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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 01-12 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 January 12, 1918 Call to Order: The 1977 Commission was called to order by Chairman Pro tem Gilbert Engdahl at 8:00 p.m. Roll Call : Commissioners Jacobson, Book and Scott. Also present were Director of Planning and Inspection Blair Tremere, Planning Aide Laurie Thompson and Building Official Will Dahn. Approve Minutes Motion by Commissioner Jacobson seconded by Commis- 12-15-77 sioner. Engdahl to approve the minutes of the December 15, 1977 meeting as submitted. Voting in favor: Commissioners Jacobson, Scott and Engdahl . Not voting: Commissioner Book, who explained he was not present at that meeting. The motion passed. Adjourn 1977 Commission: Motion by Commissioner Jacobson seconded by Commis- sioner Engdahl to adjourn the 1977 Commission. The motion passed unanimously. Administer Oath of Office: The Secretary then administered the oath of office to. Commissioners Engdahl , Sazama, Malecki and Hawes. Call to Order: The 1978 Planning Commission was called to order by (1978 Commission) Chairman Pro tem Gilbert Engdahl at 8:15 p.m. Roll Call : Commissioners Malecki , Jacobson, Engdahl , Sazama and Hawes. At the direction of the Commission, the Secretary assumed the chair for purposes of the annual election of a chairman. He then opened the meeting for nomi- nations for chairman. Motion by Commissioner Jacobson seconded by Commissioner Book to nominate Gilbert Engdhal . There being no further nominations, there was a motion by Commissioner Jacobson seconded by Commissioner Book to unanimously elect Gilbert Engdahl Chairman. The motion passed unanimously. Election of Chairman Pro tem Chairman Engdahl called for nominations for the (deferred to next meeting) position of Chairman Pro tem. Motion by Commissioner Book to nominate Harold 'Pierce, seconded by Chairman Engdahl . Motion by Chairman Engdahl to nominate Deborah Jacobson, seconded by Commissioner Book. Motion by Chairman Engdahl seconded by Commissioner Jacobson to defer the election to the next meeting since Commissioner Pierce was not present. The motion passed unanimously. Recess The Planning Commission meeting recessed at 8:20 p.m. and resumed at 8:40 p.m. Application No. 77067 Following the Chairman's, explanation, the first item (Northwestern Bell Telephone of business was a proposed revision to Application No. Company) 77067 submitted by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company: (Revision) The Secretary briefly reviewed the item, stating the application was -for a special use permit for a gas- oline dispensing facility at 6540 Shingle Creek Park- way. He stated the application had been approved by the City Council at its December 19,1977 meeting. He stated the revision to the approved site plan would locate the gasoline dispensing facility 16 feet further south. Commissioner Engdahl questioned whether this would reduce the amount of parking pro- vided on the site. The secretary responded in the negative and added that the revision would improve the traffic flow on the site and would further reduce the outside storage area allowed by variance. -1- 1-12-78 Folio-ving further discussion there was a motion by Recommend Approval of `Commissioner Jacobson seconded by Commissioner Book Revisions to Application to approve the revision to the site plan of Application No. 77067 No. 77067 submitted by Northwestern Bell Telephone (Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. The motion passed unanimously. Company) In other business, the Secretary briefly reviewed the Other Business: status of the project known as the Spanish Quarter which was approved by the City Council under Application No. .77048 on October 24, 1977. He stated the developers were contemplating other means of developing the parcel . He presented a conceptual rendering of a site plan for a project tentatively named "Spanish Quad Homes." He explained the project would be composed of clusters of four-plexes, each on a separately platted parcel . He further explained that the developer would propose platting the 13 acre site into approximately 30 four- plex sites to be sold independently. The Secretary explained such platting would require variances and that, while four-plexes are permitted under the R-4 zoning, the individual platting of 30 lots .would result in fewer total dwelling-units (120) than possible with the approved 112-2 story apartments (168) . Chairman Engdahl commented that, not only were greenstrip and density variances impled, but that multiple site and building plan approvals would also have to be sought. The Secretary stated that the concept is not fully com- prehended by the Zoning Ordinance R-3 and R-4 Districts. Discussion ensued relative to the need for housing in the City and the fact that the development concept. . would provide less units than if the parcel were de- veloped as originally approved. Commissioner Book commented that perhaps it would be in order for the Commission to establish a policy of maximizing the number of units approved under a particular application. Commissioner Sazama compared the conceptual proposal to the developed R-4 area in the southern part of the City near Twin Lake which contains a number of individually owned four, six and eight plexes. The Secretary cited a number of problems realized in that area regarding maintenance and responsibility for shared parking and open areas. Chiarman Engdahl stated that he would like to go on record as discouraging sucha proposal. Commissioner Jacobson concurred. There was consensus to. discourage such a development for the 13 acre parcel . Chairman Engdahl summarized the Commissions concern: development of the site should maximize the number of units, either with the approved apartment or with a townhouse alternative possible in this zone; a common development of the entire site is preferred over multiple sites; and a common development could include platted, condominium townhouse-type units, thereby providing individual lots with a homeowners association. -The next item of consideration was review of a Midland Cooperative use proposed by Midland Cooperative located in : Speculative Building