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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 03 2012 PC meeting minutes PRIOR LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MONDAY, December 3, 2012 1. Call to Order: Community & Economic Development Director Rogness called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. based on meeting rules in the Planning Commission Bylaws, since the Chairman and Vice Chairman are both absent. The present commissioners will need to decide among themselves to elect an acting chair to lead the meeting according to the bylaws. MOTION BY BLAHNIK, SECONDED BY SPIELER TO ELECT HITE AS ACTING CHAIR FOR RD THE DECEMBER 3 2012 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. VOTE: Ayes, Blahnik, Hite, and Spieler. The Motion carried. Acting Chairman Hite continued the December 3, 2012 Planning Commission meeting. Those present were Commissioners Blahnik, Hite and Spieler, Community and Economic Development Director Dan Rogness, City Planner Jeff Matzke, and City Engineer Larry Poppler. 2. Approval of Agenda: MOTION BY SPIELER, SECONDED BY BLAHNIK TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 3, 2012 MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED. VOTE: Ayes, Blahnik, Hite, and Spieler. The Motion carried. 3. Consider Approval of November 19, 2012 Meeting Minutes: MOTION BY SPIELER, SECONDED BY BLAHNIK TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 19, 2012 MEETING MINUTES. VOTE: Ayes, Blahnik, Hite, and Spieler. The Motion carried. 4. Public Hearings: A. #EP 12-126 Honest 1 Auto C.U.P. and Variance. Honest 1 Auto Care is requesting a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Motor Vehicle Repair Service in the C-2 (General Business) zoning district, along with Variances from the minimum side yard setback of ten feet for a parking lot and from the minimum lot size of one acre in the C-2 (General Business) Zoning District. Planner Matzke presented the CUP and Variance request for a new commercial site located near the intersection of Duluth Avenue and TH 13. Access is to/from the existing access drive off of Duluth Avenue, which will be shared with the Prior Lake State Bank. The proposed use will be Honest 1 Auto, an automobile service and repair shop. In the C-2 zoning district, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) is required to allow motor vehicle service and repair. The 1 applicant is also requesting two variances from the minimum side yard setback for a parking lot and from the minimum lot size in the C-2 zoning district. Engineer Poppler presented information on stormwater issues related to the site. There will be an underground infiltration system constructed on the site that will collect all the stormwater. Soil testing will be required to insure that the water will drain properly. Commissioner Questions: Blahnik asked how many additional parking stalls will be included? Planner Matzke responded that six stalls will be added on the south side of the lot; the bank also has excess parking that the new use will be able to utilize using a cross parking easement to be recorded on both properties. Blahnik asked whether there are regulations for shared parking? Planner Matzke responded if it gets below the city’s parking standards for each individual use, they can submit documentation that shows a joint parking agreement. Hite asked how will the joint access work? Planner Matzke responded they will have some cross easements for the joint use and maintenance of the parking and driveway. Hite asked about the lighting of the site. Planner Matzke responded that the applicant did submit a separate lighting plan that shows how the exterior lights will be displayed and shine on the building and parking areas. The city requires that lighting must be less than a 1.0 candle intensity at the property lines. Hite asked whether the proposed underground stormwater system is there to service just the runoff from Honest 1 or will it also encompass the runoff from the shared parking? Engineer Poppler responded that it is to just serve the Honest 1 site. The bank implemented its own stormwater plan when that building was built. Spieler asked whether overnight parking will be allowed at the site? Planner Matzke responded that they are allowed to park overnight, but the city does have ordinances that require repairs and work do be done inside the building. Spieler asked in regards to impervious surface, what is the requirement for a commercial lot? Planner Matzke responded that there is a maximum 75 percent impervious requirement for commercial property within the Shoreland District. However, this site is not within that 1,000 foot zone, so it does not need to meet that requirement. 2 Spieler asked how the city regulates vehicles leaking fluids onto the ground and then potentially contaminating storm water. Engineer Poppler responded that on the outlet channel, there can be a skimmer screen that will catch the containments. Spieler asked if there is a specific parking requirement for this type of business? Planner Matzke responded yes; at least 32 spaces are required based on the number of bays. Hite asked about the proposed signage for the use in terms of complying with the city’s sign ordinance? Planner Matzke responded that a final sign review will be done by staff later in the process, but that based on a preliminary review, it does appear to comply. MOTION BY SPIELER, SECONDED BY BLAHNIK TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:28 PM VOTE: Ayes, Spieler, Hite, and Blahnik. The Motion carried. Spieler asked about any plans for parking vehicles overnight? Applicant Reg Plowman (Viking Drive Little Canada, MN) stated that all vehicles left overnight are to be brought inside. The only time there might be a vehicle left outside is if it is dropped off after hours. Spieler asked the applicant about plans related to potential oil leakage and drainage. Applicant Plowman responded that inside the bays, they have traps that catch the chemicals; outside, there can be filters, and sands that can be applied. Spieler asked whether there are other Honest 1’s in Minnesota? Applicant Plowman responded that there is one in Burnsville, but the owner does plan to expand more in the metro area. Hite asked about business hours. Applicant Plowman responded that they will be open Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closed on Sunday. Hite asked whether eight bays are the typical number for Honest 1? Applicant Plowman responded yes, that is the normal amount of bays. Hite asked for the applicant to expand on the photometric plan. 3 Applicant Plowman responded that the photometric plan meets city lighting requirements, and only the walls of the building will be on after hours. Blahnik asked whether there are written agreements in place between the bank and Honest 1 for parking and the access? Applicant Plowman responded that they are in the process of being drafted. Delbert Gringrich (16684 Duluth Ave) stated he is glad new businesses are coming to town and supports that issue. His concern relates to the traffic on Duluth Avenue. Gary Henke (16611 Anna Trail) stated his concern for the increased traffic on Duluth Avenue that exists now and that would increase from this business. James Kensier (16606 Duluth Ave) also stated his concern for the traffic on Duluth, and for the city to consider the increase in traffic with the added business. MOTION BY BLAHNIK, SECONDED BY SPIELER TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:44 PM VOTE: Ayes, Spieler, Hite, and Blahnik. The Motion carried. Commissioner Comments and Questions: Hite asked whether there are any current traffic studies or additional information that could be shared in regards to Duluth Avenue. Engineer Poppler responded that Duluth Avenue is on the city’s State Aide System, and it is a collector street with a lot of traffic. The turn lanes at Duluth and TH 13 are not long enough, and the signal is too short for the amount of traffic. In the future, there will be dual turn lanes. Staff could look at additional 30 mph signage on Duluth Avenue as an option to help decrease speeds, which would be brought to the Traffic Safety Committee. Hite agreed with the signage approach. Engineer Poppler added that traffic counts are growing on this street and that is part of reason for doing the Downtown South study. Blahnik asked whether there are any projections with this business on how it will affect the traffic on Duluth? Engineer Poppler responded that the city does not require a traffic study for this small of a business. Planner Matzke explained that usually businesses with smaller parking needs like auto repair shops have less traffic, whereas a convenience store or grocery store would generate much more traffic. 4 Spieler stated his three concerns related to exterior lighting, which is being addressed by the City and Honest 1; overnight parking, which will be handled by putting vehicles in the bays overnight; and pollution from engine fluids. He is in support of both the variances and the CUP. Spieler wants to make sure that these concerns are addressed and adhered to. Blahnik stated his support for both variances and the CUP. Traffic is an issue, but the city is looking at longer term solutions. It will be beneficial that the access will be shared by both the bank and Honest 1 to minimize the access points on Duluth. Since the lot is just under the allowed one-acre lot size, it does make sense for the variance. The use meets the criteria for a CUP. Hite stated support for both variances and the CUP. She also would encourage staff to post 30 mph signs along Duluth. MOTION BY BLAHNIK, SECONDED BY SPIELER TO APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP IN THE C-2 ZONING DISTRICT SUBJECT TO THE LISTED CONDITIONS IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND THAT STAFF LOOKS INTO ADDING 30 MPH SIGNAGE ALONG DULUTH AVENUE. VOTE: Ayes, Spieler, Blahnik. The Motion carried. MOTION BT BLAHNIK SECOND BY SPIELER TO APPROVE A 10 FOOT VARIANCE FROM THE 10 FOOT MINIMUM PARKING SETBACK REQUIREMENTS ALONG THE NORTH SIDE, AND A 0.15 ACRE VARIANCE FROM THE 1.0 MINIMUM LOT AREA REQUIREMENT. BOTH VARIANCES ON THIS SITE MEET THE CITY’S ORDINANCE STANDARDS FOR GRANTING SUCH VARIANCES. VOTE: Ayes, Spieler, Blahnik. The Motion carried. 5. Old Business: None 6. New Business: A. 2012 Annual Planning Commission Report. Planner Matzke presented the 2012 annual report to the commissioners. 7. Announcements and Correspondence: A. Recent City Council Discussions/Decisions. Planner Matzke presented that the drainage and utility easement vacation on Rixmann’s property was approved at the last City Council meeting. 8. Adjournment: MOTION BY BLAHNIK, SECONDED BY SPIELER TO ADJORN THE MEETING. VOTE: Ayes, Blahnik, Hite, and Spieler. The Motion carried. 5 The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Peter Aldritt, Community Development Assistant 6