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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCMinutes-20091123 City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes ? November 23, 2009 Page 1 of 3 Hastings Planning Commission November 23, 2009 Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. Vice-Chair Zeyen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call 1. Commissioners Present: Bullington, Peine, Slaten, Stevens, Vaughn, Zeyen Commissioners Absent: McInnis Staff Present: Planning Director John Hinzman, Associate Planner Kari Barker Approval of Minutes 2. ?November 9, 2009 Motion by Commissioner Slaten to approve the November 9, 2009, meeting minutes as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Stevens. Upon vote taken, Ayes 6, Nays 0. Motion carried. OTHER ACTIONS 3.Apparently Graphic ? Sign Variance #2009-33 ? McDonalds Restaurant ? 1340 South Frontage Road. Associate Planner Kari Barker provided the staff report. Commissioner Slaten asked if McDonald?s utilized certain size sign templates. Associate Planner Barker stated that McDonald?s acknowledged they did utilize size templates, which was why the variance was being requested. Commissioner Slaten inquired about the size of signs on the other businesses in the area. Associate Planner Barker stated that the signs for other businesses were most likely permitted under an older sign code which allowed larger signs. Planning Director Hinzman added that the former Wendy?s was most likely the only restaurant with signage permitted under the current code. Commissioner Stevens asked if the signage on the west side of the building was exactly what the signage involved in the variance looked like. Associate Planner stated she believed it was the same signage. Commissioner Bullington stated that he felt McDonald?s was a very recognizable restaurant due to its branding. He stated he had no issue with denying the variance. City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes ? November 23, 2009 Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Bullington asked if the monument sign was an option the City was proposing or that McDonald?s had requested. Associate Planner Barker stated it was an option the City was proposing to McDonald?s. Motion by Commissioner Stevens to deny the Sign Variance request for McDonald?s. Seconded by Commissioner Vaughan. Upon vote taken, Ayes 6, Nays 0. Motion carried. Review Accessory Structure Ordinance 4. Associate Planner Barker provided a staff report. Commissioner Vaughan asked if the Tree Preservation Plan was a guideline or an ordinance. Planning Director Hinzman stated that it is a guideline, though the City holds it as a standard with new developments. Commissioner Vaughan inquired if the Tree Preservation Plan was enforceable with a building permit. Planning Director Hinzman confirmed it was enforceable. Commissioner Vaughan asked if the City had received any complaints from neighbors regarding the garage sizes. Association Planner Barker stated that she was not aware of any complaints. Commissioner Bullington stated his desire to have neighbors notified and have recourse to discuss the garages at a City Council meeting. He stated that the garages change the character of the neighborhood. Commissioner Bullington further stated that changing the impervious surface from 35% to 25% would probably not change the issue, though 1,000 square feet is probably not a reasonable size for a garage. He further stated that green space and tree preservation is important. Commissioner Slaten inquired if there was any history of garages built from the past ten years. Associate Planner Barker stated that she had just pulled that last two years and they were consistent in terms of numbers and sizes. Planning Director Hinzman stated he would suspect numbers were higher during the time of increased development. Commissioner Zeyen asked about implementing the tree replacement schedule. Planning Director Hinzman stated that it can be put as a checklist item on the application. Commissioner Zeyen inquired if the tree preservation could be checked off on as part of the final inspection, to which Planning Director Hinzman confirmed. Commissioner Slaten stated that he was in favor of notifying the neighborhood when a new garage is proposed to be built as it affects the character of the neighborhood. Planning Director Hinzman asked the Planning Commission what recourse neighbors would have upon being notified. He stated he would not like the neighbors to find out at a meeting that nothing could be done to change the building proposal. City of Hastings Planning Commission Minutes ? November 23, 2009 Page 3 of 3 Vice Chair Zeyen inquired if the City Attorney could look into the legalities of notification. Planning Director Hinzman stated that the City Attorney could look into the legalities and asked the Planning Commission if there was a size they desired. Vice Chair Zeyen stated that there was not a size restriction, just a comment process regarding placement. Planning Director Hinzman stated that a building permit does not require a meeting and that the ordinance takes precedent. Commissioner Stevens stated that it is difficult for the Planning Commission to deny something if it meets ordinance. Commissioner Vaughan asked if the Tree Preservation Policy indicates placement of trees. Planning Director Hinzman stated the Tree Preservation Policy does not indicate placement. Planning Director Hinzman summarized the discussion with two action items including notification to neighbors and following the Tree Preservation Policy when building permits are received. Motion by Commissioner Slaten to approve the action items for the Accessory Structure Ordinance Discussion. Seconded by Commissioner Bullington. Upon vote taken, Ayes 6, Nays 0. Motion carried. Other Business 5. Planning Director Hinzman requested a motion to cancel the December 28, 2009, Planning Commission meeting. The motion was accepted by the Planning Commission. ADJOURNMENT Motion byVaughan to adjourn the November 23, 2009, Planning Commission meeting. Seconded by Slaten. Upon vote taken, Ayes 6, Nays 0. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Next Planning Commission Meeting ? Monday, December 14, 2009 Respectfully submitted, ____________________________ Kari Barker Recording Secretary