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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-01 PACKET 04.A.i.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 2/1/12 .1 PREPARED BY Community Development John McCool ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Planning Commission's meeting on November 28, 2011. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Receive and place on file the approved Planning Commission minutes for the meeting on November 28, 2011. BUDGET IMPLICATION $N /A $N /A N/A BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE ® PLANNING 1/23/12 ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV, AUTHORITY El SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: Planning Commission minutes from meeting on November 28, 2011 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS y City Administrator ate COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER ❑ ® ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ❑ MEMO /LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ® OTHER: Planning Commission minutes from meeting on November 28, 2011 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS y City Administrator ate COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission November 28, 2011 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 — 80th Street South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, November 28, 2011, in the Council Chambers and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16. Call to Order Interim Chair Messick called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Ken Brittain, Steve Messick, Brian Pearson, Ryan Rambacher, Jim Rostad, Maureen Ventura, Randall Wehrle Members Absent: None Staff Present: John McCool, Senior Planner Robin Roland, Finance Director David Thiede, City Council Councilmember Thiede and Interim Chair Messick presented certificates of appreciation to for- mer Planning Commissioners Treber and Poncin. They thanked both for their service to the City of Cottage Grove. Open Forum Messick asked if anyone wished to address the Planning Commission on any non - agenda item. No one addressed the Commission. Approval of Agenda Rambacher made a motion to approve the agenda. Ventura seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). Chair's Explanation of the Public Hearing Process d +t rose of the Planning Commission, which serves in an advisory ca- Messick explained e purpose y , pacity to the City Council, and that the City Council makes all final decisions. In addition, he ex- plained the process of conducting a public hearing and requested that any person wishing to speak should go to the microphone and state their full name and address for the public record. Public Hearings and Applications Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2011 Page 2 of 7 6.1 AT &T Antenna on Tower on Kimbro Avenue — Case CUP11 -022 Midwest Real Estate Services, on behalf of AT &T Wireless, has applied for a conditional use permit to allow the installation of six antennas on an existing monopole tower and construction of an equipment shelter at 10475 Kimbro Avenue South. McCool summarized the staff report. He displayed the existing and proposed coverage maps that were provided by the applicant showing how the coverage would improve with the addi- tion of these antennas. He recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Messick opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Messick closed the public hearing. Rambacher asked if the surrounding property owners had been notified of this hearing. McCool responded yes but staff did not receive any comments from them. Rostad made a motion approve the application subject to the conditions listed below. Pearson seconded. 1. The applicant must complete a building permit application for the equipment build- ing and the City must issue the building permit before any construction can begin. 2. All applicable electrical and building permits must be obtained prior to commence- ment of construction. 3. No advertising shall be displayed on the monopole, antenna panels, equipment building, or fence. 4. The antennas must be painted the same color as the tower. 5. If the property is rezoned and the new zoning classification does not permit an EMCF within the new zoning district, then the existing non - compliant structure(s) shall be removed within a time period established by the City. 6. The exterior materials and colors of the equipment building must be similar to the exterior materials and colors of the two other existing equipment buildings. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). 6.2 3M Radio - Control Flyers Field — ICUP11 -023 3M Club RC Flyers has applied for an interim conditional use permit to continue opera- tion of a radio - control flyers field at 6219 Keats Avenue South. McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. He noted that in the staff report, the ending year for the ICUP was incorrect; it should be 2016. Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2011 Page 3 of 7 Messick opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Messick closed the public hearing. Brittain made a motion approve the application subject to the conditions listed below. Ventura seconded. 1. The interim conditional use permit will expire December 31, 2016. 2. All model aircraft operating at this site must be equipped with mufflers. 3. The City's Noise Ordinance requirements must be complied with. 4. The hours of access to the facility by club members shall be allowed any day of the week as permitted by 3M Corporate Real Estate. 5. The hours the operation of model planes shall only be during daylight hours. 6. Parking along Keats Avenue is prohibited at all times. 7. A five -pound ABC rated fire extinguisher must be stored at the shelter and "NO SMOKING" signs posted in the shelter. 