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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC 05-04-2005 , MINUTES CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION . WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2005 7:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER Chair Sand called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were Commissioners Clayton Larson, Ken Bezdicek, EIizabetl) Modesette, Clayton Zimmerman, Roberta Thompson, and Chair David Sand. Absent: None. I i I Also present were Mayor Beverly Aplikowski, Councilmember David Grant( Community Development Director, Scott Clark, City Planner Peter Hellegers, and Recording Secretary Kathleen Altman. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON APRIL 6. 2005. . Commissioner Zimmerman moved, seconded by Commissioner Larson to approve the April 6, 2005 minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). PUBLIC HEARINGS A. PLANNING CASE #05-10 - RAMSEY COUNTY. RAMSEY COUNTY & PARTNERS PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY AND SHERIFF STATION, 1425 PAUL KIRKWOLD DRIVE; SIGN STANDARD ADJUSTMENT (CONTINUED FROM 4/6/05) Mr. Hellegers stated applicants were requesting a Sign Standard Adjustment from the Signage Ordinance criteria for a freestanding monument sign. He noted at the April 6th Planning Commission meeting, the Commission reviewed the originally proposed sign plans which were included in the PC packet, a slightly revised sign plan which was includcd in the PC packet, and were shown another potential design at the meeting. The applicant had now submitted plans for the design, which were shown to the Planning Commission at their April 6th meeting. The plans show a sign that was significantly shorter and longer but maintains the same size of the signage. The reduction to the height of the sign allowed the proposed sign to meet that requirement, leaving the . maximum size of the sign as the only variance; a valiance of approximately 130 square fect. -- ---- ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MAY 4, 2005 2 Chair Sand asked what staff had in mind for a smaller variance. Mr. Hellegers showed a . mock up of what a smaller sign could look like. He noted in terms of size, he believed it went back to the other signs they had in the City, such as the Cub sign, which was 100 square feet and the largest sign in the City at present. He stated there needed to be a definitive reason to have a sign as large as being proposed. Chair Sand opened the public hearing at 7: 1 0 p.m. Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the Sign Standard Adjustment to come forward and make comment. Bruce Thompson, Assistant Director of Property Management Ramsey County, stated Commissioner Bennett expressed his regrets that he was unable to attend tonight's meeting. He apologized for coming to the last meeting with a revised signage plan and realized that showing a plan at the last minute, did not give the Commission an opportunity to review the details of the sign request. He stated there were three reasons they wanted the variance for the overall size including it being in the interest of the partnership that they were requesting that specific size in order to include all of the partners they had on the site. He indicated they could meet the sign ordinance by including Ramsey County Works and Sheriff Patrol only, but he did not believe that was in the best interest of the partnership. He stated the Sheriff Department had requested a sign that identified their Department from a great distance. He noted according to the Traffic Sign Institute, the letters they had on the sign was designed to be readable from . 350 feet at 45-50 mph. He indicated reducing the size of the letters would cause vehicles to slow down to read the sign, which could lead to traffic problems and/or accidents. Commissioner Zimmerman asked for an explanation of the lighting. Mr. Thompson replied the sign would be a boxed sign that had both internal and external lettering. He stated the large letters would be lit internally on the sign at night. Chair Sand asked if they had considered redesigning the descriptions so the Sheriffs Department was lit at night. Mr. Thompson replied the Sheriff Department would be lit I up externally. He indicated they were also considering adding the Sheriff~ star next to their name. Chair Sand asked if the partnership consisted of the four major entities or the subdivisions as well. Mr. Thompson replied it included Ramsey County, the City of Arden Hills, Minnesota Army National Guard, and the Moundsview School District. Chair Sand stated they could reduce the size of the sign if they got rid !of all of the subdivisions and only had the four major entities. Mr. Thompson replied they could do that, but it would not show the Sheriffs Department in that case. Chair Sand asked if this sign would also show the recycling oil dumping area. Mr. Thompson replied the sign would not show that area and nobody had approached them to . add additional signage for that facility. Commissioner Larson asked if they had people inquiring where their location was. Mr. Thompson replied they had inquiries as to where the Public Works and Sheriffs Department were located. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MAY 4, 2005 3 . Commissioner Larson noted there was a rather obscure address on their building, which would make it difficult to find. Mr. Thompson stated it was the Board's decision to name the road Paul KirkwoId Drive, but on their letterhead they gave the specific intersection. Commissioner Larson asked if it was important to the City to have the City's. name on the sign. Councilmember Grant replied it was important that the City have theif' name on the sign so residents could find the maintenance facility. , I Commissioner Modesette noted there were evergreens planted in front of ~e sign and over time, those trees would block the sign. She asked if that had been addressed. Mr. Thompson replied there were a couple of trees that would need to be moved so they would not obscure the sign. He noted the trees would be moved closer to the pond. Chair Sand asked if the current sign being requested would require any gradipg of the site to provide a level surface. Mr. Thompson replied grading would need to i be raised to street level. Chair Sand indicated he was dismayed at the lack of creativity of the sign. He noted a sign that had the major partnerships, plus the logos next to the name as well as the address at the top of the sign would be a better sign. Commissioner Modesette suggested they shorten Minnesota to "MN" on the sign. Mr. . Thompson replied the Guard specifically wanted Minnesota spelled out on the sign. Mr. Thompson noted they did have the addresses on the building and it ~as viewable from Highway 96. Commissioner Zimmerman stated he would like to see the Arden Hills logo on the sign and he believed it would definitely "dress up" the sign, as well as adding the other logos. Chair Sand closed the public hearing at 7:28 p.m. Commissioner Larson moved, seconded by Commissioner Bezdieek to recommend denial of Planning Case No. 05-10, Ramsey County, I425 Paul Kirkwold Drive (Ramsey County Public Works and Sheriff Station), Sign Variance on the basis that the sign is too large to meet the criteria of the District and the sign could be made less massive to be brought into compliance with the sign District, or much closer to the criteri'a of the sign District. Commissioner Zimmerman asked if Commissioner Larson was requiring applicant be in compliance with the sign district. Commissioner Larson replied he believed the applicant could come in much closer, if not in compliance with the District standards and noted everyone else had been able to do that. . The motion carried unanimously (5-1) (Commissioner Zimmerman). B. PLANNING CASE 05-14: CITY OF ADEN HILLS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96; VARIANCE FOR 1105 AMBLE DRIVE (LEXINGTON AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS) ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MAY 4, 2005 4 . Mr. Hellegers stated applicant was requesting a lO-foot side yard setback to allow the existing home to remain compliant with City Code while allowing for the expansion of Lexington Avenue, for the property located at 1105 Amble Drive in Arden Hills. Staff recommended approval of the request. Commissioner Larson asked if the evergreen trees would need to be removed and if so, would the trees be relocated. Mr. Hellegers replied when Ramsey County went in to widen the project, they would have prepared an assessment as to what was there and the property owners would be compensated for the loss of the trees. Chair Sand asked if the easement being taken by the County was an existing easement or was this additional property for highway purposes. Mr. Hellegers replied this was beyond the existing right-{)f-way and this was new easement because of the addition of the turn lane. Chair Sand asked what jurisdiction did the County have in taking this easement. Mr. Hellegers replied the County could condemn the property, but the County tried to work this out with the property owners and compensate the owners for the loss. Chair Sand asked if the temporary easement was a construction easement. Mr. Hellegers replied that was correct. . Chair Sand opened the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the variance to come forward and make comment. Greg and Jean Peterson, 1105 Amble Drivc. Mr. Peterson stated he was concerned with this request. He noted right now the road being proposcd was going to be as wide as a freeway with two lanes running both north and south and the ten feet of his additional easement would make another lane, as well as the median and another turn lane on the south side of the street. He indicated this was turning into a wide street and expressed concern about additional noise. He noted his large pine trees would be removed and not replaced. He stated this was a residential property and not a commercial property and they would be living very close to an extremely busy street. He expressed concern about a decrease in property value to his home by living on this busy street. He asked if all of the utilities were being moved closer to his property and if those easements would also move closer to his property. Commissioner Modesette asked if Mr. Peterson if had been given any infotmation as to what utility easement would be. Mr. Peterson responded he had not received much information and he had not been given a guarantee of any fence or wall. Commissioner Bezdicek asked if Mr. Peterson had consummated his agreement with the . County. Mr. Peterson replied they had not and the County had not at this point given them sufficient details, but the County had described the process. ---.- ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MAY 4,2005 5 Commissioner Bezdicek asked what the ramification of their decision would have on Mr. . Peterson's negotiations with Ramsey County. Mr. Peterson responded he believed their decision would have somewhat of an impact on what would happen. Chair Sand asked to what extent the Commission had the authority to do this. He noted they did not have the authority to deny this because the County had eminent domain authority. Mr. Clark responded what was important was to make sure the Commission separated the issues that Mr. Peterson's remedies were an issue between the County and the property owner and what the City was doing was saying there would be an impact to the property in the structure being non-conforming once the road was widened and therefore, the Peterson's would need a variance for the non-conforming structure, which would be helpful to both the Petersons and the City. Commissioner Larson asked if granting the variance at this time was timely considering the negotiation was not complete. He asked if this favored the County. Mr. Clark replied all they were remedying was one issue, which was the non-conformity. Commissioner Larson asked if the variance was in place, did this aid the County because there was not the non-conformity question. Mr. Clark replied from his perspective, the answer would be no because there was two issues - the non-conformity and the negotiations the County was having with Mr. Peterson. Commissioner Zimmerman asked what brought this to the City's attentio~. Mr. Clark . responded staff had looked awhile ago at what properties were going to be ilffected with this road reconstruction and staff wanted to make sure that these types of requests were all done at one time. He noted it was quite common to look at these issues in advance of a road reconstruction. Chair Sand asked if the County had already prepared a survey. Mr. Clark' replied they had. Chair Sand indicated the only thing that had not been established was the amount of compensation to the Petersons. Mr. Clark replied that was correct. Chair Sand closed the public hearing at 7:49 p.m. Commissioner Thompson moved, seconded by Commissioner Zimmerrn<l11 to approve Planning Case No. 05-14, The City of Arden Hills, 1 I05 Amble Drive, vhiance. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). I I C. PLANNING CASE 05-05: CITY OF ADEN HILLS, 1245 WEST HIGHWAY 96: REZONING THE OLD CITY HALL AND PUBLIC WORKS SITE (1440-1450 HIGHWAY 96) FROM R-l: SINGLE-F AMIL Y RESIDENTIAL TO NB: . NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS . Mr. Hellegers stated applicant was requesting rezoning the western portion of the old City Hall/Public Works site from R-]: Single Family Residential to NB: Neighborhood Business. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION - MAY 4, 2005 6 Staff recommended rezoning the west 397.5 feet of the north 276.82 feet of the Northeast . Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 22 Township 30 Range 23 from R-I Single Family Residential to NB Neighborhood Business. Chair Sand opened the public hearing at 7:56 p.m. Chair Sand invited anyone for or against the rezoning to come forward and make comment. Greg Redman, I480 Arden View Drive, representing Arden Hills Townhome Board, stated he was representing the association directly south of this proposal. He stated the Board did not have any specific objection to the rezoning, but the Board did have some concerns with the subsequent development proposal and reserved the Board's right to comment on that proposal. Chair Sand noted they were reserving comments as to how the property was developed, but they did not oppose the rezoning. Mr. Redman replied that was correct. Gail Van Buskirk, 1390 Arden View Drive, stated she was opposed to the zoning change because she believed the Comprehensive Plan was taking over green space and making more industrial area. She expressed concern that there were a lot of industrial areas being put in the City. She noted she was not opposed to residential homes or townhomes being put in this area, but she did not want to see a neighborhood business put in. She indicated . putting in a neighborhood business would be a waste ofthis site. Chair Sand closed the public hearing at 8:00 p.m. Commissioner Larson moved, seconded by Commissioner Thompson, to approve Planning Case No. 05-05, the City of Arden Hills, I245 West Highway 96; Rezoning the Old City Hall and Public Works Site (1440-I450 Highway 96) from R-I: Single Family Residential to NB: Neighborhood Business. Commissioncr Bezdicek asked if this was consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. HeUegers responded it was. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). D. PL^<NNINC CASE OS 12: ROYAL OAKS REALTY, 1000 COUNTY ROAD E WEST, SIIOREVIEW, 1\'J:INNESOT.^<: MASTER A..~D FINf.L PUD f~~D PRELIMINARY PL^<T FOR OLD CITY IIf.LL f~~D PUBLIC WORKS SITE (lHO 14S0 IIICIIW.^< Y 96 Continued to the June I, 2004 Planning Commissioner meeting. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS . None. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION ~ MAY 4, 2005 7 REPORTS . A. Planning Commissioners Chair Sand noted he would not be present at the June 1, 2005 meeting. B. Staff Mr. Clark summarized the June items to come before the Commission. C. Council Member Council Member Grant updated the Commission on recent City Council actions. I , ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Zimmerman moved, seconded by Commissioner Larson to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (6-0). . . -- .--