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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2002 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting February 6, 2002 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., February 6, 2002. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Introduction and Oath of Office for Liz Song, New Planning Commissioner Community Development Director Ericson introduced Liz Song to the Commission and administered the Oath of Office to her. ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners, Stevenson, Johnson, Zwirn, Miller, Hegland, Scotch, and Song. Members Excused: None. Also Present: Community Development Director Ericson and Planner Atkinson. ________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Planning Case No. MA01-001 2 Location: Longview Estates Applicant: Martin Harstad Planning Case No. VR01-012 4 Location: 2149 Program Avenue Applicant: William Bell, Mounds View Hotels, LLC Review Planning Commission Bylaws 4 _______________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission February 6, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda There were no resident comments concerning items not on the agenda. _______________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Case No. MA01-001 Community Development Director Ericson indicated that the original preliminary plat for this matter contemplated an 11 lot subdivision that would have needed a variance to allow for lot widths of less than 125 feet. He indicated that Staff reviewed the revised plat and it contains 26 lots, 13 fronting on Longview Drive and 13 fronting on Silver Lake Road. He indicated that Staff reviewed the plat and has determined that it does not comply with the City’s subdivision requirements that call for 125-foot lot widths and 20,000 square foot lots. He further indicated that only one lot meets the 20,000 square foot requirement and none of the lots meet the 125-foot width requirement so Staff is recommending denial of the preliminary plat. Chair Stevenson indicated that this matter was not noticed as a public hearing. Director Ericson indicated that it was not a public hearing but noted Staff did notice residents. Chair Stevenson asked Mr. Harstad to give a brief explanation of the change to the preliminary plat. Mr. Harstad indicated he had requested a variance to be allowed to build his 11 lot subdivision and that was turned down. He commented that he thought he had provided a nice plan for the City that had Rice Creek Watershed approval. He indicated that his appeal to Council was denied and it left him in a rather awkward position and he chose to lay out a plat with 26 lots on it acting as if there was no Wetland Zoning Ordinance. He then commented that he feels the Wetland Zoning Ordinance only affects his family’s property. He further commented that he is asking for approval of the 26 lot subdivision and would appeal the matter to Council, if necessary. Commissioner Miller asked whether the new plan had Rice Creek Watershed District approval. Mr. Harstad explained he had deviated from the standard process with the first request because he and City Staff felt things would go more smoothly with the Commission and Council if Rice Creek Watershed had already given approval. He then explained he had asked Staff for permission to return to the standard procedure of obtaining City approval prior to bringing the matter to the Watershed District for approval. He further commented that City approval would be subject to the approval of Rice Creek Watershed District. Michel Mourad of 7090 Silver Lake Road indicated he had missed the previous meetings concerning this matter and asked for a brief overview of the proposal and, specifically, what types of houses would be in the development. Mounds View Planning Commission February 6, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Mr. Harstad explained he would be developing the land and selling lots to one single builder. He then explained that the narrowest lot would be approximately 81 feet wide and the largest is 118 feet wide and he expects to end up with homes in the $150,000 to $210,000 range that are mostly split entry or split entry walkouts. Chair Stevenson asked if the type of construction and architectural features would be left up to the builder. Mr. Harstad indicated he would maintain architectural control over certain standards in the development. Mr. Moukad asked if the same types of homes would have been in the development if there were only 11 lots versus the 26 lots. Mr. Harstad indicated there would have been bigger homes on the 11 lots but some residents were concerned that the houses would be too big for the area. Kathy Peterson of 5185 Longview Drive indicated she thought Mr. Harstad had received approval for 8 or 9 lots. Mr. Harstad indicated he had never requested approval for 8 lots and explained that the City had said he could build 8 lots without a variance and he had pointed out he could have built 14 lots and met the Code. Commissioner Miller indicated that Mr. Harstad had said for safety reasons and to save the trees he wanted to avoid building on Silver Lake Road. She then asked why that was no longer a concern. Mr. Harstad commented that it was a concern for him but it was not a concern well taken by Council or the Planning Commission. Commissioner Scotch asked Mr. Harstad to go back to the drawing board and come back with the correct requirements for the proper amount of lots. MOTION/SECOND: Hegland/Scotch. To Approve Resolution 687-02, a Resolution Recommending Denial of a Preliminary Plat for the Proposed Longview Estates Major Subdivision Within a Wetland Zoning District. Commissioner Miller said she feels the Commission should uphold the Code. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Director Ericson indicated this item has been scheduled for a public hearing before Council on Monday, February 25, 2002. Mounds View Planning Commission February 6, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Kathy Peterson of 5185 Long View Drive indicated she had not been receiving notices on this matter and asked the City to update its records. ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Planning Case No. VR01-012 Planner Atkinson explained that the Days Inn had requested a variance to increase the height of its sign and, after discussion and review of pictures taken by Staff, the Commission had directed Staff to draft a Resolution denying the variance. He then commented that the applicant, after hearing the discussion, agrees that exploring other options for signage is a better alternative to raising the height of the sign. MOTION/SECOND: Johnson/Miller. To Approve Resolution 688-02, a Resolution Denying a Variance from the Maximum Sign Height Requirement to Increase a Pylon Sign to 65 Feet at Days Inn. Chair Stevenson commented he was glad to see the 65 feet mentioned in the Resolution. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Review Planning Commission Bylaws Planner Atkinson indicated that the Commission reviews its bylaws annually and noted that, if any changes needed to be made, they would be made by Resolution at the next meeting. Chair Stevenson indicated he was comfortable with the bylaws and noted some changes were made last year. He then commented that he has a question concerning the nine members versus the seven members. Community Development Director Ericson indicated that the City’s Code specifies that the Planning Commission is a membership of nine individuals and noted if the Planning Commission wanted to change that, the bylaws would be inconsistent with City code. Chair Stevenson indicated that the Commission was originally a seven-member Commission with two interns who were non-voting members. He then commented that two years ago Council changed the membership to nine members and the Commission has trouble keeping nine members on the Commission. Commissioner Miller indicated according to the bylaws on Page 3 the staff reports and minutes are supposed to be discussed during the agenda session but that is not what the Commission is doing. Chair Stevenson indicated the positioning of the agenda was changed to reflect the ability to take minutes and record that part of the session. Mounds View Planning Commission February 6, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Director Ericson recommended leaving the language the way it is written because it means that the Commission can discuss those items but does not have to. He then commented that the Commission had discussed in the past that it is not necessary to take minutes on the staff report updates from previous Council action and noted it may make sense to move that to the agenda session. Chair Stevenson indicated that the change was made because it was thought that the agenda session would not be televised but it is. Commissioner Miller expressed concern for the attendance requirements listed on Page 4 of the bylaws. Chair Stevenson indicated at one time the bylaws indicated that if you missed three meetings in a row you would be deemed to have vacated your seat but it was decided that the bylaws should list a number of meetings required per year. MOTION/SECOND: Miller/Stevenson. To Accept the Bylaws as Presented. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. In light of the discussion concerning the structure of the agenda session, the Commission decided to move the staff reports and chairperson/commissioners’ reports to the agenda session. _____________________________________________________________________________ 8. Next Planning Commission Meeting: February 20, 2002 ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m. (The meeting immediately adjourned to the Agenda Session) Respectfully submitted, James Ericson Community Development Director Transcribed by: Joan Lenzmeier TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.