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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/01/1992CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 1, 1992 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Alan Felkner called the April 1, 1992 meeting of the City of Apple Valley Planning Commission to order at 7:32 p.m. Members Present: Jim Norris, Alan Felkner, Jeannine Churchill, Eugene Kitzman, Marcia Gowling, and Karen Edgeton. Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Meg McMonigal, Scott Hickok, Lon Anne, and Dennis Welsch. Others Present: See the sign -in sheet. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA The agenda was approved unanimously as submitted with one exception. Item 5C - The Whitney Plaza Planned Unit Development Text Amendment was moved to Item 5A. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF MARCH 18, 1992 The minutes of the March 18, 1992 meeting were approved as submitted. 4. CONSENT ITEMS (One motion sends items needing no discussion on to the City Council with the staff recommendations.) None. 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Whitney Plaza Planned Unit Development Zoning Amendment LOCATION: NW Corner of Cedar Ave & Whitney Drive (155th Street W) PETITIONER: City of Apple Valley (PC92- 025 -Z) STAFF REPORT: Meg McMonigal and Dennis Welsch, April 1, 1992 Chairman Alan Felkner opened the public hearing. Community Development Director Dennis Welsch provided a background verbal report in which he summarized the purpose of the hearing and the City Council's direction to the Planning Commission to hold a hearing on amending the text within Zone 1 of the Whitney Plaza Planned Unit Development. Planning Commission Minutes April 1, 1992 Page 2 Welsch explained to the Commission that the project was designated a mix of retail business and general business in the Comprehensive Plan. The zoning within the Planned Unit Development is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, since it allows for general business and retail business as well. On March 26, 1992, the Metropolitan Council reviewed the amendment to the City's Comprehensive Plan allowing for the Whitney Plaza Project and found that this project has no impact on Metropolitan System Plans. Welsch described the uses allowed within Zone 1 and Zone 2. He also compared the traffic that could be generated from uses currently permitted or proposed by this amendment on the Planned Unit Development site. Karen Mattingly, 15898 Harwell Avenue, stated that the Planned Unit Development request to eliminate restaurants near the schools was a positive step. She said that traffic will increase on 155th Street because of the installation of a stoplight. She was opposed to other auto related uses like Midas Muffler or Jiffy Lube being placed on Zone 1. She expressed concern with the added hours of operation which could be approved by the City Council through the issuance of a conditional use permit on Zone 1. She was opposed to the construction of a convenience store on the site because such development could draw children to the site, thus crossing 155th Street. She also expressed concern with competition in the area. There were no further comments. Chairman Alan Felkner closed the public hearing. No action was taken. 5B. Morningview 7th Preliminary Plat and Site Plan Review - 88 Townhomes LOCATION: Southwest Corner of Cedar Avenue and 157th Street PETITIONER: Thompson Development (PC92- 022 -SFB) STAFF REPORT: Meg McMonigal, April 1, 1992 Chairman Alan Felkner opened the public hearing. Associate Planner Meg McMonigal reviewed the preliminary plat and site plan for Morningview 7th Addition for 88 townhomes. McMonigal noted that the Comprehensive Plan for the site is high density and the zoning for the site is multi - family housing with up to 14 units per acre allowed on the site. She described the adjoining sites and uses surrounding the Morningview project. She explained that Dakota County owns a parcel of land located in the southeast corner of the project at the intersection of 160th and Cedar Avenue. The landscaping plan was explained in detail as it applies to screening 160th Street and Cedar Avenue from the townhomes. A street tree planting plan will be prepared for 157th Street.The units will be clad in aluminum siding with some brick at the lower level. City Project Engineer, Lon Anne, reported that the utilities in the area have the capacity to serve this site. He described the loop road system, the sewer and storm sewer system, and the ponds that must be reconfigured to add water holding capacity. He indicated that the ponds be constructed to a 6 to 1 slope maximum in order to avoid steep drop offs Planning Commission Minutes April 1, 1991 Page 3 within the pond. He described the street system as a 34' wide street, back of curb to back of curb allowing for vehicle parking on the street. The City will construct the loop road system. Member Kitzman asked for further details regarding overflow parking on the site. McMonigal responded that there is no overflow parking shown in the project, but that the 34' wide public street is wide enough to accommodate on street parking. Member Gowling asked for details regarding the outlot and the pond and how they would be maintained. The ponding area will be maintained by the Homeowner's Association for this project. Michael Black, representing James Hill & Associates and Lee Johnson representing the Thompson Land Development Corporation, answered questions from the Commission. McMonigal also noted that a 5' wide sidewalk will be required along 157th Street since it is a neighborhood collector street. Chairman Felkner asked the developers (Michael Black and Lee Johnson) if they agreed with the conditions in the staff report. The developers agreed to the staff