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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982 09-16 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 SEPTEMBER 16, 1982 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman George Lucht at 7 : 31 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman George Lucht, "Commissione-rs Carl Sandstrom, Mary Simmons, Nancy Manson and Donald Versteeg. - Also present were Director of ,,:_ Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren, and Planning Assistant .> Gary Shallcross . Chairman Lucht explained that Commissioners Malecki and Ainas had called to say that they would be out of town and unable to attend the evening' s meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - August 26 , 1982 Motion by Commissioner Manson seconded by Commissioner Sandstrom to approve the minutes of the August 26, 1982 Planning Commission meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commis- sioners Sandstrom, Simmons, Manson and Versteeg. Voting against: none. The motion passed. APPLICATION NO. 82034 (Viking Gym, Inc./James Evans) Following the Chairman's explanation, the Secretary introduced the first item of business, a request by Viking Gym, Inc. to operate a gymnasium within the industrial building at 1800 Freeway Boulevard. ', The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning :` Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 82034 attached) . The Secretary added that there are minimum health and sanitation standards in existing City ordinances which could be applied to the operation by the Sanitarian even though no license is required for the gym. Commissioner Simmons asked whether the one shower in existence and one additional portable unit would be enough for the patrons using the gym. The Secretary stated that there are no real standards in the ordinance and that, technically, the operation could go without showers altogether. Commissioner Simmons stated that she felt more showers would be needed. Chairman Ltcht stated that he knows of an athletic club that has -only 12 showers for a capacity of 500 people using the facility at a time. Mr. James Evans of Viking Gym explained that the facility would be a minimum fitness facility, not a full blown athletic club as such. He stated that a lot of patrons would come simply to use the exercise equipment and would not bother to shower at all. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Lucht then opened the meeting for a public hearing and asked whether anyone present wished to speak to the application. Hearing none, he called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by commissioner Sandstrom seconded by Commissioner Manson to 9-16-82 -1- close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously. In answer to questions from Commissioner Versteeg, the Secretary recommended that the Planning Commission adopt a fourth condition to the special use permit requiring inspection by the City Sanitarian twice in the first year and thereafter as deemed appropriate, with the costs borne by the applicant. Mr. Evans asked what the cost of these inspections were. The Secretary answered that he thought they 3*ere. about $12 .00 . ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO,,, 82034 , x' (Viking Gym, Inc./James Evans) Motion by Commissioner Sandstrom seconded by Commissioner ioner Versteeg to recommend approval of Application No. 82034, subject to the following conditions: 1. The special use permit is issued to the- applicant as operator and is nontransferable. 2 . ' The special use permit is subject to all appropriate codes , ordinances, and regulations and any violation thereof shall be grounds for revocation. 3. Hours of operation shall be from 10 :00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 :00 a.m, to 4 :00 p.m. Saturday. 4. The operation shall be inspected by the City Sanitarian for compliance with basic health and sanitation standards, twice within the first year of operation and thereafter as deemed appropriate. The costs for such inspections shall be paid by the applicant. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht,. Commissioners Sandstrom, Simmons, Manson and Versteeg. Voting against: none. The motion passed unanimously. APPLICATION NO. 82035 (Arlene Kroll) Noting t at no one was present to represent the applicant for Application No. 82036, the Secretary introduced Application No. 82035, a request for a special use permit to operate a dance studio in the Shingle Creek plaza II industrial building at Freeway Boule- vard and Xerxes Avenue North. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 82035 attached) . Commissioner Manson asked whether the Shingle Creek Plaza II building would be primarily service/office uses. The Secretary answered that the intent when the building was designed was for some possible retail uses with orientation to the, freeway. He noted that a meat wholesaler was a prospective tenant the owner had in mind when the building was conceived. That was the reason, he explained, for the additional parking provided. Commissioner Simmons asked what kind of floor would be provided. Mr. Kroll stated that it would be simply tile over concrete, but that in the future they hoped to have a wooden floor to give a . little more spring to the dancers ' step. Chairman Lucht asked the applicant whether he had anything to add to the Secretary 's report. Mr. Kroll explained that there would be 9-16-82 -2- some Saturday evening parties they would like to run until midnight and which had not been comprehended in the hours proposed. . -.The Secretary stated that lie did not know whether the hours of operation even had to be a condition of the special use permit inasmuch as the dance studio is located in an industrial district and would be an off-peak use . . The Chairman and other Commissioners agreed with this suggestion and by consensus the third recommended condition was stricken from consideration. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Lucht then opened the meeting for a public hearing and observed that there was no one present to speak regarding the application. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Simmons seconded by Commissioner Manson to close the public hearing. The motion passed. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 82035 (Arlene Kroll) Motion by Commissioner Versteeg seconded by Commissioner Manson to recommend approval of Application No. 82035 , subject to the following conditions : 1. The special use permit is issued to the applicant as operator of the facility and is nontransferable. 2. The special use permit is subject to applicable codes, ordinances , and regulations and violation thereof shall be grounds for revocation. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Sandstrom, Simmons, Manson and Versteeg. Voting against: none. The motion passed. APPLICATION NO. 82036 (Nature 's Image Taxidermy) Aithough the applicant for Application No. 82036 was not present, the Secretary recommended that the Planning Commission consider the application at the present rather than put it off for another month. He reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 82036 attached) . Commissioner Simmons asked how quickly the leftover animal parts are disposed of. The Secretary answered that it was his impression - , that the parts were disposed of fairly quickly and added that an entire animal is not generally brought in. Chairman Lucht stated that, from his knowledge of taxidermy, the animals or animal parts are frozen until they are ready to be processed. The Secretary ex- plained that plastic skulls are used in the making of animal heads . He stated that he did not see a problem with the use. He noted that it has even been allowed as a home occupation and, therefore, could hardly be denied as a permitted use in the I-2 zoning district. ACTION FINDING THAT TAXIDERMY IS A USE SIMILAR IN NATURE TO OTHER PERMITTED USES IN THE I-2 ZONING DISTRICT Motion by Commissioner Manson seconded by Commissioner Simmons to find that taxidermy is a use similar in nature to other uses per- mitted in the I-2 zoning district. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Sandstrom, Simmons , Manson and Versteeg. Voting against: none. The motion passed. 9-16-82 -3- DISCUSSION ITEMS The Secretary stated that there would be no meeting on September 30 , 1982 unless members desired to discuss some issue. It was the consensus of the Commission that the September 30, 1982 study session be cancelled and that the Commission not meet again until their scheduled meeting on October 14, 1982. Chairman Lucht explained that the Chamber of Commerce has asked the Planning Commission to consider an amendment to the Sign Ordinance that would allow billboards. He added that no specific suggestions were put forth and that, therefore, he has asked the Secretary to request the Chamber to bring a specific proposal for the October 28 Planning Commission meeting. There followed a brief discussion of how the billboard issue has come up at .present and in the past. Chairman Lucht noted that the Chamber was almost. evenly divided in its feelings about the issue. He stated it was his understanding that Naegle Advertising had offered to use half of the billboard space for community events; etc. The Secretary pointed out that it would probably be difficult to limit what is, advertised on the billboards. He stated that staff would recommend that the Minnesota Department of Transportation relax its directional sign _standards to allow a directional sign along the freeway denoting such things as the Shingle Creek business district and Brookdale. ?ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Sandstrom seconded by Commissioner Manson to adjourn the Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission adjourned at 8 :26 p.m. ai a 9-16-82 -4-