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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 12-14 PCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION DECEMBER 14, 2000 CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Willson at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Tim Willson, Commissioners John Whitehead, Sean Rahn, Dianne Reem, Rex Newman, Graydon Boeck, and Stephen Erdmann. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren, and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Nancy Czajkowski. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 30, 2000 There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Rahn, to approve the minutes of the November 30, 2000 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Erdmann abstained as he was not at that meeting. CHAIR'S EXPLANATION Chair Willson explained the Planning Commission's role as an advisory body. One of the Commission's functions is to hold public hearings. In the matters concerned in these hearings, the Commission makes recommendations to the City Council. The City Council makes all final decisions in these matters. APPLICATION NO. 2000 -023 - (BLUMENTALS /ARCHITECTURE INC.) Chair Willson introduced Application No. 2000 -023, a request from Blumentals /Architecture Inc. to seek Site and Building Plan approval to construct a 1,829 sq. ft. addition connecting two existing structures located at 5001 Drew Avenue North. Mr. Warren presented the staff report using overhead transparencies to describe the location of the property and the proposal. (See Planning Commission Information Sheet dated 12/14/00 for Application No. 2000 -023 attached.) The proposed building addition would connect two existing buildings on the site. The westerly building has been an accessory storage facility existing on the property prior to 1979. A gasoline station occupied the easterly building on the site prior to 1979 when it was converted to a restaurant. That building has been used for a variety of commercial uses since that time. Stoner and Associates utilizes the buildings as an office with accessory storage and a display studio at this time. They are in the outdoor furniture business. The planned expansion would be for some additional office and meeting room space plus more storage. Staff recommends approval subject to thirteen conditions. Commissioner Boeck asked about the requirement in condition 11 to have a minimum of 50 feet between the accesses on Drew Avenue and noted it is not indicated on the plan. Mr. Warren responded the plan would need to be revised prior to issuing the building permit. 12 -14 -00 Page 1 Commissioner Boeck asked if each would be placed at 20 feet. Mr. Warren responded that approach would work. Commissioner Boeck asked for further clarification regarding proposed landscaping and screening. Mr. Warren responded the plan indicates the lilacs to the north would provide screening. He stated staff is proposing modification to that area by in filling with lilacs. He noted there is a fence to provide screening, but it is not under the control of the applicant. He stated staff suggests an in fill of lilacs in this area in the event the fence goes down. Commissioner Boeck stated condition 12 could be revised to include additional lilacs to the west of the existing plants. Mr. Warren responded the Commission could recommend that what is there is acceptable. Commissioner Reem asked for clarification on condition 13. Mr. Warren responded condition 13 should be accomplished prior to issuance of a building permit. He stated condition 13 requires the building must remain that way and not be converted to an office if it is sold. Commissioner Reem asked if there needs to be any additional language. He stated the City Attorney would draft the language. He added staff would see that it is filed and recorded to provide notice to future buyers. Commissioner Reem asked if the showroom space includes room for clients. Mr. Warren responded there could be clients since they display patio furniture. He stated the first building is primarily for offices for the operation and there is storage in the old garage. He noted the addition is for storage and display. Commissioner Reem asked if there is a lot of traffic. Mr. Warren responded no since it is not a retail operation. He stated the business is more of a distribution operation. Mr. John Klockeman, of Blumentals /Architecture, Inc., stated the plan has already been revised with the accesses at 20 feet/ 20 feet as suggested by Commissioner Boeck. He noted the exterior of the building would be uniform stucco. Commissioner Newman asked about access to storage to the west. Mr. Klockeman responded there is a narrow driveway for deliveries from UPS and Federal Express. Mr. William Stoner, the owner, explained they are a manufacturer's agent, which represents more than one company that manufactures patio furniture. He noted they sell to retailers like Menards, Knox, and Target. He added he wants to make this one building so the operation is more efficient. He stated they display patio furniture. He noted they display products so the buyers from his clients