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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC 04.28.22Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of Thursday, April 28, 2022 Chair Kleissler called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. PRESENT: Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard, Petty ABSENT: Mulvihill STAFF: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director Pledge of Allegiance. Approval of Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of April 14, 2022 Commissioner Petty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Derr to approve minutes for the meeting of April 14, 2022. Ayes: Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard, Petty Motion carried. New Business: White Bear Lake School District – Site plan request to allow an addition on the existing Oneka Elementary School located at 4888 Heritage Parkway North. Staff provided a background on the request submitted by the White Bear Lake Area School District. The site is located north of Heritage Parkway and west of Oneka Parkway. The applicant is seeking approval of an approximately 10,000 square foot addition to the existing Oneka Elementary School located at 4888 Heritage Parkway North. The existing elementary school received City approval in 2004 and the site consists of the elementary school and community gymnasium. The proposed addition includes adding five classrooms to the school and will create a total building capacity of 720 students. The applicant is also planning on interior renovation of the schools’ media center and surrounding area to create a ‘learning commons.’ Staff reviewed the site plan for consistency with the applicable standards outlined in the City Code and found that the application is consistent with the standards. Staff recommended approval of the site plan request submitted by White Bear Lake School District to allow an addition on the existing Oneka Elementary School located at 4888 Heritage Parkway North. Tim Wald from the WBL School District addressed the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission had no further discussion. Commissioner Petty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lessard, to approve the site plan request submitted by White Bear Lake School District to allow an addition on the existing Oneka Elementary School located at 4888 Heritage Parkway North. April 28, 2022 PC Minutes Page 2 Ayes: Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Lessard, Petty Nays: None. Motion carried. New Business: Premier Bank – Sketch plan for property located at 5615 147th Street North. Staff provided a background of the sketch plan submitted by Premier Bank for property located at 5615 147th Street North. The applicant is requesting informal comments on a sketch plan on a 0.76 acre parcel for a 4,368 square foot commercial use building with a drive-through lane. The property is zoned Future Central Business (FCB) and is located in the area of the City where development is guided by the downtown plan and design guidelines. The applicant is proposing to rezone the property to Central Business (C-1) to accommodate a commercial use. Staff provided additional background on the land use and zoning of the downtown area. The downtown guidelines state that “downtown development should be appropriate for a traditional downtown area,” including mixed use buildings, drug stores, banks, specialty markets, small grocers, destination retail, restaurants and entertainment, as encouraged uses. Staff stated that new, auto- oriented development, such as a drive-through, is not encouraged in the downtown area. Staff recommended that a neighborhood meeting be conducted with all properties in the FCB zoning district as it is a unique zoning district. It is a residential zoning district and holding place for future commercial district. Staff provided discussion topics for the Planning Commission to discuss. Representatives from Premier Bank, Chad Haller, Joe Houle, and Kelly Regan, addressed the Planning Commission. They articulated their reasoning behind the desired rezoning and conditional use permit. They desire visibility and accessibility that the site provides. The Planning Commission asked questions around circulation, orientation, and location of the site plan. They discussed using traffic counts to help determine access into the site. Commissioner Fry stated that the traffic count is important to bring to the neighborhood as it is likely that the residents in that area do not truly understand the zoning district that they are in. Staff reiterated that the applicant is proposing to rezone the property to C-1, which would result in any allowed use within that zoning district to be considered for the site, not just the bank. Generally the Commissioners agreed that feedback from the neighborhood is essential. Adjournment Commissioner Derr made a motion, Commissioner Fry seconded, to adjourn at 9:19pm. Respectfully Submitted, Emily Weber, Community Development Assistant.