HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-09-2020 Planning Commission Packet POSTED AT CITY HALL June 5, 2020
PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2020
7:00 P.M.
Meeting to be held telephonically/electronically
pursuant to Minn. Stat. Sec. 13D.021
Call-in Information: 612-517-3122 (Conference ID 917 010 888#)
Electronic access (via Microsoft Teams): link available at https://medinamn.us/pc
1. Call to Order
2. Election of Planning Commission Vice Chair
3. Public Comments on items not on the agenda
4. Update from City Council proceedings
5. Planning Department Report
6. Ordinance Amendment – Chapter 8 of the City Code related to exterior
building materials in commercial and business districts
7. Approval of May 12, 2020 Planning Commission Minutes
8. Council Meeting Schedule
9. Adjourn
Vice Chair Election Page 1 of 1 June 9, 2020
Planning Commission Meeting
MEMORANDUM
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Dusty Finke, Planning Director
DATE: June 5, 2020
MEETING: June 9, 2020 Planning Commission
SUBJ: Vice Chair Election
Following Aaron Amic’s resignation after moving out of Medina, the Commission’s Vice Chair
position is also vacant. As a result, staff recommends that the Commission elect a Vice Chair to
serve the remainder of the 2020 term.
The Commission follows the following procedure for elections
• Nominations are accepted. Any member may be nominated, and members may nominate
themselves.
• Commissioners vote for their preferred candidate.
o Candidates can be announced in the order they are nominated, and
Commissioners vote aloud (or by raising hands). The City Attorney has advised
that the Commission should not vote by secret ballot so that each member’s vote
can be recorded as described by the Open Meeting Law.
o If only one nomination is received, the Commission may make a motion to “elect
[nominated member] by acclamation,” or may take a formal vote.
Planning Department Update Page 1 of 2 June 2, 2020
City Council Meeting
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Martin and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dusty Finke, Planning Director; through City Administrator Scott Johnson
DATE: May 28, 2020
SUBJ: Planning Department Updates – June 2, 2020 City Council Meeting
Land Use Application Review
A) Roehl Preliminary Plat – 1735 Medina Road – The Estate of Robert Roehl has requested a
preliminary plat to subdivide 28 acres into two lots. The Planning Commission held a
public hearing on May 12 and recommended approval. Staff intends to present to the City
Council on June 2.
B) Meadow View Townhomes– north of Highway 55, west of CR116 – Lennar has applied for
a preliminary plat to develop 125 townhomes on approximately 20 net acres. Staff is
reviewing the information and will present for a public hearing when complete, potentially
at the June 9 Planning Commission meeting.
C) OSI Expansion – Arrowhead Drive, north of Highway 55 – Arrowhead Holdings (real estate
company for OSI) has requested final plat approval for Cavanaughs Meadowwoods Park 3rd Addn.
The City Council previously granted approval of a site plan review and preliminary plat to construct
an expansion to the existing building and parking lot at 4101 Arrowhead Drive. Staff is awaiting
final construction plans, and will present the final plat to the City Council when complete.
D) Cates Ranch Comp Plan Amendment and Rezoning – 2575 and 2590 Cates Ranch Drive – Robert
Atkinson has requested a change of the future land use from Future Development Area to Business,
a staging plan amendment to 2020, and a rezoning to Business Park. The application is incomplete
for review, and the City has requested additional materials.
E) Stetler Barn CUP – 1832 Medina Road – Chris and Jim Stetler have requested a
Conditional Use Permit for construction of a 12,300 square foot barn and riding arena. The
City Council adopted a resolution of approval on May 19. The project will now be closed.
F) Mark of Excellence Comp Plan Amendment, PUD Concept Plan – east of Mohawk Drive,
north of Highway 55 – Mark Smith (Mark of Excellence Homes) has requested a Comp
Plan Amendment and PUD Concept Plan for development of 76 twinhomes, 41 single-
family, and 32 townhomes on the Roy and Cavanaugh properties. The Council adopted a
resolution granting conditional approval and authorizing submission to the Met Council.
The Met Council has authorized the City to put the amendment into effect. Staff will await
a preliminary plat application.
G) Adam’s Pest Control Site Plan Review, Pre Plat, Rezoning – Jan-Har, LLP (dba Adam’s
Pest Control) has requested various approvals for development of a 35,000 s.f. office
building, restaurant, and 13,000 s.f. warehouse/repair shop north of Highway 55, west of
Willow Drive (PIDs 04-118-23-21-0001 and 04-118-23-24-0001). The Planning
Commission held a public hearing at the November 12 and March 10 meetings and
recommended approval. The City Council adopted approval documents on March 17.
H) Johnson ADU CUP, Hamel Brewery, St. Peter and Paul Cemetery – The City Council has adopted
resolutions approving these projects, and staff is assisting the applicants with the conditions of
approval in order to complete the projects.
I) Hamel Haven subdivision – These subdivisions have received final approval. Staff is working with
the applicants on the conditions of approval before the plat is recorded.
Planning Department Update Page 2 of 2 June 2, 2020
City Council Meeting
Other Projects
A) Tamarack Drive study – The Council reviewed public engagement and the draft concepts at the May
19 council meeting and directed staff to finalize the report. Staff intends to present at the June 16
meeting.
B) Hackamore Road Preliminary Design – Online engagement is currently underway on two concepts
for the Hackamore Road Improvements. WSB has created an online activity that is available and a
virtual open house was held from on May 19. Both available at https://medinamn.us/hackamore
Staff intends to present at the June 16 meeting.
C) Assistance with business reopening – Staff is assisting business owners with information to assist
limited reopening as allowed within Governor’s orders. Staff has prepared a simple checklist to
expand on outdoor dining areas for restaurants, and is providing occupancy information for salons,
retail establishments and churches.
D) Commercial Exterior Building Materials – Staff has been in discussions with a property owner
hoping to install LP siding over portions of an existing concrete building which has had water issues.
Staff intends to present an ordinance amendment for discussion at the June 9 Planning Commission
meeting.
TO: City Council
FROM: Jason Nelson, Director of Public Safety,
Through City Administrator Scott Johnson
DATE: May 29, 2020
RE: Department Updates
The past few days have been a struggle with seeing the things going on in Minneapolis. The video
that I am sure you have all seen is sad, frustrating, and just should not happen in American policing.
