Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/22/05 Hastings Planning Commission August 22,2005 Regular Meeting 7:00 pm Vice-chair Hollenbeck called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 1. Roll Call Commissioners Present: Schmitt, Hollenbeck, McInnis, Truax, Twedt, Zeyen. Commissioners Absent: Greil. Staff Present: Planning Director John Hinzman, Associate Planner Kris Jenson, Planning Intern Cecily Schrader. 2. Approve August 8, 2005 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Motion by Commissioner Truax, seconded by Commissioner Twedt to approve the minutes of the August 8, 2005 Planning Commission meeting as presented by Staff. Motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. City of Hastings - Ordinance Amendment #2005-44 - Chapter 10.08 - Signs. Planner Jenson presented background information about the proposed ordinance amendment. She informed the Commissioners that the Hastings Chamber of Commerce had officially requested that the item be tabled until the September 12th meeting to allow Chamber members to review the proposed changes and provide feedback. Planner Jenson suggested that the Commissioners hold the public hearing but table a formal recommendation until September 12th. Commissioner Twedt asked what the consequences would be of tabling both the public hearing and a formal recommendation. Director Hinzman replied that it would be fine to wait until September 12th to have the public hearing. He added that the Planning Department had advertised for the public hearing, which was why Staff recommended holding the public hearing at this time. Commissioner Twedt stated that it would be advisable to wait for feedback from the Chamber of Commerce before holding the public hearing. Commissioner Truax asked whether the 30 inch height restriction in Subdivision 1.C.5. was accurate. Planner Jenson replied that 30 inches was accurate, and that the provision was made for visibility purposes in the vision triangle. Minutes - Hastings Planning Commission August 22, 2005 - Page 2 of 6 Commissioner Truax asked why language had been eliminated from Subdivision 4.A.2. Planner Jenson replied that this information had not been eliminated from the ordinance but had been moved to the table in the same subdivision of the ordinance. Vice-chair Hollenbeck asked whether anyone in the audience was at the meeting to speak about the sign ordinance. No one indicated they were attending the meeting for that purpose. Planning Commission Action: Commissioner Twedt moved and Commissioner Truax seconded the motion to table the public hearing and a formal recommendation regarding the City of Hastings Ordinance Amendment #2005-44, Section 10.08, Sign Ordinance. Upon vote taken, Ayes: 6, Nays: O. Motion passed. 4. City of Hastings - Ordinance Amendment #2005-54 - Chapter 10.29 - Landscaping Planning Intern Schrader presented background information about the proposed ordinance. She highlighted the changes made to the ordinance that were based on feedback from Commissioners at the workshop meeting on August 8th. Vice-chair Hollenbeck opened the public hearing at 7:10pm. Hearing no relevant comments, the public hearing was closed at 7:12pm. Commissioner Schmitt suggested that subdivision 4.C.1. should state that not more than 50 percent of trees are allowed to be of the same species, rather than 30 percent. He also asked if the City has a list of recommended species that could be added to the ordinance. Director Hinzman replied that the City already has a list of recommended trees that it distributes to developers. Planning Commission Action: Commissioner Truax moved and Commissioner Schmitt seconded the motion to order the first reading of the landscape ordinance and a public hearing in front of the City Council. Upon vote taken, Ayes: 6, Nays: O. Motion passed. OTHER ACTIONS 5. Bruce and Lisa Schlosser - Variance #2005-56 - Sideyard Setback / Structure over 1,000 s.f. (1302 Maple Street) Planner Jenson presented background information about the request. Minutes - Hastings Planning Commission August 22, 2005 - Page 3 of 6 Commissioner Truax asked whether the attached garage on the property counts towards the 1,000 s.f. maximum. Commissioner Schmitt replied that the 1,000 s.f. maximum was intended to limit sheds and other structures on the property, not to limit attached garage space. Commissioner Zeyen asked if the shed on the property was included in the 1,000 s.f. maximum. Planner Jenson replied that the ordinance allowed both the detached garage and the shed on the property. She added that the ordinance limits detached garages to 1,000 s.f. because the building code defines a garage as a structure less than 1,000 s.f. Any structure greater than 1,000 s.f. is defined as a storage building. Commissioner Schmitt asked the applicants why they needed the garage addition to be 28 feet deep if the intent was only for extra parking. The applicant, Bruce Schlosser, stated that he wanted the new addition to be as deep as the existing garage for aesthetic purposes. He added that it would be cost prohibitive to alter the design of the proposed garage addition. Commissioner Truax asked if it would be possible to enclose the carport in order to create the extra space needed. Lisa Schlosser replied that they already intend to do this to create a bedroom for the applicant's brother. She added that they plan to make it wheelchair accessible. Commissioner McInnis asked if it would be possible to reconfigure the design of the garage to stay under 1,000 s.f. He suggested that the applicants could extend the garage 8 feet rather than 16 feet. This design would