HomeMy WebLinkAbout3 January 3 2017 Meeting Minutes
1
PRIOR LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance:
Commissioner Fleming called the Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Prior Lake Planning Commission meeting
to order at 6:00 p.m. Those present were Commissioners Bryan Fleming, David Tieman, Mark Petersen,
William Kallberg, and Dan Ringstad. Also present were Liaison Zach Braid, Director Dan Rogness,
Planner Jeff Matzke and Development Services Assistant Sandra Woods.
2. Approval of Agenda:
MOTION BY PETERSEN, SECONDED BY RINGSTAD TO APPROVE THE TUESDAY, JANUARY 03,
2017, 2016 PRIOR LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Petersen, Kallberg, and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
3. Approval of Monday, December 5, 2016 Meeting Minutes:
MOTION BY PETERSEN, SECONDED BY RINGSTAD TO APPROVE THE MONDAY, DECEMBER 5,
2016 PRIOR LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Petersen, and Ringstad; Abstained by Kallberg. The Motion carried.
4. Public Hearings:
A. DEV16-0001033 – 4300 and 4400 Fountain Hills Drive – Self Storage – Rezone and Comp
Plan Land Use Map Amendment – Archer, LLC is requesting a rezone of 4300 and 4400
Fountain Hills Drive NE from C-2 (General Business) to a C-3 (Business Park) and a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment from C-CC (Community Retail Shopping) to C-BO (Business
Office Park). PID: 25-363-001-0 & 25-363-001-1.
Planner Matzke introduced the request to consider recommending approval of an amendment to the
2030 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Plan and Zoning Map for approximately 10.5 acres. He explained
the history, current circumstances, issues, alternatives and recommended motion. He presented a
location map, proposed 2030 Comprehensive Land Use Plan amendment, proposed Official Zoning Map
amendment, C-2 and C-3 Zoning District comparison table and proposed plans for a fully enclosed self-
service storage facility.
Commission Comments/Questions:
Kallberg asked about traffic impacts on the daycare.
Planner Matzke explained why rezoning would actually reduce traffic for these type of uses in the area.
Fleming discussed flexibility and diversity with the general business C-2. He questioned these possible
future uses with the daycares location.
Planner Matzke commented on the variety of uses that would be allowed. He agreed with the variety
being more with the General Business than Business Park. He explained the lack of interest in this area
with the current zoning and where the market is going.
, so with that being said perhaps a change to business park whether it be this use or a self-storage facility
or something else might be more geared towards that type of land use category. He commented on land
2
use types of interest, recession, length of time this land has been vacant and shifting market demands,
the daycares location and buffer yards. He mentioned the process of conditional use permits and the act
of them needing to go through the Planning Commission, which does have the ability to increase
landscaping, bufferings and etc. to soften the differences between land uses.
Fleming said as would with a brew pub or any adult use.
Planner Matzke said correct.
Applicant:
Michael Yost, (825 100th Avenue SE, Merdock, MN). He commented on why they are here and who is
here with him tonight. He said they believe there is a demand/need for a fully enclosed facility in Prior
Lake and stated this would be an asset to the community. He commented on feasibility studies, their
commitment to this site, intensions and timeline. He said they would be the operators of the facility, not
outsourcing management.
Ringstad asked how many units are they proposing within the enclosed facility and would this be
available 24/7 for the people who are renting to come and go.
Yost explained the facility schematics of how many sites; roughly three hundred plus. He commented
on foot print, design, phases, size, drive up door locations, traffic and ball park of hours of operation.
MOTION BY TIEMAN, SECONDED BY RINGSTAD TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ON 4A AT 6:22
P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Petersen, Kallberg, and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
Public Comment:
None.
MOTION BY RINGSTAD, SECONDED BY PETERSEN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 4A AT
6:23 P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Petersen, Kallberg, Tieman and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
Commission Comments/Questions:
Ringstad agrees with the proposed changes; he said he realizes they have just a sketch as part of our
packet but feels the building will tie in well with the neighborhood and for both the comp plan change and
the zoning change. He will be supporting this agenda item tonight.
