2016.11.14 PC Meeting Minutes
Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 14, 2016
CRYSTALPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, November 14, 2016 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 \[Secretary\] Selton Einfeldt-Brown
X Commissioner (Ward 1) X Commissioner (Ward 3) X Commissioner (Ward 4)
Heigel \[Chair\] VonRueden Johnson \[Vice Chair\]
X Commissioner (Ward 2) X Commissioner (Ward 3) X Commissioner (At-
Strand Buck Large) Daly
Other attendees: City Planner Dan Olson, City Council Liaison Jeff Kolb, Drew and Terri
Kabanuk
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Sears and seconded by Buck to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2016
regular meeting. All ayes.
Motion carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Conditional Use Permit Amendment request from Drew Kabanuk for a fence at 5717
West Broadway Avenue North (Application Number 2016-11)
Planner Dan Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated that staff is
recommending approval of option B for the fence as described in the staff report.
Commissioner Daly asked what the outdoor sales business is. Mr. Kabanuk stated that
the business is a hardware store. They will store items outdoors and need security for
those items. They have had some thefts recently on the property. Mr. Kabanuk
already and his fence contractor told him it was okay to construct it with the barbed wire.
Daly asked when the business might open. Mr. Kabanuk said in about three months for
the larger tenant in the building. He has already purchased much of the inventory for the
hardware store.
Commissioner Selton asked if the applicant was aware of the height limitation. Mr.
Kabanuk said yes, but his contractor believed that the limitation did not include the
Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 14, 2016
barbed wire. Selton asked the applicant ifhe understood the other conditions from the
approved CUP. Mr. Kabanuk said yes.
without barbed wire could be
approved. Olson said yes. Vonrueden asked the applicant if he plans to remove the
fence and start over if option B is approved. Mr. Kabanuk said he would just add on to it,
have fences that are much taller.
Commissioner Sears suggested that the applicant be allowed to have the barbed wire,
but just bend it down so
to climb over it and then get hurt when they discover the barbed wire is there.
Commissioner Heigel asked for clarification on the fence criteria is there language in
the code that prohibits fences if they are not compatible with the building? Olson
clarified that the language in quotes in the staff report is the code language, and that
staff made a determination from that standard that the proposed barbed wire fence is not
compatible with the area.
Commissioner Daly said the barbed wire is not inviting to retail customers. Mr. Kabanuk
said he wishes that barbed wire would not be necessary to provide security.
Commissioner Sears asked staff if this was a situation where a variance could be
granted. Olson stated that since the zoning code specifically requires a CUP for a fence
The applicant is simply
requesting to amend one of the conditions from the 2015 CUP approval.
Commissioner Strand said she remembers a situation of a property owner who
constructed a nonconforming fence and that fence had to be removed.
Commissioner Heigel commented that if the applicant desires security, the proposed
fence would only provide security for that end of the building. Mr. Kabanuk agreed, but
Heigel thought that
aesthetics was one of the most important reasons for not allowing a barbed wire fence.
Commissioner Vonrue
would be difficult for a thief to throw items over a fence that high. Mr. Kabanuk stated
that it will cost him $5,000 to re-do the fence.
Commissioner Daly asked the applicant if he installed any security cameras. Mr.
Kabanuk said he has an alarm system.
Commissioner Selton commented that there is a lot of room under the installed fence for
a person to climb under.
.
No one from the public was present for the public hearing. Chair Heigel closed the
hearing.
Moved by Commissioner Selton and seconded by Commissioner VonRueden to
recommend approval of option B for the fence to the City Council with the findings of fact
Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 14, 2016
as detailed in the staff report. Ayes: Heigel, Sears, Selton, Buck, VonRueden, Einfeldt-
Brown, Johnson, Daly. Nay: Strand.
Motion carried.
4. OLD BUSINESS None
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Request for a one-year time extension from Drew Kabanuk for an approved conditional use
permit (CUP) at 5717 West Broadway (Application Number 2015-05)
Planner Dan Olson presented a summary of the staff report, and stated that staff is
recommending approval of the extension request.
Commissioner Strand asked if the installation of the fence could be considered beginning
the construction of the outdoor sales area. Planner Olson stated that since the zoning code
does not clearly define when construction commences, staff erred on the side of caution and
is recommending the extension for both approved conditional uses. This language will be
made clear with the city code update.
Commissioner Selton asked if the condition could be made clear by saying that the 2015
CUP was amended on November 14, 2016. Olson stated that the Commission could add
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that language to the condition if they choose, but have the date be December 6 since that
is the date of the Council action.
Commissioner Heigel asked the applicant if he would be finished with the two conditional
use projects by the end of 2017. Mr. Kabanuk said yes.
Moved by Commissioner Selton and seconded by Commissioner Einfeldt-Brown to
recommend approval of the one-year extension to the City Council with the condition as
amended. Ayes all.
Motion carried.
6. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items:
Variance for detached garage at 5565 Welcome Avenue North
Variance for attached garage at 5440 Twin Lake Terrace
Subdivision request for Bottineau Gardens preliminary plat
Planner Olson said that the above three applications were approved by the City
Council as recommended by the Commission.
b. Update from Council Liaison
Council Liaison Kolb said that with the recent election there will be two new faces on
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when the
Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 14, 2016
Council will adopt the final budget. The city recently received a COPS grant to hire
two new officers. The Council is undertaking commission interviews for 2017.
c. Update on City Code Review Task Force
Council Liaison Kolb reported that the City Council has completed their update of
chapter 4 of the Code, except for signs which will be revised later.
d. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, December 12, 2016 meeting
Planner Olson reported that he is expecting a site plan application from Prescription
Landscape for a new parking lot.
7. OPEN FORUM
Commissioner Einfeldt-Brown stated that he brought flowers to the meeting in honor of the
recent passing of former Mayor Peter Meintsma. Commissioners Sears and Strand both
stated that Meintsma encouraged them to be on the Commission. No one else spoke
before the commission.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Sears and seconded by Commissioner Buck to adjourn. All ayes.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.