2025 01-14 Planning Commission Minutes

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City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting Minutes January 14, 2025 1 City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting – January 14, 2025 Meeting Minutes Planning Commission Chair Don Cummings called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Members Art Pratt, Derek Wippich and Stephanie Farrell were present with one vacancy. Also present: City Planner Evan Monson, City Attorney Kevin Beck, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence, Councilmember Joshua Patrick, and residents Isaac Nelson, Rich and Roberta Pientka, Dustin Marks and Sarah Ernhart. January 14, 2025 A motion was introduced by Commissioner Pratt to accept the agenda, seconded by Commissioner Wippich. Motion carried 4-0. Minutes A motion was introduced by Commissioner Pratt, seconded by Commissioner Wippich to approve the November 12, 2024, Planning Commission Meeting minutes. Motion carried 4-0. Public Hearings Special Home Occupation Request – 3907 Tessier Road City Planner Evan Monson summarized the request for the special home occupation. The applicant is proposing to use their detached garage as part of a home occupation. The plans submitted by the applicant call for utilizing their existing detached garage as a home photo studio for a pet photography business; the applicant currently runs the business out of a commercial space in Minneapolis. The applicant states in their narrative that the driveway serving the detached garage can accommodate at least four cars, while the ‘main’ driveway on the property can accommodate five to six cars. Customers per day on-site vary; the applicant anticipates at most four customers on-site in a day and having an average of two on-site customers per week. Most sessions are scheduled for Saturdays between noon and 5pm, with occasional appointments after 5pm. Home Occupations in the city are regulated by Ordinance 134. The ordinance breaks home occupations into three tiers: occupations that require no license or permit, occupations that require a license, and occupations that require a conditional use permit (CUP). Due to the applicant’s home occupation having occasional on-site customers, the request requires a home occupation license. Commissioner Pratt introduced a motion to open the public hearing at 7:07 p.m., seconded by Commissioner Wippich. Motion carried 4-0. Residents Rich and Roberta Pientka voiced their many concerns regarding this home occupation being granted. Some of the concerns included the amount of traffic driving along the newer paved street down a dead-end street. Applicant Sarah Ernhart shared that her property is located at the entrance of the street and cars should not be having to drive down the whole length of the street. Another concern was regarding the possibility of expanding into more than just photography of pets and adding grooming and the sale of pet products. Ms. Ernhart shared that she has no interest in expanding into any other avenues and the Commission stated if that was ever the case additional licenses would need to be obtained. Ms. Ernhart shared that she has been doing pet photography for 20 years. Of the 60 to 80 sessions, she has annually, roughly only 20 to 40 of them would take place on site at her property in Gem Lake. Most photography sessions last between 30-60 minutes, and typically involve one or two dogs per client. There is rarely any barking, and most dogs don’t make any noise at all. Most sessions are scheduled for Saturdays between 12pm-5pm, although on occasion some clients need to come in the evenings, as late as 7pm. The driveway leading to the detached garage can accommodate up to 4 vehicles, so there would be no on-street parking. City Planner Evan Monson assured the public that this request does fall within the ordinance regulations and will limit the applicant on what it can do. No signs are allowed to be placed on the property based on the current sign ordinance.