2019.05.13 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – May 13, 2019
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, May 13, 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; City
Council members Nancy LaRoche and Therese Kiser; Antoinette Reynolds of A Better
Childcare; City attorney Troy Gilchrist; representatives from A-1 Reliable Home Care,
including Tom Wasmoen, Deborah Ojogwu, and Benjamin Ojogwu; and other interested
persons
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Heigel and seconded by Einfeldt-Brown to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2019
regular meeting. Ayes all.
Motion carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. Conditional use permit application from A Better Childcare for a child day care facility at
7200 – 56th Avenue North (Application Number 2019-05):
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending
approval of the CUP application with the conditions in the staff report.
Chair Selton opened the public hearing.
Commission member Maristany asked the applicant for specifics about their business
model. Ms. Reynolds provided information about the day care, including that it is primarily
for english speaking children.
Commission member Strand said the proposed use is a nice fit for the property.
Approved Planning Commission Minutes – May 13, 2019
Hearing no one else who wished to speak, Chair Selton closed the public hearing.
Moved by Maristany and seconded by Sears to recommend approval of the CUP for a
child day care facility for A Better Childcare at 7200 – 56th Avenue with the conditions in
the staff report.
Ayes: All
Motion carried.
b. Preliminary plat application from for Iron Horse Addition at Iron Horse Park at 5155
Kentucky Avenue North (Application Number 2019-06):
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending
approval of the preliminary plat application with the conditions in the staff report.
Commission member Johnson asked what the Park Commission thought about this
proposal. Olson stated that the Commission was in agreement with the residential lots
being created, but they recommend that the remaining portion of the park be dedicated as
park land.
Commission member Seffren asked where the trail easement might be. Olson stated that
the trail would be located in the right-of-way easement along the north property line.
Commission member Einfeldt-Brown asked if the lots would be sold to the same builder as
Windsor Ridge in New Hope. Olson said they will be given the opportunity to buy the
Crystal lots. If there is a different builder, the city will assist in coordinating construction on
these lots with the New Hope builder.
Chair Selton opened the public hearing and hearing no one who wished to speak, Selton
closed the public hearing.
Moved by Einfeldt-Brown and seconded by Heigel to recommend approval of the Iron
Horse Addition preliminary plat with the conditions in the staff report.
Ayes: All
Motion carried.
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Consider recommendation for a proposed specialized care facility at 3501 Douglas Drive
North (Application Number 2019-04)
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and described the three options
that the Planning Commission has for a recommendation on the property rezoning. Mr.
Gilchrist then gave a presentation to address the letter to the city from the applicant’s
attorney dated April 23, 2019.
Approved Planning Commission Minutes – May 13, 2019
Commission member Strand said that their previous recommendation was not done as a
discriminatory action, but because the proposed facility was not compatible with the
surrounding residential neighborhood.
Commission member Maristany said that the proposal has too high of a density. A lower
density might be more in-line with the Comprehensive Plan.
Commission member Einfeldt-Brown said he thought the height of the building is
incompatible with the neighborhood. He wasn’t sure how he would vote.
Commission member Sears said maybe the item should be continued for more study and
discussion.
Chair Selton asked about time limits to make a decision on this application. Olson said that
the “60-day rule” requires action by July 10, 2019. Selton said that he’s not sure he agrees
with staff’s determination that the application meets the city’s Comprehensive Plan criteria.
Commission member Strand said that density of this development does not meet the
Comprehensive Plan’s density requirements. Strand also felt that if A-1’s development was
approved that would render the property owned by the City’s Economic Development
Authority (EDA) unbuildable.
Commission member Maristany asked if the Commission could recommend approval of
the application with fewer units. Mr. Gilchrist said the Commission could provide a
comment to the City Council that the development might be more acceptable if there were
fewer units.
Commission member Sears again stated that the application should be continued. Olson
said he encouraged the Commission not to continue the item since it has already been
continued once.
Mr. Gilchrist said that if the Commission is to recommend denial, they should make sure
the findings in the resolution are complete to their satisfaction. After reading the findings,
the Commission agreed that the findings are adequate, with the addition from Commission
member Maristany that the city may deny an application if the request for reasonable
accommodation is not approved by the city. Mr. Gilchrist said he will add that language to
the resolution.
Moved by Strand and seconded by Heigel to recommend denial of the property rezoning at
3501 Douglas Drive North based on the findings in the denial resolution.
Ayes: All
Motion carried.
5. NEW BUSINESS
a. Conformance to Comprehensive Plan – Sale of three parcels at 5155 Kentucky Avenue
North
Approved Planning Commission Minutes – May 13, 2019
Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated staff is recommending
that the Commission determine the sale of the three lots is in conformance to the
Comprehensive Plan.
Moved by Strand and seconded by Sears to determine that the sale of the three lots is in
conformance to the Comprehensive Plan.
Ayes: All
Motion carried.
b. Discuss proposed Town Center district regulations
The Commission had a general discussion about the reasons for having a town center
ordinance. Moved by Maristany and seconded by Strand to continue the discussion of the
TC district until the June meeting. Ayes: All
Motion carried.
6. GENERAL INFORMATION
a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: None
b. Update from Council Liaison: Mr. Budziszewski spoke about Becker Park improvements
and potential improvement to city hall to accommodate police needs.
c. Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, June 10, 2019 meeting.
Mr. Olson indicated that he has not received any applications yet, but the application
deadline is not until tomorrow. At the very least a work session will be held to continue the
review of the proposed town center district regulations.
7. OPEN FORUM
Commission member Strand said there is a plant sale on May 18 to support the Becker Park
improvements.
Commission member Einfeldt-Brown asked where the American Legion may relocate to.
Olson said he has no concrete information about where they may go.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Sears and seconded by Buck to adjourn.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.