There is a quote from Erin Gruwell, “Don’t let the actions of a few determine the way you feel about
the entire group. Remember, not all German’s were Nazis”. This quote seems fitting in this
particular case, not that I am referring to the Minneapolis Officers as Nazis, but to a few that I would
consider bad actors and because of their actions it will reflect on everyone that wears the badge. I
cannot comprehend why things happened the way they did, but I can assure you that this type of
conduct or culture will not be tolerated in the Medina Police Department. I have put out a memo to
the entire department reinforcing my thoughts about our city’s Core Values; Teamwork, Trust,
Professionalism and Communication, and within those Core Values comes Honesty, Integrity,
Dignity and Respect. These are things that our officers focus on a daily basis and this gives us clear
guidance on how we deal with our community members and others that come and go through our
city. As Chief for the City of Medina, I will always make sure that our officers understand the
importance of this.
The past two weeks have shown an uptick in calls for service. The department has noticed more
individuals commuting during rush hour times. We have also noticed that more people are just out
and about generally. As of May 26, we have gone back to our normal patrol schedule. We are still
operating with caution and being more reactive versus proactive. With people working from home,
we are fielding more nuisance complaint type calls as more people are out and about in the
neighborhoods, parks and trails than normal.
I continue to work daily on COVID-19 with the area police and fire chiefs. This week we started
contract negations with the police union members. It was decided that we would put off the
negations until sometime in July in hopes that we have some direction as to what the economy is
going to do. More to come on that in the next few months.
MEMORANDUM
Patrol:
Patrol Updates 05/13/2020 through 05/26/2020
Patrol Activities – Between the dates of May 13, 2020 through May 26, 2020 our officers issued 53
citations and 55 warnings for various traffic violations. There were 3 property damage accidents
reported, 4 medicals, 2 business alarms, 3 residential alarms, 8 suspicious calls, and 9 assists to other
agencies. Traffic volumes have notably been increasing with more and more people going back to
work.
On 05/13 Officer assisted Corcoran PD with a reported attempted vehicle theft in progress. Upon
arrival on scene the suspect was actively resisting the Corcoran Officer who was trying to place the
suspect in the back seat of the squad car. Medina Officer assisted the Corcoran Officer with
securing the suspect in the back of the squad car.
On 05/19 Officer was dispatched to a report of suspicious activity along the 600 block of Clydesdale
Trail. It was reported a vehicle with a flashlight kept driving by slowly. When the officer arrived,
he found the light was the headlight from a lawn mower that was mowing the grass in the area. No
enforcement action was taken.
On 05/21 at 0200 hours Officer stopped a vehicle with no plates in the 2200 block of Highway 55.
The driver identified himself with a booking bracelet from the Chicago County Jail. The Officer
returned to his squad and ran the name provided and found the suspect had a felony warrant for
drugs. When the Officer returned to the car and asked the driver to step out the driver put the
vehicle in drive and sped away. A pursuit was initiated with the suspect vehicle which continued
eastbound into Plymouth and northbound on Highway 169. When the suspect vehicle took an exit
and then entered the ramp to go northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 169 the Officer
terminated the pursuit. MN State Patrol was able to watch the suspect vehicle on traffic cameras
take the next ramp to the north and turn into a neighborhood to the west. Squads began searching
this area and the vehicle was located darked out in a business parking lot where it again sped off. A
short time later an Officer observed the suspect vehicle driving through some backyards in the area
and the vehicle was ultimately found crashed in a wooded area behind some residences. The suspect
fled on foot. A search of the area was conducted using K-9s and the MN State Patrol Helicopter, but
the suspect was not located. The investigation is ongoing.
On 05/21 Officers were dispatched to the Subway on a forgery in progress call. It was reported that
a male had attempted to pass a fake bill at the business and that the suspect was currently outside.
When officers arrived in the area the suspect attempted to run on foot but was apprehended shortly
after. He was found to have a felony warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody for the
warrant, and also for attempting to pass a counterfeit bill. Charges are pending.
On 05/23 Officers were provided information that a group of street racers were going to be
congregating at the Medina Target parking lot late at night. Recently, groups of cars have been
reported racing down roads in several other jurisdictions around the metro area late at night.
Officers began patrolling the area and found numerous performance cars beginning to congregate in
the lot. Officers began telling them to leave the private property. A short time later an Officer was
patrolling County Road 101 and found a group of vehicles and a motorcycle racing side by side
northbound in excess of 90 mph. The Officer attempted to stop the lead car and motorcycle, but they
increased speed to more than 120 mph. The Officer was able to maintain a visual on the motorcycle
that eventually drove past HyVee and turned back south through a neighborhood in Maple Grove
before eventually losing control and crashing his motorcycle. The suspect did not sustain any life-
threatening injuries but was transported to the hospital for evaluation. Charges will be filed after
some additional investigation is completed.
On 05/24 Officer stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic violation. The driver was found to have
multiple felony warrants for his arrest and was taken into custody without incident.
On 05/26 Officer received information on a dumping complaint in the area of Highway 55 and
Pioneer Trail. Upon arrival it was discovered someone has been dumping hundreds of dead carp in a
field on the north side of Highway 55. Since the property was in the city of Corcoran, the
information was forwarded to the Corcoran Police for follow up.
Investigations:
Executed a search warrant on a vehicle that fled from Officers Hanson and Scharf. Some illegal
items were found in the vehicle. Hennepin County CSI processed the vehicle for DNA evidence. The
suspect is known, and the investigation is ongoing.
Executed a search warrant on a vehicle that was involved with a forgery. The suspect attempted to
pass counterfeit currency at a business. The report was sent to the city attorney’s office for charging.
Investigating a forgery complaint from a business in Loretto. The suspect paid for a lawnmower with
a check from a closed account. I sent an administrative subpoena to the county attorney’s office for
review.
Investigating a harassment complaint over snap chat. The victims snap chat account was hacked by
an unknown party. I sent an administrative subpoena to Snap Chat for additional information.
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council, through City Administrator Scott Johnson
FROM: Steve Scherer, Public Works Director
DATE: May 28, 2020
MEETING: June 2, 2020
SUBJECT: Public Works Update
STREETS
• We have made the decision to stop the sealcoating program for now to evaluate the
process. There have been some issues with the compatibility of the asphalt and the
sealcoat itself. The failures leave spots that separate and make bare spots or sometimes
peel off the pavement. We have been actively spray patching the bad areas.
• The gravel roads have been graded now that they have firmed up for the season.
• WSB will be giving a 30% plan report for Hackamore Road to council in the next two
weeks.
WATER/SEWER/STORMWATER
• Public Works installed culverts at both Ardmore Creek and Long Lake Creek. We took
the opportunity to solve some serious erosion problems on the Deer Hill culvert while we
were there.
