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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-26 Planning Commission MinutesCity of Cottage Grove Planning Commission November 26, 2018 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, November 26, 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. He introduced the newest Planning Commission Member Jerret Wright. Members Present: Ken Brittain, Evan Frazier, Tony Khambata, Taylor Mills, Derek Rasmussen, Jennifer Raymer, Sheree Schuler, Jerret Wright, Roger Zopfi Staff Present: Christine Costello, Community/Economic Development Director John M. Burbank, Senior Planner John McCool, Senior Planner Ryan Burfeind, Acting City Engineer Steve Dennis, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Frazier made a motion to approve the agenda. Raymer seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (9 -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 Lot Split — Case MS2018-065 Stu -Mac Properties has applied for a minor subdivision to subdivide a 27.49 -acre parcel of land located at 7624 110th Street South into one 2.00 -acre parcel that contains the existing home and one parcel of 25.49 acres. Planning Commission Minutes November 26, 2018 Page 2 of 5 Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in this staff report. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Khambata made a motion to approve the minor subdivision subject to the conditions in the staff report. Mills seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9 -to -0 vote). 6.2 Parkview Pointe — Cases ZA2018-059 and PP2018-060 Summergate Development LLC applied for a zoning amendment to rezone approximately 20.71 acres of land located north of Military Road, approximately a half mile southeast of the Jamaica Avenue and Military Road intersection from AG -1, Agricultural Preservation, to R-3, Single Family Residential, with a Planned Development Overlay (PDO); and a pre- liminary plat for Parkview Pointe, which will develop 54 lots for single-family home and 3 outlots. Burbank summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stipulated in this staff report. Cory Meyer, Westwood Professional Services, 12701 Whitewater Drive, Minnetonka, stated that he would answer any questions. Brittain opened the public hearing. John Stechcon, 9263 Military Road, stated that he is not against this development. He asked if there are going to be assessments to neighboring properties for any infrastructure improve- ments. He also does not understand tearing out a cul-de-sac that the City just paid to put in. Burfeind responded that there will be no assessments to the surrounding properties as part of this project. The applicant requested a 429 development project, which involves funding and assessments on the properties that are physically being developed but there would be no assessments to neighboring properties. Burfeind explained that as part of the Ravine Parkway project, the City extended water and sewer up to a certain point on Military Road and put in a temporary cul-de-sac. To get the water and sewer up to the development, those lines need to be extended up the Military Road corridor, which requires the rest of the road to be removed. He stated that regarding public funding, the City just did what needed to be done to get it out of Ravine Parkway so it didn't impact that roadway. He stated that it didn't make sense to extend the cul-de-sac all the way back to where it was as it doesn't serve any benefit. Brittain asked as development occurs northwest along Military Road, would the same process occur. Burfeind responded in general that is correct. Military Road does need to remain in place to serve any residents in that area. Brittain then asked if moving the cul-de-sac as pro- jects occur is more cost effective than extending all the utilities at once. Burfeind responded that the developments that benefit from these utilities are the ones that would bear that cost in the future. Planning Commission Minutes November 26, 2018 Page 3 of 5 Stechcon stated that the sewer line stops on Military Road halfway in front of his property and asked if they are extending that farther up Military Road. He noted that there is a lot of traffic turning around in the cul-de-sac since it opened last Wednesday. Burfeind responded that is a shallower sewer line that was put in at the same time as the trunk sanitary sewer 11 years ago and was put in to serve just those homes if needed due to septic issues. Since that time, it was determined that it needs to be much deeper, which is why it is being torn up. He pointed out on the map where the sewer line will go, noting that it will not impact the road in front of Stechcon's property, but will have an impact on the property to the south. No one else spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Khambata made a motion to approve the zoning amendment and preliminary plat sub- ject to the conditions in the staff report. Rayment seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9 -to -0 vote). 