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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 11-07 Min MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NORTHWEST NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY GROUP OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA NOVEMBER 7, 1996 CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE Representing the City of Brooklyn Center, Planning Commissioner Mark Holmes, liaison to the Northwest Group, convened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Other City representatives in attendance included: Planning Commission Chair Tim Willson, Commissioner Dianne Reem, Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren and Recording Secretary Arlene Bergfalk. Messrs. Ted Terp, John Baker, and Tim O'Dougherty representing Brookdale Mitsubishi, were in attendance. Approximately 35 Brooklyn Center residents also attended. No appointed members of the Northwest Advisory Group attended. Commissioner Holmes stated the purpose of the meeting is to informally review Planning Commission Application No. 96017, submitted by Brookdale Mitsubishi. The Planning Commission, through the Neighborhood meeting, gathers information to assist in making its recommendation to the City Council on this application, but the Council ultimately makes the final decision on the Application. This Application was considered by the Planning Commission at a meeting/public hearing on October 17, 1996. At that meeting, the Commission tabled consideration and action on the Application, continued the public hearing and referred the matter to the Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Group for its review and comment. The Commission will re-open the public hearing, consider and take action on a recommendation to the City Council regarding this Application at its December 12, 1996 meeting. Mr. Warren used overhead transparencies to show the location and site and building plans for the proposed 18,000 sq. ft. automobile dealership on a 7.035 acre site on the west side of Brooklyn Boulevard, northerly of Shingle Creek. The property contains the former Red Lobster Restaurant and its off-site parking lot, the Community Emergency Assistance Program(CEAP)site and its access road, and a vacant parcel of land located between the parking lot and Brooklyn Boulevard, south of the CEAP access road. A small portion of the property lies in Brooklyn Park and another small part lies on the south side of Shingle Creek. Mr. Warren explained that the current zoning (C-2 Commerce and C-1 Service/Office) of the properties does not allow automobile sales and service. Therefore,Brookdale Mitsubishi's application for a Planned Unit Development requests rezoning to accommodate the automobile sales and service business to be provided by Brookdale Mitsubishi. Mr. Warren made an extensive presentation on the details of the Application including the rezoning procedures, access and parking, grading, drainage and utilities, landscaping, building design, lighting and trash plans. He referenced an information 11-07-96 1 sheet prepared by the City staff, the Planning Commission meeting minutes, and Brookdale Mitsubishi's letter outlining how its proposal meets the City's rezoning policy and guidelines. Commissioner Holmes requested comments from the Applicant's representatives. Mr. Terp stated questions raised at the Planning Commission's October 17 public hearing and additional questions from persons at this meeting will be addressed by the Applicant's representatives. Commissioner Holmes requested testimony from the public. Mr. I Moeller, 5001 Wingard Place, Creek Villa neighborhood, said the existing Toyota auto dealership is a lousy neighbor; and he was offended that the same owners propose to add more of the same. Mr. Moeller expressed concern regarding the "test" cars using the privately owned and maintained streets in the neighborhood. Mr. R. Turner, 5003 Wingard Place, expressed concern regarding additional traffic on Brooklyn Boulevard and the Creek Villa streets whose residents pay for upkeep of their streets whereas the car dealer, regardless of whose jurisdiction it is under, does not pay for anything. Mr. W. Potasnak, 4910 Wingard Place, inquired why additional car dealers are needed in Brooklyn Center adding more congestion on the streets. Mr. P. Holbo, 7106 Perry Place North, stated that he spoke with the manager of the Toyota dealership regarding the use of residential streets for "test" driving, and Brooklyn Park acted to discourage auto dealers from using residential streets for test driving. Holbo suggested Brooklyn Center do the same. Holbo expressed concern regarding increased water and petroleum pollution run-off from the proposed development, questioned why all Creek Villa residents were not informed of the Planning Commission's previous public hearing, reviewed the neighborhood's poor experience with the City's construction of a retention pond adjacent to the complex, and stated that in his opinion an 8 ft. wooden fence would be inadequate for screening noise, odor, light and petroleum-based pollution from the Creek Villa neighborhood and Shingle Creek. Mr. R. Duffy, 7215 Perry Court East, expressed concern that the matter of excessive lighting from the property has not been addressed. Duffy also expressed concern regarding the gas, oil, etc. that will go into the holding ponds and eventually seep into Shingle Creek. Duffy stated his home and neighborhood are an investment to be enhanced rather than diminished. Ms. E. Potter, 4308 Wingard Place, spoke extensively questioning the need for another automobile dealership on Brooklyn Boulevard, pointing out that while she has nothing against such businesses, this proposal appears to be contrary to Brooklyn Center's desire to upgrade its image. She questioned how this development would positively contribute to the recent refurbishing of Brooklyn Boulevard completed by Brooklyn Park and how it would enhance additional improvements planned i for Brooklyn Boulevard in Brooklyn Center. Expressing pride in the Creek Villa neighborhood, Ms. Potter stated the 103 residents contribute $100,000 in taxes to the City and it is unfair to expose the neighborhood to additional traffic on its privately owned and maintained streets. She expressed 11-07-96 2 concern that the Application process may have already proceeded to the point of acceptance and approval by the