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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/28/20131. CALL TO 0 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY URBAN AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES MAY 28, 2013 D ER The City of Apple Valley Urban Affairs Advisory Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Schwartz at 7:01 p.m. Members Present: Barry Berg, Edwin Holmes, Sharon Schwartz, Pamela Sohlberg and Earl Wilson. Members Absent: Sandy Breuer Staff Present: Planner Margaret Dykes, Code Compliance Specialist Ben Pierson and Department Assistant Joan Murphy. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Schwartz asked if there were any changes to the agenda. Hearing none she called for a motion. MOTION: of Wilson, seconded by Berg, approving the agenda. Ayes - 4 - Nays - 0. Committee Member Holmes arrived to the meeting at 7:04. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES APRIL 30, 2013. Chair Schwartz requested a change to page 4. No other changes were requested and she called for a motion. MOTION: of Berg, seconded by Wilson, approving the revised minutes of the meeting of April 30, 2013. Ayes - 5 - Nays — 0. 4. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Animal Ordinances Review Planner Margaret Dykes provided a recap of the previous meeting related to the City's existing animal ordinances. She said residents in single-family residential neighborhoods asked City Council to review ordinances in order to keep animals other than "house pets" on their property and that they are interested in keeping chickens and goats. Committee Member Berg asked what the standard residential lot was in size. Ms. Dykes answered an R-1 zoning is 40,000 sq. ft., an R-2 is 18,000 sq. ft. and an R-3 is 11,000 sq. ft. Committee Member Berg inquired about covenants. Ms. Dykes stated the City does not enforce covenants. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes May 28, 2013 Page 2 of 3 Chair Schwartz, referring to the definition of house pets, asked if they needed to be concerned on the multi-family areas. Ms. Dykes stated definition of house pets would apply to all zoning districts, but the request to keep chickens and goats pertains to single-family residential areas only. Multi-family areas would not be included in the areas where chickens and goats would be permitted if the City were to amend the Code to allow the keeping of these animals, which it currently does not. Committee Member Berg added that there are the mobile home areas. Ms. Dykes commented that those areas are in a different zoning district. Committee Member Holmes suggested the committee could specify the zoning districts of R-1, R-2 and R-3 when writing the ordinance on animals. Committee Member Berg commented that a service animal should not be considered a household pet. Chair Schwartz inquired if animals that provide assistance would need to be addressed differently. Ms. Dykes answered that those animals could be added to the house pet definition. Committee Member Berg added there could be problems with reptiles and amphibians and would like to see the exclusion of poisonous amphibians. He expressed concern that some people dispose of these animals in the storm sewers and ponds when they are no longer wanted. Committee Member Holmes commented that years ago people had chickens and that there are immigrants who know how to handle chickens. He feels if they want to spend the money on raising chickens they should be allowed to do so. Committee Member Sohlberg stated that Apple Valley was originally developed by Orrin Thompson as a suburban community, and that neighbors live in close proximity to each other. She stated there can be negative impacts on neighbors adjacent to residents keeping farm animals, and that it should not be allowed in Apple Valley. She stated that those residents wanting farm animals should move farther out to a more rural area where such activities are expected. Committee Member Berg stated he hates to see government regulation but is concerned that allowing chickens, goats and other farm animals will adversely affect abutting neighbors. He stated the ordinance definition of house pets should be specific to dogs, cats, birds, etc., and not include exotic animals, and farm animals like chickens, goats, or potbellied pigs. Committee Member Holmes suggested limiting chickens to R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. Ms. Dykes stated the ordinance could be limited to R-1 if desired by the city. Motion: by Sohlberg, seconded by Wilson, recommending drafting an ordinance defining house pet excluding farm animals and poultry. Ayes - 4 - Nays — 1 — (Holmes) CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Urban Affairs Advisory Committee Minutes May 28, 2013 Page 3 of 3 Ms. Dykes stated there should be a public hearing to hear comments about any draft ordinance amendment from the public. Committee Member Berg stated people may not like the ordinance definition and the Committee should have a "Plan B" that would allowing for the keeping of chickens, but not goats or other farm animals, on larger single family residential lots. Motion: by Holmes, seconded by Berg, recommending a contingent plan restricting chickens to R-1 lots and to discuss restrictions necessary. Ayes - 4 - Nays — 1 — (Schwartz) 5. OTHER BUSINESS A. Review of upcoming meeting. Planner Margaret Dykes stated that the next Urban Affairs Committee meeting would take place Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. 6. ADJOURNMENT Hearing no further comments from the Urban Affairs Advisory Committee, Chair Schwartz asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: of Wilson, seconded by Sohlberg to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Ayes - 5 - Nays - 0. Respectfully Submitted, J an Murphy, Planning D partm Assistant Approved by the Apple Valley Urban Affairs Advisory Committee on