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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-25 PC Minutes Approved: September 3, 2025 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2025 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Collins called to order the regular Planning Commission meeting at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were: Chair Joshua Collins, Commissioners Jessica Birken, Brad Bjorklund, Patrick Burlingame, Stephen Erler, Nancy Jacobson, and Ben Lindau. Absent: Commissioners Katie Stromberg and SJ Julius. Also present were: City Administrator Jessica Jagoe, Senior Planner Elena Fransen and Council Liaison Kurt Weber. APPROVAL OF AGENDA – AUGUST 6, 2025 Commissioner Erler moved, seconded by Commissioner Lindau, to approve the August 6, 2025, agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 9, 2025 – Planning Commission Regular Meeting Commissioner Lindau moved, seconded by Commissioner Birken, to approve the July 9, 2025, Planning Commission Regular Meeting as presented. The motion carried 6-0-1 (Commissioner Bjorklund abstained). PLANNING CASES A. Planning Case 25-007 – City of Arden Hills – Ordinance Amendments to Zoning Code Section 1325.07, Subd. 6.A and City Code Section 410.01, Subd. 3 regarding the Keeping of Chickens – Public Hearing Senior Planner Fransen stated at the May 12 City Council Work Session, the City Council requested that the ordinance for the keeping of chickens be scheduled for discussion. At the June 9 work session, the Council began the review and discussion on potential amendments to Ordinance 2021-008 for the Keeping of Chickens. The discussion for the Keeping of Chickens ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 2 continued at the June 30 Special Work Session. Staff prepared a redlined version of the Keeping of Chickens ordinance with the amendments discussed and generally agreed upon by the Council. At the June 30 Special Work Session, the Council discussed additional items to be incorporated into the redlined ordinance, such as setbacks, number of accessory structures including a coop, fencing/screening, cleaning standards, and leg banding requirements. Senior Planner Fransen explained the City Council’s intent with the revisions to the keeping of chickens ordinance was to keep the code language consistent with best practices. The current ordinance language solely references Recommendations of Municipal Regulation of Urban Chickens. Council discussed several regulations from the University of Minnesota Extension on Raising chickens for eggs. Direction was given to incorporate some of those recommendations into the current ordinance as well as having staff create a handout that refers to both of these resources as part of the City’s licensing requirements for the Keeping of Chickens. The drafted ordinance amendment incorporates these suggested revisions. Senior Planner Fransen provided an overview of the ordinance amendments and offered the Findings of Fact for review: 1. The City of Arden Hills is proposing to amend ordinance language for the keeping of chickens. 2. The proposed ordinance will include amendments to the language of Chapter 13 – Zoning Code of the City Code. 3. Amendments to the Zoning Code regulations require a public hearing prior to action by the City Council. Senior Planner Fransen stated staff recommends approval of, based on the findings of fact and as presented in the August 6, 2025 Report to the Planning Commission. Senior Planner Fransen reviewed the options available to the Planning Commission for Planning Case 25-007 for Ordinance Amendments to Zoning Code Section 1325.07, Subd. 6.A and City Code Section 410.01, Subd. 3 regarding the Keeping of Chickens: 1. Recommend Approval as Written 2. Recommend Approval with Amendments 3. Recommend Denial 4. Table Chair Collins opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Jacobson stated she believed staff and the Council had taken a thorough look at this topic. She indicated she lived on a nonconforming corner lot and suggested language added to the ordinance to address nonconforming lots. Senior Planner Fransen was of the opinion there were elements within the ordinance that would address unique properties and staff would be willing to have conversations with residents on how to address how the ordinance applied to their lot. City Administrator Jagoe reported nonconforming and corner lots would still be eligible for chickens just subject to the ordinance language. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 3 Commissioner Jacobson indicated she believed the language surrounding noise and odor was too vague and questioned how the City would enforce these matters. Senior Planner Fransen reported if a complaint was made to the City and there was a violation of any of the conditions, the property owners would be required to come into compliance in 10 days or their license could be revoked. Commissioner Jacobsen inquired if a license was good for one year, would the applicant have to get consent from the neighbors on a yearly basis. Senior Planner Fransen explained chicken keeping licenses were good for two years and with the relicensing, the applicant would have to check in and verify with their neighbors every two years. Commissioner Bjorklund thanked staff for the municipal recommendations on Attachment C. He asked how Falcon Heights was managing chickens in their community. Senior Planner Fransen stated she did not have this specific information, but noted many adjacent communities were allowing chickens. Commissioner Lindau asked what the intention was of Attachment C Page 2. Senior Planner Fransen reported this was a handout for the Commission and would not be included in the ordinance. Commissioner Bjorklund inquired what the cost would be for the chicken keeping license. City Administrator Jagoe indicated the Council would be addressing this matter further when considering the fee schedule under City Code. Commissioner Erler stated he believed the general changes that were made to the ordinance were moving in the right direction. He asked if both sections of the ordinance would be brought to the City Council. Senior Planner Fransen reported this would be the case. Commissioner Erler indicated he would like to see a change made to the neighbor consent information noting no other animal is required to have neighbor consent. He supported the consent requirement going away and that only notice to the neighbors be required. He anticipated any trouble with the chickens would be dealt with through noise or odor complaints. He asked if the City only took action against a property if there was a complaint. Senior Planner Fransen stated the City was complaint based, noting the City did not have a code enforcement department