HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/06/1989PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
December 6, 1989
1. CALL TO ORDER
The December 6, 1989 meeting of the Apple Valley Planning Commission
was called to order by Chairman Robert Erickson at 7:36 p.m. in the
Council Chambers of the City of Apple Valley City Hall.
Members Present: Chairman Erickson, Members Carlson, Felkner,
Gowling, Kleckner, Sterling, and Weldon.
Staff Present: Richard Kelley, Meg McMonigal, Kurt Chatfield,
and Dennis Welsch.
Others Present: See the sign -in sheet.
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Carlson, seconded by Member
Weldon, to approve the agenda with one addition, Item 8B - Sand and Gravel
Progress Report. The motion carried unanimously.
3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 15, 1989
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Sterling, seconded by Member
Gowling, to approve the minutes of the November 15, 1989 meeting with the
following change in paragraph 6 of page 3, the last sentence should read,
"The public hearing was left open until December 20, 1989." The motion
carried unanimously.
4. CONSENT AGENDA (One motion sends items needing no discussion on to
the City Council with the staff recommendations.)
None.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Park and Recreation Development Plan
LOCATION: City of Apple Valley, Minnesota
PETITIONER: City of Apple Valley (PC89- 076 -P)
-TO BE CONTINUED TO DECEMBER 20, 1989 -
STAFF REPORT: December 6, 1989 by Associate Planner Meg McMonigal
Planning Commission Minutes
December 6, 1989
Page 2
Associate Planner Meg McMonigal provided an update regarding the park
plan, noting that new items in the draft include population group maps and
comparisons to National standards compared to City of Apple Valley's
improvements.
Member Erickson asked for additional information on a senior passive
half -acre park to be located somewhere in the downtown.
Member Felkner asked if the Park Committee had looked at the
population data base in relation to improvements proposed for each park.
Member Sterling asked that on page 23, which relates to Galaxie Park,
some mention be given to correcting the overcrowding of the parking lot,
perhaps by providing two hour parking zones for 2 or 3 spaces. On page
30, she asked for clarification regarding the design details for the
Interpretive Center. On page 32, Member Sterling asked for the timing of
the trail to be placed on the pipeline easement.
Member Kleckner asked for clarification regarding County park
funding. A general discussion ensued.
Chairman Erickson asked for public comment. There was none.
Chairman Erickson then continued the public hearing to December 20, 1989.
6. LAND USE /ACTION ITEMS
A. Zoning Amendment - "RB" Car Washes
LOCATION: City of Apple Valley, Minnesota
PETITIONER: City of Apple Valley (PC89- 074 -0)
STAFF REPORT: December 6, 1989 by City Planner Richard Kelley
City Planner Richard Kelley provided a background report on the
provisions of an amendment to the City's zoning code in retail business
zones that would allow car washes to be located in such zones with the
approval of a conditional use permit. A general discussion ensued
regarding street frontages.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Carlson, seconded by Member
Kleckner, to recommend approval of the amendment to the zoning code
allowing for car washes to be located in a retail business zone with a
conditional use permit as per the staff report. The motion carried
unanimously.
Planning Commission Minutes
December 6, 1989
Page 3
B. Preliminary Plat
Addition
LOCATION: Southwest Corner
PETITIONER: McLaughlin - Lykken
(PC89 - 055 -SZ)
STAFF REPORT: December 6, 1989
Review for East Valley Plaza 2nd
of 140th Street W. and Essex Avenue
Enterprises and BMB Investments
by City Planner Richard Kelley
City Planner Richard Kelley reviewed the preliminary plat and the
corrections made since the public hearing held in November. He noted that
the staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat of the East Valley
Plaza 2nd Addition as amended and also, recommends approval of the ability
of the applicant to replat Outlot A into four (4) lots and Outlot B into
two (2) lots without necessity of further public hearings for platting.
Member Erickson expressed concern about the single- family land uses across
from Essex Avenue. City Planner Kelley noted that the City will establish
access control along the west side of Essex Avenue in an attempt to reduce
the amount of turning movements that would occur on Essex Avenue.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Weldon, seconded by Member
Kleckner, to recommend approval of the preliminary plat with the additions
as recommended by the City Staff that include: 1) approval of the revised
preliminary plat which contains a renamed street, Esther Trail, and
realigned intersection of Upper 141st Street and Essex Avenue and 2)
approval of the preliminary plat to include the ability to replat Outlot A
in to a maximum of four (4) lots and Outlot B in to a maximum of two (2)
lots without additional public hearings and 3) berming and access control
to be included in the development agreement along the west side of Essex
Avenue. The motion carried unanimously.
C. East Valley Car Wash - Site Plan; Conditional Use
LOCATION: Southeast Corner of 141st Street and Upper 141st
Street
PETITIONER: Jay Blanchard (PC89- 073 -BC)
STAFF REPORT: December 6, 1989 by City Planner Richard Kelley
City Planner Richard Kelley provided a staff report which described
the request for a conditional use permit and a building permit
authorization to allow a car wash in a "RB" retail business zone. The
conditional use is also for exterior masonry material other than brick -
in this case, decorative, concrete block. He noted that the site meets
all the criteria for a car wash conditional use permit in a "RB" zone and
that the site also meets the criteria for alternate exterior building
materials - in this case, a blue -gray, decorative block. Parking and
vehicle stacking requirements have been adjusted to meet the City code and
the petitioner has agreed to meet with the staff regarding revision of the
landscape plan. The staff recommended approval of the conditional use
permit for the car wash in a "RB" zone and recommended the approval of a
conditional use permit for the alternate exterior building materials. In
Planning Commission Meeting
December 6, 1989
Page 4
addition, the staff recommended approval of the building permit authori-
zation in accordance with the revised site plan and a completed landscape
plan.
