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2019.08.12 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – August 12, 2019 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, August 12, 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:  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  Commissioner (Ward 3) Buck X Commissioner (At-Large) Seffren Other attendees: City planner Dan Olson and other interested persons. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Strand and seconded by Heigel to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2019 regular meeting with one change: On page three, the sentence “Commission member Strand again stated that the application should be continued” should be changed to “….Sears again stated…” Ayes all. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Miscellaneous amendments to the Unified Development Code, including the Town Center districts (Application Number 2019-07): Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending approval of the UDC amendments. Commission member Maristany said she still has concerns that the homes on Brentwood Avenue will be negatively impacted by shadows from any new buildings facing Bass Lake Road. She also believes that storm drainage into residential areas will be increased by redevelopment of this area. If a lot of new apartment buildings are built in the town center area, that will negatively impact the surrounding low density residential area since renters typically aren’t as invested in the community as property owners. Maristany said she understands why drive-through facilities should be located in side or rear yards, but that location may negatively impact residential areas. Olson stated the Approved Planning Commission Minutes – August 12, 2019 intent here is to locate them to be as unobtrusive as possible, but he can change the wording so that those residential areas are not negatively impacted. Maristany asked for clarification of various town center regulations, including sidewalks, new streets, balconies, satellite dishes, and solar energy systems. Olson clarified the meaning of those regulations. Commission member Seffren asked if there is a minimum size for a loading space. If not, then he suggests that the language be clarified so that a small space used for deliveries in front of the building, for example, would not be considered a loading space. Olson said he can add language to make that clarification. Commission member Strand said she was in favor of limiting the size of specialized care facility buildings, rather than limiting them by the number of residents. Olson said that the Planning Commission could recommend that these facilities have size limitations. Olson stated that according to state statute there are many different types of these facilities, and the state regulations are consistently changing. More recently these facilities have been subject to legal challenges to city zoning regulations. With all of that complexity, the city attorney advised that the best route was to regulate them by number of residents. In some areas of Crystal, these facilities would be subject to a conditional use permit, which gives the city the ability to review impacts to adjacent properties. Commission member Heigel asked about possibly limiting the height of rooftop mechanical equipment. Olson said that staff looked into it, but concluded that the potential buildings in this area would not have unusually large rooftop equipment. Chair Selton opened the public hearing. Hearing no one who wished to speak, Selton closed the public hearing. Moved by Johnson and seconded by Einfeldt-Brown to recommend approval of the UDC amendments with staff addressing the following two issues:  Staff will develop a definition for loading spaces to make it clear that the regulations do not apply to a small loading area.  In the requirements for drive-through facilities, staff will make it clear that drive- through elements may be located in a side or rear yard, but should not create negative impacts to residential areas. Ayes: Heigel, Strand, Selton, Einfeldt-Brown, Johnson, and Seffren Nay: Maristany Motion carried. 4. OLD BUSINESS - None 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Conformance to Comprehensive Plan – Sale of property at 5417 – 35th Avenue North Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated staff is recommending that the Commission determine the sale of the lot is in conformance to the Comprehensive Plan. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – August 12, 2019 Moved by Strand and seconded by Heigel to determine that the sale of the lot is in conformance to the Comprehensive Plan. Ayes: All Motion carried. b. Conformance to Comprehensive Plan – Sale of surplus property Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated staff is recommending that the Commission determine the sale of the surplus property is in conformance to the Comprehensive Plan. Moved by Strand and seconded by Maristany to determine that the sale of surplus property is in conformance to the Comprehensive Plan. Ayes: All Motion carried. 6. GENERAL INFORMATION  City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Planner Olson provided information about the following previously reviewed development review applications:  Rezoning to C-PD for a specialized care facility at 3501 Douglas Dr N – Applicant withdrew their application prior to City Council action  Conditional use permit for a child day care facility at 7200 – 56th Ave N – Approved by the City Council  Subdivision of three residential lots for Iron Horse Addition – Approved by the City Council  Update from Council Liaison: Mr. Budziszewski was not present at the meeting.  Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, September 9, 2019 meeting. Mr. Olson indicated that he has not received any applications yet, but the application deadline is not until tomorrow. 7. OPEN FORUM Commission member Einfeldt-Brown asked what is moving into 4835 West Broadway. Olson said a specialized care facility is moving there, which is a permitted use in the Commercial zoning district. Olson informed the Commission that Met Council has deemed the City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan as “complete”. It will be going before the Met Council on September 25th. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Heigel and seconded by Strand to adjourn. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.