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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 02181992 Meeting Sheet IIIIII VIII VIII VIII VIII VIII IIII IIII 101343 Box: 19 Folder: PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1992 .Document: PL MINUTES 02181992 1 ' CITY OF ST . ANTHONY 2 3 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 4 5 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 6 7 8 1 . CALL TO ORDER 9 10 The Planning Commission Meeting was called to order by 11 Chairman Faust at 7 : 30 p.m. 12 13 . 2 . ROLL CALL 14 15 Present : Franzese, Gondorchin, Madden, Werenicz, Murphy and 16 Faust 17 18 It was noted that Commissioner Brownell had resigned from the 19 Planning Commission. He is moving out of St . Anthony. 20 21 Staff Present : Dave Urbia, Management Assistant 22 23 3 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 21 , 1992 PLANNING 24 COMMISSION MEETING 25 26 Motion by Franzese, second by Gondorchin to approve the 27 minutes of the January 21 , 1992 Planning Commission Meeting W8 with the following correction: 29 30 page 3 , line 12 : The second. to the motion was made by '31 Werenicz. 32 33 Motion carried unanimously 34 35 4 . DESIGNATION OF COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MARCH 10 , 1992 36 CITY COUNCIL MEETING 37 38 Chairman Faust noted he had reviewed the sequence followed 39 last year for representatives of the Planning Commission to 40 attend Council Meetings. He stated they were as follows : 41 Murphy, Madden, Gondorchin, Franzese, Werenicz, Faust and the 42 newly-appointed commissioner. 43 44- Continuation of this . sequence was agreeable to all of the 45 Commission members . 46 47 Murphy will be representing the Planning Commission at the 48 March' 10 , 1992 Council Meeting. 49 50 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS 51 52 A. Sheik ' s Garden Restaurant , 3-800 Apache Plaza, Conditional 53 Use Permit Request •54 I PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 2 4 5 6 Chairman Faust inquired if anyone from Apache Plaza management 7 will be attending the Public Hearing. Urbia responded he had 8 faxed information regarding the conditional use permit request 9 and the Planning Commission meeting to the management office 10 and was advised that no one at the office saw a need to be 11 present . 12 13 Urbia distributed a letter received from Dennis Cavanaugh, 14 President of the C. G. Rein Company, who owns Apache Plaza. In 15 the letter Mr. Cavanaugh stated the company' s support of the 16 approval of the conditional use permit to operate a game room 17 with kiddie rides and games . It was also noted in the letter 18 that the lease for Sheik' s Garden Restaurant ' s right to 19 operate kiddie games and rides would be terminated if there 20 appears to be any problems resulting from the clientele using 21 this equipment . 22 23 The Public Hearing was opened at 7 :.35 p.m. 24 25 Chairman Faust read the public notice which appeared in the 26 February 5th edition of the Bulletin regarding the Public 27 Hearing. 8 29 Urbia, referring to his memo dated February 12 , 1992 to the 30 Planning Commission Members , noted that only the factual 31 information regarding this request and the history of Council 32 action in the past , was being presented. No staff 33 recommendation is being made regarding Planning Commission 34 action on this matter. 35 36 The conditional use permit request , from Adel Alwan, the owner 37 of Sheik ' s Garden Restaurant , is for approval to have more 38 than three amusement devices at that location. The conditional 39 use permit is necessary as Mr. Alwan proposes to have up to 30 40 amusement devices . 41 42 Mr. Alwan ' s proposed plan would allow him to generate 43 additional revenue in the older, rear portion of the 44 restaurant . A plan for this area was submitted with his 45 request . Booths will be removed for this arcade and to 46 accommodate the amusement devices . The front portion of the 47 restaurant has already -been renovated. 48 49 Urbia' s memo noted that the three conditions for approval of 50 a conditional use permit have been satisifed if Mr. Alwan 51 follows through on his intentions as stated .in answering the 52 three questions . P3 X54 Staff made five recommendations for the Planning Commission ' s 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 • 3 PAGE 3 4 5 6 consideration to be made in conjunction with the approval of 7 the conditional use permit . They are as follows : 8 9 1 . The arcade shall prohibit tobacco, alcohol , and drugs on 10 the premises . 11 12 2 . The arcade shall prohibit individuals under the influence 13 of tobacco, alcohol , and/or drugs . 14 15 3 . Proper supervision should be available at all times to 16 ensure appropriate conduct and behavior,. 17 18 4 . The access from kitchen to dining area shall be segregated 19 to ensure safety. 20 21 5 . The number of amusement devices allowed will be dependent 22 upon- the available number of amusement device licenses and 23 available space within the area designated on the proposed 24 plan. 25 26 Urbia advised that the current amusement device licensing 27 ordinance allows the owner of the amusement devices to hold �28 the licenses . The holding of licenses presents a problem to 29 those who would like to operate amusement devices since the 30 City has a limit of 106 licenses . Also, the City has limited 31 control over amusement devices when they are licensed to their 32 owner who can transfer them to other locations. 33 34 Ordinance No. 92-001 had its first reading at the. February 11 , 35 1992 Council Meeting. This ordinance would allow only the 36 operator of the amusement device establishment to apply for 37 and hold the license and no more than thirty-five devices 38 would be allowed in one location . 39 40 Urbia advised the Planning Commission members that staff had 41 discussed this conditional use permit request and reached some 42 conclusions . The Police Chief does not anticipate any major . 43 problems with the operation of these . devices . It was noted 44 that since they will be located in a mall , rather than in a 45 freestanding building, some patrol schedules may have to be. 46 changed. Also, they will be located next t.o a municipal liquor 47 site. 48 49 Franzese observed that Denn.is Cavanaugh has transferred twenty 50 amusement device licenses . She inquired how many are left . 51 Urbia responded that thirty-four are left but Ordinance No. 52 1992-001 will change this situation . She also inquired how 53 many licenses are currently left at this point in time. Urbia •54 said there are only five left but some- are being held by their 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 • 3 PAGE 4 4 5 6 owners and are not being used. . 7 8 Madden wanted to know the whereabouts of the amusement device 9 licenses for the machines which were previously located in the 10 Malt Shop. Urbia was not sure of where these were. 11 12 Murphy wondered why there was a limit of 106 licenses . 13 Franzese stated that the time the ordinance was drafted there 14 were already 106 licenses out . 15 16 Faust noted that all licenses are reissued in March of each 17 year. He felt that theoretically the thirty four held by the 18 Rein Company may not be renewed. 19 20 Murphy inquired if the Fire Chief had viewed the floor plan 21 submitted for the Restaurant . Urbia noted tha-t the Fire Chief 22 had viewed the plan and saw no problems, but the plan will be 23 reviewed by the Building Inspector. 24 25 Mr. Alwan advised the Planning Commission he is responding to 26 customer requests * by installing kiddie rides and amusement 27 devices . His intention is to have a family-oriented operation. •28 ' 29 Franzese inquired if only customers of the restaurant will be 30 allowed to use the games or could people come into the area 31 who do not plan to eat and play the games . Mr. Alwan responded 32 it would not be necessary to be a patron of the restaurant to 33 play the games. 34 35 Mr. Alwan plans to have eight kiddie rides and the rest of the 36 amusements would be video games . He does not intend to put in 37 a pool table as he envisions th-is as a potential for problems . 38 39 Chairman Faust noted that Mr. Alwan is requesting permission 40 for thirty games . He observed that Dennis Cavanaugh referred 41 to permitting only twenty games. Mr. Alwan stated that twenty 42 would not be enough and feels that Dennis Cavanaugh plans to 43 keep the rest of the licenses for his own use. 44 45 Franzese was concerned with rules enforcement and the 46 methodology Mr. Alwan planned to institute to keep order. 47 48 Mr . Alwan advised that someone on the staff will always be in 49 the area to monitor. He stated he wants a successful operation 50 and avoid problems which were experienced in the shopping 51 center previously. 52 53 Werenicz inquired if he intends to serve wine as he has a wine - •54 license. Mr . Alwan noted that the wine and beer license 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 5 4 5 6 expires March 15th and he does not intend to renew it . He will 7 . have alcohol and tobacco prohibitions in the entire operation. 8 9 The floor plan which was submitted by Mr . Alwan was reviewed. 10 It was noted that there will be no entrance from the outside 11 of the building. The hours will be from Noon to 10 : 00 p.m. 12 Presently, the operation closes at 8 : 30 p.m. The shopping mall 13 closes at 9 : 00 p.m. The door of the .restaurant to the mall 14' will be closed when the mall closes . 15 16 Franzese noted that the former owner of the Malt Shop was in 17 attendance at the Planning Commission Meeting. She inquired if 18 he had anything to offer regarding this operation. He stated 19 he would not like to comment although he has some strong 20 opinions regarding his experience with the shopping mall 21 management and its security. 