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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987 09-24 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 SEPTEMBER 24, 1987 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in study session and was called to order by Chairman George Lucht at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL - Chairman George Lucht, Commissioners Wallace Bernards, Mike Nelson, Lowell Ainas and Ann Wallerstedt. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren and Recording Secretary Mary Lou Larsen. Chairman Lucht stated Commissioners Carl Sandstrom and Molly Malecki were unable to attend this evening's meeting and were excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 3, 1987 Motion by Commissioner Ainas seconded by Commissioner Nelson to approve the minutes of the September 3, 1987 Planning Commission meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Bernards, Nelson, Ainas and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. APPLICATION NO. 87020 (LaCasita) Following the Chairman's explanation, the Secretary introduced the first item of business, a request for site and building plan and special use permit approval to make a solarium addition to the existing Chuck Muer's restaurant at 2101 Freeway Boulevard. The Secretary reviewed the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 87020 attached) . He stated the building is now under renovation with the exception of the solarium addition. The Secretary stated there is a public hearing required for this application and the appropriate notices have been sent. Commissioner Bernards asked the applicant if there are any other existing LaCasita Restaurants in the area. One of the applicants responded they now have one in St. Cloud. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Lucht then opened the meeting for a public hearing and asked if anyone present wished to speak regarding the application. Hearing no one, he called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to close the public hearing. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Bernards, Nelson, Ainas and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 87020 (LaCasita) Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to recommend approval of Application No. 87020 subject to the following conditions: 9-24-87 -1- 1. Building plans are subject to review and approval by the Building with respect to a applicable codes Official pp , prior to the issuance of permits. 2. The addition shall 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. 3. Plan approval is exclusive of all signery which is subject to Chapter 34 of the City Ordinances. 4. B612 curb and gutter shall be provided around all parking and driving areas. 5. 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. 6. The special use permit is subject to all applicable codes, ordinances and regulations and any violation thereof shall be grounds for revocation. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Bernards, Nelson, Ainas and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. The Secretary asked the applicants when they planned to open the LaCasita Restaurant. One of the applicants stated they hoped to open in late November. APPLICATION NO. 87021 (Firestone Car Rental, Inc.) The Secretary introduced the next item of business, a request for special use permit approval to conduct a car rental operation at the Firestone Service Center at 5445 Xerxes Avenue North. The Secretary reviewed the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 87021 attached). Cal Kuhlman, the applicant's representative, reviewed a revised parking,plan with the Commission. The Secretary stated he foresees no major parking problem on the site with the retail operation within the building being discontinued. The Secretary stated there is a public hearing required and the proper notices have been sent. Chairman Lucht inquired if there should be a condition stating the special use permit is nontransferable. The Secretary responded that there is an existing special use permit and it would not be necessary. A discussion ensued regarding parking of the rental cars on the site. Commissioner Nelson inquired if there should be a condition limiting the number of rental cars allowed to be stored on the site. The Secretary stated there should be no problem as long as parking doesn't spill over to the service center area. He referred to the car rental operation at Sears at Brookdale where cars are stored under the canopy and after service center hours cars can be stored in service bays. Commissioner Bernards inquired if there have been any problems with the Sears car rental operation. The Secretary stated he was not aware of any problems. 9-24-87 -2- Chairman Lucht asked the applicant if he had anything to add. Mr. Cal Kuhlman, representing the applicant, explained that Minneapolis is the first city for Firestone to test the the car rental business to see how it works in their service center. Commissioner Bernards asked what type of vehicles will be used. Mr. Kuhlman stated the cars would be Ford and General Motors. Commissioner Bernards asked what size would be offered for rental. Mr. Kuhlman explained there would probably be standard size cars, not compact cars, offered for rental, but would depend on what type are in demand. Commissioner Bernards asked if vans would be included. Mr. Kuhlman stated there would be vans available if requested. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Lucht then opened the meeting for a public hearing and asked if anyone present wished to speak regarding the application. Hearing no one, he called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to close the public hearing. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Bernards, Nelson, Ainas and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 87021 (Firestone Car Rental, Inc.) Motion by Commissioner Ainas seconded by Commissioner Nelson to recommend approval of Application No. 87021 subject to the following conditions: 1. The owner of the property shall agree in writing that the former retail area within the building may be used for the display of tires, batteries and accessories only and shall not resume its use as a retail store for appliances and equipment as long as the car rental business is in operation at the premises. 2. The special use permit is subject to all applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations and any violation thereof shall be grounds for revocation. 3• The area for rental car storage shall be limited to the front of the former retail store and shall be signed for rental car storage. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Bernards, Nelson, Ainas and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. DISCUSSION ITEMS The Secretary reviewed with the Commission certain areas in need of redevelopment. He stated Superamerica, located at 57th and Logan Avenues North, has expressed an interest in acquiring additional property in the area to expand their operation. The Secretary explained that the existing gasoline station is a nonconforming use as it abuts Rl zoned property at the property line and there is also a parking deficiency on the site. Staff have advised Superamerica they would be unable to expand this nonconforming use. He noted that Superamerica made inquiries regarding whether the City might be willing to modify the ordinances to eliminate the property line restriction in lieu of buffering and screening requirements. The Secretary stated that the Lynbrook Bowl site is another area in need of redevelopment. The area surrounding the site is a major access from T.H. 252 and I694 and should have a significant development such as a high-rise hotel or high rise office building. 9-24-87 -3- Another area, as explained by the Secretary, is the Superamerica station at 66th and West River Road. Superamerica was left with one large access after the T.H. 252 taking. They have expressed an interest in acquiring the shopping center to the west of the station to provide better access and possibly the construction of a larger station. The Secretary stated the Northbrook Shopping Center, which is an older center, also needs upgrading and a better parking arrangement. He explained the City has also looked into a different location for the existing municipal liquor store located in that center, but would like to stay in that area as it has done well there. He stated this center serves a large area in the Southeast Neighborhood. Further discussion ensued regarding the redevelopment of these areas. It was the consensus of the Commission that they did not favor eliminating the provision in the Zoning Ordinance that prohibits automobile service stations from abutting Rl, R2 or R3 zoned property. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Bernards, Nelson, Ainas and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8:24, p.m. y j Chairman 9-24-87 -4-