HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 03-20-2019Approved Minutes 1 of 5 Meeting of March 20, 2019
Approved Minutes
Planning Commission Meeting
March 20, 2019
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Marc Anderson, Commissioners Bryan Oakley, Donovan Saba,
Julie Witt, David Witte, and Jaspreet (Jesse) Narr
MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Justin Markell
STAFF PRESENT: Senior Planner Shawn Drill and Senior Planner Kip Berglund 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Witte, seconded by Commissioner Oakley, to approve the March
20, 2019 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 20, 2019 PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
B. JULIE OLSEN (2019004)
Approve a variance for a deck expansion for property located at 12045 54th Avenue. MOTION by Commissioner Oakley, seconded by Commissioner Narr, to approve the consent
agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
7. NEW BUSINESS A. DANIELLE USSELMAN (2018091)
Chair Anderson introduced the request by Danielle Usselman for variances for front and side yard setbacks and for impervious surface coverage to allow construction of a new home at 10221
South Shore Drive.
Senior Planner Berglund gave an overview of the staff report.
5A
Approved Minutes 2 of 5 Meeting of March 20, 2019
Commissioner Oakley referenced the BMP (best management practice) and asked for additional
information on the size of the rain garden that would be needed to comply with the requirement.
Senior Planner Berglund stated that the total amount of additional impervious surface would be
674 square feet, and therefore the infiltration basin or rain garden would need to be designed to
treatment that area.
Chair Anderson asked if a rain garden would be required or whether an infiltration basin would
be required.
Senior Planner Berglund replied that either a rain garden or infiltration basin could be used as a
BMP in this case and explained the differences between the two types of BMP's.
Chair Anderson stated that it is his impression that the City does not prefer a rain garden because
of the continued maintenance that is required, and therefore an infiltration basin is preferred.
Senior Planner Drill confirmed that there is ongoing maintenance required and if not completed,
the rain garden would not function as intended, therefore an infiltration basin would be preferred.
Commissioner Oakley stated that it was his intention to note that the infiltration basin or rain garden required to treat 674 square feet may not be equal in size and could actually be larger.
Senior Planner Drill stated that in previous cases, the BMP was about one half or one fourth of the size of the impervious surface.
Commissioner NaIT asked for additional information on the size of the BMP and whether that is
due to the amount of groundwater recharge or equalization of the stormwater flow. Senior Planner Berglund replied that the intent is to manage the stormwater flow because of the
additional impervious being added. He noted that in this case the groundwater recharge would also be an element because of the proximity to Medicine Lake.
Senior Planner Drill stated that the shoreland overlay district is an environmental regulation that
both functions to manage stormwater and direct water into the ground before it reaches the lake. Commissioner Witte asked if we are talking about just one garage, namely the existing garage,
rather than an additional attached garage that would be constructed with the home. Senior Planner Berglund confirmed that an additional garage is not being proposed.
Commissioner Witte noted that many driveways in this area are gravel and asked if the gravel driveway would be considered a pervious surface.
Senior Planner Berglund stated that without a soil correction below the gravel, the compacted
driving surface would be considered impervious. He noted that a soil correction could be done
below the gravel to make the driveway pervious.
Approved Minutes 3 of 5 Meeting of March 20, 2019
Commissioner Witte referenced the scope of the variances for the front yard and side yard and asked if there is a separate variance for the impervious surface.
Senior Planner Berglund explained that there are multiple variances being requested, including
the front yard setback, side yard setback, and a possible impervious surface coverage variance. Commissioner Witte stated that typically when the commission reviews these requests, they do
not include an existing structure and only include new construction. He noted that leaving the
existing garage would seem to be an economic consideration, as if the existing garage were
removed and constructed with the new home, that could shorten the length of the driveway and
bring the lot further into compliance.
Senior Planner Berglund replied that the applicant can provide additional input, but believed the
garage to be in usable condition and noted that it has recently been updated, therefore the
applicant decided to keep the garage rather than rebuilding or moving it closer to the home.
Commissioner Witt referenced the garage to the north and asked who owns that garage.
Senior Planner Berglund replied that is owned by Three Rivers Park District and is a maintenance garage used for storage of equipment.
Commissioner Narr asked ifthere is flexibility in changing the width of the driveway to reduce the impervious surface.
Senior Planner Berglund confirmed that is an option that could be explored by the applicant. Chair Anderson introduced Danielle Usselman, 10221 South Shore Drive, who stated that she
purchased the home five years ago with the intention of adding onto the home, but that is not an
option. She stated they are just attempting to do what they can to construct a suitable home that
fits with the neighborhood. She acknowledged that they are having issues with the impervious
surface and driveway width and was willing to work with the City. She stated if the width of the
driveway is reduced to a one-car width that would reduce the impervious surface.
Chair Anderson acknowledged that the proposed condition for the variance, should it be
approved, would state that the applicant will work with staff to reduce the amount of impervious
surface.
Senior Planner Berglund confirmed that the applicant would have options to reduce the proposed impervious surface and if the impervious surface exceeds the existing amount, a BMP would
then be required to offset that impervious surface.
Commissioner Oakley referenced the potential of constructing a new garage and asked if there
was a consideration for a home plan that included a garage and removed that existing garage.
Ms. Usselman replied that was not a consideration as the existing garage was constructed 20 years ago and is a five-car garage. She said she did not see the reason to remove a garage in
good condition just to move the structure.
Approved Minutes 4 of 5 Meeting of March 20, 2019
Commissioner Saba asked if the applicant has considered using crushed gravel in parts of the
driveway that would make that surface pervious.
Ms. Usselman replied that they have looked into that option, but noted that the soils under the
driveway are clay and therefore that would not be a cost-effective option.
Commissioner Saba asked if the applicant has considered using a rain barrel to catch water off
the home.
Ms. Usselman confirmed that she would be open to that option. She stated that there is drain tile
on both sides of the property as well to assist with drainage on the property. Commissioner Oakley asked if an infiltration basin could be located on the south side of the
property behind the garage.
Ms. Usselman confirmed that the BMP could probably fit in that location, but was unsure of the
details of what an infiltration basin would entail.
Chair Anderson noted the condition states that the applicant will work with staff to reduce the
impervious surface and if additional impervious surface exists, over the current amount, a BMP
would be needed to offset that difference. Commissioner Oakley stated his intention was just to ensure that the commission is not
recommending a condition that would be impossible to meet.
Chair Anderson stated the issue is that the property is within 1,000 feet of the lake and therefore
these are DNR requirements. He indicated that the City is simply stating that the property
already exceeds the amount of hardcover allowed on the site and therefore any improvements cannot exceed that amount, and ifthere is additional impervious surface, that will need to be
offset by a BMP.
Chair Anderson introduced Sally Usselman, 10215 South Shore Drive, who stated that she is the
neighbor to the east, the only neighbor. She stated that they have never had a problem with drainage on their property. She confirmed that drain tile runs between the two homes and there
is also a valley between the subject property and Three Rivers Park District property that directs
water to the creek. She stated she has not noticed pooling on the driveways, and this will be a slab on grade home, which will allow water to filter underneath. She stated that the home will fit
with the neighborhood. She stated that all the neighbors are supportive of the request and are
excited that the home will enhance the neighborhood. Commissioner Oakley stated that the concept of moving the garage closer to the street would not
seem to be a feasible alternative. He stated that the concept of using a BMP would have more
feasibility, but noted that he has not heard the ways in which that could add up to the total
amount needed to offset the impervious surface. He asked engineering staff to do a more thorough review. He agreed there were some soils that make that option more challenging,
noting this property is a good example of that. He noted that gravel surfaces are not considered
Approved Minutes 5 of 5 Meeting of March 20, 2019
pervious, as compacted class five material makes water run off. He stated this is a good
proposal, that he will support, but noted he is concerned that some of the conditions could make
this project more challenging than it should be.
Commissioner Witte stated he fully supports the plan to expand the home and is not opposed to the setback variances. He agreed that the garage is in good condition, but noted that it
contributes to the impervious surface. He stated he would be willing to support the ,
recommendation and have the applicant work with staff on a BMP to offset that impervious
surface.
Commissioner Witt stated she does not have thorough knowledge in terms of BMP's and the
comments made by Commissioner Oakley. She asked staff if these conditions would make the project difficult for this young couple.
Senior Planner Berglund stated that engineering is not present tonight and noted that he is not an
expert on rain gardens or infiltration basins. He stated that staff has written language into the
zoning ordinance that states if there is an impervious surface variance, a standard condition
would be to require a BMP to offset the impervious surface. He stated the option for a 55-gallon rain barrel has not always been an option, but noted from an economic standpoint it would be the
least expensive option. He noted that staff will have the appropriate discussions with the
applicant on an appropriate BMP if that is needed.
Commissioner Saba stated that the spirit of his question to the applicant was to ensure that there
is flexibility for the applicant to meet the BMP requirement. MOTION by Commissioner Oakley, seconded by Commissioner Witte, to recommend approval
of the request by Danielle Usselman for variances for front and side yard setbacks and for impervious surface coverage to allow construction of a new home at 10221 South Shore Drive.
Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Anderson, with no objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 P.M.