22 23 He felt the parking lot activities were perceived as his 24 responsibility. It was his opinion if the shopping mall 25 security had been more cooperative he could have avoided many 26 of the problems which he experienced and his operation could ,27 have been successful . 28 29 Murphy inquired how many video machines were in the Malt Shop. 30 He was advised there had been forty-nine. 31 32 Franzese inquired -if Mr. Alwan had considered the negative 33 experiences had by the owner of the Malt Shop especially 34. regarding teenage activities , alcohol , etc.. Mr. Alwan 35 suggested his operation would draw a different clientele and 36 he anticipated no similar problems . 37 38 Gondorchin inquired if Mr. Alwan had operated any other type 39 of establishment where amusement devices were part of the 40 operation. Mr. Alwan 'responded he had- run the St . Anthony Fun 41 Center which attracted a clientele that was difficult to 42 manage. He feels the new location at Apache Plaza will attract 43 families and the rules of conduct will be easier to 44 administer. 45 46 Franzese inquired if the Fun Center- operation will be 47 continuing. Mr . -Alwan stated his partner may continue the 48 business but he is not sure. The twenty video games licensed 49 at the Fun Center will be - transferred to Sheik ' s Garden 50 Restaurant . 51 52 Werenicz complimented the former owner of the Malt Shop. He •53 noted that the condition of meeting annually with staff and 54 the police chief had been met and police calls and 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 6 4 5 6 7 disturbances had been regularly reviewed. 8 9 Franzese, noting that Mr . Alwan intends to have eight kiddie 10 games and eighteen video games , suggested that the atmosphere 11may be rather loud for a family dining situation . She also 12 noted that since the game area is separate from the dining 13 area this may become a hangout for game users . Mr. Alwan cited 14 one of the rules of the operation will be "proper conduct and 15 behavior. " He intends to make these rules effective. 16 17 The Public Hearina was closed at 8 : 15p.m. 18 19 Motion by Franzese, second by Werenicz to recommend approval 20 of the request from Mr . Alwan for a conditional use permit for 21 a maximum of thirty amusement devices at the Sheik ' s Garden 22 Restaurant , 3800 Apache Plaza, because the proposal meets the 23 criteria for granting a conditional use permit with the 24 understanding that the Ordinance No. 1992-001 is going to be 25 approved that will make it easier for the City to monitor; 26 that the hours wi 11 be no later than 10 : 00 p.m. ; plus the f ive 27 conditions as recommended by staff ; plus an annual review by 8 City staff, the Police Chief and the restaurant owner to look 0'29 at complaints generated by the restaurant , both inside and 30 outside. 31 32 Gondorchin concurred with the motion, but added that the 33 Apache Plaza security should be more responsive to calls from 34 the shopping center ' s tenants . 35 36 Franzese requested that City staff contact Dennis Cavanaugh 37 directly regarding some of the comments the Planning 38 Commission received at tonight ' s meeting about security at 39 Apache Plaza. 40 - 41 Urbia advised that these licenses cost $130 . 00 . If Mr. Alwan 42 wants more than thirty then he would have to come back to the 43 Planning Commission to make that request . 44 45 Murphy inquired what actions would be taken by the City if 46 this situation at this restaurant becomes troublesome. 47 Werenicz felt the staff and police chief would review the 48 details of the complaints and probably recommend revoking the 49 conditional use permit and pulling of the licenses . 50 51 Motion carried unanimously 52 �553 Chairperson Faust advised Mr. Alwan that this matter will be 4 on the March 10th Council Meeting agenda and he was 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 7 4 5 6 advised to attend that meeting. 7 8 6 . MISCELLANEOUS 9 10 A. Government Training Center (GTS ) Workshop 11 12 On February 13, 1992 or March 14 , 1992 the Government 13 Training Service is offering an Annual Planning Institute 14 which will address "The Basics . " 15 16 Chairman Faust noted that all commissioners have attended , 17 a workshop sponsored by the Government Training Service 18 and found them very worthwhile. He inquired if funds are 19 available to attend any other workshops sponsored by this 20 organization . Urbia will get this information from the 21 City Manager . 22 23 Urbia requested any commissioners interested in attending 24 this workshop or any others to advise him and he will 25 make the necessary reservations . Gondorchin stated his 26 intention to attend the March 14th workshop. 