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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-03-2015 PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING AGENDA June 3, 2015 -- 7:00 P.M.. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes: May 6, 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. VR2011-002 Variance Extension Request for Reduced Driveway Setbacks Applicant: Mike Kinyon, Kinyon Properties Address: 5338-5340 Raymond Avenue 6. Other Planning Activity None 7. Review Minutes: A. May 20, 2015 8. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases B. Staff Updates C. Council Updates D. Planning Commissioner Reports 9. Next Planning Commission Meetings: A. Wednesday, June 17, 2015 B. Wednesday, July 1, 2015 10. Adjourn PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 20, 2015 Mounds View City Hall 2401 County Road 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Planning Associate Heller at 7:00 p.m. for May 20, 2015. ______________________________________________________________________________ 1A. Elect Vice Chair Planning Associate Heller requested the Planning Commission elect a Vice Chair for the Planning Commission for 2015. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Love/Commissioner Birken. To elect Paul Schiltgen as Vice Chair of the Planning Commission for 2015. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Birken, Elofson, Kieffer, Love, Rundle, and Schiltgen. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Stevenson. Also Present: Planning Associate Heidi Heller and Council Member Gary Meehlhause ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Elect Vice Chair 1 Approval of Minutes 2 VR2015-002 Variance Request to Allow a Driveway Curb Cut to Exceed 2 24 Feet Wide VR2015-003 Variance Request to Allow a Driveway with a 2-foot Setback 4 VR2015-004 Variance Request to Allow a Garage with a 3-foot Setback 4 Mounds View Planning Commission May 20, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Approval of Minutes April 15, 2015. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Elofson. To approve the Minutes of the April 15, 2015 regular Planning Commission meeting as slightly amended. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. VR2015-002 Variance Request to Allow a Driveway Curb Cut to Exceed 24 Feet Wide Applicant: Robert Horbul Address: 8382 Knollwood Drive Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, Robert Horbul, is requesting approval of a variance to allow the driveway curb cut to exceed 24-feet at his property at 8382 Knollwood Drive. The applicant’s entire driveway, including the curb cut, is currently 34 feet wide. This property is on a street that is being reconstructed this year. As the streets have been reconstructed, the City is installing the new curb cut aprons so that they comply with the Zoning Code requirements. The new aprons are installed with a 5-foot setback and a maximum of 24 feet wide. The applicant’s existing concrete driveway was installed 34 feet wide in 1977 when the house was built and has remained this way ever since. It does comply with the required side yard setback. City staff sent the applicant a letter stating that his driveway was non-conforming, and that the new apron would be installed 24 feet wide instead of matching to his existing width. The Zoning Code allows driveway curb cuts for single-family homes to be a maximum of 24 feet wide, so the applicant has requested a variance for a curb cut to exceed the allowed width. Staff discussed the matter further with the Commission and recommended denial of the variance request. Vice Chair Schiltgen opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. Robert Horbul, 8382 Knollwood Drive, provided the Planning Commission with a copy of Resolution 6836 from the City of Mounds View, which approved a conditional use permit for his oversized garage. He discussed the size of his garage further along with the items being stored in the garage. He indicated he has several trailers and a fish house stored in his garage. He requested the City allow him to keep his driveway at its existing width. Mounds View Planning Commission May 20, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Birken explained that Mr. Horbul had a very nice home and she appreciated the fact that Mr. Horbul stored his recreational toys within his oversized garage. She discussed the City’s variance law and believed that the request did not meet all of the variance requirements. Mr. Horbul commented that the driveway was original since 1977 and he was simply requesting that the driveway width remain as is. Associate Heller reported that driveway width requirements have always been limited by the City, first to 22 feet and then 24 feet. Commissioner Love believed that the variance criteria were open to interpretation. It was her opinion that traffic safety would not be compromised if the driveway was to remain 34 feet wide. In addition, she thought the driveway width would not negatively impact the aesthetics of the neighborhood. She explained that the unique circumstances could be construed to be the fact that the property owner purchased the home with the existing driveway width and curb cut. Vice Chair Schiltgen understood the safety concerns, but questioned how much traffic was moving along Knollwood Drive. Mr. Horbul discussed the traffic along Knollwood Drive stating the traffic speed was increasing. Commissioner Kieffer questioned the length of Mr. Horbul’s driveway. Mr. Horbul was uncertain. Commissioner Birken believed that the variance criteria was not being met in Mr. Horbul’s request and explained that all other residents in Mounds View were able to back their trailers and fish houses into their garage with a 24-foot wide apron. Vice