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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 01-11 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 JANUARY 11, 2001 CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Willson at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Tim Willson, Commissioners John Whitehead, Sean Rahn, Rex Newman, Graydon Boeck, and Stephen Erdmann. Commissioner Dianne Reem was absent and excused. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren, and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Nancy Czajkowski. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 14, 2000 There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Newman, to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2000 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Rahn, seconded by Commissioner Whitehead, to adjourn the 2000 Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE Mr. Warren administered the Oath of Office to: Tim Willson, Graydon Boeck, and Sean Rahn. CALL TO ORDER: 2001 PLANNING COMMISSION The 2001 Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Willson at 7:33 p.m. ROLL CALL 2001 PLANNING COMMISSION Chair Tim Willson, Commissioners John Whitehead, Sean Rahn, Rex Newman, Graydon Boeck, and Stephen Erdmann. Commissioner Dianne Reem was absent and excused. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren, and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Nancy Czajkowski. ELECTION OF 2001 CHAIR Chair Willson opened the floor for nominations. Commissioner Boeck nominated Commissioner Tim Willson as Chair of the 2001 Planning Commission. 01 -11 -01 Page 1 Chair Willson asked for further nominations three times. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to close the nominations. There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Whitehead, to close the nominations for Chair of the 2001 Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Newman, to elect Commissioner Willson to the position of Chair of the 2001 Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. ELECTION OF 2001 CHAIR PRO TEM Chair Willson opened the floor for nominations. Commissioner Newman nominated Commissioner Boeck as Chair Pro Tem of the 2001 Planning Commission. Chair Willson asked for further nominations three times. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to close the nominations. There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Whitehead, to close the nominations for Chair Pro Tern of the 2001 Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Rahn, to elect Commissioner Boeck to the position of Chair Pro Tern of the 2001 Planning Commissioner. The motion passed unanimously. 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. 2001-001 (KIDS DOMINIUM PRESCHOOL) Chair Willson introduced Application No. 2001 -001, a request from Kids Dominium Preschool to seek amendment to the Special Use Permit granted to operate a child care /day care facility at the Jehovah Jireh Church of God in Christ, 6120 Xerxes 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 1/11/01 for Application No. 2001 -001 attached.) The proposed amendment is to increase the number of children served from the 29 currently authorized to 42. The property in question is zoned R -1 (Single Family Residence) and is bounded on the north by Brooklyn Drive with single family homes on the opposite side of the street; on the east by city owned park and open space property; 01 -11 -01 Page 2 on the south by the Brookdale Christian Center Assembly of God Church; and on the west by Xerxes Avenue with single family homes on the opposite side of that street. Churches and accompanying uses such as child care or day care are considered special uses in the R -1 zoning district. Staff recommends approval subject to four conditions. Commissioner Newman asked if the only change is the number of children allowed. Mr. Warren responded that is correct, other than the changes that the building official recommended. Commissioner Erdmann noted the building official recently made an inspection. He asked if there would be another inspection that focused on the suitability of the premises for that number of children. Mr. Warren responded this inspection originated because of the request to increase the number of children. Commissioner Boeck noted the hours of operation are from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and asked if this was a change. Mr. Warren responded the original start time was 6:30 a.m., but the closing time has remained the same. Commissioner Boeck asked if the 6:30 a.m. time was to accommodate working mothers and fathers so can get to their jobs. Mr. Warren responded in the affirmative. He stated the same would have been true earlier, they need to have staff there when the kids are dropped off. He noted he does not know if all the children are there from 5:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. He added there is an after school program. Commissioner Boeck asked if there would be any conflict with the church parking. Mr. Warren responded the church has services on Sundays and some evening services from time to time. He stated there should not be any conflict with the parking. He indicated the drop off area on the plan. Commissioner Boeck asked if the employees have a minimal use of parking during the day. Mr. Warren responded that he is not sure how many employees there are. He stated the Minnesota Department of Human Services determines the number of staff people needed for the number of children in the various programs. PUBLIC HEARING — APPLICATION 2001 -001 There was a motion by Commissioner Rahn, seconded by Commissioner Erdmann, to open the public hearing on Application No. 2001 -001, at 7:48 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Willson called for comments from the public. Ms. Linda Thibodeaux, 6120 Xerxes Avenue North, Director of the Kids Dominion Preschool, stated she is available for any questions