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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-02-28 PACKET 07. City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission January 24, 2022 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, January 24, 2022, in the Council Chamber and telecast on Local Government Cable Channel 16. Call to Order Chair Frazier called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Members Present: Ken Brittain, Jessica Fisher, Evan Frazier, Derek Rasmussen, Jerret Wright Members Absent: Eric Knable Staff Present: Christine Costello, Community Development Director; Joe Fox, Project Engineer; Mike Mrosla, Senior Planner; Emily Schmitz, Senior Planner; Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Dave Thiede, Council Liaison Approval of Agenda Brittain made a motion to approve the agenda. Wright seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (5-to-0 vote). Open Forum Frazier opened the open forum and asked if anyone wished to address the Planning Commission on any non-agenda item. No one addressed the Commission. Frazier closed the open forum. Chair’s Explanation of the Public Hearing Process Frazier 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 Aggregate Industries 2022 Mining Permit – Case MP2022-002 Aggregate Industries – North Central Region, Inc. has applied for their 2022 mining permit to continue their mining operations at 11250 Grey Cloud Trail South on Lower Grey Cloud Island. (Not a Public Hearing.) Schmitz summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip- ulated in the staff report. Planning Commission Minutes January 24, 2022 Page 2 of 7 Frazier asked if anyone wanted to speak on the application. Patty Bestler, Regional Manager of Environmental and Land Services, Aggregate Industries, 2815 Dodd Road, Eagan, MN, stated their operations are continuing as they have for the last 70-plus years. She provided information on where they will be mining this year along with their plans for the next few years. She explained that their waste sand is pushed off to the northeast; at one time there were tree plantings in that area, but the waste sand has overtaken them. They moved as many of the trees as they could and have started planting larger size oak trees in the eastern perimeter that will never be removed. She then stated that their tonnage will be about the same as it was in 2021. Bestler noted that they are looking to move their mining operations into the backwaters, and are preparing an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for that. They hope to have the EAW before the City Council this year. Rasmussen stated they’ve been operating this mine for about 70 years and asked how much longer they foresee mining in this area. Bestler replied on the island, they’re thinking about five- to-seven years, which depends on market trends, demand, and how deep down they can get into the lake to retrieve the gravel product. If they are allowed to expand into the backwaters, that would potentially provide another 20-to-25 years to mine material for the ever-growing Twin Cities market. Brittain made a motion to approve Aggregate Industries 2022 mining permit. Fisher seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). 6.2 Flint Hills Fire Suppression Building – Case SP2022-003 Minnesota Pipeline Company has applied for a site plan review to allow Flint Hills Resources to install a new 210 square foot tank foam building to support a fire suppression system on their property at 6483 85th Street South. Schmitz summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip- ulated in the staff report. Holli VanOverbeke, Manager of Communications and Community Relations, Flint Hills Re- sources, explained that this is a safety project, and they are always upgrading and evaluating how they can make their site safer. She stated that they had spoken with a lot of the closest neighbors to let them know about this project. Rasmussen asked if this installation is replacing an outdated fire suppression system with new technology. VanOverbeke responded that it is as they’re constantly evolving and upgrading the systems that they have in place. She noted that their team has been working with the Fire Department on this upgrade for a couple years. Fisher asked for the estimated timeline for completion for this whole system and if there was more to this project than just the small building. Flint Hills Project Engineer Matt Dokken stated there’s an existing system in place to which they will add fixed equipment in this building; they would currently using temporary equipment stored in one of the adjacent buildings in the event of a fire. He stated that this project would start in June and be finished toward the end of summer. Planning Commission Minutes January 24, 2022 Page 3 of 7 Brittain noted that this would be a foam fire-suppression system and asked if there would be tanks in this building and how the foam would be created. Dokken replied that a foam concen- trate would be contained in a small storage tank housed in the building, along with other fire protection equipment. Brittain asked if the majority of the volume sprayed on fire would come from water that is aerated with this suppressant of some kind. Dokken responded that the supply comes from the hydrant outside, which will be tied into that system, and then there’s a deluge valve or s-diverter valve inside, which diverts the flow to whatever tank is selected. Frazier opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Frazier closed the public hearing. Rasmussen made a motion to approve the site plan review application. Wright seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). 