2015.12.14 PC Meeting Packet
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA SUMMARY
Monday, December 14, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Crystal City Hall Council Chambers
4141 Douglas Dr N
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 9, 2015 meeting
C.PUBLIC HEARING
1. Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow a public institutional use (Robbinsdale School
th
District) at 6801 - 56 Avenue North (Crystal Shopping Center)
D.GENERAL INFORMATION
1. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Conditional Use Permit
(CUP) to allow a reduction in the required minimum number of parking spaces at 4700
Welcome Avenue North (Century Link property)
2. Update from Council Liaison
3. Update on City Code Review Task Force
4. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, January 11, 2016 meeting
E. OPEN FORUM
F. ADJOURNMENT
JOINT PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING FOLLOWS THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING (SEE ATTACHED
AGENDA)
Page 1 of 2
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION
DETAILED AGENDA
Monday, December 14, 2015 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
A. 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)
Erickson Buck Strand
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES *
Moved by _______________ and seconded by _______________ to approve the minutes of
the November 9, 2015 regular meeting with the following exceptions:
Motion carried.
C.PUBLIC HEARING
1. Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow a public institutional use (Robbinsdale School
th
District) at 6801 - 56 Avenue North (Crystal Shopping Center)
Staff presented the following:
The following were heard:
Page 2 of 2
Planning Commission discussion:
Moved by _______________ and seconded by _______________ to recommend
th
______ to the City Council of Conditional Use Permit (2015-07) at 6801 56 Avenue
North (Crystal Shopping Center) to allow a public institutional use with the following
conditions:
Motion carried.
D.GENERAL INFORMATION
1. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Conditional Use Permit
(CUP) to allow a reduction in the required minimum number of parking spaces at 4700
Welcome Avenue North (Century Link property)
2. Update from Council Liaison
3. Update on City Code Review Task Force
4. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, January 11, 2016 meeting
E. OPEN FORUM
F. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by _____ and seconded by ______ to adjourn.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at ______ p.m.
JOINT PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
FOLLOWS THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING (SEE ATTACHED AGENDA)
JOINT CRYSTAL PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
Monday, December 14, 2015
Meeting follows the 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting
Crystal City Hall Council Chambers
4141 Douglas Dr N
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Summary of design workshop
3. Input received at community meeting
4. New Information
Park concepts with acreages
Opportunity sites
Pedestrian bridge next steps
5. Wrap Up and Next Steps
Community Open Meeting #3: January 25, 2016 from 6:30 8:30 PM
6. Adjournment
Unapproved Minutes of November 9, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting
Page 1 of 2
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Monday, November 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, Crystal City Hall
A. 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 4)
Commissioner (Ward 2)
Sears \[Secretary\] Einfeldt-Brown
Selton (Absent)
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-
Erickson Buck Large) Strand
Also attending were City Planner Dan Olson and Council Liaison Jeff Kolb.
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Commissioner Buck and seconded by Commissioner Sears to approve the
minutes of the October 12, 2015 regular meeting.
Motion carried.
C.PUBLIC HEARING
1. Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow an adjustment to the minimum number of
required parking spaces at 4700 Welcome Avenue North (Century Link property).
City Planner Dan Olson presented a summary of the staff report, and stated that
staff is recommending approval of the CUP with the conditions listed in the staff
report.
Wayne Capra from Adkins Association architects, speaking on behalf of the
property owner Century Link, was present for questions. Commissioner Von
Rueden asked if City Code allowed shrubs as screening. Olson stated that yes
that is allowed by the City Code. Chair Heigel asked what will be located on the
old 100 space parking lot. Olson stated that the area would be grass open
space. Commissioner Erickson asked if Century Link would be hosting other
would change in the future.
Moved by Commissioner Von Rueden and seconded by Commissioner Einfeldt-
Brown to recommend approval to the City Council of Conditional Use Permit
Unapproved Minutes of November 9, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting
Page 2 of 2
(2015-06) at 4700 Welcome Avenue North to adjust the minimum number of
required parking spaces to 25 spaces subject to the conditions as listed in the
staff report.
Motion carried.
D.GENERAL INFORMATION
1. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Planner Olson
informed the Commission that the City Council approved Conditional Use Permit
2015-05 at their meeting on October 20, 2015.
2.
community meeting for the Bass Lake Road station area planning effort (Bottineau
LRT). He also provided an update on recent discussions the Council has had on
3. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, December 14, 2015 meeting
Planner Olson said there was nothing at this point.
E. OPEN FORUM
No one from the public spoke before the commission. Mr. Olson provided an update on
the work of the City Code Review Task Force. Olson also informed the Commission
th
that Three Rivers Park District will have an open house on November 12 at Crystal
City Hall on the proposed extension of the Bass Creek Regional Trail.
F. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Buck and seconded by Commissioner Sears to adjourn.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 8, 2015
TO: Planning Commission (December 14 meeting)
FROM: Dan Olson, City Planner
SUBJECT: Public Hearing: Application 2015-07 for a conditional use permit to allow a
th
public institutional use at 6801 56 Avenue North (Crystal Shopping
Center)
A.BACKGROUND
Paster Properties, owner of the Crystal Shopping Center, is proposing a conditional use
permit (CUP) to allow a public institutional use (Robbinsdale School District) at 6801-
th
56 Avenue North (Crystal Shopping Center). The property is zoned General
Commercial (C-2).
The proposed use would lease 42,000 square feet in the southerly two-thirds of the
west building at the Crystal Shopping Center. The tenant space addresses are 301-325
th
Willow Bend and the parcel address is 6801 56 Avenue North. This space would
house offices and classrooms for two school district programs: the Adult Academic
Program and the Robbinsdale Transition Program. According to City Code Section
515.49 Subd. 4 (b), public institutional uses, such as the proposed public school use,
are a conditional use within the C-2 zoning district. Notice of the December 14 public
hearing was published in the Sun Post on December 3 and mailed to owners within 350
feet. No comments have been received to date.
