HomeMy Public PortalAbout07-14-1998PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING - JULY 14, 1998
PRESENT: KATHY COOK, LENNY LEUER, FRANK MIGNONE, CAROLYN SMITH,
ELIZABETH WEIR, SUSIE MACKAY. BRUCE WORKMAN ARRIVED AT
8:07 P.M. ALSO PRESENT: PLANNING AND ZONING
ADMINISTRATOR LOREN KOHNEN AND PLANNING AND ZONING
ASSISTANT SANDIE LARSON.
ABSENT: JERRY BROST
Vice -chairperson Frank Mignone called the meeting to order at 7:42 p.m.
1. MINUTES OF JUNE 9, 1998
MOVED BY CAROLYN SMITH AND SECONDED BY LENNY LEUER TO APPROVE
THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
MOTION PASSED.
2. POLARIS INDUSTRIES - COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT - PUBLIC
HEARING - 7: 43 P.M.
Loren Kohnen read his memo to the planning commission. He stated that Polaris was
requesting a comprehensive plan amendment to be added to the MUSA line - rezoning
from Rural Commercial to Urban Commercial. He put up an overhead of the area and
pointed out the property in question. He stated that Polaris wanted to located their
corporate headquarters on this site with approximately 300 employees. Staff calculated
water usage at about 3000-3500 gallons per day for an average use. All current
commercial usage is well below this.
David Jackson, David Jackson Associates, project manager for Polaris, said that Polaris
is very excited about relocating here. He said an architect would be selected in about
two weeks. He said this would be the Polaris corporate headquarters and also their
national training center which is an educational facility for dealers and mechanics. He
said hopefully they could break ground this fall or early spring with occupancy late 1999
or at the latest, January 2000. He stated that in the future they would possibly like to
have a `guest house' type facility to house overnight guests for the training facility.
L. Kohnen said that he had spoken with Tom Caswell of the Metropolitan Council and
Tom did not see a problem with this request.
Carolyn Smith asked if this would be like the `floating' MUSA concept that the planning
commission had talked about. Loren said yes.
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Lenny Leuer asked Loren if any decision had been made concerning Chippewa/Willow
and Highway 55.
L. Kohnen said that no decision had been made, but that staff, MnDOT and property
owners in the area had met about the Highway 55/Willow Drive intersection. He said
that plans to upgrade Chippewa would give a greater chance to have the intersection
improved. He said that MnDOT had no plans to widen 55 until 2020 and that the
intersection did not warrant lights at this time.
C. Smith asked to see on the map the area that was being talked about.
Frank Mignone asked if there would ever be access to Highway 55 for Polaris.
L. Kohnen said not that he knew of, they would have to go out Mohawk.
Elizabeth Weir asked how long Mohawk would have to carry the extra traffic.
L. Kohnen said that evening will be the problem time for the traffic. He said Chippewa
would probably be the next road to be improved if Polaris goes here.
C. Smith wanted to know who pays for the improvements.
L. Kohnen said all who would benefit.
C. Smith said that the traffic issue would be addressed when Polaris came back for their
conditional use permit application. She said there is an incredible amount of traffic with
the Hennepin county public works facility.
L. Kohnen said that Mohawk Drive would most likely become and right -in, right -out road
and people going home at night would have to go up to Willow Drive and turn around.
C. Smith said she remembered from the last meeting that Polaris said they were
interested in this property because there was a snowmobile trail across the highway and
she wondered about snowmobiles going across Highway 55.
D. Jackson said that the idea of going across Highway 55 to the trail was totally out of
the realm. He said maybe in 5 years or so, with private funds, they might tunnel under
the highway to the trail. He said that the idea that there were trails in the area was one
reason Polaris was interested in the site, but not necessarily to use those trails. He said
there were also trails to the north of the site.
Kathy Cook said lets make the decision on the rezoning and talk about the rest of this
later when they come back with their application.
A letter was received from David Wessin stating concerns about the availability for
sewer for the Wessin property.
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MOVED BY LENNY LEUER AND SECONDED BY KATHY COOK TO RECOMMEND
APPROVAL OF REQUESTING A MINOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT TO
REZONE THE PROPERTY AT THE NW CORNER OF HIGHWAY 55 AND MOHAWK
DRIVE FROM RURAL COMMERCIAL TO URBAN COMMERCIAL AND INCLUDE THE
PROPERTY IN THE MUSA AREA FOR SEWER.
MOTION PASSED.
This will be heard at the city council meeting on Tuesday, July 21st
3. THOMAS SAWVEL - 2045 HICKORY DRIVE - RE -PLAT OF A 2 LOT PARCEL
TO 1 LOT - PUBLIC HEARING - 7:53 P.M.
