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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-19-2001 PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting December 19, 2001 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Highway 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Acting Chair Miller at 7:00 p.m., December 19, 2001. _______________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners, Johnson, Zwirn, Miller, Hegland, and Scotch. Members Excused: Kaden (on leave), Stevenson (excused) Also Present: Community Development Director Ericson and Planner Atkinson. ________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Planning Case No. MI01-005 2 Location: 7618 Edgewood Drive Applicant: Marshall Mills Planning Case No. DE01-005 & CU01-004 3 Location: 5100 Edgewood Drive Applicant: John Gannon, ATS&R Planning Case No. DE00-002 6 Location: 7664 Greenfield Avenue Applicant: Tony Mezzenga Approval of 2002 Meeting Schedule 7 Staff Reports/Items of Information 7 Chairperson and Planning Commission Reports 8 _______________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 2 _______________________________________________________________________ 3. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda There were no resident comments on items not on the agenda. _______________________________________________________________________ 4. Approval of Minutes: a. October 17, 2001 MOTION/SECOND: Zwirn/Johnson. To Approve the Minutes for October 17, 2001 as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _______________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Case No. MI01-005 Community Development Director Ericson explained that the applicant had requested a minor subdivision of 7630 Woodlawn Drive. He then explained that this was not a typical subdivision because approval of this request would take 2200 feet from Parcel A and add it to Parcel B. Director Ericson indicated that the applicant owns both of the parcels and it is his intent to create additional space on the four-plex lot to allow for garage stalls to be built in the future. Director Ericson indicated that all zoning requirements had been satisfied. He noted that, when the four plexes were built, they were not built with garages and the property owner would like to improve the properties and needs the extra space in order to construct the garages. He then indicated that the existing storm sewer easement between Parcel A and Parcel B would remain, perimeter drainage and utility easements would be dedicated, and the Certificate of Survey would be updated to show where the easements are. Director Ericson indicated that Staff is in support of the minor subdivision as it will increase green space on the fourplex lot and allow the space for the garages. He also indicated that the property owner plans to take out the driveway closest to Bronson Drive and replace it with garages. Director Ericson indicated that there were other stipulations on the Resolution, including a limited use easement to limit the liability of the City when allowing parking over the storm sewer easement. Commissioner Johnson asked if there was a timeline for when the bituminous would be removed or the garages installed. Director Ericson indicated there was not a timeline. Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 3 _______________________________________________________________________ Director Ericson indicated that there is an issue of where to put parking if the garages are built and increasing the space on the four plex lot would add 2200 square feet to the lot to allow room for the garages and for parking off to the side. Acting Chair Miller noted there was mention of a change in zoning in the Staff report. Director Ericson indicated that Parcel A was zoned R2 and Parcel B was zoned R3 and Staff is recommending that the area taken from Parcel A be rezoned to R-3. He then noted there would need to be a similar change to the Comprehensive Plan regarding that part of Parcel A.. MOTION/SECOND: Johnson/Scotch. To Approve Resolution 683-01, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Minor Subdivision of 7618 Edgewood Drive. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Director Ericson indicated that this matter would be before Council at either the January 7, 2002, or January 14, 2002 meeting. ______________________________________________________________________________ 6. Planning Case No. DE01-005 & CU004 Planner Atkinson indicated that Mr. Gannon of ATS&R was the applicant acting on behalf of the School District and was at the meeting to present the proposed development review to the Commission. He then indicated that Resolution 682-01 recommends approval of the development review. Acting Chair Miller inquired as to whether this item was to be a public hearing. Planner Atkinson indicated that the matter was noticed as a public hearing. John Gannon of ATS&R indicated he was the architect on the project and provided an overhead demonstration showing the school property and proposed changes. Acting Chair Miller asked if the main entrance would be mainly for students. Mr. Gannon explained that the parking along the bus area would be used for visitor parking during the day and the entrance used for those visitors. He then explained that the north parking lot is higher than the entrance so there is a need to create a route for accessibility from the north lot along the main entrance. Mr. Gannon reviewed the floor plans for the changes with the Commission. Acting Chair Miller thanked Mr. Gannon for the presentation. Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 4 _______________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Zwirn asked if the entire school would be re-roofed. Mr. Gannon indicated that some areas of the roof would be patched and the areas around the new structures would be re-roofed. Commissioner Zwirn asked if the portable units would be removed. Mr. Gannon indicated that the portable units would be removed. Acting Chair Miller asked if trash would be handled the same way it is being handled. Mr. Gannon indicated that garbage would be handled in the same manner but the enclosure would be more pleasant looking. He then pointed out on the map how the garbage trucks and other delivery vehicles would access the site. Acting Chair Miller asked if there would be changes to snow removal and storage. Mr. Gannon indicated that there would not be a need to change snow removal or storage policies. Acting Chair Miller asked about exterior lighting. Mr. Gannon indicated that the lighting on the site would remain the same with the exception of the addition of lights at the newly created entrances. Acting Chair Miller opened the public hearing at 7:38 p.m. Pat Warwick of 5081 Edgewood Drive asked if additional parking would be provided for the school site. She then indicated that when there is an activity at the school there is not enough parking and people park on the street even though it is posted no parking. Mr. Gannon clarified that the parking is not decreasing and said there would be approximately 77 parking spots. Acting Chair Miller closed the public hearing at 7:41 p.m. Commissioner Hegland asked if the parking lot met City requirements. Planner Atkinson indicated that the parking lot exceeded City requirements. He then indicated that Staff could field verify the number of parking spots and noted that, during the Pinewood Elementary development review, it was mentioned that the parking lot requirements may not be adequate. He further indicated that Staff could work with the Police Department and the School District to enforce the parking laws to alleviate the parking issue in the neighborhood during special events. Commissioner Scotch asked when the project would begin. Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 5 _______________________________________________________________________ Mr. Gannon indicated the project would start in April or May and preliminary work could begin before the end of the school year. Mr. Calser, of Stahl Construction, indicated that the project would go to bid in late March, be awarded in April, and the estimated completion date was October 2003. Acting Chair Miller asked for the estimated cost of the project. Mr. Calser indicated that the estimated cost of the project was $5,000,000. Commissioner Scotch asked why the heating units were being changed out. Mr. Gannon explained that the school is heated with unit ventilators in the outside walls which was common in the 1950’s. He then explained that the problem is that current code requires more air exchanges per hour than the current units allow. Acting Chair Miller asked if there was asbestos on the site. Mr. Gannon explained that the district would be handling any asbestos abatement prior to the start of construction. Commissioner Hegland asked if there was a plan for routing heavy equipment traffic to ensure the safety of the children and school staff. Mr. Calser indicated that the final details had not been worked out but said that the suppliers would be making deliveries before school, after school or on weekends to limit the construction traffic interface with the students and school staff. He then indicated that the contractors are very concerned with safety. Commissioner Hegland expressed concern that the contractors not load and unload heavy equipment and supplies on the City streets. Mr. Calser indicated that staging areas would be identified on the property and said those areas would most likely be on the south lot. He also noted that deliveries would not be taken on residential streets. Commissioner Scotch commented that, for the size of the budget, it did not seem that much square footage was added to the building. Penny Howard, Principal, indicated that the current space is not adequate to serve the needs of the students. She then explained that a lot of the areas would be revamped and remodeled and re-equipped to modernize them. Commissioner Scotch asked how many bids were received on the project. Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 6 _______________________________________________________________________ Mr. Calser indicated that the dollar amounts are early estimates for a project this size and said that the project would be put out for bids in March. Commissioner Scotch asked if there had been any other updates since the school was built. Ms. Howard indicated that when the school changed from a community education facility back into a school there were some minor changes. MOTION/SECOND: Johnson/Scotch. To Approve Resolution 682-01, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Development Review and Conditional Use Permit for an Expansion to Edgewood Middle School. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Planner Atkinson indicated that this matter would be on the Council agenda for either January 7, 2002 or January 14, 2002. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Planning Case DE00-002 Community Development Director Ericson explained that the driveway, as approved, did not meet the proper setback requirements from the intersection of Greenfield Avenue and County Road I. He then indicated that the required setback is 50 feet and the final revised plans call for the driveway to be setback 39 feet from the intersection. Director Ericson indicated that this Resolution would clean up the original Resolution for the variance. He then indicated that, because this is an amendment to a variance, a public hearing is required and was noticed for this meeting. Acting Chair Miller indicated that, since this was a variance request, the matter would not be before Council. Acting Chair Miller opened the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. Acting Chair Miller closed the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. Commissioner Zwirn indicated that he was vehemently opposed to this request as he feels it is another situation where there is an arrogant contractor that has backed the City into a situation where it is forced to comply with the contractor’s demands. He then indicated that the structure is built and the driveway is in. He further commented that he feels this is sloppy work by the contractor for not checking things out before beginning the construction. Commissioner Zwirn indicated that, as a neighboring property owner, he had told the Commission that there would be issues with the site and they have happened and the City has had to adapt to the situation. He then commented that he has had many community members Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 7 _______________________________________________________________________ come to him to discuss the matter but those community members have not come to the City because they feel their efforts would be futile. He further commented that he feels this development was “crammed down the throat” of residents and the City. Commissioner Zwirn commented “this is sloppy government.” MOTION/SECOND: Hegland/Johnson. To Approve Resolution 680-01, a Resolution Amending Previously Approved Resolution 633-00, a Resolution Approving Variances for the Property Located at 7664 Greenfield Avenue, VR#00-007. Ayes – 3 Nays – 2(Zwirn/Scotch) Motion carried. Acting Chair Miller asked if anyone would like to comment for the minutes. There were no comments. ______________________________________________________________________________ 8. Approval of 2002 Meeting Schedule Planner Atkinson presented Resolution 681-01 and Exhibit A outlining the typical meeting schedule for the Planning Commission. Commissioner Hegland asked if having a meeting on January 2, 2002 was practical. Planner Atkinson indicated that he had discussed the matter with Chair Stevenson and they had determined that, since January 2, 2002 is a working day for most people, they felt it was practical to hold the meeting. He also noted that there were several cases on the agenda for the January 2, 2002 meeting. It was the consent of the Commission to hold the meeting on January 2, 2002. MOTION/SECOND: To Approve Resolution 681-01, a Resolution Setting the Planning Commission’s 2002 Meeting Schedule. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 9. Staff Reports a. Previous Council Action Community Development Director Ericson indicated that Council had approved the hiring of Greg Lee as the Public Works Director and noted he would start on January 2, 2002. Mounds View Planning Commission December 19, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 8 _______________________________________________________________________ Director Ericson indicated that Council had approved the hiring of Aaron Backman as the Economic Development Coordinator and indicated he had started on Monday, December 17, 2001. Director Ericson indicated that Council had approved the hiring of a building official and noted that Kathi Osmonson, the former contracted building official, had been hired as a full time City employee. Director Ericson indicated that Council had approved the minor subdivision for Brian Diehl. Director Ericson indicated that Council had held a public hearing on the Harstad variance and had come to a split decision and recommended tabling of the matter to January 7, 2002 to be heard before a full Council. Commissioner Johnson asked if the City was actively seeking Planning Commissioners. Director Ericson indicated that the City was actively seeking Planning Commissioners and noted that appointments would be made at the first Council meeting of the new year. ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Chairperson and Planning Commissioners’ Reports None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 11. Next Planning Commission Meeting: January 2, 2002 ______________________________________________________________________________ 12. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Acting Chair Miller adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jim Ericson Community Development Director Transcribed by: Joan Lenzmeier TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.