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HomeMy WebLinkAboutpm_070103 City of ~~ Planning Commission Meeting City Council Chambers, 2660 Civic Center Drive Minutes - Wednesday, January 03, 2007 1. Call to Order Acting Planning Commission Chair Mary Bakeman called to order the meeting of the Planning Commission at approximately 6:30 p.m., welcomed those in attendance, and reviewed the purpose of the meeting and the Public Hearing procedure. Chair Bakeman introduced staff; and welcomed applicants and members of the audience. 2. Roll Call & Introductions City Planner Thomas Paschke called the Roll. Members Present: Commissioners IIdephonse Gasongo; Jim Doherty; Daniel Boerigter; Dan Roe; Joe Wozniak; and Acting Chair Mary Bakeman. Staff present: City Planner Thomas Paschke; Associate Planner Bryan Lloyd and City Engineer Debra Bloom. 3. Approval of Minutes MOTION Member Roe moved, seconded by Member Boerigter, to approve meeting minutes of December 6, 2006 as amended. Corrections: · Acting Chair Bakeman provided typographical corrections to staff. · Commissioner Doherty made corrections to a Page 8 regarding his willingness to serve on the Ramsey County Technical Advisory Committee for reconstruction of Rice Street. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Abstentions: 0 Motion carried. 4. Public Comment - Communication and Recognitions Public Comment No one from the public appeared to speak on any non-agenda items. Commissioners and Staff No comment. Acting Chair Bakeman read and presented a resolution of appreciation for Commissioner Dan Roe as he moves onto the City Council and resigns from the Planning Commission for his new role as City Councilmember. Acting Chair Bakeman recognized Commissioner Roe's willingness to serve above and beyond the call of duty as a commissioner; and welcomed him into the exclusive Planning Commission Alumni Club. Commissioner Roe thanked Commissioners for their recognition and expressed appreciation to the Commissioners and staff for their work. Commissioner Roe acknowledged his guilt at leaving the Commission with their work on the Comprehensive Plan Update. During the review of the 2007 meeting schedule, the Commissioners agreed that the July meeting Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Page 2 should be held on 7/11/2007 since the first Wednesday of that month falls on the 4th of July holiday Motion: Commissioner Gosongo moved to set the July meeting date for 7/11/2007, the second Wednesday of that month; Wosniak seconded. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Abstentions: 1 (Roe) Motion carried. Acting Chair Bakeman noted the yearly meeting calendar will be updated on the website. Mr. Paschke advised that staff would coordinate the building availability for that date. 5. Public Hearings a. PLANNING FILE 07-001 WCL Associates request to REZONE property at 2216 County Road D and request for a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT to allow the development of a Class II Fast Food Convenience Restaurant with drive-through facilities in the northwest corner of the parcel. Acting Chair Bakeman opened the Public Hearing at for Planning File 07-001. City Planner Thomas Paschke reviewed the request of WCL Associates for rezoning from B- 4, Retail Office Service District to B-3, General Business District; and approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow, through new construction, a Class II restaurant with drive- through facilities on the premises. Mr. Paschke reviewed the property and staff's determination that a REZONING of the property was more appropriate and consistent with the site's 20-year historical use and function as a General Business strip center, rather than an integrated office, hotel and restaurant site with limited retail as the Retail Office Service Zoning District intends. Mr. Paschke further noted that staff supported the inclusion of a drive-through cafe/restaurant on the premises as an appropriate use within Tower Glen and as being consistent with the traditional use of the strip center. Staff recommended approval of the request by WCL Associates to REZONE property at 2216 County Road D from Retail Office Service District (B-4) to general Business District (B-3) and recommended approval of a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT allowing a Class II Fast Food Convenience Restaurant with a drive-through on the premises through new construction in the northwest corner, for the property known as Tower Glen and addressed as 2216 County Road D, based on the information and conditions contained in Section 6 of the project report dated January 3,2007. Discussion included "outlot" definition and identification; site plan review and potential drive through location on the north side; traffic flow from Long Lake Road and adequacy of stacking; egress from the site in accordance with Code requirements; patio and outdoor seating requirements; parking calculations (143 or fewer required, and 158 provided) and locations of the parking stalls; setbacks; landscaping plan proposals and inclusion of island areas; and other standard Code requirements during the permit approval process. Additional discussion included moving the entrance from Long Lake Road further south and enhanced design features for ingress/egress; specificity of the Conditional Use Permit for construction of the proposed building and site improvements; potential signage locations and Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Page 3 uses; site lighting and parking lot improvements; and the applicant's need to meet existing Code requirements; rezoning and use impacts on the site; limitations of the approval of the CUP for the drive-through only for a proposed stand alone business. Applicant Dave Clark, Principal with WCL Architects, was available and provided a more detailed review of the proposed project and the applicant's intent to strictly abide by City Code, in addition to their analysis, at staff's request, of the entire building and respective tenants. Commissioners addressed questions and comments to the applicant related to employee safety and lighting in the rear of the building where several new parking spaces are proposed, and the applicant's intent to review lighting for the entire site; and other potential tenants. No one appeared for or against; and Acting Chair Bakeman closed the Public Hearing. Commissioners concurred on their support of the project. MOTION: Member Boerigter moved, seconded by Member Doherty, to RECOMMEND APPROVAL of the request by WCL Associates to REZONE property at 2216 County Road D from Retail Office Service District (B-4) to general Business District (B-3), for the property known as Tower Glen and addressed as 2216 County Road D, based on the information and conditions contained in Section 6 of the project report dated January 3, 2007. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Motion carried. MOTION: Member Doherty moved, seconded by Member Boerigter, to RECOMMEND APPROVAL of a CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT allowing a Class II Fast Food Convenience Restaurant with drive-through facilities in the northwest corner of the parcel known as Tower Glen and addressed as 2216 County Road D, based on the information and conditions contained in Section 6 of the project report dated January 3, 2007. Commissioner Wozniak encouraged the applicant to take this opportunity to improve the aesthetics of the property as it serves as a gateway to the community. Ayes: 6 Nays: 0 Motion carried. Acting Chair Bakeman advised that the case would be heard at the January 29, 2007 City Council meeting. 6. Information and Reports Mr. Paschke and Commissioners discussed updates on the Community Visioning process related to the Comprehensive Plan Update and timing concerns; budget allotment and ramifications; staff turnover in 2006 and goals for submitting work plan information and sections to the Planning Commission and/or the City Council; final review and reaffirmation of sign code revisions by the Planning Commission prior to presentation to the City Council, and incorporation of City Attorney comments prior to that presentation; status of technical updates to the Comprehensive Plan; consensus of the Commission that work begin as soon as possible to avoid being overwhelmed at Planning Commission Meeting Minutes - Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Page 4 the end of 2007 in meeting deadline requirements; and the new City Manager coming on board. Acting Chair Bakeman thanked staff for providing Council agendas to Commissioners. Commissioner Roe advised that he would advocate with the City Council for getting the Planning Commission vacancies filled as soon as possible. In accordance with City Code related to the Planning Commission, Commissioners concurred that election of officers would occur at the March meeting for the Planning Commission and Variance Board. Commissioner Wozniak advised that he would serve on the Variance Board for the February meeting, to fill in for a fellow Commissioner unavailable for that meeting. 7. Adjournment Chair Bakeman thanked staff and Commissioners; and adjourned the meeting.