• Inflow and infiltration meters will be installed next week to try to identify any more I/I
problems in the trunk line that runs to Foxberry and the Toll addition. Public Works,
along with the developers and WSB have solved several problems on this trunk to date.
• A weekly progress meeting was held with the Metropolitan Council Environmental
Services and their construction partners. The project is in its second crossing phase where
the sewer main will cross County Road 19 again. This phase will include bypass
pumping and when the connection is complete the flow will go around Sycamore and
should be a huge improvement for the sewer gas smell in the area, while allowing
capacity for the Loretto sewage.
PARKS/TRAILS
• The parks are in great shape and are being enjoyed by all. Mowing is being done at least
once a week and more in some parks. The weed spraying is in progress today.
• We are hoping to continue to widen the shoulder/on road trail along Medina Road on the
north side. This is in the park and trail plan. We will work from the east to west on this
and try to do the work in house as we can fit it in over the next two years if possible.
PERSONNEL
• The resignation letter from Administrative Assistant Katrina Jones is in your packet. We
are also looking for approval on this agenda to recruit for her replacement.
Ordinance No. ### 1
DATE
CITY OF MEDINA
ORDINANCE NO. ###
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BUILDING MATERIALS IN
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS; AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CITY CODE
The City Council of the City of Medina ordains as follows:
SECTION I. Section 838.5.02 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the struck through language and adding the underlined language as follows:
SECTION 838.5 – DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
FOR ALL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
Section 838.5.02. Building Materials and Design.
Subd. 1. Building Materials. All exterior building materials shall be durable and meet the
following standards:
(a) A minimum of 30 percent of the building exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco
(not Exterior Insulation and Finish System or similar product), copper, or glass.
(b) A maximum of 70 percent may be decorative concrete, split face (rock face) decorative
block, and/or decorative pre-cast concrete panels. Decorative concrete shall be
color impregnated in earth tones (rather than painted) and shall be patterned to
create a high-quality terrazzo, brick, stucco, or travertine appearance.
(c) A maximum of 20 percent may be wood, metal (excluding copper), or fiber cement, if
used as accent materials which are integrated into the overall building design.
(d) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the materials described below are
permitted exterior material when installed to rehabilitate an existing masonry
building with water intrusion issues, subject to the following:
(i) Additional materials allowed:
(1) Engineered wood
(2) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8” thickness
(ii) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(iii) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(iv) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement exceeds
50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of the exterior shall
be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
Subd. 2. Building Modulation. Buildings shall be modulated a minimum of once per
40 feet of building perimeter to avoid long, monotonous building walls. This modulation
may include varying building height, building setback, or building materials/design. The
portions of building which exceed two stories or 35 feet shall be set back a minimum of
six feet from the lower portion of the building.
Ordinance No. ### 2
DATE
Subd. 3. Building Fenestration and Transparency. Building elevations which face a public
street shall include generous window coverage. Alternative architectural elements may be
approved by the city when windows are not practical.
Subd. 4. Multi-sided Architecture. Any rear or side building elevation which faces a public
street, an interior access drive for the development, or a residential zoning district shall
include design and architectural elements of a quality generally associated with a front
façade. The elevation(s) shall be compatible with the front building elevation. Additional
signage shall be permitted for an elevation facing a public street or interior access drive, as
regulated within the sign ordinance. Multi-sided architecture shall not be required in
situations where the rear or side building elevation is fully screened from view from the
adjacent street or residential property.
SECTION II. Section 832.3.02 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the struck through language and adding the underlined language as follows:
SECTION 832.3 – DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR
BUSINESS PARK AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS
Section 832.3.02. Building Materials and Design.
Subd. 1. Building Materials. All exterior building materials shall be durable and meet the
following standards:
(a) A minimum of 20 percent of the building exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco
(not Exterior Insulation and Finish System or similar product), copper, or glass.
(b) A maximum of 80 percent may be decorative concrete, split face (rock face)
decorative block, and/or decorative pre-cast concrete panels. Decorative concrete
shall be color impregnated in earth tones (rather than painted) and shall be
patterned to create a high quality terrazzo, brick, stucco, or travertine appearance.
(c) A maximum of 20 percent may be wood, metal (excluding copper), fiber cement or
Exterior Insulation and Finish System or similar product, if used as accent
materials which are integrated into the overall building design.
(d) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the materials described below are permitted exterior
material when installed to rehabilitate an existing masonry building with water intrusion
issues, subject to the following:
(i) Additional materials allowed:
(1) Engineered wood
(2) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8” thickness
(ii) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(iii) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(iv) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement exceeds
50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of the exterior shall
be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
Ordinance No. ### 3
DATE
Subd. 2. Building Modulation. Buildings shall be designed to avoid long, monotonous
building walls. Modulation may include varying building height, building setback, or
building materials/design. Generally, a particular building elevation shall include a
minimum of one element of modulation per 100 feet of horizontal length, or portion
thereof. Alternative architectural or site elements and designs may also be approved by
the city which achieve the purpose of reducing the visual impact of long building walls.
Subd. 3. Building Fenestration and Transparency. Building elevations which face a
public street shall include generous window coverage. Alternative architectural elements
may be approved by the city when windows are not practical.
Subd. 4. Multi-sided Architecture. Any rear or side building elevation which faces a
public street or a residential zoning district shall include design and architectural
elements of a quality generally associated with a front façade. The elevation(s) shall be
compatible with the front building elevation. Additional signage shall be permitted for an
elevation facing a public street or interior access drive, as regulated within the sign
ordinance. Multi-sided architecture shall not be required in situations where the rear or
side building elevation is fully screened from view from the adjacent street or residential
property.
SECTION III. Section 833.07 Subd. 1(m) of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is
amended by deleting the struck through language and adding the underlined language as follows:
(m) Architectural Standards –
(i) Purpose – The purpose of this section is to achieve the purposes of the
Industrial Park District, to protect and preserve property values, to protect
nearby uses, to provide for the general welfare of the City, and to establish
reasonable development standards for functional and aesthetic aspects of
existing and new buildings and structures.
(ii) Building Materials – All exterior building materials shall be durable and non-
combustible (except for wood used as an allowed accent material),
consisting of one or more of the following: At least 20 percent shall be brick,
natural stone, granite, stucco (but not - Exterior Insulation and Finish
System (EIFS)), copper or glass. Up to 20 percent may be wood, anodized
aluminum or similar metals which may be used as an accent material if
appropriately integrated into the overall building design and in the case of
wood, not subject to damage caused by heavy use or exposure. When
requested, samples of the external materials shall be submitted to the City.
