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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/1995CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES December 6, 1995 1. CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chair Alan Felkner. Members Present: Alan Felkner, Karen Edgeton, Dave Swanson, Diane Nagler, Marcia Cowling, and Frank Blundetto. Members Absent: Paul Oberg. Staff Present: Rick Kelley, Tom Lovelace, and Mike Dougherty. Others Present: See the sign-in sheet. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Felkner asked Staff and the Commission members if they had any changes to the draft agenda included in the packet. There being none, he called for its approval. MOTION: Member Cowling moved, seconded by Member Nagler, to approve the draft agenda as submitted. The motion carried 6 - 0. 3. APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 1, 1995 MINUTES Chair Felkner asked Staff and the Commission members if they had any changes to the draft minutes submitted in the packet. It was noted that there was a typo on page 3 at the beginning to the second to the last paragraph. The paragraph states "Commission Swanson" when it should read "Commissioner Swanson." MOTION: Member Cowling moved, seconded by Member Nagler, to approve the minutes of November 1, 1995 as amended. The motion carried 5 - 0 with one abstention (Blundetto). 4. CONSENT ITEMS - None - 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. White Funeral Home Chair Felkner opened the public hearing with the standard remarks. Assistant Planner Tom Lovelace introduced the item which concerns the property located on the northeast Planning Commission Minutes December 6, 1995 Page 2 corner of Pennock Avenue and 146th Street West. This property is currently designated and zoned for Retail Business use. However, the Commission had previously recommended that these designations be changed to Limited Business. Final disposition of the zoning designations will occur tomorrow evening before the City Council meeting; the Metropolitan Council has already authorized this change. The purpose of this evening's public hearing is to consider a conditional use permit and site plan/building permit authorization for White Funeral Home to construct a funeral home on the premises. The funeral home would be a 6,000 square foot single story structure, with access to both Pennock Avenue and 146th Street. Chair Felkner noted that information on a sketch plan review for this particular proposal was previously distributed to the Planning Commissioners when the November 15th meeting was canceled. For this reason, the petitioner is requesting an action this evening after the close of the hearing, if all questions have been appropriately addressed. Mr. Norm Cole, the architect representing White Funeral Home, then approached the Commission. He made a brief presentation concerning the project's description, and noted that the single assembly area in the funeral home would have a capacity of 115 people, which would require a minimum of 32 parking spaces. The plan indicates a total of 63 parking spaces. The building would be constructed with an all brick exterior with a pitched roof. There would be some stone accents at the corners and along the pillared area to the entries. There would also be a garage for delivery purposes located on the east side of the building. Mr. Cole went on to say that Staff had advised him that landscaped island areas would have to be installed in the center and east parking lot areas and that they can easily accommodate this. He also noted that there would be some revised landscape materials placed along the east and north property lines to create more of a buffered area to the adjacent parking lots. Chair Felkner asked about the size of the signs being proposed for the funeral home. Mr. Cole stated that they aze proposing a monument sign at the Pennock entry location and a building sign along the west elevation, which also faces Pennock Avenue. Chair Felkner asked if Mr. Cole was aware of the maximum size requirements imposed by City Code. Mr. Felkner noted that the City's sign regulations are somewhat stringent and that he would not want to see the developer come back in the future with a variance request stating that he was not aware at the time the building permit was approved. Mr. Cole stated that they would comply with all of the sign requirements established by the City Code. Chair Felkner then asked if the Commission had any questions of the developer or of Staff. Planning Commission Minutes December 6, 1995 Page 3 Member Gowling asked if the landscaping plan as now proposed was appropriate. Assistant Planner Tom Lovelace stated that there would be some minor revisions of plantings as listed on the planting schedule, but that they would easily be able to meet the 2 1/2% minimum value requirement. Member Gowling then asked where the trash would be kept on the premises. Mr. Cole noted that the trash would be kept indoors in the garage area. Chair Felkner then asked Mr. Lovelace if he had any further comments on his review of the proposal. Mr. Lovelace stated that the sidewalk length that Staff had requested is now being shown along the north side of the building across the parking area to interconnect to the Pennock Avenue sidewalk. He also noted that more landscaping and green area along the north property boundary are being illustrated on the site plan. Chair Felkner asked how high a berm could conceivably be constructed within the 5 foot wide setback area. Mr. Kelley noted that in order to accommodate the 3 to 1 maximum slope that the City wants to see for berms, it would be about 18 inches in height. This would provide for a softening and buffering effect, but not a complete visual screen. Chair Felkner then opened the hearing to any comments from the public. Mr. Roopnarine Boodoo approached the podium. He stated that he owns the vacant commercial property located on the southeast corner of 146th Street and Granada Drive. He said that they were somewhat concerned when they first received notice of this public hearing, but now that they have reviewed the proposal, all of their questions and concerns have been answered. There being no further comment, Chair Felkner closed the hearing with the standard remarks. He noted that because some sketch plan information had been presented to the Commission previously, he would be willing to entertain a motion for the project this evening. MOTION: Member Gowling moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to recommend approval of the conditional use permit for a funeral home in Limited Business district on Lots 1 to 3, Block 2, Valley Commercial Park, 2nd Addition. The motion carried 6 to 0. MOTION: Member Gowling moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to recommend approval of the site plan and building permit authorization for the White Funeral Home on Lots 1 to 3, Block 2, Valley Commercial Park, 2nd Addition subject to verification of the landscape requirement and inclusion of the landscape parking islands. Mr. Lovelace noted that the installation of the landscape islands would reduce the total number of parking stalls from 63 to 59; this is still substantially over the arinimum code requirement. Planning Commission Minutes December 6, 1995 Page 4 The motion carried 6 to 0. This item will appear on the City Council agenda of December 21, 1995. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS - None - 8. OTHER BUSINESS A. 1996 Meeting Calendar Community Development Director Rick Kelley noted that this calendar for 1996 meetings is the same as the 1995 calendar, which provided for Planning Commission meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, with the exception of July. Because of the July 4th holiday, there would be only one meeting in July which would occur on the third Wednesday of the month. MOTION: Member Blundetto moved, seconded by Member Cowling, to adopt the 1996 meeting calendar as submitted. The motion carried 6 - 0. 9. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Member Blundetto moved, seconded by Member Cowling, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6 - 0. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.