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2022.03.14 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – March 14, 2022 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, March 14, 2022 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] X 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 X Commissioner (Ward 3) Buck X Commissioner (At- Large) Scholz Other attendees: City planner Dan Olson, Todd Ofsthun (TCO Design) and Tom Herlitzke (Prime Project Management) both representing Odam Medical Group, and other interested persons. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Sears and seconded by Heigel to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2021 regular meeting. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Site plan request from Odam Medical Group for a new medical clinic at 6014 Lakeland Avenue North (Application 2022-01). 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 if medical equipment at the clinic will interfere with air traffic controls at the airport. Mr. Herlitzke said the clinic will not have x-ray machines and such other equipment that would interfere with airport communications. Maristany asked what the timetable is for constructing the upper floors. Mr. Herlitzke said those floors would be built in the next 2-3 years. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 14, 2022 Hearing no one from the public who wished to speak, Selton closed the public hearing. Commission member Heigel asked what the mature height of the trees is. Mr. Ofsthun said they would reach a height of approximately 50’- 60’. Commission member Sears said that the trees will take decades to mature so they won’t potentially interfere with airport operations for many years, and even then they can be trimmed so that they don’t interfere. There are taller Cottonwood trees near the airport now. Commission member Maristany recommended that a condition of approval be added which would set a time limit when the upper floors would be constructed. This is so future residents moving into the area will be aware that the existing main floor clinic will have additional upper floors. Maristany asked if the main floor was built and then the applicant sold the clinic to a new owner, could the new owner then build the upper floors without a public hearing process. Planner Olson said the new owner could build those floors if they constructed them according to the approved site plan. Commission member Strand said she doesn’t think we need a condition of approval to set a time limit for the upper floors, but wondered how a change in building codes would affect the future construction. Planner Olson said that those codes wouldn’t change so significantly as to make it difficult to build the upper floors according to the approved plans. Commission member Maristany asked if a shadow study would be needed for the upper floor construction to determine any impact to the surrounding homes. Planner Olson said that because of the distance of the building from existing homes, a shadow study was not requested of the applicant. Commission member Buck asked if there will be an elevator to the upper floors. Mr. Ofsthun said yes. Commission member Heigel asked where electrical service will be connected. Mr. Herlitzke said off of a utility pole near the southern property line. Commission member Scholz asked if Odam will keep their other facilities once the Crystal clinic is built. Mr. Herlitzke said all the other locations, except St. Cloud, will be closed to consolidate their business in Crystal. Moved by Strand and seconded by Buck to recommend approval to the City Council of the site plan application for Odam Medical Group at 6014 Lakeland Avenue North. Selton asked how the motion could be amended to incorporate an additional condition for a time line for construction of the upper floors. Olson said that both Strand and Buck would have to agree to the amendment. Strand stated she was not in favor of such a condition. Ayes: Buck, Heigel, Selton, Scholz, Strand, Sears, Einfeldt-Brown and Johnson. Nays: Maristany. Motion carried. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 14, 2022 4. OLD BUSINESS - None 5. NEW BUSINESS Election of Officers: Chair: Motion by Heigel, second by Buck to nominate Selton for chair. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. Vice-Chair: Motion by Scholz, second by Strand to nominate Sears as vice-chair. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. Second Vice-Chair: Motion by Einfieldt-Brown, second by Scholz to nominate Einfieldt- Brown as second vice-chair. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 6. GENERAL INFORMATION • City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Olson stated that the Council approved the site plan and variance for the new vision clinic at 5736 Lakeland Avenue North. • Update from Council Liaison: City Council liaison Brendan Banks was not present at the meeting. • Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, April 11, 2022 meeting. Olson said he has not received any applications for the April meeting, but the application deadline is not until tomorrow. 7. OPEN FORUM Commission members discussed what they learned from the recent League of Minnesota Cities webinar on planning and zoning basics. Olson updated the Commission on what happened at the recent community meeting for the proposed new apartment building at 5240 West Broadway. Commission member Sears updated the Commission on the meetings of the Joint Airport Zoning Board to amend the 1983 airport zoning ordinance. Planner Olson added that the Board will be creating a custom ordinance for the Crystal airport. Einfeldt-Brown asked if the Verizon cell tower will be built that was approved in 2020. Olson said Verizon decided not to proceed with the construction of the tower and the time limit set by the conditional use permit (CUP) has expired. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Strand and seconded by Buck to adjourn. Ayes: All. Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.