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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/19/2007CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES December 19, 2007 CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Jeannine Churchill at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Jeannine Churchill, Tom Melander, Frank Blundetto, Tim Burke, Keith Diekmann and Thomas Helgeson Members Absent: David Schindler Staff Present: Community Development Director Bruce. Nordquist, Associate City Planner Kathy Bodmer, City Attorney Sharon Hills, Assistant City Engineer David Bennett and Department Assistant Barbara Wolff 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Churchill asked if there were any changes to the agenda. There being none, she called for approval of the agenda. MOTION: Commissioner Melander moved, seconded by Commissioner Blundetto to approve the agenda. The motion carried 5-0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 5, 2007 Chair Churchill asked if there were any changes to the minutes. There being none, she called for approval of the minutes. MOTION: Commissioner Burke moved, seconded by Commissioner Helgeson, to recommend approval of the minutes of the December 5, 2007, meeting. The motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Diekrnann arrived at 7:01 p.m. 4. 2030 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE/ACTIONS Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist stated that Rusty Fifield of Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc. will be updating the City Council, regarding the Comp Plan, at the Thursday, January 10th study session. It will include discussion of the vision statement and also land use. The Planning Commission is invited to attend this study session which will also include discussion of the NniwSing Flem ent end also the reSrdential pn~rl{ing ~nrd:na^.e°.. On Wednesday, January 16th, the Planning Commission will hold an informal meeting at 5:30 p.m. before the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting. This informal meeting will include an in-depth discussion with Fifield regarding land uses focusing on the Cedar Comdor, the downtown area and the Fischer property. S:\planning\PLANCOMM\2007 agenda & minutesV 21907m.doc 5. CONSENT ITEM --NONE-- 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. East Valley Plaza Coffee Shop Drive-Thru Window -Consideration of conditional use permit to allow for drive-thru window in conjunction with a Class III restaurant (coffee shop) in an "RB" (Retail Business) zoning district. Associate City Planner Kathy Bodmer stated that the petitioner, Clear Choice Properties, LLC, is requesting a conditional use permit to operate a coffee shop with adrive-thru window on the southwest side of the building located in the East Valley Plaza, 15040 Pilot Knob Road. The zoning code was recently amended to allow adrive-thru window for a Class III restaurant in an "RB" (Retail Business) zoning district, by conditional use permit, provided certain conditions were met. The site plan shows that the existing 30' wide entrance on the southwest side of the shopping center site will be modified to accommodate the drive-thru lane. The entrance lane is shifted slightly west, creating a 24' wide entrance drive to the shopping center and a 12' wide drive-thru lane. The parking area on the front of the building is reconfigured to channel traffic around in a loop into a separate drive-thru lane. Vehicles follow the loop around to the east and then drive southbound so that the driver-side ofthe car is adjacent to the building. The drive-thru lane will allow stacking of 6 vehicles, which complies with City requirements. The drive-thru lane is curbed so vehicles will not be able to exit the drive-thru lane once they have entered it. Once past the building, the drive- thru lane turns east and connects to the rear parking lot of the shopping center where traffic may exit the site to the north or the south. The Traffic Engineer reviewed the revised site plan dated December 13, 2007, and stated that the turning radius for the drive-thru lane still needs to be modified to ensure that vehicles do not cross over the center lane of the drive aisles. Mr. Sohrweide states that the coffee shop with drive-thru window will generate 130 trips in the AM peak hour with 65 vehicles entering and 65 vehicles exiting the site, but only neighborhood traffic will drive past the residential area on 141st Street to enter the shopping center site. He states that with volumes of 20 vehicles during the AM peak hour and 400 vehicles per day, the traffic volume on 141st Street is low for a residential street. He states that residential streets often carry up to 1,500 vehicles per day. The Foxmoore Ridge townhouse development abuts the shopping center property. The nearest home is located 250' southeast of the proposed drive-thru window and is somewhat screened. by a 6-8' drop in elevation. The townhome across 141st Street is approximately 290' from the proposed window. The revised plans show that a 48" high screen wall and landscaping will be installed to block headlights. However, it appears that there is a gap that may allow headlights to shine onto the front of *?