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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 02201979 Meeting Sheet IIIIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIVIIIIIIIIIII 305958 Box: 36 Folder: PL MINUTES AND AGENDAS 1979 Document: PL MINUTES 02201979 • CITY OF ST. ANTHONY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES February 20 , 1979 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Marks at 7: 30 p.m. Present for roll call: Klick, Marks , Bowerman, Sopcinski , Rymarchick, Bjorklund and Jones arrived at 7 : 37 p.m. Also present: Jim Fornell, City Manager Ron Berg, Administrative Assistant The minutes for the Board meeting held January 16th were corrected to de- lete the sentence in Paragraph 3 of Page 3 referring to the 10 foot directional sign along the Burger Chef driveway. Motion by Mr. Bowerman and seconded by Mr. Sopcinski to approve the minutes for the January 16 , 1979 Board meeting as corrected. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Klick will represent the Board at the Council meeting to be held February 27th. /At 7: 35 p.m. Chairman Marks opened the Public Hearing on variances • necessary for the proposed expansion of the American Monarch plant at 2801 37th Avenue N.E. The Manager confirmed that all filing and notification requirements for such a hearing had been met and no one present who should have received such notice reported failure to receive same. However, one resident, Stanley Worwa, 3628 Belden Drive said he objected to the contents of the notice since it failed to address the question of where the plant's employees will park during the construction period. Mr. Fornell told him that question did not involve a variance per se for which a Public Hearing is required by the City Zoning Ordinance but would certainly be a vital aspect of the Board's consideration of the proposal. He also told Mr. Worwa that one of the supporting documents furnished by American Monarch for their Petition for Variance had been the "Parking During Construction" which specifically noted the streets in the area the firm anticipates utilizing for off site parking under strict company super- vision from April through July while the new parking lots are being con- structed. The Chairman then read that document and the amended notice of the hearing which informed the residents within the required distance from the plant of the variances which would be required under the Zoning Ordinance for the proposed expansion of the plant including the rear yard variance which a new survey had indicated would be needed. Edward J. Fiore, American Monarch Manager, then reiterated the justifica- tions which had been detailed with his Petition for a Variance for the • granting of the variances which will permit construction of a 265 x 80 foot addition on the west side of the existing building for which he had fur- nished site plans for both parking and landscaping as requested by Mr. Fornell. He also discussed the lease with the Soo Line Railroad (a copy of which was included) which will provide his firm with an additional 56 feet to the rear in which parking can be provided for the bulk of the employees vehicles and told the Board of his firm's plans to erect a four foot chain link fence required by the railroad which he saw as a prevention of vehicles from Apache crossing American Monarch property as is now done and a resultant lowering of the incidents of vandalism now experienced. His presentation included plans for snow storage in that area as well as storm water drainage which were specific concerns of the Board, as well as details of the addition to the building in two segments of 10, 000 square feet on each side of the building. He concluded by telling the Board that not allowing the proposed parking plans could result in the "end of American Monarch in St. Anthony" because of the 35% increase in production projected by their customers. He replied to Mr. Fornell 's query about whether the company would proceed with the first segment of the expansion proposal if the variances necessary to the second were not allowed by say- ing he thought that decision would have to be closely considered in view of the $700,000 investment at stake. Before the Public Hearing was closed at 8 : 32 p.m. , there was a lengthy dis- cussion of the manner in which Mr. Fiore intends to keep his employees from becoming a nuisance to the area's residents during the construction period and Mr. Worwa said he was satisfied with the company 's plans for • company enforcement of the regulations they had set for such parking and Mr. Fiore 's later agreement that it might be best to have supervisory and administrative employees use the off site parking areas where they could provide supervision of other employees. During the period preceding a decision on the proposal Mr. Fiore told the Board he anticipated no problems with parking for his employees even with the second phase of expansion since so many of them are from the immediate area and either walk to work or double ' up on transportation to the plant. Mr. Bjorklund was concerned that easements on the property had not been identified in the new survey. Mr. Jones questioned whether the number of employees projected for the expansion might exceed that number thereby requiring additional parking spaces, and Mr. Rymarchick expressed his concern that the lease with the Soo Line could be terminated and parking space to the rear diminished. Mr. Bjorklund wanted it understood the property to the east of the existing building could not be used for expansion if the lease termination should make parking inadequate if the addition were built. Mr. Fiore responded by saying the "onus" is on the corporation to provide adequate parking for its employees who will apply internal pressures to see they are provided parking spaces . Mr. Fornell thought the City could possibly handle the matter of inadequate parking if the employee growth outstripped the projections through enforce- ment of parking on off site locations . (2) • Following these assurances , Mr. Rymarchick said he would move for a recom- mendation of approval of the proposal under the assumption that the City will get full cooperation from American Monarch regarding off site parking during the construction period as indicated in their proposal. Motion by Mr. Rymarchick and seconded by Mr. Klick to recommend Council approval of a seven foot front yard parking setback variance to provide two additional parking spaces and a 17 foot front yard building setback vari- ance to allow the proposed expansion to be compatible with the symmetry of the existing building, a 15 foot rear yard setback variance as well as a parking setback variance of 10 feet along the entire rear lot line, and finally, a one foot variance to the parking space size requirements which will allow nine instead of 10 foot wide parking spaces as well as the variance necessary for 30 more parking spaces than permitted by the Zoning Ordinance for the proposed 80 ' x 265 ' expansion of the American Monarch plant to the west, finding that: (a) granting these variances will relieve the undue hardship caused by the pie shape of this parcel and its parti- cular physical surroundings and topography (b) the purpose for these variances is not based exclusively upon a desire to increase the value or income potential of the parcel but is unique to the existing tenant and (c) great difficulties and hardships for the tenant might result if vari- ances are not granted. The granting of the variances is however subject to the following conditions: 1. Further expansion than is presently proposed will not be permitted without assurance of a long term lease with the is Soo Line which provides adequate off street parking. 2. American Monarch cannot dispose of the easterly portion of their property which must be kept to provide adequate parking should the Soo Line lease be terminated. 3. Landscaping shall be provided as per the plans presented from Freeburg Nurseries and will be subject to review by the City Manager. 4. Investigation by Staff of easements as referenced in the legal description of this property. Voting on the motion: Aye: Jones, Klick, Marks, Bowerman, Sopcinski and Rymarchick Abstention: Bjorklund Motion carried. Mr. Fornell gave a status report on the Comprehensive Plan for the City telling of the extensive commitment of time to the study. He anticipates the Plan will be ready for Board review sometime in April . The Johnson Florist litigation should go to court within the next few months, the Manager told Mr. Klick. He also reported a meeting with . the Johnson's attorney this week. At the request of Mr. Jones the details of the possibility of relocating the Apache Liquor Store and/or Bar were (3) provided by Mr. Fornell who identified possible alternative sites con- sidered for such a relocation. He discussed the economics which might make the relocation necessary and gave the results of his own conclusions of the viability of Apache Plaza and possibility of a competitive liquor operation by New Brighton. Board members were unwilling to commit themselves regarding any of the sites mentioned because they viewed the plans as "nebulous at best" as Mr. Klick termed them. The Manager said he thought staff would be able to update the Board's copies of the City Ordinances before their March meeting. Motion by Mr. Jones and seconded by Mr. Bowerman to adjourn the meeting at 9: 20 p.m. for consideration of the latest material provided by Mr. Berg for the new Sign Ordinance. Motion carried unanimously. Helen Crowe • Secretary (4)