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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPL MINUTES 01262015I CITY OF ST. ANTHONY 2 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 3 4 JANUARY 26, 2015 5 7:00 p.m. 6 7 CALL TO ORDER. 8 9 Chairperson Crone called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 10 11 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 12 13 Chairperson Crone invited the Commission and the audience to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance. 14 15 ROLL CALL. 16 17 Commissioners Present: Chairperson Crone, Commissioners Bartel, Foster, Gondorchin, 18 Heinis, Papatola, and Poucher. 19 Absent: None. 20 Also Present: City Planner Kelsey Johnson and City Attorney Jay Lindgren. 21 22 1. ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS. 23 24 Chairperson Crone noted that the City Council appointed her to serve as Chair and Dan Bartel 25 as Vice Chair for the 2015 term. 26 27 I1. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 26, 2015, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 28 AGENDA. 29 30 Motion by Commissioner Poucher, seconded by Commissioner Bartel, to approve the January 31 26, 2015, Planning Commission agenda as presented. 32 33 Motion carried unanimously. 34 35 III. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 24, 2014, REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION 36 MEETING MINUTES. 37 38 Motion by Commissioner Papatola, seconded by Commissioner Poucher, to approve the 39 November 24, 2014, Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. 40 41 Motion carried 4-0-3 (Crone. Foster, and Gondorchin abstain). 42 43 IV. PUBLIC HEARING. 44 45 A. REQUEST — Request from Timothy J. Keane on behalf of Muxamedrashid Ali and 46 Mr. Michael Medina on behalf of the Property Owner, St. Anthony Business Center 47 Corporation, for a Rezoning from LI — Light Industrial to PUD — Planned Unit 48 Development to permit the following land uses on the Property located at 3055 Old 49 Highway 8 (PID 0602923410140 and PID 0602923410139) Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 2 1 City Planner Johnson explained that Timothy Keane, on behalf of the property owner, has 2 submitted a request for rezoning of the property located at 3055 Old Highway 8 and provided 3 background information regarding the request including the settlement agreement reached 4 with the United States Department of Justice. She explained that the application includes 5 creation of a PUD overlay district with permitted use of religious assembly at times chosen by 6 the property owner limited to the lower level consisting of 11,655 square feet and a portion of 7 the main level consisting of 1,286 square feet for a total of 12,941 square feet of the 8 approximate 105,000 square feet in the building. She explained that the 2012 application 9 indicates the religious assembly use would need a total of 105 parking spaces given the 10 number of people that would occupy the use, plus four parking spaces for staff, or 109 parking 11 spaces; in addition, staff determined that 139 additional seats would be permitted through the 12 use of the lounge area requiring an additional 56 spaces, for a total of 165 parking spaces 13 required for the religious assembly use. She noted that staff used the calculations for the 14 City's industrial uses, which require one space per every 1,000 square feet of building floor 15 area, subtracting 12,000 square feet for the religious assembly use, resulting in 91 additional 16 parking spaces, however, because of the day care CUP, an adjustment was made for the 17 parking spaces for that use resulting in 89 spaces for the remainder of building, or 268 total 18 spaces required for all uses and there are 283 parking spaces that exist on the site. She noted 19 that the applicant has indicated if the dimensions of the parking spaces were reduced to meet 20 City standards, there could be 303 total parking spaces on site and staff recommends that a 21 parking analysis be performed to ensure that adequate parking exists if the parking lot is 22 restriped. She stated there are two separate parcels on this site and staff recommends 23 approving a lot combination pursuant to the City's subdivision regulations. She stated that 24 staff also recommends that the City review any change in occupancy within the building to 25 make sure adequate parking exists on the site to accommodate uses in the building. She 26 advised that staff also recommends that a traffic/parking study be performed within one year 27 of issuance of an occupancy permit to determine if adequate parking exists or if the parking 28 area needs to be restriped and that only vehicles accessory to permitted uses be allowed to 29 park in the parking lot and that no external vehicles would be allowed to rent space. She 30 advised that no signage plans have been submitted, however, all signage must comply with 31 Ch. 155 of the City Code. She explained that creation of the PUD rezones the property from 32 LI to PUD overlay with a LI underlying zoning district and also approves the preliminary and 33 final PUD plans. 