6.3 Van Meter Fence – Case CUP2022-012 Van Meter, Inc. has applied for a conditional use permit to allow the construction of a 10- foot tall privacy fence for exterior storage around their property located at 7450 95th Street South (formerly Werner Electric). Mrosla summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip- ulated in the staff report. Frazier noted that there was a prior ICUP for exterior storage on this property and asked if exterior storage is currently permitted by City Code in this zoning district. Mrosla responded that there is some minor storage throughout the district, but the intention is usually to store the materials inside. As conditions change over time, the City works with these businesses to screen materials. The intent is if there is overflow, it can be stored outside, but the majority of the storage will be inside the building. He stated that there are many sites in the Business Park that currently have exterior storage. Mrosla explained that if there is excess exterior storage, there are provisions within our City Code to assist with that. Frazier asked if the intent of the exterior storage provision is to not provide permanent exterior storage, but only when exterior storage is necessary. Mrosla stated that’s correct, and they must take steps to make sure it’s mitigated so it doesn’t become a nuisance. Paul Bonk, Engineering and Facilities Manager at VanMeter, stated they wanted to put up this fence to screen their activities, including truck traffic, from the neighboring properties. He noted that the truck traffic is increasing, as businesses have been picking up materials. He also ex- plained that they need to stock larger amounts because of the supply chain problems. Bonk stated that VanMeter is revamping their operations, including reducing the number of trailers on site. The outside storage will be temporary, as materials will be put on trucks for shipping. He noted that they will also plant trees for additional screening. Fisher stated the trailers are 13 feet tall and the proposed fence will be 10 feet high and asked why the fence will not be taller to better shield the trailers and the movement. Mrosla stated that with a taller fence, engineering is needed to account for wind load. Wright asked if there was any feedback from the neighbors on this application. Bonk responded no. Wright asked if there had been any complaints regarding the increased traffic. Bonk stated they have not as the truck traffic only uses the main road and does not go through any neigh- Planning Commission Minutes January 24, 2022 Page 4 of 7 borhoods. Mrosla responded that they City has not received any complaints or comments about this; however, in 2011, there were complaints about the exterior storage, so the City worked with the applicant on the ICUP to address storage at that time. VanMeter is being proactive. He also noted that the addition of the trees will break up the fence line. Frazier opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Frazier closed the public hearing. Rasmussen stated he is not excited about the fence materials, but he understands the need for it. He noted that there seems to be quite a bit of a buffer there from the neighboring properties. The City has put in conditions to rectify any issues as needed, so overall he thinks it is a good compromise. Frazier stated he prefers the tarp look better than just the chain-link fence, especially if the idea is to screen some of the trucks, and the landscaping and tress will help it blend in. Wright made a motion to approve the conditional use permit. Brittain seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). 6.4 Woodward Ponds 3rd Addition – Case PP2022-007 M/I Homes has applied for a preliminary plat to re-plat a portion of Woodward Ponds 2nd Addition, which is generally located north of Military Road and west of Keats Avenue. M/I Homes is eliminating two townhome models in their development and rearranging their locations to allow for more of their popular townhome models. Schmitz summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip- ulated in the staff report. Tana Wahtola, M/I Homes, 4000 Tara Road, Minnetrista, explained that they are responding to feedback received from buyers who are more interested in a two-story product without the base- ment. This requires minor adjustments to the lot lines to allow the floor plan changes to be made. Fisher asked if the same number of homes would be built. Wahtola confirmed, noting that just minor adjustments to the length and the width of the lots would occur. Frazier opened the public hearing. Nate Munger, 9696 66th Street South, stated his residence is just across the old Military Road from M/I, and asked if the style or model of each of the homes that has been predetermined on each one of these lots would be subject to change with the removal of the basement options with the slab-on-grade. Wahtola replied no, stated that they just modified the existing product to now also be slab-on-grade, so it is available in both. No one else spoke. Frazier closed the public hearing. Fisher made a motion to approve preliminary plat for Woodward Ponds 3rd Addition. Wright seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). Planning Commission Minutes January 24, 2022 Page 5 of 7 6.5 McHattie Landing – Cases ZA2021-074 & PP2021-075 Manley Family Trust has applied for a zoning amendment to change the zoning of property at 9119 and 9165 Military Road, generally located on the southeast corner of Jamaica Avenue and Military Road, from AG-1, Agricultural Preservation, to R-4, Low Density Resi- dential, with a PUD, Planned Unit Development; and a preliminary plat to be called McHattie Landing