Loren Kohnen read his memo the planning commission and put up an overhead of the
area. He pointed out that there are drainage and utility easements between the two lots
that will have to be abandoned.
There were no comments from the public.
Lenny Leuer asked if there were any needs to show the wetlands on the property.
L. Kohnen said no, that these lots were approved when the area was subdivided.
L. Leuer said that he noticed standing water to the west. He also said that it looks like
the proposed building will need fill hauled in.
L. Kohnen said yes, it will be better to haul it in rather than grading for it.
Elizabeth Weir asked if the applicant was present. It was pointed out that there was a
letter in their packet from the applicant apologizing for not being able to be present.
MOVED BY CAROLYN SMITH AND SECONDED BY LENNY LEUER TO
RECOMMEND APPROVAL THE PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR RE -PLATTING OF TWO
LOTS TO ONE LOT AT 2045 HICKORY DRIVE WITH THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS:
1. Any conditions required by the city engineer
2. Easement between the two lot lines to be abandoned
3. The secondary septic site is to be protected during construction
MOTION PASSED.
4. GARY BOSTER - 8 LOT SUBDIVISION - PUBLIC HEARING - 8:03 P.M.
Loren Kohnen read his memo to the planning commission and put up an overhead of
the site.
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Elizabeth Weir asked why the site was not staked as it was very difficult to look at
without knowing where the lot lines were.
Gary Boster said he did not know. Mark Gronberg had been hired to do the surveying
and he did not know why there were no stakes.
L. Kohnen pointed out on the overhead where another hydrant is needed, the sewer
line, etc. He also pointed out the area where the city is requesting additional easement
to the west.
Frank Mignone asked if it was the city's responsibility to obtain the easement and Loren
said it was up t the applicant.
Carolyn Smith asked how close the garage on Hamel Road is to Pinto.
L. Kohnen thought about 10 feet or so.
F. Mignone asked if a variance was required for the garage.
L. Kohnen said if the city approves this subdivision, no, it is like giving them a variance.
C. Smith said then if the garage burned down, it could be rebuilt and Loren said it still
would be considered a legal non -conforming use, but when these minutes are referred
to, they would more than likely be able to rebuild.
Kathy Cook asked if the property owners to the west know about the easement
requirement.
Steve Sunderland, 807 Hamel Road, said he was the property to the south on the west
side and this was the first he had heard of it. He asked about the fill and if it would be
even with his lot. Loren put up the overhead and pointed out where the fill would be.
Steve then asked how wide Pinto would be.
L. Kohnen said 60' including the ROW, probably 27-30' paved.
E. Weir asked if it was fair to ask the property be staked before we approve this.
L. Kohnen said it was your decision.
S. Sunderland said he would like to see some stakes also.
K. Cook asked if it was up to the city to talk to the landowners since we were requiring
the easement.
L. Kohnen said it was up to the applicant to talk to the landowners to the west about the
easement. He said the city would not approve the subdivision without this easement.
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Lenny Leuer asked if the applicant could ask the city for eminent domain.
L. Kohnen said that has not ever happened that he knows of.
K. Cook asked if was appropriate to ask the selling price of the units.
G. Boster said that all of the developers will be living there.
C. Smith said that the Met council could determine that these houses will count toward
Medina's affordable housing units.
F. Mignone asked about the two cul-de-sacs.
L. Kohnen pointed out on the overhead the two areas he was talking about.
F. Mignone then asked about the `driveway'.
L. Kohnen said it would be private with the city having an easement over the entire
width for utility purposes.
E. Weir asked about the height of the units.
G. Boster said they will be walkouts. He said that he had owned this property for about
15 years and this is the best development idea they have come up with.
C. Smith said she thought this was a good plan.
L. Leuer wanted to know if there had been any discussion with the property owners to
the west about the additional easement that is required.
Jason Dayon, 805 Hamel Road, said that it was news to him and had not talked to
anyone. He said that he was not real happy about this. He did not want to lose his
gardens.
L. Leuer said he had three questions or concerns: 1. The road would be quite close to
your garage.
K. Cook asked if there was any alternative.
There was discussion about private vs. city roads.
K. Cook asked if Pinto was planned to go thru.
L. Kohnen said not now, but maybe sometime in the future.
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L. Leuer said 2. NURP pond - where?
L. Kohnen said not where the houses would be - if required, probably on the other side
of the wetland. He said this would be up to the Elm Creek Watershed.
C. Smith said this seems like the application is not quite ready - the cul-de-sacs are not
shown - NURP pond question - etc.
L. Kohnen said it is up to you to table or approve.
L. Leuer said 3. Outlot A - is this a city requirement.
L. Kohnen explained why the surveyor had done this - the unit on that lot could then be
closer to the line.
