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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 06-22 PCM Minutes of the Proceedings of the Planning Commission in the City of Brooklyn Center in the County of Henn pin and State of Minnesota June 22, 1972 The Planning Commission met in study session and was called to order by Chairman Jensen at 8:00 P.ifi. Roil Call: Chairman Jensen, Commissioners Gross, Scott and Foreman. Motion by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Gross, to approve the minutes of the may 18, 1972 meeting as submitted. Voting in favor viere: Chairman Jensen, Commissioners Gross and Scott. Not voting was Commissioner Foreman who was absent May 18th. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Gross to approve the minutes of the June 1, 1972 meeting, as submitted. Motion passed unanimously. Member Carl Gross introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 72-2 RESOLUTION ENDOBSING PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROHIBITING OPERATION OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES IN PARKS AND OPEN SPACE, AND RECOMMENDING ADOPTION T=-REOF WHEREAS, the City Council on June 12, 1972 moved the first reading of a draft ordinance prohibiting the operation of motorig-ed vehicles in parks and open space; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission unanimously supports the intent and purpose of the ordinance; and WHEREAS, the need to assure the protection or the City parks and open environmental areas from the abuse and damage by indis- criminate mctor behicle use is imperative: 14M, THEREFORE, BE IT RLSOLVED by the Brooklyn Center Planning Commission: The Commission endorses the Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting Operation of Motorized Vehicles in Parks and open-Space, and recommends it adoption by the City Council. Chairman Secretary The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by monber Robert Foreman, Upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Robert Jensen, Card_ Gross, Robert Foreman and Cecelia Scott. Voting against: none. The notion passed unanimously. The resolution was declared duly passed are adopted 1 1 1 -2- A discussion ensued relative to future Planning Commission agenda items. The Secretary noted that an extraordinary number of items had been submitted and that it would be desirable to hold a special session in conjunction with the July regular meeting. It was the consensus of the Commission to conduct a special Planning Commission meeting on July 13th to consider those pending Planning Commission items not considered at the regular July 6th meeting. The next item of business was consideration of a proposed accessory off-site parking amendment to the City Ordinances. The Secretary explained that the staff had conducted an analysis of accessory parking amendment and that such analysis was contingent upon the assumption that the provision would apply to only existing uses within the industrial and commercial zones. He noted that new uses were excluded from consideration because adequate parking should be provided by design via appropriate standards of the zoning ordinance. lie further stated that the staff study noted existing uses comprehended by the proposed ordinance amendment would include: 1. Those of two or more years duration; 2. Those for which evidence showed a parking inadequacy due to: a) a change of the nature of the use within a zone; b) a conforming land use wherein the deficiency was in the original layout; c) an experienced parking demand greater than that comprehended by ordinance standards. He stated further that it was recommended that accessory parking should not be permitted at a location which would require pedestrians to cross a major thoroughfare as defined by the ordinance to reach the principal use. In addition, he noted several other pedestrian crossing points should also be comprehended by the restrictions of the amendment, namely: 55th and 56th Avenues North between Xerxes Avenue North and Brooklyn Doulevard; John Martin Drive; Summit Drive; and 66th Avenue North between Lyndale and Camden Avenues North. He stated the City Attorney had been asked to comment relative to matters of common zoning of the principal and accessory uses as well as the use of the accessory parking space for parking credit purposes. An extensive discussion ensued relative to the staff analysis a,:d Chairman Jensen reiterated the primary concerns of the Commission: the use of the off-rite accessory parking for parking credit pa.r- Doses relative to the principal use and the question or whether the land for the site of the accessory off-street parting should be zoned the same as the principal use. Further discussion ensued relative to the distance from the principal use to the accessory off-site parking. The meeting recessed at 9:30 P.M. and resumed at 9:50 P.M. 1 1 1 -3- Commissioner Gross stated his concern that any off-site parking that was unreasonably distant from the principal use might generate problems such as vandalism as well as inconvenience to the patrons of the principal use, particularly if the off-site parking can be utilized for parking density purposes relative to the principal use. Commissioner Gross left the table at 9:55 P.M. Following further discussion, Chairman Jensen noted the following principal concerns of the Commission: 1. The possible ramifications of permitting the accessory off-site parking to serve as density credits toward parking requirements of the principal use, notwithstanding the proposed provision that such off-site property would be legally encumbered for parking accessory to the principal use through deed restriction or covenants; 2. That the accessory off-site parking should abut a common street with the principal use; 3. The furthest point of the accessory off-site parking to the site of the principal use shall not exceed 300 feet; 4. That clarification should be sought from the Attorney relative to whether the site of the accessory off-site parking should be zoned the same as the site of the principal use. Motion by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Foreman, to direct the staff to re-write the resolution proposing the accessory off-site parking amendment, taking into consideration the concerns of the Commission for presentation at the next study meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The next item of business was consideration of a Council directive passed at the May 8th Council meeting, requesting the Commission to investigate the feasibility of establishing standards applicable to automatic car wash operations which abut residential areas. . Commissioner Scott left the table at 10:15 P.M. Chairman Jensen noted that the meeting was without a quorum. Commissioners Jensen, Engdahl and Foreman proceeded to discuss the matter of the Council directive and Chairman Jensen noted that Councilman Britts was present and was the author of the directive. Councilman Britts stated his concern with the possible prolif- eration of car washers in existing service stations, and inquired what standards or guidelines might be required to govern this, especially in relation to those operations which abut residential districts. He stated basic questions were whether there was room for "stacking" of vehicles awaiting the car gash and whether the increased traffic generated by such car washes would create hazards or nuisances for nearby residential districts. Chairman Jensen noted that the Commission had briefly discussed the matter previously and had concluded that the car washers, per se, 1 -4-- were not obnoxious uses and that the basic requirements for such car washes were the need for stacking room as well as the space to construct the car washer, if permitted by ordinance requirements. Commissioner Engdahl noted the comparability of the subject car washers as a promotion, in that they were used in connection with the purchase of gasoline, and were not promoted as independent services. Commissioner Foreman agreed and noted that service stations themselves are not the most highly desirable uses near residential zones and that the addition of an automatic car wash did not appear to intensify the noise or traffic generated by those uses. Following further discussion, Chairman Jensen adjourned the meeting, at 11 o' clock P.M. until the July 6th regular meeting, noting that a quorum was not present. Ch a an 1 1