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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 01191982 (02) • � c n Lp� .1 . " Meeting Sheet 5 Y . S , } ,1 X 102087 ' •4 • � I BOX: 21. Folder: PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1982 Document: PL MINUTES 01191982 (02) F CITY OF ST. ANTHONY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 19 , 1982 The Chairman called the regularly scheduled Commission meeting to order at 7 : 50 P.M. Present for roll call: Peterson, Sopcinski , Bjorklund, Jones , Bowerman and Makowske. Also present: Ron .Berg, Administrative Assistant. Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Sopcinski to amend the minutes of the Commission meeting held December 15th to include as Paragraph 4 on Page 5 the following motion which had been inadvertently omitted: "Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Peterson to express the appreciation of the Planning Commission members for the leadership, enthusiasm, and cooperation demonstrated by Brad Bjorklund as Chairman the past year and to commend him for a job well done as the leveling force to continue the policies of the Commission. Voting on the motion: Aye : Bowerman , Peterson, Sopcinski , Enrooth, and Makowske. Abstention: Bjorklund. Motion carried. Motion to accept the amendment carried unanimously. Motion by Mrs. Makowske and seconded by Mr. Bowerman to approve as amended the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting held December 15 , 1981. Motion carried unanimously. The Chairman agreed to represent the Commission at the next Council meeting to be held January 26th. At 7 : 51 P.M. the public hearings on the variance petition and the preliminary platting and request for easement vacation were opened by the Chairman for the proposed Central Engineering addition to their existing building at 2930 Anthony Lane in the City 's Industrial Park. The Chairman read all three notices which had been published and mailed to all property owners within 350 feet of the site . No one present indicated failure to receive these notices or objected to their contents and Mr. Berg confirmed all application fees had been paid. • Mr. Berg, in his January 14th memorandum, had addressed all the issues involved in. the Central Engineering requests including the vacation of the existing drainage and utility easements on the site which Central -2- requests intends to re-dedicate in the northern portion of the site so they can build on the vacated property -and replat the two portions into Lots 1 and 2. As indicated in their December- 30th letter, NSP had indicated acquiesence with these plans . Motion by Mr. . Bjorklund and .seconded .by Mrs. Makowske to recommend Council approval of the Central Engineering request to vacate all that part of the ten foot drainage and utility easement as dedicated and lying adjacent southerly to the north .line of Lot 5 , Block 1 , St. Anthony Industrial Park, except the east 10 feet thereof and except the westerly 10 feet thereof , finding that adjoining properties would appear not to be adversely affected; no public input of a negative nature had been expressed during the hearing before the Commission, and perceiving the .vacation and resultant addition construction may add to the City ' s tax base and appears to be consistent with policies of the Commission. The Commission further recommended the vacation approval be contingent upon Central Engineering 's redirecting a majority of the natural water flow to the west to the satisfaction of the Public Works Director. Motion carried unanimously. Al Goetsch, Manager of Finance and Administration and Foster Dunwiddie , of Miller-Dunwiddie, architects , discussed the engineering firm' s plans for adding. a 6 , 650 square foot warehousing addition which Mr. Goetsch explained will permit the firm to store inside , the materials which are now laying around outside , for which adequate storage space is lacking. The office addition which the City had • previously approved has not been built because of lack of financing, according to Mr. Goetsch and the company still rents office space in the Midland building for approximately 10 people and two project managers are still housed in the trailer the City has permitted on a temporary .basis . No additional employees are expected with this addition. As he had explained in his January 14th memorandum, two variances will be required for the project as proposed and Mr. Berg reiterated the problem with the dual ordinance requirements for park- ing under 1) warehousing, and 2) general , light industrial , manu- facturing, etc. He noted there are 47 parking spaces provided with the plan where 51 are required. Mr. Goetsch said the parking areas are underutilized now with car pooling.. The three company-owned cars and truck are driven by employees . He also pointed out that there is adequate room for from 20 to 25 parking spaces available on the north side of the property if the number of employees should be increased in the future . Motion by Mr. Bjorklund and seconded by Mr. Bowerman to recommend .Council approval of a five foot rearyard setback variance to the City Zoning Ordinance which requirementis for a 15 foot rearyard setback in a Light Industrial district. The variance is for Lot 4 , except the southwesterly 45 feet thereof , and