that went door to door. Commissioner Erler inquired if the City had an animal control officer. City Administrator Jagoe reported the City has an animal control officer through the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 4 Commissioner Burlingame explained chickens were social birds and he supported the increase in the number of chickens to six and even seven. He suggested residents be allowed to have up to eight chickens through a CUP noting this would align with surrounding cities. He commented the coop size of 20 square feet should not apply to families that only want one or two chickens. He recommended the coop size more closely align with the number of birds a family has. He recommended coops not be placed in front of neighboring windows and that the language regarding cleaning routines be reconsidered. Lastly, he suggested the City limit licenses based on lot sizes or chicken licensing concentration. Commissioner Birken stated she was glad the City Council was reviewing this ordinance. She believed the original ordinance was not workable and overly prescriptive. She agreed 100% neighbor consent was an overreach and indicated she liked the idea of notice instead. She asked if the City was regulating dogs and cats to the same level as chickens. Senior Planner Fransen reviewed the Animal Licenses City Code language that pertained to cats and dogs and noted the section did not address cleanliness or disposal of deceased. Chair Collins commented one clarification the Commission may need to consider within this ordinance is if chickens are farm animals or pets. Further discussion ensued regarding how nuisances will be addressed for chickens. Chair Collins opened the public hearing at 7:17 p.m. Chair Collins invited anyone for or against the application to come forward and make comment. Lynn Diaz, 1143 Ingerson Road, explained she was happy to see the good changes that had been made to the ordinance. She strongly objected to requiring residents to receive written support from all adjoining properties. She believed this did not make any sense. She supported allowing anyone to have chickens so long as they follow the City’s requirements. She reported dogs were much more likely to affect the neighbors than chickens. She did not want to see the City pitting one neighbor against another. She questioned why the City chose a maximum coop size and believed it would be beneficial for residents to have larger more attractive coops. She explained she would like more information regarding how the pen was defined. She recommended the City further define legitimate complaints and cleaning standards. She suggested there be more allowance to let chickens roam about a backyard, especially for residents that have a six foot fence. She recommended the fee remain at $15 per coop and that the City not charge a fee per chicken, because this may become a hardship. She indicated she knew of other residents that would have comments regarding chickens but they were not aware of this meeting. She suggested the City send out a newsflash or other public notice to residents in order to make them aware of matters like this. There being no additional comment Chair Collins closed the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Chair Collins asked for language changes from the Commission for the ordinance. Commissioner Birken recommended the ordinance be changed to require neighbor notice instead of consent. She recommended the location and placement of chicken coops be more closely aligned with the beehive placement language. She recommended that a light bulb not be required in the chicken coops but that climate control be regulated by the property owner. She ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 5 indicated she would support a chicken coop being located within an accessory garage. She recommended the cleaning standard language be omitted and suggested this matter be addressed by the property owners and the discretion of an animal control officer. She explained she supported chickens roaming on a property and believed it would be inhumane to not allow chickens to forage. Lastly, she supported this ordinance being renamed the poultry keeping ordinance instead of the chicken keeping ordinance. Chair Collins stated he would create a list of suggested conditions and this list could then be reviewed when a motion was on the floor. City Administrator Jagoe clarified that the City does require neighbor notice for beehives. Commissioner Burlingame recommended the hen limit be increased to seven through the issuance of a City license, and that eight hens be allowed with a CUP. He recommended chicken coop size be tiered based on the number of hens a property owner has. He recommended the coop placement be no less than 10 feet from any property line and when feasible, shall be positioned to minimize impacts to neighboring dwellings such as avoiding placement adjacent to windows, patios or frequently occupied spaces on abutting properties. He recommended cleanliness be addressed by noting all premises where chickens are kept shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition to prevent the accumulation of waste and odor and the attraction of rodents. He recommended coop bedding and manure be removed once per week or more in order to maintain sanitary conditions. Commissioner Erler recommended the language under the neighbor consent to require the applicant shall provide written notice to the neighbors immediate adjacent of their intent to keep chickens. Commissioner Lindau commented he did not have anything to add at this time. Commissioner Bjorklund reported he has raised chickens in the country. He commented in order to grow eggs a light source was needed all winter, and most of the spring and fall. He reported this light source was essential for cleaning and general maintenance. He recommended the light bulb be required. He stated chickens are good to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but below that, an additional heat source is required. He supported residents being allowed to have a six by six shed because this was more multi-purpose and would be easier to take care of. He indicated a coop that was only 25 square feet was too small he recommended coops be allowed to be as large as 36 square feet. He explained he did not support requiring residents to clean out manure on a weekly basis, he believed this was an overreach that was not realistic. He recommended the cleaning language be stricken. Chair Collins reviewed the proposed language changes with the Commission. Commissioner Birken stated she could support the first sentence that addressed coop cleaning to remain as is and recommended the remaining language be stricken as this would allow residents to dictate how they will manage the cleanliness of their coop. Commissioner Bjorklund suggested all of sub point 4 remain in place noting he did not want the City require residents to clean their coops each and every week. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 6 Commissioner Burlingame explained he could support striking the language, however he wanted to ensure there was adequate language in place for staff to address odor and nuisance complaints. Commissioner Birken moved and Commissioner Bjorklund seconded a motion to recommend striking paragraph 6, future paragraph 4. City Administrator Jagoe stated another path forward for this ordinance would be to table action in order to allow staff to consider the proposed language changes and recommendations from the Commission. She reported this would ensure the language remained consistent throughout the entire City Code. She asked that the Commission provide staff with a little more direction on what items should be further considered by staff. She understood the number of chickens, tiering, cleaning, and coop size need to be addressed. Commissioner Bjorklund withdrew his second. There was no longer a motion on the floor. Chair Collins asked how the City Council went from three to six chickens. City Administrator Jagoe recalled there was a general consensus from the Council to move to six from three. Chair Collins asked for a consensus vote from the Commission when it comes to the language issues that still need to be addressed within the ordinance. He asked if the Commission supported the neighbor consent language being changed to neighbor notice, which was similar to the language within the bee ordinance. The consensus of the Commission was to support this change. Chair Collins inquired if the Commission supported changing the coop placement language. He recommended this language be simplified to more closely reflect the beehive language. The consensus of the Commission was to support this change. Chair Collins questioned if the Commission supported requiring a light source within the chicken coops. Commissioner Birken recommended staff review other pet enclosure requirements and report back to the Commission on what standards should be in place. The consensus of the Commission was to support this recommendation. Chair Collins asked if the Commission was in favor of allowing a chicken coop in a detached garage. Commissioner Jacobson commented there were auxiliary services that could be accomplished in an accessory detached garage. She believed it was overly prescriptive to state chickens could not be housed in a detached garage. Chair Collins stated he would support allowing chicken coops in an attached or detached garage. Commissioner Lindau supported staff investigating if other cities allow chicken coops in garages. ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 7 City Administrator Jagoe stated if coops were allowed in garages, the Commission would then have to consider how permits were managed and where the pen or exercise yard was located. She stated she would have to investigate this further if the Commission supported allowing chicken coops in garages. The consensus of the Commission was to direct staff to further investigate the allowance of chicken coops in garages. Further discussion ensued regarding the roaming language and staff noted the intent was to allow chickens to roam in the pen or exercise yard. Chair Collins indicated the Commission was interested in allowing chickens to roam in a supervised manner in the rear yard along with the exercise yard. City Administrator Jagoe explained she would further clarify the roaming language within the ordinance. Chair Collins inquired if the Commission supported renaming the ordinance to the poultry ordinance. City Administrator Jagoe reported it would be staff’s recommendation that this suggestion be passed along to the City Council, but that at this time, the ordinance remain the chicken keeping ordinance. Chair Collins asked if the Commission would support the number of chickens increased. Commissioner Birken explained when chicks are ordered they are shipped live and the minimum order is three. She was of the opinion the maximum number of chickens allowed should be set at seven as proposed by Commissioner Burlingame. The consensus of the Commission was to support a flock size of up to seven chickens. Chair Collins asked how the Commission wanted to address coop size. Commissioner Lindau supported staff investigating what size premade structures were in order to streamline the process for applicants in the future. City Administrator Jagoe reported she would further investigate this matter for the Commission and could report back with coop size recommendations. Chair Collins inquired how the Commission wanted to address coop cleanliness. Commissioner Birken stated she would like staff to provide the Commission with comparable language on how dogs and cat cleanliness is to be addressed by pet owners. Commissioner Burlingame moved and Commissioner Bjorklund seconded a motion to table action on Planning Case 25-007 for the ordinance amendments for the keeping of chickens to allow staff to further investigate matters as directed by the Commission to the September Planning Commission meeting. The motion carried unanimously (7-0). ARDEN HILLS PLANNING COMMISSION – August 6, 2025 8 UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS None. REPORTS A. Report from the City Council Councilmember Weber provided the Commission with an update from the City Council. He reported the City Council approved Odds & Ends Use and the Arden Plaza PUD Amendment at their last meeting. He noted he attended an open house meeting last week regarding a sound wall for Boston Scientific near Building 14. Commissioner Erler requested staff provide the Commission with a copy of the letter that was submitted by an adjacent resident regarding the noise coming from Boston Scientific. Senior Planner Fransen indicated she could forward this letter onto the Commissioners. B. Planning Commission Comments and Requests Commissioner Bjorklund asked when the zoning code amendments would be coming back to the Commission for further consideration. City Administrator Jagoe anticipated this document would be coming back to the Commission for further consideration in October. Commissioner Bjorklund recommended the City have language within the zoning code that sets requirements for affordable housing and that these standards not be set within a policy. He indicated he was also a proponent for accessory dwelling units and would like to see the City pursuing ADU’s. ADJOURN Chair Collins moved, seconded by Commissioner Birken, to adjourn the August 6, 2025, Planning Commission Meeting at 8:52 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (7-0).