2017.07.10 PC Meeting Minutes
Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 10, 2017
CRYSTALPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, July 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Crystal City Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Crystal Planning Commission convened at 7 p.m. with the
following members present:
X Commissioner (Ward 1) X Commissioner (Ward 2) X Commissioner (Ward 4)
Sears Selton Einfeldt-Brown \[Secretary\]
X Commissioner (Ward 1) X Commissioner (Ward 4)
Commissioner (Ward 3)
Heigel Johnson \[Chair\]
Vacant
X Commissioner (Ward 3)
Commissioner (Ward 2) Commissioner (At-Large)
Buck \[Vice Chair\]
Strand Daly
Other attendees: City Planner Dan Olson, City Council Liaison John Budziszewski, Nathan
Jones (Tollberg Homes)
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Einfeldt-Brown and seconded by Sears to approve the minutes of the May 8,
2017 regular meeting with the following two changes:
1. Clarify that Commission member Einfeldt-Brown voted no on the impound lot
CUP at the May meeting because approval would mean that two impound lots
would be too close together.
2. Clarify that the Community Outreach Task Force also assisted in planting
flowers.
All ayes.
Motion carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Variance request from Tollberg Homes for a new home at 5140 Lakeside Avenue North
(Application Number 2017- 08)
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report, and stated that he is
recommending approval of the variance.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Commissioner Sears noted that it is not out of the ordinary to have a driveway of this
length and it will be compatible with the neighborhood.
Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 10, 2017
Nathan Jones, Tollberg Homes, thanked the Commission for their interest in the variance
and requested that the Commission recommend approval.
With no one else from the public wishing to speak, Chair Johnson closed the hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Sears, seconded by Commissioner Buck to approve the
Ayes: All. Motion carried.
b. Zoning code text amendment to require a conditional use permit for any new pole for a
small wireless facility in the public street right-of-way adjacent to the R-1 zoning district
(Application Number 2017- 09)
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report, and stated that he is
recommending approval of the text amendment.
Commissioner Heigel asked if this applies to private utilities such as Xcel Energy. Mr.
the pole if needed.
Olson noted that the zoning code amendment does not involve private utilities as the
amendment relates to independent poles in the right-of-way. Olson was not sure if a
private utility company could decline to have these attachments on their infrastructure.
Commissioner Sears stated that Xcel has final authority over their property and that the
city does not have any say in that.
Commissioner Johnson if the city gets many request for these poles on commercial
property. Olson said there are not many of those requests, but providers have been
more eager to locate their infrastructure in the right-of-way.
Commissioner Einfeldt-Brown asked if these new poles could be buried. Olson said he
thought not, unlike an Xcel pole which could be relocated underground. Einfeldt-Brown
other large bills as was done in this case.
Commissioner Heigel asked if there have been any formal requests for poles in the right-
of-way. Olson said no, but this text amendment is to prepare the city to respond if and
when we do receive a request. Heigel then asked about the process to put a pole in the
right-of-way. Olson said that those details would be written into an amended section 802
of the city code.
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Commissioner Selton asked what the Council discussed at the June 20 work session.
Council liaison Budziszewski responded by saying that Council was generally favorable
to amending the city code, especially in light of the new state law. Selton asked about
the process to amend the city code to comply with the new state law. Council liaison
Budziszewski and Planner Olson explained the process for the adoption of amended
ordinances.
Commission Heigel expressed concern about residents being upset at the city if a new
explain that the state law limits what action the city can take.
Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 10, 2017
Commissioner Buck asked if there would be a separation requirement for poles. Council
liaison Budziszewski explained what he knew about the new state law. Olson said he
but that could be addressed in section 802.
Commissioner Sears asked if a CUP criteria could be added that the new pole is
reviewed by the Planning Commission and the City Council. Olson explained that this
specific use will require a CUP and will therefore require Commission and Council
review.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. With no one from the public wishing to speak,
Chair Johnson closed the hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Einfeldt-Brown, seconded by Commissioner Sears to
recommend approval of the zoning code text amendments.
Ayes: All. Motion carried.
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Continue review of draft language in the Unified Development Code (UDC)
The Commission continued its review of draft language for the UDC. Olson updated the
Commission on kennel language and what he hopes to do with screening and buffering.
Commission Einfeldt-Brown asked there could be a requirement for impound lots to be
located a certain distance from another impound lot. Commissioner Sears also asked if
we could delete the requirement that an impound lot be located on a property at least an
acre in size. The rest of the Commission was not supportive of making those changes to
the text.
In the use-specific standards for telecommunication towers Commissioner Selton
requested that some of the language proposed for deletion should be retained that deals
with requiring co-location. Olson said there is still some language that remains in the
text requiring co-location, but he would look to see if any language should be retained.
The telecommunication language would also now allow towers in park and schools sites
under certain conditions.
b. Select date for next work session
The Commission decided to have a work session on the UDC on Monday, July 31, 2017.
5. NEW BUSINESS None
6. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Planner Olson reported
that the city council approved the two CUPs for the vehicle impound lot and the outdoor
storage at 5425-5431 Lakeland Avenue North.
Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 10, 2017
b.Update from Council Liaison-Council Liaison Budziszewskidid not have a report.
c. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, August 14, 2017 meeting
Planner Olson reported that he has not received any new applications for the August
meeting, but that the deadline to apply is not until next week.
7. OPEN FORUM No one from the public or Commission spoke.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Buck and seconded by Commissioner Sears to adjourn. All ayes.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.