can view the products in order to change assortments. Mr. Stoner stated they currently have a truck to transport the furniture to rented showrooms. He noted they are trying to eliminate this need by establishing their own showroom. He detailed the efficiencies of the plan. 12 -14 -00 Page 2 Commissioner Boeck asked if Mr. Stoner had warehouse space at a different location. Mr. Stoner responded they are not a distributer. He stated they are salesmen and only have samples. He noted the manufactures hire them as agents to sell the products. He added he represents companies all over the world. He stated there would only be three buyers at the most on the premises at one time. He noted he has five people currently working in the building. The Chair called for further discussion or questions from the Commissioners. The Commissioners interposed no objections to approval of the Application. ACTION TO APPROVE OF APPLICATION NO. 2000 -023 - (BLUMENTALS/ ARCHITECTURE INC.) There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Newman, to recommend to the Council that it approve Application No. 2000 -023, submitted by Blumentals /Architecture Inc. for site and building plan approval to construct a 1,829 sq. ft. addition connecting two existing structures located at 5001 Drew Avenue North, subject to the following conditions: 1. The building plans are subject to review and approval by the building official with respect to applicable codes prior to the issuance of permits. 2. Grading, drainage, and utility plans are subject to review and approval by the City Engineer prior to the issuance of permits. 3. A site performance agreement and supporting financial guarantee in an amount to be determined based on cost estimates shall be submitted prior to the issuance of building permits to assure completion of all approved site improvements. 4. Any outside trash disposal facilities and rooftop or on ground mechanical equipment shall be appropriately screened from view. 5. The entire building is to equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system to meet NFPA standards and shall be connected to a central monitoring device in accordance with Chapter 5 of the city ordinances. 6. An underground irrigation system shall be installed in all landscaped areas to facilitate site maintenance. 7. Plan approval is exclusive of all signery which is subject to Chapter 34 of the city ordinances. 8. B -612 curb and gutter shall be provided around all parking and driving areas. 9. The applicant shall submit an as built survey of the property, improvements and utility service lines prior to release of the performance guarantee. 12 -14 -00 Page 3 10. The applicant shall provide appropriate erosion and sediment control devices on the site during construction as approved by the City Engineering department. 11. The plans shall be modified prior to issuance of building permits to provide a minimum of 50 feet between the accesses on Drew Avenue. 12. The landscape plan shall be modified to provide additional shrubs for screening purposes along the north side of the site, to include planting of lilacs to the west of the existing plants. The landscape screening, as revised, is deemed to be appropriate screening meeting the intent of the city ordinance for screening between a service /office use and R -1 zoned property. 13. The owner of the property shall enter into a restrictive covenant, as approved by the City Attorney, limiting the occupancy of the building to that comprehended by available parking. Said covenant shall be filed as a deed restriction with the title to the property at Hennepin County. Voting in favor: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Erdmann, Newman, Rahn, Reem, and Whitehead. The motion passed. The Council will consider the recommendation at its January 8, 2001 meeting. The applicant must be present. Major changes to the application as reviewed by the Planning Commission will require that the application be returned to the Commission for reconsideration. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Warren explained he has distributed the 2001 calendar. He stated the meetings are normally held the Thursday after each City Council meeting. Chair Willson requested the January 25th meeting be moved to January 24, 2001. Mr. Warren stated the meeting could be shifted. There was a motion by Commissioner Reem, seconded by Commissioner Whitehead, to accept the 2001 schedule as amended to change the January 25, 2001 meeting to January 24, 2001. Voting in favor: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Erdmann, Newman, Rahn, Reem, and Whitehead. Mr. Warren stated he has passed on to the city clerk's office the comments by each of the members whose term is expiring. He noted all of them wish to continue for an additional term. He added this should be addressed at the January 8, 2001 meeting of the City Council. There was no other business. 12 -14 -00 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Erdmann, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Chair Recorded and transcribed by: Nancy Czajkowski TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. i 12 -14 -00 Page 5