L. Leuer said is seems like that rather than have an outlot, this could be a PUD or just
recognize the corner lot and the need for a unit to be closer on one side. Lenny also
asked about Outlot B.
L. Kohnen said that Outlot B was the unbuildable part of the property. He likened it to
the outlot that was created on Harold Pederson's subdivision.
L. Leuer asked if there would be a homeowners association connected to Outlot B and
Loren said most likely. Lenny asked Loren some additional questions on his memo.
Bruce Workman asked if it would be a full size water main and Loren said yes.
MOVED BY LENNY LEUER AND SECONDED BY ELIZABETH WEIR TO
RECOMMEND THAT THIS APPLICATION BE TABLED FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION WITH THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED:
1. The 27' easement to be obtained from the property owners to the east.
2. Information on the NURP pond - if needed and if so where located.
3. Watershed approval
4. Updated survey to show turn arounds and easements.
5. Entire lot to be staked before this comes back to the planning commission
including the west line for the property owners can see where the easement
would be.
6. Shrubbery and trees needed in the area for landscaping.
7. Financial responsibility for Outlot B needs to be addressed - document that
can be added to abstracts.
There was discussion of whether to address Outlot A now, treat it as a variance - - -
B. Workman suggested that it be dealt with when building permits are applied for and all
felt it made more sense to wait and have them come back for a variance when building.
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MOTION PASSED.
5. WOODRIDGE CHURCH - 1500 COUNTY ROAD 24 - CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT AMENDMENT FOR EXPANSION - PUBLIC HEARING - 8:41 P.M.
Loren Kohnen read his memo to the planning commission.
Sandie Larson stated that she had talked to the city engineer and he had reviewed the
NURP pond information and said that it was all okay.
L. Kohnen put up overheads of the site, pointing out the parking areas, etc. and also an
overhead of the planned interior of the addition.
Kathy Cook asked how much parking there was now and how much there would be.
L. Kohnen said 177 now and would be 330.
Andrew Krenick, architect for Woodridge, showed colored plan with the landscaping,
parking, etc. He stated that the exterior would be similar to the existing with some
stucco finish. He said the height would be the same. He said that to the north and rear
would be the walkout part of the addition.
Elizabeth Weir said that she did not see any new trees in the new expanse of parking
lot.
A. Krenick, said that they could add some.
Carolyn Smith said she would like to see more than that. She said that we had
requested trees in islands in the existing parking, why not here also so the parking
areas would look alike.
It was agreed that it would be done that way.
K. Cook said that the original conditional use permit says no more than 200 parking
spaces.
It was stated that the ordinance requires additional parking with the addition.
K. Cook said that a church is different in that there are not a lot of people there all the
time, so is more parking really necessary.
Bruce Workman said he felt it was very necessary to have adequate parking for when
there are events at the church.
Ralph Anastasia, 1400 County Road 24, asked about the 2 sump pumps that run water
out that flows onto his property. He said that it was excavated for the church there was
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standing water that they had to pump and later they came back and made a V trench to
his pond. He said that the water was not supposed to go there, that the runoff was
supposed to be taken care of by their pond. He said that there were also supposed to
be trees on the east line and none had been planted there.
C. Smith asked that they address why the property was trenched after the fact.
Gary Tushie, said that it was not re -trenched. When the final grading was done, it was
done to how it was supposed to have been done when it was first graded with the swale
to carry the run-off.
There was discussion of the run-off to the Anastasia property and pond.
C. Smith said that she did not think there was supposed to be run-off to his property.
E. Weir asked Mr. Anastasia how the run-off affected his property.
R. Anastasia said that is was considerable and that a new parking lot will make it worse.
L. Kohnen looked at the original grading plan that had been approved and it did show
the swale and run-off to the wetlands on the Anastasia property. He stated that the
NURP pond was big enough to handle the additional run-off.
There was continued discussion of the run-off and it was again stated that originally the
land was not graded properly so when the neighbors saw a `trench' being made, it was
the grading being done correctly as originally approved.
R. Anastasia asked where the water goes when the NURP pond is full. He said it does
not go to the north as stated but to his wetland.
E. Weir asked about the trees on the east side that were supposed to be done.
Paul Johnson, said they just had replacement shrubs put in for those that died the first
year.
There was additional discussion of landscaping. It was pointed out where there were
circulating wells in the ground on the east side of the property about 5 feet from the lot
line. Mr. Anastasia said he did not care if trees were planted on the lot line or even on
his lot. The church said they would be happy to plant some trees there.
R. Anastasia said that there were lights in the back of the church that were not shielded,
the exit lights facing his property.
C. Smith said that there had been considerable discussion on this. She said that
church's were allowed in residential areas and one of the problems is the lighting.
