HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 02-05 PCM Minutes of the Proceedings of the
Planning Commission in the City of
Brooklyn Center County of Hennepin
and State of Minnesota
February 5, 1970
The Planning Commission met in regular session and was
called to order by Chairman Robert Jensen at 7:35 P.M.
Roll Call: Chairman Robert Jensen, Commissioners Karl
Schuller, Robert Grosshans, and Paul Ditter were present. Also
present were staff members J. Merila and R. L. Haarman.
Motion was made by Grosshans, seconded by Ditter, to
approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, 1970,
as amended and the minutes of the study meeting of January 29,
1970, as submitted. The motion carried unanimously.
The first item of business to be considered was Application
No. 70003 submitted by R. J. Travis requesting a variance from
Section 15-104 of the City Subdivision Ordinance which would
permit subdividing without platting property located at 5419
Girard Avenue North.
Following an introduction by the Secretary who indicated
the Platting Ordinance does not provide for minor subdivisions
at this time, discussion of the application centered on how the
lot division affected the adjacent property. The Secretary
indicated that Lot 5 would be divided in such a manner that the
North 10 feet of said Lot 5 will be combined with the 40 feet
of Lot 4, creating a lot 50 feet wide, with the remaining 30
feet of Lot 5 being combined with the 40 feet of Lot 6 creating
a new 70 foot lot.
(Commissioner Charles Nichols arrived at 7:,40 P.M.)
Following a brief discussion of the application by the
Commission and the applicant, a motion was made by Grosshans,
seconded by Schuller, to recommend to the City Council that
Application No. 70003 requesting a variance from the Subdivision
Ordinance, be approved. The motion carried unanimously.
The next application to be considered was No. 69061 submitted
by Ed Petsuch Realty requesting a Special Use Permit for a
"special home occupation" so as to allow the employment of not
more than one non-resident at 4800 - 71st Avenue North. The
application had been introduced and a public hearing held by
the Planning Commission on November 6, 1969, at which time the
application was tabled and taken under advisement. The appli-
cation was also reviewed with the applicant at the study meeting
of the Planning Commission held January 29, 1970, with the
matter deferred for final action to the regular February meeting.
Discussion of the application among the Commissioners
centered on the standards for granting a special use permit and
the possibility of conditioning said permit by limiting the
working hours of the proposed non-resident employee and restrict-
ing the on-site lighting.
Motion was made by Nichols, seconded by Schuller, to
recommend to the City Council that Application No. 69061 request-
ing a special Use Permit be approved with the following conditions:
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1. Working hours of the proposed non-resident employee
will be limited to the hours of 8 A.M. through 10 P.M.
seven days a week.
2. Outside driveway floodlights shall be turned off no
later than 10 P.M. and inside lighting associated
with the real estate office shall be turned off at
10 P.M.
3. The Special Use Permit shall be reviewed in one year.
Voting for the motion were: Nichols, Schuller and Jensen; not
voting was Grosshans; voting against was Ditter. The motion
carried. (Commissioner Ditter felt that the freestanding
illumindated identification sign should have been included in
the 10 P.M. curfew.)
The next item of business to be considered was Application
No. 69066 submitted by Henry Stenquist requesting a Special Use
Permit under "special home occupation" consideration for his
residence at 7100 Willow Lane. The application had been intro-
duced at a public hearing held by the Planning Commission on
January 8 1970, at which time the matter was tabled and taken
under advisement. The application was further considered at
a study meeting of the Planning Commission on January 29, 1970
at which time the matter was deferred to the regular meeting in
February with the Secretary directed to obtain a legal opinion
from the City Attorney relative to the definitions of home
occupation and home occupation, special. Chairman Jensen
read letters in favor of and opposed to the Special Use Permit
and directed the Commissioners to review the legal opinion
received from the City Attorney. The Secretary was directed
to read excerpts from the opinion for the benefit of the appli-
cant and the audience. The opinion stated, among other things,
that the ordinance does limit the number of home occupations
and/or home occupations, special, to one (1) per dwelling and
that group activities would require a Special Use Permit.
(Commissioner Bogucki arrived at 8:05 P.M.)
Following the reading of the City Attorney's opinion,
Chairman Jensen entertained a brief discussion of the application
with Mr. Stenquist.
