Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 01181983 l'• !i 1 Meeting Sheet i • M i 102006 i Box: 21 Folder: PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1983 Document: PL MINUTES 01181983 i 1 i 1 i j ?12 'LA CITY OF ST. ANTHONY /-� PLANNING COMMISSION .MINUTES � January 18 , 1983 The meeting .was called to order by Chairman Jones at 7 : 35 P .M. Present for roll call : Zawislak, Bowerman, Jones , Bjorklund and Makowske. Also present: David Childs , City Manager. Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mrs . Makowske to approve as submitted the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting held December 7 , 1982 . Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Jones indicated that because of his- business commitments , he is ready to relinquish the chairmanship. After a brief discussion, it was agreed that in order that there would be continuity of know- ledge and experience , the .new Chairman should be selected before the new commissioners began their service in February. Mr. Zawislak , as the newest member on the Commission, indicated it had taken him almost a year to familiarize himself with the planning issues and therefore to reach the point where he was able to make an educated decision as to who could .best lead the Commission in its deliberations . ® lie then nominated Judy Makowske for the position which was seconded by Mr. Bjorklund. Mr. Bowerman moved to close nominations , which was seconded by Mr. Bjorklund and passed unanimously and the vote on the nomination was taken, which also passed unanimously. Mrs . Makowske took over the chairmanship at this point. Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Bjorklund to extend the thanks and appreciation of the Planning. Commission to Mr. Jones for his leadership: and cooperation and efficiencies in handling and directing the Commission meeting the past year, perceiving that all the Commission members had learned a lot from his chairmanship and looking forward to .his continued participation in the planning issues which would confront the Commission in the future. Voting on the motion: Aye : Bowerman, Bjorklund., Zawislak and Makowske . Abstention: Jones . Motion carried. Motion by Mr. Zawislak and seconded by Mr. Bowerman to appoint Brad Bjorklund to continue his service as parlimentarian for 1983 . Motion carried . unanimously. 1� r -2- It was agreed that the. Chairman Pro Tem could be selected from the full membership in February. The status report on the Kenzie. Terrace Redevelopment Project and Mr. Bjork.lund's report on the.' December 14th H.R.A. meeting were accepted as agenda addendum under Miscellaneous . Prior to the final reading of the 'new sign ordinance , the Chairman noted the ,fine job which the Planning Commission members , Ron Berg and Mr. Soth had -done in getting .the new ordinance to this stage . Several changes were recommended by Mr. Childs which were accepted by the Commission members as follows : Motion by Mr. Bjorklund and seconded by Mr. Bowerman that all changes in the final draft of the ordinance amendment related to signage be included in the Commission's recommendation of acceptance of the new ordinance. Motion carried unanimously . A motion was developed to reflect the Commission members ' objections to permitting revolving historical. identification symbols in the City . Motion by Mr. Jones and seconded by. Mr. Bowerman that historical identification .signs be .specifically named after the word "signs" as one of the types of signage under Subdivision 5 , Page 5 , which would be prohibited from producing an .effect of motion and that under #5 on Page 11 of the ordinance such signage should not exceed five square feet in sign surface. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Jones that the definition of historical identification symbols .under Subdivision 12 on Page 2 be expanded to indicate such symbols must be common to the enterprise it identifies as well as all other similar enterprises in all other localities and that such a symbol must not be .a . particular trademark or business identification. Motion carried unanimously. It was determined that the reference to the Planning Commission as the Commission of Adjustments and Appeals had ..originated with the City Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Bowerman indicated he had some problems with .the terms "all of the members" on Page 12 , foreseeing the eventuality that some decision of the Planning Commission might be challenged because all of the membership was- not in attendance when a recommendation was made. Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Bjorklund to substitute "a quorum of" for "all the" in line 2 -of Subdivision 1 on Page 12 of the proposed sign ordinance amendment. Motion carried unanimously. -3- Mr.' Childs said he would check with. .the City Attorney to see if the wording change is necessary . Motion by Mr. Bowerman and .seconded .by Mr. Bjorklund to recommend the Council adopt the ordinance amendment relating. .to signs with the changes , additions and/or deletions recorded in the January 18 , 1983 Planning Commission Minutes , noting that the proposed ordin- ance is a result of two years of Planning Commission, staff and public effort and input with .several, public hearings before the ordinance evolved in its present form. ORDINANCE 1983-001 AN ORDINANCE RELATING .TO .SIGNS ; AMENDING SECTION 430 :00 OF- THE 1973 CODE OF ORDINANCES Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Bjorklund presented. the new D.N. R. pamphlet from which he indicated he would like to see the City order a set of aerial maps of the City to replace those which are now over .twelve years old as well as the maps which show the watershed districts . In his December 13th memorandum .to the Council and Mayor, which had been included in the agenda packet, Mr. Childs :had addressed the establishment of terms of the Planning Commission and he had dis- ' tributed copies of Mr. Soth ' s December. -10th letter to him indicat- ing that an amendment to the City Ordinance would be necessary if terms other than the current one year. terms are to be established. The Manager recalled that subject of lengthening the terms had been discussed many times in the past, since the. Council had long believed such