Chair Schiltgen agreed. Mr. Horbul reiterated that he was not asking for anymore apron than he already had. He simply wanted the apron put back to the same condition it was when he purchased his home. George Grone, 8424 Knollwood Drive, did not believe that Mr. Horbul’s driveway looked out of place. He recommended that the driveway and apron be allowed to remain as is. Vice Chair Schiltgen closed the public hearing at 7:29 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Elofson/Commissioner Birken. To approve Resolution 1027-15, a Resolution Recommending Denial of a Variance for a Curb Cut to Exceed 24-Feet Wide at 8382 Knollwood Drive; Planning Case No. VR2015-002. Ayes – 4 Nays – 2 (Kieffer and Love) Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ B. VR2015-003 Variance Request to Allow a Driveway with a 2-foot Setback Mounds View Planning Commission May 20, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Applicant: James Anderson Address: 7930 Sunnyside Road Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicant, James Anderson, is requesting approval of a variance for a reduced driveway setback on his property at 7930 Sunnyside Road. The applicant’s driveway runs next to the house to access the detached garage, which is behind the house. The applicant is replacing the entire driveway and is requesting that it be allowed to stay in the same location, which has a 2-foot setback. The Zoning Code requires a 5-foot setback, so the applicant has requested a variance for a reduced driveway setback. Staff discussed the matter further with the Commission and recommended approval of the variance request. Vice Chair Schiltgen opened the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. James Anderson, 7930 Sunnyside Road, explained he purchased his home from his father. He discussed the driveway improvements he was planning and requested the Commission allow a driveway with a 2-foot setback. Vice Chair Schiltgen questioned how much space there was between the house and parked cars on the driveway. Mr. Anderson estimated there was about three feet of space. Commissioner Birken supported the request and believed that all variance requirements were being met. Vice Chair Schiltgen closed the public hearing at 7:39 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Love. To approve Resolution 1028- 15, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Three-Foot Setback Variance for a Driveway at 7930 Sunnyside Road; Planning Case No. VR2015-003. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ C. VR2015-004 Variance Request to Allow a Garage with a 3-foot Setback Applicant: Michael and Andrea Shoup Address: 8330 Groveland Road Planning Associate Heller indicated the applicants, Michael and Andrea Shoup, are requesting approval of a variance for a reduced garage setback on their property at 8330 Groveland Road. The applicants purchased this property in August 2014 and a month later the detached garage burned down. The applicants are in the process of building a new detached garage, and would like to rebuild the garage next to the house instead of in the backyard where it was. The proposed detached garage is 24’ x 24’ with a 5-foot walkway between the house and garage. This proposal would put the garage about 3 feet from the side property line. The Zoning Code requires a 5 foot side and rear setback for accessory buildings, so the applicants have requested a variance for a Mounds View Planning Commission May 20, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ reduced garage setback. Staff reviewed the matter further with the Commission and recommended approval of the variance request. Vice Chair Schiltgen opened the public hearing at 7:44 p.m. Andrea Shoup, 8330 Groveland Road, thanked the Commission for considering her variance request. Vice Chair Schiltgen closed the public hearing at 7:46 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Elofson. To approve Resolution 1029-15, a Resolution Recommending Approval of Two-Foot Setback Variance for a Garage at 8330 Groveland Road; Planning Case No. VR2015-004. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity None. 7. Review Minutes: A. May 6, 2015 The Commission discussed the January 21, 2015 meeting minutes. 8. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases Planning Associate Heller discussed upcoming planning cases, noting the case that would be discussed on June 3rd. She explained that a local church has requested that the recently passed ordinance be amended to allow brick on columbaria and requested feedback from the Commission on this matter. Commissioner Elofson supported this request. Commissioner Rundle feared that brick would not be properly maintained over time and for this reason, he recommended that the ordinance not be changed. Commissioner Birken discussed the tuck pointing that would be required on brick columbaria. Mounds View Planning Commission May 20, 2015 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ Vice Chair Schiltgen thought that the brick matching the principle structure looked nice but he questioned how the Council felt about having brick on columbaria. Associate Heller explained that the Council had previously supported the Commission’s recommendation. The Commission was in favor of keeping the columbaria language as is. B. Staff Updates Planning Associate Heller provided the Commission with an update from staff. C. Council Updates Councilmember Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. D. Planning Commissioner Reports None. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, June 3, 2015 B. Wednesday, June 17, 2015 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Vice Chair Schiltgen adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Heidi Heller Planning Associate Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. Item No: 5A Meeting Date: June 3, 2015 Type of Business: Planning Case City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Mounds View Planning Commission From: Heidi Heller, Planning Associate Item Title/Subject: Variance Extension Request for reduced driveway setbacks at 5338-5340 Raymond Avenue; Planning Case VR2011-002 Introduction: In June 2011, property owner, Michael Kinyon, was granted variances to permit the new driveways at five of his side-by-side duplexes to have one and three foot setbacks from the north and south property lines. Mr. Kinyon has been adding attached garages to the rest of his duplexes, one on each end of the building, along with new driveways to replace the existing gravel. The lots are all 100 feet wide so only a single car garage will fit, but the owner is installing new driveways that are wide enough for two cars to park next to each other. Many of the tenants have more than one vehicle, and with the current narrow driveways, they either park or drive off the driveway, or they have to move cars around when someone is leaving. Since there is no overnight parking on the streets in Mounds View, all vehicles must be in the driveways. The east side of Raymond Avenue has 14 side-by-side duplexes on identical 100 foot wide lots which causes issues when owners want to add additional space or more than a one car wide driveway to these properties. Mr. Kinyon owns ten of the duplexes on Raymond Avenue and received variances in 1995 and 2008 for reduced driveway setbacks when he added garages to those duplexes on the same block. Discussion: Mr. Kinyon applied for all five properties driveway variances in 2011 because the City was reconstructing Raymond Avenue that year, which included installing new curbs and driveway aprons. Mr. Kinyon knew he would not have all five garages and remodels completed for approximately five years, but wanted to have the wider driveway aprons installed during the street project rather than tearing up the new curbs later to widen the curb cut. The City Code states that a variance approval becomes void if the work is not complete within one year, but the applicant may request an extension from the Planning Commission. Mr. Kinyon was granted 1-year extensions in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and is now asking for the variance on the last of the properties to be extended for another year. The Planning Commission was supportive of granting the extensions as long as Mr. Kinyon continues to make progress on installing the driveways. He has fully remodeled two of the buildings (including new driveways), installed driveways on a third property in 2012 and has a permit to do another full remodel and driveways this year. That would leave only one of the five properties without the new driveways until 2016. Planning Case VR11-002 June 3, 2015 Staff Report Page 2 Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve a one-year extension for the reduced driveway setback variance at 5338-5340 Raymond Avenue. Respectfully Submitted By Heidi Heller Planning Associate Attachments: 1. Extension request from applicant 2. Location map 3. Aerial Photo 4. Proposed Site Plan 5. Photographic Documentation 6. Resolution 1030-15 Extension Request from Applicant LOCATION MAP The 5 duplexes that received variances in 2011 are highlighted in red Mounds View Mobile Home Park Aerial View of the 5 Raymond Avenue duplexes that were granted variances 5346 5344 5340 5332 5330 5338 Driveways installed Remodel done & driveways installed 5382 5380 5374 5372 Remodel done & driveways installed Aerial View of the 5 Raymond Avenue duplexes that were granted variances Remodel & driveways will be done in 2015 Site Plan for 5338-5340 Raymond New Driveway New garage New garage New Driveway Photo – 5380-5382 Raymond Avenue (before remodel & driveways) Photo of one of Mr. Kinyon’s remodeled duplexes with the new attached garages and wider driveways All of the duplexes look almost the same MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 1030-15 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EXTENSION OF A VARIANCE FOR REDUCED DRIVEWAY SETBACKS AT 5338-5340 RAYMOND AVENUE; MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING CASE NO. VR2011-002 WHEREAS, Kinyon Properties, represented by Mike Kinyon, applied for a variance to allow for driveways with a one-foot setback from the side property lines of a duplex located at 5338 - 5340 Raymond Avenue; and, WHEREAS, 5338 - 5340 Raymond Avenue is zoned R-2, Single and Two Family Residential, and is legally described as follows: Norseman 1st Addition, Lot 7, Block 1, Ramsey County, Minnesota PIN 08-30-23-14-0007 WHEREAS, the Planning Commission approved Resolution 939-11, approving the variance on June 1, 2011, and approved one-year extensions on June 6, 2012, June 5, 2013 and June 4, 2014 and; WHEREAS, the resolution of approval states that if within one year after granting the variance or appeal, the work as permitted by the variance has not been completed, then such variance shall become null and void unless an extension of time has been requested by the applicant and granted by the Planning Commission, and; WHEREAS, the applicant has indicated the new driveways will not be completed within the allowed timeframe and has requested another one-year extension of the variance consistent with the provisions of Resolution 939-11. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mounds View Planning Commission approves a one-year extension to complete the driveways. Adopted this 3rd day of June, 2015. _____________________________________ Paul Schiltgen, Vice Chair ATTEST: _____________________________________ James Ericson, City Administrator (SEAL)