Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-27 PACKET 07. - MINUTES FROM 5-23-22 PC MEETINGCity of Cottage Grove Planning Commission May 23, 2022 A meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, May 23, 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, Eric Knable, Derek Rasmussen, Jerret Wright Members Absent: Emily Stephens (Excused) Staff Present: Christine Costello, Community Development Director; Mike Mrosla, Senior Planner; Emily Schmitz, Senior Planner; Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director/ City Engineer; Dave Thiede, City Council Liaison Approval of Agenda Fisher made a motion to approve the agenda. Wright seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (6-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 spoke. 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 Lighthouse Baptist Church — Case CUP2022-043 Lighthouse Baptist Church has applied for an amended conditional use permit and house - moving approval to relocate an existing house to the Lighthouse Baptist Church property located at 9979 80th Street South. Planning Commission Minutes May 23, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Mrosla stated earlier today the applicant requested that this item be continued to the next Plan- ning Commission meeting on June 27, 2022, as they are revising their Site Plan. Brittain made a motion to continue Planning Case CUP2022-013 to the June 27, 2022 Planning Commission meeting. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6- to-0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of April 25, 2022 Wright made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 25, 2022, Planning Commission meeting. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (6-to-0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of May 2022 City Council Meetings Costello provided a summary of actions taken at the May 4 and May 18, 2022, City Council meetings. Thiede stated Strawberry Fest is about three -and -a -half weeks away and should be a great celebration this year. He asked if the Commissioners had any questions for him. Rasmussen asked if the Strawberry Fest parade was going to take place. Thiede replied yes. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries 1► rem 8.3 Planning Commission Requests Wright stated that he has made a career in the military, first as a United States Marine and now as a commissioned officer in the Minnesota National Guard. As a Cottage Grove resident for many years and a history buff, he has researched this area's rich history, including its miliary history. He noted that soldiers used Military Road that runs through Cottage Grove to get to places such as Fort Snelling and Camp Ripley. During his tenure on the Planning Commission, he has seen changes that have impacted Military Road and is interested in preservation of our heritage. Cottage Grove is a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon designated city and supports and ad- vocates our service members and veterans. With all the growth and restructuring in the area, it seems the name and future of Military Road are fading, and he suggested the possibility of renaming it to honor a military hero. During his research, he came upon a fallen hero from Cottage Grove, Army Specialist Carlos E. Wilcox IV, who died July 16, 2009 in Basra, Iraq from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit. Wright provided more background infor- mation on Wilcox. He asked if staff could explore a meaningful way in which to honor this local hero and if his fellow Commissioners are interested in this as well. Frazier asked staff if that is something that can be looked into. Costello responded yes, noting that Mrosla and Thiede are involved with the Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and realize the importance of Military Road. That committee will be having discussions on how that should be memorialized. She thanked Wright for sharing the Army Specialist's story, Planning Commission Minutes May 23, 2022 Page 3 of 3 which will be shared with the ACHP. Thiede stated that there have been discussions on what to do along the trail. He suggested that maybe a database list could be created about Wilcox and others from Cottage Grove that could be accessed along the trail. Fisher agreed and said that there are more veterans who served and did not come home, and the City should find a way to honor as many as possible. Frazier stated that there are many creative ways to make something like this happen and thanked Wright for bringing the idea to the Planning Commission. Adjournment Rasmussen made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wright seconded. Motion passed unan- imously 6-to-0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m.