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P. Johnson said they will gladly shield the lights if that is not done.
G. Tushie said that there will also be a canopy over the rear entrance on the addition.
C. Smith asked about the parking lot lights - how late were they on.
Jim Scherer, 1552 County Road 24, said that the lights are usually off by 10 p.m. with
Wednesday nights being a little later. He said they have never bothered them nor has
the water run-off.
L. Kohnen said that we have never heard any complaints from Mrs. Scherer either,
(Jim's mother) who lives on the west side of the church. (Jim lives on the land just
behind - to the north - of his mother)
Susie Mackay wanted to know why the trees had died on the east side.
P. Johnson said that the landscaper did not know, maybe they were over watered.
E. Weir mentioned the tree ordinance that the city was working on and asked if they
would be willing to work with the city.
L. Kohnen said that Black Hills spruce are the only tree to use for a break.
C. Smith said maybe using native trees would be better and Loren said that would not
make a difference.
J. Scherer said that he thought the trees had set too long before they were planted.
Lenny Leuer asked to see the overhead of the site - he pointed out where he saw a
drain and asked what it was - asked if there was a sump pump there.
G. Tushie said that it was a roof drain.
L. Leuer said that he was surprised to see standing water when there had not been rain
for a few days. He asked if they had considered extending the roof drain to the NURP
pond instead of having standing water.
G. Tushie said that was a good idea and will look into doing that. He said that there
was a drain tile system all around the building and the sump pump was a back up for
that.
C. Smith asked about the septic system.
Steve Schirmers, septic designer, explained the system that was there and how it
worked. He said that the church elected to have a second backup system, so there are
two back up systems. He said the system was designed to handle 1200 gallons per day
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and currently about 120-150 gallons per day were being used. Even with larger events
only about 400 gallons are used.
MOVED BY KATHY COOK AND SECONDED BY BRUCE WORKMAN TO
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT FOR
1500 COUNTY ROAD 24 WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
1. Applicant to provide information as requested by the city engineer including
driveway width widening.
2. Additional landscaping provided to the east of the building and additional
trees provided on side of new parking lot. Islands to be installed in the new
parking lot, as in the current, with trees.
3. No parking to be allowed on either side of the driveway from County Road 24
to the main parking lots. This to be posted No Parking.
4. All landscaping to be maintained.
5. All applicable conditions in Resolution #95-29 to remain as is.
R. Anastasia said he did not feel his concerns were being dealt with. He said there is a
spring under the ground and that water is being pumped from the basement of the
church to his land - trees were not planted by his lot line - there is still some old
equipment, machinery on the property that has not been removed.
There was discussion of these concerns. The church said they would do whatever
needed to be done to alleviate Mr. Anastasia's concerns. They said they would plant
trees on Mr. Anastasia's property and remove the equipment that was on the property.
They said they were not aware that the old equipment was there. L. Leuer said he saw
it when he visited the site. Mr. Scherer told the church he would be happy to take it.
Mr. Anastasia said that he believes there is a spring in the ground and he sees an
increase in his pond from the run-off.
G. Tushie, said that the watershed had approved the drainage plan.
K. Cook said to direct the run-off questions back to staff to work with the church if there
are any problems.
C. Smith suggested that Mr. Anastasia go and talk to the church when he has concerns.
MOTION PASSED.
6. SET MEETINGS FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DISCUSSION - 9:35 P.M.
Schedule for meetings:
1. Meeting with staff and planning commission - 6 p.m. - Tuesday. July 21st
2. Meeting concerning possible zoning changes - 6:30 p.m. - Wednesday,
August 5th
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For the August 5th meeting, a mailing will be sent to residents and property owners in
Medina with a map highlighting the areas to be discussed.
Frank Mignone wanted noted in the minutes that the Planning Commission recognizes
and appreciates all of Anne Heideman's work for the city. Her presence on the
commission will be missed.
7. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE -CHAIR
CHAIRPERSON:
Kathy Cook nominated Frank Mignone. Seconded by Lenny Leuer
Frank Mignone nominated Lenny Leuer. Seconded by Bruce Workman.
Frank asked if Lenny was interested and if so, he would decline the nomination. Lenny
replied that he had been the chair in the past and he would be willing. Frank then
declined the nomination.
Lenny Leuer elected chairperson to March 1999 by an unanimous vote.
VICE -CHAIRPERSON:
Bruce Workman nominated Frank Mignone. Seconded by Elizabeth Weir
Frank Mignone elected vice -chairperson to March 1999 by an unanimous vote.
MOVED BY CAROLYN SMITH AND SECONDED BY ELIZABETH WEIR TO
ADJOURN.
MOTION PASSED.
Meeting adjourned at 10 p.m.
Planning and Zoning Assistant Date
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