34 35 Chairperson Crone opened the public hearing at 7:17 p.m. 36 37 Ms. Barbara Koebnick, 3101 Croft, requested clarification regarding uses of the parking lot 38 and stated there are semi trucks in the parking lot and there have been trailers coming and 39 going in the lot. She asked if these vehicles would be allowed when the PUD is approved. 40 41 Mr. Steve Goemer, 3424 3151 Avenue, stated it was his understanding there is enough parking 42 and they should not see overflow parking in the street. He asked what the City is going to do 43 if that is not the case and there is overflow parking in the neighborhood. He stated he has also 44 seen the semi trailers unloading cars and other vehicles in the parking lot and asked if they are 45 going to be allowed to displace parking onto the City streets. 46 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 3 1 Ms. Joanne Griffin, 3044 Croft, requested more information about other potential businesses 2 or activities in the building particularly related to clinics. 4 Ms. Nicki Carlson, on behalf of Abu-Huraira Islamic Center, explained that she manages the 5 building and they rented 50 parking spaces this winter to Cedar Towing because they have 6 been struggling to pay the building costs but the building tenants did not like it so they have 7 terminated the lease with Cedar Towing. She stated that they will abide by all City laws 8 related to overflow parking and if anyone visits the building and parks in a no parking zone, 9 they should be towed. She stated this is their first time owning a building and figuring out the 10 best use of the building as well as ingress/egress issues, etc., and they have reached out to all 11 the major health systems to see if they want to rent a floor in the building, adding that any 12 clinic would be open to the public. She stated there was a misunderstanding about a wellness 13 facility and there will be no wellness facility for tenants. She apologized to the neighbors 14 about their concerns with the parking lot and encouraged residents to call her if they have 15 questions or concerns. 16 17 Commissioner Bartel asked when the religious assembly would have the highest demand for 18 parking and whether that would overlap with any of the business tenants. He also asked about 19 current occupancy of the building. 20 21 Ms. Carlson stated there are approximately 300 parking spots and they have never come close 22 to using 100 parking spots. She explained that every Friday around 1:15-1:30 p.m., Muslims 23 are called to pray together so they would start parking around 12:30-1:00 and then the cars 24 would be gone by 3:00 p.m. and this parking would not interfere with the daily comings and 25 goings in the lot. She stated they could also mark the parking lot to limit parking past the first 26 10 or 20 spots for prayers on Fridays. She added she could not imagine that the mosque 27 would ever fill up and if it does, then they would restripe the parking lot. She stated the long 28 building is 100% full and the tower building is almost empty, with the first floor about 2/3 full 29 and the 2"d and 3.d floors are empty. She stated that tenants include IT work, staffing services, 30 engineers, an organization that trains mental health providers, a medical transportation 31 company, and cab companies. 32 33 Commissioner Foster asked if they anticipate any parking issues with Friday prayers when the 34 building is 100% occupied. 35 36 Ms. Carlson stated she could not imagine the Friday prayers filling the parking lot. 37 38 Commissioner Gondorchin asked about occupancy limits. 39 40 City Planner Johnson advised the applicant stated in its 2012 submittal a total of 261, 41 however, the Fire Marshal will need to review the rooms allocated for the specific use to 42 determine occupancy and compliance with the Fire Code. 43 44 Chairperson Crone referenced a letter submitted for the public hearing and included as part of 45 the public record. 46 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 4 2 3 4 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 V. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Chairperson Crone closed the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. Commissioner Poucher asked if a future owner of the property would be allowed to have a religious assembly use in the same location. City Planner Johnson replied that the religious assembly use would go with the property and would transfer to a new property owner. City Attorney Lindgren explained that a PUD is a rezoning and a new category for this land is being established. Motion by Commissioner Papatola, seconded by Commissioner Bartel, to recommend that the City Council approve Ordinance Creating the 2015-01 PUD — Planned Unit Development Overlay Zoning District Associated with the Property located at 3055 Old Highway 8 (PID 0602923410140 and PID 0602923410139). Motion carried unanimously. STAFF REPORTS. A. REQUEST — Request from Joel Janssen for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to Allow a Restaurant to be located Less than 250 Feet from a Residentially Zoned District and Variance from the Minimum Required Parking Stalls on the Property Located at 2510 Kenzie Terrace (Tabled from the December 9, 2014, City Council Meeting). City Planner Johnson