HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990 03-01 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
s
MARCH 1, 1990
STUDY SESSION
CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The Planning Commission met in study session and was called to
order by Chairperson Molly Malecki at 7:32 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chairperson Molly Malecki, Commissioners Wallace Bernards, Lowell
Ainas, Kristen Mann and Mark Holmes. Also present were Director of
Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren and Planner Gary Shallcross.
Chairperson Malecki noted that Commissioner Johnson had indicated
that he would be absent and was excused.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 1. 1990
Motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Mann to
approve the minutes of the February 1, 1990 Planning Commission
meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki,
Commissioners Bernards, Ainas, Mann and Holmes. Voting against:
none. The motion passed.
APPLICATION NO. 90001 (Duane Saari
Following the Chairperson's explanation, the Secretary introduced
the first item of business, a request for approval of a variance to
subdivide by metes and bounds, redrawing the common property line
between 5113 Paul Drive and 6412 Scott Avenue North to eliminate an
encroachment of the Saari driveway on the neighboring lot. The
Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (See Planning
Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 90001 attached) .
Commissioner Sander arrived at 7:34 p.m.
Commissioner Holmes asked whether there was any problem with the
existing easement. The Secretary responded in the negative and
stated that the easement would continue to apply.
Chairperson Malecki asked the applicant whether he had anything to
add. Mr. Saari responded in the negative.
PUBLIC HEARING (Application No. 90001)
Chairperson Malecki then opened the meeting for a public hearing
and asked whether anyone present wished to comment on the
application.
Commissioner Holmes asked who owned the redwood fence along the
3-1-90 1
south lot lines of the properties. Mr. Saari indicated that it was
the property owner to the south.
CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING
There being no other comments from those present, there was a
motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Mann to
close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously.
ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO 90001 (Duane Saari)
Motion by Commissioner Mann seconded by Commissioner Ainas to
recommend approval of Application No. 90001, subject to the
following conditions:
1. The new legal descriptions and necessary deeds for
transfer of property shall be filed with the titles to
the property at the County.
Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Sander,
Bernards, Ainas, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. The
motion passed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
a) Ordinance Amendment Regarding Uses Permitted in the C1, C2 and
I-1 Districts and Rezoning Application No. 89003
The Secretary then introduced a discussion item with the Planning
Commission regarding the City initiated rezoning under Application
No. 89003 and a companion zoning ordinance amendment which would
eliminate some commercial uses from the I-1 zone. The Secretary
explained that the City Attorney had had concerns regarding the
ordinance amendment recommended by the Planning Commission in March
of 1989. He stated that the staff was also working on a PUD
ordinance at the time and that it was decided to hold off the
consideration on the amendment to the I-1 zone until the PUD
ordinance was in effect. The Secretary added that the PUD
ordinance is now effective and that it is, therefore, appropriate
to recommend consideration of the rezoning and ordinance amendment.
He stated that it was appropriate at this time to reaffirm the
actions on the Comprehensive Plan amendment and the rezoning which
were taken under Planning Commission Resolution Nos. 89-1 and 89-2.
The Secretary then reviewed the background of the rezoning
application which had been initiated by the City. He stated that
one of the reasons-the rezoning was initiated was because the owner
of some of the industrial land north of the Freeway, Richardson and
Sons, began marketing some of their parcels for sale about two
years ago and that some of the parties who were interested in those
parcels would have made use of them for convenience food
restaurants and budget hotels. The Secretary stated that staff did
not believe those sorts of uses were appropriate in the I-1 zone,
especially in the area north of Freeway Boulevard and were not in
3-1-90 2
keeping with the conceptual plans put forth by the owner over the
years. The Secretary went on to explain that the Zoning Ordinance
pertaining to the I-1 district was amended twice in the past to
allow more commercial uses by special use permit in the I-1 zone.
He stated that along with those uses, there were standards added to
the I-1 zone which were to apply to those commercial uses, namely,
that the uses would be of comparable intensity and compatible with
existing I-1 uses and other uses allowed in the I-1 zone generally.
He explained that the City, at the time it adopted these
ordinances, thought it had control over development through its
ability to deny a special use permit. He pointed out, however,
that recent history of legal cases showed that cities have very
little ability to deny a special use permit. He stated that the
burden of proof has fallen on the City rather than on the
developer. Because of this, staff became concerned when some
commercial uses were proposed for the I-1 zone a year and a half
ago. Therefore, staff initiated the rezoning application and an
ordinance amendment to eliminate some commercial uses from the I-1
zone. The Secretary then showed the Commission a transparency of
the areas that were affected by the rezoning application, including
the Holiday Inn and the La Casita restaurant and parcels between
the freeway and Freeway Boulevard east of Shingle Creek Parkway.
He added that there were parcels south of the freeway and east of
Shingle Creek Parkway which would also be included in the rezoning.
He pointed out that the uses in this area are generally commercial
and that none of them would become nonconforming by being rezoned
to C2.
The Secretary then explained the action that had been taken in
March of 1989 to recommend a Comprehensive Plan amendment along
with an ordinance amendment. He stated that the Comprehensive Plan
amendment was forwarded to the Metropolitan Council for their
review and comment and that the Met Council had no objection to the
Plan amendment.
The Secretary then reviewed with the Commission the contents of a
staff memo on the draft ordinance amendment before the Planning
Commission. (See memorandum attached) . The Secretary explained
that the previous ordinance amendment had called for allowing
certain single tenant retailers selling large or expensive items to
be allowed by special use permit. He stated that the City Attorney
had expressed reservations about limiting retail establishments to
only single tenant establishments and those selling certain
products. He stated that the land use impacts could really not be
differentiated from other types of establishments. The Secretary
pointed out that the draft ordinance amendment would eliminate
retail sales as a principal use in the I-1 zone, but that retail
sales as an accessory use to a manufacturing, wholesaling, or
warehousing type use would still be allowed by special use permit.
He stated that the Schmitt Music operation would sti1'1 be
considered a conforming use since its retail operation is more of
an incidental part of the use of the building rather than the
3-1-90 3
principal use. He then reviewed with the Commission uses to be
eliminated from the I-1 zone and others to be added by special use
permit.
Commissioner Bernards asked about projected traffic impact as a
result of the ordinance amendment. The Secretary stated that staff
do not envision more traffic than was projected by the 1985 Short-
Elliott (SEH) Traffic Study of the Industrial Park and the
Brookdale area. He stated that the study had projected peak hour
traffic that would result from maximum development of this area.
He stated that there may have to be some modifications to certain
intersections if the traffic levels increase, but that these
modifications were foreseen by the traffic study. The Planner
indicated that the draft ordinance amendment would make the I-1
zone more of an employment zone rather than a zone open for
commerce. He stated that the likely effect of this restriction
would be to perhaps increase the 4: 00 to 6: 00 p.m. peak hour
traffic along Shingle Creek Parkway, north of Freeway Boulevard,
but that it would reduce the 6: 00 to 8:00 p.m. traffic in that area
from what it might otherwise be.
Commissioner Bernards asked whether any existing uses in the
Industrial Park would become nonconforming as a result of the
ordinance amendment. The Secretary responded in the negative.
The Secretary recommended to the Commission that it reaffirm the
actions to amend the Comprehensive Plan and the rezoning and also
to act on the draft ordinance amendment. He added that there would
be no nonconforming uses in the area to be rezoned to C2.
ACTION REAFFIRMING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONING
APPLICATION NO. 89003 (PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NOS. 89-1 AND
89-2)
Motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Mann to
reaffirm the Planning Commission's action on the Comprehensive Plan
amendment contained in Planning Commission Resolution No. 89-1 and
also to reaffirm the rezoning recommendation contained in Planning
Commission Resolution No. 89-2. Voting in favor: Chairperson
Malecki, Commissioners Sander, Bernards, Ainas, Mann and Holmes.
Voting against: none- The motion passed unanimously.
MOTION RECOMMENDING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REGARDING USES PERMITTED IN
THE C1, C2 AND I-1 ZONING DISTRICTS
Motion by Commissioner Mann seconded by Commissioner Sander to
recommend adoption of an ordinance amendment regarding uses
permitted in the C1, C2 and I-1 zoning districts, especially uses
allowed by special use permit in the I-1 zone. (See draft
ordinance attached) . Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki,
Commissioners Sander, Bernards, Ainas, Mann and Holmes. Voting
against: none. The motion passed.
3-1-90 4
The Secretary indicated that he would try to bring Donn Wiski to
the Planning Commission's next meeting on March 15 to discuss the
Group Home Study. Commissioner Mann also informed the Commission
that there would be a grand opening of the Earle Brown Heritage
Center on April 20, 22 and 25.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Mann to adjourn the meeting of the Planning
Commission. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning
Commission adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
Chairperson
3-1-90 5
1
1