all of Lot 5 , Block 1 , St. Anthony Industrial Park and that part of the North 350 feet of the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 6 , Township 29 , • Range 23, lying southeasterly of State Highway 88 (2930 Anthony Lane) , finding that the existing Central Engineering building already is set back five feet and the. addition proposed on Exhibit A will be in < -3- direct alignment. with that structure , producing a more aesthetically pleasing appearance and will .not aggravate any existing condition-, • and, moreover, utilizing more of the property can .be a benefit to the community because of increased tax base and employment. The Commis- sion further finds that there will be sufficient open space on the site because of the unusual triangular shape of the northern portion, and granting this variance cannot .be perceived as increasing the value . of the property since the siting for the existing structure predates the current City ordinance and a hardship for the owner would be created if the variance were not granted. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Bjorklund and seconded by Mr. Jones to recommend Council approval of a variance for four parking spaces to the City ordinance requirement of one parking space for every 350 square feet of floor area which will permit -47 parking -spaces in an area where 51 are required as per Exhibit A, finding that granting this variance will alleviate a hardship caused by the triangular shape of the site which makes provision of adequate parking difficult and the existing building siting predates the current zoning ordinance requirements and prohibits optimum development of the parking lot layout. The Commission also notes the need for additional parking may be affected by the fact that the company is car pooling and rising energy costs may increase the use of mass transportation. In recommending approval of the variance , the Commission suggests the owners should be required to screen by fencing, berm, or other devices , all storage of materials on the site. Before .a vote was taken, the following amendment was moved: Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Peterson to strike the references in the motion to the effect- the variance which predates the existing ordinance has on the parking abilities for the site , not wishing to set a precedent for using this as a condition for granting similar variances in the future. Voting on the amendment: Aye: Bowerman, Peterson, Jones and Sopcinski . Nay : Bjorklund and Makowske. Motion to amend carried. Voting on the amended motion: Aye:. Bjorklund, Peterson and Bowerman. Nay : Makowske, Sopcinski , and Jones . Motion failed to pass. Mr. Jones then attempted to rewrite the motion to indicate to the Council that the Commission approves of the requested variance for four parking spaces for Central Engineering because they foresee no -4- problems with provision of adequate parking .with car pooling and adequate space for parking . available on the northern portion of the site even if the number of employees should be increased in the future . Mr. Dunwiddie , then indicated the existing parking .iot could be restriped to provide four additional feet parking .stalls to conform to the City ordinance which the architect assured would not interfere with the maneuverability of truck. loading and Mr. Jones withdrew the motion he was proposing and substituted the following : Motion by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mr . Bowerman to indicate to the Council that, because it now appears there will be adequate parking area provided with the proposed. Central Engineering addition to their existing building, the Commission declines to take action on the requested variance from ordinance requirements of 51 parking spaces for this site. Voting on the motion: Aye : Jones , Bowerman , Peterson, Sopcinski , and Makowske . Nay : Bjorklund. Motion carried. The Commission then addressed the January 14th request from Mr. Goetsch that the use of the existing trailer on the Central Engineering site as a portable office unit be continued. The firm manager said he is unable to give a firm date when the company will no longer need the structure to house the project managers who must be housed near the main plant but said he is willing to accept an extension of any length the Commission is willing to grant. Mr. Bjorklund said he .can see where the trailer could be offensive for the adjacent neighbors to view and believes in two years the company should have been able to find some other accommodations for their personnel. Motion by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mrs . Makowske to- recommend to the Council that the trailer structure parked on the Central Engineering site at 2930 Anthony Lane be no longer accepted as a substitute office space past August 1, 1982 . Voting on the motion: Aye : Jones , Makowske, Peterson, Sopcinski and Bowerman. Nay : Bjorklund. Motion carried. At 9 : 35 P.M. , Chairman Jones opened the public hearing on the replat- ting of the Central Engineering property to provide for the vacation and resiting of the drainage and utility easement. • Mr. Berg reported the City Attorney had also reviewed the plat and found no objection with it. The hearing was closed at 9 : 36 P.M. - • -5- Motion by Mr.. Jones and seconded by Mr. Bowerman to recommend Council approval of the preliminary platting .submitted by Central Engineering for St. Anthony Industrial Park - 2nd Addition. Motion .