Attachments:
A. 2012 site location map
B. Photos of existing property
C. Existing zoning map
D. 2030 Land Use Comprehensive Plan map
E.
F. Proposed site plan (4 sheets)
B.PROPOSED CONDITIONAL USE
Public Institutional Use
General Information: The Robbinsdale School District is proposing to locate two
programs at the Crystal Shopping Center: First, the Adult Academic Program which
provides education to community residents to learn English, earn a GED or high school
th
6801-56 AVENUE NORTH - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
PAGE 1 OF 4
diploma, and learn skills to find employment. Second is the Robbinsdale Transition
Program, which helpsyoung adults with disabilities to transition from school to adult life.
These programs will operate year-round with the Adult Academic Program beginning at 8
am and ending at 9 pm, and the Transition Program beginning at 6:30 am and ending at
3:30 pm.
These two programs would be located in approximately 42,000 square feet of space
within the following existing tenant spaces, which will be re-configured to the floor plan
shown on site plan sheet A4 (Attachment F):
301 Currently the location for the Dollar Tree store. This store will be relocated
to another unit within the Center
305 - Currently vacant
307 Currently vacant
311 Currently vacant
313 Currently the location for the Pro Nails shop. This shop will be relocated to
another unit within the Center
317 Currently vacant
321 Currently vacant
325 Currently vacant
Bus pick-up and drop-off will be offered to those students in the Robbinsdale Transition
Program. Approximately 13 buses will be dropping of and picking up students in the
morning and afternoon. Site plan sheet A3 (Attachment F) shows the school bus
circulation plan. Buses are proposed to enter the shopping center at the intersection of
Jersey Avenue North and Bass Lake Road and exit onto Bass Lake Road just south of
that intersection. The school bus pick-up and drop-off area will be located in front of the
school facility, and be coned off at 15-minute intervals while pick-up and drop-offs are
occurring. This will not interfere with traffic flow in the shopping center since the pick up-
and drop-off area only services the school facility and not other retail establishments
within the shopping center. To Fire
Rescue District have reviewed this school bus circulation plan and found it adequate to
meet vehicle movement within the site, including fire trucks.
Conditional Use Approval Criteria: City Code Section 515.49, Subd. 4(b) provides
requirements for public institutional uses as a conditional use in the C-2 zoning district.
1) The City Council finds there is adequate off-street parking to accommodate the use.
Response: The number of required off-street parking spaces could be
calculated two different ways based on the proposed use:
, College, University or Based on this use
category, the number of required parking spaces is 141.
th
6801-56 AVENUE NORTH - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
PAGE 2 OF 4
Based on this use category, the number of required
parking spaces is 140.
In both instances the number of required parking spaces is almost identical.
The applicant is proposing to use existing parking spaces to satisfy the need of
the school district for 148 parking spaces (see Site Plan sheet A2 of Attachment
F). The majority of faculty and staff will park in the area behind the building,
while students and visitors will park in the area formerly used by retail patrons
of this building. The floor plan for the school facility (site plan sheet A4 of
Attachment F) shows two rear entrances to make it easier for faculty and staff
to park behind the building and be able to enter the building. The parking plan
for this use conforms to the zoning code and is reasonable, especially
considering that faculty and staff will be parking in areas rarely used by current
patrons of the shopping center. Staff has made a condition of approval that the
applicant requires faculty and staff to park in the areas identified on sheet A2,
and constructs the faculty and staff entrances shown on sheet A4.
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 adjacent
segments of both Bass Lake Road and West Broadway are minor arterial
county roads. The proposed facility would be served by entrances and exits
on Bass Lake Road and indirectly via easements across the Target property to
West Broadway. This would provide adequate traffic access for patrons of the
proposed facility in the same manner as it has historically for the Crystal
Shopping Center. Tthe West Metro Fire
Rescue District have reviewed this proposal and found it adequate to meet
vehicle movement within the site, including fire trucks.
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
restaurants, and some automobile-
school facility with its offices and classrooms is consistent with this
designation; 2) The property and existing building are designed for a
commercial retail use, and the proposed school facility will have a similar
number of patrons using the building; 3) The property has been used for
commercial retail for many years, and the proposed school facility will not be
dramatically different from that retail use.
th
6801-56 AVENUE NORTH - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
PAGE 3 OF 4
The applicant is not proposing any building or parking lot additions that require
site plan review. The only change to the exterior of the building will be the
addition of new wall signage.
C.NOTABLE SITE PLAN ELEMENTS
As noted above, the only change to the exterior of the building is the addition of new
permanent wall signage. No changes are proposed to the existing parking lot.
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 a public institutional use at 6801-
th
56 Avenue North (Crystal Shopping Center), which should include findings of fact
either for or against the proposal. The Commission may reference the findings for
approval in Section B, above.
Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit to allow a public institutional
th
use (Robbinsdale School District) at 6801-56 Avenue North, subject to the following
conditions of approval:
1. The applicant shall require staff and faculty to park first in the parking spaces at the
rear and sides of the building as noted on site plan sheet A2. To encourage this,
the applicant shall add two employee entrances to the side and rear of the building
as shown on site plan sheet A4.
2. A sign permit application shall be approved by the City prior to the installation of any
exterior signs.
City Council action is anticipated on January 5, 2016.
th
6801-56 AVENUE NORTH - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
PAGE 4 OF 4
Gbdvmuz0Tubgg
Fousbodf
Gbdvmuz0Tubgg
Fousbodf