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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/18/2018 Minutes CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES APRIL 18, 2018 1. CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Melander at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Tom Melander, Ken Alwin, Tim Burke, Keith Diekmann, Jodi Kurtz and David Schindler. Members Absent: Paul Scanlan. Staff Present: City Attorney Sharon Hills, City Engineer Brandon Anderson, Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist, City Planner Tom Lovelace and Department Assistant Joan Murphy. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Melander asked if there were any changes to the agenda. MOTION: Commissioner Burke moved, seconded by Commissioner Diekmann, approving the agenda. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. 3. CONSENT ITEMS MOTION: Commissioner Alwin moved, seconded by Commissioner Burke, approving the minutes of the meeting of April 4, 2018. Ayes - 4 - Nays - 0. Abstained 2 (Diekmann and Schindler) MOTION: Commissioner Alwin moved, seconded by Commissioner Burke, adopting Resolution No. 2018-01setting a public hearing for May 16, 2018, to receive comments on the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Appliance Smart Building Conditional Use Permit and Building Addition Site Plan/Building Permit Authorization PC08-06-CB Chair Melander opened the public hearing at 7:02 p.m. City Planner Tom Lovelace stated the petitioner is requesting the following: 1. Approval of a conditional use permit to allow for a 2,973-sq. ft. Class II restaurant with drive-through window service. 2. Site plan/building permit authorization to allow for construction of a 7,087-sq. ft. addition to an existing 48,960-sq. ft. retail building located at 7370 153rd Street West. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes April 18, 2018 Page 2 of 6 The 4.48-acre lot is located along the south side of 153rd Street West, approximately 1/8-mile east of Cedar Avenue. Adjacent uses include Planet Fitness and Cub Foods grocery store to the West, Office Max to the north, the Dollar Tree store to the east and the MVTA (Minnesota Valley Transit Authority) bus layover facility to the south. Planet Fitness, Cub and Dollar Tree are designated "C" (Commercial) on the City's 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Map and "RB" (Retail Business) on the City's zoning map. The Office Max store is designated "C" (Commercial) and part of the "PD-244" (Planned Development) zoning district, and the bus layover facility is designated "MIX" (Mixed Use) and zoned "PD -507". In 2013, development plans were submitted and approved to allow for construction of a 6,364-sq. ft. addition. The proposed addition was expected to be the location of a Class I restaurant that included a 1,400-sq. ft. outdoor patio area. Because no building permit was issued within one year of the approval of the site plan/building permit authorization resolution, the approval lapsed. New plans have been submitted for a slightly larger building addition at the same location, which will now include a Class II restaurant with a drive-through window and an additional tenant. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map designates the site "C" (Commercial). The proposed addition and conditional use permit request would be in conformance with the existing map designation and the goals and policies of the Plan. The property is currently zoned "RB" (Retail Business). Retail business districts are areas which are centrally located to serve the need for general retail sales. The current use is a permitted use within the "RB" zoning district. The applicant is proposing to construct a 7,087-sq. ft. addition to the existing 48,960-sq. ft. multi-tenant retail building, which is occupied by an Appliance Smart, Becker Furniture and Becker Mattress stores. The submitted plans indicate a 2,973-sq. ft. Class II restaurant with drive-through window service in the proposed addition, with space available for an additional tenant. The "RB" zoning district lists a Class II restaurant as a conditional use, which is defined a use that is permitted in a particular zoning district subject to meeting all conditions and standards for the location or operation of the use. A Class II restaurant is a conditional use within the "RB" (Retail Business) zoning district. Conditional uses include those uses generally not suitable in a particular zoning district, but which may, under some circumstances, be suitable. When the circumstances exist, a conditional use permit may be granted. The City may grant a conditional use permit, as the use permit was applied for or in modified form, if it is determined that the proposed location of the conditional use is in accord with the objectives of the comprehensive guide plan and the purposes of the district in which the site is located and would not be materially injurious to properties or improvements in the vicinity. The site plan identifies 231 surface parking spaces that will serve the site. The current Appliance Smart and Becker Furniture and Mattress uses have a demand for a minimum of 68 spaces. The proposed addition could require a minimum of 47 parking spaces. If the uses in the CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes April 18, 2018 Page 3 of 6 existing building were to change to a different type of retail operation, the minimum number of parking spaces would increase significantly. The applicant is proposing a 500-sq. ft. patio that will be located adjacent to the restaurant in the northwest corner. The applicant should identify the number of outdoor seats in the patio area. The plans do not identify the location of any the building addition's mechanical equipment. All mechanical equipment shall be screened in accordance with the City's zoning code. The applicant should provide information on the on-site location of their building material storage and construction personnel parking areas, and haul routes for material and equipment. Mr. Lovelace reviewed the grading plan, elevation drawings, trash enclosure location, utility plans, landscape plans, street classifications, accesses to site, traffic circulation and pedestrian access. Commissioner Schindler asked what the width of the drive aisle was driving from Planet Fitness or Cub Foods. Mr. Lovelace answered there are two 12-foot wide lanes for 24 feet total. Commissioner Schindler commented he had no concerns for parking but would rather not see people walk from the back side of the building. He