HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-03 PACKET 04.A.i. REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM # � � `
DATE 12/3/14 � • J
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PREPARED BY: Community Development Jennifer Levitt
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR
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COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Planning Commission's meeting on
October 27, 2014.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Receive and place on file the approved Planning Commission minutes for the meeting on
October 27, 2014.
BUDGET IMPLICATION $N/A $N/A N/A
BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE
ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION
DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED
� PLANNING 11/24/14 ❑ � ❑
❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO/LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
� OTHER: Planning Commission minutes from meeting on October 27, 2014
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
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- City Administrator Dat
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COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER
City of Cottage Grove
Planning Commission
October 27, 2014
A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park-
way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, October 27, 2014, in the Council Chambers
and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16.
Call to Order
Chair Rostad called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Members Present: Ken Brittain, Adam Graf, Jody Imdieke, Wayne Johnson, Lise' Rediske,
Chris Reese, Jim Rostad, Randall Wehrle
Members Absent: Kimberly Graff
StafF Present: Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer
John McCool, Senior Planner
John M. Burbank, Senior Planner
Justin Olsen, City Councilmember
Approval of Agenda
Rediske made a motion to approve the agenda. Wehrle seconded. The motion was ap-
proved unanimously (8-to-0 vote).
Open Forum
Rostad 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
Rostad explained the purpose of the Planning Commission, which serves in an advisory capacity
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
go to the microphone and state their full name and address for the public record.
Public Hearings and Applications
6.1 Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Riverstone — Case EAW2014-036
Riverstone Development LLC has applied for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet
(EAW) for a proposed phased residential subdivision to be called Riverstone that will con-
sist of 383 unattached single-family homes on 160 acres at the northwest corner of 95th
Street and Hadley Avenue.
Planning Commission Minutes
October 27, 2014
Page 2 of 4
Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended that the Planning Commission rec-
ommend that the City Council find that there is a negative need to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Riverstone single-family residential subdivision based on the
EAW and established findings.
Rostad opened the public hearing.
Scott Bruce, 6968 90th Street South, stated that his biggest issue is traffic. Hadley Avenue
was not built for construction traffic, unlike 95th Street, which is four lanes with sidewalks. He
asked if all that traffic would be kept south of 90th Street and if not, something has to be done
at the stop sign at Hadley and 90th Street because nobody stops at it. Burbank stated that
during the concept plan review, one of the things identified through the EAW's traffic study is
that this particular subdivision will produce 20 percent of traffic growth in that area. To address
traffic concerns, the City Engineer is looking at the potential for roundabouts at 90th and
Hadley and 95th Street and Hadley. While Hadley Avenue does have quite a bit of traffic on
it, our consulting engineers are reporting that the traffic volumes that will occur as a result of
this subdivision are not out of the ordinary based on growth projections.
Brittain asked if there will be a restriction on the construction equipment traffic to 95th Street
or will they be able to come through Hadley from 80th Street. Burbank responded that there
has been no discussion on construction traffic access. Levitt stated that Hadley Avenue be-
tween 80th Street and 90th Street is load restricted so it cannot carry the construction traffic;
large vehicles will have to travel on 95th Street to the site. Brittain asked if there is a time table
for the proposed roundabouts. Levitt stated that there are funds budgeted for 2015 for these
projects but are strictly dependent upon development schedule.
No one e/se spoke. Rostad closed the public hearing.
Brittain made a motion to recommend that there is a negative need to prepare an Envi-
ronmental Impact Statement for the Riverstone single-family residential subdivision,
and that the EAW was sufficient to ascertain the negative need to prepare an EIS based
on established findings. Reese seconded.
Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote).
6.2 Capital Improvement Program 2015-2019 — Case CP2014-037
The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to amend the
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2015-2019.
Levitt summarized the staff report and recommended approval.
