Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-23 Planning Commission MinutesCity of Cottage Grove Planning Commission July 23, 2018 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, July 23, 2018, 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. Members Present: Ken Brittain, Evan Frazier, Tony Khambata, Taylor Mills, Jennifer Raymer, Roger Zopfi Members Absent: Derek Rasmussen, Sheree Schuler Staff Present: Jennifer Levitt, Community Development Director/City Engineer John McCool, Senior Planner John M. Burbank, Senior Planner Max Pattsner, Planning Intern Steve Dennis, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Raymer made a motion to approve the agenda. Frazier seconded. The motion was ap- proved unanimously (6 -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 Buness Porch Setback Variance — Case V2018-043 Planning Commission Minutes July 23, 2018 Page 2 of 5 Ryan Buness has applied for a variance to rear yard setback requirements to allow a gazebo to be replaced with a three -season porch that will be 20 feet from the rear property line at 9658 Hillside Trail South when 35 feet is required. Pattsner summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Khambata made a motion to approve the variance based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions in the staff report. Mills seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0) vote. 6.2 John P. Furber Wedding & Event Center— Cases HPCUP2018-041 and V2018-048 Wayne and Angi Butt have applied for an amendment to the John P. Furber Wedding & Event Center, 7310 Lamar Avenue South, Historic Properties Conditional Use Permit for use and site plan modifications to allow for a second driveway, ADA accessibility improve- ments, stormwater management modifications, an addition to the John P. Furber House, and to add a formal outdoor ceremony garden patio; and a variance to the setback require- ments for the parking area on the west and north borders of the property. Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the finding of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Brittain asked for more information on porous drive aisles. Burbank responded that porous pavement is material that has density pockets within it to allow drainage to go through it versus runoff from a hard surface. Levitt explained that there are various porous paving situations, such as an asphalt mix or pavers like those in the Pinetree overlook parking lot off 80th Street, which allows infiltration to occur. The applicants have provided the City with documentation and research on the specialized product that they are proposing. She noted that the Water- shed District is reviewing the proposal, and staff believes it will be approved. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Frazier made a motion to approve the amendment to the Furber Historic Properties Conditional Use Permit and variance applications, based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Khambata seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0 vote). 6.3 Stoneybrook Villas — Cases CP2018-044, ZA2018-045, & PP2018-046 Mark Elliot Homes has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to change the land use of 18.95 acres of land located at 9930 Military Road and 6630 Keats Avenue from High and Medium Density Residential to Low Density Residential; a zoning amendment to re- Planning Commission Minutes July 23, 2018 Page 3 of 5 zone the properties from AG -1 Agricultural Preservation, to R-5, Medium Density Residen- tial; and a preliminary plat consisting of 33 twin homes for a total of 66 new residential units. This proposed development will be called Stoneybrook Villas and will be generally located on the northwest corner of Keats Avenue and Military Road. Burbank summarized the staff report. He noted that on July 23, 2018, the applicant requested that the comprehensive plan amendment be changed to Medium Density Residential instead of the Low Density Residential they initially applied for. Burbank recommended approval sub- ject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Zopfi asked if the width of the Military Road corridor would be maintained in the future. Burbank responded that the right-of-way will still be in public ownership, and the trail will be eight feet wide with landscaping, interpretive signs, and benches along it. Zopfi asked if a portion of the right-of-way will be vacated. Burbank stated no. Brittain asked if that means that the roadway will be gone and the width will be reduced down to eight feet. Burbank responded yes. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Khambata made a motion to approve the applications subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. Raymer seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0 vote). 