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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-28 PACKET 07. (PC MINUTES APPROVAL)City of Cottage Grove Planning Commission October 24, 2022 The Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission was held at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway South, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, on Monday, October 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, 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; Conner Jakes, Associate Planner; Amanda Meyer, Assistant City Engineer; Dave Thiede, City Council Liaison Approval of Agenda Wright made a motion to approve the agenda. Fisher 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 Septic Variance at 7540 Laverne Avenue - Case V2022-062 Brian Convery, on behalf of the property owner Sandra Prueser, has applied for a variance to setback requirements to allow an individual sewage treatment system to be located 7 feet from the rear property line when 10 feet is required at 7540 Laverne Avenue South. Planning Commission Minutes — Regular Meeting October 24, 2022 Page 2 of 4 Mrosla summarized the staff report and recommended approval based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Rasmussen asked if the existing septic is abandoned and removed, why can't the drainfield be moved three feet closer to the house to maintain the setback. Mrosla responded that it is due to the soils. They can't reuse that site, and have to use another location on the site. Before they chose the location, they did soil borings. Frazier opened the public hearing. No one spoke. Frazier closed the public hearing. Rasmussen made a motion to approve the variance to setback locations for a proposed septic system based on the findings of fact and subject to the conditions stipulated in the staff report. Wright seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote). 6.2 CIP 2023-2027 - Cases PP2022-054 & SP2022-055 The City of Cottage Grove has applied for a comprehensive plan amendment to amend the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2023-2027. Meyer summarized the staff report and recommended approval subject to the conditions stip- ulated in the staff report. Brittain noted that the reconstruction of Jamaica Avenue from 70th Street to Military Road is slated for 2027 and asked if the current plan includes construction the roundabout that will connect to Pioneer Road or just turn it back into two lanes each way. Meyer replied that what is in the CIP is the City's cost share for Jamaica from Military Road to 70th Street; the construction of the roundabout is in the Washington County CIP. Brittain asked if the stop sign at Military Road would still exist or if they would curve that, which Meyer confirmed. Rasmussen commented that he is happy about the project on the River Oaks side of Highway 61 as he's in and out of that area every day, noting that trying to navigate in and out of there is dangerous. Brittain asked if there would be an acceleration lane or would vehicles have to wait for their turn into those two lanes. Meyer provided a sketch of the project and would also send to him. Frazier opened the public hearing. Bonnie Matter, 6649 Inskip Avenue South, stated she believed that this was an amendment to the 2023-2027 CIP. She asked why this amendment was required; what specific changes were made to the approved plan, and why the City is doing this amendment. She also asked how the amendment will affect the Comprehensive Plan. She noted that the CIP included a lot new spending on large projects and asked how that comes about because she thought the levy that was set for 2023. She also wanted to verify that the River Oaks irrigation system funding sources for the $1.5 million is a loan from the Economic Development Authority Trust Fund and what fund the $650,000 is coming from water conservation. Matter inquired if after tonight's public hearing this would be on the City Council's consent agenda with no further discussion. She asked for a public answer as well as a letter. Frazier stated that no matter what the Planning Commission recommendation is tonight, the CIP will go to the City Council. Costello stated that as the Planning Commission is a recommending body, their recommendation will go to City Planning Commission Minutes — Regular Meeting October 24, 2022 Page 3 of 4 Council for final dispensation. She believes that it would probably not be on the Consent Agenda, but would verify that with our city administrator. As no one else wished to speak on this issue, Frazier closed the public hearing. Frazier asked if this is the first time this year the Planning Commission has seen the CIP. Meyer confirmed that, and explained the amendment is to the current CIP for 2022-2026. All five years are looked at. Obviously, things change including development interest, which triggers different projects, and funding sources. She explained that maybe in 2022 there was something slated for 2024 and now it is slated for 2025, as things are everchanging. Regarding the larger dollar amount projects that seem new, part of that is based on the development interest we are seeing; for example, there was more interest in our Business Park, which is triggering the 100th Street extension. It is a necessary improvement for the residences and businesses in the Business Park area. With park buildings, the construction materials are getting very expensive, as is labor, so we are seeing the prices of each project increase as well. Meyer stated that unfortunately she doesn't have many details on the River Oaks project, but will work with the Parks and Recreation Director to get more information on that funding, which she will provide to the Planning Commission. Frazier stated Matter also asked about the CIP in relation to the Comprehensive Plan. His understanding is this is not an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, but that the CIP has to be in harmony with the Comprehensive Plan because that is how we guide everything that happens in the City. Meyer responded that was correct. Frazier stated the last question was the higher -dollar items that were on the CIP and asked if part of the reason they are in the CIP is because they have to be in order to seek funding for some of these items. Meyer replied that was correct, and stated this is just a planning document. The things that we see from 2024 and beyond are on there as the City tries to budget for those and o refine some of those estimates. Those years really are just planning documents to try to work on the things that we see coming as future needs for our City. Frazier asked if something that's scheduled for 2026 and 2027 may happen at that time, but it also may get pushed back, depending on if funding is there at the time. Meyer agreed that was correct. Brittain made a motion to approve the 2023-2027 CIP amendment. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote). Approval of Planning Commission Minutes of August 22, 2022 Fisher made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 22, 2022, Planning Commission meeting. Rasmussen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-to-0 vote). Reports 8.1 Recap of September and October 2022 City Council Meetings Costello stated there weren't any Planning Commission items discussed during the City Council meetings that were held in September and October 2022. Planning Commission Minutes — Regular Meeting October 24, 2022 Page 4 of 4 Thiede stated some of the high numbers on the CIP also cause him concern, but he is reminded that those are not all City costs; some of them might be paid by Washington County, the State, or the Federal government. 8.2 Response to Planning Commission Inquiries 1► rem 8.3 Planning Commission Requests None. Adjournment Brittain made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Wright seconded. Motion passed unan- imously (7-to-0 vote). The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.