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2021.09.13 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – September 13, 2021 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, September 13, 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 [Vice Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 2) Selton [Chair]  Commissioner (Ward 4) Einfeldt-Brown 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, Emeka Okeakpu from Gernco Construction, and one other interested person. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Sears and seconded by Heigel to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2021 regular meeting. Ayes: Strand, Heigel, Sears, Selton, Johnson, and Seffren. Abstain: Maristany. Nays: None Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Site plan request from Gernco Construction for a new four-unit residential building at 4741 Welcome Avenue North (Application 2021-06). Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending approval of the site plan. Chair Selton opened the public hearing. Commission member Maristany asked where snow storage will occur. Olson said there are areas on both sides of the driveways where snow could be stored. Maristany asked how big the proposed trees will get. Olson said that the Japanese tree lilac is fairly small. He was not sure how tall the American Linden and Coffee tree will get. Commission member Sears added that it will take many years for the trees to achieve full growth. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – September 13, 2021 Commission member Strand asked if the units will be owned or rented. Olson said the applicant is proposing to own the four units and live in one of them while renting out the other three units. However there is no mandate that the applicant live in one of the units. Mr. Okeakpu of Gernco Construction said he’s planning on living in one of the units with his family. A Crystal resident said she lives near the property. She said the alley has become busier the last few years. She asked how far the garages will be from the alley. Olson said 30’ from the property line along the alley, which is typically the edge of the pavement. She asked if each unit will have its own refuse collector. Mr. Okeakpu said his plan is to have one collector for all the units. Commission member Seffren asked how the applicant could sell the units rather than renting them. Olson said the applicant could do what’s called a Common Interest Community (CIC) plat so that each unit could be sold. Hearing no one else from the public who wished to speak, Selton closed the public hearing. Moved by Strand and seconded by Sears to recommend approval to the City Council of the site plan application for Gernco Construction at 4741 Welcome Avenue North. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 4. OLD BUSINESS - None 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Conformance to Comprehensive Plan – sale of 4824 – 56th 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. Maristany asked if there is a site plan for the two-family dwelling. Olson said not at this time, but it is anticipated the EDA will authorize an RFP and after that a builder will submit a site plan to purchase the lot. Since a two-family dwelling is a permitted use that does not require site plan approval, the only public hearing process will be by the EDA for the lot sale. Moved by Seffren and seconded by Maristany to determine that the sale of the lot is in conformance to the Comprehensive Plan. Ayes: all. Nays: None. b. Select member and alternate for Joint Airport Zoning Board (JAZB) Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and asked that the Commission select a member and alternate for the JAZB. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – September 13, 2021 Commission member Maristany asked if there will be knowledgeable persons on the JAZB to provide information to those who are not familiar with airport operations. Olson said that staff from MAC will be on the JAZB, and they have retained an airport consultant to write the ordinance and educate the members on such matters. Commission member Seffren nominated Sears to serve as the member. There were no other nominations and Sears accepted. Ayes: all. Nays: none Commission member Sears nominated Heigel to serve as the alternate. There were no other nominations and Heigel accepted. Ayes: all. Nays: none 6. GENERAL INFORMATION • City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Olson stated that the Council approved the Crystal Flats subdivision at 6613 – 36th Ave N. Commission member Strand updated the Commission on her attendance at the Council meeting for that subdivision. • Update from Council Liaison: City Council liaison Brendan Banks was not present at the meeting. • Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, October 11, 2021 meeting. Olson said he is not sure there will be an October meeting, but that the application deadline is not until tomorrow. 7. OPEN FORUM Commission member Strand updated the Commission on the construction progress for the Suite Living of Crystal assisted living at 3500 Douglas Dr. Commission member Heigel asked when the new police station will be completed. Olson said it should be completed by the end of summer, 2022. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Selton and seconded by Sears to adjourn. Ayes: All. Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.