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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 01-31 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 JANUARY 31 , 1980 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in study session and was called to order by Chairman Wiliian Hawes at 7:32 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Hawes, Commissioners Theis, Manson, Erickson and Simmons. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren and Planning Assistant Gary Shallcross. The Secretary reported that Commissioner Malecki had indicated that she would be late for this evening's meeting and that Commissioner Lucht had in- formed him that he would be unable to attend this evening's meeting and was excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 10, 1980 The Secretary pointed out a typographical error on page 2 concerning the width of the Humboldt Square Estates property and Commissioner Simmons stated that she had not concurred with Chairman Hawes' remarks as- indicated,on page 7. Motion by Commissioner Erickson seconded by Commissioner Theis to approve the minutes of the January 10, 1980 Planning Commission meeting as corrected. Voting in favor: Chairman Hawes, Commissioners Theis, Erickson and Simmons. Voting against: none. Not voting: Commissioner Manson. The motion passed. REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLAN NEIGHBORHOOD RECOMMENDATIONS ThP Sec_rarary _n�roiuced_ the main item of business for th.e meeting by stating that the Commission had been supplied with a draft copy of a proposed Neighborhood Policy Plan Chapter for the Comprehensive Plan. He explained that the Commission had discussed the inclusion of such a chapter as a means of continuing the Neighborhood concept contained in the current Comprehensive Plan and also to retain various policy statements relating to the six neighborhoods that still pertain. He ex- plained that the neighborhood sections in the original Comprehensive Plan would not be retained in their entirety, but that the certain Policy Statements would be retained insofaras they are still relevant with some revisions . He stated that the Planning Commission, following review and possible modification, should make a recommendation on the neighborhood proposals to be included in the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Erickson recommended sending a copy of the neighborhood policy recommendations to the Neighborhood Advisory Groups for review and comment. The Secretary acknowledged this request and added that the Superintendent of Engineering desires that the neighborhood policies be con- Sistent with the rest of the plan designations for collector and arterial streets. The Secretary reviewed the recommendations for the Northeast Neighborhood first. He discussed at some length the policy statement that the school district boundary line between the Brooklyn Center School District and the Anoka School District be redrawn so that high school and junior high school students in the neighbor- hood could attend Brooklyn Center High School rather than be bussed 10 to 20 miles away. He stated that this certainly represented a waste of energy resources as well as the resource of the school building. He stated that there was also the option of expanding the Anoka District to incorporate the Brooklyn Center District. 1-31-80 -1 - In answer to a question from Commissioner Erickson, the Secretary explained that it was his understanding that school district boundary lines can be changed by mutual resolution of two School Boards, but that the debt must be paid off with tax revenues from properties in the district when the debt was incurred. He also stated that district boundary lines could be changed by State Legislation which could relieve this debt obligation. He added that both districts must agree on a boundary line change. The Secretary also pointed out that in the case of the Northeast Neighborhood, the annexation of that area by the Anoka-Hennepin School District was requested by residents in the neighborhood. Commissioner Simmons stated that it was her recollection that the Brooklyn Center High School did not exist at the time of this annexation, but that the Anoka District simply bordered the Minneapolis District. Chairman Hawes asked whether the Brooklyn Center High School Could or would have to expand if population in the district grew from what it is today. The Secretary answered that he was not certain from a zoning standpoint, but added that enroll- ment is far below capacity. The Secretary acknowledged that small school districts have both benefits and problems, but stated that it simply did not seem rational to bus young people 15 to 20 miles away that live across the street from Brooklyn Center High School . Commissioner Erickson asked whether the Comprehensive Plan would be the best place to make a statement of this kind. The Secretary answered that it would be a good way of putting the City on record as opposed to the current school district boundary line situation. Commissioner Manson stated that the residents of the Northeast Neighborhood were . offered the chance to secede from the Anoka School District some time ago, but that the