Petersen said he thinks this business would be an asset to Prior Lake and would love to have it in any
other spot except for this one. His main concern is this is a high visibility area and any business profits
from that but some businesses need it and we lost another piece of property over on 42 & 18 from retail
to residential housing so he believes this to be a bad idea, the more retail the better; even though Planner
Matzke has mentioned no one has asked about it, doesn’t mean that no one wants to build in the future.
So while he welcomes the business, he does not feel comfortable rezoning this area, especially since it
is already zoned retail. He said to rezone this, he would consider it if it was just this parcel, but that would
make it odd, he will not be supporting this.
Kallberg said the amendment would make it more attractive since it has been vacant for quite a number
of years. He commented on rezoning both parcels, the intent to build if everything is okay, construction
on a four storage unit in Burnsville taking a long time to construct, time line for this project , this list of
uses, the fewer choices with the two lists and to make sure we aren’t restricting the diversity of the site.
He asked what the potential uses or the second property. He said he will be supporting this agenda item
with that understanding.
Tieman said as he looks at the overall potential of this site he does think there a potential to do some
interesting things with it, but he doesn’t think this is a bad use; there is a lot of good things in changing
this designation for the total area; looking at the list of potential uses, he believes most of them fit Prior
Lake as a whole. He supports this Amendment; he believes it can make a good change.
3
Fleming said he is struggling with this proposal; however, he will support this due to our process and
procedural options available to us to reassure the proposed use/final plan does comport with our Zoning
and Comp Plan. He said he would like to honor the comments of Commissioner Petersen, and
commented on lifestyle of Prior Lake. He reiterated that he will support the amendment with the
comments in mind and as we go through the process we will have more opportunity to have further dialog
and talk about the plans that are coming into submission.
MOTION BY RINGSTAD, SECONDED BY KALLBERG TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT FROM C-CC (COMMUNITY RETAIL SHOPPING)
TO P-US (PLANNED USE) AT 6:30 P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Kallberg, and Ringstad. Nay by Petersen. The Motion carried.
MOTION BY RINGSTAD, SECONDED BY TIEMAN TO APPROVE THE ZONING AMENDMENT
AMENDMENT FROM C-2 (GENERAL BUSINESS) TO C-3 (BUSINESS PARK) AT 6:31 P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Kallberg, and Ringstad. Nay by Petersen. The Motion carried.
B. DEV16-001032 – 4617 Colorado Street SE - ReZone – Adam Blahnik is requesting an
amendment to the Zoning Map for property located at 4617 Colorado Street SE. The proposed
amendment is to change the Zoning District from TC-T (Transitional Town Center) to a TC (Town
Center) to convert a residential building to a commercial building.
Planner Matzke introduced the request for an amendment to the Zoning Map to change the Zoning
District from TC-T (Transitional Town Center) to TC (Town Center). He explained the history, current
circumstances, issues, alternatives and recommended motion. He presented a location map, current
Zoning Map and a summary of TC and TC-T Zoning Districts.
Commission Comments/Questions:
Petersen asked how it would work if a house in the middle of this Transitional Zone wanted to become
a business?
Planner Matzke replied there is some ability for limited uses to be in the middle of the Transitional Town
Center. He explained the conversion of Town Center and commented on increasing variety of allowed
uses, limit to types of businesses or commercial uses in the Transitional areas and traffic.
Petersen asked if approved and re-zoned would the applicant be free to put a commercial building there.
Planner Matzke said yes, that is correct. He explained this is not the applicants wishes; however, it
could be re-zoned and tore down and completely redeveloped.
Fleming asked if the properties to the west could also over time be designated as TC (Town Center).
Planner Matzke said yes, and explained it would become adjacent and would have the opportunity to
have the more varied or redeveloped properties as the domino effect going westward.
Kallberg said the designation of TC-T implies that one day it is going to be TC, that is the whole idea.
He commented on not expanding the downtown business area.
