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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984 10-25 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 OCTOBER 25,1984 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission met in study session and was called to order by Chairman George Lucht at 7:29 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman George Lucht, Commissioners Molly Malecki, Nancy Manson, and Lowell Ainas. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren and Planning Assistant Gary Shallcross. Chairman Lucht stated that Commissioners Sandstrom and Nelson had previously indicated they would be unable to attend this evening's meeting and were excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 4, 1984 Motion by Commissioner Malecki seconded by Commissioner Manson to approve the minutes of the October 4, 1984 Planning Commission meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Commissioners Malecki, Manson, and Ainas. Voting against: none. Not voting: Chairman Lucht. The motion passed. APPLICATION NO. 84035 (Lombard Properties) Following the Chairman's explanation, the Secretary introduced the first item of business, a request for extension of the special use permit granted under Application No. 83045 for the construction of a 13 storey hotel on the parcel of land north of F'reeway Boulevard and east of Shingle Creek. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (see Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 84035 attached) . He also briefly reviewed the original site and building plan submitted under Application No. 83045. He explained that the building had a two storey footprint with an 11 storey tower in the middle of it'. He " noted that there are no real changes in the plan, that access would still be off Freeway Boulevard and through a private road off Shingle Creek Parkway. He stated that the building plan had been changed slightly to shrink some area of the building thereby requiring less parking. He stated the need for less parking resulted in only 61 spaces being required from the central lot rather than the 98 shown on the original plan. The Secretary also noted that the City has contracted for landscaping along Shingle Creek and that a portion of this landscaping would be accomplished by the applicant during the construction of the Ramada H^t--l. Chairman Lucht asked the applicant whet,er he had anything to add. Mr. Al Beisner, of Lombard Properties, stated thy;, he had nothing to add to the presentation. Chairman Lucht asked Mr. Bei.--ter whether the hotel was going to be built. Mr. Beisner stated that he wp; 99% sure that it would be built. He explained that quite a bit of leg work had '„o be done during the preceding year to get the project off the ground. He staved that he expected to obtain building permits for the hotel by the middle of November. Commissioner Manson inquired as to the change in the interior. Mr. Beisner stated that the interior would be the same, that the decor had been reviewed and that it was considered by the project's decorator not to be out of style. Commissioner Manson 10-25-84 -1- clarified that she meant the change that resulted in less parking. The Secretary stated that a section had been taken out of the interior of the first two floors reducing the space in some of the meeting rooms and thereby reducing the parking requirement. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Lucht then opened the meeting for a public hearing. He noted that no one was present to speak regarding the application beside the applicant and called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Ainas seconded by Commissioner Malecki to close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 84035 (Lombard Properties) Motion by Commissioner Manson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to recommend approval of Application No. 84035, subject to the following added conditions to Application No. 83045: 14. A cash escrow, in an amount to be determined by the City Manager, , shall be submitted to cover the cost of street cleaning associated with the placement or removal of fill on the site. 15. The applicant shall implement a landscape plan prepared for the City for the Shingle Creek greenstrip area adjacent to the hotel site. Said landscaping shall be completed in conjunction with the construction project prior to the release of the financial guarantee required by Condition No. 5 of the original approval. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Malecki, Manson and Ainas. Voting against: none. The motion passed. OTHER BUSINESS The Secretary then showed the Planning Commission a revised plan for the Spec. 14 industrial building which reduced the floor space originally approved by about 4,500 square feet. He stated that the south wing of the building would be shortened up and that more landscaping and parking would be provided thereby lessening the need for parking from the central lot. DISCUSSION ITEMS a. First Brookdale Bank Remodel The Secretary then informed the Commission that First Brookdale Bank had a small remodeling project planned that was minor and that the Secretary did not feel had to be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. The Planning Assistant explained that the project involved a very small addition to the east side of the building where a new night deposit box would be located and the shortening up of the canopy to allow for only one car to park under it. He explained that the other drive-up lanes would be removed. The Planning Assistant also explained that the removal of the existing canopy would open up the possibility for more parking on the bank site and that this in turn might open up the possibility of a transfer of parking to the Baker's Square Restaurant which is interested in an expansion. b. Howe, Inc. Stairwell The Secretary then briefly explained a modification to the office at Howe, Inc. involving the placement of a stairwell to the basement outside of the building 10-25-84 -2- rather than inside as at present. He explained that this would involve a small expansion of the office structure and that such minor expansions in the past have been accompanied by an Agreement between the City and Howe, Inc. that such an expansion is not considered an expansion of the nonconforming use on the site. The Secretary explained that the proposed stairwell modification did not really affect parking, setbacks or traffic circulation on the site. Commissioner Ainas stated that he did not consider it to be an expansion of the business. The Secretary stated that it was at least not an expansion of the nonconforming aspect of the Howe, Inc. operation, namely the manufacture of ammoniated fertilizer. Commissioner Manson asked whether the same siding that was on the existing building would be on the outside stairwell. The Secretary responded in the affirmative. c. Self Evaluation Chairman Lucht then briefly explained that the Year 2000 Study Committee is reviewing the existing situation in the City, including the function of the various advisory commissions. He stated that the advisory commissions have been asked to look at themselves and come up with a statement of what their function is. Chairman Lucht noted that the City's Zoning Ordinance defines the Planning Commission's role fairly well. The Secretary contrasted the role of other commissions and stated that the Planning Commission deals with regular or routine business items more often that other commissions. He stated that the City may make changes in its Zoning Ordinance and other ordinances in the future to respond to changing conditions and expand or alter the role of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Manson stated that she felt there was a need for a Planning Commission as the City gets older and there is an increasing need* for redevelopment. Commissioner Ainas suggested that members of the Planning Commission should visit other Planning Commissions in other cities to see how they operate. The Planning Assistant stated that the Commission has essentially been a reactive body over the last 30 years or so, responding to private proposals for development. He stated that, in the future as redevelopment becomes a greater and greater priority, the Planning Commission may need to become more proactive in becoming actively involved and creating solutions to land use problems. There followed a discussion of the Lynbrook Bowl area and the Brooklyn Boulevard strip as prime areas for future redevelopment. Commissioner Ainas asked what the Brooklyn Park Comprehensive Plan recommends for the Brooklyn Boulevard area. The Secretary stated that he did not think there was any major change called for north of 73rd Avenue North. He stated that Brooklyn Center is a transportation funnel for Brooklyn Park and that, as Brooklyn Park expands, the City will see a greater traffic impact on Brooklyn Boulevard. He compared the situation now with what it was 20 years ago. He stated that the posture of reacting to private development used to be appropriate, but that all the easy developments are, for the most part, done and that the challenge will be to find ways to redevelop areas that are not appropriately used at present. The Secretary also agreed that, as Commissioner Ainas had stated, the City needs to coordinate with other agencies more in developing a redevelopment policy. Commissioner Ainas suggested exchanging minutes of various meetings with other advisory commissions so that each commission would know what the others are doing. The Secretary stated that he saw no problem with that suggestion. He briefly discussed the functions of the various commissions and stated that an alternative to established ongoing commissions might be the creation of AD HOC committees to study particular issues. 10-25-84 -3- ADJOURNMENT Following a discussion of possible upcoming busines items, there was a motion by Commissioner Manson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. Th Planning Co ion adjourned at 8:55 p.m. airm& �I 10-25-84 -4-