that will create 79 single-family lots and 4 outlots. Mrosla summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip- ulated in the staff report. Brittain asked about shallow bedrock removal and if that would involve explosive, and if so, how would that affect homes in the general area. Mrosla responded that he believed most of it would be excavated and didn’t believe any blasting was proposed. Should any blasting be needed, staff would work with the developer to notify the neighbors. Brittain then asked if there was potential for vibrational damage on nearby homes. Burfeind stated typically the shallow bedrock is quite soft in Cottage Grove, especially in this area, and it is just removed with excavators and similar equipment. He has not seen any need for blasting in a residential project, noting that blasting is actually less obtrusive than the removal equipment itself. If blasting is ever needed, vibration monitoring equipment is utilized as part of the detailed mitigation plans. Frazier asked about the tree preservation and landscaping ordinances and if the 580 replace- ment caliper inches is because they’re removing so many trees. He also noted there is a re- quirement to have four trees, including a boulevard tree, on the property and asked if developers get credit for the required trees towards the caliper inches or are those separate calculations. Mrosla replied that they are separate calculations, so of those 580 caliper inches of replace- ment, he believed the actual number was about 280 that they still need to replace. As we are in the preliminary plat process, staff will work with the developer to try to determine if there is an opportunity to save more trees on site along Military Road. The 580 inches does not count the four boulevard trees, the four trees for landscaping, or the buffering trees. Kurt Manley, Manley Family Trust, said that he will answer any questions from the Commission. He reported that they held two neighborhood meetings and addressed the attendees concerns by adding and saving more trees and moving some houses to provide a bigger buffer to the new development. They tried to address every item that was brought up, at the first meeting, and the second neighborhood meeting went extremely well. Rasmussen stated he liked the layout and thought they did a nice job fitting this in the area. He noted that there is bedrock and elevation on this site, and asked if they would maintain the existing grade or heavily adjust the grade of the site. Manley replied they worked closely with their engineering firm on the site grading. The houses where the lots over the bedrock will be slab-on-grade. He noted that there are 18 lots that will not be able to have basements without blasting. They have one soil borings on the site twice to help determine where the bedrock veins are located. Frazier opened the public hearing. Megan Urick, 6412 Jeffery Avenue South, stated she lives in Ravine Meadows, on the east side of this proposed neighborhood. She thanked Manley for working with the residents of that neigh- Planning Commission Minutes January 24, 2022 Page 6 of 7 borhood. She asked if the ponds would be maintained ponds or more of a runoff area. Mrosla replied that one pond will be an infiltration pond, and one will be a storage pond. Burfeind stated that stormwater ponds are on our City-owned outlots and will not be irrigated or consistently mowed. Native grasses will be planted around them, which is maintained once a year by the Parks Department. He noted that the wet pond is a holding pond. No one else spoke. Frazier closed the public hearing. Brittain asked if the bottom pond would dry up and the other pond would hold water. Mrosla responded that was correct. Brittain asked about the average depth of those ponds and if they would be fenced. Burfeind replied the average depth is typically about four feet. He noted that ponds are a very common natural feature in neighborhoods and typically are not fenced. Fisher asked what the services the homeowners association would provide and what the cost would be. Manley stated they are currently working on an agreement with a builder, and typically the builder would determine the association fees, which could include only maintaining the land- scape buffer or be a full association that provides mowing and plowing. This will be worked out prior to final plat approval. Frazier thanked staff, the developer, and members of the public for this cooperative process, as some developments have been very contentious. Brittain made a motion to approve zoning amendment and preliminary plat for McHattie Landing. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of December 20, 2021 Fisher made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 20, 2021 Planning Com- mission meeting. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (5-to-0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of January 2022 City Council Meetings Costello provided a summary of actions taken at the January 5 and January 19, 2022 City Council meetings: Costello introduced Councilmember Thiede as the new liaison to the Planning Commission. Thiede stated he would answer any questions. Rasmussen asked about the activity just north of City Hall on Ravine Parkway. Burfeind stated that Xcel Energy is working on the high-power transmission lines in that farm field. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries None Planning Commission Minutes January 24, 2022 Page 7 of 7 8.3 Planning Commission Requests None Adjournment Brittain made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wright seconded. Motion passed unani- mously (7-to-0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.