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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-17-2003 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting December 17, 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 7:00 p.m., December 17, 2003. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Johnson, Hegland, Zwirn, Miller, Stevenson, Scotch, and Song Members Absent: None. Also Present: Community Development Director Ericson/Planner Prososki ________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Special Planning Case SP-120-03 2 Consideration of Possible Revisions to the Zoning Code to Allow for an Administrative Variance Approval Process Special Planning Case SP-121-03 3 Consideration of Possible Revisions to the Zoning Code Pertaining to Temporary Outdoor Structures _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approve Minutes a. November 19, 2003 MOTION/SECOND: Zwirn/Song. To Approve the Planning Commission Minutes for November 19, 2003 as Presented. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission December 17, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Special Planning Case SP-120-03 Planner Prososki indicated that Staff proposes an administrative variance process for setbacks that are limited to within 25% of Code requirements and noted that the Community Development Director would be the one to approve the variance. The process would be that Staff approves, notifies the adjoining property owners and the Planning Commission reviews it before final approval is granted. Planner Prososki indicated the applicant would have the option of going through the formal variance process if they do not agree with the Staff recommendation. Chair Stevenson asked if the administrative variance approval has been discussed with Council. Community Development Director Ericson indicated he had provided a brief report to Council on the proposal and told them it would be coming to them for consideration. Commissioner Johnson commented that he would prefer the fee be $75.00 rather than the proposed $50.00. Chair Stevenson agreed with the $75.00. Commissioner Miller commented that if the applicant wants to go through with the formal variance process then they would have to pay another $150.00. Director Ericson suggested considering lowering the formal fee if they have gone through the administrative process and paid the $75.00. Chair Stevenson indicated he would go along with the $75.00 for the administrative variance fee and $100.00 for the formal fee. Chair Stevenson asked how Commissioners felt with the 25% proposed by Staff. He then said he is fine with the proposal. Commissioner Miller indicated that she feels the reasoning makes sense. The Commission asked that Staff include language indicating that no variance of less than 5 feet to the sideyard would be approved. Planner Prososki asked whether the Commission was comfortable with the approval process as outlined by Staff. Mounds View Planning Commission December 17, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ The Commissioners indicated that they were. Commissioner Zwirn asked how much additional work is involved in the event that they want to go through the formal process. Planner Prososki indicated that there is a notification letter to residents and a notification to the paper as well as additional Staff time for research and preparing a report to present to the Commission. Commissioner Scotch indicated that she feels the fee is minimal for the amount of work required by Staff. Director Ericson indicated that the fee could be adjusted if necessary. ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Special Planning Case SP-121-03 Community Development Director Ericson indicated that Staff has no mechanism to grant permits to allow temporary structures and there are instances where it makes sense to allow them. He then asked the Commission whether temporary structures should be allowed, what type, and for what time period. Commissioner Zwirn asked if Staff is policing this now. Director Ericson indicated that Staff is not being proactive but acts on complaints received from neighbors by sending out letters telling offenders to remove the structure. Commissioner Zwirn indicated that within one to one and a half miles of City Hall he saw at least 10 temporary structures. Commissioner Johnson indicated he is not for them at all as the City has allowed larger garages and utility sheds. He then said that he could use one but does not think his neighbors would want to look at them and no other cities allow them. Director Ericson indicated that Robbinsdale allows them. He then said that he could see allowing PODS during construction or during the rebuilding after a fire. Commissioner Hegland indicated he felt there are legitimate reasons to have them and he does not think it is much more of an eyesore than a greenhouse would be. He then said he feels the City should limit the time. Commissioner Zwirn suggested not prohibiting them and leaving room for Staff to work out specific circumstances. Mounds View Planning Commission December 17, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Chair Stevenson indicated he would like to allow them but control the type of structures to keep them from becoming eyesores. He then said that to cover the winter season the permit time would need to be 5 or 6 months. Director Ericson suggested tying the temporary permit to an active building permit. Commissioner Hegland asked whether this would be easy enough to administrate. Director Ericson indicated he felt it would be and thanked the Commission for being considerate of Staff. The Commission asked Staff to make a recommendation on how to word the ordinance to control the types of structures allowed and the material they can be constructed of. Director Ericson suggested adding a stipulation that limits it so that the material has to be weather proof and withstand the wind along with a requirement that if it does become damaged, it would need to be replaced. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Next Planning Commission Meeting: January 7, 2004 ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:36 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.