Concrete and pre-cast concrete panels may be allowed provided the total of
such material does not make up more than 80 percent of the exterior
material.
Ordinance No. ### 4
DATE
(iii) Building Appearance – All buildings and structures and remodeling of either
existing or new buildings shall take into account compatibility related to
architectural quality and mass of the structure to be constructed. Elements of
compatibility include, but are not limited to: building form, mass, height and
bulk; fenestration, exterior materials and their appearance, color (compatible
and harmonious with the building, other nearby buildings which meet the
standards described above and the natural setting in the area) durability,
setback, landscaping, exterior lighting, and site improvements.
(iv) Building Modulation – The design of buildings shall employ architectural
modulation to minimize the apparent scale and dimension of structures.
Modulation means harmonious changes or variations of the massing and
façade of a structure. Modulation is intended to achieve high quality
architecture which is aesthetically pleasing and functional. Modulation
may be achieved by variations in the form, mass, bulk and height of
structures and shall be combined with architectural features to achieve a
high standard of design. At least the following shall be used as guidelines:
(1) Building design should avoid blank walls and large unbroken
expanses of walls exposed to the outside.
(2) Building design should mitigate the visual impacts of a large building
mass through offsets, projections, and recesses in the façade.
(3) The appearance of massive roofs should be avoided by variations in
the rooflines and height. Dormers, deep eaves, overhangs and
cornices may help create visual interest.
(4) Decorative roof elements should be incorporated into other roof or
wall elements to avoid looking “tacked on.”
(5) Building elevations should be articulated to provide a reasonable
amount of visual interest by varying the shape or pattern of
windows, building materials, textures, and colors.
(v) Screening of Rooftop Equipment – All rooftop equipment shall be designed
to minimize undesirable views and forms when viewing rooftops from
higher elevations or abutting property. Equipment shall be screened
through the use of architectural elements and materials, which are
consistent with the design and architecture of the building. Wooden boards
or similar material constructed or assembled in a fence-type method or
design shall not be used to screen rooftop equipment. Rooftop equipment
and screening elements shall not exceed 8 feet in height.
(vi) Building Additions – When an addition is proposed to a building that does
not meet the Architectural Standards, the addition must meet the
standards. A demonstrative effort must be made to the existing portion of
the building to bring it closer to compliance, including some mitigation
through landscaping around the existing building portion. A building
Ordinance No. ### 5
DATE
addition does not necessarily have to meet the Architectural Standards as
long as the finished building as a whole meets the Standards.
(vii) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the materials described
below are permitted exterior material when installed to rehabilitate an
existing masonry building with water intrusion issues, subject to the
following:
(1) Additional materials allowed:
(A) Engineered wood
(B) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8”
thickness
(2) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(3) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(4) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement
exceeds 50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of
the exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption and publication.
Adopted by the Medina city council this th day of , 2020.
______________________________
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________________
Jodi M. Gallup, City Clerk
Published in the Crow River News on the _____day of __________, 2020.
1
CITY OF MEDINA 1
PLANNING COMMISSION 2
DRAFT Meeting Minutes 3
Tuesday May 12, 2020 4
5
1. Call to Order: Chairperson Reid called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 6
7
Chairperson Reid read a statement explaining that the meeting is being held by telephonic 8
means because of the COVID-19 pandemic and provided instructions on how members of the 9
public can participate. 10
11
Present: Planning Commissioners Aaron Amic, Peter Galzki, Ron Grajczyk, Beth Nielsen, 12
Kerby Nester, Cindy Piper, and Robin Reid. 13
14
Absent: None. 15
16
Also Present: City Planning Director Dusty Finke, and Planning/GIS Intern Ben Schneider 17
18
2. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda 19
20
No comments made. 21
22
3. Update from City Council Proceedings 23
24
Albers reported that the Council met the previous week to consider a CUP for an accessory 25
structure, which was passed unanimously with the recommended conditions. 26
27
4. Planning Department Report 28
29
Finke provided an update. 30
31
5. Estate of Robert Roehl – 1735 Medina Road – Preliminary Plat for 2 Lot 32
Subdivision 33
34
Schneider presented a proposed lot split of 1735 Medina Road. He stated that the site is 28 35
acres, zoned rural residential with Medina Road cutting through the northern half of the 36
property. He stated that the proposed lot split would create a northern lot of 6.5 acres and the 37
southern lot would be 20.85 acres. He stated that both lots would meet the dimensional 38
standards of the rural residential district. He stated that 40 feet of right-of-way is identified 39
for the county road, noting that the county is requesting that be increased to 50 feet. He 40
stated that staff recommends that construction traffic use Medina Road. He stated that staff 41
recommends approval subject to the conditions noted in the staff report. 42
43
Reid asked if the northern lot would have five acres of contiguous soils. 44
45
Schneider confirmed that standard to be met. 46
47
Jerry Roehl, applicant, stated that this property has been in his family since 1855 and has 48
been continuously farmed. He stated that they would be dedicating a 33-foot easement for 49
Morgan Road along with a cul-de-sac for Morgan Road. 50
51
2
Reid opened the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. 52
53
No comments. 54
55
Reid closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. 56
57
Motion by Piper, seconded by Nielsen, to recommend approval of the preliminary plat for a 58
two-lot subdivision at 1735 Medina Road, subject to the conditions in the staff report. 59
60
A roll call vote was performed: 61
62
Amic aye 63
Nester aye 64
Nielsen aye 65
Galzki aye 66
Piper aye 67
Grajczyk aye 68
Reid aye 69
70
Motion carries unanimously. 71
72
Finke stated that staff intends to present this to the City Council on June 2, 2020. 73
74
6. Ordinance Amendment – Chapter 8 of the City Code Related to Setback and Other 75
Requirements for Residential Accessory Structures 76
77
Finke explained that this arose from discussions with a property owner within the Foxberry 78
Farms development. He explained that the current regulations require accessory structures to 79
meet the same setback as the primary structure. He stated that there is an exception for sheds 80
of 120 square feet or less. He stated that for smaller lots, the only allowed placement would 81
be in the middle of the backyard near the rear of the home. He stated that staff reviewed the 82
regulations of other cities and it is common to have reduced setbacks for accessory structures. 83
He stated that State building code has also changed and any accessory structure under 200 84
square feet does not require a building permit. He explained that staff believes that perhaps it 85
would make sense to use that same standard in Medina. He stated that a draft ordinance was 86
included in the Commission packet with the proposed amended language. He stated that 87
currently the ordinance is set to require a CUP for an accessory structure over 5,000 square 88
feet. He noted that there are additional standards for buildings of that size and the review 89
