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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-25 PACKET 07.City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission February 25, 2019 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, February 25, 2019, in the Council Chamber 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, Evan Frazier, Tony Khambata, Taylor Mills, Derek Rasmussen, Sheree Schuler, Jerret Wright Members Absent: Jennifer Raymer, Roger Zopfi Staff Present: Christine Costello, Community/Economic Development Director John M. Burbank, Senior Planner Matt Wolf, Economic Development Specialist Ryan Burfeind, Acting City Engineer Steve Dennis, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Frazier made a motion to approve the agenda. Mills seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (7 -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 Lake Flora Addition — Case PP2019-010 and Airgas — Cases SP2019-007, CUP2019-008, & V2019-009 Planning Commission Minutes February 25, 2019 Page 2 of 4 The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a preliminary plat for a subdivision to be called Lake Flora Addition, which will be located on 43.71 acres of land north of 100th Street and east of Glendenning Road. This plat will create two commercial/industrial lots and two out - lots. Airgas, an Air Liquide company, has applied for a site plan review and conditional use permit for the development of an industrial processing facility (air separation plant), which will be approximately 17,000 square feet, and related processing equipment, parking, and utilities to be located on Lot 1, Block 1 of the proposed Lake Flora Addition. Airgas has also applied for a variance to the City's architectural requirements for exterior building materials. Wolf summarized the staff report and recommended approval of all applications based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Ed Farr, Edward Farr Architects, Inc., 7710 Golden Triangle Drive, Eden Prairie, introduced the John Fick, the Project Manager, to provide information on Airgas and the proposed project, Steven Niedzielski, Project Engineer for Airgas, and Pete Moreau, the Civil Engineer and Landscape Architect from Sambatek. John Fick, 315 Hope Drive, Blanden, Pennsylvania, provided background information on Airgas and thanked the City for working with them on this project. He stated that he would answer any questions from the Commission. Rasmussen asked for information on how the product is transported and if they have their own trucks. Fick explained the gas manufacturing process, including what happens in the tall towers. There will be four large storage tanks to hold the liquid gas produced, which will then be transported in bulk trailers and delivered directly to large users such as hospitals. He stated that the will start operations with an estimated 12 tractor trailers. The plant will make approxi- mately 20 loads a day of bulk in a 24-hour operation. Rasmussen asked where the trucks would be parked. Pete Moreau, 411 Jefferson Avenue South, Hopkins, explained that the trucks will enter the property from 100th Street on the southwest corner and go around the site in a counterclockwise fashion. The driveway on the west side is wider than what is needed for two-way traffic so four to five trailers can queue up on that side to wait to fill up. There is also space for parking along the southeast end and the northeast corner just beyond the mainte- nance and office building that could accommodate up to 16 trailers. Mills asked about any safety concerns if concentrated levels of gas leaked. Fick responded that the gas is a cryogenic liquid, and as soon as it gets to the atmosphere, it wants to go back to the atmosphere. The gas is minus 320 degrees, so it is not going to leak and pool. Their safety concern is for their employees inside a building where they are working with nitrogen as a compressed concentrate. Those areas are monitored and will alarm if there is an elevated amount of nitrogen, which is an inert and will not support life. They have spent a lot of time on the safety aspect related to nitrogen, including lots of louvres on the building and supplying oxygen masks for the employees. Rasmussen asked how often the towers would be maintained and if there are any safety con- cerns due to their height. Fick responded that there will be landings and ladders on the towers. The only maintenance would be done on valves, and the instrument tech would stand on a landing to make adjustments. There are really no energy release issues directly related to the Planning Commission Minutes February 25, 2019 Page 3 of 4 nature of the process. They must meet very strict codes regarding pressure release, and the company does follow all protocols. He explained that the landing levels are easily accessible in case of personnel emergencies. Costello noted that the City's Public Safety Department, both Fire and Police, have reviewed this proposal and are comfortable with responding to any type of emergency. She then stated that one of the conditions of approval for the cold box towers is that they maintain and paint them on a regular schedule and that they be painted the same color as the water towers in the City. Wolf pointed out photos of an existing plant in the staff report. Fick stated the that photo shows the landings. Wright suggested that the company cultivate a good working relationship with the Public Safety Department and provide tours of the plant to Public Safety personnel to help them formulate a plan of action. Brittain asked if there are any noise abatement plans for the air compressors. Fick responded the air compressors will be housed in a building, noting that there won't be people working in that building. The purpose of the structure is to help mitigate noise issues, and they will build it to meet building codes. The building will be insulated and be designed so that outside of the building no ear protection devices would need to be worn. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Frazier made a motion to approve preliminary plat, site plan, conditional use permit, and variance based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions in the staff report. Wright seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of February 25, 2019 Khambata made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 25, 2019, Planning Commission meeting. Frazier seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7 -to -0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of February 2019 City Council Meetings Costello provided a summary of actions taken at the City Council meetings on February 6 and February 20, 2019. Dennis presented a plaque to Chair Brittain in appreciation for his years of service on the Planning Commission and as Chair since 2015. He also recognized Commissioner Raymer for her service on the Planning Commission, including serving as Secretary. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries Planning Commission Minutes February 25, 2019 Page 4 of 4 8.3 Planning Commission Requests None Adjournment Khambata made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mills seconded. Motion passed unan- imously (7 -to -0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.