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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2019 PCAPPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting July 17, 2019 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Stevenson at 7:00 p.m. for July 17 , 2019. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Farmer, Klander, Monn, Nelson, Rundle, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: Commissioner French. Also Present: Community Development Director Jon Sevald and Council Member Bill Bergeron. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page VR2019-003 Approval of a Variance to Allow a Second Driveway 1 Approval of Minutes 5 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Special Order of Business None. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. Public Hearing: Resolution 1105-19, Approval of a Variance to allow a Second Driveway at 2809 Bronson Drive (Planning Case VR2019-003) Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ Community Development Director Sevald stated the applicant is proposing to build a second garage to be located in the east side yard, and is requesting a Variance to allow the existing driveway (second driveway) to remain, whereas the City Code limits single-family homes to one driveway. A Public Hearing Notice was published in the July 3, 2019 edition of the New Brighton-Mounds View Bulletin, and mailed to property owners within 350’ of the subject property. Staff provided further comment on the request, recommending that the Planning Commission hold a public hearing and consider the Variance. Chair Stevenson opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Commissioner Monn asked why the second garage was being requested. She questioned if the applicant could build a garage larger than the home. Jason Lanz, 2809 Bronson Drive, explained he has four vehicles and he would like to have more space for his vehicles, as well as having additional storage space. He reported his Mother in-law moved into his home and he would like to keep a parking space for her directly adjacent to the home. Community Development Director Sevald explained residents were allowed to have up to three accessory structures on their property and the total square footage could not exceed 1800 square feet, noting no single accessory structure could exceed 952 square feet. Commissioner Monn inquired how tall the garage would be. Mr. Lanz reported the garage would be just under 18 feet. Commiss ioner Monn asked if the garage exterior would match the home. Mr. Lanz stated this was the case noting twin dormers would be added to the garage to match the house. Commissioner Monn questioned if the trees in the side yard would be impacted. Mr. Lanz explained the driveway would be placed in between the two oak trees. Commissioner Nelson requested further information on the raised pad area. Mr. Lanz stated this area used to be an underground pool and was now being used for storage of snowmobiels. He explained he was looking forward to installing the proposed garage as it would allow him to have more space in his backyard. Commissioner Monn inquired if the garage would be connected to the house. Mr. Lanz reported the garage would not be connected. Commissioner Rundle explained he did not object to the second driveway request noting the applicant had a lot of space in his yard for a second garage. Commissioner Nelson stated he understood the reasons behind wanting a second garage. However, he questioned if an additional garage could be added without the variance request. He Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ noted the extra garage could be added directly behind the house, while providing the mother-in- law with a parking space close to the home without requiring a second driveway. He commented he could not support the variance as requested. Chair Stevenson requested further information regarding the assurance or escrow that would be in place that the second driveway would go away at some point in the future. Community Development Director Sevald explained if a condition for approval would be for the City to collect an escrow that would provide for the replacement of the curb and apron when the need for the second driveway was no longer there. He commented further on the staff report and the history of previous variance requests. Chair Stevenson asked if the applicant had explored placing the second garage behind the house, or adding onto the existing garage. Mr. Lanz stated he did not want to tear down the existing garage. He commented he would lose all of his backyard if the garage were placed in this location. In addition, he would still have a single width drive, which led to a great deal of shifting vehicles around with his mother-in-law now living with him. Chair Stevenson questioned if the driveway could be made wider. Mr. Lanz indicated this would not be possible because it was already right on the property line and the concrete goes right up to the house. Commissioner Nelson stated he was struggling with the reasons why to approve the variance request when there were other solutions available for the garage placement. Commissioner Klander inquired what the escrow replacement amount would be. Community Development Director Sevald reported this had not yet been identified by staff, but estimated it would be between $1,000 and $2,000. Commissioner Klander stated he was sympathetic to the applicant and stated he would support having funds set aside in escrow to have the curbing replaced at some point in the future. Commissioner Nelson questioned how the second garage would be accessed if the curb and apron were removed in the future. Community Development Director Sevald stated the garage would be limited to storage once the curb and apron were removed. Commissio ner Monn indicated she agreed with Commissioner Nelson and she did not believe additional greenspace should be disturbed when the garage could be placed behind the house or added onto the existing garage. Chair Stevenson closed the public hearing at 7:28 p.m. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Klander. To approve Resolution 1105-19, a Resolution Recommending Approval of a Variance to allow a Second Driveway at 2809 Bronson Drive; Planning Case No. VR2019-003. Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Community Development Director Sevald reported this item would require a super majority (5 votes) of the Commission in order to be approved. Ayes – 4 Nays – 2 (Monn & Nelson) Motion failed. Community Development Director Sevald recommended the Commission make a motion to table or deny the variance. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Nelson. To approve Resolution 1105-19, a Resolution Recommending Denial of a Variance to allow a Second Driveway at 2809 Bronson Drive; Planning Case No. VR2019-003. Commissioner Klander stated he would not be voting to deny the request because he believed this was a reasonable request. MOTION/SECOND: Chair Stevenson/Commissioner Rundle. To Table Action on a Variance to allow a Second Driveway at 2809 Bronson Drive; Planning Case No. VR2019-003 to allow for more Commission members to be present. Ayes – 4 Nays – 2 (Monn & Nelson) Motion carried. Community Development Director Sevald explained this item would come back to the Commission for reconsideration on Wednesday, August 7th. Commissioner Farmer stated he would not be able to attend the August 7th meeting. He noted he supported the variance request because he believed it was a safety issue given the fact the existing driveway only provided single car access. Commissioner Rundle explained he could support the request because the home was located so close to the property line, had a very narrow driveway, and because the applicant had space on the side yard for a second garage. Further discussion ensued regarding the driveway and garage plac ement. Commissioner Klander stated he did not support a drive way running along the front of the house to the new garage. He supported money being placed in escrow and that the second driveway be removed within one year after the applicant’s mother -in-law was no longer living in the home. Chair Stevenson reported this item would be revisited on Wednesday, August 7th. ____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity None. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ 7. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases & Activity Community Development Director Sevald discussed upcoming planning cases with the Commission. B. Staff Updates Community Development Director Sevald reported he had no updates at this time. C. Council Updates Council Member Bergeron explained the Council has not met since the last Commission meeting. D. Planning Commissioner Reports None. 8. Approval of Minutes July 10, 2019. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Rundle/Commissioner Farmer. To approve the Minutes of the July 10 , 2019 regular Planning Commission meetings as presented. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 B. Wednesday, August 21, 2019 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission July 17, 2019 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Jon Sevald Community Development Director Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.