27 P28 B. Selection of Sponsor for New Planning Commission Member 9 30 Chairman Faust had requested this item be included on the 31 agenda. His purpose is for the newly-appointed member of 32 the Planning Commission to have someone on the Commission 33 act as his/her mentor. He recalled when he was appointed, 34 he found the assistance of the Assistant to the City 35 Manager very helpful . This mentor. would act as a 36 "welcomer" to the Commission and help in bringing him/her 37 up to speed on the business of the Commission. 38 39 Madden.felt this mentor may influence the newly-appointed 40 member. Murphy felt Dave Urbia could be very helpful by 41 reviewing past activities of the Commission and by going 42 over the procedures of a typical meeting. 43 44 Madden felt the Planning Commission Chair could serve as 45 a mentor. Chairman Faust indicated his willingess to do 46 this . 47 48 Weren.icz stated he had not felt that new appoi-ntees have 49 been reticent to participate and that a mentor was not 50 really necessary if the Chair was willing to acclimate 51 the appointee to the procedures . 52 S53 Urbia noted that no applications for the Planning 54 Commission appointment have been received. 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 8 4 5 6 C. Staff Report - Liaht Industrial Uses in a General 7 Commercial Zone 8 9 Urbia referred to his memo dated February 5, 1992 which 10 gave information received from other first ring suburbs 11 regarding their commercial zone uses . He noted that this 12 situation developed from a request received from a print 13 shop wishing to locate in the Apache Squares strip mall . 14 15 He gave the pros and cons regarding a conditional use 16 permit or a "C-1 " zoning district and "C-2" where uses 17 such as the request for Apache Squares would be allowed. 18 19 Murphy inquired if there are any other locations in the 20 City where a "C-2" zoning could be designated. 21 22 Urbia responded that the St . Anthony Shopping Center was 23 too close to residential , but one location where it could 24 be allowed was at the northeast corner of 37th Avenue and 25 Silver Lake Road. 26 27 Gondorchin felt the Planning Commission should take a 08 "wait and see" posture depending on whether CUB locates 29 a grocery store in the area of Apache Squares . He felt 30 the rentals in Apache Squares would really flourish if 31 CUB locates near there. 32 33 Werenicz felt this was a unique location and it may not 34 be affected by a CUB store because of the visibility. 35 36 Urbia suggested it. may be preferable to amend the zoning 37 ordinance to allow this tenant a conditional use permit . 38 He inquired if the Planning Commission would be agreeable 39 to having staff help this 'business by allowing it to 40 locate in this spot . 41 42 Chairman Faust felt this may be starting a whole new 43 situation for . the City to deal with-. 44 45 Urbia observed that if this business had retail located 46 in the front of the store, then any activity could be '47 conducted in the back relating to the business . 48 49 Madden noted that when this strip mall was first 50 approved, the Planning Commission had understood all of 51' the tenants would be retail . 52 05 53 Urbia said that for a short term this would be a sign and 4 banner making operation. Chairman Faust felt staff . was 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 9 4 5 6 attempting to tailor the ordinance to accommodate this 7 business . Urbia responded the intention was to loosen up 8 the ordinance to accommodate a variety of businesses . 9 10 In his memo, Urbia noted that the general "C" section of 11 the zoning ordinance could be amended in a manner that 12 would conditionally permit certain light industrial uses 13 in limited -areas . A new zoning district could be created 14 ( "C-1" ) which would permit everything that is currently 15 permitted in "C" and conditionally permit light 16 industrial type uses such as silk screen shops-, printing 17 shops , non-retail office, etc:. ;. 18 19 Franzese recalled when this matter was previously 20 discussed there was concern with delivery trucks which 21 would not fit well with retail businesses . 22 23 Gondorchin still felt CUB would be a traffic generator 24 and that it would benefit this strip mall . He again 25 suggested that the "wait and see" posture be taken. 26 27 Chairman Faust noted that Urbia is requesting a consensus 28 position of the Planning Commission on this matter. He 29 felt the Commission members are not too excited to do a 30 new "C-1" district nor any conditional uses . 31 32 Madden -felt the Commission was groping not to make a 33 decision and inquired if this conditional use is 34 something that can be lived wi.th. 35 36 Chairman Faust felt the people-seeking direction deserve 37 an answer. 38 39 Madden recalled the two deteriorated buildings located at 40 the St . Anthony Shopping Center which were refurbished 41 and still did not generate traffic. 42 43 Chairman Faust felt the philosophy of the Planning 44Commission had long been not to change the City' s zoning 45 ordinance. 46 47 Gondorchin felt this was a one time opportunity to help 48 someone out . 