report conditions. They will attempt to create higher berms along Cedar an 160th Street, provided more space for berm construction is allowed within the edge of the 160th Street right -of -way by the County. Member Kitzman asked for details regarding the size of the units. Lee Johnson of Thompson Land Development responded that the units will be to the units in Morningview 3rd Addition. They will be constructed and marketed as first -time home owner units. They will be two- stories in height and will be 24' x 44' in size on both levels. The units will be priced between $60- 70,000 each. Construction will begin as soon as possible, with a model to be built in May or June. Wilfred Osborne, 15963 Granada Avenue, asked the Commission for details regarding the drainage ditches and fencing of the ponding areas to prevent children from entering the ponds. City Project Engineer, Lon Anne, responded that the City's policy is not to fence storm water ponding areas but to provide gentle slopes into the ponds and to cover all storm water pipe openings with guards. Michael Black responded that the southerly pond will be at normal water elevation when 4' in depth, while the northerly pond will be dry in normal conditions. Edna Carlson, 7686 West 157th Street, a resident of Morningview 2nd Addition, stated that when she bought her townhouse, the pond area was to be landscaped as a park. She asked who will be responsible for the upkeep of the pond and the lawn area. Michael Black responded that the upkeep will be done by the Homeowner's Association. Karen Mattingly, 15898 Harwell Avenue, asked for further details regarding the landscaping around the pond. Meg McMonigal described the turf to be installed and the street trees to be planted along 157th Street. Scott Hickok responded that the City landscape standards require a minimum of seeding all slopes and maintenance of those slopes. John Nelson, 7724 West 157th Street, asked for clarification regarding the amount of traffic on 157th Street. He expressed concern with the lack of a stoplight at 157th Street and Planning Commission Minutes April 1, 1992 Page 4 Cedar Avenue. City Project Engineer, Lon Anne, explained that Cedar is a County Road that may in the future have enough traffic counts to warrant a stoplight at the intersection with 157th Street. John Nelson asked whether there were records of plantings that should have been completed in the Morningview 2nd Addition. Carol Lange, 15885 Granada Avenue, expressed concern with the traffic on 160th Street and asked for further details regarding the re- routing and traffic monitoring during the reconstruction of 160th Street. She expressed concern about 157th Street and the entrances onto Cedar Avenue. Associate Planner McMonigal responded that there will be approximately 700 trips per day created by the 88 townhomes within Morningview 7th Addition. Lon Anne stated that the staff is attempting to establish a count of traffic on 160th Street and 157th Street. Patty Engle, who lives adjacent to 160th Street, expressed concern why the County will not release the remainder of the right -of -way parcel at the southeast corner of this project so that it may be incorporated into the townhouse project, and not be utilized as a convenience store at a future date. Staff responded that the zoning is incorrect for convenience store and no access has been provided by the County to this parcel at the intersection of 160th and Cedar Avenue. No further comments were offered. Chairman Felkner closed the public hearing. No action was taken. 5C. Cub Food Conditional Use Permit for Garden Products Outdoor Display and Sales LOCATION: 15350 Cedar Avenue PETITIONER: Pat Groeper (PC92- 015 -C) STAFF REPORT: Scott Hickok, April 1, 1992 Chairman Alan Felkner opened the public hearing and asked the staff to present a background report regarding the Cub Food request for a conditional use permit to allow outdoor sales of nursery stock. Hickok provided a history of the project and explained that the outdoor display area would be within the canopy and front display area of the Cub Food Store. He stated that the Planning Staff recommended approval of the conditional use permit with conditions as per the Staff report. Rick Dineen, representing Cub Foods, stated that he understood the conditions of the staff report and accepted them. There was no public comment. Chairman Alan Felkner closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes April 1, 1992 Page 5 MOTION: A motion was made by Member Kitzman, seconded by Member Gowling, to recommend approval of the conditional use permit, site plan, and building permit to allow for construction of an outdoor display and sales of nursery stock by Cub Foods as per the staff conditions with the condition that anything over 1,250 square feet in sales area must be again reviewed by the City. The motion approved unanimously. 8. OTHER BUSINESS MOTION: A motion was made by Member Norris, seconded by Member Edgeton, to request the City Council to fill the vacant Planning Commission position as soon as possible. The motion carried unanimously. B. Description of Auto Park Concept Dennis Welsch provided a brief background report on the concept to provide for up to five auto dealerships east of the Target complex in downtown Apple Valley. He noted that this project could provide between 250 and 400 new jobs and estimated at least $5 million in new private investment in the area. He explained that 150st Street may need to be re- routed or replaced with 152nd Street in order to accommodate the auto dealers projects. An informal study meeting will be held with the City Council on April 2, 1992 in the Council Chambers beginning at 8:00 p.m. The Planning Commission was invited to this meeting. No action was taken. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.