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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006.06.08 PC MinutesMINUTES HUGO PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 8, 2006 Call to Order Chairman Schumann called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. PRESENT: Hoffbeck, Rosenquist, Schumann, Weidt ABSENT: Bailly, Kleissler, McRoberts ALSO PRESENT: Bryan Bear, Community Development Director (CDD) Michele Lindau, Community Development Assistant Rachel Simone, Community Development Intern Minutes of May 11, 2006 Weidt made motion, Hoffbeck seconded, to approve the Planning Commission minutes of May 11, 2006, as submitted. All Ayes. Motion carried. Site Plan and Variance for Fleischhacker Office Park (Faulkner Construction) The Commission considered the application of Faulkner Construction, Inc, 2350 County Road J, White Bear Lake, for a site plan to construct two office buildings totaling 9,216 square feet with a second level located in the center of each building, and a variance to allow 48 parking spaces where ordinance required 49 spaces. The property is owned by Michael Fleischhacker and located at 5448 1401h Street North. In March, 2006, a duplex located on the property was demolished. The metal pole building was in the process of being demolished. The CD Intern explained that, as proposed, both the buildings would comply with setbacks, building height, lot coverage, and landscaping. She explained the exterior would be two styles of brick and the mezzanine would have cement fiber siding that resembled wood. The trash enclosure would be constructed with brick and match the building. A signage plan had not been submitted. The stormwater and drainage plan was close to complying with the City's stormwater management plan and the applicant would continue to work with the City. Sewer and water were available to serve the property. Rosenquist said he approved of the site being redeveloped. Hoffbeck asked what types of business would go there. The applicant said there would be offices for professionals. Rosenquist made motion, Hoffbeck seconded, to recommend approval of the site plan and variance for Flieschhacker Office Park. All Ayes. Motion carried. Planning Commission Minutes — June 8, 2006 Page 2 Jim Faulkner introduced Mike Fleischhacker and Andy Faulkner, and he explained the tenants in the building under demolition were being relocated to the building in the adjacent parcel to the north owned by Chuck Lowell. Schumann encouraged clean-up of the site. Faulkner complimented staff and the thanked the Commission. Amendment to Hugo City Code, Chapter 320, for notice requirements The City continued the public hearing to consider an ordinance amendment to change the notification area to extend beyond the standard 300 feet in the rural areas of the City. The CDD provided an update to the Commission. At the May 11, 2006 meeting the Commission members discussed this issue and decided to table the subject. The CDD explained that notices were published in the White Bear Press (the City's legal publication) and sometimes in the Citizen newspaper, except for variances where notices are only sent to property owners within 350 feet. He informed the Commission that State Statute required notices be sent to property owners within 300 feet of the subject property but practice has been to use a 350 foot notification range. Staff had drafted a text amendment reflecting the 300 feet notification for urban areas and 1,350 feet notification for rural areas. Schumann opened the public hearing. There were no comments and Schumann closed the public hearing. Schumann recalled discussion at the last meeting on certified letters with return receipts and asked if staff found out what the cost to mail notices by certified mail would be. The CDD said it would be approximately $4.25 per letter. Rosenquist said the 350 feet notification area was easier for the staff to manage and he noted that in other jurisdictions, signs are posted on properties when there is a land use application. Schumann said complaints were usually about not receiving their notice, not being outside the notification range. The more contiguous the property is, the more the public seemed to find out about applications. Hoffbeck said she felt 350 feet seemed reasonable in town but not in the rural areas. There needed to be an alternative way to let people know in the rural areas and she agreed that signage would help citing large developments affect a lot of people. Schumann said the State's requirement of 300 feet must have been carefully thought out and people needed to rely on each other to communicate what is going on. He said he was comfortable with the ordinance as it was. Weidt liked the idea, in theory, of a larger notification area in the rural area, but in practice, it was not all that practical. Weidt made motion, Rosenquist seconded, to deny an ordinance amendment to change the public notice Planning Commission Minutes — June 8, 2006 Page 3 notification range. Ayes: Rosenquist, Schumann, Weidt Nay: Hoffbeck Motion carried. Amendment to Hugo City Code, Chapter 320 Reducing Side Yard Setbacks in Industrial Districts The Commission continued the public hearing to consider changes to the required side yard building setback from in the industrial zoning districts. This was considered at the Commission meeting on May 11, 2006 and the Commission had suggested an ordinance amendment allowing the minimum side yard setback to be equal to the height of the building. The CD Intern provided graphics showing buildings of different heights at different setbacks. Schumann opened the public hearing. There were no comments and Schumann closed the public hearing. The Commission agreed this was a good compromise. Weidt made motion, Hoffbeck seconded, to recommend the draft ordinance reducing the required minimum side yard setback in the Industrial District from 40 feet to be equal to the height of the building and in no case less than ten feet. All Ayes. Motion carried. Update on Code Enforcement The CDD thanked the Commission for attending the joint workshop with the City Council on Code Enforcement. The Council and Commission had agreed changes needed to be made to the nuisance ordinance and the ordinance needed to address weeds, dogs, and other issues the City had been dealing with on a complaint driven basis. The CDD asked how the Planning Commission wished to proceed and suggested items be put on the agenda for discussion or a subcommittee be created to address amendments to the ordinance. The Commission agreed to wait until all members of the Commission were present to decide how to move forward on addressing amendments to the ordinance. Miscellaneous The CDD reminded the commission of the workshop on the Rural and Open Space ordinance scheduled for Monday, June 26, 2006 at 7:30. Adjournment Schumann made motion, Rosenquist seconded, recess until June 26, 2006. Planning Commission Minutes — June 8, 2006 Page 4 All Ayes. Motion carried. Hoffbeck pointed out there was another Commission meeting prior to this workshop. Weidt made motion, Hoffbeck seconded, to rescind the motion to recess. All Ayes. Motion carried. Rosenquist made motion, Hoffbeck second, to adjourn at 8:37 p.m. All Ayes. Motion carried. Michele Lindau, Secretary Planning Commission