from the Planning Commission. Commissioner Boeck asked about the number of employees. Ms. Thibodeaux responded there are a total of five employees including her. 01 -11 -01 Page 3 Commissioner Boeck asked if the same number of employees work all year round. Ms. Thibodeaux responded in the affirmative. Commissioner Newman asked why the request to increase the number from 29 to 42. Ms. Thibodeaux responded the number is based on the amount of space and number of students the licensing standards would allow. She stated the Jehovah Jireh program never was increased to 29 students. Mr. Jim Swenson, 6000 Washburn Avenue North, stated he is a neighbor and came to be educated. He asked for the ages of the children. Ms. Thibodeaux responded the children range in age from 16 months to 13 years old. Mr. Swenson asked how it is financed. Chair Willson responded the program is fee based. Mr. Swenson asked if it is open to Church members only. Chair Willson responded it is open to people of all races, religions, etc. Mr. Swenson asked about the screening for the employees and if they are licensed by the state. Chair Willson responded the program is licensed by the State of Minnesota and employees must meet standards established by the State. Ms. Thibodeaux added there are background checks as well as state licensing requirements. Mr. Swenson asked if there are previous problems. Mr. Warren responded he is not aware of any problems. Commissioner Boeck asked why there are 12- year -old children here and not in school. Ms. Thibodeaux responded it is a program before and after school. She stated the children come in the morning and then go to school. She noted the school buses pick them up and bring them back to her program. She added the parents pick them up from the center. Mr. Swenson asked if there are any school age children there during the day. Ms. Thibodeaux responded the school age children are only there on release days or holidays. No other persons from the public appeared before the Commission during the public hearing on Application No. 2001 -001. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Whitehead, to close the public hearing on Application 2001 -001, at 7:55 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. The Chair called for further discussion or questions from the Commissioners. The Commissioners interposed no objections to approval of the Application. 01 -11 -01 Page 4 ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 2001-001 (KIDS DOMINION PRESCHOOL) There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Whitehead, to recommend to the Council that it approve Application No. 2001 -001, submitted by Kids Dominium Preschool for amendment to the Special Use Permit granted to operate a child care /day care facility at the Jehovah Jireh Church of God in Christ, 6120 Xerxes Avenue North, subject to the following conditions: 1. The amended special use permit is issued to allow a child care /day care facility serving up to 42 children in a preschool and after school program. Any expansion or alteration of this operation will require an amendment to the special use permit. 2. The child care /day care operation shall receive the proper licensing from the Minnesota Department of Human Services and a copy of the license shall be kept on file with the City. 3. The premises will be brought into compliance with applicable state and local regulations relating to fire safety, health and building code standards for this operation as determined by the Building Official and Fire Chief. 4. The special use permit is subject to all other applicable codes, ordinances and regulations. Any violation thereof may be grounds for revocation. Voting in favor: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Erdmann, Newman, Rahn, and Whitehead. The motion passed. The Council will consider the recommendation at its January 22, 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 Chair Willson stated the Planning Commission has been asked by the Year 2000 Celebration Committee to put something in a time capsule to be sealed on February 10, 2001. He noted they have recommended an organizational brochure and a roster. He added he thought a membership roster on parchment paper might be a good idea. He stated the last capsule was prepared in 1976 and opened in 2000. Commissioner Rahn stated a zoning map would be slim. Mr. Warren stated he would look to see if there are any other artifacts for planning and zoning. Chair Willson stated they are asking each organization to have a representative there when it is sealed. 01 -11 -01 Page 5 Commissioner Rahn stated all are welcome, but he would be there anyway. Chair Willson noted Commissioner Rahn is on the committee. Chair Willson stated the Commission would have another meeting on Wednesday to discuss this. Commissioner Boeck stated photographs of developments over the last 5 to 10 years would be a good idea. He noted it is always good to see how it used to be. He added pictures of some areas of Brooklyn Boulevard might be a good idea. He stated the Dayton's Development and the theater are also suggestions. Mr. Warren stated the city might have some aerial photography that could be put in the capsule. Chair Willson directed staff to work on these possibilities. Chair Willson stated they wanted something to them by January 26, 2001. He noted the Commission's next meeting is the 24` He asked Mr. Warren to give them a call and let them know the schedule and the Commission's thoughts so far. Mr. Warren stated he would try to coordinate with other staff as to what other Commissions are doing. He noted he would try to get a report by the meeting on the 24 as to what is available. He added a reminder the meeting is on Wednesday, January 24, 2001, at 7:30 p.m. There was no other business. 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 8:03 p.m. N Chair Recorded and transcribed by: Nancy Czajkowski Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.8 01 -11 -01 Page 6