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2026.03.09 - MinutesApproved Planning Commission Minutes – March 9, 2026 CRYSTAL PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Monday, March 9, 2026 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:  Commissioner (Ward 1) Sears [Vice Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 2) Selton  Commissioner (Ward 4) vacant X Commissioner (Ward 1) Heigel X Commissioner (Ward 3) Sumnicht X Commissioner (Ward 4) Johnson [Chair] X Commissioner (Ward 2) Strand X Commissioner (Ward 3) Buck [Sec. Vice Chair] X Commissioner (At-Large) Scholz Other attendees: City Planner Dan Olson, Community Development Director John Sutter and one interested person. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Strand and seconded by Heigel to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2026 regular meeting. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING a. Amend the Official Zoning Map to rezone properties in the Town Center districts (Application Number 2026-02) Mr. Olson presented a summary of the staff report and is recommending approval of the rezonings in the town center districts. Commission member Strand asked when nonconforming uses must comply with the town center regulations. Mr. Olson spoke about various uses that would become nonconforming with this ordinance. Mr. Sutter added those uses that are nonconforming can continue to maintain their properties and can also expand in a way that reduces any nonconformities. Property owners can also request that their property be rezoned from TC, especially if that owner has a specific future land use plan for the property. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 9, 2026 Commission member Johnson asked if we know what the property tax impacts might be for redevelopment. Mr. Sutter said immediate tax impacts are unknown because properties are valued at what the market will bring. Long term the city council wants more intensive development in the town center area that will alleviate some of the tax burden on other neighborhoods in the city. Commission member Sumnicht asked if there was thought given to expanding the TC-PD overlay district beyond the one property in the staff report. Mr. Olson said the focus by the city council was to expand the TC district. Mr. Sutter added that when the town center districts were created, the idea was to not expand beyond the commercial area so that the low-density residential areas would be protected. Having said that city staff is open to expansion of the TC- PD. Some city council members have discussed creating redevelopment districts in other areas of the city, such as south Douglas Drive or 42nd Ave. N. Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. A Crystal resident asked questions about potential impacts of redevelopment to the residential neighborhoods surrounding the town center area. There being no one else from the public to testify, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing. Moved by Sumnicht and seconded by Strand to recommend approval to the city council of the amendments to the official zoning map. Ayes: All. Nays: None. Motion carried. 4. OLD BUSINESS - None. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Election of Officers Chairperson: Motion by Buck, seconded by Selton to nominate Johnson as chairperson. No other nominations were made. Ayes: all Vice-Chairperson: Motion by Strand, seconded by Scholz to nominate Sears as vice- chairperson. No other nominations were made. Ayes: all Second Vice-Chairperson: Motion by Selton to nominate Buck for second vice-chair, seconded by Scholz. No other nominations were made. Ayes: all 6. GENERAL INFORMATION a. City Council actions on previous Planning Commission items. Mr. Olson described the following City Council actions and answered questions from the Commission: • Amendment to TC-PD zoning for an apartment building at 7000 – 56th Ave. N. Approved Planning Commission Minutes – March 9, 2026 b. Development and construction update. Mr. Sutter provided updates on the following items and answered questions from the Commission: • Lotus Pointe at 6000 - 56th Ave. N. • Apartment building by Yellow Tree corporation at 7000 – 56th Ave. N. c. Update from Council Liaison: Council Liaison David Cummings was not present at the meeting. d. Staff preview of likely agenda items for the April 13, 2026 meeting. Mr. Olson said there are three potential conditional use permit applications for the April meeting, but that the application deadline is not until next week. 7. OPEN FORUM • Commission member Heigel said that there is some tree debris in Bassett Creek Park, near Welcome and 32nd Avenues, that should be cleaned up. Staff will pass this along to park maintenance. Commission member Scholz recommended other members review a news article about the controversary of the city of Blaine’s accessory dwelling unit regulations. 8. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Scholz and seconded by Selton to adjourn. Ayes: All. Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.