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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/21/1996CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 21, 1996 1. CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Chair Alan Felkner. Members Present: Alan Fellmer, Frank Blundetto, Marcia Gowling, Diane Nagler, Paul Oberg and Kazen Edgeton. Members Absent: Dave Swanson. Staff Present: Rick Kelley, Tom Lovelace, Kathy Bodmer and Mike Dougherty. Others Present: Seethe sign-in sheet. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Fellaier asked Staff and the Commission members if they had any changes or additions to the proposed agenda. There being none, he called for its approval. MOTION; Member Gowling moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to approve the agenda. The motion carried 6 - 0. 3. APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 7, 1996 MINUTES Chair Felkner asked Staff and the Commission members if they had any changes to the draft minutes submitted in the packet. Rick Kelley noted that there was a correction on the bottom of page number 2 where "writing plan" should be changed "lighting plan." There being no other wrrections, Chair Felkner called for their approval. MOTION: Member Nagler moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion carried 5 - 0, with one abstention (Edgeton). 4. CONSENT ITEMS -None - 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. GoodwilUEaster Seal Store Chair Felkner opened the public hearing with the standard remarks. The item was introduced by Associate Planner Kathy Bodmer. The site is located on the southwest corner of 153rd Street and Garrett Avenue. This properly is designated on the comprehensive plan for Retail Business uses, and it is also zoned for Retail Business use. The purpose of the hearing is to consider a subdivision of land by plat to separate out a single lot of about 4.25 acres in size. The purpose of this would be to provide a separate parcel for the construction Planning Commission Minutes February 21, 1996 Page 2 of a 25,000 square foot retail store to be owned and operated by Goodwill/Easter Seal. The site is immediately adjacent to Frank's Nursery on the west. Ms. Bodmer then turned the presentation over to the proposed developer. Keith Schupp of Winkelman Building Corporation introduced himself. He said that. also in the audience this evening aze Lee Hanson, a general partner of Quad Partnership, and Gimry Reim; who is the Vice President of Operations for GoodwilUEater Seal. Also Bart Winkler, the current property owner, was present. Mr. Schupp referred to the overhead. transparency of the site plan, and noted that they have lined up the building. with the existing Frank's and Media Play buildings to the east to create a uniform street appearance. They also are. using similar building materials and colors in order to conform so that the entire block looks as of one: piece. He stated that they have also provided sidewallc connections from the front of the building to 153rd Street and to Garrett Avenue as per City Staffrequests. On the west side: ofthe building,: adrive-thru drop-off azea for donations is provded. This drive- thru has overhead doors on each end and will be closed and secured when donations are not being accepted. He stated that circukation is designed around the rear of the building such that an entrance off of 153rd Street would lead either trucks or people making donations along the west side of the building, and then exiting along the rear of the building. out to Garrett Avenue. The exterior of the building as noted would be similar or identical to Frank's Nursery. This would consist of a dazk brick base material, with a lighter brick in the center portion, and light colored dryvit material along the top. There would also be canopy features at the entrances made of a blue dryvit material for accent. color. The building would be constructed with masonry structural walls with exterior veneer work and a baz joist roof. A11 of the exterior materials would be maintenance free. They aze also providing for a concrete. curb. and gutter around the perimeter of the: parking and circulation azea and asphalt paving as per City code. The use of the building would be broken down to about 15,000 squaze feet of retail space, 2,500 squaze feet of office space, with the balance being utilized for receiving, shipping, and storage. Mr. Hanson then addressed the Commission about the access onto 153rd Street. He stated that they have pursued the use of a joint access with Mid-America Holding Company, which owns the property occupied by the Frank's Nursery building duectly to the east. He stated while that they were not averse to the use of a shared driveway arrangement, they wanted Winkleman Building Corporation to not only reconstruct the shared driveway area, which Winkelman had expected, but also wished to be paid for the utilization of their property for this joint access. Mr. Hanson said that this would not be acceptable to them, and if they aze not able to come to terms with Mid-America, they will likely have to move their access to the center of the lot in order to meet Staff recommendations. Mr. Hanson went on to say that he felt that Mid-America was being shortsighted in their demands in that a wider shared access would allow access all the way to the back of the Frank's Nursery Store for lazge semi-trailer trucks, which currently are not able to negotiate the narrow curved portion at the rear of Frank's Nursery. Planning Commission Minutes February 21, 1996 Page 3 Mr. Hanson noted that the City Engineer has stated that a sanitary sewer line must be extended from Galaxie Avenue along 153rd Street to serve the property. He said he was uncleaz about how this installation would occur and how long it would take. Community Development Director Rick Kelley stated that at the time that the City Council would approve the subdivision of land and building pernut authorization, the timing for construction of this sanitary sewer lateral would be about two months. It would be expected that this would be constructed within the south boulevazd azea of 153rd Street. Commissioner Blundetto asked a question on the issue of the shazed access point to 153rd Street. He said that he was unclear about where the existing access is and how this was to be inwrporated. It was explained that the current driveway access to Frank's Nursery is located about four feet away from the common property line with. the proposed Goodwill site. For safety purposes, it is not possible to put an additional driveway access along the west boundary of Frank's, with only a minimal sepazation from this other driveway since cars entering or leaving simultaneously from the sites would create a site visibility problem, as well as potentially running into one another as they would make left or right turns respectively. A general discussion ensued coneeming access points. onto 153rd Street as they related to the Frank's property. Mr. Hanson said that he was unclear why they would be able to hook up to water on the east; but had to take sanitary sewer from such a great distance away. He then asked where. the sanitary sewer service to the Frank's Nursery property was coming from. Mr. Kelley noted that this site is located on the dividing line. between. two different. sanitary sewer drainage. districts, which must run by gravity. Water; however; is under pressure and can run uphill against the slope. tinny Reim of Goodwill/Easter Seal then addressed the Commission. She stated that they have operated adrop-off donation center at the Apple Valley Square Shopping Center since 1986 via the use of semi trailers in the parking lot. She said that in 1995 there were over 50,000 visits to this drop-off donation center; and that this level. of activity warrants a permanent investment in the conununity. She said that most of the sales generated from donated goods aze turned back iirto local social service programs. She stated that they are currently operating one at Tazget Greatland in the provision of training and assisting handicap individuals in the employee program there. She said they also aze providing medical equipment on a loan basis for up to one year. This equipment consists of such things as wheelchairs, crutches and similar materials that most insurance companies do not provide coverage for. She said that midnight dumping of trash and theft of usable donated goods unfortunately occur on a somewhat regular basis when semi. trailers aze used as dropoff sites. She said that they have found that the best method to eliminate these two problems is to have donation centers located within their retail store operations that have extended operating hours. These extended hours discourage this type of activity. She said that this store is modeled after some prototypes that have been recently put up in Minnesota. The first was erected in the City of St. Cloud in 1992. There's one hr Rochester, and one in Willmar just opened. This would be the fourth store of this design in Minnesota. Planning Commission Minutes February 21,1996 Page 4 Commissioner Oberg asked about the future addition dashed in on the site plan. He asked what the purpose of the addition would be, and whether this would be leased. space. Ms. Reim. stated that they believe that there will be a demand for additional space by the Goodwill operation over time here. The expansion would therefore not be leased, but would provide additional retail office and programming or service space used by community programs operated by Goodwill. Chair Felkner asked Assistant Planner Bodmer if she had any additional comments or critiques of the project. Ms. Bodmer stated that the issue of midnight dumping is adequately addressed, and that the access onto 153rd Street will be solved by either working. out an agreement with Mid-America; or by moving it to the cerrter of the lot. This should be accomplished by the next meeting. She did state that the grading plan needs to be completed by identifying the elevation of specific points on the property: This is necessary because the storm sewer in this part of the City is quite shallow, and we need to make sure that everything will drain. properly. She stated that the City Forester has reviewed the landscaping plan, and that there are some minor changes that can be easily worked out. Chair Fellmer then asked the petitioner if they had a signage plan. Ms. Reim stated that typically they would not design the signage until after the building is approved. Chair Felkner noted that if this is the case, they should make sure that they have the City ordinances prior to the design of the signs. The City has been quite stringent in enforcing this code, and it would be very unlikely to approve any variance. Chair Felkner asked who owned the property to the south of the site: It was noted that the property is vacant and is owned by Mr. Winkler. Chair Fclkner then. opened the public hearing. to any audience comments, There being no audience commerts, he then closed the public hearing with the standard remarks; stating.. that there would be no action this evening. He then explained the procedure that the. Planning Commission would ultimately make a recommendation with the. final decision resting with the City Council. Mr. Hanson asked if it was not possible for the Commission. to make a recommendation contingent upon corrections. or changes to any issues they had concern over. Mr: Felkner stated that it is their policy not to act on an item the same night as the hearing, especially if there remains some outstanding issues. It was noted that the next City Council meeting would occur on March 14th, and that the Planning Commission would have a meeting on Mazch 6th. So regazdless of whether or not there was action this evening, the item would still end up on the March 14th City Council agenda. 6. LAND USE/ACTION ITEMS A. Kwik Trip Assistant Planner Tom Lovelace imroduced the item which concerns property located on the northeast corner of County Road 11 and relocated Palomino Drive. This property is designated on the Comprehensive Plan for Visitor Business/Limited Business Uses and is currently zoned Visitor Business. Planning Commission Minutes February 21,1996 Page 5 A Planned Unit Development amendment to incorporate the property into Planned Development No. 144 has been awaiting action by the City Council until such time as the Palomino Drive relocation process has been completed. The proposal involves the creation of two platted lots and two outlots. Lot. 1, Block 1, adjacent to County Road 11 is the proposed site of the Kwik Trip convenience grocery and motor fuel sales operation, and Lot 1, Block 2 is intended to be transferred to Wensmami Homes for incorporation in the Hunter's Wood townhome project. Mr. Lovelace noted that pathway and sidewalk connections to County Road 11 and along the east side of the common access drive have been incorporated as requested: He said that there have also been some modifications to the landscape plan, particularly by creating a planting bed at the southwest corner of the building. Also, the signs have been modified to meet the sign regulations. The canopy sign has only two faces on the Palomino Drive and County Road 11 sides. Scott Teigen of Kwik Trip then addressed the Commission, stating that he believes they have accommodated all of the issues raised. at the public hearing. at the previous meeting. Commissioner Edgeton stated that she is still concerned over the use and the access to the vacant azea on the north side of Kwik Trip. It is her belief that. the wide asphalt azea along the east side of the Kwik Trip building would act as an uncontrolled raceway. A general discussion ensued concerning the access along the east side of the Kwk Trip lot, and the. location of the driveways to Palomino Drive. Commissioner Edgeton stated that she would prefer it if the common driveway running adjacent to the Kwik Trip store provided. for concrete curbs on each side to create the appearance and functioning of a public street. She stated the use of curbs with curb openings would better define the circulation in this site plan. Mr. Teigen said that they would agree to make such a modification, and that there would then be a single shared access along the property line to the. Kwik Trip lot and the outlot to the east. Mr. Teigen said that they would probably just put curb on their side of the drive now, and leave the curb off adjacent to the outlot until such time as a user comes in and it is known where specifically the curb cuts should occur. He then displayed some brick samples of the building to illustrate the color. There being no further discussion, Chair Fellrner called for a motion on the proposed development. MOTION: Member Oberg moved, seconded by Member Nagler, to recommend approval of the preliminary plat. The motion carried 6 - 0. MOTION: Member Oberg moved, seconded by Member Nagler, to recommend approval of the site phm and building permit authorization, subject to a reconfiguration of the drive on the east side of the building to provide for wmmon drive usage with concrete curbing. The motion carried 6 - 0. MOTION: Member Oberg moved, sewnded by Member Nagler, to recommend approval of the wnditional use permit for motor fuel sales. The motion carried 6 - 0. Planning Commission Minutes February 21,1996 Page 6 It was noted that all of these motions for approval were subject to the various qualifications contained in the Staffreport. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS - None - 8. OTHER BUSINESS A. Fischer Sand & Gravel Community Development Director Rick Kelley stated that at the previous Planning Commission meeting, Staff was requested to put together a draft motion or resolution concerning the inspection process at the Fischer Sand & Gravel mine.. He stated that the draft resolution being distributed this evening references the initial approval process for the Fischer Sand & Gravel mining operation, and requests that Staff be involved in a site inspection for the annual excavation. permit procedure. Auer reviewing. the language of the. draft resolution, Chair Felkner called for its approval. MOTION: Member Nagler moved, seconded by Member Oberg, to adopt the draft resolution wncerning an annual site inspection process for the Fischer Sand & Gravel mining operation. The motion carried 6 - 0. B. Chair Fellrner stated that before the meeting adjourned, he wished to comment on the presentation procedure. He noted that at a work session about six months ago,. they had discussed making the petitioners provide the hulk of the presentation with Staff being involved only in introductions and critiques of the development proposals. He stated that it appears that the petitioners were still. relying very heavily on Staff making.. the bulk of the presentation, and he simply wanted to remind Staff to let the developers and petitioners carry the bail. 9. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Member Blundetto moved, seconded by Member Dowling, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6 - 0, meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.