HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 12-02 Planning Commission Minutes City of Gem Lake
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
December 2, 2025
Planning Commission Chair Don Cummings called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission
Members Don Cummings, Art Pratt, Derek Wippich and Daniel Epelboim were present. Commissioner
Stephanie Farrell was absent. Also present were City Planner CJ Sycks, Andrew Boucher, TKDA, City
Attorney Martin Norder, Commission Member Alternate Brad Naylor, City Clerk Barb Suciu.
December 2, 2025
A motion was introduced by Commissioner Pratt to accept the agenda, seconded by Commissioner
Epelboim. Motion carried 4-0.
Minutes
A motion was introduced by Commissioner Wippich to approve October 17, 2025, Planning Commission
Meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Pratt. Motion carried 4-0.
Public Hearings
3610 Highway 61 N – Conditional Use Permit Request for Installation of New Illuminated Signs
City Planner Andrew Boucher, City Planner summarized the request.
Commissioner Pratt introduced a motion to open the public hearing at 7:12 p.m., seconded by
Commissioner Epelboim. Motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Pratt introduced a motion to close the public hearing at 7:14 p.m., seconded by
Commissioner Epelboim. Motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Wippich introduced a motion to recommend approving the request based on the City
Planners’ recommendations to the City Council of the Conditional Use Permit to allow for internally
illuminated signage located at 3610 Highway 61 North with the following conditions:
1) The illuminated signs must be in the size and to the dimensions proposed, consistent with the
plans received by the City on November 10, 2025; and
2) The applicant shall obtain all necessary local permits prior to construction, including but not
limited to building, electrical and sign; and
3) The applicant shall adhere to all other applicable local, state, and federal requirements; and
4) The applicant shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this request.
Seconded by Commissioner Pratt. Motion carried 4-0.
3696 Scheuneman Rd & 0 Scheuneman Rd – A Minor Subdivision, Zoning Ordinance Amendment,
Zoning Compliance Permit and Conditional Use Permit application for Land & Resource
Consulting on behalf of Greg Martz (Martz Enterprise, LLC)
City Planner Andrew Boucher, City Planner summarized the request.
Commissioner Pratt introduced a motion to open the public hearing at 7:50 p.m., seconded by
Commissioner Epelboim. Motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Epelboim introduced a motion to close the public hearing at 7:55 p.m., seconded by
Commissioner Pratt. Motion carried 4-0.
City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 2, 2025 2
Commissioner Wippich introduced a motion to recommend approving a Minor Subdivision request to
allow a lot Line Adjustment of the lot line between the two properties addressed as 3696 and 0
Scheuneman Road, PID 273022430027 and PID 273022430029 to the City Council based on current
findings:
1) The request would not create any new lots, and no new street or extension of facilities is
necessary. The lot line adjustment would result in both parcels being compliant with the
requirement of Ordinance 131.
And the following conditions:
1) The proposed lot line adjustment between 3696 Scheuneman Road (PID 73022430027) and 0
Scheuneman Road (PID 273022430029) to adhere to the dimensions as proposed in the plan
submitted to the City on November 6, 2025; and
2) The proposed lot line adjustment shall include new legal descriptions for each parcel; and
3) The applicant shall comply with the memo provided by the City Engineer dated November 24,
2025; and
4) The applicant shall record the lot line adjustment with Ramsey County within one year of the date
when the request was approved by City Council; and
5) The applicant shall adhere to all applicable local, State, or Federal regulations; and
6) The applicant shall acquire any other applicable local, State or Federal permit for this request; and
7) The applicant shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this request.
Seconded by Commissioner Pratt. Motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Pratt introduced a motion to recommend a request for a Ordinance Amendment to
Ordinance No. 131 , Section 9.6 Regarding building Template and Permitted Uses to the City Council,
seconded by Commissioner Wippich. Motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Pratt introduced a motion to recommend approving the request of a Zoning Compliance
Permit for 0 Scheuneman Road, PID 273022430029 to the City Council with the following conditions:
1) The applicant shall construct the proposed building and sales lot as per the plans submitted to the
City on November 10, 2025, and reviewed with this application.
a. The applicants shall review their plans to address comments from the City Engineer dated
November 24, 2024, and comments from the Fire Department, Building Inspector and
BNSF Railroad; and
2) The applicant may construct the proposed building shown on the site plan, with said building,
meeting the requirements of Building Type Template 15b; and
3) The applicant must adhere to the requirements of Section 18. Performance Standards, Subdivision
8 – Lighting and Glare; 5 Lighting for outdoor storage areas; if lighting is provided, then it shall
comply with the following limitations:
a. Maximum maintained lighting level at any point within the area, measured thirty-six (36”)
inches above grade, shall not exceed fifteen (15) foot-candles; and
b. Maximum maintained vertical illumination, measured five (5’) feet out from the property
line with the meter directed toward the area in question, shall be two (2) foot-candles; and
c. Maximum point brightness, measured with a brightness meter from a point five (5’) feet out
from the property line, shall be no greater than three hundred (300) foot Lamberts; and
4) The applicant shall adhere to all applicable local, State or Federal Regulations; and
5) The applicant shall acquire any other applicable local, State, or Federal permits for this request;
and
6) The applicant shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this request.
City of Gem Lake Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 2, 2025 3
Seconded by Commissioner Wippich. Motion carried 4-0.
Commissioner Epelboim introduced a motion to recommend approving the request to the City Council of
the Conditional Use Permit to allow outdoor storage for 0 Scheuneman Road, Parcel ID 273022430029,
with the following conditions:
1) The applicant is permitted to add outdoor storage of unfilled dumpsters onto the site, consistent
with the plans received by the City on November 10, 2025; and
a. No compaction, waste production or storage is allowed with the use, and it is limited to
providing dumpsters for customers to use off-site; and
b. The applicant is responsible for addressing the comments provided by the City Engineer in
a memo dated November 24, 2025, and the comments from the Fire Department, Building
Inspector, and BNSF railroad.
2) The applicant shall adhere to Gem Lake City Ordinance Number 86 (Nuisance); and
3) All plans must be submitted to the Metropolitan Council for SAC review prior to the issuance of
any building permits and any applicable Water Availability Charges or Local Sewer Availability
Charges as established by the City of Gem Lake; and
4) The applicant shall obtain all necessary local permits prior to construction; and
5) The applicant shall adhere to all other applicable local, state, and federal requirements; and
6) The applicant shall pay all fees and escrows associated with this request.
Seconded by Commissioner Pratt. Motion carried 4-0.
Old Business
None
New Business
None
Open Items for Commission Members to Bring Up
None
Future Meetings
• City Council/Planning Commission Meeting – December 8, 2025 - CANCELED
• City Council Meeting, Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Heritage Hall
• Planning Commission Meeting, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Heritage Hall.
o Attendance Inquiry
Commission Acting Chair Pratt surveyed the Commission to see if any of the members would
have any issues attending the November meeting
Adjournment
There being no further business, following a motion from Commissioner Wippich, seconded by
Commissioner Pratt at 8:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Barb Suciu