Motion was made by Schuller, seconded by Bogucki, to
recommend to the City Council that Application No. £9066 request-
ing a Special Use Permit be denied, because the ordinance limits
the number of home occupations to one per dwelling. The motion
carried unanimously.
The next Application to be considered was No. 70004 sub-
mitted by Thomas Construction Company requesting a variance from
Section 15-104 of the City Subdivision Ordinance which would
permit subdividing without platting property located at 824 and
816 - 69th Avenue North.
Following its introduction by the Secretary who stated that
the Platting Ordinance does not provide for minor subdivision
at this time, discussion of the application centered on: 1) the
possibility of creating a corner lot should Bryant Avenue be
extended; and 2) the possibility that these parcels would be
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included in an extension of the R4 zoning located to the east
on property which the applicant is also the present owner and
proposed developer.
Motion was made by Bogucki, seconded by Ditter, to recommend
to the City Council that Application No. 70004 requesting a
variance from the Subdivision Ordinance, be approved, with the
following condition:
1. Prior to the issuance of building permits on
the subject property, the City Engineer shall
recommend whether or not corner lot setbacks
will apply.
The motion carried unanimously.
The next item of business to be considered was Application
No. 70007 submitted by Northern States Power Company requesting
site and building plan approval for an addition to the present
substation located at 4911 France Avenue North.
Following its introduction by the Secretary, 4 motion was
made by Ditter, seconded by Nichols, to recommend to the City
Council that Application No. 70007 requesting site and building
plan approval, be approved, with the following conditions:
1. A bituminous driveway will be installed subject
to the approval of the City Engineer.
2. Building plans are subject to the approval of
the Building Inspector with respect to applicable
building codes.
3. In accordance with ordinance requirements of
Section 4-501, Sewer Connections Required,
Northern States Power Company will initiate
immediate action and connect substation
plumbing to the City sanitary sewer system.
4. The existing cesspool will be disconnected and
filled with suitable material.
Voting for the motion were: Ditter, Nichols, Bogucki, and
Jensen. Voting against: none. Not voting: Schuller and Gross-
hans. Motion carried.
The next item of business to be considered was Planning
Commission Application No. 70001 submitted by Arrow Developers,
Inc. , requesting preliminary plat approval for a vacant land
area, commonly described as lying south of Eckberg Drive
extended and behind the rear property lines of properties on
East Twin Lake Boulevard. Said property also bordering on the
shore of Twin Lake.
Following its introduction by the Secretary, who reviewed
past events and developments related to the subject property,
discussion of the application with Mr. Terrance Fruth, an
attorney representing the applicant, related to development
status of the land in question considering the current open
space grant from the U. S . Department of Housing and Urban
Development. Attorney Fruth suggested that if the application
was to be tabled, the tabling action should reflect the City's
interest in acquiring the parcel and not certain design deficiencies
.requiring additional engineering studies.
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Following a brief discussion of the application by the
Commissioners with the staff and the applicant, a motion was
made by Nichols, seconded by Bogur_ki, to table Application
No. 70001, taking it under advisement The motion carried
unanimously.
At this time, 9:20 P.M. , Chairman Jensen called for a
recess. The meeting was called back to order at 9:30 P.M.
The next item of business to be considered was Application
No. 69021 submitted by Peterson-Seed requesting rezoning from
R3 to R5 property generally located in the extreme Northwest
corner of the City of Brooklyn Center. The rezoning request
had been considered at a public hearing held by the Planning
Commission on November 6, 1969, at the regular meeting held
December 4, 1969, and at its study meeting held January 29, 1970.
Chairman Jensen acknowledged a letter received from
Evelyn Schmidt of Brook Park Realty, representing the applicant,
requesting a deferral of action on the rezoning for a period up
to 60 days.
Motion was made by Nichols, seconded by Grosshans, to
table the application up to a period of 60 days at the request
of the applicant. The motion carried unanimously.
The remainder of the meeting consisted of a discussion
by the Commission of various planning items under their
consideration, and included the appointment of Mr. Charles
VanEeckhout, 5450 East Twin Lake Boulevard to the Southwest
Neighborhood Committee.
Motion was made by Schuller, seconded by Bogucki, to
adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Adjournment came at
9:50 P.M.
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