2016.06.13 PC Meeting Packet
Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Crystal Planning Commission Agenda
Monday, June 13, 2016
7 p.m.
Crystal City Hall Council Chambers
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
a. Monday, May 9, 2016 meeting minutes
3. Public Hearings*
a. Conditional Use Permit to allow Early Steps Learning Foundation to locate a day care at
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the existing Brunswick United Methodist Church property at 6122 42 Avenue North
4. Old Business - None
5. New Business - None
6. General Information
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Beacon Academy CUP
and Site Plan
b. Update from Council Liaison
c. Update on City Code Review Task Force
d. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, July 11, 2016 meeting
7. Open Forum
8. Adjournment
* Items for which supporting materials will be included in the meeting packet.
Page 1 of 2
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION
DETAILED AGENDA
Monday, June 13, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Crystal City Hall
Commissioners, please call 763.531.1142 or
email dan.olson@crystalmn.gov if unable to attend
* Items for which supporting materials are included in the meeting packet
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Crystal Planning Commission convened at ______ p.m. with the
following members present:
Commissioner (Ward 1) Commissioner (Ward 2) Commissioner (Ward 4)
Sears \[Secretary\] Selton Einfeldt-Brown
Commissioner (Ward 1) Commissioner (Ward 3) Commissioner (Ward 4)
Heigel \[Chair\] VonRueden Johnson \[Vice Chair\]
Commissioner (Ward 2) Commissioner (Ward 3) Commissioner (At-Large)
Strand Buck Daly
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES *
Moved by _______________ and seconded by _______________ to approve the minutes of
the May 9, 2016 regular meeting with the following exceptions:
Motion carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Conditional Use Permit to allow Early Steps Learning Foundation to locate a day care at
the existing Brunswick United Methodist Church property at 6122 42nd Avenue North
Staff presented the following:
The following were heard:
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Planning Commission discussion:
Moved by _______________ and seconded by _______________ to recommend
______ to the City Council of a Conditional Use Permit for Early Steps Learning
Foundation with the following conditions:
Motion carried.
4. OLD BUSINESS None
5. NEW BUSINESS - None
6. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Beacon Academy CUP
and Site Plan
b. Update from Council Liaison
c. Update on City Code Review Task Force
d. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, July 11, 2016 meeting
7. OPEN FORUM
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by _____ and seconded by ______ to adjourn.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at ______ p.m.
Unapproved Planning Commission Minutes May 9, 2016
CRYSTALPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, May 9, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Crystal City Hall
Commissioners, please call 763.531.1142 or
email dan.olson@crystalmn.gov if unable to attend
* Items for which supporting materials are included in the meeting packet
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
Sears \[Secretary\]
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 Engineer Mark Ray, City Council liaison Jeff
Kolb, Sean Koster (Beacon Academy), Paul Donovan (Cushman Wakefield), Julia Paulsen
Mullin (Tangible Consulting), Wendy Terry, Mike Mann, and other interested persons.
2. INTRODUCTION OF NEW PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER Tim Daly was introduced
as the new Planning Commission member.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES *
Moved by Strand and seconded by Einfeldt-Brown to approve the minutes of the February 8,
2016 regular meeting . Ayes
all.
Motion carried.
4. PUBLIC HEARING
a. Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Application to allow Beacon Academy to locate at
the existing Cornerstone Church property at 3420 Nevada Avenue North.
Planner Dan Olson presented a summary of the staff report, and stated that staff is
recommending approval of the conditional use permit and site plan with the conditions
listed in the staff report.
Unapproved Planning Commission Minutes May 9, 2016
Sean Koster, principal at Beacon Academy, said they are excited to be in Crystal as
many of their students are from the area. The school started in Plymouth and had a lot
of students from the Robbinsdale School District.
philosophy and mission.
Commissioner Heigel asked how long it would take for the school to reach an
enrollment of 750 students. Mr. Koster said about five years to reach 700 students.
Commissioner Daly asked if they thought they would lose students with the move from
Maple Grove to Crystal. Mr. Koster said he thought they would, but would also be
gaining new students.
th
Commissioner Strand asked where the students went after the 8 grade. Mr. Koster
said either public or private high schools.
