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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-19-2023APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting April 19, 2023 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 6:30 p.m. for April 19, 2023. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Curtis, Farmer, Munson, Nelson, Rundle, Stevenson and Urlacher. Absent and Excused: None. Also Present: Community Development Director Jon Sevald, City Administrator Nyle Zikmund and Council Member Gary Meehlhause. ______________________________________________________________________________ Index to Minutes Page Resolution 1159-23, Recommending Approval of the Preliminary 2 Plat, and Final Plat of Long Lake Cove at 7700 Long Lake Road Resolution 1158-23, Recommending Approval of Ordinance 999, 3 Amending Mounds View City Code Chapter 181, Signs and Billboards Approval of Minutes 6 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Special Order of Business A. Oath of Office, Commissioner Amber Urlacher Community Development Director Sevald administered the oath of office to Commissioner Amber Urlacher and welcomed her to the Planning Commission. Chair Rundle welcomed Commissioner Urlacher to the Mounds View Planning Commission. Mounds View Planning Commission April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. ______________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases A. Resolution 1159-23, Recommending Approval of the Preliminary Plat, and Final Plat of Long Lake Cove at 7700 Long Lake Road Community Development Director Sevald stated a Concept Plan for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) with duplexes (6-8 units total) was presented to the City Council on August 1, 2022, and to the Planning Commission on August 3, 2022, and January 18, 2023. The Commission’s comments included; turnaround for delivery trucks, additional yard space, units along Long Lake Road should face the street, additional landscaping, and support for R-4 zoning vs. PUD. Community Development Director Sevald explained the project has been redesigned to preserve the existing home, and add two single-family lots (3 units total). The previous City Council and Planning Commission comments are no longer applicable to the current plan for single-family lots. Accessory buildings will be removed. A commercial kennel has been located on this property since 1948. The plan set, dated March 2023, incorrectly shows duplexes on Lots 1 and 3. The plat will be corrected to show single-family, to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and current zoning. Staff’s review is ongoing, but staff feels comfortable enough to forward the plat to the Planning Commission, if corrections can be made prior to City Council approval. It was noted a Public Hearing is tentatively planned for May 8, 2023. Commissioner Curtis commented on the utility plan and asked where the private utilities would be located. Community Development Director Sevald reviewed the location of the private utilities pipes. Further discussion ensued regarding the location of the proposed driveways. Commissioner Nelson believed it was a problem to have two lots sharing one sanitary sewer line. He recommended to separate sewer lines be used for the lots sharing a driveway. Community Development Director Sevald commented he would make a note of this and would speak with the City Engineer further regarding this matter. Commissioner Stevenson asked what would happen to the existing home. Ford Wagner, 8650 136th Avenue North in Hugo, reported this was being discussed and noted his intent at this time was to rehab the existing home in order to sell it. He explained he was the developer and he would be selling the two new lots to a builder. Commissioner Stevenson stated he liked this plan much better than the previous plan, which included twinhomes. Mounds View Planning Commission April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ Chair Rundle agreed. Jeff Westlund, 7720 Long Lake Road, stated he was trying to learn about the proposed development and what the next steps would be. He commented on how the property line was heavily treed and he was hoping the trees in this area would remain in place. Community Development Director Sevald explained a tree survey was completed and noted only one high value tree would be lost on the lot adjacent to Westlund. He indicated there would be other tree loss in order to create two separate building pads. Community Development Director Sevald discussed the process that would be followed for this request, noting the neighbors would be notified of a public hearing, which he believed would be held in May. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Nelson/Commissioner Stevenson. To approve Resolution 1159-23, a Resolution Recommending Approval of the Preliminary Plat and Final Plat of Long Lake Cove at 7700 Long Lake Road recommended the utility line be separated. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. B. Resolution 1158-23, Recommending Approval of Ordinance 999, Amending Mounds View City Code Chapter 181, Signs and Billboards Community Development Director Sevald stated in recent months, The North Church and The Bear Lot have expressed a desire to install signs exceeding permitted limits. The City Council discussed at their February and April Work Sessions, directing Staff to prepare an Ordinance Amendment, and to revisit the County Road 10 Corridor Overlay District requirements. The sign amendment can be done quickly. The Overlay district will take some time. It was noted staff investigated how other cities regulate both signs and billboards. Staff commented further on the proposed signs and billboards Ordinance amendment and recommended approval. Commissioner Stevenson stated signs on top of buildings were regulated to ensure inflatables were not placed on the top of a building. He noted the proposed Ordinance amendment was something slightly different. Commissioner Nelson asked what the dimensions would be for The Bear Lot sign. Community Development Director Sevald explained right now their sign was 86 square feet and they were asking for 300 square feet plus the bear. Community Development Director Sevald questioned if the Commission supported changing the size of wall signs from 100 square feet to 200 square feet. Mounds View Planning Commission April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Commissioner Farmer asked if some sort of ratio should be used for wall signs. Community Development Director Sevald reported this type of formula was more fair, but put more onus on the building owner. He commented on how he liked having specific square footage in place because this ensured murals were not painted onto an entire building wall. Commissioner Stevenson suggested the language allow for up to 200 square feet or no more than 40% of the wall surface for wall signs. Community Development Director Sevald explained this language would be similar to the City of New Brighton ordinance. The consensus of the Commission was to support the proposed change for wall signs allowing up to 200 square feet for wall signs ,or no more than 40% of the wall surface, whichever is smaller. Community Development