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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-24 PACKET 08.City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission March 27, 2017 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, March 27, 2017, 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. Members Present: Jeff Abelson, Sam Awad, Ken Brittain, Justin Fox, David Lutchen, Derek Rasmussen, Jennifer Raymer, Roger Zopfi Members Absent: Kim Graff Staff Present: John McCool, Senior Planner John M. Burbank Senior Planner Steve Dennis, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Brittain noted that Agenda Item 7.1, Update on Construction Projects, has been removed from the agenda as Levitt was not able to attend this meeting. The construction project update will be on next month's agenda. Fox made a motion to approve the modified agenda. Awad 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. Planning Commission Minutes March 27, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Public Hearings and Applications 6.1 Dodge Nature Center — Case HPCUP2017-011 Dodge Nature Center has applied for a Historic Property Conditional Use Permit (HPCUP) to allow for the Shepard Farm Property at 8896 and 8946 70th Street South to be utilized for outdoor and indoor environmental education purposes, including active agriculture practices, animal husbandry, beekeeping, environmental education classes, picnics, pub- lic gardens, public access, public trails, bus parking, pre-school, private school, caretaker residences, events and gatherings, and other similar uses. Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Applicants Jason Sanders, Executive Director for Dodge Nature Center, 365 Marie Avenue West, West St. Paul, and Chad Dayton, former Dodge Board Member and current consultant on this project, 340 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, introduced themselves. Sanders reported that Dodge Nature Center is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. He provided background on this project. Dayton explained that they are in a two-phase approach to the property and would like to bring the model farm back to life for educational and agricultural purposes. He explained some the programs that will be offered in the two phases. He stated that the his- toric building exteriors will be maintained and the interiors will be used as classroom and community spaces. The farm will look like a small scale operational farm at the front end. Rasmussen asked about the timeline to open each phase. Dayton responded that Phase 1 is built around the agricultural area that can be seen from the road, and they would like to have community gardens operating this spring, along with signage and community agricultural op- portunities this year. The parking lot and some of the infrastructure they anticipate mid to late summer with completion by the fall. They would like to begin aggressively working on the school option on the other part of the property in 2018. Awad asked about the locations of parking, the school, and the main activity center. Dayton responded that the diagram in the staff report is a tentative spec of the parking lot. The north - south driveway off 70th Street currently exists. The access road will cross an unutilized agri- cultural field. There is a dirt road that goes up to a swimming pool in the very north center of the property and the egress will be onto Jamaica. They are planning to utilize already open space with virtually no trees to install a parking lot that fits all of the mandates using permea- ble surface within the conservation district. The actual school would be a repurposed use of the historic residence. Lutchen asked if they have received any feedback on their proposal from surrounding neigh- bors. Sanders stated that when they first took over the property they had a couple get- togethers and conversations with neighboring residents, but he has not heard from anyone other than those on the north side of the property. One of their board members lives in that community and is helping with the conversation. Brittain asked about the community garden, expressing concern about aesthetic issues due to the visibility from 70th Street. He also for details on how the program will operate and the Planning Commission Minutes March 27, 2017 Page 3 of 4 maintenance of the gardens. Dayton stated that they are in the process of finalizing the details but essentially it will be a series of raised beds that will be fenced for protection from deer. Dodge has a community garden project at its other location, which is much less visible but is in a high traffic area for visitors; they anticipate there will be caretaker staff supporting this project and will have a staff person on site. Brittain opened the public hearing. Craig Woolery, 8747 67th Street Court South, stated that Dodge has a great reputation, he is excited that they are here in the Cottage Grove, and that this is a great use for a deeded his- toric property. His only concern is for outdoor events and noise amplification. He asked what types of events would be held. He also stated that occasional outdoor events would be fine but if it is every weekend that could become a problem. Sanders responded that he has been the Executive Director since 2010 and they have held their gala on their other property only one year; they worked with the city for that event and there were no complaints. They also have community events during the daytime. Their Halloween event is in the evening, and their Rock the Barn and Frosty Fun events are held during the day. He stated that they have a hard time fitting weddings into their mission, which is environmental education. They are not going to be a rental facility that is going to have weddings. No one else spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Fox made a motion to approve the Historic Property Conditional Use Permit subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Abelson seconded. Zopfi recused himself from the vote because his firm represents the applicant. Motion passed unanimously on a 7 -to -0 vote with one abstention (Zopfi). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of February 27, 2017 Awad made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2017, Planning Com- mission meeting. Zopfi seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8 -to -0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of March 2017 City Council Meetings McCool summarized the actions taken by the City Council at their meetings in March 2017. Dennis welcomed Abelson and Lutchen to the Planning Commission. He asked if the Com- mission had any questions. There were none. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None Planning Commission Minutes March 27, 2017 Page 4 of 4 8.3 Planning Commission Requests �W Annual Organizational Meeting 9.1 Accept 2017 Planning Commission Rules Zopfi made a motion to accept the 2017 Planning Commission Rules. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8 -to -0 vote). 9.2 Election of Officers Brittain asked if there were any nominations for Vice Chair. Brittain nominated Graf for Vice Chair. Awad nominated Fox for Vice Chair. Fox declined the nomination. Brittain asked if there were any other nominations. There were none. Motion to appoint Graf as Vice Chair passed unanimously (8 -to -0 vote). Brittain asked if there were any nominations for Secretary. Awad nominated for Fox for Sec- retary. Brittain asked if there were any other nominations for Secretary. There were none. Motion to appoint Fox as Secretary passed unanimously (8 -to -0 vote). Adjournment Awad made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. Raymer seconded. The regular meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. (8 -to -0 vote). The Planning Commission recon- vened in the St. Croix Room for a workshop on the solar collector systems moratorium.