presented background information regarding the request for a CUP and variance for 2510 Kenzie Terrace and stated that the City Council requested the Planning Commission review potential conditions to restrict hours of operation for the restaurant as well as screening along the south portion of the property. She reviewed the proposed hours of operation submitted by the applicant and stated that the Planning Commission could consider limiting the hours of operation for the dine -in portion to 10:00 p.m. every night and require that all delivery vehicles park on the north side of the building to minimize headlight glare to the residential area to the south. She advised there are two access points onto Lowry Avenue to the south of the building and an opaque fence between those access points along the southern portion of the property. She stated there is a parking lot to the east with six parking spaces facing toward the south, however, one or two of those spaces do not align with the opaque fence or mature trees. She presented a map depicting the access points and several pictures of the surrounding area and stated that the Planning Commission could add a condition requiring additional screening between the easternmost access and where the fence stops in order to mitigate headlight glare. She noted that the City would need to maintain sight lines and review the screening to ensure public safety for pedestrians and vehicles coming to and from the property. She stated that the Planning Commission could require additional natural landscaping for screening consisting of coniferous shrubs or trees in a quantity and height sufficient to visually screen as much of the parking lot as possible, adding that all screening must comply with the City's vision triangle standards to ensure adequate sightlines. Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 5 Commissioner Heinis asked Mr. Janssen if he would be interested in having the option to stay open later on New Years Eve or other holidays if the holiday falls during the week. Mr. Janssen replied he would like the option of being able to stay open until 1:00 a.m. on those days. 8 Commissioner Poucher stated it appears the majority of parking and traffic occurs on the 9 north side and it seems logical to put some screening on the median to prevent glare. 10 11 Mr. Janssen stated he has no problem with screening but was concerned about the south 12 entrance and being able to see pedestrians and oncoming traffic. He stated when you come 13 out on Kenzie Terrace, the landscaping there right now makes it hard to see traffic going 14 westbound. 15 16 Commissioner Poucher indicated there is still a big gap where that incoming curb cut is 17 located and the bushes only block the headlights to a certain point. He was not sure if a fence 18 or something solid in this area would completely block out headlights from hitting the 19 neighbors but felt it might mitigate some of the issues. 20 21 Commissioner Papatola stated he was sensitive to Commissioner Poucher's concern but was 22 hesitant to recommend an alternation without knowing what the impacts could be. 23 24 Motion by Commissioner Papatola, seconded by Commissioner Heinis, to direct staff to 25 prepare a list of acceptable holidays during which the business may be open additional hours 26 for delivery. 27 28 Motion carried unanimously. 29 30 Motion by Commissioner Poucher to direct staff to amend the conditions to include the 31 addition of a fence or wood screening 3' in height to be located on the median on the east side 32 of the building and with additional natural screening on the east side boundary of the property. 33 34 Motion failed for lack of a second. 35 36 Motion by Commissioner Bartel seconded by Commissioner Papatola, to recommend that the 37 City Council approve the required screening as suggested by staff and outlined in the 38 resolution. 39 40 Motion carried unanimously. 41 42 VI. OTHER BUSINESS. 43 44 A. CONSIDER APPROVAL — 2015 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule 45 Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 6 Motion by Commissioner Poucher, seconded by Commissioner Bartel, to approve the 2015 Planning Commission meeting schedule. Motion carried unanimously. B. CONSIDER APPROVAL — 2015 Planning Commission Work Plan Motion by Commissioner Gondorchin, seconded by Commissioner Poucher, to approve the 2015 Planning Commission Work Plan. 10 11 12 13 Il. COMMUNITY FORUM 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 None. VIII. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. Motion carried unanimously. Chairperson Crone reported she attended the annual goal setting and strategic planning session with the City Council and advised that the 2015 pyramid will be presented at the joint Planning Commission/City Council meeting in March. She also announced the vacancy on the City Council and encouraged all interested commissioners and residents to apply, adding that applications are due Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at 12:00 noon. IX. ADJOURNMENT. Chairperson Crone adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Hughes (TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.)