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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 06-26 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 JUNE 26, 1997 CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in a study session and was called to order by Chair Tim Willson at 7:35 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Willson, Commissioners Graydon Boeck, Mark Holmes, Brian Walker, and Commissioner- appointee Stephen Erdmann were present. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Arlene Bergfalk. Commissioners Rex Newman and Dianne Reem were excused. OATH OF OFFICE Mr. Warren administered the oath of office to Stephen Erdmann, appointed by the Council as Commissioner to fill a vacant term expiring on December 31, 1997. Mr. Erdmann is eligible for reappointment to the Planning Commission upon expiration of this term. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 29. 1997 There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Holmes,to approve the minutes of the May 29, 1997 meeting, as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Erdmann 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 97008 (ROBERT ELLEDGE HUMBOLDT UNOCAL) Chair Willson introduced Application No.97008,a request submitted by Robert Elledge for a special use permit to provide Ryder truck rental service at the Humboldt Unocal, 6840 Humboldt Avenue North. Mr. Warren presented the staff report using overhead transparencies to describe the location and site plan which shows the position of parking, the building and fuel islands on the property. (See attached Planning Commission Application Information Sheet dated 6-26-97.) Truck rental and leasing is a special use allowed in the C-2 zoning district. The applicant requests the special use permit to offer up to 4 rental trucks ranging in size from 10 feet to 24 feet in length. The locked vehicles will be parked out of the way to provide adequate circulation on the property and will not affect the required parking,as detailed in the staff report,for the service station customers, employees, and service vehicle(s). According to Mr. Elledge's application materials,the rental of vehicles provides an additional essential service to residents and gives him the opportunity to expand his business. Mr. Warren explained that the proposal does not conflict with the standards for issuing special use permits contained in Section 35-220, subdivision 2, of the City ordinances. Specifically, the operation will not have a detrimental effect on the general public welfare,be injurious to surrounding property,nor impede the normal and orderly development or redevelopment of surrounding property. Furthermore, adequate parking and circulation on the property are maintained and a limitation of four available rental vehicles justifies granting a special use permit. The staff recommends approval of granting the special use permit subject to 5 conditions contained in the staff report. Chair Willson called for questions from the Commissioners. Circulation, parking, and signage related to the proposed new service were considered. Mr. Warren responded to questions and clarified acceptable signage on the property with respect to the proposed new service. PUBLIC HEARING(APPLICATION NO.97008.ROBERT ELLEDGE.HUMBOLDT UNOCAL) There was a motion by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Walker to open the public hearing on Application No. 97008 at 7:52 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Robert Elledge, owner of the Unocal service station,indicated he would answer questions from the Commissioners. Mr. Tony Ouellette, owner of the Humboldt Square shopping center, expressed concern that storage of rental vehicles in the southeast corner of the service station property will obscure the signage of the donut shop in the shopping center, and questioned whether the service is in the best interest of the community. Mr. Warren described the proximity of the donut shop signage to the planned parking of the trucks. It appears that encroachment will be avoided. Discussion issues included: entrances to the service station, prior elimination of a service road related to the child care facility,overhang of parked rental trucks,limits of City ordinance authority, and shopping center ownership responsibility. It was noted that the service station site, owned by Mr. Elledge, is a parcel separate from the shopping center. 6-26-97 2 Mr. Elledge stated the shopping center owner recently sheared trees on green space adjoining the service station property. Elledge assured that rental vehicles will be parked to avoid overhang on to adjacent property. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING(APPLICATION NO. 97008 There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck,seconded by Commissioner Holmes to close the public hearing on Application No. 97008 at 8:20 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Recognizing that the request complies with the standards for special use permits,the Commission did not interpose objections to granting a special use permit to provide truck rental service at Humboldt Unocal, 6840 Humboldt Avenue North, subject to certain conditions. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO.97008,ROBERT ELLEDGE. HUMBOLDT UNOCAL There was a motion by Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Boeck,to recommend to the Council that it approve Application No. 97008, a request submitted by Robert Elledge, Humboldt Unocal,for a special use permit to provide Ryder truck service rental at 6840 Humboldt Avenue North, subject to the following conditions: 1. The special use permit is granted for a truck rental operation involving no more than four trucks in conjunction with the automobile service station use at 6840 Humboldt Avenue North. No other uses,other than those approved in conjunction with this and the previous special use permit, are comprehended by this approval. 2. The special use permit is subject to all applicable codes, ordinances and regulations and any violation thereof shall be grounds for revocation. 3. No banners,pennants, streamers,balloons or other attention attracting devices may be used in conjunction with the storage and display of these vehicles on the site other than that which is authorized under administrative permits comprehended under the city's zoning ordinance. 4. This special use permit approval does not comprehend any additional signery other than that allowed under Chapter 34 of the city ordinances. 5. The parking of rental trucks shall be confined to the southeasterly portion of the site as shown on the site plan with the longer vehicles being parked closest to the east property line. Voting for: Chair Willson, Commissioners Boeck, Erdmann, Holmes, and Walker. The motion passed unanimously. 6-26-97 3 The Council will consider the recommendation at its Monday,July 14, 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. ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 Mr. Warren directed the Commissioners'attention to a draft ordinance amendment distributed at the meeting prepared by the Secretary based on the Commission's discussion at its May 29, 1997 meeting and a directive from the City Council. The amendment contemplates revising Chapter 35 regarding accessory buildings in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. The specific discussion point involves elimination of the current 1000 sq. ft. size or ground coverage limitation of an accessory building on a residential property. Mr. Warren reviewed applications regarding accessory buildings recently denied by the Commission and Council, explained the state statutes and city ordinance requirements regulating accessory uses,and responded to questions from the Commissioners. The Commissioners discussed the effects of increasing the allowable size of a single accessory building. They agreed to eliminate the 1,000 sq. ft. limitation on the size of a single accessory building and utilize State Building Code provisions only to limit the size of an accessory building. However,because of the size of existing homes and residential lots in Brooklyn Center it would not be appropriate to allow construction of any accessory building that would be larger in size than the primary residence. The Commissioners agreed to editorial changes recommended by the Secretary that sets forth the limitations regulating accessory buildings in residential districts into Section 35-530. This change removes the limitations from Sections 35-310 and 311 and referencing Section 35-530 so as to include all the limitations in one subsection for clarity and simplification. Commissioner Boeck suggested adding a clarifying phrase into Section 35-310, 1.b.9: "The renting of not more than two sleeping rooms, in the principal building, by a resident family, providing adequate off-street parking is provided." (New material underscored.) The Commissioners agreed to this clarification. ACTION REGARDING AMENDING CHAPTER 35 There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Walker,to recommend to the Council that it approve the revisions recommended by the Secretary and suggested by Commissioner Boeck to Chapter 35 of the City Ordinances regarding buildings in R-1 and R-2 districts. The motion passed unanimously. However,recognizing this issue is of specific interest to Commissioner Newman who is absent from this meeting,the Commissioners agreed to table final action on the matter. 6-26-97 4 There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Holmes to table final action to July 17, 1997 on the draft amendment to Chapter 35 of the city ordinances. The motion passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Warren noted the next meeting of Commission is on July 17 and the Comprehensive Plan meeting is on July 21. Chair Willson informed the Secretary and the Commissioners that he will be absent from the July 17 Commission meeting. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Boeck, seconded by Commissioner Erdmann,to adjourn the Planning Commission study session. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. -ZI-d-A � &Z4� Chair Recorded and transcribed by: Arlene Bergfalk TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial 6-26-97 5