HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 12-11 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 11, 1980
CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The Planning Commission met in regular session and was called to
order by Chairman William Hawes at 7: 34 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chairman Hawes, Commissioners Malecki, Theis, Manson, Lucht and
Simmons. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspections
Ronald Warren, Planning Assistant Gary Shallcross and Assistant
City Engineer Jim Grube. The Secretary pointed out that Com-
missioner Erickson had called earlier in the day to say that he
would not be able to attend the evening's meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 20, 1980
Commissioner Simmons asked that a sentence in the fourth paragraph
of page 4 of the minutes be revised in that it did not express her
sentiments accurately. Motion by Commissioner Simmons seconded by
Commissioner Theis to approve the minutes of the November 20, 1980
meeting as corrected. Voting in favor: Chairman Hawes, Commis-
sioners Theis, Manson and Simmons . Not voting: Commissioner
Malecki and Lucht. The motion passed.
APPLICATION N0. 80048 (Twenty-Eight Ten, Inc.)
Following the Chairman' s explanation, the Secretary in
the first item of business; a request for subdivision approval
by Twenty-Eight Ten, Inc. to declare a condominium of nine units
and one common area at the Brookdale Tower Office Building at
2810 County Road 10. The Secretary reviewed for the Commission,
the contents of the staff report (See Planning Commission Inform-
ation Sheet for Application No. 80048 attached) and also reviewed
the statutory requirements for contents of ,a declaration for a
condominium.
Following the Secretary's presentation, Chairman Hawes asked
whether each condominium unit in the office building would be
entitled to its own sign after the subdivision is accomplished.
The Secretary stated that signage is permitted on a building by
building basis and would not be any different than now. Com-
missioner Theis pointed out that the subdivision requested is
without any hard copy of the boundaries of the individual units.
The Secretary responded that the existing floor plans were used
for preliminary plat of the Beach Condominium complex and that
the same is being done in this case.
Commissioner Simmons asked whether the existing tenants would
become the new owners or whether different tenants would come
into the building. The Secretary stated that he assumed the
existing tenants would stay in the building, but that ownership
of units would probably be in the hands of Health Central or
Twenty-Eight Ten, Inc. , a subsidiary of Health Central. The
spaces not used by those organizations , he went on, could be
leased to existing tenants or perhaps sold to them. In answer
to a comment by Commissioner Manson, the Secretary stated that
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the City Attorney would probably not find any great difficulties
with the declaration or the association by-laws prior to giving
his approval.
PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Hawes then opened the meeting for a public hearing. He
called upon the applicant, represented by Mr. Pat Hennessy, to
comment on the application. Mr. Hennessy stated that the pro-
vision for flexible condominium would be deleted. He added that
no structural changes are intended and therefore there is no need
to account for any additions or changes in the association or
the declaration. Mr. Hennessy added that the applicant, Twenty
Eight Ten, Inc. , intends to satisfy all the conditions and would
discuss with the City Attorney any language relating to variances
within the declaration.
The Secretary explained that one of the concerns behind the lan-
guage disclaiming any right to variances under the declaration
was the provision for a flexible condominium. The Planning
Assistant added that another concern was that the provision
within the declaration relating to the City Zoning Ordinance re-
stricted uses on the site, but did not address structural re-
quirements of the Zoning Ordinance, to which variances are related.
Chairman Hawes inquired what would happen if a firm bought a unit
within the building and then attempted to bring in doctors or
dentists to establish a clinic. The Secretary answered that such
a use would be forbidden by the proposed declaration and associ-
ation by-laws and that, therefore, no property right exists under
the proposed covenant to use the property in any way other than
for general office purposes .
There followed a brief discussion regarding the provision of park-
ing on the site. The Planning Assistant explained that there was
presently an excess of perhaps five or ten stalls out of 300 and
that, therefore, very little could be done in the way of changing
the use or the structure on the site which would require more
parking.
CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING
Motion by Commissioner Malecki seconded by Commissioner Manson
to close the public hearing. Voting in favor: Chairman Hawes,
Commissioners Malecki, Manson, Theis, Lucht and Simmons. Voting
against: none. The motion passed.
ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 80048
(Twenty-Eight Ten, Inc.)
Motion by Commissioner Lucht seconded by Commissioner Simmons to
recommend approval of Application No. 80048, a request to subdivide
into condominiums the office building at 2810 County Road 10, sub-
ject to at least the following conditions :
1. The final subdivision is subject to approval by
the City Engineer.
2. The final subdivision is subject to the provisions
of Chapter 15 of the City's Ordinances.
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3. The Declaration and the Association By-Laws are
subject to the review and approval of the City .
Attorney prior to final subdivision approval.
4. A copy of the statement of a Minnesota registered
architect certifying the structural, mechanical,
electrical, and plumbing systems of the building
as shown on the floor plans shall be filed with
the Building Official for his review and approval
prior to final approval of the subdivision.
5. The Declaration shall be modified to include a
specific disclaimer of any variances from the
City Zoning Ordinance.
6. The Declaration and the Association By-Laws are
subject to the provision of MS515A.1-101 to
515A.4-117 (the Uniform Condominium Act) .
Voting in favor: Chairman Hawes, Commissioners Malecki, Theis,
Manson, Lucht and Simmons. Voting against: none. The motion
passed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS '
a. Meriwether Restaurant
The Secretary next reviewed with the Planning Commission a pro-
posed site plan for a Meriwether Restaurant at the southwest
corner of Freeway Boulevard and Shingle Creek Parkway. He stated
that the restaurant would have 238 seats and 20 employees re-
sulting in a parking requirement of 129 spaces . He pointed out
that the proposed plan does meet the parking requirement and
briefly reviewed other aspects of the plan. He pointed out that
the easterly access onto Freeway Boulevard is 220 feet frpm the
roa&tay at Shingle Creek Parkway. He also noted that no access
from Shingle Creek Parkway is permitted because the State of
Minnesota has purchased access control along Shingle Creek Park-
way up to Freeway Boulevard.
The Secretary explained that Meriwether has an option for 60 days
to purchase the property, but must get approval within that time
or else the deal will be off. He explained that the concern over
possible delays in January had moved the applicant to request a
preliminary review of the site plan as a discussion item by the
Planning Commission.
Mr. Dave Nelson of Lincoln Properties, representing Meriwether
Restaurants, showed the Planning Commission some pictures of
other Meriwether Restaurants in Detroit and Chicago. Commissioner
Simmons asked whether the shape and style of the building is a
trademark for Meriwether Restaurants; that is, whether General
Foods had dictated the shape of the building prior to looking at
the site. Mr. Nelson responded that the building is attractively
designed and can fit within most sites. He also stated that the
building would vary slightly from other Meriwether Restaurants
already built. He stressed that the restaurant has a homey atmos-
phere.
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.M
The Secretary mentioned that the proposed restaurant is a special
use within the I-1 zone and that one of the concerns regarding a
special use is - impact on traffic. He pointed out that the res-
taurant would be an off-peak traffic generator and might therefore
be considered compatible with surrounding uses.
Mr. Nelson pointed out that the building would be placed in the
center of the site in order to split up the parking lot, rather .
than leave one large sea of asphalt to one side of the building.
He also mentioned that Meriwether's would be seeking a liquor
license.
In answer to a question from Chairman Hawes, Mr. Nelson stated
that the hours of operation would be 11:00 a.m. to midnight on
weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. on weekends. Commissioner
Manson asked whether breakfast and lunch might be served on -
Sundays. Mr. Nelson stated that the company is looking into
providing that service.
Commissioner Theis noted that the trash enclosure is to be placed
along the side of the building facing Freeway Boulevard. Mr.
Nelson acknowledged that this presented some problem since the
building is a prototype of other Meriwether Restaurants. He did
point out, however, that the enclosure around the trash would
look just like the rest of the building.
Chairman Hawes asked how long the traffic signal-at Freeway Boule-
vard and Shingle Creek Parkway would be in place. The Assistant
City Engineer answered that the present plan of MN/DOT is to con-
tinue for one and one-half 'to two years while the construction is
underway on the interchange. He added that at that time the sit-
uation would be reviewed again to see if a permanent sign was
warranted. There followed a brief discussion regarding access to
the site and it was generally agreed that the proposed access is
probably as good as can be provided and should be quite adequate.
The 1981 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule
The Secretary next pointed out that -at least three Commissioners" -
terms would expire at the end of 1980, Dan Erickson, Mary Simmons
and George Lucht. The meeting schedule for 1981 had not been
established he stated, because the City Council's meeting schedule
has not been formally adopted. He did notify the Commission that
the first meeting of the year would be January 15, and the follow-
ing study meeting would be the 29th of January.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Commissioner Manson seconded by Commissioner Theis to
adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. Voting in favor:
Chairman Hawes, Commissioners Malecki, Theis, Manson, Lucht and
Simmons. Voting against: none. The Planning Commission adjourned
at 9 :00 p.m.
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airman
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