07-06-1988 Planning Commission Agenda-Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ARDEN HILLS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday, July 6, 1988, 7:30 p.m. - Village Hall CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof Acting Chairman • Calvin Meury called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Acting Chair Calvin Meury, Paul Malone, Ray McGraw, Dennis Probst, Barbara Piotrowski, Dorothy Zehm and Dave Carlson. Absent: Chairman Robert Curtis, Peter Martin and Scott Petersen. Also Present: Planner John Bergly and Deputy Clerk Catherine Iago. APPROVE MINUTES Commission was advised by Deputy Clerk Iago that the June Planning minutes should reflect Chairman Robert Curtis as absent. Moved by Malone, seconded by Zehm, that the Minutes of the June 1, 1988, Planning Commission meeting be approved with the correction as noted by Deputy Clerk Iago. Motion carried unanimously. (7-0) CASE #88-19; VAR. Planner Bergly reviewed his report dated 7-6-88 relative LANDSCAPED AREA, to the application for a variance from minimum landscape 3755 DUNLAP ST, area requirements by Northwestern Bell. NORTHWESTERN BELL Bergly stated the application is proposing to expand the storage yard 20 feet east into the existing parking area and to add an equivalent area for parking on the east end of the present parking lot. He explained the current requirement for • landscaped area in the I-2 District is 25 percent of the site. Bergly stated the site is located in an industrial area that evidently was developed prior to adoption of the current standards in the zoning ordinance and currently 16.9 percent of the site is landscaped; with the proposed expansion, the landscaped area will be reduced to 14.2 percent of the site. The Planner referred Commission to the Board of Appeals minutes of 6-16-88, recommending approval of the application. Bergly stated that front yard setbacks in the area generally conform with current requirements, however, parking setbacks and landscaped areas are far below the minimums required. He advised the proposal for change by Northwestern Bell would be in compliance for what currently exists in this area based on the fact the intent of the zoning ordinance is to maintain a general uniformity of development in the various districts. Bergly explained the "non-conforming" provision assume that existing scattered use developed prior to adoption of the ordinance would be gradually phased out or brought into conformity through redevelopment. He stated that it is extremely unlikely that changes in this area will ever occur that would bring the predominate nature of the area into ordinance conformity. The Planner stated the applicant is proposing to maintain the required 20-foot front yard for parking setback and the proposed reduction in landscaped area would maintain uniformity in the area as the surrounding properties now have less than 10 percent landscaped area. Bergly recommended approval of the proposed variance of 10.8 percent landscaped • area based on the fact that surrounding industrial area was developed at lower standards than now required, the variance would not cause the subject property to be out of character with surrounding development and the proposed front yard parking setback of 20-feet meets the current ordinance requirement. Acting Chair Meury questioned if the additional parking spaces were necessary; he suggested a variance for parking could be considered rather than for landscaped area.