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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 05-28 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 STUDY SESSION MAY 28, 1998 CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in a regular session called to order by Chair Willson at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Tim Willson, Commissioners Graydon Boeck, Stephen Erdmann, Edward Nelson, Rex Newman, and Dianne Reem were present. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Arlene Bergfalk. Attending a portion of the meeting were Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmember Kathleen Carmody, City Manager Michael McCauley, and Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz, APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 14. 1998 There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Reem, to approve the minutes of the May 14, 1998 meeting amended as follows: (new language underscored) Page 3, line 1 to read: "Ms. Nancy Carlson, 6024 Aldrich Avenue North, expressed lep asant surprise at the depth of the" Page 3, line 2, beginning with the full sentence to read: "She explained her interest as a" Page 8, line 6, delete the sentence: The motion passed unanimously. Page 8, add another paragraph under OTHER BUSINESS noting the update given in response to Commissioner Nelson's inquiry about the status of the Budget Car and Truck Rental application. 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. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY - APPLICATION NO. 98008 Chair Willson re- introduced Application No. 98008, submitted by the Economic Development Authority (EDA) of the City of Brooklyn Center, requesting preliminary plat approval to create 5 -28 -98 1 single family residential lots and two outlots out of property located between 4th Street North and Bryant Avenue North, north of 53rd Avenue. Action on this application was tabled at the Commission's May 14, 1998 meeting. The application was filed on 04 -23 -98 and City Council action should be taken by 06 -22 -98 (60 days). Mr. Warren presented the staff report and used overhead transparencies to show the location of the 6.48 acre property and the preliminary plat to be known as Bellvue Lane Addition. (See attached Planning Commission Application Information Sheets dated 05 -28 -98 and 05- 14 -98). Except for 25,000 sq. ft. of land zoned R -4, (the former location of 2 four plexes) the property is zoned R -2. A separate application to rezone the R -4 portion to R -2 will come before the Commission at its meeting on June 11, 1998. This plan results from EDA property acquisition within the past year and creates a parkway and new housing in the area. On May 14, the Commission tabled action on this Application to allow input from the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County regarding the relationship between this project and adjacent Minneapolis projects. Mayor Kragness and City Manager McCauley will report on their meeting with the adjacent officials. Mr. Warren used a transparency to review a modification to the plat which will create 3 lots instead of 4 on the west end of the Bellvue Lane cul -de -sac. This modification reduces to 15 the number of residential lots created for new housing. The change avoids reduction of adjacent park land in the area. A public hearing on the Application was conducted and closed at the 05 -14 -98 meeting, however, the hearing may be reopened at the Commission's discretion. Mr. Warren recommended approval of the application subject to 3 conditions outlined in the staff report. Chair Willson called for questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Boeck inquired why the necessary re- zoning did not precede or coincide with the preliminary plat application, and whether there were any other variances required. Mr. Warren explained the re- zoning was an oversight on the part of the staff, and that no variances are needed since the plat meets and/or exceeds requirements for single family lots. Commissioner Reem inquired whether a traffic count has been conducted on Bryant Avenue to determine the impact of traffic on the homes whose backyards face Bryant. Mr. Warren explained that the streets in the area are in a true grid pattern and stated that Camden, Humboldt, and Dupont Avenues may carry more traffic than Bryant. Therefore, no more than customary traffic is expected on Bryant Avenue. Mr. Warren stated that although a revised plat including all the required material is not available at this meeting, the plat has been reviewed and approved by the City Engineer to ensure that the Commission's previous concerns were addressed. It was pointed out that the EDA, along with City 5 -28 -98 2 staff and the neighborhood, worked over a year on all aspects of this project and ultimate approval of the final plat is the responsibility of the City Council. Chair Willson called on Mayor Kragness to report on the City's meeting with Minneapolis and Hennepin County officials. Mayor Kragness informed the Commissioners that a 2 hour meeting was held on May 20 with Hennepin County Commissioner Opat and Minneapolis City Councilmember Barbara Johnson. She reviewed the comments of the other officials with respect to the Brooklyn Center Bellvue project. Apparently any Minneapolis sponsored improvement plans for property adjacent to the Bellvue project are in the distant future (2 -3 years or possibly 20 years). The EDA prefers to move ahead promptly with the Bellvue plans. Mayor Kragness stated the improvement project is supported by the Brooklyn Center School District. Mayor Kragness responded to questions and concerns from the Commissioners. Councilmember Carmody, liaison to the Park and Recreation Commission, stated the Commission reviewed and approved the Bellvue