could be done in that manner by staff or could continue to go through the CUP process. 90
91
Reid asked the height recommendation. 92
93
Finke stated that he suggested 12 feet, but the language could go to 15 feet. He explained 94
that the height is measured at the middle of the roof rather than the peak. 95
96
Reid opened the public hearing at 7:21 p.m. 97
98
No comments made. 99
100
Reid closed the public hearing at 7:22 p.m. 101
102
3
Amic stated that he is in favor of increasing the regulation to 200 square feet. He stated that 103
he does not have a preference on the height as most sheds would be under 12 or 15 feet in 104
height. He did not have an opinion on the CUP issue. 105
106
Nester commented that she believes that there should at minimum be a height restriction as 107
she did not like allowing bigger structures closer to the property lines. She stated that she 108
would not be in favor of loosening the restrictions. She did not feel strongly on the CUP 109
discussion. 110
111
Nielsen stated that she is fine with increasing the limitation to 200 square feet. She believed 112
that there should be a height limitation. 113
114
Galzki agreed with the comments thus far. He stated that his only concern would be with the 115
different sizes of properties. He stated that a 120 square foot shed would be sufficient on a 116
quarter acre lot, but a larger shed on a larger property would make sense. He agreed that a 117
height limitation should be placed on the structure. He stated that for the CUP issue, the 118
Commission typically reviewed maid quarters or beautiful barns. He commented that it is 119
nice to have the public hearing to allow adjacent landowners to provide comments. He noted 120
that perhaps specific uses do not need to go through the CUP process, as that process adds 121
cost and time to a project. 122
123
Piper asked if these kinds of structure could be used to house animals or horses. 124
125
Finke replied that the animal structure setbacks would explicitly still apply. 126
127
Piper stated that she would assume that most of these structures have a floor but cannot be 128
mounted on a footing. 129
130
Finke replied that they could be in theory, but that would be rare. He stated that the structure 131
could be a pole structure without a floor. 132
133
Grajczyk stated that he agrees with the staff recommendations. He stated that he would agree 134
that a height restriction should be included. He stated that related to the CUP, he would not 135
have any opinions to add. 136
137
Reid stated that she would favor a height limitation and asked the desired height limit. 138
139
Finke stated that he would believe that 12 feet would be sufficient. 140
141
Amic agreed that 12 foot would be plenty. 142
143
Reid stated that she would prefer to keep the CUP in place for now as there have been some 144
odd requests in the past and would not want to see something the City is not expecting. She 145
stated that perhaps that could be discussed in the future in an attempt to reduce the time 146
and/or cost for that process. 147
148
Motion by Nielsen, seconded by Galzki, to recommend adoption of the ordinance 149
amendment related to residential accessory structures with the height limitation of 12 feet. 150
151
A roll call vote was performed: 152
153
Amic aye 154
Nester aye 155
4
Nielsen aye 156
Galzki aye 157
Piper aye 158
Grajcyk aye 159
Reid aye 160
161
Motion carries unanimously. 162
163
7. Approval of the April 14, 2020 Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. 164
165 Motion by Galzki, seconded by Nielsen, to approve the April 14, 2020, Planning 166
Commission minutes with noted changes. Motion carries unanimously. 167
168
8. Council Meeting Schedule 169
170
Finke advised that the Council will be meeting the following Tuesday and Nielsen 171
volunteered to attend in representation of the Commission. 172
173
Amic noted that he purchased a home in Orono and therefore will be resigning from the 174
Planning Commission. 175
176
9. Adjourn 177
178
Motion by Amic, seconded by Galzki, to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. Motion carried 179
unanimously. 180
Ordinance Amendment Page 1 of 3 June 9, 2020
Commercial Building Materials Planning Commission Meeting
MEMORANDUM
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Dusty Finke, Planning Director
DATE: June 5, 2020
MEETING: June 9, 2020 Planning Commission
SUBJ: Public Hearing – Ordinance Amendment – Building Materials
Background
Current City regulations allow a limited amount (20%) of metal, wood, and fiber cement (James
Hardie being a common supplier) as accent materials on the exterior to buildings in the
commercial and business zoning districts. Primary building materials are required to be
decorative concrete, brick, stone, stucco, and glass.
In 2018, the City amended the Commercial exterior building materials to allow fiber cement
panels (not lap siding) to be used at higher percentages when repairing an existing masonry
building which is having leaking or water intrusion issues. This exemption only applied to 5/8”
thick commercial-grade fiber cement siding. New buildings would still be limited to 20% fiber
cement siding because the exemption only applied to rehabilitating an existing building with
water issues.
This change was made in response to a request from Maxxon, an existing business in Medina.
Recently, staff has been contacted by another business owner who is also having water issues in
their building. The owner has requested the use of LP or metal siding and has indicated that the
fiber cement panels are cost prohibitive.
LP siding is an engineered wood material which has become very common in residential uses. It
is also being used in multifamily and commercial settings. Information is available here:
https://lpcorp.com/products/exterior/siding-trim
Back in 2018, the owner requesting the previous change had submitted information for Nichiha
5/8” fiber cement architectural panels. This information can be found at:
https://www.nichiha.com/products/architectural-wall-panels
The property owner has indicated that metal siding has also come a long way in use on
commercial buildings and is more durable than most choices and can also be aesthetically
pleasing.
While staff believes metal siding would provide a durable alternative, staff’s impression is that
metal may not be consistent with the purpose of the City’s architectural requirements. Staff
seeks feedback from the Planning Commission and Council.
Staff seeks direction on adding engineered wood as a cost-effective material for businesses to
rehab buildings. Staff conferred with the Building Official, who replied that they believe
engineered wood is a good material, and that their experience is that there are fewer installation
failures than with fiber cement.
Ordinance Amendment Page 2 of 3 June 9, 2020
Commercial Building Materials Planning Commission Meeting
Proposed Amendment
The attached ordinance would add engineered wood as an allowed material, but only in the
specific circumstance of correcting an existing masonry structure that is having water issues.
The result would be that fiber cement panels (5/8” or greater) and engineered wood would be
options for rehabilitating existing buildings. Following is the proposed language:
(a) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the materials described below are
permitted exterior material when installed to rehabilitate an existing masonry
building with water intrusion issues, subject to the following:
(i) Additional materials allowed:
(1) Engineered wood
(2) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8” thickness
(ii) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(iii) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(iv) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement exceeds
50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of the exterior shall
be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
Discussion Items
Expand flexibility to other districts
The proposed ordinance would add the same flexibility to the Business and Industrial districts.
