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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 02-25 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 FEBRUARY 25,2016 1. CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Christensen at 7:06 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Chair Randy Christensen, Commissioners John MacMillan, Carlos Morgan, Stephen Schonning, Rochelle Sweeney, and Susan Tade were present. Commissioner Alexander Morgan was absent and excused. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission Tim Benetti and Director of Business &Development Gary Eitel. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There was a motion by Commissioner Schonning, seconded by Commissioner Morgan, to approve the agenda of the February 25, 2016 meeting. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES—FEBRUARY 11,2016 Chair Christensen requested the following change to Page 6, third paragraph from the bottom. Commissioner Morgan stated his feeling that it is important and should be marketed that the City is the first m j-er majority minority City in the state. There was a motion by Commissioner Tade, seconded by Commissioner MacMillan, to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2016 meeting as amended above. The motion passed. 5. CHAIR'S EXPLANATION Chair Christensen explained the Planning Commission's role as an advisory body. One of the Commission's functions is to hold public hearings. In the matters concerned in these hearings, the Commission makes recommendations to the City Council. The City Council makes all final decisions in these matters. 6. PLANNING ITEMS 6a) RECONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 35 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING DECKS AND PORCHES AS AN ALLOWABLE ENCROACHMENT INTO CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL YARD SETBACK AREAS AND ADDING NEW DEFINITIONS OF DECKS AND PORCHES. PC Minutes 02-25-16 -1- Mr. Benetti provided Commissioners with a taped mock-up of a 6' x 16' and 8' x 12' (for a recommended total of 100 square feet) deck. He stated that staff felt that the six-foot deck was the most appropriate measurement for a deck because there is no requirement to make the deck architecturally compatible with the exterior of the home. Commissioner Sweeney commented that the six-foot deck is more in keeping with the style of ramblers in the City. She also stated that she didn't feel that a deck in the front yard would be used for guests. Commissioners agreed on the six-foot deck. Mr. Benetti provided Commissioners with a taped mock-up of an 8'x 20' and a 10' x 20' (for a recommended total of 200 square feet)porch. Discussion took place regarding the sizable investment in a porch; the size of the porch being considered an addition to the home; setbacks; the architectural flexibility given to porches as compared to the concrete standards of the deck; and the number of concrete stoops in the City that will need replacing. Commissioner Morgan stated that the Planning Commission is at the forefront and giving direction and guidelines to the second generation of decks and porches in the City. ACTION TO APPROVE NEW ORDINANCE LANGUAGE There was a motion by Commissioner MacMillan, seconded by Commissioner Sweeney, to allow a 6-foot deck and a 10-foot porch and to accept all other ordinance language presented to the Planning Commission. Voting in favor: Chair Christensen, Commissioners MacMillan, Morgan, Schonning, Sweeney, and Tade. And the following voted against the same: None The motion passed unanimously. Chair Christensen stated that the mock-ups were useful and thanked Planning Staff for providing them. 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS Mr. Benetti talked about the Northport Elementary Site Plan that was presented to the City Council on February 22, 2016. He stated City code does not require site plan review to undergo a public hearing process; however informational meeting notices are routinely sent to neighbors within 150 feet or 350 feet of the subject site, and residents are given notice that they can attend or speak at this meeting, whether there is a scheduled public hearing or not. Mr. Benetti further stated this is different than those applications that require a published and mailed hearing notice, PC Minutes 02-25-16 -2- such as special use permit, subdivision plat, rezoning or variance, whereby City Code does require this formal notification process. He stated that the Mayor was concerned that no public hearing was held at the Planning Commission level regarding the site plan, and called for the opening of public hearing at the February 22nd City Council meeting. No one spoke and the item passed unanimously. He stated that the city staff is looking into the possibility of having a public hearing process on every application item that.goes before the Planning Commission. Mr. Eitel read a follow-up explanation regarding the issue that will be placed in the City Council's weekly update that outlines the current procedure and states that the Planning Commission encourages public participation and considers every meeting as an open meeting. Mr. Benetti stated that he would provide Commissioners with more information as it becomes available. Commissioner Morgan commented that it would be interesting for the Planning Commission to explore utilizing virtual technology. Mr. Eitel stated that virtual technology would be useful for the Housing Commission as they look at how to move 1950-60's homes in the City into more current designs. Commissioner Morgan stated his belief that the Planning Commission's work is being noticed and that it has done a good job of tackling challenging issues. He challenged Commissioners to keep up the good work and stated that good things are happening in Brooklyn Center. 8. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Tade, seconded by Commissioner Morgan, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m. STATE OF MINNESOTA ) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN ) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER ) The undersigned, being the duly qualified and assigned Secretary to the Planning Commission of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Regular Session of the Planning Commission of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 25, 2016. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. PC Minutes 02-25-16 -3- 3. That the Planning Commission approved said minutes at its March 17, 2016 regular meeting. Tim Benetti, Secretary R6d-alf Christensen, Chair PC Minutes 02-25-16 -4-