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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 06-20 PCM MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION CITY HALL JUNE 20, 1974 Call To Order The Planning Commission met in study session and was called to order at 8:05 p.m. by Chairman 40 Carl Gross. Roll Call Chairman Gross , Commissioners Foreman, Scotty and Engdahl. Also present was Director of Planning and Inspection Blair Tremere. Approve Minutes Motion by Commissioner Foreman seconded by 6-6-74 Commissioner Scott to approve the minutes of the June 6, 1974 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. Application No. 7403.3 Following the Chairman' s explanation, the first ('Brooklyn Center item of business was continued consideration of Jaycees) Planning Commission Application No. 74.033 sub- mitted by the Brooklyn Center Jaycees. The Secretary explained the application had been tabled at the June 6 meeting so the applicant could conduct an informational session regarding the proposed use and the Outreach Community Center program. He stated that such a meeting was held on June 13 in the Social Hall, and was attended by approximately 18 neighborhood residents; members of the Outreach Community Center staff; Mr. Dave Gee, representing the Jaycees; himself and Chairman Gross and Commissioner Foreman. The Secretary stated that a letter had been re- ceived dated June 20, 1974, from the applicant, withdrawing their request for a special use permit. The Secretary stated that those property owners who had been notified of the hearing had been informed of the letter and that the recommenda- tion was to take action acknowledging the letter. A brief discussion ensued and Commissioners Foreman and Scott noted that a number of the neighboring property owners were in attendance, and had indicated a desire to comment on the pro- posal notwithstanding the letter of withdrawl. Chairman Gross recognized Mr. Biddle, 6801 Bryant Avenue North who identified himself as a spokes- man for the neighbors in attendance. Mr. Biddle stated that the residents of the area had come prepared to offer rebuttal testimony to the application and inquired as to the ramifications of the withdrawl of the application. The Secretary responded that the application had been for a special use permit for a noncommercial use as required for the public welfare in the R-1 -1- 6/20/74 district. He stated that a special use permit would have been necessary since the proposed operation .involved six Outreach clients plus the resident supervisory family. He explained that the established City policy was to permit properly licensed noncommercial group care homes which involved not more than five un- related persons in addition to a resident supervisory family. The Secretary commented that he was not aware of the specific plans of the Jaycees at this time, particularly with regard to the use of the subject parcel. He stated that under the policy noted above, the Jaycees could elect to have a croup home of not more than five developmentally disabled persons plus a resident supervisory family, and, that they could secure a building permit for a home on the subject site. Mr. Biddle inquired as to what point in time neighboring residents and other concerned citizens could have some input, should the Jaycees decide to so proceed. Chairman Gross responded that the formal public hearings had been scheduled as a result of the request for a special use permit; but that citizens were free to communicate directly with the City administration as to questions or concerns they might have. Mr. Biddle stated whether some assurance was available that the applicant would not be reapplying for a special use permit once the proposed home was built and the program was established. The Secretary responded that as in the case of any citizen, the applicant could request a special use permit, but that such a request would generate public hearings and would require approval by the City Council. Commissioner Pierce arrived at 8:25 p.m. During further discussion Commissioner Foreman read a statement which he had pre- pared prior to knowledge of the letter re- questing withdrawl. He noted that he and his family had visited an Outreach Center over the weekend and that he was impressed with the operation. lie also noted his appreciation for the concerns of the neighboring residents and the need to evaluate the ramifications such a facility would have on an established residential neighborhood. He concluded that it would be appropriate for the Planning Commission to direct a resolution to the City Council en- dorsing group care concepts such as that es- tablished by the Outreach Community Center, and further, to inform the Council of a need to examine the ordinance provisions as they related to group care homes . -2- 6/20/74 Chairman Gross commented he was in agreement with Commissioner Foreman 's statement and that he felt the Zoning Qrdinance perhaps could be clarified since the concept of group care homes was a relatively recent phenomenon not specifically comprehended by the existing ordinance. Action Acknowledging Motion by Commissioner Foreman, seconded by Request For Withdrawl Commissioner Scott to acknowledge the June 20, of Application No. 1974 letter from the Brooklyn Center Jaycees, 4033 requesting withdrawl of Planning Commission Brooklyn Center Application No. 74033 . The motion passed !Jaycees) unanimously. Following further discussion there was a motion by Commissioner Foreman seconded by Commissioner Scott to direct the preparation action Directing of a resolution endorsing the concept of group :Resolution Regarding care homes for the developmentally disabled (Group Care Homes as represented by the Outreach Community Center program and indicating a need to review and perhaps clarify ordinance provisions for group care homes in residential districts. Chairman Gross called for a vote and the motion passed unanimously. Reconsideration of In other business the Secretary stated that on gook Park Estates Plat June 3, 1974, the City Council had approved '(Application No.. 73027) the final plat for the Brook Park Estates Addition