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2024.08.12 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – August 12, 2024 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, August 12, 2024 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  Commissioner (Ward 4) Einfeldt-Brown [Sec. Vice Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 1) Heigel X Commissioner (Ward 3) Sumnicht X Commissioner (Ward 4) Johnson [Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 2) Strand  Commissioner (Ward 3) Buck  Commissioner (At-Large) Scholz Other attendees: City planner Dan Olson, City Council liaison Taji Onesirosan, Community Development Director John Sutter, and Aaron and Eli Baruch, representing Creek Edge Townhomes LLC, and other interested persons. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Heigel and seconded by Sears to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2024 regular meeting. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Rezoning to Planned Development request from Creek Edge Townhomes LLC for proposed twin homes at 6203 and 6213 – 36th Avenue North (Application number 2024-05) Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending approval of the rezoning application. Commission member Sears asked if the area around the south stormwater pond would be graded to improve that area. Mr. Aaron Baruch said that pond is at a higher elevation than the pond on the north side and would be improved according to the city and watershed requirements. Commission member Sears said he did not see a tornado shelter since the twin homes will not have basements. Mr. Sutter said it is fairly common for these types of units to not have basements and there are usually interior spaces within these homes for shelter. Mr. Aaron Baruch said the apartment building he owns in New Hope does not have a shelter and residents have been safe. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – August 12, 2024 Commission member Strand questioned how this meets UDC requirements if the property does meet the 2-acre minimum. Planner Olson said the main finding is that the property is located within a redevelopment area and those areas are exempt from that minimum lot size for a Planned Development (PD). Mr. Sutter also stated that the PD zoning allows for multiple buildings on one lot rather than creating a subdivision with a lot for each unit. Commission member Sumnicht asked if the main driveway will have curbing on either side. Mr. Aaron Baruch said that there will be curbing which will allow for storm drainage to the stormwater ponds. Chair Johnson asked how long the home has been vacant. Planner Olson said one year. Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Chair Johnson closed the hearing. Moved by Johnson and seconded by Heigel to recommend approval to the City Council of the rezoning application. Ayes: All. Nays: None. 4. OLD BUSINESS - None 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Conformance to Comprehensive Plan – sale of 6110 Lakeland Avenue N. Planner Olson presented a summary of the staff report and stated he is recommending that the Commission determine that the property sale conforms to the Comprehensive Plan. Moved by Strand and seconded by Selton to determine that the property sale is in conformance to the Comprehensive Plan. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Chair Johnson asked how many lots the EDA owns. Planner Olson said the EDA owns 6 or 7 lots that are being held for various reasons. Mr. Olson and Mr. Sutter described the status of various lots held by the EDA, as well as potential redevelopment sites in the city. 6. GENERAL INFORMATION • City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items: Planner Olson said the amendment to the Town Center – Planned Development (TC-PD) for a new sport court at 5240 West Broadway was approved by the City Council. The Council also approved amendments to the Unified Development Code relating to cannabis, off-sale liquor and tobacco. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – August 12, 2024 • Update from Council Liaison: Council liaison Onesirosan said the Council is discussing next year’s budget, including creating four new city jobs and adding funding for future street maintenance. The West Metro Fire-Rescue Board will be meeting on Wednesday to discuss how Crystal and New Hope are funding West Metro Fire Rescue District (WMFRD). Lastly, municipal consent for the planned Blue Line LRT extension is coming up. Chair Johnson asked if the long-range plan to reconstruct the streets has been completed. Mr. Sutter said it was completed about 7 or 8 years ago. Now the city is focusing on mill and overlay and utility replacement on an as-needed basis. Chair Johnson asked if MnDOT will be managing the construction of the Blue Line extension. Mr. Sutter said MnDOT will consult on the construction with Metro Transit but not manage the project. Commission member asked about improvements to Douglas Drive, a county road. Mr. Sutter explained potential future improvements. Commission member Sumnicht asked if Three Rivers Park district has determined the preferred route for the proposed CP Rail regional trail through Crystal. Mr. Sutter described the proposed route as it would connect with existing regional trails. Three Rivers is now working on how to fund the trail and which segments would be built first. • Staff preview of likely agenda items for Monday, September 9, 2024 meeting. Planner Olson said he has not received any applications yet, but the application deadline date is not until tomorrow. 7. OPEN FORUM Mr. Sutter provided information about upcoming meetings related to the municipal consent process for the planned Blue Line LRT extension. Commission member Strand said she doesn’t think the townhomes under construction at 34th and Douglas are compatible with the neighborhood because of their height. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Sears and seconded by Heigel to adjourn. Ayes: All. Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.