49 50 Murphy referred to the types of uses employed by other 51 cities cited in Urbia' s memo . He suggested that the 52 Planning Commission consider some way to write the zoning 05ordinance which would allow for some uses and still 4 maintain some control . 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 • 3 PAGE 10 4 5 6 Chairman Faust observed that the four cities referred to 7 in Urbia ' s memo were not stellar examples of successful 8 planning in -his opinion. He does not support changing the 9 ordinance nor the staff recommendation. 10 11 D. Backaround Reading - Sian Ordinances for Small and Medium 12 Sized Communities 13 14 Madden noted he did not have time to thoroughly review 15 the material in the background reading regarding the sign 16 ordinances . Werenicz noted he has not completed his 17 reading. 18 19 Gondorchin felt the material was very thorough and the 20 information presented did not handcuff the staff . 21 22 Urbia stated that conformance to the sign ordinance will 23 not be accomplished in a short period of time. He felt 24 the administration of the ordinance should be conducted 25 slowly and especially in light of the economic problems 26 being experienced presently. 27 •28 Chairman Faust noted that eventually everyone must 29 conform to the sign ordinance and no "grandfathering" in 30 of present non-conforming signs should be allowed. 31 32 Franzese inquired what was the source for this 33 information . Urbia responded it came from the American 34 Planning Association. 35 36 7 . STAFF UPDATE 37 38 Chairman Faust had requested that staff be prepared- to review 39 any old business of the Planning Commission so its members can 40 be current with what has transpired. 41 4.2 Urbia advised that there is only one vacancy at the Stop 'N' 43 Shop on 38th Avenue and Stinson Boulevard. He noted that this 44 operation has contracted with Conoco rather than the other 45 company as stated in their f irst request . He wi 11 fol low up on 46 the square- footage of the sign as approved. 47 48 Urbia stated that the first draft of the sign ordinance will 49 be available in March. 50 51 Urbia said that the CUB proposal is still "alive. " Their 52 proposal is to remove the present grocery store which is 53 100 , 000 square feet , add onto the building and rebuild with a 054 67 , 000 square foot addition. They have also indicated an I PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 3 PAGE 11 4 5 6 interest in having the City' s bottle shop locate there. 7 . . .. . 8 8 . COMMISSIONERS ' COMMENTS 9 10 Commissioner Werenicz 11 Commissioner Werenicz attended the Council ' s Town Meeting. He 12 found the presentation very interesting but noted there were 13 very few people in attendance. 14. 15- There were thirty-two residents who attended the Town Meeting. 16 17 Commissioner Werenicz inquired if there would be any impact on 18 property taxes by homes experiencing water problems which -- 19 could be identified. Urbia responded there would probably be 20 a decrease in taxes and an abatement made. 21 22 Commissioner Madden 23 24 Commissioner Madden had nothing to comment on at this time. 25 26 Commissioner Werenicz 27 ,28 Commissioner Werenicz had nothing to comment on at this time. 29 30 Chairman Faust 31 32 Chairman Faust noted that he will be reviewing the Planning 33 Commissin agenda before it is sent to the Commissioners . He 34, requested that the Commissioners let him know of any agenda 35 items they wished to have included on the agenda. He also has 36 requested that any staff recommendations include all of the 37 pros and cons of the item being addressed. 38 39 - Chairman Faust suggested that the*Planning Commission meetings 40 become more "user friendly. " He explained that his intent is 41 to make the environment at the meetings more accommodating- to 42 those who attend and make them less intimidating. He felt the 43 atmosphere need not be adversarial . 44 45 Commissioner Murphy 46 47 Commissioner Murphy had nothing to comment on at this time. 48 49 Commissioner Gondorchin 50 51 Commissioner Gondorchin had nothing to comment on at this 52- time. W53 4 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 2 FEBRUARY 18 , 1992 • 3 PAGE 12 . 4 5 6 Commissioner Franzese 7 8 Commissioner Franzese inquired as to the status of the Pirino 9 garage. Urbia had no current information. 10 11 . Werenicz inquired if an update of the court findings regarding 12 the Pirino lawsuit were available. Urbia stated that they were 13 not back yet . Chairman Faust felt the Planning . Commission 14 members should know the legal reasons why the City lost the IS case. He requested that the legal findings and the judgement 16 be included in the next month' s Planning—Commission meeting 17 agenda. 18 19 9. ADJOURNMENT = ZO 21 Motion by Madden, second by Werenicz to adjourn the Planning 22 Commission meeting at 9: 38 p.m. 23 24 Motion carried unanimously 25 26 27 Respectfully submitted, K8 9 30 Jo-Anne Student , Planning Commission Secretary 31 32