HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002.03.28 PC MinutesCall to Order
Chairperson Schumann called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
PRESENT: Kleissler, Malaski, McRoberts, Peltier, Rooney, Rosenquist, Schumann
ALSO PRESENT: John Rask, Community Development Director
Kendra Lindahl, Planner
Michele Lindau, Planning Commission Secretary
Minutes for Planning Commission Meeting February 28, 2002
Rosenquist made motion, Malaski seconded, to approve the minutes for February 28, 2002 as
submitted.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Centex Homes (Clearwater Crossing)
The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the application of Centex Homes,
12400 Whitewater Drive, Minnetonka, for preliminary plat, site plan, and a variance for eighteen
condominium lots and three outlots on 49.51 acres located west of Fenway Boulevard and north
of 132°a Street.
The applicant is proposing a total of 122 townhome units on 18 condominium lots. The requested
variance would allow five 10 -unit buildings where the ordinance limits townhome buildings to a
maximum of eight units per building. The requested variance is from the townhome standards,
not the R-5 district standards.
Planner Kendra Lindahl presented her report to the Commission and Schumann opened the public
hearing.
Deb Johnson, 14196 Fenway Avenue, said she didn't want to see any more driveways on Fenway
Boulevard because she was concerned for the safety of the users of the bike trail. Johnson also
stated concern about the narrowing of the road in the development to 28 feet and the limited
amount of guest parking.
Betsey Dunn, 13262 Europa Bay North, was concerned about the wetlands to the west of the
proposed development.
Planning Commission Meeting March 28, 2002 - page 2
Planning Commission members were concerned about constructing a driveway or trail over the
pipeline easement, as well as limited parking for guests.
Developer Steve Ach said there would be no problem with building over the gas line and felt the
parking on the street should accommodate guests. Ach also stated he was requesting the variance
to allow 10 -unit buildings because, according to ordinance, apartment buildings are a permitted
use on the property and would allow greater density.
There were no other comments and Schumann closed the public hearing.
Rooney asked why the City would want to acquire Outlot A, and the Community Development
Director explained that it was adjacent to an 80 acre -parcel owned by the City and the Parks
Commission had expressed interest in it for a City Park.
McRoberts said the property could be brought to reasonable use with smaller buildings.
Rosenquist questioned the reason for narrowing the street within the development to 28 feet
because he felt off street parking was necessary. Rosenquest also said there should be a driveway
off Fenway Boulevard to allow another access to the north building.
Schumann said he felt the landscaping was adequate.
Kleissler asked about the size and location of the open space.
Malaski said she was not impressed with the north building (#9) and felt the property would be a
nice entryway into the City owned 80 acres to the west and should they be allowed to construct it,
there should be some way to tie it into the other development. She also said she was not in favor
of traffic over the bituminous bike trail and parking within the development should be addressed.
McRoberts said he was not impressed with the north building being located away from the other
buildings in the development. He said open space was unusable and inaccessible, and that street
standard widths and unit limits should be adhered to.
Ach said they could provide more parking if needed but they wanted to limit impervious surface.
Rooney said he felt there was no hardship case made on behalf of the variances or direct access to
Fenway Boulevard, and that streets should be uniform in width.
Rooney made motion, McRoberts seconded, to recommend approval of the resolution for the site
plan and variance for Centex Homes with the following changes: reducing the number of
approved townhomes to 112, eliminating the driveway off Fenway Boulevard to the north lot,
require construction of all public streets to be 30 feet wide, and a requirement to provide a proof
of parking plan.
Aye: Kleissler, McRoberts, Rooney, Schumann
Nay: Malaski, Peliter, Rosenquist
Motion carried.
Planning Commission Meeting March 28, 2002 - page 3
McRoberts made motion, Schumann seconded to recommend approval of the preliminary plat for
Centex Homes.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Fenway Park Preliminary Plat & Variance Mettler Homes)
The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the request of Kettler Construction,
483 Harbor Court, Shoreview, to rezone from R-3 to PUD, a PUD general plan and a preliminary
plat for 47 townhome units in a plat to be known as "Fenway Park." The gross density of the
project would be 2.7 units per acre. The subject property is west of Fenway and north of 140`h
Street (northwest of the City's Fire Hall).
As part of this development, the applicant is proposed to remove the existing home and accessory
buildings located on the southeast portion of the property. There are three wetlands and some
floodplain located on this property. Additionally, there are drainage ditches on the western half of
the site.
At the Planning Commission meeting on October 24, 2001, the Commission reviewed a sketch
plan for the subject property and offered a number of comments including buffering, road, and
wetland issues, as well as the need for a sanitary sewer lift station.
Staff recommended that the Planning Commission table this item to allow the applicant time to
meet with City staff to address the outstanding issues related to this request.