6.4 Planet Fitness — CUP2018-049 & SP2018-050 RSP Architects, LTD has applied for a conditional use permit and site plan review to rede- velop the former Home Depot property, 7210 East Point Douglas Road South, to allow Planet Fitness to occupy the easterly 18,014 square feet of the existing building, and to amend the site plan layout to eliminate the existing garden center and add 68 off-street parking spaces and landscape islands. McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Raymer asked if there are plans for the sidewalks that lead to the neighborhoods behind the building. McCool responded that there are no planned changes to the two existing pedestrian access walkways. Raymer asked if they would remain as sidewalks or will there be vehicle access. McCool stated that there would be no vehicle access. Raymer then asked if there will be any changes to the privacy fence behind the building. McCool stated that there are no plans to change the existing fence. Some of the plant materials might be removed and the curb line on the south property line would shift further south. Raymer asked if the Sports Clips' exterior would complement the rest of the storefronts. McCool responded that it will, with the exception that awnings are not proposed over the main entrances. Planning Commission Minutes July 23, 2018 Page 4 of 5 Zopfi asked if the additional 68 parking spaces would be dedicated to just one tenant or will they be available for all tenants. McCool stated it is general parking for all tenants, including employee parking. Brittain opened the public hearing. Stephanie Lennartson, 8140 Heath Avenue South, stated that her home is directly behind where the garden center was and explained that the existing fence ends halfway through their yard. She asked if the fence would be extended farther, if anything will be added to the side of the property due to extra foot traffic, and if the fence could be higher than it is, similar to the taller fence by Hy -Vee. She explained that where the fence ends there is a bunch of brush and trees that lose their leaves, and expressed concern about headlights from the parking lot shin- ing into their backyard because there is no fence. McCool stated that there is no plan to change any of the fencing or landscaping to the east of the property. The fence is located on the shopping center property and there is an area between the fence and the rear lot lines of the residential properties that is still part of the retail property; it is not the backyards of the resi- dential properties. There are no plans to extend the fencing to the east or to change the pedestrian walkway. He stated that staff would look at if the fencing needs to be extended to help with headlights shining into the residential area. He is not aware of any complaints about headlights from when Home Depot occupied the building. Brittain asked if there would be room to allow for an extension of the fence. McCool stated that it could be done because the fence is setback 10 to 15 feet from the property line so extending the fence to the east, it would remain on the retail property. Brittain asked if the fence height could be increased as was done for Hy -Vee, noting that it would be more homogenous to have the fence be the same height along the entire center even though there are two different owners. McCool stated that he wasn't aware that the fence height was increased but the grade between Hy -Vee and the residential property is different, and the fence was placed on the higher elevation of the residential lot so there is a perception that it is much higher than the commercial area. The grade between the two properties at the east end grade is a little flatter. Raymer expressed concern that when the new landscaping is installed, it won't provide as much of a buffer for lights and noise as the current overgrown shrubs and trees do. She en- courages having additional conversations about extending that fence line or adding different kinds of shrubbery or trees to make sure that corner is addressed. No one else spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Levitt noted that condition #9 states the existing eight -foot high wooden fence abutting the residential neighborhood shall be maintained in good condition and repaired in a timely man- ner. The Commission could discuss if that condition is appropriate or if it could be modified in the motion. Khambata asked if there is any way to amend condition #9 to extend the fence further down the property line. McCool stated that staff would look at that. Brittain asked that staff look at the area that is not fenced and evaluate both sides of the trail to see if the headlights would shine into the back of those homes. He stated that modifying a Planning Commission Minutes July 23, 2018 Page 5 of 5 condition is definitely within the purview of the Commission. He suggested that any modifica- tion should give direction to evaluate the situation to determine the best solution. Khambata made a motion to approve the applications subject to the conditions listed in the staff report with a change to condition #9 that staff review and make suggestions regarding the fence prior to the City Council meeting. Mills seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of June 25, 2018 Frazier made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 25, 2018, Planning Commis- sion meeting. Zopfi seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of July 18, 2018, City Council Meeting Levitt provided a summary of the actions taken at the July 18, 2018, City Council meeting. Dennis stated the City Council is beginning the budget process for the next year. He asked if there were any questions for him. There were none. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None 8.3 Planning Commission Requests Brittain stated that Commissioner Lutchen has resigned from the Planning Commission due to changes in his work schedule and expressed appreciation for his service. Mills noted that the overgrown vegetation by Target has gotten better and thanked staff. Adjournment Mills made a motion was made to adjourn the meeting. Zopfi seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6 -to -0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.