Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/1999CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 4,1999 1. CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Edgeton at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Karen Edgeton, Tom Melander, Jim Hadley, John Bergman, Jeannine Churchill, Tim Burke. Members Absent: Frank Blundetto. Staff Present: Assistant Planner Kathy Bodmer, Assistant Pkmner Tom Lovelace, Planning Intern Mazgazet Milton, Community Development Duector Rick Kelley, Consulting Engineer Keith Gordon, City Attorney Sharon Hills, Community Development Secretary Nelda Werkmeister. Others Present: See sign-in sheet. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Community Development Director added item 7B, Phase II of the Orchard Square Senior Housing Development. MOTION: Burke moved, seconded by Bergman, to approve the agenda as amended. The motion carried 6-0. 3. APPROVAL OF JULY 14,1999 MINUTES MOTION: Burke moved, seconded by Hadley, to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion carried 5-0 (1 abstention-Melander). 4. CONSENT ITEMS -None - 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Eastwood Ridge -Preliminary Plat to Create 22 Lots for Detached Single Family Homes The public hearing was opened at 7:05. Assistant Planner Kathy Bodmer introduced the request for preliminary plat and frontyazd setback variances. Bodmer noted the variances aze requested to facilitate saving more trees in the rear yazds of the proposed lots. Bergman asked for an explanation of the vacation request. Engineering Consultant Keith Gordon explained that the parcel to be vacated originally was acquired by MnDOT to reconstruct a driveway as a result of Cedar Avenue fromage road constmction. The purpose of a vacation hearing is to determine whether or not any public purpose is still served or needed by the property in question. Burke queried about the number of driveways currently offthe Frontage Road. The petitioner Bill Diedrich noted that the existing home on the site would be taken out. He also stated that reducing the number of lots proposed would not have a significant impact on the ability to save more trees because of the locations of the trees. Planning Commission Minutes August 4,1999 Page 2 Edgeton asked about the overhead power lines, and whether a neighborhood association would have some latitude to impose landscaping requirements. Diedrich answered that there would be homeowner covenants. Melander asked about tree replacement. Bodmer explained that a 10% replacement ratio to significant trees taken out is required, and that the minimum is 2 %z-inch caliper size. Churchill said the City has tried to avoid cul-de-sacs in the past, and wondered if that had been considered. Bodmer agreed that the City discourages cul-de-sacs except in places where it helps to m;n;m;,e impacts to natural features, which is true in this case. Bodmer closed by stating the proposal does meet the general requirements of the ordinance. Staff does have a concern with preserving the natural terrain on the site. Diedrich displayed an alternative gradiug plan which he said saves 135 trees, or 53%; compared to the original plan which saved less than 30%. He clarified that variances were requested for Lots 8-13 on the cul-de-sac, mainly to try to saue more trees. Rod Johnson of Georgia Circle wondered about the lot size and frontage compared to neighboring Cherry Oak Estates. He also expressed concern about drainage problems and a plan to avoid/resolve them. Dwight Scoles of 13381 Georgia Circle stated new lots would drain toward them; and that during torrential rains silt fences do not hold. He also expressed concern about water pressure, saying he had been told they aze on the edge of needing a booster pump for irrigation. Arthur Sepeta of 13675 Georgia Drive said he was opposed to the proposal because of due regazd for protection of nabrral terrain. He asked if the attempt was to raise or lower the terrain. He werrt onto say that the excavation and removal oftrees proposed was stretching the due regard. His second issue was whether Greenleaf School, which is already beyond capacity, wuld absorb another neighborhood. 7ene Cain of 13171 Galleria Place expressed amcern about the Cedar Avenue noise impacts resulting from changing the terrain, as well as adding vehicle trips to the azea. Hope Scoles of 13381 Georgia Circle favored granting variances because she would like as many trees left as possible to retain a barrier and minimi>e erosion. There being no other commexrts from the public, Chair Edgeton closed the public hearing at 7:38 p.m. 6. LAND USE/ACTION ITEMS A. Frontyard Setback Variance for a Building Addition to Tutor Time Assistant Planner Kathy Bodmer introduced the item. She pointed out the location of the trash enclosure, which did not require a variance because it is not considered a building structure. The petitioner Gary Humphrey of 1063 Ramsdale Drive enumerated what he feels to be the physical hazdships of the site: (1) the design of the building includes special use rooms which are difficult to modify; (2) Williams Pipe Line easemer; (3) City easement along the south end. He also submitted for the rewrd a letter from the neighboring Coldwell Banker representative which stated the addition will not affect Coldwell's property. Humphrey also submitted a photograph of a similar facility in Andover. Planning Commission Minutes August 4,1999 Page 3 Howazd Gianera, operator of Tutor Time, talked about the decrease inafter-school programming by the elementary schools and the subsequent increase in the need for such prograznnvng to be provided by the private sector. He went onto explain the addition would include tables for homework, computers, games, etc. appropriate for school-age children which would be protected from smaller children. Bergman posed several questions, including new locations of the air conditioner units and gas meter, whether there is a mandate for outside play area, and landscape plans. Humphrey indicated the air conditioner units and gas meter would be located very close to where they aze now. Gianera said the playground area required is 75 feet per child, and that they lost 2000 square feet of playground because of the pipe line easement. As for landscaping, Humphrey stated they would try to keep it on top of the hill and probably close to the building, possibly using some foundation plantings in that area. They will try to retain the pines and other planting which curremly screen the power transformer. MOTION: Burke moved, seconded by Hadley, to recommend approval of a 14-foot frontyard setback variance because of the hardships created by the locations ofthe pipe line easement and power transformer. Motion carried 5-1 (Bergman). B. Sideyard Setback Variance for Couch Gazage Addifion at 837 Greening Drive Plaruiiug hrtem Margaret Milton introduced the item. The petitioner William Couch presented signed letters from neighbors on Lots 4 and 6 which indicated they are not opposed to the garage addition as proposed. Couch also noted that his is the only property on that side of the street with asingle-car garage. MOTION: Bergman moved, seconded by Burke, to recommend approval of a 3-foot sideyard setback variance because of the hardship created by the loss of trees on the lot, leaning one siguficant tree. Motion carried 6-0. C. Subdivision Into 2 Parcels by Metes & Bounds Description by Pahl Farms This item was tabled at the request of the petitioner. 7. OTHER BUSINESS A. Receive Reminder of the Fall Conference of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association Community Development Director Rick Kelley asked irrterested parties to mark their calendars for September 29-October 1, and stated details would be forthcoming. The City does budget for this event. B. Orchard Square (Phase D) Senior Housing Development Kelley explained that the Orchard Squaze project was initially approved for 50 units in Phase I and 49 units in Phase II for a density of 20 units per acre (22 units per acre is the maximum allowed). The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (I IItA) currerrtly has funding for 60 units, which were planned for a redevelopment site in another community. Because of details tied with redevelopment, the project maybe delayed. The I-II2A must proceed this calendar yeaz to retain their funding, so they may be asking to amend their Conditional Use Pemut on the Orchard Square site to add 60 units in Phase II instead ofthe origina149 Planning Commission Minutes August 4,1999 Page 4 units. Apple Valley has one of the longest waiting lists for this type of housing, and the 60 units will fall within the maxinmm density approved for the development. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Melander moved, seconded by Burke, to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:32 p.m.