Currently the allowance is only within the Commercial districts because that is the district which
the previous property owner had requested.
The owner currently requesting LP or metal siding is also in a Commercial district, so expanding
the exemption is not necessary for them. However, staff believes it is appropriate to add to other
districts if permitted in the Commercial districts.
If the Planning Commission and Council disagree, the attached ordinance would need to be
amended to remove these districts.
Only allow if other materials cannot be used
The current regulations only permit the use of 5/8” fiber cement architectural panels if there are
water issues AND if the existing structure cannot support cladding with another conforming
material. When adopted in 2018, the property owner requesting the change had looked at
cladding the building with stucco or stone, but the weight of doing so would not have been
possible without substantial structural updates.
The change to code that they requested limited the use of fiber cement only if other allowed
materials could not be supported by the structure.
Staff believes it is appropriate to provide flexibility for rehab even if another material could
physically work. Providing more options can help the property owner find a cost-effective
solution.
Ordinance Amendment Page 3 of 3 June 9, 2020
Commercial Building Materials Planning Commission Meeting
If the Planning Commission and Council want to continue limiting the use of these materials to
when others are not structurally possible, the proposed ordinance would need to be updated to
leave this language back in the code.
Require panels rather than lap siding
Current regulations allow only the expanded use of fiber cement architectural panels. Fiber
cement lap siding is only allowed up to 20% of the exterior. Staff’s impression is that limitation
was based upon a preference for the architectural options which are available in commercial-
grade fiber cement. The fiber cement panels that exist in the market can mimic other materials
and have many architectural options.
Engineered wood currently has fewer options in terms of architectural finishes. Horizontal lap
siding is the most common application, especially in residential setting, but larger panels which
have more of a vertical profile (shiplap and others) are available.
The Planning Commission and Council should discuss whether the exemption should be limited
to engineered wood panels and not be expanded to lap siding. Alternatively, the allowance could
be expanded to allow for fiber cement lap siding.
Allow for existing buildings without water issues
As drafted, the materials would only be permitted if the building is having water intrusion issues.
The Planning Commission and Council can discuss whether they support allowing more broadly
in rehabilitation, perhaps for aesthetic upgrades. Another alternative would be to increase the
allowance in new buildings as well.
Expand allowance for metal exteriors
The Planning Commission and Council can also discuss whether there is interest in expanding
the allowance for metal exteriors. There are many different examples and suppliers of metal
exterior materials. There are many options in terms of architectural look, warranty, etc. If there
is interest in allowing metal, conditions can be provided in terms of warranty, certain designs,
and the like.
Potential Action
The Planning Commission should hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance amendment.
After the Planning Commission has completed its review, it could consider the following action:
Move to recommend adoption of the ordinance amending regulations pertaining to
accessory structures [with the changes recommended by the Commission].
Attachments
1. Draft Ordinance
Ordinance No. ### 1
DATE
CITY OF MEDINA
ORDINANCE NO. ###
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BUILDING MATERIALS IN
COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS; AMENDING CHAPTER 8 OF THE CITY CODE
The City Council of the City of Medina ordains as follows:
SECTION I. Section 838.5.02 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the struck through language and adding the underlined language as follows:
SECTION 838.5 – DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
FOR ALL COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
Section 838.5.02. Building Materials and Design.
Subd. 1. Building Materials. All exterior building materials shall be durable and meet the
following standards:
(a) A minimum of 30 percent of the building exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco
(not Exterior Insulation and Finish System or similar product), copper, or glass.
(b) A maximum of 70 percent may be decorative concrete, split face (rock face) decorative
block, and/or decorative pre-cast concrete panels. Decorative concrete shall be
color impregnated in earth tones (rather than painted) and shall be patterned to
create a high-quality terrazzo, brick, stucco, or travertine appearance.
(c) A maximum of 20 percent may be wood, metal (excluding copper), or fiber cement lap
siding, if used as accent materials which are integrated into the overall building
design.
(d) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the materials described below are
permitted exterior material when installed to rehabilitate an existing masonry
building with water intrusion issues, subject to the following:
(i) Additional materials allowed:
(1) Engineered wood
(2) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8” thickness
(ii) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(iii) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(iv) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement exceeds
50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of the exterior shall
be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Fiber Cement Architectural Wall
Panels with a minimum 5/8” thickness are an approved material in the case of an
existing masonry building with water infiltration issues making stucco an
unsuitable finish material and which cannot support the additional weight of precast
panels, full height masonry, or other approved materials. Panels shall be colored
during production rather than painted after production and shall be installed with a
hidden fastening system that also serves as a built in drained and back-ventilated
Ordinance No. ### 2
DATE
rainscreen. If fiber cement architectural wall panels are proposed, a minimum of
30 percent of the building exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco, or glass.
(1)
Subd. 2. Building Modulation. Buildings shall be modulated a minimum of once per
40 feet of building perimeter to avoid long, monotonous building walls. This modulation
may include varying building height, building setback, or building materials/design. The
portions of building which exceed two stories or 35 feet shall be set back a minimum of
six feet from the lower portion of the building.
Subd. 3. Building Fenestration and Transparency. Building elevations which face a public
street shall include generous window coverage. Alternative architectural elements may be
approved by the city when windows are not practical.
Subd. 4. Multi-sided Architecture. Any rear or side building elevation which faces a public
street, an interior access drive for the development, or a residential zoning district shall
include design and architectural elements of a quality generally associated with a front
façade. The elevation(s) shall be compatible with the front building elevation. Additional
signage shall be permitted for an elevation facing a public street or interior access drive, as
regulated within the sign ordinance. Multi-sided architecture shall not be required in
situations where the rear or side building elevation is fully screened from view from the
adjacent street or residential property.
SECTION II. Section 832.3.02 of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is amended by
deleting the struck through language and adding the underlined language as follows:
SECTION 832.3 – DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR
BUSINESS PARK AND BUSINESS DISTRICTS
Section 832.3.02. Building Materials and Design.
Subd. 1. Building Materials. All exterior building materials shall be durable and meet the
following standards:
(a) A minimum of 20 percent of the building exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco
(not Exterior Insulation and Finish System or similar product), copper, or glass.
(b) A maximum of 80 percent may be decorative concrete, split face (rock face)
decorative block, and/or decorative pre-cast concrete panels. Decorative concrete
shall be color impregnated in earth tones (rather than painted) and shall be
patterned to create a high quality terrazzo, brick, stucco, or travertine appearance.