Paul Donovan, representing Beacon Academy, asked if the Commission would
consider adding language to condition #6 to cap the costs of street striping at $3,000.
This is the amount given to Beacon by City staff as the maximum cost of the striping
project.
Wendy Terry, 3419 Florida Avenue North, said she has children who attend Beacon
and is very supportive of the school re-
curriculum.
th
Mike Mann, 7001 34 Avenue North, said he was concerned about property values in
the neighborhood if Beacon were to locate on the property. However, having learned
negatively impacted. He encouraged Beacon to get to know the residents who live
near the school.
Commissioner Einfeldt-Brown asked what approval process Beacon would have to go
through if they constructed a second story on the building. Planner Olson said they
would have to amend their CUP and site plan application, which would require a
Planning Commission public hearing followed by a decision by the City Council.
Moved by Selton and seconded by Buck to recommend approval to the City Council of
a Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Application to allow Beacon Academy to locate
at 3420 Nevada Avenue North, and construct an approximately 15,000 SF building
expansion. This approval was contingent upon the conditions in the staff report, with
the exception that condition #
Ayes all.
Motion carried.
5. OLD BUSINESS None
6. NEW BUSINESS - None
7. GENERAL INFORMATION
Unapproved Planning Commission Minutes May 9, 2016
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Conditional Use Permit for
Forest Elementary and Preliminary Plat for Gardendale Subdivision Planner Olson
reported that the City Council approved both of these developments on February 16, 2016.
b. Update from Council Liaison Council liaison Kolb informed the Commission that the City
the Douglas Drive and West
Broadway crossings of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The City also had a successful
curbside clean-up.
c. Update on City Code Review Task Force Council liaison Kolb reported that the Council
recently approved amendments to City Code Section 300. Commission member Buck said
the task force is beginning to review Chapter 600.
d. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, June 13, 2016 meeting Planner Olson
th
said that no applications have been submitted, but the deadline is not until May 17.
8. OPEN FORUM
No one from the public spoke at this time. Commission members asked follow-up questions on
various recent projects: Gaulke Pond Homes, Gardendale Subdivision, Bassett Creek Regional
Trail, Thriftway property, and Target infill lot. Staff provided those updates.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Strand and seconded by Daly to adjourn.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 8, 2016
TO: Planning Commission (June 13 meeting)
FROM: Dan Olson, City Planner
SUBJECT: Public Hearing: Application 2016-05 for a conditional use permit for Early
Steps Learning Foundation at 6122 - 42nd Avenue North (Brunswick United
Methodist Church)
A.BACKGROUND
Early Steps Learning Foundation is proposing to lease classroom and office space for
their day care from Brunswick United Methodist Church located at 6122 42nd Avenue
North. Before the lease agreement is finalized, Early Steps is requesting conditional
use permit (CUP) approval to allow their day care to locate on the property. The
property is zoned Low Density Residential (R-1). According to City Code Section
515.33 Subd. 4 (b), public institutional uses such as the proposed day care are a
conditional use within the R-1 zoning district. Notice of the June 13 public hearing was
published in the Sun Post on June 2, and notices sent to property owners within 350
feet of the property (see Attachment B). To date no public comments have been
received for this proposal.
Attachments:
A. Site location map
B. Map showing public hearing notification area
C. Existing zoning map
D. 2030 Land Use Comprehensive Plan map
E. project narrative
F. Floor plans
G. Existing site layout
B.PROPOSED CONDITIONAL USE
Proposed Use of Property
A church building has existed on this property since the early 1950s. However, the City
Council did not grant a CUP to officially allow the church on this property until 1983.
Early Steps Learning Foundation is proposing to lease approximately 1,850 SF of space
from the church for their day care:
Nursery 643 SF
Activity room 600 SF
6122 -42nd Avenue North - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
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Rainbow room 360 SF
Office 252 SF
The day care is expected to have 40 children under age 5, with eight staff members, and
will be open from 6 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. The applicant has indicated
that eventually she may have up to 55 children in this day care. The church, which has
eight staff members, will have office hours and limited programming from 10 AM to 3 PM,
Monday through Friday, and Sunday church services. Therefore the day care and
church will have few overlapping operating hours during their busiest times.
