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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/19/1997CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 19, 1997 1. CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.. Members Present: Frank Blundetto, Diane Nagler, Paul Oberg, Marcia Gowling, Joe McNamara, Kazen Edgeton, Alan Felkner (azrived 7:08 p.mJ. Members Absent: None Staff Present: Rick Kelley, Tom Lovelace, Keith Gordon. Others Present: See the sign-in sheet. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Edgeton asked Staff and the Commission members if they had any changes to the proposed agenda. Rick Kelley said that he would like to add an item under No. 8, Other Business, concerning the intersection of 147th Street and Galaxie Avenue. There being no further changes, Edgeton called for approval of the agenda. MOTION: Gowling moved, seconded by Nagler, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried 6 - 0. 3. APPROVAL OF MARCH 5, 1997 MINUTES Edgeton asked Staff and the Commission members if they had any changes or corrections to the proposed minutes submitted in the packet. There being none, she called for their approval. MOTION: Nagler moved, seconded by Oberg, to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion carried 6- 0. 4. CONSENT ITEMS None - 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS -None - 6. LAND USE/ACTION LTEMS A. Front Yard Setback Variance for Duplexes in Cedarwick Assistant Planner Tom Lovelace introduced himself as a member of the planning staff and the person responsible to review this vaziance proposal. He said that Twin City Townhomes is requesting a variance for two new duplex buildings (four dwelling units) on Lots 1-4, Block 2, Cedarwick Addition. This property is located on the southwest comer of Granada Avenue and 138th Street West. The property is currently zoned "R-5" for duplex or twinhome dwelling units. Lovelace displayed an overhead transparency illustrating the overall development plan for the Cedarwick project. Lovelace Planning Commission Minutes March 19, 1997 Page 2 noted on the plan that there are existing mature significant trees in the rear Yazd azea where the duplex units would be built. The retention of these mature trees helped to buffer the existing neighborhood located west of the Cedarwick project. Lovelace stated that the variance request is to allow the duplex units to be placed closer to the street in order to be able to retain more of these existing trees in the rear yard. The variance request allows the setback to be reduced from a 30 foot setback down to 20 feet. Lovelace noted that there is also a 1-foot variance request on the north (138th Street) side to reduce that setback from 30 feet to 29 feet. Lovelace referred to the memo prepared by the city forester. Alan Felkner joined the meeting at this time. Patrick Simons approached the podium and stated that he is the representative from Twin City Townhomes. He stated that all of the existing townhome dwelling units in this project are occupied, with an association to maintain the buildings and common grounds. Simons noted that the Twin City Townhomes corporation had received a Reggie award of excellence for their townhome projects, and that the resales of units in this development are occun-ing at a 15-20% increase over the initial sales price. He said that this townhome project is, therefore, very well accepted as a valuable place to live. He said that they believe that much of the salability is related to the mamier in which their corporation placed the buildings in order to minimize impact on the natural environment and adjacent neighborhoods. Oberg stated that he understood the need to save trees by moving the units closer to the street but was unclear about the purpose of the one-foot variance on the north adjacent to 138th Street. Lovelace explained the required 30-foot setback on 138th Street because the conunon lot line dividing the two dwelling units in the single structure has already been established. If the unit was moved to the south, the location of that common lot line would have to be changed via a replat, or else the design of the building would have to be changed to be one foot narrower. Chair Felkner asked the petitioner if they were in agreement with the recommendations of the city forester regarding the implementation of protective fencing for the trees. Simons said that they understood the recommendations and were in agreement with them. Felkner asked Lovelace if he had anything to add to the staff report. Lovelace said that there was nothing additional to add, just noted that the existing trees are significant and staff believes that they should be saved if at all possible. MOTION: McNamara moved, seconded by Cowling, to recommend approval of a front yard setback variance of up to 10 feet for Lots 1-4, Block 2, Cedarwick Additiori Edgeton asked if the variance recommendation was subject to the recommendation of the city forester. McNamara stated that it was. The motion carried 7- 0. MOTION: McNamara moved, seconded by Cowling, to recommend approval of the side yard setback variance of one foot for Lot 1, Block 2, Cedarwick Addition. The motion carried 7- 0. DISCUSSION ITEMS -None - Planning Commission Minutes March 19, 1997 Page 3 8. OTHER BUSINESS A. The Intersection of 147th Street and Galaxie Avenue Community Development Director Rick Kelley stated that the developer of the proposed Fischer Mazketplace project has suggested a revised alignment of the 147th Street/Galaxie Avenue intersection. Kelley displayed an overhead transparency that showed where 147th Street currently intersects Galaxie Avenue with an overlay of a curved realignment of 147th Street which would cross the ponding area of the parking lot of the existing police station and future city hall lot. This alignment would still necessitate the removal of a portion of the existing office showroom on the east side of Galaxie Avenue, but would allow the majority of the building to be salvaged. This alignment would remove orily 30 parking stalls from the existing police station pazking lot. The Commissioners felt that this gentle curve would be acceptable and would defuutely be preferred to an offset intersection of 147th Street and Galaxie Avenue. They asked what problems or issues this proposed alignment might create. Kelley stated that there were three issues with this proposed alignment. The first issue is primarily an aesthetic one in that the existing decorative storm water holding pond would be removed with this realignment of the road. The second issue has to deal with the fact that the city has across- parking easement with Dakota County, which would require County approval of any modifications to the parking lot including the loss of 30 parking stalls. The third issue deals with the recently completed Anchor Bank on the north side of 147th Street slice their drive and presence at a prominent intersection would be changed somewhat if the roadway is aligned. Staff will keep the Commission apprised of the outcome of this proposal. 9. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Gowling moved, seconded by Blmidetto, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 7 - 0. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m.