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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/23/1992PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF APPLE VALLEY September 23, 1992 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Alan Felkner called the special Planning Commission meeting of September 23,1992 to order at 7:30 p.m, in the City Council Chambers. Members Present: Chairman Felkner, Jim Norris, Eugene Kitzman, Karen Edgeton, Marcia Gowling, and Frank Blundetto. Members Absent: Jeannine Churchill. Staff Present: Richard Kelley and Dennis Welsch. Others Present: Councilmembers Humphrey and Erickson, City Administrator Tom Melena, Police Chief Lloyd Rivers, Captain Terry Cook, Jeff Weldon, Zane Bail, and Architect Wayne Hilbert. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved as submitted. 3. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY POLICE FACILITY SITE PLAN AND BUILDING PERMIT AUTHORIZATION LOCATION: Southwest Corner of 147th Street and Galaxie Avenue PETITIONER City of Apple Valley (PC92 -071 -B) STAFF REPORT: Dennis Welsch, dated September 18, 1992 Community Development Director Dennis Welsch provided a background report in which he highlighted the changes in the site plan and building configuration of the proposed Police Facility to be located at 147th Street and Galaxie Avenue. He noted that no variances would be necessary for the new configuration of the Police Facility as illustrated in plans dated September 22, 1992. The Planning Commission viewed a computerized video tape of the downtown and the location where the Police Facility would be located. The Planning Commission also saw a video tape of the building as viewed from 147th Street, setback 54 feet from the curbline of 147th Street. Dennis Welsch provided the Planning Commission with a series of illustrations to identify potential setback variations for buildings along the ring route. A general discussion ensued regarding the setback of the Police Facility. City Administrator Tom Melena provided background on the process of design for the Police Facility. He noted that the building as presently configured would allow for expansion to the south for the Police Facility. Planning Commission Minutes - Special Meeting September 23, 1992 Page 2 He also described changes in the parking bays illustrated on the September 22 plan in which parking bays would be aligned adjacent to the main entry drive and would require a 40 foot long walk from the parking area to the Police Facility. The reason for this realignment of the parking areas was to reduce the amount of pavement and to reduce wasted materials if a second phase of this project is constructed. Member Blundetto asked Chief Rivers to comment on the project and to describe whether the design of the facility was adequate to meet his needs. Chief Rivers responded positively. MOTION: Member Blundetto moved, seconded by Member Norris, to recommend approval of the site plan and building permit authorization for the City of Apple Valley Police Facility with the amended site plan of September 22 and a landscape plan reconfigured to match the September 22, 1992 site plan. The motion carried 6 - 0. 4. DOWNTOWN BUILDING SETBACKS City Planner Richard Kelley provided a background presentation in which he illustrated a number of different variations that could occur For buildings facing the City's downtown streets. He explained that the Staff is merely attempting to implement design guidelines which were adopted in 1989 and 1990. He illustrated two paragraphs from Section Al -53 (Building and Site Design) of the Zoning Code. These paragraphs provided information and regulation regarding the building elevation appearance and location adjacent to City Streets and sidewalks. Member Norris asked that the language be improved to include "consistent with setback requirements and other portions of this code..." in order to provide some setback standards. Member Blundetto recommended that the Staff include a specific number or measurement instead of the terms "as close as possible..." Member Blundetto asked that the term "front of building" be clearly defined for purposes of this Section. Member Blundetto asked the Staff to consider the implications of this proposed ordinance on buildings placed adjacent to intersections of streets on comer lots. City Planner Kelley stated that this would be an excellent opportunity to clean up the language within the proposed ordinance. He suggested that the term "front" not be used but rather that the Staff write some Language which includes a description of architectural detail or treatment similar to the front of the building. A general discussion ensued regarding building designs and styles including the Walgreen building in Burnsville and Apple Valley; and the Wal -Mart building in Eagan, Eden Prairie, and Burnsville. Members Blundetto and Edgeton asked that the Staff remove percentage requirements regarding window coverage of buildings facing the street. Member Norris suggested the Staff should include a list of items that will be part of the downtown design review approval and that the ordinance should dearly state that the City will not accept downtown buildings with blank walls facing the streets. Richard Kelley suggested the Commission may wish to review an alternate setback formula in which building setbacks begin at 25 or 30 feet but gradually move further away from the street based upon building Planning Commission Minutes - Special Meeting September 23, 1992 Page 3 height. The Planning Commission consensus was that the setback should be similar to the VenStar Building at 147th and Garrett (25 to 30 feet) for one -story buildings and 40 feet or more for a two-story building. The Commission encouraged the Staff to return with other suggestions regarding staggered setbacks based on height. Chairman Felkner asked the Staff to consider the impact that garage doors and loading docks may have on reduced setbacks adjacent to city streets. He suggested that the Staff should write new requirements regarding garage doors and docks so that they are not visible from the street side of the building. A general discussion ensued regarding development issues in the downtown and the amount of screening that has been done. No action was taken. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.