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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2002 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting July 17, 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., July 17, 2002. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Stevenson, Miller, Johnson, Scotch, Hegland, Zwirn, and Song Members Absent: None. Also Present: Community Development Director Ericson and Planner Atkinson ________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page 1 Planning Case VR02-002 Location: 5532 St. Stephen Street Applicant: Arlen Baumhoefner Planning Case VR02-003 Location: 2400 County Highway 10 Applicant: Robert and Anthony Jacob Consideration of Resolution 702-02, a Resolution Recommending Approval of an Amendment to Section 1106.04 Subd. 6(b) of the City Code Pertaining to Accessory Structures ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Approval of Minutes a. April 3, 2002 b. June 5, 2002 MOTION/SECOND: Miller/Song. To Approve the Minutes of the April 3, 2002 and June 5, 2002 Planning Commission Meeting. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Case VR02-002 Planner Atkinson indicated the applicant had requested approval of a variance to allow the construction of a third stall on his garage. He then indicated that the sideyard setback is five (5) feet and the applicant has requested a variance to allow a four (4) foot sideyard setback. Planner Atkinson indicated it was his understanding that variances have been granted in the past for a third stall on a garage when the lot is not quite wide enough to accommodate that third stall. Planner Atkinson indicated the criteria for granting a variance were covered in the Staff report and asked for questions of the Commission. Chair Stevenson asked if Staff had received any comments from the neighbors. Planner Atkinson indicated that notices had been sent out for the public hearing and Staff had received no response. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Chair Stevenson commented that it looked to him like the shed is on the property line or close to it. Planner Atkinson indicated the applicant would be removing two accessory structures and putting the contents inside the third stall. Chair Stevenson asked when the sheds would be removed. Planner Atkinson indicated the sheds would be removed when construction is completed. Commissioner Miller asked whether the treated wood floor as proposed would meet City code. Planner Atkinson indicated that is an issue for the building inspector and would be handled when the applicant applies for the permit. Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Miller asked if there is a wall between the last stall and the new addition. Planner Atkinson said yes. Chair Stevenson indicated the biggest issue is to make sure that the variance granted is the minimum necessary to alleviate the hardship. He then indicated the Commission is not opposed to residents upgrading their property and asked how far from the property line the current garage is. Mr. Baumhoefner indicated the garage is a total of 14 feet from the property line and the sheds are located six inches into the five (5) foot setback. Commissioner Zwirn noted that Mr. Baumhoefner had referred to a regulation size 9 foot overhead door and commented that a 9 foot door is not regulation. He then asked if there was an intent to store a vehicle in that stall with a wood floor. Mr. Baumhoefner indicated the plans had been changed to include a cement floor. Commissioner Zwirn indicated he mentioned that there were other door widths that would not require variances. Chair Stevenson indicated an addition of less than 10 feet in width would crowd most people and does not seem feasible. Commissioner Johnson asked what the width of the other two garage doors is. Mr. Baumhoefner indicated the artist who had sketched the drawing of the garage had made it proportional and he thinks they were working with 18 feet and 9 foot doors. Commissioner Miller asked what would be done about the driveway. Mr. Baumhoefner indicated there was already a parking pad located there. Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Hegland/Johnson. To Approve Resolution 701-02, a Resolution Approving a Variance From the Side Yard Setback Requirement to Allow a Garage Addition to Extend Within Four (4) Feet of the Side Property Line on the Property Located at 5532 St. Stephen Street. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ 6. Planning Case VR02-003 Community Development Director Ericson indicated this case is a request from Jake’s Sports Café to expand their parking lot into the recently purchased property next to them. He then indicated that Jake’s is doing a good business and has run into some parking issues and, with the County Road H2 reconstruction, the parking issue will be further complicated. Director Ericson indicated Jake’s would like to move into the parcel next to it and has looked at several site plans. He then indicated that one of the big issues inherent with the property is the 50-foot setback established with the PUD that was established to provide additional buffer area between the residents on H2 and the theatre development. Director Ericson provided pictures looking east along the 50-foot setback fence. He then said he had provided the pictures to show the significant tree cover on the site. Director Ericson indicated the request has gotten a little complicated because he is not sure whether a variance is needed or whether this request requires review by the City Council because of the requirements of the PUD. He also indicated there is no resolution before the Commission at this meeting because the site plan was not provided until Monday. Director Ericson indicated he would need to speak with the applicants to determine which of the numerous plans being discussed is the one they wish to proceed with. Director Ericson indicated Staff had noticed property owners within 350 feet for this meeting and had sent out a second notice to residents for the public hearing at the Council level. He then asked the Commission for feedback in the form of a motion as to whether the Commission felt that this parcel should be removed from the PUD and whether or not it would be acceptable to have a 30-foot setback rather than the 50-foot setback. Commissioner Miller asked how many parking stalls are required by code and how many parking stalls would be possible if the trees were preserved. She also asked how many stalls would be created by using the 30-foot setback. Director Ericson indicated that the site plan presented shows an additional 46 stalls at the 30-foot setback. He then indicated that Staff has provided a site plan that provides 49 or 50 stalls but maintains the 50-foot tree cover but encroaches into area where there are no existing mature trees. Director Ericson indicated there was a question as to how the number of stalls required was calculated and said Staff would need to refigure. He then said that Staff knows Jake’s is under parked but is not sure by how much. Commissioner Johnson asked if anyone checked with the City Forester to see if the 20 feet of trees are worth keeping. Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Director Ericson indicated he was out at the site and there are a number of diseased and dead trees but said he did not see that many along the fence line would need to come out as a result of disease or dying. He then said he thought it would be a good idea to have the forester come out to take a look at the trees. Director Ericson indicated they would be back before the Commission if it is determined that a variance is required. Chair Stevenson indicated a headlight buffer of some sort would need to be included in the plans to buffer the homes across the street. He further indicated he felt Council would be more receptive of a plan that included a headlight buffer. Commissioner Johnson indicated he would like to see the forester look at the trees as it seems some are dead. Commissioner Hegland commented that more trees would be lost during the reconstruction of H2. Director Ericson indicated that the trees are right up against the roadway so when it is expanded there will be a 10 to 15 foot area that would be moved into as well as further encroachment into the tree cover for the trail. Commissioner Hegland said he understands the concerns with maintaining the tree barrier and he would like to find a way to save it but that may not be possible with the reconstruction of H2. Commissioner Johnson commented that the real barrier was the fence. Commissioner Miller asked if Jake’s would have an entrance on H2. Director Ericson indicated that the entrance would be shifted so it would line up with Edgewood Drive from the south because that is the best from a traffic circulation standpoint. Commissioner Miller asked what that would do to the dumpster area. Director Ericson indicated the plan shows a dumpster area and that would be enclosed. He also indicated that Jake’s is hoping to expand the business and create outdoor seating and do improvements to the building beyond what has already been done. Commissioner Johnson asked if there would be adequate room for snow storage on the site. Director Ericson indicated that there would be room to store snow on the site and, if too much snow is received, they would need to haul it offsite. Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ Rob Jacob of 1330 59th Place, Plymouth; and Tony Jacob of 188 17th Avenue SW, New Brighton, addressed the Commission and explained they wished to expand their business by improving parking and updating and expanding the downstairs banquet facility as well as creating an outdoor patio area at some point. Mr. Jacob indicated that they would do whatever is necessary to screen the headlights from the neighbors and asked for support for their additional parking request. Commissioner Song asked if there was a plan to do landscaping around the parking lot. Mr. Jacob indicated it was their intent to use black wrought iron fence to dress it up and separate it from the movie theatre parking. He then pointed out areas that would be landscaped on the plan. Commissioner Hegland asked whether the outdoor seating area would remove parking spaces. Mr. Jacob indicated they wanted to do the outdoor seating area on the Highway 10 side of the property so that they do not interfere with the neighbors. He then said they would lose some parking to accommodate the patio area. Commissioner Scotch commented that the Jacobs have done a great job also with their location on County Road D. Chair Stevenson recommended including the fence with the plan to Council as a way of appeasing those concerned with headlights. Commissioner Hegland said he felt the idea was great but the details need to be worked out. He then asked if the Jacobs own the property. Mr. Jacob explained they had entered into a contract to purchase it and it legally becomes their ownership upon the death of the individual they are under contract with. He further commented they are leasing the space. Chair Stevenson indicated he did not see an issue with the request provided part of the buffer is maintained. Commissioner Song asked if the City would be compensated with replacement trees for those to be removed. Director Ericson indicated the City does not have a tree preservation ordinance and then said that the applicant intends to landscape the site and upgrade the look of the area. He further commented that Staff has been discussing the possibility of bringing a proposed tree preservation ordinance before the Planning Commission and Council for consideration. Commissioner Song said she would like to see a tree replacement program. Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 7 ________________________________________________________________________ Director Ericson indicated that, if the property was pulled from the PUD, the setback would be 30-feet. He also said that Staff would work with the applicants to retain as many trees as possible. Commissioner Hegland asked what would be involved with removing this parcel from the PUD. Director Ericson indicated that this has been done before with another parcel for financing reasons. He then said that a public hearing is required and the original signers of the PUD need to sign off on this parcel. Commissioner Miller commented that the Jacobs were fortunate that no office building was put up there as proposed. Commissioner Zwirn asked whether the parking proposed would take into consideration the intent to expand the seating downstairs and outside. Director Ericson indicated that Staff would look at what kind of seating possibilities could be utilized in the basement area, the upper level and the outdoor seating and determine the number of parking stalls required but said, at this time, he did not have a definitive answer to that question. Mr. Jacob commented that they have found that seating shifts outside during the warmer months when outdoor seating is available. He also commented that the downstairs seating is for banquet or scheduled events not regular restaurant business. He further commented that he feels the proposed parking would cover the intended expansion but said they would work with Staff to make sure. MOTION/SECOND: Stevenson/Miller. To Recommend to Council Approval of the Removal of this Parcel from the Theatre PUD. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Consideration of Resolution 702-02, a Resolution Recommending Approval of an Amendment to Section 1106.04 Subd. 6(b) of the City Code Pertaining to Accessory Structures. Planner Atkinson explained that earlier in the year, the Planning Commission recommended approval of an amendment to the maximum square footage requirements for accessory structures increasing the maximum area allowed for accessory structures from 1,400 to 1,800 square feet. Since Council approval, an inconsistency was discovered with a similar provision in a different Section of the Zoning Code and this Resolution would recommend approval of Ordinance 701 correcting the inconsistency. Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2002 Regular Meeting Page 8 ________________________________________________________________________ MOTION/SECOND: Johnson/Miller. To Approve Resolution 702-02, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a City Code Amendment to Section 1106.04 Subd. 6(b) Regarding Accessory Structures. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Next Planning Commission Meeting: August 7, 2002 ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Adjournment to Agenda Session There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:58 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.