Conditional Use Approval Criteria: City Code Section 515.33, Subd. 4(b) provides
requirements for public institutional uses, such as a day care, as a conditional use in the
R-1 zoning district. The following are those requirements, followed by staff response.
1) Side setbacks shall be double that required for the district.
Response: Since the applicant is not constructing any building additions, this
criteria is not applicable.
2) The facility is served by arterial, collector or municipal state aid streets and such
pedestrian facilities as are necessary to accommodate the traffic generated by the
facility.
Response: According to the s Comprehensive Plan 42nd Avenue North is a
minor arterial. The existing building is served by a vehicle entrance and exit on
Colorado Avenue North. T
Fire Rescue District have reviewed this proposal and found it adequate to
continue meeting vehicle movement within the site, including fire trucks. There
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is a public sidewalk on 42 Avenue North, and there are private sidewalks
providing access to the building.
3) The city council determines that all applicable requirements of subsection 515.05,
subdivision 3 a) and section 520 are considered and satisfactorily met. Section
515.05: 1) Consistency of the proposed use with the comprehensive plan; 2)
Characteristics of the subject property as they relate to the proposed use; and 3)
impact of the proposed use on the surrounding area. Section 520 contains the
requirements for a site plan.
Response: 1) The 2030 Comprehensive Plan land use designation for this
The proposed day
care use is consistent with this designation; 2) The property and existing
building are designed for a public institutional use, and the facility will continue
to exhibit these characteristics; 3) The property has been an institutional use
for many years, and this institutional use will continue with Early Stepco-use
of the property. Since the applicant is not proposing to make any alterations to
the building footprint or parking lot, the requirements of Section 520 of the
6122 -42nd Avenue North - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
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Zoning Code, Site and Building Plan Review, are not applicable to this
application.
C.NOTABLE SITE ELEMENTS
The following is a description of the notable site elements proposed for the day care
nd
use at 6122- 42 Avenue North.
Parking There is not a specific requirement in the Zoning Code for a minimum
number of parking spaces for a day care facility. In 1983 the City Council approved a
variance to reduce the required number of parking spaces for the church from 200
spaces to 74. A recent count of the parking spaces on the property found that there
are 77 spaces. Therefore the parking requirement is met and the applicant is not
proposing to construct additional parking. Since the day care and the church will be
operating mostly on different schedules, the existing number of parking spaces is
adequate.
Child pick up and drop off Early Steps is proposing to have children dropped off
and picked up at the building entrance on the north side of the building where the
parking lot is located. Child drop off will occur between 6:00 and 10:00 AM, and pick
up will occur between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. the
Police Department, and West Metro Fire Rescue District have reviewed this child
pick up and drop off plan and found it adequate to meet vehicle movement within
the site, including fire trucks. With the low number of children attending this day
care, traffic impacts to the area are not expected to be noticeable.
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Pedestrian connections There are existing public sidewalks on both sides of 42
Avenue North. There are also private sidewalks on the church property providing
access to the building.
Signs The applicant is not proposing to add any new exterior signs to the property.
D.REQUESTED ACTION
The Planning Commission is being asked to make a recommendation to the City
Council to either deny or approve the CUP to allow Early Steps Learning Foundation to
locate at Brunswick United Methodist Church at 6122 42nd Avenue North. A
recommendation made by the Planning Commission should include findings of fact
either for or against the proposal. The Commission may reference the findings for
approval in Sections B and C, above. Staff recommends approval of the conditional use
permit to allow this day care use, subject to the following conditions of approval:
1. With this CUP approval, First Steps Learning Foundation is limited to 55 children. If
additional children are desired, First Steps shall apply to the City for a CUP
amendment.
2. Pick up and drop off of children will occur only at the north side building entrance.
3. Early Steps shall submit a request to the Metropolitan Council to determine if a sewer
availability charge (SAC) will be assessed for this use.
City Council action is anticipated on June 21, 2016.
6122 -42nd Avenue North - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
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Attachment A
Attachment B
Attachment C
Attachment D
Attachment E
Attachment F
Attachment G