Planning Commission/City, but expressed appreciation for the opportunity for the neighborhood to comment on the application. It was suggested that the Applicant meet with the Creek Villa Homeowners Association Board of Directors to further discuss their concerns. Members of the public present strongly supported Ms. Potter's remarks. Mr. J. Gardner, 7008 Quail Circle West, reiterated concern regarding devaluation of his property. He stated the neighborhood did not experience problems with the Red Lobster restaurant operations. Gardner indicated the neighborhood has been "sold a bill of goods," and expressed displeasure that the entire Creek Villa neighborhood, including himself, was not informed of this proposal sooner. Ms. M. Erickson, 7208 Perry Court East, reiterated concern regarding further pollution of Shingle Creek which is 15 feet from her home, noting the Creek has not been cleared this year and is filled with trash and garbage already. The following residents spoke to reiterate and support the concerns expressed by previous speakers and strongly opposed approval of the Brookaale Mitsubishi Application to establish a car dealership on properties adjacent to the Creek Villa neighborhood. There was general support for construction of an upscale restaurant on the site to serve area residents and contribute to the City's tax base. Ms. R. Warling, 7107 Quail Circle East Mr. P. Goldstein/Ms. R. Andrescik, 7212 Perry Court East Mr./Ms. J. Casey, 7224 Perry Court East Mr. I. Kellin, 7108 Quail Circle West Ms. C. Zell, 7109 Brooklyn Place Mr. K. Wutschke, 7226 Perry Court East Mr. R. Greenwood, 4908 Wingard Place Mr. New Resident, 7112 Quail Circle BROOKDALE MITSUBISHI (APPLICANT) COMMENTS/RESPONSES Mr. Terp stated the new and used car show floor will be combined in the Mitsubishi dealership to avoid the use of outdoor paging. He explained that the primary display of vehicles will be on the northeast side of the property thereby eliminating the need for extensive lighting on the south side of the property, except for security purposes. The lighting is designed to illuminate'in a straight downward position. Mr. Terp explained that the property currently has no holding ponds and their proposal provides for 2 ponds to purify and improve water quality before it reaches the Creek. According to Mr. Terp, available information indicates the value of residential property will not decrease because of the auto dealership. He suggested an independent evaluation of this matter could be made by the Applicant on behalf of the Creek Villa residents. According to the Applicant, the required buffer zone and additional landscaping on the vacant lot along the creek provide significant screening between the neighborhood and the dealership. In addition an 8 ft. wood fence could be constructed to provide further screening. With respect to the small portion of the property that lies on the south side of Shingle Creek,Mr. Terp stated the owner has no use for it and is willing to donate the piece to Creek Villa Homeowners Association through a private deeding arrangement separate from this Application, but stipulated in the development agreement. 11-07-96 3 Mr. Terp explained that the owner has looked at other locations for the dealership,has purchased other property in Brooklyn Park, and out-bid a restaurant for the purchase of the subject properties. He stated their intent is not to disrupt the existing neighborhood. Mr. Terp outlined the reasons for selection of these particular properties for construction of the Mitsubishi dealership, which include convenience and size, and proximity to its other dealership (Toyota). He stated that if this proposal does not go through, all or part of the properties will be put on the market for sale and some expansion may occur in the Toyota dealership. The similarity of Brooklyn Boulevard to the 494 auto dealership strip in Bloomington was noted and it was suggested that the City consider eliminating use of residential streets for "test" driving by making it a traffic violation as is done in Bloomington. CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER COMMENTS/RESPONSES Mr. Warren explained his role on the City staff, the application evaluation process and rezoning procedures established by City ordinances, action timetables established by law, and the rights of the applicant. He stated that regardless of whether or not this proposal moves forward, development of the subject properties will be commercial in nature, and while actual figures were not available pertaining to these properties, a commercial business contributes more to the City's tax base than a residence. It was pointed out that the Shingle Creek Watershed Commission must review the drainage plans for this development. City representatives described the information gathering process including a neighborhood meeting and reiterated that while the Planning Commission makes recommendations on Applications, the City Council makes the final decisions. While procedures require that the City must only notify persons within 150' of the property, Mr. Warren invited other persons present who wish to be notified of an additional meeting to provide their names and addresses. Subsequently, the homeowners association provided the City with the names and addresses of all of the Creek Villa residents. CONCLUSION Because no appointed members of the Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Group were present at this meeting, it was suggested that another meeting of the Group be scheduled to consider Brookdale Mitsubishi's Application. Some of the residents who testified at this meeting and at the Planning Commission's October 17 public hearing disagreed that another meeting was necessary because no additional new information would result, but would only be repetitious. Nonetheless, it was generally agreed that another meeting of the Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Group be arranged by City staff. That meeting was subsequently set for Tuesday, November 26, 1996, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. In addition, representatives of the Creek Villa Homeowners Association may, at their discretion, meet with representatives of the Applicant at a mutually convenient time to review the proposal. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Chair 1 Recorded and transcribed by: Arlene H. Bergfalk Timesaver Off Site Secretarial 11-07-96 4