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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 05-12 PCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA MAY 12, 2016 1. CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Christensen at 7:36 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Chair Randy Christensen, Commissioners Jack MacMillan, Carlos Morgan, and Stephen Schonning were present. Commissioners Rochelle Sweeney and Susan Tade were absent and excused; and Commissioner Alexander Koenig was absent and unexcused. Also present were Director of Business & Development Gary Eitel and Michaela Kujawa-Daniels, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. 3. 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. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — APRIL 28, 2016 There was a motion by Commissioner MacMillan, seconded by Commissioner Schonning, to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2016 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. 5. PLANNING APPLICATION ITEMS 5a) APPLICATION NO. 2016-005 PARENTS IN COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. - CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE A LICENSED DAYCARE FACILITY IN THE C-1 SERVICE/OFFICE ZONE, LOCATED AT 6415 BROOKLYN BOULEVARD Chair Christensen introduced Application No. 2016-005, consideration of a Special Use Permit to Operate a Licensed Daycare Facility in the C-1 Service/Office Zone, to be known as The Aubrey Della Early Childhood Family Development Center (See Planning Commission Report dated May 12, 2016 for Application No. 2016-005). It was noted that legal notice was published in the local Sun -Post and notice letters were delivered to all neighboring properties within 350 feet of the subject site. PC Minutes 05-12-16 -1- Mr. Eitel stated Planning Staff recommends the Planning Commission provide a recommendation to the City Council to approve Planning Application No. 2016-005, with the conditions noted in the Planning Staff report and also similar in the Resolution. Mr. Eitel provided background on this site and stated in 2007 this site was a different childcare facility and the license for the business had been revoked by the Department of Human Services (DHS). He noted this is the reason for the Special Use Permit being requested to Operate a Licensed Daycare Facility in the C-1 Service/Office Zone. Commissioner Morgan asked for clarification on the location of where the center will be located and referenced a map on the power point presentation that Mr. Eitel provided. He also asked why the Department of Human Services had revoked the previous facilities license. Mr. Eitel replied the license was revoked due to operational issues. He stated that is why this is an application for a special license, to operate a similar business previously licensed in this location. OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS — APPLICATION NO. 2016-005 Chair Christensen recognized residents in the audience who wished to speak on this matter There was a motion by Commissioner MacMillan, seconded by Commissioner Morgan, to open the public hearing on Application No. 2016-005, at 7:52 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Christensen called for comments from the public. Rico Alexander, Minneapolis, MN - Head Start Director, shared some history on the Head Start Program. He stated they are a nationally recognized and award winning non-profit organization that has been around for over 40 years. He noted they currently provide services to over 2,000 low-income children and families in the Hennepin County area. He stated they mainly serve Brooklyn Center but plan to extend to North Minneapolis residents in the near future. He also noted they will provide busing transportation for the children they serve, which will not cause any issues with traffic in the area as well. Commissioner Morgan asked how the busing will work and where the children will get dropped off within the location. Mr. Alexander replied they are still in the process of finalizing the best location, but have decided they will either drop the children at the main front entrance or the bus will pull around the back and drop the children at a backdoor entrance. Mr. Alexander stated a main part of the Head Start Program is to provide nutrition to low-income children and families and to provide more than the typical three meals a day provided to all children attending the facility, they partner with local food shelves and once a month have a food shelf at two of the biggest Head Start locations to provide their families with the food and nutrition needed for their homes as well. Commissioner Morgan asked if this food shelf service will be provided at the Brooklyn Center location. Mr. Alexander replied that they typically hold the food shelf at the two largest PC Minutes 05-12-16 -2- locations which are both located in Minneapolis. He did note that should the Brooklyn Center location grow and if they need was great, they would accommodate the needs of the families they serve. Mr. Alexander stated the only issue they currently have with the location is cosmetic work that needs to be corrected. He noted the fencing is a top priority as outlined in the application and they will have that repaired prior to opening. Mr. Alexander reiterated it is important to understand PICA (Parents in Community Action, Inc.) is a