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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 02-28 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 FEBRUARY 28, 1991 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: 35 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Molly Malecki, Commissioners Ella Sander, 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 Bertil Johnson had informed the Commission he would be out of town and was excused. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE (Commissioners Ainas, Bernards and Mann) The Secretary then administered the oath of office to Commissioners Ainas, Bernards and Mann for new terms ending in December of 1992 . ELECT CHAIRMAN PRO TEM Commissioner Bernards nominated and Commissioner Mann seconded Commissioner Lowell Ainas to be Planning Commission Chairman Pro tem. Chairperson Malecki asked whether there were any other nominations. There were no other nominations. She, therefore, called for a motion to close nominations. MOTION TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS Motion by Commissioner Ainas seconded by Commissioner Holmes to close nominations for Planning Commission Chairman Pro tem. The motion passed unanimously. VOTE ON CHAIRMAN PRO TEM The following Commissioners voted in favor of Commissioner Ainas to be 1991 Planning Commission Chairman Pro tem: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Sander, Bernards, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. The motion passed. Commissioner Ainas was elected 1991 Planning Commission Chairman Pro tem. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 14 , 1991 Motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Sander to approve the minutes of the February 14, 1991 Planning Commission meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Sander, Bernards, Ainas, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. The motion passed. 2-28-91 1 APPLICATION NO. 91005 (Investors Savings Bank) Following the Chairperson's explanation, the Secretary introduced the first item of business, a request for site and building plan approval to construct a 9,370 sq. ft. combination bank and office building on the site of the old Green Mill restaurant at 5540 Brooklyn Boulevard. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 91005 attached) . Commissioner Bernards asked what was the purpose of the rooftop screening. The Secretary stated that it is to screen out mechanical equipment. Commissioner Bernards also asked whether a stop sign would be provided at the entrance to the private road. The Secretary stated that the applicant should provide such a sign. The Planner noted that the applicant has submitted a sign package for the building for the site and that it includes a stop sign in this location. Commissioner Sander suggested that a "Do Not Enter" sign would also be appropriate at the south driveway as that is clearly an exit drive. The Secretary agreed with this recommendation. Chairperson Malecki inquired as to the off-site lot. The Secretary explained that it would no longer be needed for the proposed development. Commissioner Sander asked what type of tenant would go into the easterly side of the building. The Secretary answered that a service/office type tenant would be sought. He explained that a medical or restaurant tenant would need more parking, but that those types of tenants were not sought at this time. Chairperson Malecki asked about the off-site lot. The Secretary responded that it was his understanding that the applicants would sell the off-site lot. He added that if a tenant went into the east side of the building which required the off-site parking lot across the private drive, a special use permit for off-site accessory parking would have to be approved. Commissioner Holmes asked if the developer was acquiring the other lot. The Secretary answered that the remote parking lot had to be sold with the property since it is bound to the principal site by a restrictive covenant. He added the restrictive covenant could now be released because the parking contained on the remote lot was no longer needed to support the development on the principal lot. Chairperson Malecki then asked the applicant whether he had anything to add. Mr. Robin Roberts of Investors Savings stated that they would have a "Do Not Enter" sign at the south exit drive. In response to a question from Commissioner Sander regarding a possible tenant for the east half of the building, Mr. Roberts stated that they were still looking for a tenant for that space. Commissioner Mann stated that it was her understanding that a restrictive covenant affected the use of the principal site. Mr. Roberts stated that that had been checked out and that it was allright for a bank to locate on the site. 2-28-91 2 Commissioner Holmes asked for an explanation of the type of bank that Investors Savings was. Mr. Roberts explained that Investors Savings does not have a large clientele with checking accounts and that there is not a great need at this time for driveup windows. He stated that Investors Savings has been in Brooklyn Center since 1987 and that they are looking forward to the new location. Commissioner Bernards asked whether a safety-deposit box would be on the outside of the building. Mr. Roberts responded in the negative. Commissioner Sander explained that Investors Savings does a lot of mortgage banking. The Planner suggested changes to the conditions, adding the phrase "prior to the issuance of permits" to Condition No. 10 and adding an 11th condition that "traffic control signery be subject to review and approval by the Director of Public Works. " Commissioner Holmes asked whether it would be appropriate to screen out the cars that would stack in the driveup lanes. The Secretary stated that that was not really a concern of the Zoning Ordinance in this case. Commissioner Holmes asked whose responsibility it was to maintain the off-site lot. The Secretary answered that the owner would have to maintain that property until it is developed for some other purpose. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 91005 (Investors Savings Bank) Motion by Commissioner Ainas seconded by Commissioner Sander to recommend approval of Application No. 91005, subject to at least the following conditions: 1. Building plans are subject to review and approval by the Building Official with respect to applicable codes prior to the issuance of permits. 2 . Grading, drainage, utility and berming plans are subject to review and approval by the City Engineer, prior to the issuance of permits. 3. A site performance agreement and supporting financial guarantee (in an amount to be determined by the City Manager) shall be submitted prior to the issuance of permits. 4. Any outside trash disposal facilities and rooftop mechanical equipment shall be appropriately screened from view. 5. The building is to be equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system to meet NFPA standards and shall be connected to a central monitoring device in accordance with Chapter 5 of the City Ordinances. 2-28-91 3 6. An underground irrigation system shall be installed in all landscaped areas to facilitate site maintenance. 7. Plan approval is exclusive of all signery which is subject to Chapter 34 of the City Ordinances. 8. B612 curb and gutter shall be provided around all parking and driving areas. 9. The applicant shall submit an as-built survey of the property, improvements and utility service lines, prior to release of the performance guarantee. 10. The property owner shall enter into an easement and agreement for maintenance and inspection of utility and storm drainage systems prior to the issuance of permits. 11. Traffic control signery on the site shall be subject to review and approval by the Director of Public Works. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Sander, Bernards, Ainas, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. The motion passed. The Planner then handed out to the Planning Commission members present a list of people serving on Neighborhood Advisory Groups and informed them that it was up them to contact people to find out whether they are still interested in serving on those advisory groups. There was a discussion of Neighborhood Advisory Group functions and the Planner suggested that possibily a form ,Letter could be developed to send out to the Neighborhood Advisory Group members inquiring as to whether they wished to continue to serve on those groups. Commissioner Bernards stated that he might not be able to attend the March 14 Planning Commission meeting because of a possible conflict. Discussion Items The Secretary informed the Commission that the proposal for townhouses by Mr. Charles Thompson had been delayed, and that the staff was expecting to receive a request to table the matter indefinitely. He explained that Mr. Thompson had given consideration to possibly developing his property with single- family homes and that a plan had to be developed to meet City ordinance requirements, DNR requirements and Corps of Engineer requirements. Commissioner Mann asked whether there was any progress on the issue of the amount of paved area to be allowed in private yards. The Secretary stated that present ordinance now allows up to 50% of a yard abutting a public street to be paved. He explained that the 2-28-91 4 City Council had discussed this matter at its last meeting. He discussed the need for limiting driveway widths so that driveways would not become excessively wide. The Secretary also pointed out that the City does not presently require an improved driveway and that there has been discussion also about a possible ordinance amendment requiring paving of at least that portion in the right- of-way. He also pointed out that, in discussions with the City Engineer, there was a concern expressed regarding paving of rear yard areas which would lead to more runoff and could perhaps overtax the storm sewer system. Commissioner Sander stated that a new ordinance would require some situations to be grandfathered. The Secretary agreed and stated that he believed the City should probably require a paved driveway. ADJOURNMENT Following a brief discussion of upcoming business items and the status of proposals recently before the Commission, there was a motion by Commissioner Sander seconded by Commissioner Mann to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8: 28 p.m. Chairperson 2-28-91 5 1 1