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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-27 MINUTESCity of Cottage Grove Planning Commission April 27, 2009 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 – 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on April 27, 2009, in the Council Chambers and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16. Call to Order Chair Messick called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Obid Hofland, Michael Linse, Steve Messick, Brian Pearson, Tracy Poncin, Ryan Rambacher, Jim Rostad, David Thiede, Chris Willhite Staff Present: Howard Blin, Community Development Director John McCool, Senior Planner Justin Olsen, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Willhite made a motion to approve the agenda. Thiede seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved (9-to-0 vote). Open Forum Messick asked if anyone wished to address the Planning Commission on any non-agenda item. No one addressed the Commission. Chair’s Explanation of the Public Hearing Process Messick explained the purpose of the Planning Commission, which serves in an advisory ca- pacity to the City Council, and that the City Council makes all final decisions. In addition, he explained the process of conducting a public hearing and requested that any person wishing to speak should come to the microphone and state their full name and address for the public record. Public Hearings and Application Reviews 6.1 Woehnker Garage Addition – Case No. V09-010 Peter Woehnker has applied for a variance to reduce the 20-foot minimum corner side yard setback requirement to 17 feet to allow construction of a 14-foot wide addition to the west side of the attached garage at 8528 Jorgensen Avenue South. Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2009 Page 2 of 4 McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. Messick opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Messick closed the public hearing. Thiede asked how the roof line on the garage expansion would match that of the house. Woehnker showed drawings of the proposed expansion and explained the design. Rambacher asked if there was a stop sign where Joliet intersects with Jorgensen. After some discussion, it was determined that there was no stop sign. Hofland made a motion to recommend approval of the variance application based on the findings and the conditions approving the variance as written in the planning staff report. Poncin seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9-to-0 vote). 6.2 Park High School Sign Variance – Case V09-012 Independent School District #833 has applied for a variance to the maximum sign size re- quirements in the City Code to allow construction of a new monument sign along 80th Street directly south of the main building entrance to Park High School, 8040 – 80th Street South. The existing monument sign will be removed. (The Public Hearing will be held at the City Council meeting on May 6, 2009.) McCool summarized the staff report and recommend approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. Messick asked if there were any comments from the public on this application. There were none. Rostad asked if the trees along 80th Street would block views of the proposed sign. McCool responded that the trees were overstory and had been trimmed to a height above the sign. There should be no interference. Thiede asked about the size of the sign. McCool presented the plans for the sign. Willhite made a motion to recommend approval of the variance application based on the findings and the conditions approving the variance as approval written in the plan- ning staff report. Hofland seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9-to-0 vote). 6.3 Electronic Signs – Case TA09-004 (continued from March 23, 2009, meeting) The City of Cottage Grove has applied for an ordinance amendment to allow limited use of dynamic signs. Blin summarized the staff report and recommended approval. Based on the Planning Com- mission’s discussion at the March meeting, Blin reported that the proposed ordinance amendment will not allow time and temperature type of signs. Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2009 Page 3 of 4 Rambacher asked if fuel prices can electronically be displayed on pylon signs. Blin responded that only the fuel prices can be on a pylon. Thiede asked if BP’s redevelopment plan on the corner of Jamaica and East Point Douglas Road would allow them to have an electronic reader board on their pylon sign. Blin explained that they cannot have an electronic reader board on a pylon sign, but could on a monument sign. Linse suggested that the wording “time and temperature information signs” on line 3, page 2 of the draft ordinance amendment be deleted since time and temperature type of signage will not be allowed based on the proposed sign ordinance amendment. Messick opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Messick closed the public hearing. Willhite made a motion to recommend approval of the sign ordinance amendment that includes the deletion of “time and temperature” from Title 9-8-5(F)(1). Thiede seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (9-to-0 vote). Discussion Items None. Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of March 23, 2009 Messick asked for approval of the minutes for the March 23, 2009 meeting. With respect to the proposed newspaper box ordinance discussion, Linse questioned if Blin’s response con- cerning the type of material that could be dispensed from a newspaper box was accurately documented. Blin responded that cities cannot regulate the type of printed material dispensed from a newspaper box because of the First Amendment but can prohibit the public display of obscene materials. Messick made a motion to place the minutes on the table for amendment. The Planning Commission unanimously adopted the amendment. Rostad made a motion to approve the amended minutes. Motion seconded by Poncin. The motion passed unanimously (9-to-0 vote). Reports 9.1 Recap of April City Council Meetings Blin reported on City Council actions which included approval of the wind turbine ordinance and denial of the newspaper box ordinance. 9.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None. Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 2009 Page 4 of 4 9.3 Planning Commission Requests Blin reminded Planning Commission members that the next Planning Commission meeting will be held on Monday, June 1, 2009. City Hall will be closed on the fourth Monday in May because of the Memorial Day holiday. Adjournment Thiede made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Hofland seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9-to-0 vote). The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.