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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 01-18-2012Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting January 18, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Davis, Commissioners Dick Kobussen, Nathan Robinson, Gordon Petrash, Scott Nelson, Bryan Oakley and Marc Anderson MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Thomson, Senior Planner Josh Doty, City Engineer Bob Moberg and Office Support Specialist Laurie Lokken 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Oakley, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the January 18, 2012 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 4, 2012 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Robinson, to approve the January 4, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARING 7. NEW BUSINESS A. ST. JUDE MEDICAL (2011081) Chair Davis introduced the request by St. Jude Medical for a site plan amendment for a 275,000 square foot building expansion and related site improvements for property located at 5050 Nathan Lane North. Senior Planner Doty gave an overview of the staff report. Senior Planner Doty presented an additional memo to the Planning Commission that corrected the proposed structural coverage in the staff report and added a condition to the draft resolution requiring one-way signage in the loading area. Approved Planning Commission Minutes January 18, 2012 Page 2 Commissioner Nelson asked where the future parking deck that was mentioned in the application would be located on the site. Senior Planner Doty responded that they would locate the future parking deck at the northwest corner of the site. He pointed out that parking deck is not part of this request. He said that their intent was to show their options to add more parking if needed in the future. He added that they would need to come back through the site plan process to ask for approval of a parking deck. Commissioner Anderson asked if there is any requirement in terms of how tall and how thick trees would have to be on top of the berm. Senior Planner Doty replied the ordinance calls out for coniferous trees, berming or fencing as appropriate to provide an effective screen of a loading area. He said a combination of things can be used to provide an effective screen. He said that in this instance, there would be a combination of berming and coniferous trees on top of the berm. He said that staff felt that an effective screen would be provided. Commissioner Anderson asked what the percent of grade on the slope in the driveway into the truck port area would be. Senior Planner Doty deferred his question to the applicant. Commissioner Anderson asked if there would be tractor -trailer type trucks using that driveway. Senior Planner Doty confirmed affirmatively. Commissioner Anderson asked if fire protection circulation all the way around the building has been reviewed. Senior Planner Doty responded that has been reviewed and shown to be substantially in conformance. He said the turning radius evaluations have been reviewed and that there is a condition allowing the fire inspector to take a final look at some of the turning movements. Commissioner Anderson asked if the drive aisles are compacted and able to handle the weight of a fire truck. Senior Planner Doty confirmed affirmatively. Commissioner Anderson asked what the exterior material would be on the building. Senior Planner Doty deferred his question to the applicant. Commissioner Kobussen stated that the dates in item one of the revised resolution should be corrected from 2011 to 2012. Senior Planner Doty noted the correction. Chair Davis introduced Jack Yates, representing St. Jude Medical. Mr. Yates introduced their additional representatives present and gave a presentation of St. Jude Medical's background. Commissioner Petrash asked if St. Jude Medical is a privately or publicly owned company. Mr. Yates responded that they are a public company. Mr. Yates continued his presentation with an overview of the site and building, including exterior materials. Approved Planning Commission Minutes January 18, 2012 Page 3 Commissioner Petrash asked if there would be very many new employees or if it would all be the transferring of employees from other locations. Mr. Yates responded that their lease in Maple Grove terminates on April 30, 2013 and they would be moving out of that building and moving to Plymouth. He said that there are also two buildings in Minnetonka with leases terminating in 2013, which would largely be a transfer. He said this is more of a replacement activity than it is new jobs with the growth to come further on down the road. Commissioner Nelson stated it is exciting to have a flagship building for a company like this in Plymouth, which is great for the city. He said the plan looks good and he would welcome more of this kind of business into the city. He said that he did not see any reason to not fully endorse the request. Commissioner Petrash stated that the planning documents were very well done. He said that they were easy to understand and it appears to be a very aesthetically pleasing facility. Commissioner Anderson stated that he appreciated the architecture and how they blended the existing structure materials around and then brought in some new elements as well. He said that is a very creative solution and it is going to be a very nice looking building. A representative of St. Jude Medical stated that the percent of grade for the truck loading area would be 8.3%. Commissioner Oakley stated that with an 8.3% grade, he would support this request. Chair Davis stated that this is a great looking plan. He said that the view, with location along Highway 169, will be a nice addition to the community and he would be voting to approve this request. MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to approve the request by St. Jude Medical for a site plan amendment for a 275,000 square foot building expansion and related site improvements as outlined in the revised resolution for property located at 5050 Nathan Lane North. Roll Call Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Davis, with no objection to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m.