-carried unanimously. At 9 : 45 P.M. , the Chairman opened -thepublic hearing on the petition for a variance from .the City Zoning Ordinance related to building setback lines for the proposed construction of a single family resi- dence at 3224 Roosevelt Street by reading the notice of the hearing which had gone out to all property owners of record within 200 feet of the subject site. No one present indicated failure to receive the notice or objected to its contents . The petitioner-, Robert Rivard, 3331 Benjamin Street N.E. , was present to discuss the plans for the 50 feet by 150 feet split level residence he desires to construct. He said the fact that the City requires him to .build a double garage prevents him from conforming to the City requirements that there be at least a total side yard area of 15 feet, where in the garage area he will have only 13 feet , with 5 feet on the .south side and 8 on the north. The fact that there will be 19 feet between their home and the proposed structure make the proposal acceptable to them, according to Vivian and John Domalik, 3226 Roosevelt Street N.E. , who were present. . Mike Pribula, 3570 Buchanan Street N.E. , said he owns the vacant lot across the street at 3227 Roosevelt, and he also supports the proposal . • There was no one .present to speak in opposition to the request and the Chairman closed the hearing at 10 :00 P.M. Motion by Mr. Bjorklund and seconded by Mrs . Makowske to recommend Council approval of a two foot variance to the sideyard setback re- quirements of the City Zoning Ordinance for a single family residence for the home Robert Rivard proposes to construct on Lot 5 , Block 3, Clark Kings Addition, on the condition no sideyard -setback is less than five feet, finding that, the proposal meets the ordinance stipula- tion that "a lot of record existing upon the effective date of this ordinance in an- R district, which does not meet the requirements of this ordinance as to area or width, may be utilized for single family detached dwelling purposes , provided the measurements of such area or width are within 660 of the lot width and area requirements of this ordinance. . . . " . The Commission finds also that the size of the lot governed the garage siting and a hardship would be created by the ordinance if the variance is not granted; the purpose of .the variance is not to increase the value or income potential for this parcel of land, and, there would appear to be adequate setbacks between adjacent property dwellings. and this structure, as proposed. The Commission further notes that this petition represents only a minimal request and drew no opposition from the neighbors on two sides of the site . Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Peterson and seconded by Mr. Bjorklund to accept as agenda addendum the Boerm request that the City Zoning Ordinance be -6- amended to permit auctions as a conditional use; Ramsey County ' s January 15th response to staff inquiries as, to their plans for the easement dedicated -to them on the St. Anthony Court property; and • election of the Chairman Pro Tem. Motion carried unanimously . The meeting was recessed at 10 : 10 P.M. and reconvened at 10 :20 P.M. to consider the request for a free-standing sign for the Apache Medical Center at 4001 Stinson Boulevard. Robert Conley, agent for the medical center, was present to discuss the request for a 9 foot sign with 8 feet -of message .for which Council approval is required by ordinance . Mr. Conley saidthe drawing of the sign attached to the site plan was not entirely accurate since a major portion will be devoted to listing the kinds of services available in the center rather than to the center name itself. He explained that the signage on the exterior of' the building identifying two retail establishments had been grandfathered in when the building was constructed and he wishes to forestall any requests for signage of this type with the sign. In his January 15th memo, Mr. Berg had advised the City Attorney had concluded the complex fits within the City Ordinance definition of a shopping center and the same signage could be allowed. Mr. Bjork- lund disagreed with that interpretation saying he doesn' t see the building as constituting a shopping center. He reminded the Commis- sion that the "stilt building" in the same .area had been refused • similar signage. When Mr. Berg said Mr. Conley ' s application for a varianceto the Sign Ordinance had been returned to him, Mr. Bjorklund said he would be willing to recommend approval of such a variance if it is resubmitted for this "major piece of property which is unique because of its size" . The Chairman said he sees no other option than for the Commission to accept the City Attorney ' s interpretation that the medical center meets the definition of a shopping center as "a group or groups of three or more retail or service establishments within a close proximity to each other, comprising 10 ,000 or more square feet of floor area. . . " and to recommend the same signage be permitted the center as is currently allowed other shopping centers in the City. Mrs. Makowske was concerned that the major purpose