thought there was enough maneuverability for deliveries back there. Mr. Lovelace said he presumes Cub Foods takes goods throughout the day and he did not know how many trucks go back there. Their staff would receive goods and put product on the shelves and the delivery trucks could come all day long. Commissioner Schindler added the ideal situation would be that there would not be a drive-through and everyone could park on the front end and believes if there is no available parking south of the building then that would be a good thing. Mr. Lovelace remarked he would like a response from Cub Foods whether or not this proposed addition would be a problem to their operation. He would like the applicant to reach out to Cub Food for an inquiry and provide staff with a response. Commissioner Schindler added a bigger concern could be how the trucks for Cub Foods have to back into the dock area and depending on what entrance is used. He felt it would be useful to find out from Cub Foods what the impact would be. Mr. Lovelace stated the public hearing notice was sent e and not the store itself. He added it is a big operation and he would like documentation from them. If a restaurant comes in then the traffic in the entrance to Cub could block traffic to Cub while cars are in the drive-through lane. Commissioner Kurtz inquired where the Appliance Smart trucks drive in with all their inventory. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes April 18, 2018 Page 4 of 6 Mr. Lovelace replied at the southwest corner of the building. Commissioner Kurtz commented that Chick-Fil-A and the other retail building there do not have a full intersection. Mr. Lovelace answered that there is a ¾ access intersection and when they exit they can only take a rd right. He added that staff would be reviewing how 153 Street operates from Galaxie Avenue to Cedar Avenue if there needs to be some changes made there. Commissioner Diekmann asked for clarification on the north/south road that separates this project site and Cub Foods that has a 24-foot drive aisle and asked if the lot line would presumably be at 12 feet. Mr. Lovelace said he would need to verify and have that available at the next meeting. Commissioner Diekmann inquired that while it would be nice if Cub Foods could use that drive aisle that it is not a requirement for the other owner to keep that there as a condition of this project. He commented that if this is the property of the new site, they should be able to build on it as they please as long as there is a drive aisle. He asked if that is the way it works. Mr. Lovelace said both parties would have to agree to it. He did not know what powers or rights they have. He said their building does meet the building setback and that a new access off of that drive aisle would need a cross access agreement. Commissioner Diekmann inquired about the queuing of possibly six cars and asked if the six cars was the total between the window and the menu board. Mr. Lovelace answered that he did not know where the menu board would go and that is the minimum the City requires. Commissioner Alwin asked if a bypass lane was required by code. Mr. Lovelace said no but it is reviewed how traffic functions on a site. Commissioner Alwin expressed concern for how the drive-up lanes impact traffic flow and said the design could be modified to make the flow better. Chair Melander commented Chick-Fil-A, who is busy most of the time, operates smoothly and if they can do it so can this location. He agreed with Commissioner Schindler about not parking in the back of the building. Mr. Lovelace stated the applicant wanted to make the back area safe and lit. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes April 18, 2018 Page 5 of 6 Chair Melander asked where Cub is at this traffic flow and commented that Cub should have made a call or sent an email if they thought this flow was going to be a problem. Mr. Lovelace said he would still like to reach out to Cub to see if they are comfortable with the plan. Commissioner Schindler inquired if the drive-through lane could be straightened out and not have a bump out and asked how wide the drive-through lane would be. Mr. Lovelace said the drive-through lane is 12 feet wide. Commissioner Schindler asked what the minimum would be with an escape lane. Mr. Lovelace answered they would be looking at another 10-12 feet. Tim McLaughlin, Grootwassink Real Estate and representing Seventy-Three Seventy LLC, stated that most deliveries are at night. He added that as time goes on uses of the property can change. Right now there is lots of parking. Commission Schindler inquired what his thoughts were on the drive-through lane. Mr. McLaughlin answered that signage is a big help. Commissioner Burke commented traffic will be coming in, cross over the drive-through and then to leave they have to go north again and added this could be a bottleneck. Mr. McLaughlin commented that drivers will have to watch for sign and for other cars around them. Commissioner Burke asked about the placement of menu boards. Mr. McLaughlin answered that they have not selected a location yet. Bob Grootwassink, owner of the property, provided additional information. Commissioner Diekmann asked if there was any reason why this addition to the building would be connected to the Appliance Smart when you own land all the way out to the street to the north. Mr. McLaughlin answered that they had looked at that and it comes down to the sight lines to the building. They want to feed off the traffic from Cub Foods and that intersection and have a presentable building. Mr. Grootwassink added that building closer to the street would block the view of the main tenant. Chair Melander closed the public hearing at 7:48 p.m. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes April 18, 2018 Page 6 of 6 5. LAND USE/ACTION ITEMS - NONE - 6. OTHER BUSINESS A. Review of upcoming schedule and other updates. Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist stated that the next regular Planning Commission meeting would take place Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. 7. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further comments from the Planning Staff or Planning Commission, Chair Melander asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Commissioner Alwin moved, seconded by Commissioner Diekmann to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 p.m. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. Respectfully Submitted, Jo. ` urphy, Planning De artmen ssistant Ap+rove by e Apple Valley Planning Commissio on