Schumann opened the public hearing.
Harley Johnson, 14196 Fenway Avenue, had concerns regarding the proposed extension and
realignment of CSAH8. The Community Development Director invited him to meet with City
staff to discuss the options that were being considered.
Developer Len Pratt made a formal request that the application be tabled. Chairperson Schumann
said they would leave the public hearing open for discussion when the application was brought
back to the Planning Commission.
Malaski made motion, Peltier seconded, to table the request of Kettler Construction to allow time
for the developer to work with City staff on outstanding issues related to this request.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Lametti & Sons Site Plan
Lametti & Sons, Inc., 16028 Forest Lake Boulevard, requested approval of a site plan to construct
a 7,350 square foot office building on the south end of their property located at 16028 Forest
Boulevard North. The proposed site improvements would include construction of a new parking
lot and the removal of the existing office building. The existing office building consists of a
renovated single family home.
Planning Commission Meeting March 28, 2002 - page 4
On February 28, 2002, the Planning Commission had considered this request and tabled action to give
the applicant an opportunity to address several violations with regard to their existing conditional use
permit that was issued on February 7, 2000, which allowed exterior and interior storage of materials
and equipment, processing of cured -in-place pipe, and modular office space. This conditional use
permit was approved subject to 13 conditions and allowed amendments to the site plan with City
Council approval.
Staff met with the applicant on March 8, 2002, and walked the property to determine what work
needed to be done to bring the site into compliance but given the time of year and the amount of work
that needed to be done, it was determined that the applicant would not be able to bring the site into
full compliance prior to the City acting on the site plan application.
Fred Chase from Lametti & Sons provided a schedule for the necessary work to bring the property
into compliance with the existing conditional use permit. Chase stated that they anticipated the
property would someday be brought into better use, which would perhaps eliminate some of the more
intrusive uses. He stated that they intended to have the building up this year and put up a fence since
some vandalism has occurred.
The Commission discussed appropriate planting time for screening as required in the draft resolution,
concluding that the fencing be constructed by August 1, 2002, and planting of trees to be done by
December or the spring of 2003, weather permitting.
Malaski made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend approval of the site plan for Lametti & Sons
with the above-mentioned changes.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Como Lube Site Plan & Variance
The Commission considered the application of Kellison Company, 7300 Hudson Blvd, Oakdale,
for a variance and site plan approval to construct a 5,712 square foot warehouse addition on their
existing building located at 13575 Fenway Boulevard North, occupied by Como Lube.
The requested variance was to construct the proposed building addition 20 feet from the front lot
line adjoining Fenway Court. The required setback is 30 feet. The applicant proposed to plant
additional trees, which should help to soften the appearance of the building.
Jim Kellison, from Kellison Company, was present and explained the proposed addition to the
commission, which would also include construction of a trash and recycling enclosure and a
cyclone fence with slats.
Staff found that the hardship is unique to the property because it is a corner lot that is irregular in
shape, making it difficult to expand the building without encroaching into the required setbacks.
The shape of the lot only allows the applicant to cover 22 percent of the lot with the building. It is
common for industrial buildings to cover between 35 and 45 percent of the lot.
Malaski made motion, Peliter seconded, to recommend approval of the variance and site plan for
Planning Commission Meeting March 28, 2002 - page 5
the addition to Como Lube at 13575 Fenway Boulevard North.
Ayes: Kleissler, Malaski, Peltier, Rosenquist, Schumann
Nay: McRoberts, Rooney
Motion Carried.
Bruneman Concept Plan
Representatives from Burgerman Homes appeared before the Planning Commission to solicit
informal comments on a sketch plan for a proposed housing development. The development
would be located east of Highway 61 and north of Peloquin Industrial Park and would consist of
approximately 164 single-family homes; 48 single family homes, 36 one-story townhomes, and 80
two-story townhomes.
The Commission reviewed the plan and requested the developer work with other property
owners/developers in the area to develop a cohesive plan for the area.
Schumann made motion, Kleissler seconded, to recommend the City hold public workshops to
discuss development in this area.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Update on City Council Goals- Fran Miron
Mayor Fran Miron addressed the Planning Commission to discuss the goals established for the
City Council and Planning Commission for 2002. Mayor Miron said he felt the establishment of
these goals permitted them to prioritize and become more proactive
Issues to be addressed by the Planning Commission were the Buffer Yard Ordinance, Home
Occupation Ordinance, and the Cluster Housing Ordinance.
Planning Commission Meeting Schedule
The Planning Commission discussed the meeting schedule for 2002 and removed the November
28th and December 26th meeting from the schedule due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas
holidays.
Adiournment
Peltier made motion, Malaski seconded to adjourn at 10:50 pm.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Michele Lindau, Secretary