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2021.03.08 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – March 8, 2021 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, March 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers, Crystal City Hall and Zoom Video Conference 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]  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 Brendan Banks, Community Development Director John Sutter, Tiesa Bogard, and other interested persons 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Sears and seconded by Johnson to approve the minutes of the November 9, 2020 regular meeting. Ayes: Sears, Seffren, Selton, Strand, Maristany, and Johnson. Abstain: Heigel and Buck. Nays: None Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Conditional use permit request from Tiesa Bogard for an event center at 351 Willow Bend in the Crystal Shopping Center (Application 2021-01). Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending approval of the CUP. Commission member Strand asked why a CUP was required - if a restaurant was hosting parties or meetings, they wouldn’t require a CUP. Olson stated that the proposed use meets the definition for an event center in the Unified Development Code (UDC). In addition the event center will be an additional principal use for the café space, rather than an accessory use such as in her restaurant example. Chair Selton opened the public hearing. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 8, 2021 A member of the public expressed concern that there will be loud music at the events which will disturb the residents who live southwest of the shopping center. Also event attendees will park in that neighborhood if there is not enough parking in the shopping center. Olson stated that the events will be entirely enclosed within the café space and it’s unlikely those residents will be disturbed. Planning Commission member Maristany asked staff if it is likely that attendees will park in the neighborhood. Olson stated that the shopping center has a large amount of parking and it’s unlikely that an attendee will walk the long distance past the commercial uses on 56th Avenue North in order to park in the neighborhood. Ms. Bogard stated that events will be of a small scale that will not create a lot of noise. Hearing that no one else from the public who wished to speak, Selton closed the public hearing. Moved by Strand and seconded by Buck to recommend approval to the City Council of the conditional use permit for an event center at 351 Willow Bend in the Crystal Shopping Center. Ayes: Seffren, Selton, Strand, Maristany, Buck, Johnson, Sears, and Heigel. Nays: None Motion carried. 4. OLD BUSINESS - None 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Consider approval of a resolution for a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Plan Modification for TIF District #4 (Housing District) Community Development Director Sutter presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending the Commission determine the modification conforms to the Comprehensive Plan. Commission member Seffren asked if after the TIF district expires in 2025, are tax revenues distributed to the various entities that typically receive such revenue. Sutter said yes. Commission member Johnson if there is a limit to the number of TIF districts the city can have. Sutter said he did not believe so, but practically there are limits due to restrictions on why the districts can be created and how the funds can be used. Commission member Maristany asked how TIF districts are created and how they are closed out. Sutter described how the various districts are created and how they end. Commission member Sears asked who creates districts. Sutter stated that the City creates districts in accordance with state law. Commission member Selton asked if the EDA is still purchasing blighted lots. Sutter said the EDA bought quite a few blighted vacant homes during the Great Recession and not many are left to purchase. The EDA is now focusing on redevelopment within the Town Center Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 8, 2021 area. Future TIF districts are not likely to be able to fund the home improvement programs and the EDA will need to find new sources of funding for those programs in the coming few years. Commission member Seffren asked how base property value is determined in setting up a TIF district. Sutter stated that property value is determined based on whatever buildings are on the property when the district is established (before redevelopment occurs). Commission member Maristany what would happen if the TIF plan modification is not adopted. Sutter stated that the only funds that would be available are those from the existing plan. Moved by Seffren and seconded by Sears to recommend adoption of the resolution determining that the TIF Plan modification conforms to the Comprehensive Plan. Ayes: Johnson, Strand, Selton, Buck, Heigel, Maristany, Seffren and Sears. Nays: None b. Election of Officers Chair: Motion by Sears, second by Selton to nominate Selton for chair. Ayes: Johnson, Strand, Selton, Buck, Heigel, Maristany, Seffren and Sears. Nays: None Vice-Chair: Motion by Strand, second by Seffren to nominate Sears as vice-chair. Ayes: Johnson, Strand, Selton, Buck, Heigel, Maristany, Seffren and Sears. Nays: None Second Vice-Chair: Motion by Strand, second by Sears to nominate Maristany as second vice-chair. Ayes: Johnson, Strand, Selton, Buck, Heigel, Maristany, Seffren and Sears. Nays: None 6. GENERAL INFORMATION • City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Olson stated that the Council approved the building addition site plan for Kevitt Excavating at 3335 Pennsylvania Ave N. • Update from Council Liaison: Mr. Banks stated progress is being made on the Council goal of building a more inclusive community. The Council has been reviewing the impacts of maintaining stormwater pond infrastructure. A temporary slalom course is located on Twin Lake and there is a movement toward creating a more permanent situation. • Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, April 12, 2021 meeting. Olson said he has not received any applications for the meeting, but the deadline is not until next week. 7. OPEN FORUM Commission member Seffren asked for an update on construction of the assisted living/memory care facility at 3501 Douglas and on the cell tower at 3200 Vera Cruz Ave N. Olson stated Hampton is supposed to start building demolition this month with construction of the new building after that. For the cell tower, Verizon has until January, 2022 to apply for the building permit. Commission member Maristany complimented whomever plowed out the storm drains before the snow melt. It created a lot of great water flow. Sutter stated that it was the city’s Public Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 8, 2021 Works Department, specifically Director Mark Ray and Superintendents Bill Bowman and Pat Sele who supervise the work crews. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Sears and seconded by Johnson to adjourn. Ayes: Johnson, Strand, Selton, Buck, Heigel, Maristany, Seffren and Sears. Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.