submitted by the Brook Park Baptist Church. He stated that the plat involved one block and one lot, which was the proposed site of a parsonage; Outlot A which was the site of the existing chureh; and, Outlob B, which was the remaining southerly portion of the property. He stated that while the applicant had pre- viously considered tentative development plans for Qutlob B, no firm decision had been reached and it was the desire of the church on June 3 to proceed with filing the basic plat. He stated that prior to actual filing of the plat, however, the church had reached a de- termination as to the platting of a portion of Outlot B and had initiated a preliminary plat for a second addition to Brook Park Estates. The Secretary continued that since the approved basic plat had not been formally filed with the County, it had been returned to the City Engineer for review and had been revised by the applicant ' s surveyor reflecting the platting of a portion of Outlot B. The Secretary then reviewed the plat and noted • that the request was for approval of an amend- ment to the approved plat, which comprehended five additional 75 ' x 140 ' lots along Perry Avenue. The Secretary stated it was the City Engineer ' s recommendation that a 30 foot street easembnt -3- 6/20/74 along the east property line be provided, and that a 5 foot utility easement in Outlot A, along the north line of Block 1, Lot 1, along the east property, lines of Lots 1 through 6, and along the south line of Outlot A be indicated on the final plat. Chairman Gross recognized Mr. Foster Grant and Mr. Dick Rolf representing the applicant and a brief discussion ensued. Mr. Grant stated that upon approval of the amendment, the plat would be "returned to the surveyor prior to consideration by the City Council. Motion by Commissioner Foreman seconded Action Recommend ',, by Commissioner Engdahl to recommend ap-- Approval of proval of -the aTi).endment to the approved Brook Park Estate= - Brook Park Estates Plat, comprehending Plat six lots, 75 ' x 1401 , one Outlot and (Application No.' 73027) designated easements as approved by the City Engineer. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting recessed at 9:10 p.m. and re- Recess sumed at 9:20 p.m. In other business the Secretary briefly re- Review of and Consensus viewed a proposed location of a storage shed Approving Storage .�:-hed on the site of -the Brooklyn Methodist Church for Brooklyn Met1lodist located at 71st and Brooklyn Boulevard. He Church stated the 8 ' x 101 structure would be used for storage of grounds maintenance equipment. The Secretary, recommended -that the shed would be appropriately located in the yard area adjacent to the church on the north side, in consideration of the abutment of the north greenstrip to single family homes. Following a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission to approve the request by the Brooklyn Methodist Church for a 8 ' x 10 ' storage shed to be located in -the yard area - north of and adjacent -to the church building. The next item of business was consideration of Review of Possible possible ordinance amendments to Section 35-400 ordinance Amendments in response to t-f-,.e Council-initiated moratorium Regarding Land Area a-1 nd study of T°,-ilti-residential density and yard Requirement for Multi- requirements . Residential Development The SPcretir Y exo]_ained Liat on July 23, 1973, t1h,e C-4tv 'took action establishing a moratoriun on all multi-residential develop- ment and ordered a study with regard to the following factors for multi-residential districts: 1. Recreation area • 2 . Lights , air, and view 3. open green space 4. Parking and storage facilities He stated that since that time, the Commission had carried -the matter consistently on its. agendas and had discussed various approaches iohich might be taken to adjust the requirements of Section 35-400. He stated -4- 6/20/74 40L. that during the course of the review, Neigh- borhood Advisory Groups had been consulted. He stated the effort eventually led to the development of a joint ad hoc committee com- prised of Councilmen Robert Jensen and Tony Kuefler, and Planning Commissioners Pat Horan, H71 Pierce, and Robert Grosshans, who met early in May of 1974 to review specific ap- proaches which might be taken in revising pertinent ordinance requirements. The Secretary explained that the ad hoc com- mittee concluded that the staff should develop information for tbe .following two approaches, based upon. primary consideration of existing undeveloped multi-res�_dential parcels in the City: 1. Increase the minimum land area re- quirements for smaller parcels, specifically tliose less than 3 acres in size. 2. Exclude required yard setbacks abutting streets from the calculations of maximum number of units permitted on sites in the R4 through R7 districts. The Secretary then reviewed a memorandum and attached exhibits and tables, which . analyzed two possible ordinance amendments. Referring to Table 2 of the memorandum., he explained that each of the identifiable areas or parcels t'l-'roughout the City which were zoned, but not developed, for multi-residential uses had been examined and tested according to the proposed criteria. An extensive disctission ensued with particular attention being dir,­cted to the alternative comprehending exclusion of street-yard setbacks from density calculations . Commissioner Foreman commented that his primary concern had been Taith the size of recreational areas and inq-t-iired as to wb(-tber certain minimum standards should be established for the size of playgrounds and open areas . Commissioner Pierce commented that perhaps consideration should be given to establishment of a minimum amount of green area or a maximum amount of land which could be occupied by building and supportive parking facilities . Chairman Gross stated that provision for recreational facilities and space were actually matters of design and could be comprehended within the discretionary review function of the Planning Commission and the Council. He sug- gested that perhaps a policy statement could be developed by the commission as to standards for -5- 6/20/74