(c) A maximum of 20 percent may be wood, metal (excluding copper), fiber cement lap
siding or Exterior Insulation and Finish System or similar product, if used as
accent materials which are integrated into the overall building design.
(d) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the materials described below are permitted exterior
material when installed to rehabilitate an existing masonry building with water intrusion
issues, subject to the following:
Ordinance No. ### 3
DATE
(i) Additional materials allowed:
(1) Engineered wood
(2) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8” thickness
(ii) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(iii) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(iv) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement exceeds
50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of the exterior shall
be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
Subd. 2. Building Modulation. Buildings shall be designed to avoid long, monotonous
building walls. Modulation may include varying building height, building setback, or
building materials/design. Generally, a particular building elevation shall include a
minimum of one element of modulation per 100 feet of horizontal length, or portion
thereof. Alternative architectural or site elements and designs may also be approved by
the city which achieve the purpose of reducing the visual impact of long building walls.
Subd. 3. Building Fenestration and Transparency. Building elevations which face a
public street shall include generous window coverage. Alternative architectural elements
may be approved by the city when windows are not practical.
Subd. 4. Multi-sided Architecture. Any rear or side building elevation which faces a
public street or a residential zoning district shall include design and architectural
elements of a quality generally associated with a front façade. The elevation(s) shall be
compatible with the front building elevation. Additional signage shall be permitted for an
elevation facing a public street or interior access drive, as regulated within the sign
ordinance. Multi-sided architecture shall not be required in situations where the rear or
side building elevation is fully screened from view from the adjacent street or residential
property.
SECTION III. Section 833.07 Subd. 1(m) of the code of ordinances of the City of Medina is
amended by deleting the struck through language and adding the underlined language as follows:
(m) Architectural Standards –
(i) Purpose – The purpose of this section is to achieve the purposes of the
Industrial Park District, to protect and preserve property values, to protect
nearby uses, to provide for the general welfare of the City, and to establish
reasonable development standards for functional and aesthetic aspects of
existing and new buildings and structures.
(ii) Building Materials – All exterior building materials shall be durable and non-
combustible (except for wood used as an allowed accent material),
consisting of one or more of the following: At least 20 percent shall be brick,
Ordinance No. ### 4
DATE
natural stone, granite, stucco (but not - Exterior Insulation and Finish
System (EIFS)), copper or glass. Up to 20 percent may be wood, anodized
aluminum or similar metals which may be used as an accent material if
appropriately integrated into the overall building design and in the case of
wood, not subject to damage caused by heavy use or exposure. When
requested, samples of the external materials shall be submitted to the City.
Concrete and pre-cast concrete panels may be allowed provided the total of
such material does not make up more than 80 percent of the exterior
material.
(iii) Building Appearance – All buildings and structures and remodeling of either
existing or new buildings shall take into account compatibility related to
architectural quality and mass of the structure to be constructed. Elements of
compatibility include, but are not limited to: building form, mass, height and
bulk; fenestration, exterior materials and their appearance, color (compatible
and harmonious with the building, other nearby buildings which meet the
standards described above and the natural setting in the area) durability,
setback, landscaping, exterior lighting, and site improvements.
(iv) Building Modulation – The design of buildings shall employ architectural
modulation to minimize the apparent scale and dimension of structures.
Modulation means harmonious changes or variations of the massing and
façade of a structure. Modulation is intended to achieve high quality
architecture which is aesthetically pleasing and functional. Modulation
may be achieved by variations in the form, mass, bulk and height of
structures and shall be combined with architectural features to achieve a
high standard of design. At least the following shall be used as guidelines:
(1) Building design should avoid blank walls and large unbroken
expanses of walls exposed to the outside.
(2) Building design should mitigate the visual impacts of a large building
mass through offsets, projections, and recesses in the façade.
(3) The appearance of massive roofs should be avoided by variations in
the rooflines and height. Dormers, deep eaves, overhangs and
cornices may help create visual interest.
(4) Decorative roof elements should be incorporated into other roof or
wall elements to avoid looking “tacked on.”
(5) Building elevations should be articulated to provide a reasonable
amount of visual interest by varying the shape or pattern of
windows, building materials, textures, and colors.
(v) Screening of Rooftop Equipment – All rooftop equipment shall be designed
to minimize undesirable views and forms when viewing rooftops from
higher elevations or abutting property. Equipment shall be screened
through the use of architectural elements and materials, which are
consistent with the design and architecture of the building. Wooden boards
Ordinance No. ### 5
DATE
or similar material constructed or assembled in a fence-type method or
design shall not be used to screen rooftop equipment. Rooftop equipment
and screening elements shall not exceed 8 feet in height.
(vi) Building Additions – When an addition is proposed to a building that does
not meet the Architectural Standards, the addition must meet the
standards. A demonstrative effort must be made to the existing portion of
the building to bring it closer to compliance, including some mitigation
through landscaping around the existing building portion. A building
addition does not necessarily have to meet the Architectural Standards as
long as the finished building as a whole meets the Standards.
(vii) Rehabilitation of existing masonry buildings with water intrusion issues.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the materials described
below are permitted exterior material when installed to rehabilitate an
existing masonry building with water intrusion issues, subject to the
following:
(1) Additional materials allowed:
(A) Engineered wood
(B) Fiber cement architectural wall panels with a minimum 5/8”
thickness
(2) Materials shall be colored during production rather than painted after
production.
(3) Materials shall be installed with proper drainage and ventilation.
(4) If the aggregate of wood, engineered wood, metal, and fiber cement
exceeds 50 percent of the building exterior, a minimum of 30 percent of
the exterior shall be brick, natural stone, stucco, copper, or glass.
SECTION IV. This ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption and publication.
Adopted by the Medina city council this th day of , 2020.
______________________________
Kathleen Martin, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________________
Jodi M. Gallup, City Clerk
Published in the Crow River News on the _____day of __________, 2020.
