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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 03-21-2012Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting March 21, 2012 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Davis, Commissioners Nathan Robinson, Gordon Petrash, Bryan Oakley, Scott Nelson and Marc Anderson MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Dick Kobussen, STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Thomson, Senior Planner Marie Darling, and Office Support Representative Janice Bergstrom 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the March 21, 2012 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 15, 2012 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to approve the February 15, 2012 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2012013) Zoning Ordinance text amendments related to scoreboards. Chair Davis introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for zoning ordinance text amendments to amend the requirements in sections 21155 and 21670 of the zoning ordinance for scoreboards. Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Petrash asked who would determine whether the language or video meets the requirements according to the proposed amendment. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 21, 2012 Page 2 Senior Planner Darling said if city council or staff received a complaint, it would be investigated and the Community Development department would begin a course of action to ensure compliance with these regulations. Commissioner Nelson asked if the content of the advertising is determined by the school district as deemed appropriate for their fundraising needs. Senior Planner Darling said staff determines that city requirements are met, but would not judge the content of the advertising. That is determined by the school district. Planning Manager Thomson added this is no different from billboards in the city, as the city does not regulate the content of commercial speech. Commissioner Oakley discussed limiting commercial speech on the scoreboard to city or school - sponsored events on the athletic field. Commissioner Oakley said it could be used for a lot of other events, and asked why staff felt those needed to be excluded specifically. Senior Planner Darling said staff is trying to finely limit when advertising is permitted. She said when classes are out practicing, they cannot use the scoreboard for advertising. Commissioner Nelson asked if this affects only the video portion, and questioned if the side panels are permanent. Senior Planner Darling clarified the side panels are the permanent sponsor panels allowed by a previous ordinance amendment. Commissioner Anderson asked if there would be any sound associated with the digital advertising. Senior Planner Darling said the public address system is not run through the scoreboard, and any video sound would come out through the regular public address system. Commissioner Anderson asked if there could be advertising for a sandwich on the video and then a sandwich announcement over the public address system so we would hear and see the advertising. Senior Planner Darling said they could coordinate the public address system with the messages that are flashing, and that could be explained by the applicant. Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. Commissioner Nelson said is obvious with cuts to multiple school programs that school districts have to get creative to raise funds. He added that he has seen many scoreboards with advertising at all levels, and he is not surprised this has come before us. Commissioner Nelson said it seems Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 21, 2012 Page 3 very logical and the school district is providing an exceptional scoreboard for their school. Commissioner Nelson said it makes perfect sense and he has no problem with it. Commissioner Anderson said he has been to many athletic fields for years, and said he is there to enjoy the game and not be advertised to. He said we are bombarded with advertisements everywhere we look and it is refreshing to not have it there. Commissioner Anderson said it seems that this amendment is dodging a supposed legal threat. Commissioner Anderson said he is going to say no, and is trying to stop advertising in one place in his life. Commissioner Oakley said this is something that is needed. He said the school board is funded in large part through property taxes and anything to defray some of those expenses is a good thing. Commissioner Oakley said one concern is the wording that seems to take some responsibility on to the city which should be left with the school. He said an example would be a video class where students could use this for an educational exercise and should not be prevented by one line in a city ordinance. Commissioner Oakley said graduation or baccalaureate exercises used to be held on a football field and he asked if it would be inappropriate to advertise. Commissioner Oakley said he does not know if the city should be involved in that, and would like to see that line struck but otherwise is in favor of the proposed amendment. Planning Manager Thomson clarified that the additional language is there because of concern over opening the door for additional billboards in the city. She said the city attorney worked carefully to craft this very narrowly to strongly limit that possibility. Planning Manager Thomson noted the city attorney is preparing a letter to go to city council which will elaborate further. Chair Davis said a graduation would be a school -sponsored event, so they could run commercials if they wanted. Commissioner Oakley said his point was limiting to "not include practices or classes", and said he can envision a time when it might benefit a class. Commissioner Oakley said there are some things not identified in that limitation. Chair Davis said this amendment is not only for Wayzata Schools, but for scoreboards on any property zoned public institutional in the city, and other schools could potentially could do this. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Oakley, to approve the request by the City of Plymouth for zoning ordinance text amendments to amend the requirements in sections 21155 and 21670 of the zoning ordinance for scoreboards. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. Commissioner Anderson voting nay. MOTION approved. B. WAYZATA SCHOOL DISTRICT (2012011) Chair Davis introduced the request by the Wayzata School District for a conditional use permit to allow a scoreboard to be installed at Wayzata High School. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 21, 2012 Page 4 Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the staff report. Senior Planner Darling said a revised resolution for a scoreboard no more than 950 square feet and up to 50 feet in height has been provided. Commissioner Anderson asked if the Wayzata School District application includes commercial speech. Senior Planner Darling said the content on the sign has to be consistent with the public institutional zoning district. She said if the council approves the amendment, it would have to be consistent with those text amendments and the district would be able to have commercial speech; if not approved, it would have to be consistent with existing language in the public institutional district. Commissioner Anderson asked if the proposed sign is larger than allowed under the new ordinance. Senior Planner Darling said the proposed sign is 949 square feet and the ordinance allows 950 square feet. Chair Davis introduced Dan Carlson, representing the Wayzata Public Schools. Mr. Carlson said the public address system can be connected and synchronized with the video. Mr. Carlson said they do not envision Wayzata High School having a two -minute time out with a Coca-Cola commercial. Mr. Carlson said they envision for example, ABC Plumbing as a couple hundred dollar sponsor who wants to get their name on the scoreboard and support their program. He said this would be an opportunity for someone who can't afford large sponsor panels, but may have an opportunity to do something lower key. Mr. Carlson said Wayzata schools do not advertise in their gyms. Mr. Carlson apologized for the size calculation error, and said they are still within the 950 square feet. Mr. Carlson said they want to create an atmosphere that people will want to come to and not be bombarded with advertising and appreciated Commissioner Anderson's comment. Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. Chair Davis said the scoreboard is not to be visible from any right-of-way or street. He asked if the scoreboard would have to be screened if the golf course is developed and there are streets. Senior Planner Darling said the scoreboard would be considered legally nonconforming if the golf course develops and the scoreboard became visible from a new street. She pointed out there is a row of mature trees between the stadium and the golf course which wraps around the stadium. Senior Planner Darling said at ground level where the scoreboard would be constructed, existing trees would screen, even in winter. She said from the top of the bleachers you can see the roof of the Gramercy building in Medina over the tree tops. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 21, 2012 Page 5 Chair Davis clarified that in the event the golf course was replaced with housing and streets were built, the school would not be required to take down the scoreboard. Senior Planner Darling answered affirmatively. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Robinson, to approve the request by the Wayzata School District for a conditional use permit and revised resolution to allow a scoreboard to be installed at Wayzata High School. Roll Call Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Bus tour on May 1 at 5:00 p.m. Planning Manager Thomson said the bus tour with the city council would be looking primarily at new development in northwest Plymouth. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Davis, with no objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m.