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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-07 PACKET 04.A.i. / REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # � . DATE 10/7/15 . �' � . . PREPARED BY: Community Development Jennifer Levitt ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR * * � * * * * * * * * * * * * * � * * * * � * * * * * * * * * * * * * * � * * * � * * * * * * * COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST: Receive and place on file the approved minutes for the Planning Commission's meeting on August 24, 2015. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the request. BUDGET IMPLICATION: $N/A $N/A N/A BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION: DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED � PLANNING 9/28/15 ❑ � ❑ ❑ 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 August 24, 2015 ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS: t �_��_� City Ad " istrator Date � * * * * * * * * * * * � * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * � * * * * * * * * * * COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission August 24, 2015 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, August 24, 2015, in the Council Chambers and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16. Call to Order Chair Brittain called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Ken Brittain, Adam Graf, Kimberly Graff, Jake Haagsman, Jim Rostad, Roger Zopfi Members Absent: Justin Fox, Wayne Johnson Staff Present: Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer John M. Burbank, Senior Planner John McCool, Senior Planner Justin Olsen, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Haagsman made a motion to approve the agenda. Graff seconded. The motion was ap- proved unanimously(6-to-0 voteJ. Open Forum Brittain 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 Brittain 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 Stechcon Garage — Case V2015-026 Jon Stechcon has applied for a variance to allow a 1,400 square foot garage to be con- structed in front of the principal structure at 9263 Military Road South. Planning Commission Minutes August 24, 2015 Page 2 of 4 Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Graf asked for more detail on the road changes that could impact where the applicant's front yard will be. Burbank explained that in the City's 2020 Future Vision Comprehensive, Military Road will become an historic trail corridor as the properties along that road redevelop. Graf asked where the access for this property would be in the future. Burbank responded that would be part of the development plans for those properties as they develop. Brittain opened the public hearing. Gary Deutsch, 9295 Military Road South, stated that he lives to the east of the applicant and has no objections to the proposed location for the garage. No one e/se spoke, Brittain closed the public hearing. Graf made a motion to approve the variance based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. Haagsman seconded. Motion passed unanimously(6-to-0 vote). 6.2 Premier Storage — Cases MS2015-030, SP2015-031, V2015-032 Premier Storage LLC has applied for a minor subdivision to move the north/south property line; a site plan review of a proposed storage center; and a variance to the building material requirements for the west building. The proposed storage facility will be located at 7160 West Point Douglas Road South. McCool summarized the stafF report and recommended approval of the variance application based on the findings of fact listed in the staff report and approval of the site plan review and minor subdivision subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Rostad asked if any acreage would be lost to the ponding. McCool explained that the acreage in the survey that the surveyor provided to the City is slightly different than the acreage in the County records. It could be a rounding error, but staff will research the discrepancy. There could also be some right-of-way factored into the acreage. There is no loss due to the storm- water basin area. Graff asked if condition #8, which requires that public safety be provided with the names and contact information of anyone who has an entrance key, would need to be continually updated as units are rented. McCool responded that would have to be updated when units are rented. Rostad asked if the facility will be built in stages. McCool responded it will be built as one project. Zopfi asked for more information on the why the property lines were not extended all the way to the railroad tracks, which creates an odd strip separating the balance of the property and if it could be a problem if the parcels are sold to two different parties. McCool responded that _ Planning Commission Minutes August 24, 2015 Page 3 of 4 one of the conditions of approval requires that those two parcels be platted before any devel- opment occurs on those parcels. Burbank explained that creating that strip would also leave it as one taxing parcel rather than three separate taxing parcels. Todd Jones, Principal with Premier Storage, 206 North Chestnut, Chaska, MN, explained that they have the 17-acre site of the former Rush nightclub site under contract and the contract is contingent upon receiving the necessary approvals. He requested that condition #8 be re- moved, and said he has never seen that requirement during the 30 years he has been in this business. He described the security measures for the facility. Jones then stated that they will completely renovate and repurpose the existing building including a new roof and mechanical, electrical, and sprinkler systems, and will also repaint the building. The four new buildings will be built around the existing building to help shield it from view. With respect to the balance of the property, it is their intent to aggressively market the property to the real estate community and either sell to a developer, build to suit for a user, or enter into a joint venture with others to develop the property. He explained some prospective future uses of the adjoining property, including an office showroom facility. He noted that without the storage center piece, they would not be a participant in this process. They are planning to close on the property Septem- ber 15 and commence construction immediately so they can open for business in the spring of 2016. Jones provided information on the exterior materials and renderings of the proposed buildings. He explained that the intent is so the site does not look like a mini-storage facility, but would look like an office building from the front. Forty percent of the space will fully climate- controlled. He reiterated that they want condition #8 removed. He stated that they will put in the sidewalk, even though it does not go anywhere. Zopfi asked if they have similar facilities in other communities. Jones stated that they have developed facilities in Edina, Bloomington, Lakeville, New Hope, Richfield, South Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Shorewood and several other cities in the metro area and are currently constructing one in St. Louis Park. He noted that Premier Storage has developed more of these types of facilities in the upper Midwest than anyone else. Brittain asked if condition #8 is currently a City policy. McCool responded it was required for other similar type projects. Brittain stated that the amount of time needed to review that policy to the extent needed would take a longer time period than the applicant has. The Planning Commission is the zoning and planning board tasked with adhering to the guidelines set forth for the City. He suggested that they work with staff on that issue prior to the City Council meeting as the Council has a wider latitude. With the aggressive schedule, he does not want to delay the application on that particular point. Graf expressed concern about allowing Class 4 materials on the southwesterly corner as it could be visible to another building on the site depending on where the buildings would be located and situated. Jones pointed out the side of the building that will have the Class 4 materials, noting that it is only visible to the railroad tracks. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Graff made a motion to approve the variance to exterior materials for the west building, based on the findings of fact listed in the staff report. Rostad seconded. Motion passed unanimously(6-to-0 vote), Planning Commission Minutes August 24, 2015 Page 4 of 4 Graf made a motion to approve the minor subdivision and site plan review subject to the conditions in the staff'report. Haagsman seconded. Motion passed unanimously(6-to-0 vote). Discussion Items None Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of July 27, 2015 Graf made a motion to approve the minutes for the July 27, 2015, Planning Commission meeting. Graff seconded. Motion passed unanimously(6-to-0 vote). Reports 9.1 Recap of August City Council Meetings Levitt reported at the August 12, 2015, City Council meeting, the Council approved the condi- tional use permit for the expansion of a legal nonconforming use to construct an accessory structure and picnic shelter at the 3M Trap & Skeet Club; the interim conditional use permit to expand a legal nonconforming use to allow a mobile office trailer business at Roger's Auto- motive; and the conditional use permit to allow a sign up to 126 square feet on the wall of Crossroads Church. Olsen provided an update on the budget discussions for the upcoming year. He also discussed � the hiring process for the new City Administrator and announced that the City made a job offer to Charlene Stevens, who is the former City Administrator for the City of Willmar; the Council will vote on her employment contract at a future meeting. He reported that he received a letter of resignation from Planning Commissioner Kathy Kline, who had changes in her work schedule that would not allow her to continue serving on the Commission; he thanked her for her service. 9.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None. 9.3 Planning Commission Requests None. Adjournment Graff made a motion to adjourn. Haagsman seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m. (6-to-0 vote).