keep the garage under 1,000 s.f. and preserve a distance of 29 feet from the garage to the house rather than 21 feet. Ms. Schlosser asked whether a garage reconfigured in that manner would still be wheelchair accessible. She added that the change in design would also require the applicants to reconfigure the garage entrances. Commissioner McInnis stated that the entrances may have to move, but that the modifications would be reasonable and not cost-prohibitive. Commissioner Zeyen stated that he agreed with Commissioner McInnis's suggestion. He added that the applicant could reconfigure the doors to create one double door and one single door rather than three single doors. He stated that there are several ways that the applicant could design the garage without exceeding the 1,000 s.f. maximum. Commissioner Schmitt suggested that the Commission table the request for the variance to exceed 1,000 s.f. to allow the applicants to modify their design. The applicants replied that they are working under a time constraint and do not wish to table the request. Minutes - Hastings Planning Commission August 22, 2005 - Page 4 of 6 Planning Commission Action: Commissioner Schmitt moved and Commissioner McInnis seconded the motion to recommend approval of the 10' variance to the required 20' setbacks. Upon vote taken, Ayes: 6, Nays: O. Motion passed. Commissioner Schmitt moved and Commissioner Zeyen seconded the motion to recommend denial of the variance to exceed the 1,000 s.f. limit on detached garages. Upon vote taken, Ayes: 6, Nays: O. Motion passed. 6. Duane Markuson - Final Plat #2005-57 - Williams Third Addition - Whispering Lane. Planning Intern Schrader presented background information about the request. Commissioner Twedt stated that he would abstain from the vote because of his association with Midwest Realty Network, which has been involved in the sale of the property. Commissioner Zeyen asked whether the Pinal Plat met the setback requirements that had been discussed when the Preliminary Plat came before the Commission. Director Hinzman replied that the setback requirements had been met. He added that the Pinal Plat establishes the property lines and easement areas but does not include building footprints. Planning Commission Action: Commissioner Schmitt moved and Commissioner Zeyen seconded the motion to recommend approval of the Final Plat of Williams Third Addition with the following conditions: 1) Adherence to the approved Preliminary Plat and conditions of approval. 2) Final approval of the development grading and utility plans by the City of Hastings. The applicant shall be liable for any costs involved in consultant review of the plans. 3) The proposed street shall be privately owned and maintained through a homeowners association. The City of Hastings shall not be responsible for the maintenance of the roadway. 4) Execution of a development agreement to memorialize the conditions of the plat and to establish any applicable escrow amounts to guarantee the completion of platting activities. 5) Any uncompleted site work (including landscaping) must be escrowed at 125 percent of the estimated value prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Minutes - Hastings Planning Commission August 22, 2005 - Page 5 of 6 6) Submission of an electronic copy of all plan sets (TIF, PDF, or similar format) prior to release of the Final Plat mylars for recording. 7) The Final Plat shall be recorded with Dakota County within 90 days of approval by the City Council, or the approval is null and void. 8) A declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions or the equivalent document shall be submitted for review and approval by the City before release of the final plat mylars for recording to ensure maintenance of open space, median plantings, cul-de-sac plantings, common drives, and common utilities. The declaration shall include, but is not limited to the following: a) A statement requiring the deeds, leases or documents of conveyance affecting buildings, units, parcels, tracts, townhouses, or apartments be subject to the terms of the declaration. b) A provision for the formation of a property owners association or corporation and that all owners must be members of said association or corporation which may maintain all properties and common areas in good repair and which may assess individual property owners proportionate shares of joint or common costs. The association or corporation must remain in effect and may not be terminated or disbanded. c) Membership in the association shall be mandatory for each owner and any successive buyer. d) Any open space restrictions must be permanent and may not be changed or modified without city approval. e) The association is responsible for liability insurance, local taxes and the maintenance of the open space facilities deeded to it. f) Property owners are responsible for their pro-rata share of the cost of the association by means of an assessment to be levied by the association which meet the requirements for becoming a lien on the property in accordance with Minnesota Statutes. g) The association may adjust the assessment to meet changing needs. Upon vote taken, Ayes: 5, Nays: 0, Commissioner Twedt abstaining. Motion passed. 7. Other Business Director Hinzman updated the Commission on recent Council actions and upcoming Commission items. Minutes - Hastings Planning Commission August 22, 2005 - Page 6 of 6 8. Adjourn Commissioner Truax moved and Vice-chair Hollenbeck seconded the motion to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 pm. Respectfully submitted, {hid g'YJ~ Cecily SChr (fer Recording Secretary