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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-12-18 Planning Commission Minutes City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission December 18, 2017 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, December 18, 2017, in the Training Room 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, Justin Fox, Evan Frazier, Tony Khambata, Taylor Mills, Derek Rasmussen, Jennifer Raymer, Roger Zopfi Members Absent: David Lutchen Staff Present: Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer John McCool, Senior Planner John M. Burbank Senior Planner Robin Roland, Finance Director Dave Thiede, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Zopfi made a motion to approve the agenda. Frazier 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 CIP2018-2022 – Case CP2017-037 The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to amend the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2018-2022. Planning Commission Minutes December 18, 2017 Page 2 of 4 Roland summarized the staff report and recommended approval. Rasmussen asked what the deadline is to have the ice arena refrigeration updated. Roland responded by 2020, and that the State is looking for ways to help communities fund replace- ment of Freon systems. Mills asked if the HERO Center project was already approved by the Legislature and Governor. Roland stated that preliminary funding for design and development was approved. However, that does not guarantee that the City will receive funding to build the HERO Center. This project is in competition with other projects throughout the State, including libraries and colleges. The project cost is estimated at $16 million with $4 million from Cottage Grove and $4 million from Woodbury, with the balance from the State. Brittain asked where the proposed Ravine Parkway Park would be located. Levitt indicated the location of the proposed Ravine Park on the map. She explained that the mass grading of the park would be done in conjunction with Ravine Parkway in the spring. At the same time the Watershed District will construct their large stormwater basin on their property; excess dirt from that project will be utilized for the parkway project. The physical amenities for the park will be constructed in the future when there are funds in the Park Trust Fund. Brittain asked why that location was chosen for the park. Levitt explained that there are neighborhood parks in that area, but there is no community park with ballfields, parking lots, and additional amenities. She noted that this is the area where Dodge Nature Center is looking to expand their interpretive opportunities, and the City is working with them, the Watershed District, and the City of Wood- bury to potentially put an interpretative facility on the Watershed District’s property just across the Woodbury border. She also explained that the City was able to get that land free in ex- change for grading activities. Brittain asked if it would link up to the trails to the watershed work that was done in Woodbury. Levitt responded that is the ultimate goal pointing, out the approx- imate location of the trail connection. This is also identified in Washington County’s Master Plan Park Element; it is one of their alternative routes to provide connectivity between Lake Elmo Park Reserve and Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Fox made a motion to approve the Capital Improvement Program for 2018-2022. Raymer seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote). 6.2 Solar Ordinance Amendment – Case TA2017-038 The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a text amendment to City Code Title 11-4-10, Solar Energy Systems, to allow solar panels on residential accessory structures. McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval. Fox asked what the minimum square footage of an accessory structure that requires a building permit. McCool responded 200 square feet. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes December 18, 2017 Page 3 of 4 Fox asked if building permits are required for carports with posts and a tarp that are over 200 square feet. McCool responded that the City does not allow those types of structures because they are temporary. Mills made a motion to approve the zoning text amendment to allow solar panels on residential accessory structures as presented. Raymer seconded. The Planning Commission held a lengthy discussion regarding the allowable size for solar col- lection systems. The proposed ordinance would allow up to 20 square feet, which was part of the motion for approval. The discussions included concerns about safety due to wattage and amps of these devices, why 20 square feet was proposed, what direction was provided by the City’s Building Division on permitting and recommended sizes, the aesthetics of solar panels, and where they would be allowed on properties. Mills stated that 20 square feet was recommended by staff and she does not want to amend her motion. There was further discussion about the maximum size allowed and the difference between a hobby experience and using solar panels as an accessory power source. Brittain asked Mills if she had any interest in revising her motion or does she want to keep it at 20 square feet. Mills stated that she feels strongly that residents should be able to use this alternative source if they feel it is necessary. She stated that she is keeping her motion as is. After further discussion, Mills amended her motion to 16 square feet if the rest of the Commis- sion is more comfortable with that size limitation. Brittain stated that Mills is revising her motion to reduce the square footage from 20 to 16 square feet. He asked Raymer, who seconded the motion, if she agrees with that modification. Raymer stated yes. Motion passed on a 6-to-2 vote (Fox, Frazier). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of November 27, 2017 Frazier made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 27, 2017, Planning Com- mission meeting. Khambata seconded. Motion passed unanimously (8-to-0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of December 2017 City Council Meetings Thiede provided a summary of actions at the December 6, 2017, City Council meeting and a preview of the December 20 Council agenda. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None Planning Commission Minutes December 18, 2017 Page 4 of 4 8.3 Planning Commission Requests Zopfi stated that he has noticed an increase in coyotes in residential areas and asked if the City has any way to deal with them. Brittain asked when the Ravine Parkway Park would be constructed and if plans have been designed. Levitt responded it would not be constructed until at least 2022 and that there are concept sketches of the park. Brittain asked that the Planning Commission be updated regard- ing the development of this park. Brittain had questions about lighting upgrades during street improvement projects as proposed in the CIP, expressing concern that the new LED lights is significantly brighter than the older lighting. He asked if anything could be done to mitigate that glare. Levitt stated that staff will provide more information to the Commission on LED lighting at the next meeting. Brittain then stated that it appears that merging Jamaica Avenue into Military Road won’t be done until 2022, and asked about the timeframe to cul-de-sac the eastern portion of Military between County Road 19 and Jamaica. Levitt responded that the cul-de-sacs for Military Road would be done next year as part of the overall construction between Jamaica and County Road 19. The actual through movement from Jamaica onto Military cannot be done until the Wolter- storff parcel develops so the City can acquire the necessary right-of-way for that project. Brittain understands that the road project cannot be done until development takes place but asked if the stop sign at Jamaica going north could be moved to Military Road so Jamaica has through movement and the vehicles from the cul-de-sac would stop at the stop sign. Levitt stated that as part of the Ravine Parkway project the City has a turn back agreement with Washington County, so Military Road will become a city road in exchange for Jamaica between 70th and Military going to the County. The stop sign arrangement will be worked out with the turn back agreement and in the final design of Ravine Parkway. Rasmussen is concerned about the glare issues from the new LED lighting and that there is no consistency in the color of the lighting throughout the City. Levitt stated that the majority the City’s lights are high pressure sodium, which are the yellow lights. At this time it is cost-prohib- itive to change the lights citywide, which is why as the Finance Director pointed out, our upgrade is being done during projects such as major road improvements, new subdivision streets, and road rehabilitations. She stated that she would provide more information to the Commission next month. Adjournment Frazier made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Zopfi seconded. The meeting was ad- journed at 8:15 p.m. (8-to-0 vote).