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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 08-25 PCMl The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Christensen at 7:00 p.m. Chair Randy Christensen, Commissioners Alexander Koenig, Jack MacMillan, Stephen Schonning, Rochelle Sweeney, and Susan Tade were present. Commissioner Carlos Morgan was absent and excused. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission Tim Benetti, Director of Business & Development Gary Eitel, and Michaela Kujawa-Daniels, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. There was a motion by Commissioner MacMillan, seconded by Commissioner Tade, to approve Planning Commission Meeting Agenda. The motion passed unanimously. 111 1! i 9010I There was a motion by Commissioner Schonning, seconded by Commissioner Sweeney, to approve the minutes of the July 14, 2016 meeting as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Christensen explained the Planning Commission's role as an advisory body. One of the Commission's finctions 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. 1 SUITES HOTELPROJECT PROPERTY 1 1' I EARLE BROWN 1 Chair Christensen introduced Application No. 2016-008, consideration of a Site and Building Plan application for a four-story, 82 -room Fairfield Inn and Suites hotel. (See Planning Commission Reports dated 08-25-2016 for Application No. 2016-008.) PC Minutes 08/25/2016 -1- Notice letters were mailed to all neighboring properties within 350 feet of the subject site. Mr. Benetti provided a planning report and presentation with background information on this item. Chair Christensen stated he wanted to open the public forum next and would ask questions upon hearing their statements and input. OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS — APPLICATION NO 2016-008 Chair Christensen recognized residents in the audience who wished to speak on this matter. There was a motion by Commissioner MacMillan, seconded by Commissioner Koenig, to open the public hearing on Application No. 2016-008, at 7:22 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Christensen called for comments from the public. There were no individuals in attendance and no comments received at that time. MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS (HEARING There was a motion by Commissioner Tade, seconded by Commissioner MacMillan, to close the public hearing on Application No. 2016-008, at 7:24 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Christensen asked if the there is an agreement between Mr. Patel, Wings Financial and the Embassy Suites for the entrance points into the proposed hotel parking lot. Mr. Benetti replied yes, there is a recorded cross access agreement between the three properties share the driveways and access points. He noted the accesses will split into two driveways, one into each business. Mr. John Sheehan, representing the hotel owner Mr. Harshal Patel, stated the Embassy Suites has two shuttle vans, which indicates that most of their business is coming from the airport and as a result they may not need as much parking as the typical hotel not catering to airport patrons. He stated this hotel is another way to complement the Earle Brown Heritage Center, and provides another option to visitors in the area. He stated the Fairfield does not have all the amenities the Embassy Suites offers; and stated this hotel is sort of a "no frills" option for travelers. He also noted that in most cases 1 car brings several guests for more than 1 room, so they do not anticipate needing extensive parking spaces. Chair Christensen asked if the perforated pipe they plan to put in is going to drain into the existing pond. Mr. Eitel stated the pipe will drain into the pond, but it will serve as a first line of filtration for storm water run-off from the site, before the excess water empties into the nearby pond system. This perforated pipe system will improve the condition of the pond water greatly. Chair Christensen asked if the rebuilding of the sidewalk in this plan will be the City's responsibility or the developers. Mr. Eitel stated the sidewalk is part of the City's trail systems so the EDA will take responsibility for that cost. PC Minutes 08/25/2016 -2- Chair Christensen stated he was unclear why the City would pay any of the costs if the reason it needs to be replaced or moved is due to the development of the new property owned by Mr. Patel. Mr. Benetti replied under the proposed plan the developers would need to replace the part of the sidewalk to accommodate the parking lot they intend to put in. Mr. Eitel added that it would then be the responsibility of the City to realign that sidewalk with the trail systems. He stated it is a joint effort as the sidewalk is inadvertently on the developer's site so they will replace anything disrupted by their plans and then the City will make sure it is in the correct location for the trail systems as intended. Commissioner Koenig stated he thinks this project is great and noted with many high volume events being brought to the Twin Cities in the upcoming years, their establishment will add a great deal of value to the City. He stated he hopes the joint efforts between the City and the developers they can create a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing development to the community; and hopes this hotel will bring many years of success to their overall business plans in this city. Commissioner MacMillan asked what the price range for the rooms will be. Mr. Patel stated typically they will be around $109.00-$149.00 per night, with fluctuation depending on seasons and demand. Mr. Patel also noted the Embassy's pricing is about $149.00-$209.00 per night, due to offering more amenities than the Fairfield Inn. Commissioner Schonning asked if the concrete slab outside on the plans is a seating area. Mr. Benetti stated it will be a patio seating area with tables and chairs. Mr. Benetti noted there will also be another outside seating area overlooking the pond area. The Commissioners interposed no objections to approval of the Application. ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2016-09 REGARDING THE RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICATION NO. 2016-008 SUBMITTED BY HARSHAL PATEL/BROOKLYN CENTER HOTEL GROUP, LLC There was a motion by Commissioner Koenig, seconded by Commissioner Macmillan, to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 2016-09. Voting in favor: Chair Christensen, Commissioners Koenig, MacMillan, Schonning, and Sweeney. And the following voted against the same: None The motion passed unanimously. The Council will consider the application at its September 12, 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. PC Minutes 08/25/2016 -3- 7. DISCUSSION ITEMS 7a) STAFF UPDATES OF THE PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 35 ZONING, SECTION 35- 2100 FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT Mr. Benetti gave background on this item and thanked the Commission for adding this special meeting of September 1, 2016 on their calendars. He stated the importance of this item, and why it needs to be given final consideration by the City Council in October of 2016. The deadline for adopting this ordinance is November 4, 2016. Chair Christensen asked if the City was still working on or has plans to address the new recently passed State Law regarding Temporary Health Care Dwellings in cities. Mr. Benetti stated the City planning staff is preparing to present the item to the City Council under a Work Session item at the September 12, 2016 meeting. At this point the city is ready to issue a permit if necessary (in line with State Law) — and will discuss the opt -out provision of this law at this meeting. Mr. Benetti noted the City of Osseo is the only metro city he is aware of currently that has not opted out of the State Law. 8. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Tade, seconded by Commissioner Sweeney, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 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 August 25, 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 September 1, 2016 special meeting. Tim Benetti, Secretary PC Minutes 08/25/2016 -4- Randall Christensen, Chair