HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC 03.25.21Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of Thursday, March 25, 2021
Meeting held remotely pursuant Minn. Stat. Sec. 1313.021
Chair Kleissler called the meeting to order at 7:14 pm.
PRESENT: Arcand, Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard, Mulvihill, Petty.
ABSENT: Luchsinger.
STAFF: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director
Emily Weber, Community Development Assistant
Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of February 11, 2021
Commissioner Petty directed staff to make an edit to the meeting minutes of February 11, 2021.
Commissioner Arcand made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Petty to approve minutes for the
meeting of February 11, 2021 with corrections as mentioned.
Ayes: Arcand, Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Mulvihill, Petty.
Abstained: Lessard. Nay: None.
Motion carried.
Public Hearing: White Bear Lake Area School — Site plan, conditional use permit, and property line
adjustment for the property located at 15198 Forest Boulevard North.
Staff provided a background on the site plan, conditional use permit, and property line adjustment
submitted by the White Bear Lake Area School District. The site is approximately 135 acres, zoned
single-family detached residential (R-3), and is generally located west of Highway 61 and south of 157tn
Way North. The applicant is seeking approval of an approximately 100,000 square foot elementary
school and gymnasium, associated ball -fields and playground, and walking trails. Schools are allowed in
the R-3 zoning district as conditional use.
The WBL School District and Xcel Energy have applied for a property line adjustment to allow the
District to acquire the property on the north side of the school property and through the western
portion of the school property. In turn, the District will provide Xcel with an easement for utility
purposes. Staff found that the request meets all of the requirements necessary to approve the
property line adjustment.
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Staff provided additional information on the site plan including streets and parking, landscaping and
lighting, grading/drainage, and architecture. Staff found that the applications are consistent with the
ordinance standards and recommended approval of the site plan, CUP, and property line adjustment
for the White Bear Lake School District. Staff also recommended that the Planning Commission hold a
public hearing and take all public comment.
Tim Wald, Assistant Superintendent for WBL Schools, addressed the Planning Commission and
introduced the team working on the project.
Chair Kleissler asked the District how many students the school is intended for and Wald responded by
stating that the school can comfortably hold 720 students. The District is not planning to be at capacity
when they open but are planning for future growth. Wald went into further detail on the innovative
teaching strategies that are planned for the elementary school. Dan Schmidt, principal at the new
elementary school, also addressed the Planning Commission to provide details on the purpose of the
layout of the school.
Chair Kleissler opened the public hearing at 7:35pm.
Theresa Moore, 5605 157t" Way North, addressed concerns about the walking path being adjacent to
their property. Moore would like the School District to provide fencing along her property line to
ensure students do not walk across her yard. Assistant Superintendent Wald stated that he would work
with the resident moving forward.
Chair Kleissler closed the public hearing at 7:42pm.
The Planning Commission continued to discuss the requests and generally likes the plan and
appreciated the thought behind the layout of the parking and drop off areas.
Commissioner Arcand made a motion to approve the site plan, conditional use permit, and property
line adjustment for the property located at 15198 Forest Boulevard North for the White Bear Lake Area
School District. Seconded by Commissioner Lessard.
Ayes: Arcand, Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard Mulvihill, Petty.
Nay: None. Motion Carried.
Public Hearing: Xcel Energy — Variance and conditional use permit amendment request for the
property located at 13620 Fenway Boulevard North.
Staff provided background on the request. The applicant currently owns and operates a training facility
on the property and is proposing to construct additional training facilities to include a mock
transmission line. This requires a conditional use permit amendment to amend the site plan showing
the utility pole locations in the conditional use permit. The applicant is also requesting a variance from
the maximum building height for the training poles to be 72 feet tall, where 50 feet is required. Staff
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found that the proposal meets all the requirements necessary for the City to approve the requests and
recommended that the Planning Commission take all public comments. Staff recommended that the
Planning Commission approve the variance and CUP amendment for the Xcel Energy training facilities
located at 13620 Fenway Boulevard North, subject to the conditions listed in the resolution.
Commissioner Arcand asked how tall the surrounding trees are compared to the proposed utility poles.
Staff stated that the top of the trees are at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet and the tallest
utility pole will be below that. Commissioner Derr asked staff to clarify that the location of the utility
poles are all on the applicant's property. Staff stated that the outline Commissioner Derr was referring
to is the wetland boundaries on site and that the poles will be required to remain outside of the
wetland boundaries.
Tim Mauseth, representing Xcel Energy, addressed the Planning Commission and emphasized the
importance of the project and the applicant's commitment to providing adequate training to ensure
safety protocols.
Chair Kleissler opened the public hearing at 7:55pm.
No one spoke.
Chair Kleissler closed the public hearing at 7:56pm.
The Planning Commission continued to discuss the applications. Commissioner Derr stated that Xcel
Energy has been a great asset to the community and have consistently been a good neighbor to the
surrounding properties. The Commissioners generally agreed.
Commissioner Derr made a motion to approve the variance and CUP amendment for Xcel Energy for
property located at 13620 Fenway Boulevard North, subject to the conditions listed in the resolution.
Seconded by Commissioner Mulvihill.
Ayes: Arcand, Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard Mulvihill, Petty.
Nay: None. Motion Carried.
New Business
Staff facilitated a discussion on moving to in -person meetings. The Commissioners discussed COVID
protocols and generally agreed to work towards meeting in person in the upcoming months. The
opportunity to provide hybrid remote/in-person meetings is a benefit for the Commissioners and
residents.
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Adjournment
Commissioner Arcand made a motion, Commissioner Lessard seconded, to adjourn at 8:07 pm.
Ayes: Arcand, Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard Mulvihill, Petty.
Nay: None. Motion Carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Emily Weber, Community Development Assistant