Mr. Jay Blanchard, 18708 Jasmine Way, Lakeville, Iowa, described the
vacuum system and the signage on the building.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Gowling, seconded by Member
Sterling, to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for a car wash
in accordance with the revised site plan within a "RB" zone. The motion
carried unanimously.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Gowling, seconded by Member
Weldon, to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for alternate
building materials - in this case blue -gray, decorative concrete blocks.
The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Gowling, seconded by Member
Weldon, to recommend approval of the site plan and building permit
authorization and to request that the applicant work with the staff to
prepare a revised landscape plan. The motion carried unanimously.
D. House Variance
LOCATION: Lot 11, Block 2, Hunters Ridge
PETITIONER: The Rottlund Company, Inc. (PC89- 080 -V)
STAFF REPORT: December 6, 1989 by Associate Planner Meg McMonigal
Associate Planner Meg McMonigal presented a report which described
the variance request by Rottlund Company to allow an existing house to
remain at a setback of twenty -eight feet (28') from the street, because of
a construction error. The house was build two feet closer to the street
because the survey staking was done in error. Todd Stutz, Rottlund
Company, expressed his concern about the variance and noted that it was an
honest error.
Chairman Erickson stated that this was an unfortunate mistake.
Member Carlson asked the staff to suggest a uniform penalty for such
construction errors or undetected setback variances.
Associate Planner Meg McMonigal noted that it was very difficult to
tell that the setback did not meet the thirty foot (30') requirement if
viewed from the street. However, if viewed from the setback line, it was
obvious that the house was two feet closer to the street.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Carlson, seconded by Member
Sterling, to recommend approval of the variance as described in the staff
report because of the honest construction error. Staff was directed to
develop a policy to relate to unintentional variances. The motion carried
unanimously.
Planning Commission Minutes
December 6, 1989
Page 5
DISCUSSION ITEMS - Verbal Reports
A. EAW for County Road #38
Planning Commission accepted a verbal report from Meg McMonigal
regarding the construction of County Road #38 from Pilot Knob to Johnny
Cake Ridge Road. She noted that one environmental concern is the pond
located at the southwest corner of proposed County Road #38 and Pilot Knob
Road.
B. Sign Ordinance Changes
Associate Planner Meg McMonigal described changes that should be made
to the sign code in order to make administration more clear and simple.
These included reducing the number of billboards allowed on industrial
lands, clarifying the maximum amount of square footage allowed in retail
and general business zones, and reducing or eliminating the ability to
construct a pylon sign in a neighborhood convenience zone. The Planning
Commission asked the staff to prepare an ordinance and bring it to the
next available Planning Commission meeting.
C. NC Zoning Text Changes
Community Development Director Dennis Welsch provided a report in
which he recommended that the Planning Commission consider combining
current zoning district "NC" and "NC -1" into one zone called "NCC" for
neighborhood convenience center. The objective would be to simplify the
ordinance and allow for one consistent set of standards throughout the
City. In a general discussion, it was concluded that this zoning would
only affect 4 or 5 parcels. The staff was directed to prepare an
ordinance and bring it back to the Planning Commission at the next
available meeting.
D. Parking Space Changes
Associate Planner Meg McMonigal review the parking standards within
the zoning code and noted a number of situations where updates to the
zoning code should occur. The Planning Commission directed the staff to
prepare an ordinance and bring it back at the next available meeting.
E. Corridor Zoning Overlay Zone
City Planner Richard Kelley explained the concept of the corridor
zoning overlay district and noted that the staff has begun work on this as
it relates to the Cedar Avenue area. The Planning Commission directed the
staff to prepare recommendations and an ordinance and to present it to the
Planning Commission at the next available public hearing.
Planning Commission Minutes
December 6, 1989
Page 6
F. Required Yards and Open Space Modifications
City Planner Richard Kelley requested that the Planning Commission
consider revising a section of the zoning code which relates to required
yards and open space setbacks. In specific, the Commission dealt with the
use of handicap ramps and other pertinencies. City Planner Richard Kelley
noted that clearer language would allow for more efficient and straight
forward administration by the planning and building staff. The Planning
Commission directed the Planning Staff to prepare recommendations in the
form of an ordinance and return to the Planning Commission in late
January.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. Proposed 1990 Meeting Calendar
The Planning Commission adopted its' meeting schedule for the
calendar year 1990, noting that there will only be one meeting held in
July of 1990.
B. Sand and Gravel Mining Ordinances and Environmental Impact
Statements
Community Development Director Dennis Welsch provided a sand and
gravel review process outline dated December 5, 1989 in which the various
steps involved in the Environment Impact Statement review were listed. A
general discussion ensued regarding the steps to be taken by the Planning
Commission.
MOTION: A motion was made by Member Carlson, seconded by Member
Weldon, to recommend to the City Council the establishment of a moratorium
on accepting gravel rezoning requests permits, and expansions until June
30, 1990 or until the Environmental Impact Statement and the new Sand and
Gravel Ordinance have been adopted and are effective. The motion carried
6 - 0, with one abstention (Kleckner).
The Planning Commission expressed concern that the quality of work
that had been done in the Environmental Impact Statement would be
diminished if a gravel operator were to apply for a rezoning or other type
of sand and gravel permit prior to the completion of the EIS process and
the adoption of the corresponding ordinance. A general discussion ensued.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:22 p.m.