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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/23/04 1 HAST/mas PLANNma COMlMISSION February 23, 2004 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Chairperson Greil called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. 1. Roll Call Commissioners Present: Alongi, Greil, Mcinnis, Truax, and Twedt. Commissioners Absent: Hollenbeck, Schmitt Staff Present: Planning Director John Hinzman, Administrative Assistant Samantha Schmidtke. Staff Absent: Associate Planner Kris Jenson 2. Approve January 26,2004 Planning Commission Minutes Motion by Commissioner Truax, seconded by Twedt to approve the minutes of the January 26, 2004 Planning Commission as presented by staff. Motion passed unanimously. Special Use Permit Renewal #2004-03 - Commercial Asphalt - Hot Mix Asphalt Plant - 2445 County Road 54 Planning Director Hinzman presented a brief background and summarized the reasons for extending the length of the permit. Chairperson Greil opened the public hearing at 7:05 pm. Hearing no comments from the public, the hearing was closed at 7:06 p.m. Commissioner Truax asked how are extensions handled if Commercial Asphalt requests to extend plant operating time to later than 5 p.m. Director Hinzman responded that the extension request is initiated with a phone call from Mike Caron, the plant director at Commercial Asphalt. Mike Caron added that in 2003 there were a total of 4 extension requests and 2 extension requests in 2002. Commissioner Alongi questioned why a change from a one-year to three-year permit length was requested. He stated concerns about records accuracy when a longer time frame is involved between permit renewals. He also wanted to know what was burdensome with the current practice of extending annually. Mike Caron responded that the benefit of a 3-year permit is that it streamlines the process. He did state that he would be willing to come back before the Planning Commission and/or the City Council for a more formal review if any questions or complaints arose. Commissioner Greil asked how much the SUP fee was. 3. Director Hinzman replied that it was $500/year but that the fee would be the same for a 3- year permit resulting in a revenue loss for the city. 2 Planning Commission Action: Commissioner Truax moved and Commissioner Twedt seconded the motion to approve the special use permit, with its 11 conditions, and the new 3-year renewal. Upon vote taken: Ayes: 5, Nays: O. Motion passed. Barton Sand and Gravel - Special Use Permit Renewal #2004-04 - Soil Processing Permit - 2445 County Road 54 Director Hinzman stated the pertinent background information for the special use permit and why staff is recommending the extending the length of the permit from one to three years. Commissioner Greil opened the public hearing at 7:12 p.m. Hearing no public comments the public hearing was closed at 7:13 p.m. Commissioner Truax asked if there were wells on the property in question. Mike Caron, representative of Barton Sand and Gravel, replied that there are two wells on the property. One well is owned by private property owners, and they wish to leave the well intact. Commissioner Truax wanted to know what constitutes an abandoned well. 4. Mike Caron stated that he was unaware of the status of the well in question is but that he would check and notify Director Hinzman and Dakota County. Director Hinzman stated that he, too, would check on the status of the well and notify the city council. Commissioner Twedt asked as to the condition of the well, and if it should be capped off. He also questioned whether or not the water was fit for human consumption. Commissioner Truax also expressed concerns about the well. Mike Caron explained that some of the property extends into Ravenna Township and that Dakota County requires annual groundwater testing. The tests have come back clean in the past. He also added that he is unsure of the exact use of the well in question. Planning Commission Action Commissioner Twedt moved and Commissioner Truax seconded the motion to approve the special use permit, and the 3 year permit renewal, with the conditions listed as well as an added 23rd condition stating that city staff would check on the status of the well. Upon vote taken: Ayes: 5, Nays: O. Motion passed. 5. Ryan Contracting - Site Plan Review #2004-07 - Glendale Heights 2nd Addition Townhomes - Spiral and 31st Street Director Hinzman gave an overview of the case background. He stated that city staff was satisfied with the proposed drawings for the Superior model home but that they were asking the developer, D.R. Horton, to soften the front planes of the Gem/Jewel model home. 3 Commissioner Alongi asked what should or should not city government need to do regarding balance and marketability and long-term effects of the project. Materials and features would enhance the project over time. Colin Roetman, representative of D.R. Horton, spoke of size and location of the proposed landscaping. He explained that it is hard to make a two-dimensional fix to a three- dimensional problem with regard to the use of added building materials (brick, stucco, shakes). He feels that increasing the landscaping, shifting trees and adding ornamental shrubbery, would cause a better impact to the homes. Commissioner Mcinnis questioned if it was feasible to make a combination of landscaping and material changes. Mr. Roetman replied that you couldn't really do both. A decision to do one or the other is preferable. He explained that the expense of increasing the landscaping was not as severe as the cost of adding building materials to the homes. He said that given the marketing challenges with the building location, the important thing to ask is what (materials or landscaping) will do the best job for the site. Director Hinzman pointed out condition #8 that states the incorporation of differing materials; colors or textures and/or increased landscaping are needed to distinguish the buildings. Revised plans must be included in the report to the City Council. Planning Commission Action Commissioner Alongi moved and Commissioner Truax seconded the motion to approve the site plan review of Glendale Heights 2nd with the noted 10 conditions. Upon vote taken: Ayes: 5, Nays: O. Motion passed. 6. Other business Director Hinzman introduced the new Planning Commissioner Tim Mcinnis. He also told the news of Planning Associate Kris Jenson's new baby, Noah Craig. 7. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Samantha Schmidtke Recording Secretary