8. The $300 annual interim conditional use permit fee is waived during the five -year period ending December 31, 2016. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). 6.3 Linder's Flower Mart at Rainbow Foods — Case ICUP11 -024 Linder's Greenhouses, Inc. has applied for an interim conditional use permit to allow a seasonal greenhouse and outdoor storage area to be located in the Rainbow Foods parking lot, 7282 East Point Douglas Road South. McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Messick opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Messick closed the public hearing. Pearson made a motion approve the application subject to the conditions listed below. Brittain seconded. 1. The Interim Conditiona! Use Permit will expire on December?, 2016. 2. A five -pound ABC rated fire extinguisher must be stored in the temporary green- house structure and no smoking signs posted. 3. All electrical connections must comply with State electrical requirements. Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2011 Page 4 of 7 4. Overhead electrical service or electrical extension cords are prohibited from any power source within the parking lot to the greenhouse. 5. A building permit for the temporary greenhouse must be issued by the City before the temporary structure is erected. A building permit is required for each year the temporary greenhouse is used on the property. 6. The construction /use of the temporary greenhouse in conjunction with outdoor display and sales of nursery products or other garden related merchandise is al- lowed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8 :00 p.m. from March 15 through July 20. The sales area and outdoor display area must not encroach into the parking lot drive aisles located on each side of the temporary greenhouse and outdoor display area. 7. Landscaping materials, plantings, pallets, merchandise, supplies, and fencing must not encroach into the drive aisles of the parking lot. 8. if the City determines that there is a parking shortage due to the temporary green- house, outdoor storage, or outdoor display of landscaping products, the City may make amendments to the interim Conditional Use Permit to correct the situation. 9. Signage for Linder's Nurseries is permitted on the temporary greenhouse. 10. The water ballast system that holds the temporary greenhouse down must be maintained to ensure none of the ballast containers leak. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). Brittain explained to the public the reason that there has been no discussion or questions from the Planning Commission regarding the first three planning cases is because the Commission has reviewed these types of applications in the past. Messick noted that the Planning Commission fills a statutory role to hold public hearings on these applications. 6.4 CIP 2012 -2016 — Case CP11 -025 The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to amend the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2012 -2016. Roland summarized the staff report and explained the Capital Improvement Program. She recommended that the Planning Commission find that the CIP 2012 -2016 is consistent with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Brittain asked if the assessments that are paid by property owners for pavement manage- ment projects go directly to repay the bonds that were used to finance the project. Roland responded yes. She explained that there are two pieces to pavement management debt: as- sessments and the City levy. Those assessments that are paid up front, which is typically 30 to 40 percent of the assessments, reduce the amount of debt that the City issues. The bal- ance of the assessments is assessed to property owners at 7 percent interest over 15 years. Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2011 Page 5 of 7 When those assessments with the interest come in, they go to pay off the bonds. The other portion of the bond payment is made by levies that the City incurs when the dept is issued. Brittain asked for further information about the chart, which shows a significant growth in es- timated pavement management that is being estimated and a lack of pavement management funds prior to 2011. Roland explained that on this particular chart, existing issued pavement management debt prior to 2012 is shown by the blue bar. From 2012 on, the green bar is debt that the City would be issuing, and it is cumulative. That is why the green bar seems to grow when the blue bar is at a set amount. The existing debt (the blue bar) will continue until 2023 when the last of the pavement management bonds that are currently in existence are paid off. Messick asked if the estimated life span for roads is still 20 years. Roland stated that 20 years has been the established timeframe but she believes that the City Engineer evaluates the condition of the roads to try to extend that life span. She noted that the technology is changing with regard to asphalt and roadway materials. Brittain explained that roads have a life span of 57 years before total reconstruction and about 15 to 20 years for mill and overlay. Rambacher asked if debt service is based on existing rates. Roland responded yes. Rambacher then asked how future higher interest rates would affect the projects in the CIP. Roland responded that all projects in the CIP are completely dependent upon conditions at the time that the project takes place. There are some projects that could be held off because the interest rates for the bonds are too high. The Pavement Management Task Force set the interest rate for assessments at 7 percent, and until interest rates on those bonds exceed that 7 percent, it would still be advantageous for the City to bond for those projects and collect the revenues