1
CITY OF MEDINA 1
PLANNING COMMISSION 2
DRAFT Meeting Minutes 3
Tuesday May 12, 2020 4
5
1. Call to Order: Chairperson Reid called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 6
7
Chairperson Reid read a statement explaining that the meeting is being held by telephonic 8
means because of the COVID-19 pandemic and provided instructions on how members of the 9
public can participate. 10
11
Present: Planning Commissioners Aaron Amic, Peter Galzki, Ron Grajczyk, Beth Nielsen, 12
Kerby Nester, Cindy Piper, and Robin Reid. 13
14
Absent: None. 15
16
Also Present: City Planning Director Dusty Finke, and Planning/GIS Intern Ben Schneider 17
18
2. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda 19
20
No comments made. 21
22
3. Update from City Council Proceedings 23
24
Albers reported that the Council met the previous week to consider a CUP for an accessory 25
structure, which was passed unanimously with the recommended conditions. 26
27
4. Planning Department Report 28
29
Finke provided an update. 30
31
5. Estate of Robert Roehl – 1735 Medina Road – Preliminary Plat for 2 Lot 32
Subdivision 33
34
Schneider presented a proposed lot split of 1735 Medina Road. He stated that the site is 28 35
acres, zoned rural residential with Medina Road cutting through the northern half of the 36
property. He stated that the proposed lot split would create a northern lot of 6.5 acres and the 37
southern lot would be 20.85 acres. He stated that both lots would meet the dimensional 38
standards of the rural residential district. He stated that 40 feet of right-of-way is identified 39
for the county road, noting that the county is requesting that be increased to 50 feet. He 40
stated that staff recommends that construction traffic use Medina Road. He stated that staff 41
recommends approval subject to the conditions noted in the staff report. 42
43
Reid asked if the northern lot would have five acres of contiguous soils. 44
45
Schneider confirmed that standard to be met. 46
47
Jerry Roehl, applicant, stated that this property has been in his family since 1855 and has 48
been continuously farmed. He stated that they would be dedicating a 33-foot easement for 49
Morgan Road along with a cul-de-sac for Morgan Road. 50
51
2
Reid opened the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. 52
53
No comments. 54
55
Reid closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m. 56
57
Motion by Piper, seconded by Nielsen, to recommend approval of the preliminary plat for a 58
two-lot subdivision at 1735 Medina Road, subject to the conditions in the staff report. 59
60
A roll call vote was performed: 61
62
Amic aye 63
Nester aye 64
Nielsen aye 65
Galzki aye 66
Piper aye 67
Grajczyk aye 68
Reid aye 69
70
Motion carries unanimously. 71
72
Finke stated that staff intends to present this to the City Council on June 2, 2020. 73
74
6. Ordinance Amendment – Chapter 8 of the City Code Related to Setback and Other 75
Requirements for Residential Accessory Structures 76
77
Finke explained that this arose from discussions with a property owner within the Foxberry 78
Farms development. He explained that the current regulations require accessory structures to 79
meet the same setback as the primary structure. He stated that there is an exception for sheds 80
of 120 square feet or less. He stated that for smaller lots, the only allowed placement would 81
be in the middle of the backyard near the rear of the home. He stated that staff reviewed the 82
regulations of other cities and it is common to have reduced setbacks for accessory structures. 83
He stated that State building code has also changed and any accessory structure under 200 84
square feet does not require a building permit. He explained that staff believes that perhaps it 85
would make sense to use that same standard in Medina. He stated that a draft ordinance was 86
included in the Commission packet with the proposed amended language. He stated that 87
currently the ordinance is set to require a CUP for an accessory structure over 5,000 square 88
feet. He noted that there are additional standards for buildings of that size and the review 89
could be done in that manner by staff or could continue to go through the CUP process. 90
91
Reid asked the height recommendation. 92
93
Finke stated that he suggested 12 feet, but the language could go to 15 feet. He explained 94
that the height is measured at the middle of the roof rather than the peak. 95
96
Reid opened the public hearing at 7:21 p.m. 97
98
No comments made. 99
100
Reid closed the public hearing at 7:22 p.m. 101
102
3
Amic stated that he is in favor of increasing the regulation to 200 square feet. He stated that 103
he does not have a preference on the height as most sheds would be under 12 or 15 feet in 104
height. He did not have an opinion on the CUP issue. 105
106
Nester commented that she believes that there should at minimum be a height restriction as 107
she did not like allowing bigger structures closer to the property lines. She stated that she 108
would not be in favor of loosening the restrictions. She did not feel strongly on the CUP 109
discussion. 110
111
Nielsen stated that she is fine with increasing the limitation to 200 square feet. She believed 112
that there should be a height limitation. 113
114
Galzki agreed with the comments thus far. He stated that his only concern would be with the 115
different sizes of properties. He stated that a 120 square foot shed would be sufficient on a 116
quarter acre lot, but a larger shed on a larger property would make sense. He agreed that a 117
height limitation should be placed on the structure. He stated that for the CUP issue, the 118
Commission typically reviewed maid quarters or beautiful barns. He commented that it is 119
nice to have the public hearing to allow adjacent landowners to provide comments. He noted 120
that perhaps specific uses do not need to go through the CUP process, as that process adds 121
cost and time to a project. 122
123
Piper asked if these kinds of structure could be used to house animals or horses. 124
125
Finke replied that the animal structure setbacks would explicitly still apply. 126
127
Piper stated that she would assume that most of these structures have a floor but cannot be 128
mounted on a footing. 129
130
Finke replied that they could be in theory, but that would be rare. He stated that the structure 131
could be a pole structure without a floor. 132
133
Grajczyk stated that he agrees with the staff recommendations. He stated that he would agree 134
that a height restriction should be included. He stated that related to the CUP, he would not 135
have any opinions to add. 136
137
Reid stated that she would favor a height limitation and asked the desired height limit. 138
139
Finke stated that he would believe that 12 feet would be sufficient. 140
141
Amic agreed that 12 foot would be plenty. 142
143
Reid stated that she would prefer to keep the CUP in place for now as there have been some 144
odd requests in the past and would not want to see something the City is not expecting. She 145
stated that perhaps that could be discussed in the future in an attempt to reduce the time 146
and/or cost for that process. 147
148
Motion by Nielsen, seconded by Galzki, to recommend adoption of the ordinance 149
amendment related to residential accessory structures with the height limitation of 12 feet. 150
151
A roll call vote was performed: 152
153
Amic aye 154
Nester aye 155
4
Nielsen aye 156
Galzki aye 157
Piper aye 158
Grajcyk aye 159
Reid aye 160
161
Motion carries unanimously. 162
163
7. Approval of the April 14, 2020 Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. 164
165 Motion by Galzki, seconded by Nielsen, to approve the April 14, 2020, Planning 166
Commission minutes with noted changes. Motion carries unanimously. 167
168
8. Council Meeting Schedule 169
170
Finke advised that the Council will be meeting the following Tuesday and Nielsen 171
volunteered to attend in representation of the Commission. 172
173
Amic noted that he purchased a home in Orono and therefore will be resigning from the 174
Planning Commission. 175
176
9. Adjourn 177
178
Motion by Amic, seconded by Galzki, to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. Motion carried 179
unanimously. 180