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2019.03.11 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – March 11, 2019 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, March 11, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers, Crystal City Hall 1. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Crystal Planning Commission convened at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: X Commissioner (Ward 1) Sears X Commissioner (Ward 2) Selton [Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 4) Einfeldt-Brown [Vice Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 1) Heigel X Commissioner (Ward 3) Maristany [Sec. Vice Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 4) Johnson X Commissioner (Ward 2) Strand X Commissioner (Ward 3) Buck X Commissioner (At-Large) Seffren Other attendees: City Planner Dan Olson, City Council Liaison John Budziszewski, Marybeth Nelson and Raphael Lister (Pope Architects), both representing Rivertree School, and one Crystal resident 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Seffren and seconded by Buck to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2019 regular meeting with the clarification under Open Forum that the Crystal Ball planning committee would be meeting one more time to discuss the event. Ayes all, except that Heigel and Sears abstained. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Approvals related to the expansion of the Rivertree School at 3733 Vera Cruz Avenue North (Application Number 2019-03): i. Rezoning to Planned Development ii. Amend Conditional Use Permit Planner Olson presented a brief summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending approval of the application with the conditions in the staff report. Commission member Heigel asked if the students will be crossing the property at 3717 Vera Cruz to get to and from the two buildings. Planner Olson stated that students will use the sidewalk along Vera Cruz or the street, which is not very busy. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 11, 2019 Commission member Maristany asked why Rivertree needs a CUP in addition to the rezoning. Planner Olson stated that schools are a conditional use in the R-1 district so a CUP amendment is also needed for this expansion project. Maristany also asked if the school will have a sports program. Olson stated he did not think so. This was confirmed by Maryann Nelson from the school. Chair Selton opened the public hearing. A Crystal resident asked what the parking requirements are for the school. Planner Olson explained that that use meets the parking requirements of the city’s zoning code. In addition, most of the students are not of driving age and there is no parking allowed on the west side of Welcome Avenue. Olson stated there will be a one-day event in June that is held in the parking lot, causing attendees to park on the street. The resident stated the parking has improved dramatically since the previous church use ended. Selton also read into the record a comment letter from the property owner at 3717 Vera Cruz dated February 28, 2019. The letter was received by city staff after the Planning Commission agenda packets were sent out. Commission member Maristany asked the Crystal resident how she felt about the street parking for the one day event in June. The resident said she was okay with it, but it would be great if the school would send a notice to the neighbors providing the date of the event. Commission member Maristany asked the applicant about their plans to grow in size and how students arrive at the school. Maryann Nelson stated that the maximum number of students will be 208 and they strive to keep all of their events, including extracurricular activities, to the week day. Ms. Nelson said currently six students drive themselves to school. Chair Selton asked if anyone else from the public wanted to speak. Seeing no one, the public hearing was closed. Commission member Buck asked what would happen if the school and the property owner at 3717 Vera Cruz cannot come to an agreement for the school to purchase the property. Olson stated the home would remain as is. The proposed classroom building could still be built without that property as part of the school campus. The applicant has a purchase agreement with that property owner. Moved by Seffren and seconded by Sears to recommend approval to the City Council of the rezoning to Planned Development and the amended CUP for Rivertree School, with the conditions in the staff report. Ayes: All Motion carried. 4. OLD BUSINESS – None 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Update on Town Center district regulations. Planner Olson stated that is planning to bring a draft of the town center regulations to the Planning Commission in April or May for their review and discussion. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 11, 2019 6. GENERAL INFORMATION a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Planner Olson stated that the City Council approved the Livieri Addition plat. The Council will be holding a first reading of the UDC amendments on March 19. The Planning Commission recommended approval of these amendments at their February 11 meeting. b. Update from Council Liaison: City Council Liaison John Budziszewski said the Council is working on their 2019-20 goals and is working with Public Works to ensure that spring flooding does not occur at street intersections. Mr. Budziszewski also provided an update on the Becker Park project. c. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, April 8, 2019 meeting. Mr. Olson indicated that the application deadline is not until tomorrow. He is expecting an application from A-1 Reliable Home Care for a new facility at 3501 Douglas Drive. 7. OPEN FORUM Commission member Johnson asked what approvals were required for the theater that is moving into 6105 – 42nd Avenue N. Planner Olson stated that the use is a permitted use in the Commercial zoning district, so the only required approval was a building permit application. The theater also received City Council approval for financing to install a sprinkler system. Commission member Strand spoke about a brew-fest fundraiser on March 15 for Becker Park. Commission member Einfeldt-Brown said he attended the New Hope Planning Commission meeting in which a public hearing was held for the Windsor Ridge development west of Crystal’s Ironhorse Park. He said their Planning Commission recommended approval of the development. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Buck and seconded by Einfeldt-Brown to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.