2018.08.13 PC Meeting Minutes
Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 13, 2018
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, August 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Crystal Community Center Crystal A
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 2) X Commissioner (Ward 4)
Commissioner (Ward 1)
Selton Einfeldt-Brown \[Secretary\]
Sears
X Commissioner (Ward 1) X Commissioner (Ward 3) X Commissioner (Ward 4)
Heigel Maristany Johnson \[Chair\]
X Commissioner (Ward 3) X Commissioner (At-Large)
Commissioner (Ward 2)
Buck \[Vice Chair\] Daly
Strand
Other attendees: City Planner Dan Olson and City Council Liaison John Budziszewski
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Buck and seconded by Selton to approve the minutes of the June 11, 2018 regular
meeting,
Ayes all, except that Heigel abstained.
Motion carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Subdivision request from the City of Crystal for the Bass Lake Addition preliminary plat
(Application Number 2018-10)
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and indicated that staff is
recommending approval of the preliminary plat.
Commission member Heigel asked where the driveways will go. Olson stated that the exact
location is being worked out, but there is room for the curb cuts, especially with the additional
right-of-way being dedicated for Welcome Avenue.
Commission member Maristany asked if additional variances will be requested. Olson stated
he did not expect any.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. With no one from the public wishing to speak,
Johnson closed the hearing.
Moved by Einfeldt-Brown and seconded by Daly to recommend approval of the Bass Lake
Addition preliminary plat. Ayes all.
Motion carried.
Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 13, 2018
b. Subdivision request from the City of Crystal for the Cavanagh View Addition preliminary plat
(Application Number 2018-11)
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and indicated that staff is
recommending approval of the preliminary plat.
Commission member Maristany asked why the pa
instead of three seems to be only enough space for two lots. Olson stated that staff believes
there is enough room for three lots and the configuration of the lot is the reason for the
variance on lot 3 (5018 Vera Cruz).
Commission member Heigel asked if lot 3 could be built upon without an approved variance.
Olson stated that it could be built upon without the setback variances, but it would not be
optimally located. The plat would have to be adjusted without the lot depth variance. However
the north lot line depth will not change if the lot depth variance was denied.
Commission member Einfeldt-Brown asked if there will be issues to install utilities. Olson
stated that he was not aware of any issues.
Chair Johnson asked if this lot was left over from a reconstruction of Highway 81. Olson said
no.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. With no one from the public wishing to speak,
Johnson closed the hearing.
Moved by Einfeldt-Brown and seconded by Daly to recommend approval of the Cavangh View
Addition preliminary plat. Ayes: Johnson, Buck, Heigel, Daly, Selton, and Einfeldt-Brown.
Nay: Maristany
Motion carried.
c. Variance request from the City of Crystal for a new single-family home at 5018 Vera Cruz
Avenue North (Application Number 2018 -12)
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and indicated that staff is
recommending approval of the variance.
Commission member Maristany stated she feels its bad precedence to approve variances for
new construction. It will encourage other builders to do the same.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. With no one from the public wishing to speak,
Johnson closed the hearing.
Moved by Daly and seconded by Buck to recommend approval of the variance for a new
single-family home at 5018 Vera Cruz Avenue North. Ayes: Johnson, Buck, Heigel, Daly,
Selton, and Einfeldt-Brown. Nay: Maristany
Motion carried.
4. OLD BUSINESS - None
5. NEW BUSINESS - None
6. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items:
Approved Planning Commission Minutes August 13, 2018
Planner Olson informed the Commission that the City Council approved the site plan for the
Taco Bell restaurant at 5547 West Broadway.
b. Update from Council Liaison:
City Council liaison Budziszewski stated that the Council is beginning to develop the next 2-
year budget process. There is also a primary election being held August 14, 2018.
c. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, September 10, 2018 meeting.
Planner Olson indicated that he has received a site plan review and variance application for a
new self-storage facility at 5702 West Broadway.
7. OPEN FORUM
Commission member Maristany asked if the Commission could receive staff comments on the
adjacent Comprehensive Plans that we are asked to review. Olson stated that he will provide
those comments to the Commission.
Chair Johnson stated that he has not received a lot of feedback from Planning Commission
Deshler will meet to see how to proceed.
Commission member Buck asked for an update on the former Thriftway grocery store property.
Olson stated that the property has been sold to U-Haul for a new self-storage facility.
Commission member Heigel brought up three issues for discussion:
(1) -of-way, and wondered why that is. Olson stated he
will check with public works to see if they are issuing obstruction permits for those mailboxes.
(2) -bellied pigs in the city?
Council member Budziszewski provided what information he knew about current ordinances
relating to keeping animals in the city.
(3) Will the city approve a bike/scooter share program such as has been recently instituted in
Golden Valley? Heigel is seeing some of those Golden Valley bikes being left in Crystal.
Council member Budziszewski provided what information he knew about current Crystal
ordinances relating to bike and electric scooters, and what other cities are doing for this issue.
Commission member Einfeldt - Brown said that the Crystal Historical Society is now a 501 (c) (3),
which allows them to collect artifacts.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Buck and seconded by Daly to adjourn.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.