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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003.01.09 PC MinutesMINUTES HUGO PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 2003 Call to Order Chairperson Schumann called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. PRESENT: Bailly, Kleissler, Malaski, McRoberts, Peltier, Rosenquist, Schumann ALSO PRESENT: John Rask, Community Development Director Kendra Lindahl, Planner Michele Lindau, Planning Commission Secretary Minutes of December 12, 2002 Malaski made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend approval of the minutes of December 12, 2002, as submitted. All Ayes. Motion carried North Country Auto Site Plan for Addition The Commission considered the application of North Country Auto Body, Inc., for site plan approval to construct a 7,070 square foot building addition. The proposed addition would consist of new work bays and a customer service area. Architecturally, the addition would provide a "store front" to the building making it more attractive to customers. The applicant also proposed to expand the parking area and construct a chain link fence with privacy slats to screen vehicles awaiting repair. Galen Carlson, owner of North Country Auto Body, said there were two driveways with existing curb cuts, which was not shown on the site plan. Carlson wanted to keep both drives to maintain traffic flow. Malaski asked what type of trees he would be planting and Carlson said he planned on planting evergreens. Malaski cautioned him that southern exposure might not be conducive for evergreens. One of the conditions in the staff report was to combine both properties into one parcel. Carlson said that the County may require it to be replatted. The CD Director said the issue could be addressed on an administrative level. Malaski made motion, Peltier seconded to recommend the site plan for North Country Auto Body, Inc. All Ayes. Motion carried. Planning Commission Meeting January 9, 2003 - page 2 Victor Gardens 0 Addition The Commission held a public hearing to consider the application for POA/Scherer, LLC, 7100 Northland Circle, Minneapolis, for a PUD amendment and preliminary plat for 99 townhomes and a 2.23 -acre commercial outlot on the 13.70 -acre parcel. The requested PUD amendment would allow townhomes on approximately 2.5 acres of land that was originally planned for retail/commercial development as part of the original PUD. Planner Kendra Lindahl presented her staff report to the Commission, which included two alternative concept plans for the fixture commercial lot. McRoberts asked now many exit/entrances were permitted onto CSAH 8, pointing out that several existed already. The CD Director said that Washington County had approved the entrances into the Victor Gardens development and additional entrances would probably be considered as part of the CSAH 8 project. Schumann opened the public hearing. Len Pratt introduced the development team, which included Homer Thompkins, David Hemple, Project Manager; Jason McCarthy, Westwood Engineering; and Dustin Kern, Rottlund Company. Pratt elaborated on the details of the gazebo and landscaping of the public square. Thompkins referred to the two alternative plans for the space adjacent to the homes in the 31 Addition. Alternative A showed retail/offices uses and a gas/convenience store with a car wash. Alternative B showed only office/retail uses. Thompkins provided the Commission retail village design guidelines for Victor Gardens, which has a French theme. Thompkins explained the role of the Architect Control Committee and the procedure that all potential occupants would have to go through prior to approaching the City with any plans. Members of the Commission stated their desire to see something other than the standard convenient store in the area. Pratt agreed that convenience stores needed to be reinvented. Dustin Kern presented the two different product types of which would be built in the 3rd Addition. Kern explained that the Classic Row Townhomes would be constructed to de-emphasize the garages and would be low maintenance. Kern said they would be approximately 2,300 square feet per unit in size and cost up to $250,000. The Gables, Kern said, would be three story buildings with two car garages. The units would be approximately 1,600 to 1,800 square feet and cost between $115,000 and $200,000 per unit. Malaski commented on the lack of parking at the gazebo. Kleissler shared comments from the Parks Commission and said that the townhomes nearby could take away the feel of the park being a public space. Pratt said he felt it would be apparent it was public space when you drove in and saw the square prior to any of the residential buildings. Kleissler asked about maintenance and Pratt said it would be a master association with a retail and residential component that would co -manage and maintain the properties. Pratt envisioned Victor Planning Commission Meeting January 9, 2003 - page 3 Gardens maintaining it all for the first three years and continually working with the City to take care of the open spaces. McRoberts made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend approval of the PUD amendment and preliminary plat for Victor Gardens 3rd Addition. All Ayes. Motion carried. National Recycling Site Plan & Variance for Sign On December 12, 2002, Commission considered the request of Rick Mark for a variance to construct a sign at his business, National Recycling, Inc. 15717 Forest Boulevard, and tabled the request to allow the applicant to explore other options. Schumann made motion, Malaski seconded, to table the request to allow the applicant more time to work with staff. All Ayes. Motion carried. Goal Setting The following are goals set by the Planning Commission: Focus on CSAH 8 and the impact on the downtown area. Explore transitional densities of subdivisions through townhomes and the PUD process. Plan review and public hearings regarding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Develop home-based business ordinance. Review ordinance and develop site design and architectural standards. Continue to review development applications. Long-range planning for the community. Schumann provided the Commission a synopsis of the activities of the Planning Commission for the past 10 years. McRoberts said they needed to see what their options were in regard to the historical area of Hugo before development occurred on the corner of TH61 and 145th Street. Malaski encouraged businesses along TH61 to landscape in order to enhance the view of the highway corridor. Schumann said the theme needed to be set for all entrances into Hugo. Rosenquist said the lumberyard property could set the trend since there was little room to work with the existing properties along TH61. Schumann noted that there were traffic issues and said he would rather see roads feed into CSAH Planning Commission Meeting January 9, 2003 - page 4 8 instead of a four -lane road from TH61 to the freeway. Mayor Fran Miron complimented the Commission and staff on their hard work and invited them to attend the City Council goal -setting meeting on January 13, 2003 at 7.30pm. The Mayor also encouraged the Commission to add to the synopsis provide by Commissioner Schumann. Adjournment Malaski made motion, McRoberts seconded, to adjourn at 9.02pm All Ayes. Motion carried. Michele Lindau, Secretary Planning Commission