Applicant:
Adam Blahnik, (4617 Colorado Street), He commented on building a new home on the west side of town
and the completion date. He explained his lawyer status, the size of his firm, when they purchased this
location and the growth of their firm. He said where the Law Firm is currently located and explained due
to their current lease expiring they would like to get this project going as soon as possible. He commented
on how long his residency has been at the proposed parcel and specified its location to the parking lot,
VFW and Premier Dance Studio. He commented on the hours, traffic and children crossing the street
from the Dance Studio and mentioned his dogs bark at the individuals; therefore, looking at the zoning
ordinance re-zoning this would be in the public’s interest. He said he views the house as commercial, as
4
the big parking lot is to one side and the dance studio is across the street and there is a lot of activity.
He explained his hours of operation and said he might be working late into the night; it would not affect
the neighbors living by his office. He explained their hours would not intrude into the dance studio hours
nor would traffic. He stated he is eager to get started as soon as possible.
Ringstad asked about the remodel and what would the square footage wise be approximately.
Blahnik explained the size of the house, the addition and size of addition. He commented on existing
code requirements, the objective of the look of the office building, maintaining character of the
neighborhood, garage and driveway removal, primary access and said this would all be done working
with the City.
Petersen questioned parking, the amount of customers on an average day and they type of law practice.
Blahnik explained where they would park; stating it would primarily in the public parking lot. He explained
what the parking lot looks like, where it is located and who uses this lot currently. He stated his hours
versus the dance studios hours and explained why the parking would not be a problem. He explained
the amount of clients and said his practice is varied; family, estate planning, etc.
Tieman asked if the applicant would you have any concerns if in the future to be designated as a Town
Center and more of a commercial use.
Blahnik said he would invite it, as that was the goal and in order for that to be Town Center it needs to
be adjacent to Town Center; therefore, he would have no problem with that.
MOTION BY PETERSEN, SECONDED BY KALLBERG TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ON 4A AT 6:46
P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Petersen, Kallberg, and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
Public Comment:
None.
MOTION BY PETERSEN, SECONDED BY TIEMAN TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON 4A AT 6:47
P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Petersen, Kallberg, Tieman and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
Commission Comments/Questions:
Ringstad said he likes the plan and feels it is straight forward; both the staff report, commissioner
comments and Mr. Blahnik’s presentation. He will be voting to approve the zoning change tonight.
Petersen said the whole concept of Traditional Town Center; this is exactly as it was planned this way.
He will also be supporting this measure.
Fleming said he will be supporting the recommendation with one language change. He explained where
it says approval of the official zoning map amendment TC-T to TC; he was wondering if we should add
the words for the subject property or this subject property so it is clear that this amendment is to remain
to the subject property only.
Tieman does approve support this; this is right along our Comprehensive Plan where we want to go to
continue on with Town Center development.
Kallberg commented on some of the things we seen on our recent tours last summer; where towns are
trying to preserve some historic heritage areas. He said if there were going to be a plan to tear down the
existing structure and put up a commercial building; that would totally destroy the feeling of the
neighborhood as Commissioner Petersen said this whole ordinance is designed to do just what the
applicant wants to have done. He will support this on the basis that it doesn’t change the appearance or
the character of the property and hope that it doesn’t set off a string of wiping everything out downtown.
MOTION BY PETERSEN, SECONDED BY KALLBERG TO APPROVAL OF THE OFFICIAL ZONING
MAP AMENDMENT FROM TC-T (TRANSITIONAL TOWN CENTER) TO TC (TOWN CENTER), FOR
THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AT 6:50 P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Tieman, Petersen, Kallberg, and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
5
5. Old Business:
A. Comprehensive Plan Discussion – no information this week.
6. New Business:
None.
7. Adjournment:
Kallberg said he would like to Thank Councilor Monique Morton for her support and attendance over the
past year as the Council Liaison, she didn’t run for reelection and said he is sorry to see her go.
Fleming thanked Commissioner Kallberg for reminding us of this and said he echos Kallberg comments.
Planner Matzke introduced the new Liaison, Zach Braid. He commented on the next meeting on January
17, again a Tuesday, this would include a public hearing and the Comprehensive plan.
MOTION BY RINGSTAD, SECONDED BY PETERSEN TO ADJORN THE TUESDAY, JANUARY 3,
2017 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AT 6:53 P.M.
VOTE: Ayes by Fleming, Petersen, Kallberg, Tieman and Ringstad. The Motion carried.
Sandra Woods, Development Services Assistant