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.