6.3A Up North Plastics — Cases V2018-054, V2018-055, SP2018-066, CUP2018-067, V2018-068, and EAW2018-069 Up North Plastics, Inc. has applied for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW), a conditional use permit, and a site plan review for the construction of an additional 428,353 square foot manufacturing facility on their site at 9480 Jamaica Avenue South. They have also applied for variances to maximum height requirements for the proposed new build- ings, silos, and cooling towers; minimum architectural and landscaping requirements; and location of loading docks. McCool summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in this staff report. Khambata asked if the trees on the landscaping plan would be coniferous, deciduous, or a combination. McCool responded that it would be a mix of both with more coniferous than de- ciduous. He stated that in the Planning Staff Report, staff has recommended that 150 trees be planted and they are removing 28 to 30 trees. Khambata then asked if the proposed height of the additional silos would be similar to the height of the existing silos. McCool responded they yes. Brittain asked where the entrance to the building is in relation to the new 212 -space parking area. McCool responded that there are doors on the west side of the building. Brittain asked if there would be a sidewalk along the building. McCool stated yes. Wright asked if the proposed 212 spaces would be enough to accommodate the number of workers or will parking overflow into the cul-de-sac. McCool stated that they know how many employees work each shift; there will be some overlap between shifts, so they have provided enough parking for both shifts. Perry Hanes, General Manager of Up North Plastics, 9480 Jamaica Avenue South, stated that he would answer any questions from the Commission. Planning Commission Minutes November 26, 2018 Page 4 of 5 Raymer stated that she knows there have been complaints about smells coming from the area and asked if that would become worse due to this expansion. Hanes stated that what Raymer may be referring to is the compost site just to the east of the facility. The manufacturing facility itself has produces very little odor; the only exhaust they have is evaporation. To his knowledge the only complaint that they have ever received was determined that the odor was coming from the compost site. It would be no different than the existing operations. Raymer stated that she has noticed a chemical smell in that area, not a compost smell. She asked what the options are if citizens notice any odors. McCool stated that he is not aware of any odors from this facility. He knows that there have been complaints about odors from the compost site, which is just southeast of Up North Plastics. He stated that staff would look into that, but he was not aware that there have been complaints about odors from the plant. Raymer asked if someone notices odors, who should they call. McCool responded that they can contact the Planning Division and staff will investigate. The City will probably have to in- volve other experts, such as the Pollution Control Agency as the City does not have testing equipment to be able to pinpoint odors. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Frazier made a motion to approve the site plan review, conditional use permit, all vari- ances, and the Environmental Assessment Worksheet, based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions in the staff report. Khambata seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9 -to -0 vote). 6.3113 Up North Plastics — Case CP2018-070 Modification to the Development Program for Development District No. 1 and the Estab- lishment of Tax Increment Financing District No. 1-19 is proposed for the expansion of the Up North Plastics Facility. (Not a Public Hearing) Costello summarized the staff report and recommended that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PC2018-002 approving the modification and establishment of a TIF District for the expansion of Up North Plastics. Khambata made a motion to adopt Resolution PC2018-002 modifying Development Dis- trict No. 1 to establish TIF District No. 1-19. Mills seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9 -to -0 vote). 6.4 CIP 2019-2023 — Case CP2018-061 The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to amend the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2019-2023. Roland summarized the Capital Improvement Program and recommended that the Planning Commission find that the CIP 2019-2023 is consistent with the comprehensive plan and rec- ommend that the City Council approve the document. Planning Commission Minutes November 26, 2018 Page 5 of 5 Commissioners had questions regarding timing of the Ravine Parkway project, the proposed Highway 61 sound wall along East Point Douglas Road, the location of Glacial Park, and re- placement of a sewer pipe due to sulfuric gas degradation. Burfeind provided further infor- mation on those topics. Brittain opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Brittain closed the public hearing. Mills made a motion to approve the Capital Improvement Program 2019-2013. Wright seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9 -to -0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of October 22, 2018 Frazier made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 22, 2018, Planning Com- mission meeting. Khambata seconded. Motion passed unanimously (9 -to -0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of November 2018 City Council Meetings Costello provided a summary of actions taken at the City Council meetings in November 2018. Dennis welcomed Costello as the Acting Community Development Director. He thanked Jennifer Levitt for all her contributions to the Community Development Department and an- nounced that she was appointed as Interim City Administrator. He reported that there is a vacancy on the City Council due to Councilmember Johnson being elected to the Washington County Board and explained the process to fill that vacant seat. Dennis provided information on the many upcoming holiday events in Cottage Grove. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None 8.3 Planning Commission Requests Brittain asked if there will be a Planning Commission meeting in December. Costello stated that staff will notify the Commission after the agenda cut-off date if there will be a meeting. Adjournment Zopfi made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Raymer seconded. Motion passed unani- mously (9 -to -0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.