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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-06-1988 Planning Commission Agenda-Minutes AGENDA REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING VILLAGE OF ARDEN HILLS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1988 - 7:30 P.M. VILLAGE HALL 1. Call to Order and Roll Call . 2. Approval of Minutes of March 2, 1988, Planning Commission Meeting. 3. Case #88-06, Variance to increase the height of an existing sign at I-35W and I-694, Naegele Outdoor Advertising. 4. Case #88-08, Lot split and partial vacation of a drainage easement, Lots 4, 5, 6 and 7, Keithson Addition, Keithson Development Company 5. Case #88-09, Valentine Hills No. 2 Preliminary Plat at County Road F and Valentine Avenue, David Dnistran. 6. Status report on NE I-35W/I-494 Study. 7. Appointment to fill vacancy for alternate representative to the Highway 96 Study Committee. 8. Council report. 9. Adjournment. ********************************************* PLEASE CALL THE VILLAGE OFFICE IF YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING i 633-5676 i MINUTES OF THE ARDEN HILLS REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Wednesday, April 6 , 1988, 7:30 p.m. - Village Hall CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof Chairman Robert Curtis called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. • ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chairman Robert Curtis, Paul Malone, Ray McGraw, Dave Carlson, Dorothy Zehm, Dennis Probst, Calvin Meury, Scott Petersen and Peter Martin. ABSENT: Barbara Piotrowski. ALSO PRESENT: Councilmember Jeanne Winiecki, Planner John Bergly and Clerk Administrator Patricia Morrison. OATH OF OFFICE Councilmember Jeanne Winiecki administered the Oath of Office to Member Carlson. APPROVE MINUTES Meury moved, seconded by Probst, that the Minutes of the March 2, 1988, Planning Commission meeting be approved as submitted. Motion carried. (Meury, Probst, Zehm, Malone, Curtis, McGraw, Martin and Carlson voting in favor; Petersen abstained) (7-0-1) CASE #88-06; SIGN Planner Bergly reviewed his memorandum of 4-6-88, HGT. VARIANCE, I-35W relative to the requested 9 foot sign height variance & I-694, NAEGELE for an outdoor advertising sign located at I-35W and I-694. Michael Cronin, representing Naegele Advertising, was present to request approval of the application and advise he believed there was a hardship due to topography in this area. He further stated the variance is minor, it is consistent with general welfare and it would not negatively impact the area as it is a • well-buffered site. Cronin stated his organization pays taxes for the site and plans to continue ownership. He also noted that it would be possible for his organization to move the billboard up the hill 100 feet and be at grade with I-694. He advised the company was planning to change the billboard sign to a single pole type, if approval for the variance is granted. Planning Commission members discussed the effect of lighting on residential areas; the applicant advised there would be no perceptible change. Also discussed was the extension of signage beyond the face of the sign; the applicability of the sign ordinance to Naegele billboards (in relation to size and placement) , and the possibility of setting a precedent if approved. Malone moved, seconded by Petersen, that the Planning Commission recommend to Council denial of Case #88-06, the 9 foot variance for outdoor advertising sign height, Naegele Outdoor Advertising, based on no findings of a hardship. Motion carried. (Malone, Petersen, Curtis, Probst, Carlson voting in favor; Zehm, McGraw, Meury and Martin opposed) (5-4) CASE #88-08; LOT The Planner referred members to his report of 4-6-88, SPLIT & VACATION regarding the proposed lot split and partial vacation of OF DRAINAGE ESMT, a drainage easement on lots 4, 5, 6, and 7, Keithson KEITHSON ADDITION Addition. Bergly advised members Rice Creek Watershed District had required the developer to replace the area of wetland that was filled with an equal area of drainage • easement, so the new ponding volume would equal pre-development conditions. Engineer Barry Peters has reviewed the application and found that although the proposed reconfiguration of the drainage easement results in a net loss in the area for water storage, increasing the depth of the pond will accommodate the same volume as initially planned. Minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting, April 6, 1988 Page 2 CASE #88-08 (Cont'd) Marcel Eibensteiner, applicant, was present to discuss his request. He advised he wanted to preserve the aesthetics of the area and meet the drainage concerns. He further advised upon • dedication of the drainage easement to the City, elevation will be benchmarked on the document. Planner Bergly advised the grading plan would be a part of the RCWD files. Moved by Zehm, seconded by Probst, resolved that the Planning Commission recommend to Council approval of Case #88-08, Lot Split and Partial Vacation of Drainage Easement, Lots 4, 5, 6 and 7, Keithson Addition, subject to filing of the easement document. Motion carried unanimously. (9-0) PUBLIC HEARING CASE #88-09; PRELIM. The Public Hearing was opened at 8: 10 p.m. Clerk PLAT, VALENTINE HILLS Administrator Morrison verified the publication of the NO. 2, CO. RD. F AND Notice of Hearing in the New Brighton Bulletin, on VALENTINE AVE. , D. Wednesday, March 23, and mailing on the same date. DNISTRAN Planner Bergly reviewed each point in his memorandum of 4-6-88 relative to this case, and advised that the request was to fill property for 6 lots. Bergly advised the Planning Commission and Council, due to the fact there are only difficult sites left to develop in the Village, the City Officials may want to establish development standards so landowners and staff have guidelines to follow for projects of this nature. He suggested establishment of such criteria would set some limits on the acceptability of these proposals and noted this • should be reviewed in a comprehensive sense. David Dnistran, applicant, and his engineer, presented the application to Commission and advised the proposal, as submitted, would not require any variances. He stated it had been submitted and approved by all other necessary agencies, as suggested by the