HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-22 PACKET 07. (APPROVE PC MINUTES)City of Cottage Grove
Planning Commission
July 25, 2022
The Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800
Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, July 25, 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.
Members Present: Ken Brittain, Jessica Fisher, Evan Frazier, Eric Knable, Derek Rasmussen,
Emily Stephens, Jerret Wright
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Christine Costello, Community Development Director; Mike Mrosla, Senior
Planner; Emily Schmitz, Senior Planner; Dave Thiede, City Council Liaison
Approval of Agenda
Fisher made a motion to approve the agenda. Wright seconded. The motion was approved
unanimously (7-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 Cottage Grove Logistics Park Building 3 — Case SP2022-051
NP BGO Cottage Grove Logistics Park, LLC has applied for a site plan review for Phase 1a
of the Cottage Grove Logistics Park Master Development Plan. The application is to con-
struct Building 3, which will consist of approximately 520,000 square feet, on property
located south of 100th Street and west of Ideal Avenue.
Planning Commission Minutes — Regular Meeting
July 25, 2022
Page 2 of 3
Schmitz summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip-
ulated in the staff report.
Mark Militzer, NorthPoint Development, 1495 Heritage Valley Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, stated
that construction is progressing well on Buildings 1 and 2; with approval this evening, they will
start Building 3 shortly thereafter. He noted that they have not yet signed any leases, and ex-
plained that is typical to not have solid commitments until tenants can see the building. He
stated he would answer any questions.
Frazier opened the public hearing.
Jean Koecher, 7521 110th Street, stated she couldn't read the street names on the map that
was sent with the public hearing notice and asked if Building 3 would be on 105th Street.
Schmitz confirmed that. Koecher asked if 105th Street would be the future road. Schmitz re-
sponded yes. Koecher noted that that street is not there yet, which was why she was confused.
She then asked which streets the sound wall will be on. Schmitz replied that it will be on 105th
Street and Hadley Avenue and showed her on the map the locations.
No one else spoke. Frazier closed the public hearing.
Brittain made a motion to approve the site plan review subject to the conditions stipu-
lated in the staff report. Fisher seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote).
6.2 Preserve at Prairie Dunes Comp Plan Amendment — Case CP2022-031
Summergate Development has applied for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to redesig-
nate the future land use of property generally located south and west of the proposed
Cottage Grove Logistics Park development and east of the Scientific Natural Area from In-
dustrial and Medium Density Residential to Low Density Residential. The Metropolitan
Council is requesting the subject property be re -guided to Low Density Residential instead
of the previously approved Medium Density Residential due to the Metropolitan Council's
minimum density requirements.
Mrosla stated prior to the meeting tonight, staff learned that the project has been cancelled. Due
to the cancellation, we are requesting that this item be tabled indefinitely, as the city does not
want to make any modifications when there is no project. He requested that the Commission
table this item indefinitely until we know what the future plans are.
Brittain clarified that a project came before the Planning Commission and was approved; how-
ever, the Metropolitan Council required a change to the City -approved comprehensive plan
amendment. Not that this project is no longer going forward; the City does not need the Metro-
politan Council's direction at this particular point in time to do anything. Costello explained that
the project being cancelled at this time was not on the part of the Metropolitan Council but on
the part of the developer, who chose to withdraw the project at this time based on their working
with the landowners, asking for an extension, and their agreements with each other. The market
has changed a bit, and there have been concerns about the rise in interest rates, as well as
changes in the cost of materials and trades workers. She noted that many single-family home
developers are putting pauses on projects. This particular developer has chosen to cancel their
project, and we do not know if it could potentially come back or not in the future.
Planning Commission Minutes — Regular Meeting
July 25, 2022
Page 3 of 3
Mrosla added that the Metropolitan Council was requesting that the land be re -guided from the
approved medium density to low density for this cancelled development; however, that would
restrict the development potential of that parcel in the future. The City does not want to re -guide
that land at this time unless there is a project.
Frazier asked Costello if there still needed to be a public hearing if there is a motion to table.
Costello replied that a public hearing is not needed as there is no application on which to act.
Brittain made a motion to table this item indefinitely. Wright seconded. Motion passed
unanimously (7-to-0 vote).
Costello stated to those residents who might be here or listening tonight if any applications
would come before the Planning Commission for this property, the City would send out notifica-
tion to neighboring property owners.
Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of June 27, 2022
Knable made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 27, 2022, Planning Commis-
sion meeting. Wright seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote).
Reports
8.1 Recap of July 2022 City Council Meetings
Thiede provided a summary of actions taken at the July 20, 2022, City Council meeting.
8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries
Frazier stated that at the last meeting there was a question regarding the guardrail that Wash-
ington County installed on the east side of Keats Avenue/County Road 19. He noted that Meyer
had sent out an email to the Commissioners answering that question.
8.3 Planning Commission Requests
Adjournment
Fisher made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Knable seconded. Motion passed unani-
mously 7-to-0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 7:17 p.m.