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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-05-18 PC Approved: January 9, 2019 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Nick Gehrig called to order the regular Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were: Chair Nick Gehrig, Commissioners Steven Jones, James Lambeth, Paul Vijums and Clayton Zimmerman. Absent: Commissioners Brent Bartel, Matt Dixon and Angela Hames. Also present were: Interim City Planner Alex Conzemius, Interim City Planner Jane Kansier and Councilmember Steve Scott. APPROVAL OF AGENDA – SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 Chair Gehrig stated the agenda will stand as amended moving Staff Comments to the end of the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 18, 2018 – Planning Commission Regular Meeting Chair Gehrig requested a change to the minutes noting he did not move to approve the minutes at the August meeting. Commissioner Lambeth moved, seconded by Commissioner Jones, to approve the August 18, 2018, Planning Commission Regular Meeting as amended. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). PLANNING CASES A. Planning Case 18-016; University of Northwestern Site Plan Review – Not a Public Hearing ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – September 5, 2018 2 Interim City Planner Conzemius stated the property is located in the R-1 Single Family Residential District. A Master PUD for the site has been completed and the site plan is consistent with the vision for the Master PUD. A memorandum from Jarett Anderson has been included as Attachment A with detailed information on the proposed expansion. Attachment B highlights the proposed expansion and plantings. Appendix C shows a side profile. It is hoped that these documents and renderings give Planning Commissioners a good sense of the proposed expansion. Planning Commissioners should review plans and provide a recommendation for City Council approval. Staff including building official, fire chief, public works director and consultant engineers and water resource experts have reviewed plans. Site Data Lot Size: 42 Acres in Arden Hills Topography: Fairly Flat Interim City Planner Conzemius reviewed the surrounding area, the Plan Evaluation and provided the following Findings of Fact for review: 1. The University of Northwestern in the areas within Arden Hills City Limits is located in the R-1 zoning district. 2. A Master PUD has been approved for the site and the Site Plan is consistent that Master PUD. 3. The University of Northwestern Totino Fine Arts Building proposed expansion is a one- story addition of approximately 11,500 SF for a theater capable of seating 200 people. 4. The building expansion, if approved would meet the dimensional criteria of the zoning ordinance. 5. Sufficient screening exists on the site that mitigates any visual impact on the neighborhood. 6. Notice of the Site Plan was sent to properties within 500 feet of the University of Northwestern including the date and time of the public site plan meeting and comments have/have not been received. 7. The building would not have a negative impact on adjacent properties or the City as a whole. Interim City Planner Conzemius 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 Gehrig opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Lambeth stated he understood the exterior of this building was proposed to be precast concrete and questioned how this would fit in with the brick buildings on campus. Interim City Planner Kansier deferred this question to the applicant. She noted there were a lot of different tip up panels styles. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – September 5, 2018 3 Brian Humphries, Associate Vice President of Facility Operations and Campus Planning at Northwestern College, described the tip up panels that would be used and noted they would match the current brick. He reported the panels would have a sandblasted finish to match the entry way of the Totino Fine Arts Building. He was of the opinion the finished product the addition would look just like the existing structure. Commissioner Zimmerman asked if this addition would provide a second story or an expansion to an existing building. Greg Fenton, BWB Architects, reported the addition would be an expansion to an existing building. He provided further comment on how the addition would be accessed through the main building. Commissioner Lambeth questioned if the proposed addition would encroach on any parking. Mr. Fenton explained no parking on Constitution Way would be lost. Chair Gehrig commented on the tree preservation/replacement plan and noted this information was not included in the packet. He requested further information from staff on this matter. Interim City Planner Conzemius reviewed the tree preservation and replacement plan with the Commission. Commissioner Jones asked if the Rice Creek Watershed would have to review this request. Interim City Planner Conzemius stated a Rice Creek Watershed permit would be required for this Site Plan. Commissioner Lambeth requested the sidewalk slope be addressed by the applicant to ensure it met all ADA and building codes. Commissioner Vijums questioned if additional parking should be provided for this building addition. Interim City Planner Kansier explained the addition was consistent with the campus master plan and therefore the existing parking was sufficient. Chair Gehrig stated he supported the proposed addition and believed it was very well done. Commissioner Jones requested two conditions for approval be added to this Planning Case. The first would be to ensure the sidewalks meet all ADA requirements through the building permit phase and the second would be to require the applicant to secure a Rice Creek Watershed permit. Commissioner Jones moved and Commissioner Lambeth seconded a motion to recommend approval of Planning Case 18-016 for a Site Plan for the University of Northwestern based ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – September 5, 2018 4 on the findings of fact and the submitted plans, subject to the stated two (2) conditions. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS None. REPORTS A. Staff Comments Interim City Planner Conzemius introduced himself to the Planning Commission and noted he would be serving the City on an interim basis while the City hires a new City Planner. He explained he recently met with a developer interested in pursuing a senior living facility on Park Shore Drive. In addition, Bethel University was proposing to construct a new chapel on their campus and would like to discuss this at a future worksession meeting. He reported he also met with representatives from the Mounds View School District noting they were looking to expand their gym space. Interim City Planner Conzemius commented he met with a lakeshore property owner that has requested a lot combination with a property across the street. He explained this property owner would like to build a garage on the property across the street from the principle structure. He reported City’s Ordinance does not currently allow this and requested feedback from the Planning Commission on how to proceed. Commissioner Vijums stated this was quite common for lakeshore owners up north as roads are pushed through their property. Commissioner Jones asked if the lot across the street was a viable lot that could hold a home and garage. Interim City Planner Kansier reported the lot was buildable for a home and garage. Commissioner Jones stated he would much rather see the lot with a home and garage, than just a garage. Commissioner Vijums supported the Commission reviewing the request along with an Ordinance amendment. Commissioner Zimmerman stated he would like to understand what the surrounding properties across the street have on them to understand the character of the neighborhood. Chair Gehrig commented if this item were to move forward it would have to be looked at from the entire City’s perspective and not just this one instance. He recommended that the City Council also be consulted on this issue. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – September 5, 2018 5 Interim City Planner Conzemius commented he had no Planning Cases for the Planning Commission to consider in October and asked if the Commission wanted to hold a worksession meeting. Commissioner Zimmerman suggested the Planning Commission not meet in October if there were no land use cases. The Commission was in agreement. B. Report from the City Council Councilmember Scott updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities from the August 13, 2018 City Council Regular Meeting stating staff updated City Council on the Rice Creek Commons (TCAAP) and Joint Development Authority (JDA). Regular meetings are held on Wednesdays of each week. A transportation update was provided by public works director Sue Polka. On the consent agenda the City Council motioned to approve claims and payroll, accept the resignation of Roberta Thompson from the Planning Commission, adopt resolution approving charitable gambling, authorize the appointment of Recreation Programmer, approve change orders on the 2018 Street and Utility Improvement Project and the Old Snelling Watermain and Trail Improvements Project, approve advertising for bids on the Old Snelling Bridge Replacement project, authorize purchase of materials and equipment rental for Harriet Ave Overlay project, approve professional services agreement for on-call engineering services, authorize purchase of temporary and permanent drainage and utility easements, approve payment to Sunram Construction, approve resolution to construct Highway 10 Watermain, approve payment to Osseo Construction for Water Tower Rehab project and approve Gate Valve Replacement for Dunlap Street. Councilmember Scott updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities from the August 20, 2018 City Council Work Session stating Council heard updates on the Tobacco 21 initiative which may increase the age to 21 for tobacco purchases and/or restricting the sale of flavored tobacco in Arden Hills. The City Attorney asked Council for further direction on the moving forward with potential regulations regarding vegetation removal and clear cutting. Staff discussed Council Tracker Updates, followed up on Service Line Waters of America (SLWA) items, discussed sympathy/greeting card policy, reviewed the preliminary general fund budget and were updated on and discussed TCAAP developments. Councilmember Scott updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities from the August 27, 2018 City Council Special Work Session stating The City Council held a special work session at 6:00 prior to the regular scheduled meeting for the purposes of discussing the TCAAP site. Councilmember Scott updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities from the August 27, 2018 City Council Regular Meeting stating the City Council were updated on public inquiries, were introduced to CTV, a nonprofit community media center, Executive Director Dana Healy, updated on TCAAP and the Joint Development Authority, and given a transportation update. As part of the consent agenda, Council approved the Planning Commission recommendations on the rezoning at 3243 New Brighton Road, amendments to the Subdivision Ordinance regarding revisions to Park Dedication Fee and reference to the Public Works Design Manual, and the Minor Subdivision for a Lot Consolidation at 3385, 3401 and 3411 Snelling Avenue. They also approved payments, accepted donations, approved the appointment of a ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – September 5, 2018 6 Senior Engineering Technician and approved a gate valve replacement. The donation was pulled from the consent agenda to publically thank Michael and Mary Remmer. Councilmember Scott reported the Planning Commission had a vacancy at this time and encouraged residents interested in serving to contact City Hall for further information. Councilmember Scott provided the Commission with an update on TCAAP and the most recent JDA meeting noting there were several tension points the JDA would have to work through on the preliminary MDA. He discussed how the TCAAP site would be sold to the developer through phases. C. Planning Commission Comments and Requests None. ADJOURN Commissioner Lambeth moved, seconded by Commissioner Zimmerman, to adjourn the September 5, 2018, Planning Commission Meeting at 7:19 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (5-0).