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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 11-13 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 NOVEMBER 13, 1997 CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Tim Willson at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Tim Willson, Commissioners Graydon Boeck, Dianne Reem, and Rex Newman were present. ret to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning S Also present were Secretary g g S ecialist Ronald p Warren and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Arlene Bergfalk. Commissioners Mark Holmes and Brian Walker were excused. Commissioner Steve Erdmann entered the meeting at 7:40 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 16. 1997 There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Reem, to approve the minutes of the October 16, 1997 meeting, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Boeck abstained. 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. 97014 (JEHOVAH -JIREH CHURCH) Chair Willson introduced Application No. 97014, a request submitted by Jehovah -Jireh Church for a special use permit to operate a child care facility out of its church building located at 6120 Xerxes Avenue North. The application was filed on 10 -30 -97 and City Council action should be taken by 12 -29 -97 (60 days). Mr. Warren presented the staff report using overhead transparencies to describe the zoning and location of the property and a site plan submitted by the applicant. (See attached Planning Commission Application Information Sheet dated 11- 13 -97.) The site plan shows the location of the class rooms for preschool child care and for after school care, drop off and pick up locations, the child care entrance, and the fenced out door activity area. Child and /or day care services are considered special uses in the R1 zoning district. 11 -13 -97 1 , The applicant is currently seeking the required licensing by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to serve up to 29 children. In addition, the facility requires inspections by the City's building official and the fire chief, and compliance with any recommendations. The building official is currently evaluating the facility's compliance with building code requirements. A copy of the State license must be provided to the City. A special use permit may be granted after a finding that all standards for such permits have been met. Mr. Warren stated he believed the application contains no conflicts with the five standards for special use permits outlined in Section 35 -220 of the zoning ordinance. Therefore, based on its review of the application, the staff recommends approval of the special use permit for the operation of a child care facility by the Jehovah -Jireh Church, subject to the four conditions outlined in the staff report. Chair Willson called for questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Boeck requested clarification regarding the need for a special use permit since the church is already occupying this site under a special use permit. He also inquired who sets the limitation of 29 children. According to Mr. Warren, this application represents an activity that is a special use within a church facility. This area had been used as a school in the past by another organization. Ms. Danita Alderson, the applicant's representative, stated that the facility can accommodate 29 children based on the State's licensing requirement of 35 sq. ft. of area per child. PUBLIC HEARING (APPLICATION NO. 97014. JEHOVAH -JIREH CHURCH) There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Reem, to open the public hearing on Application No. 97014 at 7:50 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Danita Alderson, 1618 Oliver Avenue North, Minneapolis, the applicant's representative, was present to answer Commissioners' questions. Ms. Alderson stated that a sliding fee structure following the guidelines of the Minneapolis Day Care Association will be implemented. She explained that while the need for a day care facility originated with members of the church's congregation, use of the services will not be restricted in any way, but will be open for use by anyone needing child care. The school will not, however, provide transportation services at this time. Programs, including food service, will be offered Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. year- round. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING - APPLICATION 97014 There was a motion by Commissioner Newman, seconded by Commissioner Erdmann, to close the public hearing on Application No. 97014 at 7:55 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. The Commissioners interposed no objections to approval of the Jehovah -Jireh Church's request for a special use permit to operate a child care facility, subject to certain conditions. 11 -13 -97 2 ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 97014. (JEHOVAH -JIREH CHURCH There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Newman, to recommend to the Council that it approve Application No. 97014, a request submitted by Jehovah -Jireh Church for a special use permit to operate a child care facility in its church building at 6120 Xerxes Avenue North, subject to the following conditions: 1. The special use permit is issued for a child care /day care facility serving up to 29 children in a preschool and after school program. Any expansion or alteration of the operations will require an amendment to this special use permit. 2. The child care /day care operation shall receive the proper licensing from the Minnesota Department of Human Services and 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 for: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Erdmann, Newman, and Reem. The motion passed unanimously. The Council will consider the recommendation at its Monday, November 24, 1997 meeting. The applicant must be present. Major changes to the application as reviewed by the Commissioners will require that the application be returned to the Commission for re- consideration. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Warren noted that henceforth applications presented to the Commission will include the action deadline date as indicated on the Application considered at this meeting. The Commissioners agreed to reschedule its next meeting to Wednesday, December 17, 1997. Mr. Warren indicated that the 1998 schedule of Commission meetings will be similar to this year's schedule. Meetings held in January and February will be on Wednesdays rather than Thursdays; however, the final schedule will be available after the Council meeting schedule is established. Mr. Warren referred to the Commissioners' discussion at its October 16 meeting on a preliminary plan in progress by Pep Boys, a retail auto parts and service company, to be located at Brookdale Square. At that meeting, it was pointed out that re- zoning of adjacent areas appeared necessary to allow approval of the application. New information found from further study of zoning maps indicates the affected areas are already zoned open space (0-1), therefore it appears that the 11 -13 -97 3 application can go forward without the rezoning process. Verification of the zoning information is in process. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Newman, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m. Chair Recorded and transcribed by: Arlene Bergfalk Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 11 -13 -97 4