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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-02 Planning Commission Minutes City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission November 2, 2015 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, November 2, 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: Sam Awad, Ken Brittain, Justin Fox, Adam Graf, Kimberly Graff, Wayne Johnson, Jim Rostad, Roger Zopfi Members Absent: Jake Haagsman 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 Graf made a motion to approve the agenda. Graff seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (8-to-0 vote). 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 61 Marine & Sports – Cases CUP2015-027, V2015-028, MS2015-029 Stu-Mac Properties, c/o 61 Marine & Sports, 11730 Point Douglas Drive South, applied for a conditional use permit to allow the expansion of a legal nonconforming use west of the existing property (Parcel ID #36.027.21.42.0003); a variance to allow the expansion to be done without adding concrete curb and gutter and asphalt for the boat sales and storage Planning Commission Minutes November 2, 2015 Page 2 of 4 area; a variance from minimum landscaping requirements; a site plan review of the pro- posed expansion; and a minor subdivision to acquire a parcel of land southeast of Lot 1. Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Jack Clinton, Attorney for Stu-Mac Properties, stated that they reviewed the staff report and are in agreement with the recommendations and conditions of approval. They are hoping that the expansion in the area where the two residences are located will occur next year, and the residential buildings would be demolished and the new building constructed. Brittain asked if there will be a frontage road along that side of Highway 61 in the future, and if the septic field would could any issues with a future frontage road. Burbank stated that in the City’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan additional extensions of frontage roads and minor arterials along Highway 61 were identified; however, it would be many years down before that occurs. The easement area should be large enough to accommodate that. Brittain asked if the place- ment of the building and septic field would interfere with a future frontage road. Burbank responded he is not aware of any interference. Brittain noted that there are campers parked in front of the primary building and asked it that was allowed. Burbank responded that in the conditions, it states that exterior storage or display would be on the concrete pad in front of the principal building; the rest would have to be behind fenced areas. Al Stewart, 9435 Kimbro Avenue South, explained that the reason those campers are stored there is that there is currently no room for the campers in the storage area. They are planning to start on the proposed expansion next spring. Burbank stated that the Fire Department is requiring 20-foot access lanes in the storage area and staff will work with the applicant on language related to requirement of access lanes prior to going to Council. The City will ensure that the lanes are maintained, either by a condition or agreement. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Rostad made a motion to approve the applications for Planning Cases CUP2015-027, V2015-028, and MS2015-029, based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions listed in the staff report, with an added condition ensuring there is a 20-foot access drive in the storage area. Graf seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote). 6.2 Verizon on 81st Street Water Tank – Case CUP2015-040 Verizon Wireless LLC has applied for a conditional use permit to construct an 11-foot 6- inch by 25-foot 6-inch equipment shelter with a natural gas operated back-up generator inside the equipment shelter and to add 12 antennas on top of the City’s 3.0 million gallon water reservoir at 8492 81st Street South. A 12-foot by 21-foot hardsurface vehicle turn- around is proposed on the east side of the proposed Verizon equipment shelter. Planning Commission Minutes November 2, 2015 Page 3 of 4 McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Rick Adams, Verizon Site Acquisition Consultant, 1635 East Ponta Lake Road NW, Backus, Minnesota, provided information on how coverage will be increased by this proposal. Johnson asked how the yellow area in the coverage map could turn green. Adams responded having more sites closer to the service area. He talked about future technology that could help with coverage issues. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Graf made a motion to approve the conditional use permit application subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Graff seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote). Discussion Items Brittain welcomed Sam Awad to the Planning Commission. Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of September 28, 2015 Graf made a motion to approve the minutes for the September 28, 2015, Planning Com- mission meeting. Rostad seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote). Reports 9.1 Recap of October City Council Meetings Levitt reported that at the October 7, 2015, meeting, there was a presentation on the inclusive playground at Woodridge Park, and a certificate of appreciation was presented to a citizen for picking up debris along 80th Street. The Council held the public hearing for the 2015 Pavement Management Project and adopted the assessment roll for that project. They approved the vacation of easements on the Grove Plaza and Home Depot sites and the preliminary and final plats for those sites. They also approved the site plan review, conditional use permit, variances, and interim conditional use permits for the proposed Hy-Vee store as well as the necessary development agreements for that project. The Council approved the solar energy system ordinance with a reduction to the actual allowed land allocated in the City for solar fields. She noted that there will be several applications for solar farms coming to the Planning Commission in the near future. At the October 21 City Council meeting, the Council changed the start time of the City Council meetings to 7:00 p.m. Olsen welcomed Charlene Stevens, the new City Administrator, and Sam Awad, the newest Planning Commissioner. Planning Commission Minutes November 2, 2015 Page 4 of 4 Olsen reported that the City of Cottage Grove and the City of Woodbury held a joint meeting on October 20. Information was provided about the Health and Emergency Response Occu- pation (HERO) Center that is proposed to be built in Cottage Grove. There was discussion about the joint powers agreement with the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission. Stevens provided information on the SWCTC joint powers agreement. Zopfi asked if any thought has been given to other methods to transmit information such as stream- ing and online. Stevens responded yes as how that service is delivered is changing. Olsen then reported that there was a lot of discussion regarding transportation and the Gateway Corridor and Red Rock Corridor. Staff members from both cities gave presentations regarding Public Safety, Parks and Recreation, Engineering, Public Works, and Economic and Commu- nity Development. In addition there was discussion about potable water and the South Washington Watershed District; Levitt provided details to the Commission on those topics. Olsen offered a reminder of the election of school board members and three school referen- dums on November 3. He announced that he and Councilmember Dennis will host a Shop Cottage Grove Business Summit on Thursday, November 12, starting at 6:30 in the Council Chamber at City Hall. He then stated that the stoplights at Jamaica and East Point Douglas Road should be working on a synced basis, which should help with traffic flow in the area. He then noted that part of the Hy-Vee redevelopment requires that the former Rainbow Foods building and a portion of the attached mall will be demolished, which means that American Motor Sports Bar & Grill will close; the owners had the opportunity to relocate within the exist- ing center but chose to retire instead. Johnson asked about the decision to change some lights to LED and asked if it was just a matter of a bulb change out or is it a rewiring issue. Levitt responded that changing to LED lights requires a ballast change out. She provided background information on the City’s policy on changing lights to LEDs. 9.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None. 9.3 Planning Commission Requests Graff asked why there are large fans on the site of the Cottage Grove Self Storage project. Levitt responded that they are working on building renovations, including replacement of the roof and HVAC units. Due to rain, there could have been water issues if the roof units and penetrations could not be sealed. They are proceeding with the work under building code requirements and passing the necessary inspections. Adjournment Graff made a motion to adjourn. Johnson seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m. (8-to-0 vote).