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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-2021APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting May 5, 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 Rundle at 7:03 p.m. for May 5, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was held virtually. 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Farmer, Monn, Nelson, and Rundle. Absent and Excused: Commissioners French, Munson and Stevenson. Also Present: Community Development Director Jon Sevald, City Administrator Nyle Zikmund and Council Member Gary Meehlhause. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Resolution 1133-21, Recommending Approval of Ordinance 976, 2 Amending the Mounds View Municipal Code, Chapters 114 and 115, Relating to Drive-In and Convenience Food Establishments Discuss – Sign Ordinance 3 Approval of Minutes 5 3. Special Order of Business None. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. Resolution 1133-32, Recommending Approval of Ordinance 976 Amending the Mounds View Municipal Code, Chapters 114 and 115, Relating to Drive- In and Convenience Food Establishments Community Development Director Sevald explained El Loro Restaurant, 2535 Mounds View Boulevard, has been vacant since 2017. The property is zoned B-4 Regional Business, which prohibits drive-thru restaurants. Paster Properties (owner) has had some interest from fast-food restaurants. The topic was discussed by the City Council’s Development Committee, which favored allowing a drive-thru. This was further discussed during the City Council’s April 5th Work Session regarding Development Opportunities and Constraints. The City’s intent is to remove zoning constraints (when warranted) that may be prohibiting redevelopment opportunities. Staff commented further on the request and recommended approval of Ordinance 976. Commissioner Monn stated she supported the request but noted there was a lot of traffic at this corner. She discussed how difficult it was to enter and exit the area when visiting Aldi. She asked if the City had a drive-thru request under consideration. Community Development Director Sevald reported the City does not have a request at this time, but was planning for a future use. He commented further on the access points for the property at 2535 Mounds View Boulevard. He explained staff was recommending drive-thrus be a conditional use. Commissioner Nelson supported drive-thrus being a conditional use because this would require Planning Commission and City Council review and approval. He agreed this corner had several pinch points and he wanted to see safeguards put in place to ensure traffic flowed properly. Commissioner Farmer requested further information regarding the differences between the B-3 and B-4 zoning districts. Community Development Director Sevald discussed the allowed uses within the B-3 and B-4 zoning districts. Commissioner Farmer questioned how the City reviewed traffic concerns for new projects. Community Development Director Sevald explained the City contracted with Stantec, an engineering firm, to review and provide comments on these matters. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Nelson/Commissioner Monn. To approve Resolution 1133-21, a Resolution Recommending Approval of Ordinance 976 Amending the Mounds View Municipal Code, Chapters 1114 and 1115, Relating to Drive-Thru Business and Convenience Food Establishments requiring drive-thrus to be a conditional use. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. _____________________________________________________________________________ Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ 6. Other Planning Activity A. Discussion – Sign Ordinance Community Development Director Sevald stated previously, the Planning Commission asked to discuss sign regulations. At the March 3rd Commission meeting, the scope was narrowed more toward the brightness of dynamic (digital) signs. A comparison of sign codes specific to city corridors similar to Mounds View Boulevard, for Ground, Wall, and Dynamic signs was reviewed with the Commission. It was noted since the March meeting, information has been added regarding the maximum brightness of Dynamic Signs. Although Mounds View has maximum brightness standards, we do not have a tool to enforce this (costs about $2,000). Rather, the City requires that dynamic displays be installed with a manual override, in the event the sign’s automated dimmer fails. Community Development Director Sevald explained staff was not aware of any complaints about signage (excluding temporary signs), other than complaints generated by other City Staff. The Commission is encouraged to drive the Boulevard a few times, and provide an opinion as to what Commission members would change, if anything. For example, if there is a most favored, or least favored sign characteristics. One thing to note is that older signs which are nonconforming, can be repaired or replaced, but cannot be expanded. This means that some of the lesser desirable signs will likely stay until the property is re-developed. Also, a number of variances have been approved for signs over the years (e.g. McDonalds, BP, & Days Inn, Interactive Playground). Staff commented further regarding the Sign Ordinance and requested feedback from the Commission. Commissioner Nelson discussed how there was a need for the City to control or set regulations for digital signs. He supported the City having requirements in place to ensure digital billboards were not a distraction for drivers. Councilmember Meehlhause commented on the changes that were made to the Sign Ordinance when Messiah Lutheran Church requested an electronic message board. Commissioner Monn recommended the Sign Ordinance be reviewed to ensure all ADA requirements were being met. She expressed concern with the frequency of sign changes and colors that were being used at the Mermaid sign. She questioned if digital menu boards would be addressed under this Ordinance. Community Development Director Sevald reported this would be the case. Chair Rundle stated he believed the digital signs were great for local businesses because they allowed for frequent changes. He indicated he supported businesses being allowed to have digital signs, so long as the changes were made within a reasonable amount of time so as not to be a distraction. Further discussion ensued regarding temporary signs and banners in Mounds View. Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Nelson recommended staff begin enforcing the City’s sign code with respect to temporary signs and banners. Community Development Director Sevald recommended the City be allowed to be lenient through the end of summer due to COVID-19. Community Development Director Sevald thanked the Commission for their feedback and stated he would bring this item back to the Commission at a future meeting. 7. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases & Activity Community Development Director Sevald discussed upcoming planning cases with the Commission, which included a Caribou Cabin, and Beldon River View subdivision. B. Staff Updates Community Development Director Sevald provided the Commission with an update from staff. He reported the City would have an intern this summer working two days a week to address code enforcement matters. He explained the Community Development counter would be open at City Hall beginning on Monday, May 10, 2021. It was noted Earth Day was held on April 22, 2021. He thanked Commissioner Monn for her clean up efforts at Greenfield Park. He explained Arbor Day was observed on Monday, April 26, 2021. C. Council Updates Council Member Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. He commented on the topics that were discussed by the Council at the April and May worksession meetings. He described how staff was working to create a Parks Department. He stated the EDA held a closed session to direct staff to sell a portion of the Skyline Motel property. He noted the EDA then approved the sale of this land at a public meeting to BioClean. He reported a preliminary development agreement has been approved with MWF for senior housing and workforce housing on the Skyline Motel/Bauer property. He indicated the Council recently updated City Code regarding home occupations. He stated the City received a clean report on its 2020 audit from MMKR. The work on the City’s Water Treatment Plant was discussed. D. Planning Commissioner Reports Chair Rundle reported the Mounds View Lions would be holding their annual garage sale at Hillview Park on Wednesday, May 19 through Friday, May 21. He encouraged the community to come out and show their support. Councilmember Meehlhause reported the Mounds View Police Foundation would be serving brats and hot dogs at the garage sale on Wednesday and Thursday for an in kind donation. Mounds View Planning Commission May 5, 2021 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Councilmember Meehlhause explained there would be a dog walk with the Mounds View Police Department’s K-9s on Saturday, May 22. It was noted this event was being hosted by the Mounds View Police Foundation and the cost to participate is $20. 8. Approval of Minutes March 17, 2021. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Farmer/Chair Rundle. To approve the Minutes of the March 17, 2021 regular Planning Commission meetings as presented. A roll call vote was taken. Ayes – 4 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, May 19, 2021 B. Wednesday, June 2, 2021 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Rundle adjourned the meeting at 8:04 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Jon Sevald Community Development Director Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial