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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 12-05 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 REGULAR SESSION DECEMBER 5, 1991 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairperson Molly Malecki at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Molly Malecki, Commissioners Wallace Bernards, Bertil Johnson, Kristen Mann and Mark Holmes. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren and Planner Gary Shallcross. Chairperson Malecki noted that Commissioners Sander and Ainas had called to say they would be unable to attend and were excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - NOVEMBER 21, 1991 Commissioner Bernards noted a statement by Commissioner Holmes on page 3 and stated that he made a similar remark and would be willing to take responsibility for the remark on page 3. Commissioner Holmes deferred to Commissioner Bernards. Motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Mann to approve the minutes of the November 21, 1991 Planning Commission meeting as corrected. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Bernards, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. Not voting: Commissioner Johnson. The motion passed. APPLICATION NOS 91021 AND 91022 (Brooklyn Center School District) Following the Chairperson's explanation, the Secretary introduced the first item of business, a request for site and building plan and special use permit approval to construct a media center addition and also an addition with a gym, auditorium and music rooms at the Brooklyn Center Junior-Senior High School at 6500 Humboldt Avenue North. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 91021, attached) . He also noted that it would be the West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission rather than the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission that would review the drainage plans. Following his review of the high school plans, the Secretary introduced the next item of business, a request for site and building plan and special use permit approval to construct building additions for classrooms, media center and a music suite at the Earle Brown Elementary School at 5900 Humboldt Avenue North. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report for that application as well (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 91022, attached) . 12-5-91 1 Commissioner Holmes asked whether the football field at the high school would require all parking on site. The Secretary answered that the City has not required on-site parking for that kind of event. He stated that he felt that the inside uses within the school should be covered. Chairperson Malecki asked the applicant whether he had anything to add. Mr. John Crump, the architect for both projects, stated that he had nothing to add, but that he had brought colored renderings of the elevations of the buildings and asked whether the Commission desired to see them. Chairperson Malecki responded in the affirmative. Mr. Crump showed the elevations of the high school additions and noted that the additions to the elementary school would be brick to match the exterior. In response to a question from Commissioner Holmes regarding lighting, Mr. Crump stated that exterior lighting would be addressed for security reasons, but that the site lighting would remain essentially the same. There followed a brief discussion regarding the lighting of the parking lot and sidewalk areas. Commissioner Holmes noted that the sidewalk on the north side of the Earle Brown School would only be 4 ' wide and wondered whether this was adequate. Mr. Crump explained that the greenstrip was preserved at 15 ' and that the driveway was 24 ' . He stated that this left a sidewalk that was 6' wide and that the doors inside the building were recessed 4 ' so that there would be 10 ' from the curb of the driveway to the door of the building. PUBLIC HEARING (Application Nos. 91021 and 91022) Chairperson Malecki then opened the meeting for a public hearing and asked whether anyone present wished to speak regarding either application before the Commission. No one spoke. Chairperson Malecki, therefore, called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Mann seconded by Commissioner Johnson to close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Bernards brought to the Commission's attention that he may have a conflict of interest in voting on these applications since the school district was his former employer and he still is receiving medical benefits. Commissioner Mann expressed some concern regarding the possibility of simultaneous events at the high school. She asked Mr. Doug Rossi, the superintendent of the school district, if he would object to a condition limiting events in the gym and in the auditorium so that they were not simultaneous. Mr. Rossi responded that it was difficult to commit to something that had not been thought out in advance. He stated that there might be a play 12-5-91 2 i �I practice going on while there was a basketball game. He stated that seldom, if ever, would there be two major events going on at the same time. The Secretary stated that the parking on the site should be adequate for main events. He stated that he did not know whether a condition was necessary for this kind of operating concern. Mr. Rossi stated that it would not make sense for the school district to overlap events and that they would probably police themselves adequately. Commissioner Holmes asked how many stalls would be lost with the building addition. The Secretary answered approximately 60. Commissioner Holmes asked whether there was any problem with daily use of the parking lot. Mr. Rossi stated that there was lots of space for daily use. The Secretary added that Northwestern Bell formerly used 20 stalls at the high school lot. He added that if student parking became a problem it could be controlled with parking permits. Chairperson Malecki asked the applicant if he had any problems with the conditions. Mr. Crump responded that there would be no problem with the conditions and that they would not object to adding a few trees in the greenstrip at Earle Brown School. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 91021 (Brooklyn Center School District) Motion by Commissioner Mann seconded by Commissioner Holmes to recommend approval of Application No. 91021, subject to 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 to assure completion of approved site improvements. 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. 12-5-91 3 6. Plan approval is exclusive of all signery which is subject to Chapter 34 of the City Ordinances. 7. B612 curb and gutter shall be provided around all parking and driving areas. 