Planning Commission at their Regular meeting in June of 1987, at which time Mr. Dnistran purchased the property and appeared before the Commission for a preliminary discussion on platting this area. Dnistran and the engineer further advised the following: -The amount of storm water drainage capacity on site would remain the same. -40,000 cubic feet of fill would be used. -The central area of the site would be excavated and the fill used for building pods 30 ft. x 60 ft. -Variances would not be requested. -The area is not considered wetland by other agencies, only lowland. -The application will conform to all Ordinance requirements. -The lots will each average 7/ 10 of an acre. -Flood elevation will not be affected. -Sand will support homes, as demonstrated in two soil reports. -The City Engineer agreed with drainage findings. -The applicant is filling only his share of the wetland and Rice Creek Watershed is allowing 1.1 acres of fill. -It is the opinion of the applicant that the possibility of wet basements occurring is unlikely; he also noted all Arden Hills basements in this area need sump pumps and drain tile. • Minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting, April 6, 1988 Page 3 CASE #88-09 (Cont'd) The following residents expressed opposition to the proposed preliminary plat: • Jim Smith, 4109 Valentine Crest Road; Cliff Aamoth, 1748 County Road F. ; Property owner of Lot 1 (corner of Fairview Avenue and County Road F) ; Joe Ricke, 1740 W. County Road F; John Fergeson, 4082 Valentine Crest; Don Ciske, 1708 Co. Road F. ; Mrs. Robert Tschida, 4108 Valentine Crest. The residents concerns centered around existing drainage and flooding problems; the possibility of this development worsening existing problems; aesthetics of area being destroyed; the wetlands capability of holding existing drainage of 60 acres and additional drainage problems caused with this development. The public hearing was closed at 9:20 p.m. Planning Commission members discussed the Comprehensive Plan's terminology as to "minimal filling in wetland area" and what it meant. Member Probst advised it was his opinion 24-25% fill was not minimal. Other Commission comments: -Questioned if the City would be responsible for cleaning culverts and providing remedies if drainage problems increased (with drainage easement held by the City) . -Concerned that a precedent would be set with 24% of area requiring fill. -Applicant was aware of the wetland when property was purchased. -A Commission member stated that the Commission was in a position of having to rely on professional engineers in determination of drainage being sufficient. • Moved by McGraw, seconded by Petersen, resolved that Commission recommend to Council approval of the Preliminary Plat as submitted. No vote taken. Moved by Probst, seconded by Meury, that the aforestated motion be tabled until such time as the Planning Commission and Planning Consultant evaluate and set forth a quantifiable means of analyzing filling of wetlands. Motion carried unanimously. (8-0) The Commission requested the Planning Consultant report, at the next regular meeting, how other communities define and address this type of situation, if there have been like situations in Arden Hills, and, recommendations for definition and resolution in view of Comprehensive Plan verbage as to minimal fill. PREL. DISC; SETBACK Planner Bergly advised a representative of Norwest Bank VARIANCE; NORWEST had requested a preliminary discussion before Commission, BANK, D. WARNER relative to a front setback variance for the bank. Dick Warner, representing Norwest Bank, was present and explained a proposed addition to the Norwest Bank facility located on County Road E in the City. He discussed the feasibility of receiving a 12-foot variance from the 50-foot front setback requirement on County Road E (38-ft. setback) , together with a parking and lot coverage variance. • Commission members expressed concern with view along County Road E and requested Norwest representatives explore other options. It was the general consensus of the Commission there was no identifiable hardship to warrant the lot coverage variance. Minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting, April 6, 1988 Page 4 STATUS REPORT; Member Dennis Probst, Chair of the Planning Commission ad LAND STUDY hoc committee, advised that the Task Force met March 16 • I-35W & I-694 and 23, and determined that the development of this site should be pro-actively controlled, as some undesirable uses had been presented. He stated desirable development in the area is constrained by lack of adequate access and other factors. Probst indicated the Task Force had agreed to a three-phase approach: 1. Investigation and inventory of existing conditions, problems and options for financing. 2. Based on #1, set goals and objectives of what we would like to see happen. 3. Prepare implementation strategy and request Council action on plan. Probst advised it was hoped the above could take place within a two or three month time period; that informal discussions with developers had transpired, that with proper pro-active planning and an aggressive approach, there could possibly be a doubling of existing tax base. In conclusion, Probst recommended the Planning Commission request Council authorize funds, in the amount of $5,000.00, to be expended for the Planning and Engineering consultants' technical expertise, and which would take the Task Force through the second phase of the study. Moved by McGraw, seconded by Meury, resolved that the Planning Commission requests Council approval of an expenditure, not to exceed $5,000, for technical experts to enable the Planning Commission task Force to • pursue options to proceed with Preliminary Stage 1 and 2 of the study area. Motion carried. (McGraw, Meury, Zehm, Malone, Curtis, Martin, Probst and Carlson voting in favor; Petersen opposed) (8-1) COUNCIL REPORT Councilmember Winiecki reported on items of interest to the Commission. DESIGNATE ALTERNATE Member Zehm suggested Commission request Council designate which of the newly appointed Planning Commission members would serve as the Alternate. Commission concurred. ADJOURN Moved by Zehm, seconded by Malone, that the meeting be adjourned at 11: 15 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. (9-0) Robert Curtis, Chairman •