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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-2021APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 6, 2021 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 January 6, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was held virtually. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Farmer, French, Monn, Munson, Nelson, Rundle, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: None. Also Present: Community Development Director Jon Sevald, City Administrator Nyle Zikmund, and Council Member Gary Meehlhause, Mark Krogh. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Oath of Office 1 Recommending Appointment of a Chairperson and Appointment 2 Of Vice-Chairperson Recommending Approval of an Amendment to the PUD Narrative 2 for the O’Neil Property at 2430 Mounds View Boulevard Approval of Minutes 5 3. Special Order of Business A. Oath of Office for Commissioner Dennis Farmer, Commissioner Miranda Munson and Commission Gary Stevenson Community Development Director Sevald administered the Oath of Office to Commissioner Farmer, Commissioner Munson and Commissioner Stevenson. Mounds View Planning Commission January 6, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ B. Resolution 1127-21, a Resolution Recommending Appointment of a Chairperson and Appointment of a Vice-Chairperson Community Development Director Sevald requested the Commission recommend a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for the Planning Commission for 2021. Chair Stevenson nominated Commissioner Gary Rundle as Chair of the Planning Commission. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Stevenson/Commissioner Farmer. To Recommend the City Council Appoint Gary Rundle as Chairperson of the Planning Commission for 2021. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Chair Stevenson nominated Commissioner Dennis Farmer as Vice-Chair of the Planning Commission. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Stevenson/Commissioner Monn. To appoint Dennis Farmer as Vice-Chairperson of the Planning Commission for 2021. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. VR2021-001 Variance Request for a Reduced Driveway Setback Community Development Director Sevald stated Anthony Properties, owner of the movie theater, is requesting an amendment to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Narrative, to allow a drive-thru restaurant as an Allowed Use. The owners are working with a developer, Java Group, to subdivide part of the theater’s parking lot for development of a drive-thru coffee shop. It was noted the theater development was approved in 1998 as a Planned Unit Development (PUD). PUD’s are intended to result in a higher standard of development, in return for concessions on other requirements. The PUD Narrative lists specific uses for each lot. Allowable Uses include sit-down restaurants, and specifically excludes fast-food restaurants and bars with less than 60% of its revenue from food sales (Moe’s is not part of this PUD). New Vision Theater closed in March 2020 due to the COVID Pandemic, and filed bankruptcy in July. The Mounds View Planning Commission January 6, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ theater owner; Anthony Properties (AP Mounds View LP), has been in negotiations with another operator to assume the theater’s lease. The theater industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, thus, there is no time-table as to if or when Mounds View’s theater will re-open. Prior to New Vision’s bankruptcy, New Vision intended to remodel the theater to include stadium style seating, which would reduce the seating capacity and parking needs by 50%. Assuming that a new theater operator will pursue a similar renovation plan, this frees up a portion of the parking lot for other uses, such as a drive thru coffee shop. Staff recommended the Planning Commission recommend approval of an amendment to the PUD Narrative as requested. Commissioner Nelson stated he loved the idea of a drive-thru coffee use at this location, but did not support a drive-thru restaurant. Community Development Director Sevald discussed the City’s drive-thru zoning requirements for other zoning districts. Commissioner Monn explained she liked the idea of using the property. She questioned if the coffee shop would have inside seating or if it was only a drive-thru. Community Development Director Sevald stated this could be a restaurant or a restaurant with a drive-thru. Mark Krough, representative for the applicant, reported the purpose of this meeting was to amend the PUD to allow for a drive-thru use. He explained he would then be able to apply for site plan approval with the City. He indicated he was proposing a drive-thru only coffee shop. He commented on the other drive-thru coffee shops that he had completed in the metro area. Commissioner Nelson commented the proposed amendment would allow for drive-thru restaurants within the parking lot. Community Development Director Sevald reported this was the case. Commissioner Munson recalled there were a number of residents that wanted another coffee shop in Mound View. She believed the City had enough drive-thru restaurants. Chair Stevenson explained the applicant was proposing to build a drive-thru coffee shop. Mr. Krough stated if the PUD amendment was approved, he would be coming back to the City with full architectural plans for the drive-thru coffee shop. Commissioner Farmer commented if this amendment were approved, any drive-thru use would be allowed on the site. Community Development Director Sevald explained a drive-thru use would be allowed in the parking lot only. Commissioner Farmer stated there could feasibly be another drive-thru restaurant within the parking lot, along with the coffee shop. Community Development Director Sevald reported this was the case. He commented further on the review and input that would be provided by the Planning Commission if drive-thru request was made. Commissioner Farmer questioned how the City would address the parking requirements for the PUD. Community Development Director Sevald stated these requirements would have to be changed at a later date. He estimated the coffee shop would take out ten to twenty parking stalls. Mounds View Planning Commission January 6, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ He believed the movie theater had an excessive amount of parking and he has only ever seen the parking lot two-thirds full. He reported if another drive-thru use came along, the parking at the movie theater would have to be further evaluated. Commissioner Monn asked if the O’Neill Property owns all of the asphalt, would the applicant be leasing from O’Neill. Community Development Director Sevald explained O’Neil was the property owner prior to the Anthony Properties. He reported Anthony Properties would be subdividing the parcel in order to create a lot for the Java Group. Mr. Krough indicated he would own the land, build the building and would have a 20 year lease with the corporate tenant (coffee use). He stated all access easements and maintenance agreements would be in place for the coffee shop. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Nelson/Commissioner Munson. To approve Resolution 1128-21, a Resolution Recommending Approval to Amend the PUD Narrative, to allow Drive- Thru Restaurants as an Allowed Use on Lot 3, Block 1 of Anthony Properties (e.g. Theater parking lot). A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity None. 7. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases & Activity Community Development Director Sevald stated he had no upcoming planning cases but expected a formal case for February. B. Staff Updates Community Development Director Sevald provided the Commission with an update from staff. He reported on December 23, 2020 the Met Council reviewed and recommended approval of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. He explained the local water management plan still has to be approved by the Rice Creek Watershed District. C. Council Updates Council Member Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. He explained the Council recently approved the 2021 budget and tax levy. He noted the Mounds View Planning Commission January 6, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Council also approved the sale of $5,830,000 of General Obligation Water Revenue Bonds to pay for the maintenance upgrades at the City’s water treatment plants. He discussed the recent hires that have occurred in order to get the new Park and Recreation Department fully staffed. He reported the Council held a special meeting on Monday, January 4, 2021 where the new City Council member was sworn in. It was noted the Council discussed a snow and ice policy at its recent worksession meeting and was hoping to hold a future meeting with the newly elected Ramsey County Commissioner Nicole Frethem. He updated the Commission on the renaming of Mounds View Boulevard. D. Planning Commissioner Reports Commissioner Monn questioned if the Commission should have a discussion about signage. Community Development Director Sevald reported the Sign Ordinance was fairly complicated and there were parts he wanted to change. He explained the City was currently in the process of codifying the City Code. He indicated he was working to get all of the recent amendments into one document and through this process he would be reviewing the Sign Ordinance. Further discussion ensued regarding the City’s sign code. 8. Approval of Minutes December 2, 2020. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Monn/Commissioner Farmer. To approve the Minutes of the December 2, 2020 regular Planning Commission meetings as presented. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, February 5, 2021 B. Wednesday, February 19, 2021 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Stevenson adjourned the meeting at 7:56 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Mounds View Planning Commission January 6, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ Jon Sevald Community Development Director Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial