HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001.08.22 PC MinutesMINUTES
HUGO PLANNING COMMISSION
AUGUST 22, 2001
Call to Order
Chairperson Schumann called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Kleissler, Malaski, McRoberts, Peltier, Rooney, Rosenquist, Schumann
ALSO PRESENT: John Rask, Community Development Director
Michele Lindau, Planning Commission Secretary
Minutes for July 25, 2001
McRoberts made motion, Peltier seconded, to approve the minutes for July 25, 2001 as amended.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Withrow School Site Plan for Storage Garage
The Planning Commission considered an application from Independent School District 834 (Stillwater School
District) for site plan approval to construct a 12 x 20 square foot storage building at Withrow School, 10158 122nd
Street North, to be used for the storage of supplies, chairs, a snow blower, and athletic equipment. The proposed
building would be located south of the existing school.
Joe Schurmeister, representative from Withrow School, stated that the building would be vinyl sided and similar in
color to the school, and would be located behind the garbage bins, which were hidden by a six-foot fence.
Rooney noted that the zoning ordinance required accessory buildings in other districts to meet certain standards.
Rooney questioned why accessory buildings in the Agriculture district were allowed to vary from the requirements
applied to other zoning districts.
Malaski asked that landscaping be done around the shed.
Rooney made motion, Rosenquist seconded, to recommend approval of the site plan for the Stillwater School
District, subject to conditions in the draft resolution, adding a condition requiring additional landscaping be done to
screen the building from County Road 57.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Schumann made motion, Rooney seconded, to recommend staff draft an amendment to the ordinance to require
certain standards be applied to industrial and commercial type accessory buildings in the Agriculture district, and
amend the landscape ordinance to require a variety of trees be planted, as opposed to all the same species in one
area.
Ayes: Kleissler, Malaski, McRoberts, Rooney, Rosenquist, Schumann
Nays: Peltier
Motion carried.
Housing Plan Update
The Planning Commission reviewed the draft Housing Plan and provided comments, which will be forward to
the City Council for its consideration, and the final document will be presented to the Metropolitan Council.
Planning Commission Meeting August 22, 2001- page 2
State law requires cities to update their Comprehensive plan every 10 years. All metro area communities were
required to submit their plan to the Metropolitan Council for review by December 31, 1998. The City
submitted its plan to the Metropolitan Council for review, but the Metropolitan Council required a housing plan
be included for the Comprehensive Plan to be considered complete.
The housing element of the plan must included goals for the planning of low and moderate income housing in
the City. State law also requires cities to establish housing goals in order to be eligible for funding specified in
the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act.
Discussed was the aspect of affordable housing and the housing market, which has made it difficult to achieve
these goals. Members of the Commission felt Planned Unit Developments allowed developers to include a wide
range of housing to achieve life cycle housing goals but not affordable housing goals. It was agreed that the
City could not require developers to construct low priced homes and some form of public subsidy was needed to
achieve this goal.
Also discussed was the Metropolitan Council's role in the establishment of these goals. Rooney said he felt
citizens would react better with a policy statement that reflected the City's goals and not the Metropolitan
Council's.
Rooney made motion, Rosenquist seconded, to acknowledge receipt of the draft Housing Plan with the
recommendation that it would be more effective if it proactively met the needs of the City and was less reactive
to government mandates.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
Zoning Enforcement Issues
The Community Development Director provided an overview of the City's code enforcement process and
policies. Discussed were the mechanisms for enforcement of the zoning ordinance and other regulations, the
permit review process, conditions of approval, site inspections, and who was responsible to perform these
functions and enforce them. The Director asked the Planning Commission and City Council to direct all
complaints to City staff.
It was suggested that the residents be informed of City ordinances by including code compliance tips in the city
newsletter and other City media.
Adjournment
Malaski made motion, Kleissler seconded to adjourn at 8:25 pm.
All Ayes. Motion carried.
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Michele Lindau, Secretary
Planning Commission