Rostad asked for more information on the upfront expenses and ongoing revenues and ex-
penses for the HERO Center. Levitt responded that those details have not yet been worked
out, which is why some of our partnerships are still in the negotiating stages. The intent is to
build it and be able to lease space to have that revenue to offset the construction costs and to
recover our operation expenses. The goal is that the HERO center is not a financial burden to
the taxpayers of Cottage Grove, but is shared across the region. Olsen stated that the intent
of the HERO Center is for it to be a southeast metro/south metro version of what is already in
Planning Commission Minutes
October 27, 2014
Page 3 of 4
existence in the northwest metro, except in an enhanced way. Public safety professional who
need to receive skills training, and there are not many places close to here to receive that
training. He explained the background and vision for this proposed training center. The State
Legislature has provided some funds to do the initial study and space needs. The center would
be utilized for training and could possibly include a firing range. Rostad stated that he hopes
that the other entities enter into partnerships for the HERO Center. He is concerned that in the
long-term he does not want it to be something that is only Cottage Grove owned and operated.
Olsen stated that has never been the intent and if that was the end result, the project would
not go forward.
Rostad opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Rostad closed the public hearing.
Brittain made a motion to approve the comprehensive plan amendment to amend the
ClP for 2015-2019. Rediske seconded.
Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote),
6.3 Certificate of Survey Text Amendment — Case TA2014-038
The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a zoning text amendment to City Code Title 11-
2-2B, Application for Permit, and Title 9-3-2, Use or Occupancy, to require a certificate of
survey for new residential construction on lots with metes and bounds description which
exceed 1.5 acres.
McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval.
Reese recommended clarifying the language in Title 11-2-2B(3).
Rostad asked if this has been required but is not in the ordinance. McCool responded that
Title 11-2-2B(1) currently requires a certificate of survey for every building permit application
for construction or relocation of a new principal building on a lot in all zoning districts. Title 11-
2-2B(3) states that a certificate of survey is not required for acreage or rural lots, and this
proposed text amendment would require one, specifically around the construction site. Rostad
asked if this is in line with other cities. McCool responded yes.
Rostad opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Rostad closed the public hearing.
Graf made a motion to approve the text amendment. Imdieke seconded.
Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote).
Discussion Items
7.1 Attorney Letter: Variance to Allow a Second Residential Unit at 10990 Manning
Avenue
Levitt explained that the memorandum from the City Attorney is a follow-up on the variance
application to allow a second residential unit at 10990 Manning Avenue South that the Com-
mission reviewed at their September 22 meeting. She stated that there had been a lot of ques-
tions and this memo the City Attorney prepared for the City Council outlines very clearly for
Planning Commission Minutes
October 27, 2014
Page 4 of 4
what questions the Commission shoutd be asking for a variance request. There were three
very distinct questions that need to be answered: is the variance in harmony with the general
purpose and intent of the ordinance, is the variance consistent with the Comprehensive Plan,
and are the circumstances causing the request for the variance unique to the property and not
created by the landowner. She noted that if the Commission has specific questions regarding
the variance process, a workshop could be scheduled with the City Attorney. Reese asked if
the language would be any different if the letter was written for a volunteer commission versus
a City Council. Levitt responded that because you are looking at it as a Zoning Board, the
requirements are the same. Rostad noted that one of the items in this particular application
was that there is an agricultural component to that lot and secondary residences for hired help
are allowed, and this particular letter does not address that argument. He asked if there has
been any follow-up. Levitt responded that the application was continued to the November 5
Council meeting. The City Attorney will address the interpretation of that section at that
meeting.
Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of September 22, 2014
Wehrle made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 22, 2014, Planning
Commission meeting, Graf seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote).
Reports
9.1 Recap of October City Council Meetings
Levitt reported that at the October 1 City Council meeting, the Council approved variances for
pool and septic system setbacks at 8217 113th Street. At the October 15 Council meeting, the
Council approved the conditional use permit for AT&T antennas at 10475 Kimbro Avenue, and
denied the driveway setback, utility easement encroachment, and driveway width variances at
7230 Jonathan Avenue. The variance application for a second residential unit at 10990
Manning Avenue was continued to the October 15 meeting.
9.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries
None
9.3 Planning Commission Requests
None
Adjournment
Graf made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wehrle seconded. Motion passed unani-
mously (8-to-0 vote), The meeting adjourned at 7;51 p.m,