Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/03/1992PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES CITY OF APPLE VALLEY June 3, 1992 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Alan Felkner called the June 3, 1992 meeting of the City of Apple Valley Planning Commission to order at 7 :35 p.m. Members Present: Frank Blundetto, Alan Felkner, Eugene Kitzman, Jeannine Churchill, and Karen Edgeton. Members Absent: Jim Norris and Marcia Gowling. Staff Present: Richard Kelley, 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 as submitted. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF MAY 20, 1992 MOTION: Member Kitzman moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to approve the minutes of the May 20 meeting with the following correction. On page 6, paragraph 4, the motion should read " MOTION : Member Churchill moved, seconded by Member Norris, to amend the proposed ordinance to include a 1,000 foot setback and make this correction and send the corrected copy to the City Council. The motion carried 6 - 0." The motion carried with 4 in favor and l abstention." 4. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION: Member Churchill moved, seconded by Member Edgeton, to recommend approval of a variance for lot 3 of block 1 Hearthstone Addition proposed by Dahle Brothers to allow construction of a house with a rearyard setback of 25' rather than 30' as required by the ordinance. In accordance with a survey dated February 3, 1992, based on the hardship created by the shallower than normal lot, the motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Member Churchill moved, seconded by Member Edgeton, to recommend approval of the site plan and building permit authorization for Southview Elementary School portable classrooms (2 classrooms) to be located on the northwest corner of Gardenview Drive and Whitney Drive as per the site plan dated May 18, 1992. The motion carried unanimously. Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 1992 Page 2 S. PUBLIC HEARING A. Conditional Use Permit for Outdoor Display /Sales /Storage - Valley Tire LOCATION: 14850 Cedar Avenue PETITIONER: Valley Tire and Auto (PC92- 037 -C) STAFF REPORT: Scott Hickok, dated June 3, 1992 Chairman Alan Felkner opened the public hearing on a request for a conditional use permit to allow tire rack displays for new and used tires outside of Valley Tire store. The racks would be placed near the building on both east and west side of the building. Valley Tire is located within a General Business District which does allow for outdoor display and storage after the issuance of a conditional use permit. Scott Hickok provided a background report and illustrations of the proposed tire storage area. He noted that last summer Valley Tire made modifications to the landscape and berm screening along the edge of Cedar Avenue and noted that Valley Tire will complete an acceptable landscape plan in conformance with the requirements of the City Forester. Hickok also reminded the Commission that the City Council has already reviewed this project and suggested the following criteria: a) Tire racks should be no more than 48" from a wall of the building. b) Tire display racks should be free from all other materials. C) Additional display materials should be reviewed by both the Planning Commission and Council prior to being placed on racks. d) Landscape replacements be completed on the east side of the building adjacent to Cedar Avenue by July 15, 1992, Member Edgeton asked for clarification regarding the purpose of the landscaping. Scott Hickok explained that the landscaping adds variety, softens the building edge, and creates a more uniform street image throughout the downtown. Member Kitzman asked for clarification regarding what could be displayed on tire racks. Member Blundetto asked if other racks are also available for this site. Member Edgeton asked if a conditional use permit continues with the business. Staff responded that it would continue with the business on that site. Dennis Welsch suggested that the Commission may wish to include in its recommendations that the dimensions of the rack shall be 8' in height by 6' in width and no more of an extension than 4' from the building. In addition, the Commission may wish to stipulate that racks be portable and be moved inside the building when the business is closed for the day or weekend. Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 1992 Page 3 Member Edgeton asked for clarification regarding the 48" setback of racks from the main entrance. Hickok responded that a 48" setback is necessary in order to provide clear access to the entrance of the building. Chairman Felkner asked if there was any member of the audience interested in commenting on the project. No comments were received. Chairman Felkner closed the public hearing. MOTION: Member Kitzman moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for Valley Tire to allow tire rack displays for new and used tires outside of the building with the four Planning Staff recommendations and a fifth condition in which the size of the rack and the ability to move the rack inside during non - business hours is clearly stated. The motion carried 5 - 0. 6. LAND USE /ACTION ITEMS A. Frontyard Setback Variance for Mudroom /Vestibule Addition LOCATION: 15673 Heywood Court West PETITIONER: Tom and Debra Endres (PC92- 047 -V) STAFF REPORT: Meg McMonigal dated June 3, 1992 Meg McMonigal provided a background report in which she explained the Endres request for a 1', 6" setback variance to the front of an existing house located at 15673 Heywood Court. McMonigal explained that the request is being made in order to cover the front stoop which then would be 28.5' from the front property line. She noted that the Staff recommendation clearly follows the State Statute and local code. The Staff recommendation, because there was no definable hardship and alternatives are available, was to deny the request for a variance. Chairman Felkner explained that the Staff has to follow the State's Statutes and the code whereas the Planning Commission can look at each project from a more practical and logical perspective. In this case, Chairman Felkner felt there was no reason to deny the request. He asked Mr. Endres to state the hardships as seen by Mr. Endres. Endres stated that this was a hardship because the lot was placed on a cul -de -sac and the design of the house was reversed from what could have been on the site. Because the house was designed in a reverse manner, the mudroom entry area is closest to the cul -de -sac right -of -way. He stated that the house sits 43.5' back from the street curb because of a 15' boulevard which is two feet larger than normal. Endres noted that the front door enters immediately into the stairwell, making it unsafe for the daycare facility proposed by his wife. The poor front door design also allows cold air to rush down the stairwell into the daycare area. With the addition, the front door would extend only to the existing overhang of the roofline. With the addition of the mudroom and reorientation of the front door, the front landing will be free and clear of wet and slippery areas and reduce the amount of cold weather that enters the house. There were no comments from the public. Member Blundetto asked if this entry would affect the licensing for daycare facilities. Mrs. Endres stated it would not. Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 1992 Page 4 MOTION: Member Edgeton moved, seconded by Member Churchill, to recommend approval of the variance because of the dangerous wet floor in the entry and because the site also has an additional 2' boulevard in this area. The motion carried 5 - 0. B. Site Plan /Building Permit Authorization for Single Family House on Unplatted Land LOCATION: Southwest Quadrant of the Intersection of Galaxie Avenue and Safari Pass PETITIONER: Steve Burow (PC92- 049 -B) STAFF REPORT: Richard Kelley, dated June 3, 1992 Richard Kelley provided a background report in which he explained the site plan review process on an unplatted triangular shaped parcel at the southwest corner of Galaxie Avenue and Safari Pass. He noted that an existing house would be moved onto the site and that the review would ensure that the house placement occurs in a fashion which does not preclude future subdivision of the land into additional lots if the zoning were changed from RI to R3. The Staff recommended approval of the site plan and building permit authorization in accordance with a preliminary survey, subject to as an as -built survey being prepared and submitted upon completion of construction. Member Edgeton asked for clarification regarding the distance that the driveway would be setback from the intersection of Galaxie and Safari Pass. Richard Kelley responded that the setback would be at least 74' and that the driveway is curved to allow for easier access along a sloped driveway. Member Felkner noted that there should be no driveway access onto Galaxie Avenue. MOTION Member Kitzman moved, seconded by Member Blundetto, to recommend approval of the site plan and building permit authorization for a single family house on an unplatted parcel of land by Steve Burow as per the Staff recommendations of June 3, 1992. The motion carried 5 - 0. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Housing Preservation Ordinance Discussion Associate Planner Scott Hickok provided background information on the proposed housing preservation ordinance which has been endorsed and recommended by the Urban Affairs Committee to both the Planning Commission and City Council. He explained the purposes that the effective dates and some of the potential requirements have within the proposed ordinance. He also explained that the Dakota County HRA would be the contracted administrator for this ordinance by the City. The fees collected through a licensing process would support the inspection and review necessary when a complaint is filed. A general discussion ensued in which the Commission discussed the number of cities involved in housing preservation code administration and the differences between single family home preservation codes and rental housing codes. Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 1992 Page 5 Mr. Chris Galler of the Dakota County Association of Realtors explained in some detail the West St. Paul program which is similar to the one proposed for Apple Valley. He noted that suburbs are all beginning to look at their housing as a valuable asset which should not be allowed to deteriorate. He recommended that the fee structure should be moderate and that the ordinance should be adopted county -wide in order to provide the most uniform method of providing housing preservation. The Staff was asked to provide further information on the rental of single family homes and the applicability of the preservation ordinance to these homes. B. Mobile Home Park Progress Report by Dennis Welsch Dennis Welsch provided a background report regarding cooperative work between the Cedar Knolls Mobile Home Park Management and the City Staff to reduce the number of non- conforming mobile home sites and to provide more on -site storm shelter locations. He noted that the City Council had requested that the Staff respond by June 9th, but that because the architect needs approximately 30 days more to complete his study, the Staff will request a 30 day extension for the annual report regarding Cedar Knolls. Therefore, the annual report would be done on July 9, 1992. C. Outdoor Storage /Display: Report on City Council Work Session and Direction The Planning Commission received a verbal report from Dennis Welsch regarding the direction provided by the City Council in an attempt to clarify City Code issues for display of for sale items in front of stores as well as storage of items behind stores and industries. 8. OTHER BUSINESS A. VenStar TIF District Resolution Regarding Comprehensive Plan andZoningCode Consistency MOTION: Member Kitzman moved, seconded by Member Edgeton, to adopt resolution 1992 -6/03a in which the Planning Commission found that the VenStar Tax Increment District improvements are consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code. The motion carried 5 - 0. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY RESOLUTION NO. 1992 -6/03a A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT THE IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED WITHIN THE CONSOLIDATED MASTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND DISTRICT AND WITHIN TAX INCREMENT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 11 ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF APPLE VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLANS AND POLICIES. WHEREAS, the City of Apple Valley Planning Commission is requested to review and comment on all Tax Increment Districts regarding consistency with the comprehensive plans and land use policies of the community, and Planning Commission Minutes June 3, 1992 Page 6 WHEREAS, the City has initiated a request for the use of tax increment financing for a project in the Apple Valley Business Park Tax Increment District 11, referred to as the VenStar Business Park, public pedestrian walkways adjacent to and within the Park, and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed the land use concepts for the above mentioned project. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of Apple Valley, that the proposed project within Tax Increment District 11 as mentioned above are found to be consistent with the City of Apple Valley Comprehensive Guide Plan and Land Use Policies. ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the City of Apple Valley, this 3rd day of June, 1992. B. Review of Projects and Meetings for June and July The Planning Commission accepted a project schedule for June and July and noted that at the June 17 meeting, the Minnesota Zoological Gardens has been requested to provide a 45 minute presentation on the Zoo's new land use plan. C. City Mission Statement The Planning Commission accepted and placed on file the City Mission Statement adopted by the City Council on May 27, 1992. D. Critique of Meeting and Presentation Skills Planning Commission Members provided a review of meeting and presentation skills necessary to make future Planning Commission Meetings run smoothly. The Staff and Commission will continue to refine a handout sheet which allows the Commission and the Staff to critique past meetings. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.