Director Sevald requested further comment regarding projection and roof signs. Commissioner Nelson stated he supported projection and roof signs being 10 feet tall. The Commission was in agreement. Community Development Director Sevald requested feedback on how masonry on monument signs should be addressed. Commissioner Nelson was of the opinion the BioLife sign had the proper brick base, as an example. Commissioner Munson reported she supported requiring landscaping surrounding the masonry work on monument signs. The Commission supported all monument signs have a brick or masonry base. In addition, the Commission supported allowing ground signs to be 16 feet tall. Community Development Director Sevald discussed the regulations in place for temporary non- commercial signs. He stated the recommendation was any number of signs with a combined size of 9 square feet, and no campaign signs are allowed in the right of way. The Commission supported the language as stated for temporary non-commercial signs. Community Development Director Sevald questioned how the Commission wanted to proceed with The Bear Lot bear sign. Commissioner Stevenson suggested signs like this come before the Commission for a variance. He did not support any building have any inflatable on their roof. Commissioner Nelson agreed this type of sign should come before the Commission for special consideration. He asked if the Mermaid sign could be reinstalled. Community Development Mounds View Planning Commission April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ Director Sevald stated this sign was a non-conforming use and because it has been removed from the building for more than a year, it could not be put back in place. Commissioner Stevenson stated he saw the Mermaid and the White Bear more as an architectural element than a sign. Community Development Director Sevald asked if the Commission supported temporary signs on the roof of a building up to a ten foot height. Commissioner Stevenson stated he could support this, but did not support temporary inflatables being located on the roof of buildings. The Commission was in agreement. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Nelson/Commissioner Stevenson. To approve Resolution 1158-23, a Resolution Recommending Approval of Ordinance 999, Amending Mounds View City Code Chapter 181, Signs and Billboards as discussed. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. Other Planning Activity None. 7. Approval of Minutes February 15, 2023. Commissioner Farmer requested a change to Page 3 stating he would like his comment to reflect mixed use might happen gradually over time and it might not look like previous mixed use developments. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Curtis/Commissioner Munson. To approve the Minutes of the February 15, 2023 regular Planning Commission meetings as amended. Ayes – 7 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 8. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases & Activity Community Development Director Sevald discussed upcoming planning cases with the Commission. He commented on a neighborhood meeting that would be held for a 75 unit Mounds View Planning Commission April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ townhome and 12 tiny home development that Pulte Homes and Yard Homes was working on collaboratively. It was noted this meeting would be held on Thursday, April 20. B. Staff Updates Community Development Director Sevald provided the Commission with an update from staff. Staff commented on a news article from the Star Tribune noting the City of St. Paul was proposing to allow multi-family everywhere single family was allowed. Further discussion ensued regarding how this may or may not work for the City of Mounds View. Community Development Director Sevald explained he would like for the Commission to have a deeper discussion on this topic at a future meeting. City Administrator Zikmund reported three public meetings had been schedule for May 31 at 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to address the topic of organized garbage collection. He explained the City Council would be holding a public hearing on this topic on June 26. City Administrator Zikmund provided the Commission with an update on the Community Center. He explained the Senate tax bill was likely to have the local sales tax bill and the bonding bill was in the process for consideration next year. He indicated a property tax levy for the Community Center could also be considered by the Council, but this would have to be voter approved. He reported the Council would be conducting a survey in May or June regarding the Community Center in order to assist with gathering information from the public. He explained if the Council receives State bonding, the Council would have to determine if the voters should vote on the Community Center this year or next year. C. Council Updates Council Member Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. He explained the Council passed a Resolution supporting the possibility of a local sales tax, in order to have the State Legislator consider a bill. He stated the bonding bill has been presented in the Senate Capital Investment Committee and City representatives testified at that meeting. He commented further on the plans for the Community Center which included three additional gyms, which would assist the City in hosting basketball or volleyball tournaments. He reported the City has been in contact with the National Sports Center to see if they were expanding their indoor gym services and the City was told they were not. Council Member Meehlhause welcomed Commissioner Urlacher to the Planning Commission. He noted the Council recently recognized Jason French for his years of service on the Planning Commission. Council Member Meehlhause reported Police Chief Nate Harder recently retired for health reasons. He explained the City Council has appointed Assistant Chief Ben Zender as the new Police Chief. He noted Finance Director Mark Beer has announced his retirement, which would occur in September and noted the City was seeking candidates for this position. Mounds View Planning Commission April 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 7 ________________________________________________________________________ Council Member Meehlhause stated the Council recently approved an Ordinance that would allow residents to have up to 12 chickens or ducks. It was noted the Council was considering organized garbage collection. Council Member Meehlhause updated the Commission on the location and condition of the City’s six stormwater ponds. He commented further on the discussion the Council held regarding the sign ordinance and noted the Council reviewed the first draft of the 2024 budget. City Administrator Zikmund discussed the work that would be done on the watershed district ditches. D. Planning Commissioner Reports None. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, May 3, 2023 B. Wednesday, May 17, 2023 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Rundle adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Jon Sevald Community Development Director Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial