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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 12-18-2019Approved Minutes 1 of 4 Meeting of December 18, 2019 Approved Minutes Planning Commission Meeting December 18, 2019 Chair Anderson called a Meeting of the Plymouth Planning Commission to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on December 18, 2019. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Marc Anderson, Commissioners Bryan Oakley, Donovan Saba, and David Witte COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Julie Witt, Justin Markell and Jaspreet (Jesse) Narr STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Thomson, Senior Planner Kip Berglund and Senior Engineering Technician Trevor Quast OTHERS PRESENT: Chair Anderson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Plymouth Forum Approval of Agenda Motion was made by Commissioner O akley, and seconded by Commissioner Witte, to approve the agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Consent Agenda Motion was made by Commissioner Oakley, and seconded by Commissioner Witte, to adopt the Consent Agenda that included the following items: (4.01) Planning Commission minutes from meeting held on December 4, 2019. With all members voting in favor, the moti on carried. Public Hearings 4A Approved Minutes 2 of 4 Meeting of December 18, 2019 (5.01) Public hearing on site plan amendment, conditional use permit amendment and variances for Xcel Energy for an expansion to the existing substation and related site improvements at 3940 County Road 101. (2019094) Senior Planner Berglund reviewed the staff report. Chair Anderson referenced the CUP from 1992 and asked the kV that was approved at that time. Senior Planner Berglund replied that he believed that to be 69kV as well, but noted that the applicant can confirm that. Chair Anderson noted that stormwater and landscaping plans were not included and asked why staff did not deem the application incomplete. Senior Planner Berglund replied that the applicant submitted stonnwater calculations and therefore made an effort to meet the requirement. He stated that the applicant was unaware that this request would trigger the need for additional landscaping. He stat ed that the applicant has seen the required conditions, and that he believes the applicant is willing to meet those conditions. Commissioner Witte asked if there would be lighting associated with the substation. Senior Planner Berglund replied that detail has not yet been provided. He stated that previous substation expansions included security lighting. He noted that any proposed lighting would need to meet the lighting requirements of the zoning ordinance. Commissioner Witte asked if a condition could be added requiring more trees of a smaller size to enhance the screening. Senior Planner Berglund confirmed that would make sense. He stated there are requirements for overhead clearance and distance from the fence. He stated there has been an effort over the years to plant trees around the boundary to serve as screening. He sta ted that staff would recommend that the applicant review the perimeter for any visual holes and place trees in those areas. Chair Anderson introduced Chris Rogers, representing the applicant, who stated that with the expansion, the voltage will remain at 69kV. He commented that the red transformer to the right in the site plan is existing and will be replaced. Chair Anderson introduced Jason Greff, representing the applicant, who stated that equipment is being replaced because it is aging and explained th at the new transformer will be better able to support voltage. Chair Anderson introduced Joe Samuel, representing the applicant, who stated that the transformer identified to the left on the site plan is a new transformer that is being added. Approved Minutes 3 of 4 Meeting of December 18, 2019 Mr. Greff provided additional details on the existing equipment on the site and the new equipment that would be added to provide additional distribution load. Commissioner Witte acknowledged that there are other substations in the community, but commented that this seems to be the only one surrounded by residential properties. He asked if there would be humming that could bother residents. Mr. Greff replied that transformers do have some humming/noise, but comply with the necessary sound standards. He noted that the new transformer would likely be less noisy than the existing transformer that it will be replacing. Commissioner Witte asked if the substation would generate magnetic waves. Mr. Greff stated that he would not expect anything to change as a result of this construction. Commissioner Witte referenced the change from an eight-foot fence to a ten-foot security fence and asked if there have been instances in the state or country where people have breached the fences to enter the facilities. Mr. Rogers stated that there has not been an instance at this substation, but noted that the commission would be surprised at the lengths desperate people are willing to go in order to steal copper and aluminum. He stated that the upgraded fence would be more difficult to breach in order to continue to deliver this service safely and reliably. Commission Saba asked for details on items shown in red at the top of the site plan. Mr. Greff provided details on the additional equipment shown in that area. Chair Anderson opened the public hearing. Chair Anderson introduced Elaine Robertson, 17706 33th Avenue, who asked what the new expansion would mean to her; specifically the visual and health aspects and resale value impacts to neighboring homes. Chair Anderson closed the public hearing. Mr. Rogers replied that the only visual impact that neighboring property owners would notice is the upgraded fence. He stated that the fence will be two feet taller and will be made of different material. Mr. Samuel stated that the existing fence is a two-inch mesh, similar to chain link fencing, where the new fence would be a one -inch mesh that would be harder to breach. He provided a photograph and sketch of the proposed fencing. He explained that the new fence would also not have barbed wire at the top and would instead use a type of flashing to deter rodents. He provided additional details on the height of the different equipment, which matches the height of the existing equipment on the site. Approved Minutes 4 of 4 Meeting of December 18, 2019 Mr. Rogers noted that the ten -foot fence may provide additional screening to the resident s compared to the existing fence. He provided details on electro magnetic fields (EMF), noting that to his knowledge it is not the substation that generates the EMF, but the transmission lines. He explained that the voltage and transmission lines are not changing, and therefore there would not be a change to the EMF. Commissioner Oakley asked the location of the transmission line. Mr. Samuel identified the transmission line and the path it would take into the substation. He confirmed that the line would not be getting closer to the resident's home. Planning Manager Thomson stated that the fence having greater opacity and providing additional screening may improve the situation that exists today in terms of resale values of neighboring properties. Mr. Rogers stated that the substation land was purchased and developed prior to the residential homes around it. Commissioner Oakley asked the city to obtain a roving microphone that could be used for residents that may have trouble accessing the podium. Chair Anderson stated that it is difficult to tell Xcel that the variance is not appropriate when the fence was originally set back an additional ten feet from the required setback, and the change was made at the city level since that time to increase the setback. Motion was made by Commissioner Oakley, and seconded by Commissioner Saba, to recommend approval of the resolution for Xcel Energy for site plan amendment, conditional use permit amendment and variances for an expansion of the existing substatio n and related site improvements at 3940 County Road 101 . With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. New Business Adjournment Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m.