of the sign is to identify services within the center rather than the center itself and offered the following: Motion by Mrs . Makowske and seconded by Mr. Bjorklund to recommend Council not approve the sign presented in Exhibit D which identifies the services offered in. the Apache Medical Center because nowhere else in the City are signs permitted where identification of the tenants is the majority usage of the signage. However, the Commission could recommend approval if the majority of the sign identified the center rather than the services offered , (as is the case of signage for other shopping centers in the City) , as long as the sign permitted • is monument type and ground hugging. -7- Before a vote was taken, Mr. Bowerman explained his negative vote • saying he saw this action as discrimatory and imposing an unfair restriction on this part.icular . site, pointing-. out that other shopping center signs have large areas where messages regarding sales and services offered are displayed and "the biggest sign in the City identifies the' City ' s liquor store" . Mr. Bjorklund disagreed with the assumption that . the center identification is not the major message on these signs and reiterated his concern with setting a precedent for other office buildings in the City. Voting on the motion: Aye: Bjorklund, Makowske , and Jones . Nay: Bowerman, Sopcinski and Peterson. Motion failed to carry. The Chairman then moved the agenda but his motion failed a second. Mr. Sopcinski commented, "this is another example. of where a grey area in the sign ordinance results in a sign which exceeds the restrictions of the ordinance and is superior to the signage which could -be erected without Planning Commission approval" . He perceived the sign proposal. as the ultimate in qualities we should seek in our ordinances" , and believes , - "the Council should provide relief from this dilemma" . He offered the following: • Motion by Mr. Sopcinski and seconded by Mr . Bjorklund to indicate to the Council that the Planning Commission has reviewed the signage proposed in Exhibit D for the Apache Medical Center and fully agrees the proposed signage has merit exceeding the existing signage on that building and would recommend Council approval if there would be a clear sign ordinance ruling which addressed this type of signage for a multiple story -office building: and that staff and City Attorney could provide a better definition in the ordinance on how this build- ing is related to the existing ordinance rather than to signage for a shopping center so future requests for building complex signage can be reviewed in a more uniform manner. Motion carried unanimously . Mr. Conley was urged to attend the Council meeting January 26th. Gerald Boerm, 5861-58- Washington Street N.E. , representing Specialty Wholesalers , Inc. , and Odds & Ends Liquidation, discussed his Jan- uary 18th request for an ordinance variance which will permit him to conduct an auction in the former Snyder Drug Store building at 2540 Harding Street N.E. , at least once a week. . He explained this would be a "dealers ' auction" of new and used merchandise and said he intends to pattern this operation after one of the largest auctions in the country with the same auctioneer conducting his sales in St. . Anthony.. Mr. Boerm said he is currently established in the Saliterman building but formerly operated out of Apache Plaza Shopping Center and St. . Louis .Park. He was informed of the procedure necessary for amending the City Zoning Ordinance to include this type of opera- tion and although Commission members had .started a list of conditions they believed should be set for such an operation, concurred these should be discussed if the request is returned to them for considera- tion as. a conditional use permit request. Motion by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mr. Bjorklund to recommend the Council pass a resolution which authorizes an amendment to the City Ordinance which will permit auctions as. a conditional use in a commercial district. Motion carried unanimously . The letter from Ramsey County indicating they approve of the City dealing with the easement they own in front. of Sid Johnson.'s property along Silver Lake Road as open space was noted and accepted as informa- tional as was Mr. Berg ' s January 15th memorandum to the Commission related to the treatment of housing conversions in :the City ordinance and the League of Cities ' questionnaire in the same vein. Time did not permit any actions on, the proposed sign ordinance revisions . Motion by Mr. Sopcin.ski and seconded by Mr. Bowerman to nominate Judy Makowske to serve as . Chairman Pro Tem for the Planning Commission of St. .Anthony for 1982 . Mr. Peterson moved to close the nominations . • Voting on the motion: Aye: Peterson, Sopcinski , Bowerman, Jones and Bjorklund. Abstention: Makowske. Motion carried. Mr. Berg alerted the Commission to several matters which he anticipates will be on their February agenda, including an addition requested by St. Charles Borromeo- Church as well as the replatting request from Ed Brown which has been before them previously . Motion by Mr. Peterson and seconded by Mr. Jones to adjourn the meeting at 12 : 10 A.M. Motion carried. unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Helen Crowe Secretary