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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-18-2015 PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA March 18, 2015 -- 7:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes: February 4, 2015 4. Citizens Requests and Comments Relating to Planning and Zoning Issues Not Already on the Agenda. (Before speaking, give your full name and address for the record.) 5. Planning Cases A. VR2015-001 Variance Request to Exceed Allowed Ground Sign Height Applicant: George Winiecki, WIN Insurance Agency Address: 2704 County Road 10 6. Other Planning Activity A. Planning Commission Public Service Announcement Volunteer (Oral Report) B. Discuss a Code Amendment to Allow Columbaria 7. Review Minutes: A. February 18, 2015 8. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases B. Staff Updates C. Council Updates D. Planning Commissioner Reports 9. Next Planning Commission Meetings: A. Wednesday, April 1, 2015 B. Wednesday, April 15, 2015 10. Adjourn PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting February 18, 2015 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. for February 18, 2015. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Elofson, Love, Rundle, Schiltgen, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Birken and Carvelli-Yu. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Approval of Minutes 1 Review Code Amendment for Fish Houses 2 Discuss a Potential Code Amendment to Allow Columbariums 3 Discuss a Potential Code Amendment to Allow Brew Pubs 4 Review Bylaws 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approval of Minutes January 21, 2015. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Schiltgen. To approve the Minutes of the January 21, 2015 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Mounds View Planning Commission February 18, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases None. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity A. Review Code Amendment for Fish Houses Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that a resident sent in a request to amend the City Code relating to parking of fish houses in residential districts. He is requesting that the code be amended to allow drop axle fish houses to be in the front yard area of properties longer than 24 hours. The City Council is supportive of being more permissive of fish houses being kept on properties and asked the Planning Commission to discuss and make a recommendation. Associate Heller explained that the Planning Commission discussed this in great length at the February 4, 2015 meeting, and decided to allow only “drop axle style” fish houses to be stored for any length of time on residential properties. Staff is suggesting that a definition of drop axle fish house also be added to the code. Staff reviewed the drafted a resolution with the proposed language. She requested the Commission review Resolution 1020-15 with a proposed code amendment relating to fish houses and provide staff with direction on how to proceed. Chair Stevenson supported the proposed language from staff. Commissioner Love stated she has never been bothered by a fish house being placed in a front yard in all her years of living in Mounds View. She believed that homeowners should be allowed to have 10 days to store any fish house in their driveway. Discussion ensued regarding the aesthetic concerns of having a fish house or children’s play equipment in a front yard. Commissioner Schiltgen supported the code amendment language. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Elofson. To adopt Resolution 1020- 15, approving a Code Amendment to Chapter 607 of the Mounds View City Code regarding Fish House Storage. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission February 18, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ B. Discuss a Potential Code Amendment to Allow Columbaria Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that a Mounds View church member recently contacted the City to inquire if a columbarium would be allowed on the church property. Their church was considering adding a columbarium and the church member said many churches are now considering installing a columbarium for their patrons. They are considering one or two structures that would be about 10 feet long and 6 feet tall. Many funeral homes report that more than 50% of deaths now result in cremation rather than a burial, so it is understandable that more places are needed to store urns. Mounds View does not currently have any cemeteries, nor does the City Code address cemeteries or columbaria. Associate Heller explained that a columbarium is a place for the respectful and usually public storage of cinerary urns (i.e. urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains). Today's columbaria can be either freestanding units, or part of a mausoleum or another building. Some manufacturers produce columbaria that are built entirely off-site and brought to the cemetery by a large truck. Many modern crematoria have columbaria. In other cases, columbaria are built into church structures. She discussed the matter in further detail and requested comment from the Commission. Chair Stevenson stated he had only seen columbaria as part of a cemetery. He had concerns with a columbarium being added to a church and then the church leaving the community. Associate Heller stated that language could be added to address this concern. Commissioner Love suggested that if a church were to move out of the community, it could be required that the columbarium also be removed. Associate Heller believed that family members would want to pick up the urns prior to them being moved out of the City. Council Liaison Meehlhause suggested a conditional use permit be required for the columbarium. Associate Heller did not recommend a conditional use permit be required as this would be an expense for the church and would also require a public hearing and is more review than needed for this use. Chair Stevenson wanted to be assured that a structure was built in a pleasing manner that met the City’s building requirements. Commissioner Schiltgen agreed and wanted to see staff review plans prior to being built. Further discussion ensued regarding the preferred building materials for columbaria. Mounds View Planning Commission February 18, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ The Commission was in favor of allowing columbariums in churches, be built out of solid stone, and be considered an accessory building. Associate Heller explained this would be a starting place for the City Code and could be amended in the future. _____________________________________________________________________________ C. Discuss a Potential Code Amendment to Allow Brew Pubs Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that the City Council discussed allowing businesses like brewpubs or taprooms in the City since they are becoming very popular after the State of Minnesota loosened up regulations relating to these types of businesses. The City Council is open to allowing these types of uses and has asked the Planning Commission to discuss this. A new taproom, Hammerheart Brewing (www.hammerheartbrewing.com) recently opened in Lino Lakes, and Minneapolis and St. Paul have several, with more in the works. Currently the Mounds View Zoning Code does not address brewpubs, taprooms or any type of brewery, therefore none of them are allowed. Staff requested the Commission discuss this matter and provide staff with direction on how to proceed. Commissioner Elofson questioned if a brew pub would be successful in Mounds View. Associate Heller stated that most brew pubs have been locating in Minneapolis and St. Paul. She discussed how a taproom may work in the City if industrial space were made available. Commissioner Love expressed concern with the amount of water a brewery or brew pub would be using. Associate Heller explained that State mandates would limit the number of barrels that could be made on a yearly basis. She did not believe that water usage would be a concern. Commissioner Schlitgen supported bringing a brew pub to Mounds View. He believed this would be a unique amenity for the City. Commissioner Rundle was in favor of allowing a brew pub or taproom and brewery as well. Commissioner Love suggested that wine making also be considered. The Commission recommended staff proceed with a code amendment to allow breweries, taprooms, brew pubs or wineries in the City of Mounds View. ______________________________________________________________________________ D. Review Bylaws Planning Associate Heller informed the Commission that the Planning Commission’s Bylaws state that the Commission shall review the Bylaws on an annual basis. She explained that the last Mounds View Planning Commission February 18, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ time the Planning Commission amended the Bylaws was in January of 2007. The last change was about the number of absences a commissioner may have in a given year. Staff recommended that the Commission adopt the Bylaws for the Planning Commission. Commissioner Love asked about reviewing the minutes in a timelier manner. Associate Heller discussed the process used for approving Commission minutes. She explained that a service was hired to complete the minutes on a monthly basis. Commissioner Schiltgen commented that there have been very few changes made to the minutes over the past six months. Chair Stevenson believed that the current system worked well and saved on paper. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Love. To approve the Bylaws for the Planning Commission with no changes. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. ______________________________________________________________________________ 7. Review Minutes: A. February 4, 2015 The Commission discussed the February 4, 2015 meeting minutes. 8. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases Planning Associate Heller explained no planning cases have been applied for at this time. B. Staff Updates Planning Associate Heller provided the Commission with a staff update. She discussed the Bel Rae and BioLife projects. She noted the City newsletter would be sent out next week. C. Council Updates Councilmember Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. He commented how the City was working on a code amendment to improve its recycling program. He explained that the Citizen of the Year nominee requirements may be amended to include those individuals who work in the community. He indicated the Town Hall meeting would be held on Monday, March 30th at 6:00 p.m. Mounds View Planning Commission February 18, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ D. Planning Commissioner Reports None. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, March 4, 2015 B. Wednesday, March 18, 2015 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Heidi Heller Planning Associate Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. Item No: 5A Meeting Date: March 18, 2015 Type of Business: Public Hearing City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View Planning Commission From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Consideration of a 4.5 foot Variance to Allow a 20.5 Foot Tall Ground Sign at 2704 County Road 10; Planning Case VR2015- 001 Introduction: The applicant, George Winiecki, owner of 2704 County Road 10, is requesting a variance to allow the existing ground sign to be expanded 4.5 feet, to 20.5 feet tall. The Zoning Code indicates that no ground sign in a business district may exceed 16 feet in height. Discussion: According to the Municipal Code, Section 1008.09, Subdivision 3, ground signs are limited to a height of no more than 16 feet without a variance. The applicant owns the building at 2704 County Road 10 and operates his insurance agency here. He also rents some of the building to a few different tenants who have their business information on the sign. Mr. Winiecki has an existing ground sign that is 16.5 feet tall with a brick base. He wants to reconfigure the sign panels and possibly add an electronic sign. Since his ground sign meets the current sign code in regards to it already having masonry on it, Mr. Winiecki can change more than just the panels on his sign. He intends to keep the existing brick base and the sign frame, and just change the sizes of the individual businesses sign panels. He feels that in order to best meet his and his tenant’s sign needs, the ground sign should be four feet taller. The applicant’s sign is currently 104 square feet, within the allowed 200 square feet. The sign could instead be widened and then would not need a variance. The cost to change the sign base and frame in order to support a wider sign is high, and the applicant has chosen to apply for a height variance instead. Variance Considerations: For the City to approve this variance, as with any variance request, there needs to be demonstrated practical difficulty associated with the property that makes a literal interpretation of the Code overly burdensome or restrictive to a property owner. State statutes require that the governing body (the Planning Commission) review a set of specified criteria for each application and make its decision in accordance with these criteria. The City has set these criteria in Section 1125.02, Subdivision 2, of the City Code. The Code clearly states that a hardship exists when all of the criteria are met. The individual criteria and a staff comment about each are as follows: a. The variance is in harmony with the general purposes and intent of these regulations. The property at 2704 County Road 10 is a commercial property that fronts the main commercial corridor through the city, which is not unique. The sign code was amended in 2013 to lower the height limits of all the ground signs in business and industrial zoning districts down to 16 feet in order to improve the aesthetics of the County Road 10 corridor. 2704 County Road 10 Variance Report March 18, 2015 Page 2 b. The variance is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. While the Comprehensive Plan does not specify signage criteria for businesses, it does support improvements to, and the success of the City’s businesses. The installation of more signage is typically helpful to the success of a business. The Comprehensive Plan does focus on improvements to the County Road 10 corridor, and taller signs is not one of the things the City feels is visually appealing. c. The applicant proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by this Title or the City Code. The applicant is asking for the additional ground signage in order for the business to be more visible to potential customers, and to help new customers find his location. d. Unique circumstances apply to the property which do not apply to other properties in the same zone or vicinity and result from lot size or shape, topography or other circumstances over which the owner of the property since the enactment of this Title has had no control. The unique circumstances do not result from the actions of the applicant. The somewhat unique circumstance of this building is that it looks like a residential property rather than a business, so the tenants rely on the ground sign to attract and direct customers to their location. The building was originally constructed and used by a home builder for their office. It was not built by the applicant. e. The variance does not alter the essential character of the neighborhood. A 4-foot height expansion may not alter the character of the neighborhood since it is entirely a commercial area along the County Road 10 corridor where every business has a ground sign of varying heights. The adjacent business has a 6 foot tall monument style sign and the other side of the subject property is a wooded area. f. The variance requested is the minimum variance which would alleviate the practical difficulties. Economic conditions alone do not constitute practical difficulties. The applicant feels that a 4.5-foot variance is the minimum variance needed to meet his business signage needs. There is another option to expand the sign square footage that doesn’t require a variance, but it’s much more expensive to make the sign wider rather than taller. g. The Planning Commission may impose such conditions upon the premises benefited by a variance as may be necessary to comply with the standards established by this Title or to reduce or minimize the effect of such variance upon other properties in the neighborhood, and to better carry out the intent of the variance. The condition must be directly related to and must bear a rough proportionality to the impact created by the variance. Staff does not have any suggested conditions. 2704 County Road 10 Variance Report March 18, 2015 Page 3 Based upon the review of the above criteria, it appears to staff that the requested variance does not satisfy the practical difficulty threshold as the basis for the variance request is primarily for financial reasons. Staff has drafted resolutions of both denial and approval for the Commission to consider. Public Hearing: As with any requested variance, a public hearing is required. City staff mailed notices to all property owners within 350 feet of 2704 County Road 10. Recommendation: After holding the public hearing and taking testimony from staff, the applicant and any neighbors, the Commission should take one of the following actions: 1. Approve the variance as requested. Resolution 1021-15 (approval version) is attached for the Commission’s approval if they so choose. 2. Deny the requested variance. Resolution 1021-15 (denial version) is attached for the Commission’s approval if they so choose. 3. Table the request. If the Commission needs more information before making a decision or if more discussion is needed, the Commission can table the request until they are provided such information. Respectfully submitted, Heidi Heller Planning Associate Attachments: 1. Zoning Map 2. Aerial Photo 3. Drawing of Proposed Sign Expansion 4. Letter from Applicant 5. Photographic Documentation 6. Resolution 1021-15 ZONING MAP * Properties not indicated with a designation are zoned R-1, Single Family Residential Aerial View County Road 10 2704 County Road 10 sign Burger King Holiday Gas Technical Life Care Existing sign is a total of 16.5 feet tall – it has a 3 foot tall by 8 foot wide brick base, and a 6 inch space separates the base from the sign frame. The sign copy area is 13 feet tall by 8 feet wide. Site plan from Applicant Sign copy area 13’ tall x 8’ wide Sign base - brick 3’ tall x 8’ wide Proposed expansion 4’ tall x 8’ wide Letter from Applicant Photographic Documentation Technical Life Care sign Holiday Gas sign Building at 2704 County Road 10 Photographic Documentation Looking southwest Looking northeast MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 1021-15 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION DENYING A 4.5-FOOT HEIGHT VARIANCE FOR A GROUND SIGN AT 2704 COUNTY ROAD 10; PLANNING CASE VR2015-001 WHEREAS, the applicant, George Winiecki, owner of 2704 County Road 10, has applied for a 4.5-foot variance to allow a 20.5-foot tall ground sign; and, WHEREAS, 2704 County Road 10 is zoned B-2, Limited Business, and is legally described as follows: NELY 275 FT OF PART OF SE ¼ LYING SWLY OF CL OF HWY NO 10 AND BET 2 PAR LINES RUN SWLY AT RA FROM SD CL AND FROM POINTS MEASURED THEREON 765.9 FT AND 865.9 FT NW FROM S LINE OF SD ¼ (SUBJ TO HWY) IN SEC 6, TN 30, RN 23 PIN: 06-30-23-43-0011 WHEREAS, the Mounds View Planning Commission has reviewed the following documents regarding this proposal: 1. Site Plan 2. Zoning Map 3. Aerial View 4. Staff Report 5. Photographic Documentation WHEREAS, Section 1008.09 of the Sign Code indicates that the maximum height for ground signs in a business zoning district is 16 feet; and, WHEREAS, the applicant has applied for a 4.5 foot variance to allow a 20.5 foot tall ground sign; and, WHEREAS, the purpose of the variance provision in the Zoning Code is to give relief to property owners when the strict enforcement of the zoning code requirements imposes a hardship thereby restricting the improvement of property due to practical difficulties brought about by unique or extraordinary features of the physical property that are beyond the property owner’s control; and, Denial Version Resolution 1021-15 Page 2 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed public hearing regarding this request on March 18, 2015; and, WHEREAS, according to Section 1125.02, Subdivision 2 of the Mounds View Municipal Code, the Planning Commission is to review a standard set of criteria, of which all must be satisfied, in order to grant a variance to the Zoning Code. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Mounds View Planning Commission finds that the criteria as identified in Section 1125.02, Subdivision 2 of the Mounds View Municipal Code are not satisfied and finds there to be insufficient practical difficulty with regard to the property located at 2704 County Road 10, and makes the following findings of fact related to its decision: 1. The general intent of the Zoning Code regarding signage limits is for aesthetic reasons, and the sign code was recently amended to lower sign height limits for this specific reason. 2. The Comprehensive Plan focuses on improvements to the County Road 10 corridor, and even thought the applicant is trying to keep the business successful with the additional signage, allowing taller signs is not part of the desired look of the corridor. 3. The applicant is requesting this variance because the building now has additional tenants who need their business information on the sign. 4. The property is part of the County Road 10 commercial corridor and has no unique circumstances that cause a practical difficulty. The sign could be made wider and would not need a variance, but the applicant does not want to do that because of the high cost. 5. The additional sign height would make the applicant’s ground sign that much taller and inconsistent with the adjacent business’s 6 foot tall monument sign. 6. The variance requested is the minimum variance the applicant feels is required to provide the suitable amount of signage for his and his tenants businesses, and alleviate the applicant’s practical difficulty. 7. The Planning Commission may impose conditions upon the premises as may be necessary to comply with city standards and to minimize the effect of such variance upon other properties in the neighborhood. Resolution 1021-15 Page 3 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the Mounds View Planning Commission, based upon the above findings, denies the 4.5 foot variance request of property owner, George Winiecki, to allow a 20.5 foot tall ground sign at 2704 County Road 10. Adopted this 18th day of March, 2015. ________________________________ Gary Stevenson, Chair ATTEST: ________________________________ James Ericson, City Administrator (SEAL) MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 1021-15 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION APPROVING A 4.5-FOOT VARIANCE TO ALLOW THE GROUND SIGN AT 2704 COUNTY ROAD 10 TO EXCEED THE HEIGHT LIMIT; PLANNING CASE VR2015-001 WHEREAS, the applicant, George Winiecki, owner of 2704 County Road 10, has applied for a 4.5-foot variance to allow a 20.5-foot tall ground sign; and, WHEREAS, 2704 County Road 10 is zoned B-2, Limited Business, and is legally described as follows: NELY 275 FT OF PART OF SE ¼ LYING SWLY OF CL OF HWY NO 10 AND BET 2 PAR LINES RUN SWLY AT RA FROM SD CL AND FROM POINTS MEASURED THEREON 765.9 FT AND 865.9 FT NW FROM S LINE OF SD ¼ (SUBJ TO HWY) IN SEC 6, TN 30, RN 23 PIN: 06-30-23-43-0011 WHEREAS, the Mounds View Planning Commission has reviewed the following documents regarding this proposal: 6. Site Plan 7. Zoning Map 8. Aerial View 9. Staff Report 10. Photographic Documentation WHEREAS, Section 1008.09 of the Sign Code indicates that the maximum height for ground signs in a business zoning district is 16 feet; and, WHEREAS, the applicant has applied for a variance to allow a 20.5 foot tall ground sign; and, WHEREAS, the purpose of the variance provision in the Zoning Code is to give relief to property owners when the strict enforcement of the zoning code requirements imposes a hardship thereby restricting the improvement of property due to practical difficulties brought about by unique or extraordinary features of the physical property that are beyond the property owner’s control; and, Approval Version Resolution 1021-15 Page 2 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed public hearing regarding this request on March 18, 2015; and, WHEREAS, according to Section 1125.02, Subdivision 2 of the Mounds View Municipal Code, the Planning Commission is to review a standard set of criteria, of which all must be satisfied, in order to grant a variance to the Zoning Code. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Mounds View Planning Commission finds that the criteria as identified in Section 1125.02, Subdivision 2 of the Mounds View Municipal Code are satisfied and finds there to be sufficient practical difficulty with regard to the property located at 2704 County Road 10, and makes the following findings of fact related to its decision: 8. The general intent of the Zoning Code regarding signage limits is for aesthetic reasons. The requested additional signage still meets the general purpose and intent of the zoning code. 9. The variance is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in that the applicant is trying to keep the business successful. 10. The applicant is requesting this variance because the building now has additional tenants who need their business information on the sign. 11. The unique feature of this property is the style of the building as it looks like a house rather than an office building and signage is very important to direct new and existing customers to the building. 12. The additional sign height will not alter the existing commercial character of the neighborhood. 13. The variance requested is the minimum variance the applicant feels is required to provide the suitable amount of signage and alleviate the applicant’s practical difficulty. 14. The Planning Commission may impose conditions upon the premises as may be necessary to comply with city standards and to minimize the effect of such variance upon other properties in the neighborhood. Resolution 1021-15 Page 3 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, the Mounds View Planning Commission, based upon the above findings, approves the variance request of George Winiecki, property owner, to allow a 20.5 foot tall ground sign at 2704 County Road 10. Adopted this 18th day of March, 2015. ________________________________ Gary Stevenson, Chair ATTEST: ________________________________ James Ericson, City Administrator (SEAL) Item No: 6B Meeting Date: March 18, 2015 Type of Business: Other Planning Activity City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Planning Commission From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Review Code Amendment to Allow a Columbarium on Religious Institution Properties A Mounds View church member recently contacted the City to inquire if a columbarium would be allowed on the church property. Due to the large increase in cremations rather than burials, it is understandable that more places are needed to store urns. Mounds View does not currently have any cemeteries, nor does the City Code address cemeteries or columbaria. The Planning Commission discussed columbaria on church properties, and the Commission was supportive of adding language to the zoning code to allow columbaria. The Commission decided to consider a columbarium an allowed accessory use to a church and base the regulations from the accessory building requirements. Staff recommends also adding a definition of a columbarium to the zoning code. The Planning Commission requested that a permit be required for the installation of columbaria in order for staff to review the proposal and site plan. Staff will amend the fee schedule to add the permit fees in. Recommendation Review Resolution 1022-15 with the proposed language for a code amendment relating to a columbarium. Sincerely, Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Attachments: 1. Resolution 1022-15 MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 1022-15 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 1100, CHAPTERS 1102 AND 1106 OF THE MOUNDS VIEW ZONING CODE TO ALLOW COLUMBARIA AT RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS; SPECIAL PLANNING CASE 193-15 WHEREAS, City staff has recommended that amendments be made to the zoning code relating to columbaria at religious institutions; and, WHEREAS, the Planning Commission agrees with the City Staff recommendation to allow columbaria on the properties of religious institutions as an accessory use; and, WHEREAS, City staff has amended Chapter 1102.02 and Chapter 1106.03 of the Mounds View City Code by deleting the stricken language and adding the underlined text as follows: 1102.02: DEFINITIONS: The following words and terms, wherever they occur in this Code, shall be defined as follows: Subd. 17. COLUMBARIUM: A place for the usually public storage urns holding a deceased’s cremated remains. Columbaria can be either free standing units, or part of a mausoleum or another building. 1106.03: ACCESSORY USES: The following are permitted accessory uses in an R-1 District: Subd. 8. Columbarium as an accessory use to a religious institution, such as churches, chapels, temples and synagogues; subject to the following conditions: (a) Must not be constructed of brick. (b) The combined square footage of all accessory buildings, including columbaria, shall not exceed 1,800 square feet. (c) Columbaria shall only be placed in a side yard or rear yard area. Resolution 1022-15 Page 2 (d) Columbaria shall have a minimum side yard and rear yard setback of five (5’) feet. (e) Columbaria height shall not exceed eighteen (18’) feet or that of the principal structure, whichever is less. (f) If the religious institution ceases operation, all urns and remains must be removed from the property within three (3) months of the institution’s closing. WHEREAS, amending the City Code to allow columbaria as an accessory use at religious institutions in residential zoning districts would better serve the public; and, WHEREAS, the Mounds View Planning Commission concurs that an amendment to the City Code is warranted and justified. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mounds View Planning Commission recommends approval of amendments to Sections 1102.02 and 1106.03 of the Mounds View City Code as defined herein. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mounds View Planning Commission directs staff to forward this resolution to the City Council prior to approval of the minutes. Adopted this 18th day of March, 2015. ________________________________ Gary Stevenson, Chair ATTEST: ________________________________ James Ericson, City Administrator (SEAL)