type on any other site would require 20 spaces but 15 spaces was approved for this location. Commissioner Scotch commented that there is plenty of parking two blocks away at Mounds View Square. Director Ericson indicated that posting the street no parking requires a public hearing before Council and residents can provide comment on the proposed parking restrictions. Commissioner Miller indicated she has seen parking in the area where parking is not allowed. Director Ericson indicated that enforcement of the no parking restriction would become a police issue. Commissioner Zwirn indicated he brought this issue to the Commission because there is a substantial problem. He then said that, in his estimation, there are 6 to 8 cars parking on the street three to four days per week and this Resolution does not go far enough to solve the problem as the driveways are south of where the parking restriction stops so there would still be an issue coming and going from both his driveway and his neighbor’s driveway. Commissioner Zwirn indicated he has discussed the matter with his neighbors and they agree that restricting parking to the middle of the block would move the issue to an area where there are no driveways affected. He then said he has been trying to deal with this issue with a property owner who is not willing to address the problems. Commissioner Zwirn commented that all week there were two garbage cans in the handicapped parking stall with overflowing garbage. He then said that the only way to resolve this is to put no parking on the east side of Greenfield to the middle of the block where neighbors feel comfortable with it and force the property owner to bring a variance request to the Commission to resolve his parking problem. Commissioner Zwirn commented that there are issues with coming and going from this property due to having a business located in a residential area. He then said that Mr. Farrell is a businessman and he should have come to the Commission to resolve the parking issue. He further commented that the issue has subsided some since this has been brought to the attention of the property owner but it is not resolved and the only way to deal with it is to adopt a resolution for no parking on the east side of Greenfield a sufficient distance to make it safe for the residents and require Mr. Farrell to come to the Commission with a variance request. He also said that adding four stalls on the property would look terrible and he would be against that but would consider adding two stalls. Mounds View Planning Commission January 22, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Zwirn indicated that residents fought to have the west side of Greenfield posted no parking to deal with overflow parking issues from the apartments. He then said that there is a bus stop across from his driveway where children board the bus and the area is too congested and not safe. Director Ericson offered to have Staff measure the distance of the proposal by Commissioner Zwirn to locate the no parking sign in the middle of the block but estimated it to be approximately 300 feet from the corner. Chair Stevenson indicated he would prefer to table the resolution to allow Staff more time to research the distances for the Commission to review. Director Ericson indicated he would have the temporary inspector go out and look at the area and mark the County half section map that would be reproduced for the next meeting. He also indicated he would mark on the map the location of the driveways for consideration. Chair Stevenson indicated he would not be at the next meeting due to a vacation. ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Next Planning Commission Meeting: February 5, 2003 ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, Jim Ericson Community Development Director Transcribed by: Joan Lenzmeier TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.