HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001.01.24 PC MinutesMINUTES
HUGO PLANNING COMMISSION
January 24 2001
Call to Order
Chairperson Schumann called the meeting of the Hugo Planning Commission of January 24, 2001 to order at
7:05 p.m.
Oath of Office
Newly appointed Planning Commission Member Bob Rosenquist read the Oath of Office
PRESENT: Kleissler, Malaski, Peltier, Rooney, Rosenquist, Schumann
Community Development Director, John Rask
Planning Commission Secretary, Michele Lindau
ABSENT: McRoberts
Minutes of December 20, 2000
Schumann made motion, Rooney seconded, to approve the Planning Commission minutes of December 20,
2000, as submitted.
AYES: Kleissler, Malaski, Rooney, Rosenquist, Schumann
ABSTAIN: Peltier
Motion carried.
Ordinance Amendment to Eliminate the Appointment of Alternate Planning Commission Members
The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider eliminating the appointment of alternate Planning
Commission members to the Planning Commission.
John Rask, Community Development Director, discussed the pros and cons of having alternate members. Rask
stated that the benefits of having alternates were that it would help insure there would be a quorum present at
each meeting and vacancies on the Planning Commission could be filled with an experience person. Reasons
for eliminating the alternate members were that the alternates may disrupt the continuity of long-term projects
and regular members may feel it was less necessary to attend the regular meetings. Rask asked the Planning
Commission for comments.
Rooney, who was an alternate before being appointed as a regular member of the Planning Commission, felt his
experience as an alternate helped him better understand the role of the Planning Commission when he was
appointed as a regular member.
Schumann opened the public hearing but there were no comments.
Schumann said there were glitches in the system; the mechanics were never established.
Planning Commission Meeting January 24, 2001- page 2
Malaski agreed and said that if they stayed with the alternates, they would need to develop a better system.
Valaski also said that having a quorum was never an issue, but Peltier said it could become an issue if and when
the Planning Commission met more often.
Rosenquist said he felt that it would be hard to keep alternates up to speed on issues that they would be voting
on.
Malaski made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend eliminating the appointment of alternate Planning
Commission members.
All AYES. Motion carried.
Ordinance Amendment to Eliminate the Board of Appeals and Adjustments
The Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the elimination of the Board of Appeals and
Adjustments and delegating to the Planning Commission certain responsibilities to review variances and hear
certain appeals. This would include procedural changes to how the City reviews variances.
The Community Development Director reviewed the staff report and the proposed ordinance with the Planning
Commission. He discussed the three possible options available to them, as well as the option to leave the Board
in place as is.
One option would be to make the Planning Commission a recommending body to the City Council, which is
how the current Board of Appeals and Adjustments is structured. The second option would be to give the
Planning Commission authority to approve or deny variances and review appeals, subject to appeal to the City
Council. The third option would be to give the Planning Commission the final authority, subject to judicial
review. The Community Development Director discussed the pros and cons of each of these options with the
Planning Commission.
Schumann opened the public hearing, but there were no comments.
Schumann said there was currently no board in place; all three positions were vacant.
The Commission agreed with the recommendation of staff to allow the Planning Commission to hear and act on
variances and appeals, subject to appeal to the City Council.
They also agreed the quorum should be set at four members, instead of three, but questioned whether a separate
public hearing would have to be held to consider the number constituting a quorum.
Rooney made motion, Peltier seconded, to recommend the approval of the draft ordinance amendment
eliminating the Board of Appeals and Adjustments, and to also change the quorum from three to four.
Schumann made motion, Peltier seconded, to amend motion to subject it to review by the City Attorney.
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Kleissler, Malaski, Peltier, Rooney, Rosenquist
NAY: Schumann
Motion carried.
Planning Commission Meeting January 24, 2001- page 3
Vote on motion as amended:
AYES: Kleissler, Malaski, Peltier, Rooney, Rosenquist
NAY: Schumann
Motion carried.
Browns Creek Watershed District Presentation
The Planning Commission held a joint meeting with the City Council to hear a presentation of the Brown's
Creek Watershed District (BCWD) on their Second Generation Plan.
Giving the presentation were: Camilla Correll, BCWD Engineer; Karen Kilberg, BCWD Vice -President; Julie
Westerlin, Department of Natural Resources Watershed Coordinator; and Torey Dupre, representative for the
Metropolitan Council.
Also in attendance were City Engineer Dave Mitchell and Water Resource Engineer Pete Willenbring, as well as
Council Members Haas, Miron, Petryk, Puleo.
The purpose of the presentation was to identify the key issues addressed in the plan that affect Hugo, and to
develop a cooperative relationship with all affected local units of government so that the management of water
resources can be accomplished in a collaborative manner.
Contractor Operations in the Restricted Commercial Zoning District
In response to an application from Lessard-Nyren Utilites to add a 4,200 square foot addition to its shop
building, the Planning Commission was asked to consider and make a recommendation to the City Council as to
whether or not a contractor yard/operation is an appropriate use in the Restricted Commercial zoning district.
Contractor yard/operations are not addressed in the Comprehensive Land Use Regulations. Section 1.5 D of
those regulations state that "Where a land use is not specifically stated as a permitted, accessory, or conditional
use in any of the zoning districts, the City Council, with the advice of the Planning Commission, shall determine
the appropriate zoning classification for the use."
Schumann made motion, Rosenquist seconded, to recommend allowing contractor yard/operations in the
Restricted Commercial district as a conditional use.
All AYES. Motion carried.
Zoning Ordinance Amendments
Staff recently completed a review and assessment of the current Comprehensive Land Use Regulations adopted
by the City in July 1999, and concluded that the ordinance needed additional work to bring it up to standards
and identified certain standards they felt should be updated prior to lifting the moratorium.
At the City Council meeting of January 16, 2001, the Council authorized staff to enter into a contract with Mark
Rosemark, Rosemark Consulting, to assist the City in updating its Land Use Regulations. Rosemark was
present to discuss which portions of the Land Use Regulations needed to be updated, and he asked the Planning
Commission for guidance on changes to the zoning districts. He explained the projected workload, and the
Planning Commission agreed they would need to hold additional meetings.
Planning Commission Meeting January 24, 2001- page 4
Planning Commission Vice -Chairperson Recommendation
Schumann made motion, Kleissler seconded, to recommend Malaski as the Vice Chairperson to the Planning
Commission.
All AYES: Motion carried.
Meeting Dates for 2001
The Planning Commission reviewed the regular scheduled Planning Commission meeting dates and, after
discussing their projected workload in the coming months, scheduled additional Planning Commission meetings
for February 13, 2001 and March 13, 2001.
Adiourn
Malaski made motion, Kleissler seconded, to adjourn at 11:12 pm.
All AYES. Motion carried.
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Michele Lindau, Secretary
Manning Commission