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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986 07-31 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 JULY 31 , 1986 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 Molly Malecki, Lowell Ainas, Mike Nelson, Wallace Bernards and Ann Wallerstedt. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspection Ronald Warren and Planner Gary Shallcross. The Secretary noted that Commissioner Sandstrom had called to say that he would be unable to attend and was excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - July 17, 1986 Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to approve the minutes of the July 17, 1986 Planning Commission meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Malecki, Ainas, Nelson, and Bernards. Voting against: none. Not voting: Commissioner Wallerstedt. APPLICATION NO. 86029 (David Otto) ollowing e MaiTrman s�explanation, the Secretary introduced the first item of business, a request for a variance from Section 35-704 of the City Ordinances to allow full retail use of the building at 5810 Xerxes Avenue North while providing fewer parking stalls than required by the ordinance. The Secretary reviewed the contents of the staff report (See Planning Commission Information Sheet for Application No. 86029 attached). The Secretary noted that the Planning Commission had recommended a change in the retail parking formula which would have eliminated the need for the variance. He stated that the City Council considered that amendment and deferred approval of a first reading and asked for more information. The Secretary stated that, since that time, the Planner had prepared a memo providing additional information on potential building construction resulting from the formula change and the potential traffic generation. He stated that the City had also received a comment from Short-Elliott-Hendrickson on this topic. He reminded the Commission of the traffic study done by Short-Elliott-Hendrickson at the request of the City in 1985. He stated that the intersection that would probably be most affected by the ordinance change would be John Martin Drive and Shingle Creek Parkway. He noted that the letter from SEH stated that the level of service might, at worst, drop to level of service C from level of service B under the probable development scenario in the traffic study. The Secretary stated that staff would recommend an ordinance amendment more strongly than a variance in this case, but that a variance could be justified under the present ordinance. Commissioner Bernards asked for an explanation of the reference to the "southeast" corner of the building. The Secretary explained that that is where the proof-of- parking area within the building is located. Commissioner Bernards asked whether parking was permitted on Xerxes Avenue North or Northway Drive. The Secretary stated that Xerxes Avenue North was posted "no parking", but that he was not sure if Northway Drive is posted or not. He stated that he had never seen anyone park on Northway Drive. Commissioner Bernards asked whether both accesses to this site were on the property in question. The Secretary stated that the easterly access was shared with the Health Spa. 7-31-86 -1- Commissioner Malecki asked whether there would be a surplus of 13 parking stalls under the new formula. The Secretary responded in the affirmative. There followed a discussion of the options before the Planning Commission. The Secretary stated that the variance could be denied with a recommendation to adopt the ordinance, or tabled with recommendation that the ordinance be studied by the City Council. He also stated that the matter could be sent on to the City Council together with a recommendation to approve the variance, but accompanied with a recommendation to change the ordinance as well. Chairman Lucht asked whether the tenant remodeling would come back to the Planning Commission. The Secretary responded in the negative. Chairman Lucht then asked the applicant whether he had anything to add. Mr. Otto stated that he had nothing to add to the report. He stated that he did not believe there was parking allowed on Northway Drive. He also explained that his lease agreement with the Health Spa for parking stalls on the St. Paul Book site had lapsed and that, therefore, he was free to use all of the stalls on his property. PUBLIC HEARING Chairman Lucht then opened the meeting for a public hearing on Application No. 86029 and asked whether anyone present wished to comment. Seeing no one, he called for a motion to close the public hearing. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Malecki to close the public hearing. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION NO. 86029 AND RECOMMENDING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT Motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to recommend approval of Application No. 86029 on the basis of the findings listed below and recommending adoption of an ordinance amendment regarding the retail parking formula. The findings in favor of the variance are as follows: 1. A hardship is experienced by the applicant in that a substantial portion of the building is reserved for proof-of-parking and is, therefore, underutilized in order to deal with a potential parking problem which has no history of existing on the site. 2. The reuse of the building originally designed and used for another purpose is somewhat unique within the C2 zoning district. 3. The hardship is created by the existing ordinance which requires much more parking for each 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area for a smaller retail establishment than for a larger retail center. U. No detriment to surrounding property is anticipated if the entire building is utilized for retail sales purposes. Voting in favor of the previous motion: Chairman Lucht, Commissioners Malecki, Ainas, Nelson, Bernards and Wallerstedt. Voting against: none. The motion passed. 7-31-86 -2- ADJOUMENT Me—Secretary briefly mentioned to the Planning Commission upcoming business items on an apartment development on 69th Avenue North and the cut-through traffic concern in the Central Neighborhood. There was a motion by Commissioner Nelson seconded by Commissioner Ainas to adjourn the meeting of the Planning Commission. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission adaourned at 8:09 p.m. j Chai an 7-31-86 -3- 1 1