to help repay them. Rambacher asked if there is a number the City wants to stay under when making these deci- sions. Roland responded that the current debt policy of the City Council is that the debt ser- vice levy should be less than 10 percent of the total levy. Rambacher asked historically where the City has been. Roland responded about 9.5 percent. Roland summarized that the City of Cottage Grove is a very good fiscal steward with signifi- cant cash balances in a number of funds, which supports the ability to do projects as they come forward. The Public Safety /City Hall project is part of the building replacement fund and levy. Approximately $5.5 million to $6 million will be paid from existing funds, depending on where the furniture, fixtures, and equipment are paid from. The balance of that, $9.9 mil- lion, was sent out for an RFP for bonds. She stated that the action requested from the Planning Commission is to find that the 2012- 2016 CIP is consistent with the Cottage Grove 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Messick opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Messick closed the public hearing. Rambacher noted that the staff report states that bonded debt as a percentage of market value is at .81 percent per year after 2012, which is median for AA -1 cities and asked where the City has been historically on that. Roland responded that that number has not changed significantly; Cottage Grove has always been just a little bit above or a little bit below the av- erage of all the cities that we compare ourselves to. Rambacher noted that market values Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2011 Page 6 of 7 and tax base have decreased and asked if that has impacted the ability to extinguish some of that debt. Roland responded that the levy has stayed the same, and the amount of money that the City needs to collect is over a smaller base, so consequently it calls for more pay- ment per dollar market value. Brittain made a motion that the proposed CIP 2012 -2016 is consistent with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Ventura seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). Discussion Items None Approval of Planning Commission Minutes from October 24, 2011 Rostad made a motion to approve the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting on October 24, 2011. Rambacher seconded. The motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). Reports 9.1 Recap of October City Council Meetings Thiede reported that the City Council approved the side yard setback variance at 8414 Isle Ave- nue. At the November 16 meeting the Council approved, on a 4 -to -1 vote, the Highlands Park splash pad and awarded the contract to Black Constructors Inc. in the amount of $465,881. On November 2 the City sent a letter to Washington County relative to City support of their CIP projects, including a couple park projects at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, construction of additional trails down Ravine Parkway near the South Washington County Service Center, Mississippi River access, some road and bridge projects, the Red Rock Corridor route, the river route for high speed rail from the Twin Cities to Chicago, improvements to 70th Street from Highway 61 to Keats Avenue, improvements to Keats Avenue from the Highway 61 interchange to 100th Street, the realignment of 70th Street and Military Road at Keats, the Jamaica Avenue and Military Road jurisdictional transfer project, and the expansion of the Park Grove Library. Messick asked what the estimated completion date is for the splash pad. McCool responded early July 2012. Rambacher asked how much over budget was the splash pad project. Thiede responded about $50,000. He explained that originally there was only going to be one pad but the approved project has areas for three age groups. 9.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None 9.3 Planning Commission Requests Rambacher asked for an update on the pond project at The Waters at Michael's Pointe subdivi- sion. McCool responded that the developer has not submitted any concept plans at this point. Planning Commission Minutes November 28, 2011 Page 7 of 7 Thiede stated that the developer has maintained ownership of the pond. Rambacher asked what the future plans are for the current City Hall site. McCool responded that there have been dis- cussions about this being a potential incubator site for small businesses. Roland stated that topic will be discussed at the December 13 EDA meeting. Rostad asked about the potential plans to widen 70th Street to four lanes from Highway 61 to Hinton Avenue and if there any plans to improve the safety of the right turn lanes. McCool re- sponded that he would check with the City Engineer and County about the timing of that project. Rostad expressed concern about traffic using right turn lanes, particularly at Meadowgrass Ave- nue, to bypass vehicles making left turns. He asked if there were any traffic control improve- ments that could be added, such as putting in a curb to separate the right turn lane. McCool responded that the Public Safety Department should be enforcing that. He stated that he would have a response at the next meeting. Pearson asked what the purpose was for the paved lot that was added to the ice arena next to the tennis courts. Brittain noted that the School District put that in. McCool stated that it provides additional parking, but the caveat from the School District was that that area would be used for snow storage. Pearson stated that the additional parking is needed during tournaments and suggested storing the snow in the grass areas behind the buildings. Adjournment Rambacher made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ventura seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.