~e tovrshome across from 141st Street. P.dditional landscaping is r_eeded to ens~se that headlights will be screened from neighboring properties. The petitioner will need to demonstrate that he has addressed this concern. Commissioner Helgeson asked if there would be a parking impact with the loss of the three parking spaces. S:\planning\PLANCOMM\2007 agenda & minutes\121907m.doc Bodmer stated that at the time of construction of the Walgreen's, a careful study was done and the shopping center is right at what the parking requirements are. The City code states that the City has the ability to adjust upward or downward based on experience so from a Staff standpoint, it's not a concern. It could be set up with two proof of parking spaces being created so that if there was a problem, the City could require that two be constructed. Commissioner Helgeson is in favor of removing the three spaces as the benefit will outweigh any negative on the parking. Also, referring to the email from James Hanson, residing at 14112-141st Street West, he states that traffic on 141St Street West is nearing overload. According to the Traffic Engineer's study it appears that the street is about 25% of a normal residential street. So we shouldn't be worried that the street is truly nearing overload and the study is pretty accurate? Bodmer stated that based on numbers, that is the case. A resident living there may feel that there is heavy traffic, but the numbers don't support that. Commissioner Helgeson also stated that it appears there is a far less impact during the peak hours of the morning and he is in favor of this. Commissioner Diekmann stated that when the daycare was proposed at 141St and 140t" Streets, was this same traffic study done? And what was the AM peak impact on 141St Street off ofPilot Knob Road? Bodmer stated that staff would need to look into that and bring it back to the next meeting Commissioner Blundetto commented that the parking lot currently seems to be underused. Chair Churchill said that her experience also has been that the parking lot is underused. The coffee shop will be mostly drive-thru instead of people parking and sitting down. The petitioner Charles Savitt, General Manager of Clear Choice Properties, which owns and manages this center, stepped forward to comment. This is a neighborhood store and they want to create a neighborhood environment and the best way to do that is to put in this coffee shop. People can go there for meetings and to get coffee. Regarding the parking spaces and screenings, Clear Choice Properties is more than happy to do whatever is required by the City. He stated he certainly doesn't want any of the neighbors to be put out by headlights. Savitt stated that he has not had any complaints from the businesses in the center that a customer was not able to find a place to park. Savitt introduced Dean Madsen, who is the architect on the project and also a resident in the area. Madsen added that they want to work with the City. It's been a long process but they are more than happy to work their way through it the best they can. ('rJ27'imigginner 1~1lelanrler asked hO~J~J brg the eOffee Shop ~Fnll be. Savitt mentioned that the space is approximately 3,500 square feet, although they don't have an exact tenant for the space because until the drive-thru window is approved, potential companies are not even willing to look at the space. S:\planning\PLANCOMM\2007 agenda & minutes\121907m.doc Madsen stated that most of the coffee shops they've been associated with are 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. There would be a lobby, a place to sit and also a place to have a meeting. There hasn't been that much planning of the coffee shop at this point because it is premature. Norm Johnson, 14132-141st Street, mentioned that the design proposed has answered some of his questions. He would like to see the fence be the same color as the building and also some evergreens be put in along there. He also is concerned with the stop signs. Currently, half the people are not using these and rolling right through. The volume of traffic isn't real high but there are 24 townhomes in a one block area backing out of their homes and without people stopping it's very dangerous. He would like to see a stop sign wherever there is an entrance into another street. And the screening should be adequate; something more than little bushes. Commissioner Melander stated that if people aren't stopping at the stop signs now, adding more isn't going to make them stop either. Maybe adding speed bumps would slow people down. Commissioner Helgeson said that the snow plows have problems with speed bumps Chair Churchill asked Bodmer to work with the City Engineer regarding the sign issue before the next meeting of this project. Bodmer replied that she would work with the engineer on this. Chair Churchill hearing no further comments closed the public hearing. It is the policy of the Planning Commission to not take action on an item on the night of its public hearing. LAND USE/ACTION ITEMS --NONE-- 8. OTHER BUSINESS Chair Churchill stated that the Planning Commission and Planning Staff are invited by Commissioner $lundetto, a volunteer fire £lghter with the City of Apple Valley, to go look at the new ladder fire truck at Fire Station No. 3. After that some of the Planning Commission and Planning Staff will be gathering at Majors for a social hour. Both events are informal and no City business will be discussed at either place. Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist stated that over several months Hartford Group, who is responsible for the development of the Legacy North area, which is generally located north of 153`d and east of Galaxie, has worked on some new concepts. On Tuesday, January 15`n the Parks Commission will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. Nordquist asked whether the Planning r.CiTiiuiSSiCn wvuid ilke t0 atterid aiid Piave ajviiit mieeting Cr the ~.Cmirii1S510n COllld reCerVe the information in a study session after the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting on January 16tH. Chair Churchill stated that the preference of the Commission is to meet after the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting on January 16tH S:\planning\PLANCOMM\2007 agenda & minutes\121907m.doc 9. ADJOURNMENT Chair Churchill hearing no other business, asked for a motion of adjournment. MOTION: Commissioner Helgeson moved, seconded by Commissioner Melander, to adjoiun the meeting at 7:34 p.m. The motion carried 6-0. S:\planning\PLANCOMM\2007 agenda & minutes\121907m.doc