No. VI, 6800 Shingle Creek Parkway, in the I-I ( Industrial Park) Zoning D,94- trict. The Secretary reviewed a letter which had been submitted explaining the nature of the proposed use which included the bagging and reblending of certain seeds. The Secretary stated the use was not " expressly permitted by the ordinance under Section but that it was similar in nature to per- mitted uses and could be approved by City Council as a permitted use. 1-12-78 Chairman Engdahl inquired as to the intensity of truck traffic. The Secretary stated the. bu-ilding and area were designed to handle truck traffic generated by the permitted uses for the. i.ndustrial park. Chairman Engdahl recognized Building Official Will Dahn who explained that at the time the building permit had been taken out for the tenant space, the use was comprehended as wholesale distribution with minor packaging. He continued that the concern was with the amount of bagging and reblending and the dust generation which would result. He stated that applicable code requirements could be met in the building and that the management proposed the instal- lation of a dust filtering system. Chairman Engdahl recognized Mr. Gary Timm, who re-- presented Midland Cooperative. Mr. Timm stated that Midland Cooperative had had no intention of mislead- ing the City in its application for a building per- mit, but had understood from the owner of the building that their repackaging and blending use was also approved. He briefly explained the nature of the use. He stated the operation was a modern operation and that with the installation of the dust removal equipment 99% of the dust would be removed. He ex- plained that the seeds involved are "clean seeds" and that not much dust is generated. He stated there would be not bulk storage. In response to a question from Commissioner Sazama, he explai,ned. that only light grain and small seed was used. The Secretary commented that this did not represent a formal application, and that a finding that the use is similar in nature to the permitted uses listed' in Section 35-331 would be appropriate. A motion by Commissioner Jacobson, seconded by Com- missioner Sazama to find the proposed rebagging and blending use, as explained in a letter submitted to the file, to be similar in nature to the permitted uses for the I-1 district and, furthermore, that the use is subject to all applicable codes and ordinances. Commissioner Hawes inquired as to the future of ex- pansion of the operation. Mr. Timm responded that no expansion was anticipated. The Secretary stated . that if the use should expand, the Commission would be informed and could reconsider the use. 1978 Meeting Schedule The Commission discussed its 1978 meeting schedule. The Secretary commented that many site and building plan approvals, special use permits and variances were anticipated for the coming year. He also briefly reviewed the Commission's role in Comprehensive Planning for the coming year. Chairman Engdahl stated that one meeting a month be devoted' specifically to Comprehensive Planning and that regular business be considered at the regular meeting. He stated that, in the event that there is more new business than can be handled in one regular meeting, he would rather schedule an extra meeting than consider new business at a study session. Commissioner Sazama questioned whether there were any seasonal trends in the amount of applications to be considered. The Secretary responded that March through June usually were the months with the most new appli- cations. Commissioner Sazama stated he felt the Commission could be more flexible during that time, particularily in order to accommodate homeowners who might be delayed for a period of a month to six weeks. -3- 1-12-78 Commissioner Jacobson stated she felt the schedule should be enforced as strictly as possible. She stated the Commission had two responsibilities: one for consideration of new business; and one for Comprehensive Planning. Commissioner Hawes agreed with Commissioner Jacobson. It was the consensus of the Commission that regular business be considered at the first meeting of the month and that the second meeting of the month be devoted to Comprehensive Planning and other study issues, with the stipulation that flexibility be allowed to consider new items at a study meeting at the discretion of the Chairman and the Secretary. It was consensus of the Commission to meet the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 8:00 p.m. The Secretary explained that the Neighborhood Advisory Neighborhood Groups Groups had been established by the City Council in the 1960's to adivse the Planning Commission on neighborhood concerns He stated there was an advisory group for each of the six planning neighborhoods and that the membership ranged from five to nine members He continued that mem- bers were concerned neighbors who had volunterred to serve on the Advisory Groups. He added that it was the policy of the Planning Commission to refer all rezonings and amendments to the Comprehensive Plan to the appropriate Neighborhood Advisory Groups. Chairman Engdahl designated Commissioners as liaisons to respective Neighborhood Advisory Groups. Commissioner Book, the Northeast Neighborhood Group; Commissioner Pierce, the Central Neighborhood Group; Commissioner Sazama, the Northwest Neighborhood Group; Commissioner Jacobson, the West Central Neighborhood Group; Commis- sioner Hawes, the Southwest Neighborhood Group; and Commissioner Malecki the Southeast Neighborhood Group. In other business the Commission briefly discussed status of the Crystal Airport zoning matter. The Secretary stated that an explanatory letter was sent to all homeowners affected by the proposed zoning. The Commission also briefly reviewed the Comprehensive. Planning process. The Secretary stated that copies of the work program which had been submitted with a grant application to the Metropolitan Council would br; made available to the Commission at its next meeting. The Commission also briefly disucssed the open meeting law. There was a motion by Commissioner Book seconded by Adjournment Commissioner Jacobson to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Planning Commission adjourned at 10:15 p.m. f Chair MO 1-12-76 - - -4-