action would be a good way of hanging on to good people and, at the same time, .imparting an additional sense of security to the Commission members themselves . There would appear to be no political. ramifications to making the change in an off election year , and ,Mr. Childs assured the commissioners that the desire to limit the number of terms of service of any current member of the Commission had never been a consideration of the Council. The -Council had selected two persons to fill the vacancies on the Commission after interviewing five candidates the previous evening , and Mr. .Childs said he perceives the decision was made based- on . the responses to the five questions posed to each applicant, which he summarized for the Commission members ' benefit. He added that each person had been questioned as to their ability to serve for. four years. Mr. Bowerman agreed longer terms might provide morecontinuity on the Commission but -wanted to be certain a Commissioner could resign for reasons beyond his or her control without prejudice. He also wanted a standard of attendance established so any member who had not attended at least sixty percent of the meetings which were held, ® could be replaced on the Commission. in justice to the other members . -4- Mr. -4-Mr. Bjorklund. admitted .that his first reaction to the proposed changes had been negative until he realized this was exactly what he had been suggesting for years for continuity of experience in the planning process. There was a general consensus that. four years. would be too long a commitment and that three years would probably be' preferable. A poll of the membership. found Mr. Zawislak and Mr. Bjorklund willing to take the three year appointment along with the two appointees ; Mrs . Makowske and Mr. Bowerman accepting a two year term and Mr. Jones indicating he would like -.to serve. only one year. There was also agreement that if any member should be unable to complete his or her service term., an appointment should be`.made for the un- . expired term._ The ordinance , as developed, would be prepared by__C staff=for` Council, cons ider-atiofi..:. Mr. Jones requested that Mr: Childs check into the possibility that Columbia Heights would be_ considering- draining a swamp into the west side of Silver Lake .Road. The Manager-- reported the Salvation Army had requested the City to participate in a study. for draining the northern edge of Silver Lake and the Commission would be informed about-the--progress -of :.such- ;plans .- Mr. plans Mr. Bjorklund reported on his .attendance at the H.R.A. meeting December 14th, where the deadline for developer proposals for the Kenzie Terrace Development Project was set for January 17th. He said he was pleased to learn the City Council members have recognized the value of planning conferences and would seem to- be in favor of underwriting Planning Commission members attendance at more of these types of seminars . He specula.ted :that this would be. more likely with the establishment of longer terms of service for the Commissioners . Two major developers . have submitted proposals . for the redevelopment project, according to Mr. Childs , who said the Commission members as well as the St. Anthony School Board and former participants in . the Kenzie Terrace Study would be invited to be present for the inter-views scheduled for 6 :0.0 P.M. , February 8th. When Mr. Bjorklund _expressed a desire. to. provide some input to the interview, the Manager indicated, he would' check -the protocol with Mr. Krier, although he sees the interviews .as not intended asnegotiations of the fine points of the development process , but rather a clarification of the proposals.- as submitted. .. He assured Mr. -Bjorklund triat-`Ln any event, he was .certain that there would be.- an opportunity for the Planning ` Commission to make their .-feelings. known to the H.R.A. prior to final acceptance of any proposal. The interviews would be an open meeting. with the Attorney present and the proceedings would be taped. Mr. Bjorklund indicated he is concerned that. the .Planning Commission serve not onlyasa project booster but primarily as an objective , judge of the- planning issues involved. He cautioned against Com- missioners "getting carried away with any movement towards a re- development at any cost" . The Manager. reminded.,him that zoning related issues involved would have to come before the Commission for their recommendations before they are accepted by the H .R.A. Gk 5� As requested by. Mr. Jones., Mr... Childs said he would have past Com- mission .minutes available for ready reference at each Commission meeting .and he is .also initiating a numbering system for variances which have been granted in 1982 and -intends to complete the listing of previous years ' decisions as time permits . He ' also said he would like to see' the .Commission 'develop a six year capital improvement plan for the City which would specify their individual concepts and hopes -for the type of _community they envision for the future.. The School Board has formed a Growth and Develop- ment Committee .to evaluate population- trends and formulate plans for the . schools on which he -and Mr. Jones -are serving and Mr. Childs -promised to report back any-. helpful data .which is collected. Chairman ,Makowske urged the .Commission members to attend the COACT hearings .at Northeast Junior High January 27th where the effects of hazardous waste disposal and industrial development on the sur- rounding communities would be discussed. Mr. Childs reported he and Mr. Entner would be attending an ._emer.geri:cy_p-r,ep.aredness--conference in Maryland next week where contingency plans for disasters would be developed. The Chairman then suggested -it might be a good time for the Commis- sion to look at some of the outdated City ordinances which deal with planning issues which she also viewed as an excellent opportunity for, the new Commissioners to become acquainted with the Ordinance. These discussions would be scheduled for meetings where the agenda permits. Robin Bjorklund had joined his father and was- permitted to make the motion for adjournment for. him. The motion was seconded by Mr. Jones and passed unanimously at 9 : 35 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Helen Crowe, Secretary