parent founded and run organization. They provide services to many backgrounds and are the leading forefront for Head Start Programs. Commissioner Morgan asked what issues they anticipate will occur in the future that they plan to overcome as a program. Mr. Alexander stated the first issue is lack of space; and noted they were fortunate to get the space in Brooklyn Center, but not always so fortunate in all areas. Mr. Alexander also stated a second issue they plan to overcome is finding quality staff members to train and provide the best services to the families they serve. Gretchen Hengemuhle, Senior Advisor for Head Start stated the services they provide are only as good as their staff and that is why they provide extensive training and offer many educational opportunities for their staff. She stated they invest in their own people to start the process of being able to invest in children's futures. Commissioner Schonning stated he is very pleased they will be serving their community and is looking forward to their presence. He noted the only issue he sees as an eminent work order is that they repair the fence. Commissioner Morgan echoed these sentiments and asked when they plan to open. Mr. Alexander replied they hope to open June 14, 2016 and look forward to getting their programs open and provide services to the community. Chair Christensen stated he was happy about what they will bring to the community and in agreeance with Commissioners Schonning and Morgan that the only issue is repairing the fence prior to opening. MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS (HEARING) There was a motion by Commissioner MacMillan, seconded by Commissioner Schonning, to close the public hearing on Application No. 2016-005. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Christensen called for questions and comments from Commissioners. The Commissioners interposed no objections to approval of the Application. ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2016-04 REGARDING THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION NO. 2016-005 SUBMITTED BY PARENTS IN COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. (PICA). PC Minutes 05-12-16 -3- There was a motion by Commissioner Schonning, seconded by Commissioner Morgan, to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 2016-04. Voting in favor: Chair Christensen, Commissioners Schonning, MacMillan, and Morgan. And the following voted against the same: None The motion passed unanimously. The Council will consider the application at its May 23, 2016 meeting. The applicant must be present. Major changes to the application as reviewed by the Planning Commission will require that the application be returned to the Commission for reconsideration. 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS 6a) Liquor License Issuance and Fees Associated Commissioner MacMillan requested discussion on a previous topic regarding liquor license acquisitions within the City. He asked Mr. Eitel if he had received any information on the reasoning for the City having fees that are about 60% higher than surrounding cities. Mr. Eitel stated he followed up with the City Clerk and was informed the licensing fees and regulations have been in place for 20 years at least and the cost to gain a liquor license is about $14,000.00. He stated once you have an established liquor license and history, he believed the cost of the fees comes down. The Cleric confirmed there didn't seem to be any apparent reason the fees have remained the same for so many years. He stated the assumption is the amount for the license just hasn't been questioned in the past. Chair Christensen stated he would like to bring this topic up to the City Council and get a discussion going on the agenda. He stated his concern is that the high cost of a liquor license could deter businesses from opening in Brooklyn Center and they want to ensure they are remaining business friendly, so he would like to look at options make this more affordable. He asked if he should draft a memo as a home owner and bring it to the City Council at Open Forum or if it is best to get this item on the agenda as a Planning Commission item. Mr. Eitel responded his best course of action is to provide a memo and request this topic as a Planning Commission item. He noted he will draft a memo for them to get that topic started. Mr. Eitel also noted what has been expressed to him as the major problem for businesses seeking a liquor license within the City is the requirement that the business has to have a certain percentage of seating capacity in order to obtain the license. He stated many businesses such as Chipotle do not meet that seating capacity, yet they would like to obtain the license to provide liquor to their customers. Chair Christensen and Commissioners MacMillan, Schonning, and Morgan agreed to add this topic to the next agenda as a discussion item. PC Minutes 05-12-16 -4- There were no other discussion items. 7. OTHER BUSINESS None at this time. 8. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Morgan, seconded by Commissioner MacMillan, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:23 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 May 12, 2016. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the Planning Commission approved said minutes at its May 26, 2016 regular meeting. Tim Benetti, Secretary PC Minutes 05-12-16 -5-