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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-22 PC Minutes City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission April 22, 2019 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Park- way South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, April 22, 2019, in the Council Chamber and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16. Call to Order Chair Khambata called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Evan Frazier, Tony Khambata, Taylor Mills, Derek Rasmussen, Jerret Wright, Roger Zopfi Members Absent: Sheree Schuler Staff Present: Christine Costello, Acting Community/Economic Development Director John M. Burbank, Senior Planner Emily Schmitz, Senior Planner Steve Dennis, City Councilmember Approval of Agenda Mills made a motion to approve the agenda. Wright seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (6-to-0 vote). Open Forum Khambata 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 Khambata 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 Brown Farm Lot Split – Cases MP2019-015 & V2019-016 Greg John has applied for a minor subdivision to subdivide a 10.17-acre parcel of land located at 9670 Kimbro Avenue South into two lots of 3.01 acres and 7.16 acres, and a Planning Commission Minutes April 22, 2019 Page 2 of 3 variance to the 180-foot minimum lot width requirement to allow the front property line of the 3.01-acre parcel to be 90 feet wide. Schmitz summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Rasmussen noted that the City is only allowing one access and asked if the existing access into the house is required to be eliminated. Schmitz responded that is a requirement in the conditions of approval. Frazier asked if there was consideration to allow an access drive onto the new property along with the existing driveway. Schmitz responded that a second access drive wouldn’t be allowed based on the previous approval and because there is a required minimum distance between access points on Kimbro. Frazier asked if there was a concern about issues between the two property owners due to a shared driveway. Schmitz stated that there would be an easement between the private property owners for them to manage and address. Zopfi noted that there is no requirement for them to enter into a joint driveway easement agree- ment that would bind both properties. Schmitz responded that could be added as a condition of approval. Timothy Freeman, Folz Freeman Surveying, 1455 55th Street North, Lake Elmo, stated that the property owner would prefer to have separate driveways but they purchased the 10-acre parcel after the previous split and they understood there was a restriction about a second access if the property was split. He noted that whether a condition of approval is added, there will be an agreement regarding the access drive before the other lot is sold. Khambata asked if there had been any thought given to widening the driveway given the increased usage. Freeman stated that when he drew the proposed driveway on the plan, he made it 16 feet wide, explaining that there is a trade-off about how wide it should be versus how much is it going to cost to build. They will be looking at the driveway size when they get their permits. He showed the location of the proposed driveway on the map. Khambata asked staff how to add that condition. Costello responded that when the motion is made, an added condition should be referenced requiring an access agreement. Khambata opened the public hearing. No one else spoke. Khambata closed the public hearing. Zopfi made a motion to approve the applications based on the findings of fact and sub- ject to the conditions in the staff report with an added condition to require an easement and maintenance agreement for the shared driveway and that the agreement is recorded. Frazier seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of March 25, 2019 Frazier made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2019, Planning Commis- sion meeting. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0 vote). Planning Commission Minutes April 22, 2019 Page 3 of 3 Reports 8.1 Recap of April 2019 City Council Meetings Costello provided a summary of actions taken at the City Council meetings on April 3 and April 17, 2019. Dennis stated that the City is hosting an Arbor Day Celebration Open House at City Hall on April 23 starting at 5:00 p.m. He then reported that from May 20 to 23, he, Mayor Bailey, and a couple City staff members will be attending the ICSC convention to promote the City for economic development opportunities. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None 8.3 Planning Commission Requests None Adjournment Zopfi made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wright seconded. Motion passed unani- mously (6-to-0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.