residents declined the opportunity since a condition for doing so would have been that thev pay. off their share of the Anoka debt service for which they Mr• _afore entering the Brooklyn Center School District. She added that the Anoka-Hennepin District has a broader selection of program offerings than the Brooklyn Center School District. The Secretary stated that the debt question could be solved by the State Legislature and added that it would seem that there would be less impact on the Anoka District than on the Brooklyn Center School District from a boundary line change. Commissioner Manson noted the long bus trip for students living in Brooklyn Center and commented that the energy situation also argues for an adjustment in the school district boundary lines. The Secretary agreed noting that increased energy costs incurred by the Anoka-Hennepin School Districts could eventually cut into their program offerings. Commissioner Simmons noted that young people in Brooklyn Center have difficulty engaging in the after school activities offered by the Anoka High School . Com- missioner Manson explained that there is bus service for those who stay late. Chairman Hawes and the Secretary discussed other school district boundary line issues involving the Robbinsdale and Osseo School Districts. The Secretary observed that new schools are being built on the urban fringe while those schools further in are being closed down. He stated that schools which are closed wind up becoming a land use question which must be addressed by the City. He added that this can be a problem because in Brooklyn Center schools are located in residentially zoned areas and yet could not in all practicality be used for a residential purpose. 1-31-80 -2 Commissioner Theis observed that expanding the Brooklyn Center School District would displace few jobs from the Anoka District. Expanding the Anoka District, on the other hand, could accomplish the same goal as far as energy use. He also opposed the desire for a single school district covering Brooklyn Center as parochial and unrelated to the whole issue of providing educational services. Commissioner Simmons commented, however, that multiple school districts make for complications in some instances, citing the cable television decision as an example. Chairman Hawes spoke in favor of local neighborhood schools and suggested that the statement calling for a redrawing of school district boundary lines be ex- panded to apply to the other school districts in Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Malecki arrived at 8:11 p.m. The Secretary stated that a City-wide recommendation could be made or simply a statement citing the problem Brooklyn Center residents face as part of four different school districts. Commissioner Manson stated that she has heard rumors that the young people in the Northeast Neighborhood may all go to Brooklyn Center High School because of a possible merger arrangement similar to that between Golden Valley School District and the Hopkins School District. Commissioner Simmons questioned whether the proposed statement accomplished much besides making Brooklyn Center School District feel good and wondered whether it was really necessary. Commissioner Theis stated that at the least the Comprehensive Plan could suggest that boundaries be realigned to make economical use of buildings and other resources. Commissioner Simmons asked whether Brooklyn Center School District would be viable if the rest of the Northeast Neighborhood were added into its boundaries. She commented that it still might be unable to survive. Commissioner Theis asked.that staff look into the question of reallocating debt under a realignment of school district boundaries. The Secretary stated that boundary lines have to be drawn someplace, but that their location should be more rational in serving educational needs than the present boundary line between the Brooklyn Center and Anoka-Hennepin School Districts. He acknowledged that the statement in the current Comprehensive Plan dues take a definite side on the issue. and should probably be thought over care- fully before being adopted. -Chairman Hawes suggested that a statement in the Comprehensive Plan might push the State to do something about the boundary line question and added that the Anoka District may not even want to keep the Brooklyn Center students that it presently has. In response to' the Secretary's request for direction, Commissioner Theis. said that he would like to see wording which would address the problem on a city-wide basis and that any reference to the Brooklyn Center/Anoka boundary be of a general nature and cite a more efficient use of energy and facilities as a reason for realigning the boundary. Chairman Hawes suggested that a consolidated district be formed to cover the entire City. Commissioner Simmons took exception with this idea saying that that would be far too complicated. The Secretary agreed stating that the problems the Robbinsdale School District is experiencing are different from the problem with the Brooklyn Center/Anoka District boundary. He pointed out that students living within walking distance to the Brooklyn Center School are being bussed to Anoka while the Brooklyn Center schools are experiencing declining enrollments. He also stated that the City government is not directly responsible for school district issues and perhaps should not get into areas that are clearly the School District's business other than to point out that the problems should be resolved. Commissioner Simmons suggested that the statement be left as it is. 1-31-80 , -3- The Secretary asked whether any additional statements should be made in the policy such as the resolution it will be a more efficient use of resources. Commissioners Manson, Theis and Simmons favored this suggestion. The Secretary continued to review the policy recommendations for the Southeast Neighborhood. There was a brief discussion concerning nonconforming small apart- ment buildings in the Southeast Neighborhood. He suggested that the Comprehensive Plan might justify a wholesale rezoning of the numerous nonconforming apartments. Commissioner Simmons commented, however, that some of the apartment buildings are not accepted by the surrounding neighborhood. In reviewing the recommendations for the Southwest Neighborhood, the Secretary I uggested that the statement concerning Howe Fertilizer be more specific. He suggested that the statement read that the City considers the manufacture of fertilizer at the Howe Fertilizer site to be a nuisance,that it should be phased out by 1982, and that future use of the site should be for a light industrial or a non-retail commercial use. Commissioner Theis also suggested that the state- ment read that proper buffers from the residential neighborhood "shall " be maintained. Referring to a proposed street to run along the lakeshore of middle Twin Lake across the Soo Line Railroad tracks, Chairman Hawes observed that this would be a good alternative to the crossing at France Avenue. He wondered whether it would be legal to put such a road through 0-2 property. The Secretary answered that the property is not legally zoned 0-2 since property cannot be given such a designation without the owner's consent or City purchase. The Secretary added that there is a possibility that property at the end of 51st Avenue would be replatrted to create a number of residential lots, thus requiring the widening of 51st Avenue North. This, in turn, would allow industrial access, he said, and encouraged the Commission to prohibit any industrial access from 51st Avenue which is basically a residential street. The Secretary continued his review of the Central Neighborhood and West Central Neighborhood Policy Recommendations. Commissioner Erickson asked what the status of the airport hazard zone is in the West Central Neighborhood. The Secretary stated that the previous designation of residences within the hazard zone as nonconforming has been overruled. He added that it is the City's position that if the Metropolitan Airports Commission considers the location of another airport in the Northwestern suburbs, perhaps at a proposed Medina location, then consideration should be given to the possible elimination of the Crystal Airport. He noted that if a new airport at a new location were developed then the Land Use regulations could be fully applied to areas within the hazard zone. The Secretary and the Planning Commission briefly reviewed the policy proposals for the Northwest Neighborhood. At the conclusion of the review, the Secretary stated that the neighborhood recommendations would be sent to the Neighborhood Advisory Groups. Chairman Hawes suggested that a letter go out accompanying the recommendations encouraging comments from neighborhood residents. DISCUSSION ITEM - Jimmy's Lemon Tree The Secretary then reviewed for the Planning Commission a proposal by Jimmy's Lemon Tree-to add a barbeque unit to the north of the restaurant itself under the canopy. He stated that this proposal did not seem to amount to a major structural alteration requiring a formal Planning Commission review. He briefly described the barbeque unit and stated that the Sanitarian has stipulated, and the Lemon Tree has agreed, that if odors become a problem, either an afterburner or a 20 foot high smoke stack would have to be installed to dispel odors. 1-31-80 -4- In response to a 'question from Commissioner Simmons, the Secretary explained that smoke stacks of various heights are required by the PCA depending upon the extent of emissions to be dissipated. He also stated that the Sanitarian must approve the barbequing equipment. Commissioner Simmons asked whether any meat would be refrigerated outside the building. The Secretary explained that all refriger- ation of meat would be handled inside the building. Following the review, i.t was the consensus of the Commission that a formal site and building application need, not be required provided the City Council is informed of the modifications. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Theis seconded by Commissioner Manson to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. Voting in favor: Chairman Hawes, Commissioners Malecki , Theis, Manson, Erickson and Simmons. . Voting against: none. The motion passed. The Planning Commission adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Chairm n 1-31-80 -5- 1 1