Park plans. Ms. Mary Simmons, 5530 Camden Avenue North, President of the Bellvue Park Neighborhood Association, who also attended the meeting due to her interest in the Bellvue project, provided additional insight into the project history and plans. She responded to Commissioner's questions regarding the planned cost and design of the homes as it relates to the adjoining neighborhoods. where the homes may be of lesser value and older vintage. According to Ms. Simmons, these issues are not of particular concern to residents of the other neighborhoods, since there currently exists an unusual mix of homes. City Manager McCauley reviewed the two -year history of the EDA's project. Mr. McCauley characterized the Bellvue Lane Addition as an experiment from which the City can gain experience and knowledge for possible future improvements in adjacent and other areas of the City. Mr. McCauley responded to Commissioners' questions and concerns. Following discussion, the Commissioners generally concluded that the Bellvue Lane Addition preliminary plat, as revised, meets the City's ordinances and the Council is responsible for final approval of the project, therefore interposed no objections to Application No. 98008. ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 98008 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to recommend to the Council that it approve Application No. 98008, a request submitted by the EDA (City of Brooklyn Center) for preliminary plat approval to create 15 new single family residential lots and two outlots out of 6.48 acres of property located between 4th Street North and Bryant Avenue North, north of 53rd Avenue, in accordance with the revisions presented to the Planning Commission, and subject to the following conditions: 1. The final plat is subject to review and approval by the City Engineer. 2. The final plat is subject to the provisions of Chapter 15 of the City Ordinances. 5 -28 -98 3 3. Approval of this plat acknowledges the need to rezone the proposed Lots 1, 2, and 3, Block 2, from R -4 to R -2. The platting process may proceed, however, no building permits for said lots may be issued until the rezoning process has been completed. Voting in favor: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Erdmann, Nelson, and Reem. Voting against: Commissioner Newman. The motion passed on a 5 to 1 vote. Commissioner Newman stated that while he supports the concept of the improvement in that neighborhood, he believes that aspects of the project need refinement and definition and that the overall project could be better. The Council will consider this recommendation at its Monday, June 8, 1998 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 reconsideration. OTHER BUSINESS FUTURE MEETING DATE The next meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 1998. Mr. Warren briefly reviewed the agenda items for that meeting. PEP BOYS PLAN Mr. Warren described a revision to Application No. 98001, submitted by Casco Corporation/Pep Boys Service Center, considered by the Commission at its January 14, 1998 meeting. Pep Boys has acquired additional space at the Brookdale Square Shopping Center and now wishes to re- locate its loading facility closer to the west wall of Circuit City (also located in the Center). Mr. Warren used an overhead transparency to show the re- located loading dock and explained the screening requirements attached to the proposed tire facility and the loading dock area. He said the eight foot high screen wall should be extended 15 feet to 20 feet to provide better screening of the loading dock. Following discussion, it was the consensus of the Commissioners that the revision to Application No. 98001 to relocate the loading dock, reviewed and proposed by the City staff, be approved provided the addition to the screen wall is made. APPLICATION NO. 98009 Mr. Warren reported the approval by the Council of Application No. 98009, City of Brooklyn Center new fire station at 63rd Avenue and Brooklyn Boulevard, as submitted by the Planning Commission. The Council, however, requested the Commission's re- consider Condition No. 11, with regard to additional fencing, which it attached to the Application presented to the Council. Mr. Warren described the landscaping, screening, and fencing for the project and noted that a complete and accurate picture of new and existing fencing, including fencing on private property, was not clarified 5 -28 -98 4 at the Planning Commission's May 14 meeting. Mr. Warren described the residential fencing currently in place and explained that Condition No. 11, which requires construction of additional fencing on the south and south easterly sides of the site, which are adjacent to proposed and/or future parking stalls, is superfluous, costly and difficult to maintain. The Commissioners thoroughly discussed the matter and generally concluded that Condition No. 11 should remain attached to Application No. 98009 to protect the interests of adjoining residential property. Commissioners Erdmann and Newman opposed the condition on the basis of redundancy, esthetics and cost. ACTION ON RECONSIDERATION OF APPLICATION NO. 98009 There was a motion by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Erdmann, to rescind Condition No. 11 attached to Application No. 98009. Voting for: Commissioners Erdmann and Nelson. Voting against: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Newman, and Reem. The motion failed on a vote of 2 in favor to 4 opposed. Therefore, the Commission recommends that Condition 11, regarding additional screening, remain attached to Application No. 98009, as a condition for approval. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m. hair Recorded and transcribed by: Arlene Bergfalk TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 5 -28 -98 5