2022.11.14 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – November 14, 2022
CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, November 14, 2022 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 [Vice Chair]
X Commissioner (Ward 2)
Selton [Chair]
X Commissioner (Ward 4)
Einfeldt-Brown
Commissioner (Ward 1)
Heigel
X Commissioner (Ward 3)
Maristany [Sec. Vice Chair]
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, City Council liaison Brendan Banks, Dan and Debbie
Pearson (representing Premier Motors) and other interested persons.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Moved by Sears and seconded by Strand to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2022
regular meeting. Ayes: Strand, Sears, Selton, Einfeldt-Brown, Maristany, and Scholz.
Abstain: Buck Nays: None
Motion carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARING
a. UDC text amendment request from Dan and Debbie Pearson to revise requirements for
vehicle sales (Application 2022-10).
Chair Selton opened the public hearing.
Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending approval of
the text amendment.
Commission member Maristany asked why the City stopped allowing vehicle sales at this
location. Planner Olson said that in 2004 the City Council determined that they wanted
these types of sales to only occur in certain areas of the city and north of 56th Ave N. was
not one of them.
Commission member Buck asked if they’d seen this amendment previously. Planner
Olson said yes that this amendment, and many other UDC amendments, were adopted
last September by the City Council after a recommendation of denial by the Planning
Commission. After the amendment was adopted, a resident filed a successful petition to
stop the ordinance from going into effect. The City Council is expected to make a decision
on the future of that amendment at an upcoming meeting. The Pearsons did not want to
Approved Planning Commission Minutes – November 14, 2022
wait for that decision and are asking for this individual amendment to be considered by the
City.
Hearing no one from the public who wished to speak, Selton closed the public hearing.
Commission member Maristany asked if the applicants can purchase additional property
for future vehicle sales. Planner Olson said no, that this amendment is just for those
properties shown in the staff report. Maristany asked the applicants why they are asking
for the amendment. Mr. Pearson said there is vacant space within the property that can be
used for vehicle sales and he wants to use it for that purpose.
Moved by Strand and seconded by Einfeldt-Brown to recommend approval to the City
Council of the text amendment application for Dan and Debbie Pearson. Ayes: All Nays:
None.
Motion carried.
4. OLD BUSINESS - None
5. NEW BUSINESS - None
6. GENERAL INFORMATION
• City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Olson stated that the
Council approved the variance for the new monument sign at 5730 Bottineau Boulevard.
• Update from Council Liaison: City Council liaison Brendan Banks did not have any
Council updates, but said he has enjoyed working with the Commission (Mr. Bank’s term
ends at the end of December, and he did not seek re-election).
• Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, December 12, 2022 meeting.
Planner Olson said he has not received any applications for the December meeting, but
the application deadline is not until tomorrow.
7. OPEN FORUM
Commission member Sears said that planned crosswalk improvements by the city at 32nd and
Douglas are needed. He sees a lot of pedestrians struggling to make that crossing.
Commission member Strand said that the city of New Hope has revoked a rental license for a
group home and wondered if Crystal has the same code enforcement regulations for group
homes as “regular” rentals. Planner Olson said yes for code enforcement, but some group
homes are licensed and some are not. The City Council is expected to review possible
amendments to the rental license at an upcoming meeting.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Strand and seconded by Einfeldt-Brown to adjourn. Ayes: All. Nays: None
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.