8. The applicant shall submit an as-built survey of the property, improvements and utility service lines, prior to release of the performance guarantee. 9. The property owner shall enter in an Easement and Agreement for Maintenance and Inspection of Utility and Storm Drainage Systems, prior to the issuance of permits. 10. The storm drainage system shall be approved by the West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission prior to the issuance of permits. 11. Ponding areas required as a part of the storm drainage plan shall be protected by an approved easement. The easement document shall be executed and filed with Hennepin County prior to the issuance of permits. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Johnson, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. Not voting: Commissioner Bernards, for reasons previously stated. The motion passed. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 91022 (Brooklyn Center School District ) Motion by Commissioner Mann seconded by Commissioner Johnson to recommend approval of Application No. 91022, subject to 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 to assure completion of approved site improvements. 4 . Any outside trash disposal facilities and rooftop mechanical equipment shall be appropriately screened from view. 12-5-91 4 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. 6. Plan approval is exclusive of all signery which is subject to Chapter 34 of the City Ordinances. 7. B612 curb and gutter shall be provided around all parking and driving areas. 8 . The applicant shall submit an as-built survey of the property, improvements and utility service lines, prior to release of the performance guarantee. 9. 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. 10. The storm drainage system shall be approved by the West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission prior to the issuance of permits. 11. Ponding areas required as a part of the storm drainage plan shall be protected by an approved easement. The easement document shall be executed and filed with Hennepin County prior to the issuance of permits. 12 . The plans shall be modified prior to the issuance of permits to provide at least three shade trees not less than 2 1/2" in diameter in the greenstrip along Humboldt Avenue North. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Johnson, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. Not voting: Commissioners Bernards, for reasons stated earlier. The motion passed. APPLICATION NO. 91023 (Altra Auto Rental) The Secretary then introduced the next item of business, a request for special use permit approval to conduct an auto leasing operation at Northbrook Plaza at 1912 57th Avenue North. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 91023, attached) . Commissioner Johnson asked whether there were any restrictions in City Ordinances regarding overnight parking. The Secretary responded in the negative. He stated that the City only restricted parking on public streets. Commissioner Johnson asked whether there was any problem that the police might have with overnight parking. The Secretary stated that the police could make a check on a regular basis if they had theft problems. Commissioner Bernards asked whether the cars were identified as belonging to 12-5-91 5 Altra Auto Rental. An unidentified gentleman representing the applicant responded in the affirmative, noting that there was a sticker on each of the cars. Commissioner Bernards asked regarding dropping off cars and a lock box for keys, etc. Mr. Lampe , the applicant, stated that a drop box could be provided. He stated that most cars are returned before closing time. Commissioner Johnson wondered whether the operation might lead to car theft problems as had been experienced at Brookdale. The unidentified gentleman stated that the problem could be eliminated by letting the customer keep the keys since the rental agency would also have a set of keys for each car. The customer could then return the keys the following day. In response to a question from the Secretary, Mr. Alan Lampe of Altra Auto Rental stated that it was not their purpose to display the cars, just handle the demand for rental cars on a daily basis. He stated that they did not want to disturb other tenants in the shopping center by, having displays of cars for sale. PUBLIC HEARING (Application No. 91023) Chairperson Malecki then opened the meeting for a public hearing and noted that there was no one else present to speak regarding the application. She called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Mann to close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO 91023 (Altra Auto Rental) Motion by Commissioner Bernards seconded by Commissioner Johnson to recommend approval of Application No. 91023, subject to the following conditions: 1. The total number of rental cars on the site at any one time shall not exceed 15. 2. The special use permit is granted for an auto leasing operation. Any change in the use involving more vehicles, trucks or marine craft shall require approval of an amendment to this special use permit. 3 . There shall be no service, repair or maintenance of leased or stored vehicles at this site. 4 . The special use permit is subject to all applicable codes, ordinances and regulations. Any violation thereof may be grounds for revocation. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Bernards, Johnson, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. The motion passed. OTHER. BUSINESS 1992 a) _ 1992 MEETING SCHEDULE 12-5-91 6 The Secretary briefly explained that the meeting schedule proposed in the staff memo was related to the City Council's meeting schedule in order to give approximately 11 days time between Planning Commission and City Council meetings. MOTION TO ADOPT 1992 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE Motion by Commissioner Johnson seconded by Commissioner Mann to adopt the 1992 Planning Commission meeting schedule. Voting in favor: Chairperson Malecki, Commissioners Bernards, Johnson, Mann and Holmes. Voting against: none. The motion passed. Commissioner Bernards encouraged the staff to avoid religious holidays of all faiths when setting meeting dates. Chairperson Malecki stated that she would not seek reappointment on the Planning Commission in 1992 and would retire. The staff and the Commission received this news with regret and wished her well. Commissioner Bernards stated that he may not be able to make the January meetings. It should also be noted that Commissioner Johnson has stated that he will be unable to make the January meetings. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Holmes seconded by Commissioner Johnson to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Chairperson 12-5-91 7