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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-17 PC Approved: March 8, 2017 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Roberta Thompson called to order the regular Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were: Chair Roberta Thompson, Commissioners Angela Hames, Steven Jones, James Lambeth, and Phillip Neururer. Absent: Commissioners Brent Bartel (excused), Nick Gehrig (excused), and Clayton Zimmerman (excused) Also present were: Senior Planner Matthew Bachler, City Clerk Julie Hanson, Hannah Rybak, WSB, and Councilmember Fran Holmes. APPROVAL OF AGENDA – FEBRUARY 8, 2017 Chair Thompson stated the agenda will stand as published. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 7, 2016 – Planning Commission Regular Meeting Commissioner Jones moved, seconded by Commissioner Lambeth, to approve the December 7, 2016, Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). APPOINTMENTS Senior Planner Bachler stated Roberta Thompson, Angela Hames, and Steven Jones are currently serving on the Planning Commission as Commissioners. Their terms expired December 31, 2016. During the Regular City Council meeting on January 9, 2017, the Council unanimously approved Resolution 2017-002 to reappoint Roberta Thompson, Angela Hames, and Steven Jones to the Planning Commission. Their current term will expire December 31, 2019. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 2 City Clerk Hanson administered the Oath of Office to Planning Commission members Roberta Thompson, Angela Hames and Steven Jones. PLANNING CASES A. Planning Case 17-002; Boston Scientific – Site Plan Review – 4100 Hamline Avenue North Senior Planner Bachler stated Boston Scientific has requested a Site Plan Review to construct a new parking and drop-off area to the east of the existing Building 10, between Innovation Way and the building. The new parking area will provide short-term parking and curbside drop-off for the daycare facility located in Building 10, and will help address existing safety concerns associated with parents dropping off children for daycare. Senior Planner Bachler reported the project will include the construction of 7 parking stalls and 3 curbside drop-off spaces, along with two associated driveways and sidewalks. Additional landscaping and exterior lighting will also be installed for the new parking area and sidewalks. Site Data Land Use Plan: Light Industrial and Office Existing Land Use: Light Industrial and Office Zoning: I-1: Limited Industrial/PUD Overlay Current Lot Size: Lot 1 – 77.41 Acres Proposed Density: N/A Topography: Level Senior Planner Bachler reviewed the surrounding area and the Plan Evaluation. Senior Planner Bachler provided the Findings of Fact for review: 1. The applicant has requested approval of a Site Plan Review in order to construct a new parking and drop-off area for the daycare facility located in Building 10 on the Boston Scientific campus at 4100 Hamline Avenue North. 2. A Site Plan Review is required by the City’s Zoning Code for the reorganization of parking, drives, and entrances within any industrial district. 3. The Boston Scientific campus is a conforming use in the I-1 Limited Industrial Zoning District and operates under an approved PUD Overlay District. 4. The parking area would include seven parking stalls and three curbside drop-off spaces, along with two associated driveways and sidewalks. 5. The proposal is conformance with the landscape lot area requirements for properties in the I-1 Limited Industrial Zoning District as required by Section 1320.06 of the Zoning Code. 6. The proposal is in conformance with the off-public street parking requirements included in Section 1325.06, Subd. 1 of the Zoning Code. 7. The proposal is not expected to adversely impact the surrounding neighborhood or the City as a whole. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 3 Senior Planner Bachler stated based on the submitted plans and findings of fact, staff recommends approval of Planning Case 17-002 for a Site Plan Review for a new parking and drop-off area for the daycare facility located in Building 10 on the Boston Scientific campus at 4100 Hamline Avenue North. If the Planning Commission recommends approval of this request, staff recommends that the following three conditions be included with the approval: 1. The project shall be completed in accordance with the plans submitted as amended by the conditions of approval. Any significant changes to these plans, as determined by the City Planner, shall require review and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council. 2. That the applicant shall continue to abide by all previous agreements, as amended by the conditions of approval of this application. 3. Exterior lighting shall conform to the design standards included in Section 1325.05, Subd. 3 of the Zoning Code. Senior Planner Bachler reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission on this matter: 1. Recommend Approval with Conditions 2. Recommend Approval as Submitted. 3. Recommend Denial 4. Table Chair Thompson opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Lambeth asked if the project would require any demolition. Senior Planner Bachler described the work that would be completed. He reported no structures would be demolished for the parking area. Chair Thompson questioned if the exterior lighting would be updated. Senior Planner Bachler stated new lighting would be added for the parking area. Staff will review the lighting for conformance with the Zoning Code when the applicant applies for permits. Chair Thompson stated that it will be important for the parking area to be well lit for safety reasons. She requested that additional information on the exterior lighting be provided for the City Council’s review of this case. Commissioner Hames moved and Commissioner Lambeth seconded a motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 17-002 for a Site Plan Review at 4100 Hamline Avenue North, based on the findings of fact and the submitted plans as amended by the three (3) conditions in the February 8, 2017, Report to the Planning Commission. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). B. Planning Case 17-003; Subdivision Code Amendment – Public Use Dedications (Section 1130.08, Subd. 3) ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 4 Senior Planner Bachler explained this application was not complete in time to include on the February 8, 2017 Planning Commission agenda. Staff requests that the Planning Commission table Planning Case 17-003 until such time that a full review can be completed. A motion to table to a future meeting is necessary because this item has already been noticed as a public hearing for this evening prior to it being pulled from the agenda. Commissioner Jones moved and Commissioner Lambeth seconded a motion to table action and continue the Public Hearing on Planning Case 17-003 to the March 8, 2017 Planning Commission meeting. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A. 2016 Planning Commission Year-End Report Senior Planner Bachler provided the Planning Commission with a summary of the planning activities for 2016. He reviewed a list of the main accomplishments completed over the past year: • Reviewed and processed 32 planning cases that included 44 separate land use requests • Processed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, TCAAP Redevelopment Code, and TCAAP Regulating Plan related to the proposed Master Development Plan for the 427- acre former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site • City approved four City Code amendments, including amendments that addressed mobile residential homes and speed restrictions on Lake Johanna Chair Thompson commended staff for the great work completed in 2016. B. Draft 2017 Work Plan Senior Planner Bachler reviewed the draft 2017 work plan with the Commission. He explained the City Council will be asking the Planning Commission to join them for a joint Work Session later this spring to discuss the Work Plan for 2017. To assist in that discussion, staff would like the Planning Commission to provide input on topics that might be addressed at this meeting. While the Council will make the final determination as to the goals and priorities for the coming year, it will be useful for them to have input from the Planning Commission. Senior Planner Bachler explained the Planning Commission differs from the City’s other committees and commissions in that the purpose and scope of the Commission’s work is largely determined by State Statute. The majority of the Planning Commission work plan is dedicated to continuing the work of evaluating and providing recommendations on land use applications, zoning code amendments, and other planning related items that come before the City. He then reviewed the items the Planning Commission would be addressing in the coming year. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update Cities in the seven-county metropolitan area are required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act to update their Comprehensive Plans every 10 years. These updates are required to ensure consistency with the regional system plan that is prepared by the Metropolitan Council. The City of Arden Hills will commence a full update of its Comprehensive Plan this year to ensure that a new 2040 Comprehensive Plan can be adopted by the end of 2018. During this process, the ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 5 Planning Commission will work with a consultant firm to be hired by the City on reviewing the current Comprehensive Plan and making updates as needed based on recent trends in physical development and current and projected demographic data. Higher Education Study The City Council adopted an Interim Ordinance in October 2016 temporarily prohibiting land use applications and reviews for higher education uses in residential business, industrial, and other zones. The moratorium can remain in effect for up to 12 months to prepare a study on the impacts and benefits of higher education land uses. The Planning Commission will work with a consultant firm to be hired by the City on completing this study by September 2017. The Planning Commission may be asked to make recommendations to the City Council on possible Zoning Code or Comprehensive Plan amendments based on the report conclusions. Sign Code Over the last few years, the City has processed several applications requesting flexibility from regulations included in its Sign Code. The most common requests have been for additional wall or freestanding signage. In 2017, staff will work with the Planning Commission to complete a review of the existing Arden Hills Sign Code and how neighboring communities regulate signage. The Planning Commission will be asked to make recommendations to the City Council on possible updates to the Sign Code. Chair Thompson was pleased the City would be completing a higher education study. Commissioner Jones stated he was interested in attending the GTS training being offered in 2017. Senior Planner Bachler commented that when he receives information on training opportunities he would forward this information on to the Planning Commission members. Councilmember Holmes recommended the Planning Commission review the B-2 zoning district design standards in the coming year. Chair Thompson agreed it would benefit the City for the Planning Commission to review the B- 2 District design standards and recommended this item be placed on the Commission’s work plan for 2017. Commissioner Hames and Commissioner Jones supported this recommendation. Commissioner Hames questioned if staff was aware of any development projects that would be proposed in the near-term in the B-2 District. Senior Planner Bachler stated that there were not any pending applications at this time. He reported he would add the review of the B-2 District design standards to the draft 2017 Work Plan. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 6 C. Planning Case 17-004 – Sign Code Review Hannah Rybak, WSB, explained the Planning Commission’s work plan for 2015 included completing a review and update of the City’s Sign Code. Staff began work on this item last fall, with the first task being a review of planning cases from the previous five years that included a request to deviate from the Sign Code. The purpose of this review was to identify areas of the Sign Code that may not be consistent with what businesses currently need for signage. The City has approved 15 planning cases since 2012 that included the following breakdown of specific requests: • Greater area for wall sign: 7 cases • Greater area for freestanding sign: 4 cases • Greater height for freestanding sign: 2 cases • Longer display period for temporary sign: 3 cases • Greater area for temporary sign: 4 cases • Electronic sign: 1 case • Projecting sign: 1 case Ms. Rybak reported staff compared the sign ordnances of the cities of Roseville, New Brighton, Shoreview and Mounds View to the current Arden Hills sign ordinance based on the most common types of deviations requested. The sign regulations included in the TCAAP Redevelopment Codes were also reviewed. The purpose of this comparison was to identify sections of the Sign Code that are or are not consistent with neighboring communities. Ms. Rybak explained currently, the sign ordinance allows a set square footage of wall signage based on the sign district the property is located in. This can be problematic, as it does not account for different sized buildings within the same district. Mounds View is the only other city in the study that regulates wall signage in this manner. The other cities regulate the amount of wall signage permitted based on a percentage of the building square footage or façade area. This allows for signage that fits individual buildings best, rather than a one size fits all approach. The TCAAP Redevelopment Code uses a combination of both, allowing either a set square footage or percent of the façade area, whichever is less. Ms. Rybak reported a monument sign is a type of freestanding sign where the sign face is mounted on the ground or a base rather than a pole. Sign Districts 4 and 5 only allow monument signs for freestanding signs. For all districts, freestanding signs are allowed a set square footage and height based on the sign district the property is located in. While none of the other cities limit the style of freestanding signs to individual districts, Roseville, New Brighton and Mounds View all regulate them in the same manner as Arden Hills; a set square footage based on sign district. Shoreview allows a set square footage based on the gross floor area of the principal structure. The TCAAP Redevelopment Code allows a set square footage for “Highway Monument Signs” and a percentage of the street frontage for “Corridor Monument Signs.” Ms. Rybak stated currently, the Sign Code does not allow any electronic or dynamic display signs. All four cities that were reviewed allow for some type of dynamic display signs. They are regulated as follows: • Roseville: Must be static and remain for a minimum duration of 25 seconds. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 7 • New Brighton: No animation or video is permitted and a minimum duration of 8 seconds. • Shoreview: No animation or video is permitted and a minimum duration of 8 seconds. • Mounds View: Must be static and remain for a minimum duration of 8 seconds. • TCAAP Redevelopment Code: Allowed only on “Marquee Signs.” A Marquee Sign is located at a theatre or other public venue and displays the name of the establishment or event details. Message board may be changeable copy provided that the copy does not change more than once every 15 minutes. Ms. Rybak commented the Sign Code defines a projecting sign as a sign, other than a wall sign, that projects more than 18 inches from the building façade. These types of signs are not permitted in Arden Hills, New Brighton, or Shoreview. Roseville regulates them as a wall sign, and they may only project up to 30 inches from the building façade. Mounds View allows them with a set square footage by zoning district. The TCAAP Redevelopment Code allows the lesser of a set square footage or 15% of the façade area. They may project no more than 50% of the width of the sidewalk, or six feet from the building façade line, whichever is less. Ms. Rybak explained for temporary signs, Arden Hills allows up to half of the area allowed for permanent wall or freestanding signage to be displayed on three occasions throughout the year, with a maximum of 10 days each time. Businesses may also combine the three occasions to display a temporary sign for one 30-day period per year. Other cities’ regulations are as follows: • Roseville: Allows a maximum of 32 square feet up to 60 days in one year. • New Brighton: Allows up to 32 square feet on four occasions, up to 14 days each. • Shoreview: Allows either 32 or 64 square feet (depending on building size) on four occasions, up to 14 days each. • Mounds View: Allows temporary signage on four occasions, with a maximum of 21 days each. Can obtain