2025 03-11 Planning Commission Minutes

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City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025 1 City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting – March 11, 2025 Meeting Minutes Due to a last-minute scheduling conflict the Planning Commission would not have had a quorum to hold their scheduled public hearing. Mayor Artig-Swomley temporarily appointed Brad Naylor to the Planning Commission for the night to fulfill the quorum requirement to hold a public hearing. Planning Commission Chair Don Cummings called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Member Art Pratt was present with temporarily appointed Commission Member Brad Naylor. Not present were Commission Members Stephanie Farrell and Derek Wippich with known excused absences and newly appointed Commission Member Laurel Amlee with a last-minute family emergency. Also present: Graduate Community Planner CJ Sycks, Acting City Clerk Melissa Lawrence and Gem Lake Hills Golf Course representatives Jim Kalkes, Steve Nasvik, and Jason Whitehill. City Attorney fill-in Chad Lemmons made an appearance before the meeting to see if there were any questions, but did not sit in on the meeting as he was needed at the White Bear Township Annual Meeting in the main chambers. March 11, 2025 A motion was introduced by Commissioner Pratt to accept the agenda, seconded by Temporary Commissioner Naylor. Motion carried 3-0. Minutes A motion was introduced by Commissioner Pratt, with an abstention from Temporary Commissioner Naylor to approve the February 11, 2025, Planning Commission Meeting minutes. Motion carried 2-0. Public Hearings Conditional Use Permit – 4039 Scheuneman Road – Gem Lake Hills Golf Course Graduate Community Planner CJ Sycks summarized the Conditional use Permit amendment request from the Gem Lake Hills Golf Course. The applicant is requesting an amendment to an existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the Gem Lake Hills Golf Course at 4039 Scheuneman Road. The applicant is proposing to add a miniature golf putting course (putting course) and an ambient outdoor speaker system (speaker system) to the property. The proposed putting course will be constructed in the location of the old hitting cages, located on the east side of the property, near the primary building (the clubhouse) and parking lot. The hitting cages were removed in the spring of 2024. The clubhouse includes an open space with a bar, customer seating space, three bathrooms, and an office. There is also a maintenance department with an office, lawn mower and utility vehicle parking, and a large walk-in refrigerator. The active CUP was originally approved on March 14, 1964, and has been amended four (4) times since then. The most recent amendment was approved on February 20, 1989. CUPs were formerly referred to as Special Use Permits (SUPs). The subject property consists of multiple parcels located between the BNSF Railroad and Goose Lake Road/County Road 14, and between Goose Lake Road/County Road 14 and Scheuneman Road in the northeast area of the City. The primary address and entrance to the golf course is 4039 Scheuneman Road. Gem Lake Hills Golf Course is roughly 57.4 acres in size. The properties include two executive 9-hole golf courses, a clubhouse, and a parking lot. In a narrative provided by the applicant and included in the Meeting Packet, the applicant states that the addition of a putting course will provide a recreational option for all ages and will increase the appeal of their facility. They state that the putting course will be designed to minimize any potential impact on the environment and will adhere to all zoning regulations. The site area is approximately 19,000 square feet in size. In addition, a new deck is planned to be built on the west side of the building, near the putting course. The deck can be permitted with a building permit. The applicants anticipate an additional 30% increase in golf “rounds” played on the property (putting course and golf rounds). They anticipate an increase in visitors for the putting course, however, putting course visitors tend to arrive together in one vehicle compared to golfers arriving alone in individual vehicles, due to the nature of the games and the audiences.