a fifth permit for a banner only. • TCAAP Redevelopment Code: Maximum area of 150 square feet or 10% of the façade area, whichever is less. Maximum of thirty days per calendar year. Ms. Rybak stated based on the direction provided by the Planning Commission, staff will complete additional research on possible revisions to the Sign Code. Staff will bring this item back to the Planning Commission for further discussion and review recommendations with the City Council before a public hearing is scheduled for any changes to the Sign Code. Chair Thompson stated she was interested in learning more about dynamic display signs. She indicated she was not necessarily against dynamic display signs if they were well designed and not distracting. Commissioner Hames explained the restrictions on dynamic display signs in the Sign Code were brought about due to electronic billboards that were being introduced in the Twin Cities several years ago. She encouraged the City to differentiate between these large signs and the smaller scale dynamic display signs. She recommended the City not have two separate Sign Codes, one for TCAAP and one for the remainder of the City. She suggested the Sign Code be consistent for all areas of the City. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 8 Commissioner Jones believed dynamic display signs could be designed to be iconic features and should be considered within the Sign Code. Commissioner Hames recommended wall signage shift to a percentage of wall surface area, similar to the language within the TCAAP Redevelopment Code. Commissioner Jones was supportive of permitting projecting signs consistent with what is allowed in the TCAAP Redevelopment Code. Commissioner Jones recommended that the City evaluate its regulations on temporary signage to address items such as inflatable mascots and temporary firework sales tents. Commissioner Jones suggested that corporate campuses with highway frontage, such as Land O’Lakes, should be allowed to have larger freestanding signs. Commissioner Lambeth asked how the City defined portable signs. Senior Planner Bachler described how the City defined portable signs. He thanked the Commission for their feedback and summarized based on the comments received, there was support to revise the Sign Code. REPORTS A. Report from the City Council Councilmember Holmes updated the Planning Commission on activities from the December 12, 2016 City Council Regular Meeting, noting the City Council approved the TCAAP Comprehensive Plan Amendment, TCAAP Regulating Plan Amendment, and TCAAP Redevelopment Code Amendment in Planning Case 16-025. The amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and regulatory documents were requested by the TCAAP Master Developer in order to facilitate their redevelopment plans for the property. The Planning Commission recommended approval (5-0) of this case at their meeting on December 7, 2016. Councilmember Holmes reported the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Master Developer regarding park improvements on TCAAP. The MOU addresses the amenities to be provided in the Creek, Hill, and Town Center parks, and requires the Master Developer to coordinate the design of the parks with the City, subject to City Council final approval. In addition, the City Council approved an Option Agreement with the Master Developer that would allow the City to purchase the 1.6-acre Civic zoned property on the TCAAP site. The Option Agreement provides the City up to seven years to acquire the site with the timeframe beginning once the JDA approves the Master Development Agreement (MDA) with the Master Developer. The sales terms will depend on when the City is ready to move forward with construction. The City has an incentive to move quickly on developing a plan for the property as an earlier sale will result in better terms for the City. Councilmember Holmes noted at the January 13, 2017 City Council Work Session, Roberts Management Group presented a Concept Plan Review for proposed modifications to the Lexington Station Master PUD at the southwest corner of Lexington Avenue and Red Fox Road. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – February 8, 2017 9 The proposed changes would decrease the overall amount of density within the development and increase the number of surface parking stalls. Roberts Management is expecting to submit a formal PUD Amendment application and a Final PUD application for Phase 2 in spring 2017. The application would be subject to the full review process, including a public hearing with Planning Commission and City Council review. Councilmember Holmes noted at the January 30, 2017 Special City Council Work Session, the City Council discussed the Option Agreement to purchase the Civic property on TCAAP. Their discussion focused on site restrictions, use options, and possible funding sources. The City Council requested that staff draft a Request for Proposals for assistance in managing the City’s planning process for the future use of the property. Councilmember Holmes reported the Tavern Grill was now open in Arden Hills. She thanked Commissioner Hames, Commissioner Jones and Chair Thompson for their continued service on the Planning Commission. B. Planning Commission Comments and Requests Councilmember Jones congratulated Senior Planner Bachler on the arrival of his new baby boy. C. Staff Comments Senior Planner Bachler reported he would update the Planning Commission when a date has been set for the joint Council/Commission worksession meeting. ADJOURN Commissioner Jones moved, seconded by Commissioner Lambeth, to adjourn the February 8, 2017, Planning Commission Meeting at 7:30 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).