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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 02-03-2010Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting February 3, 2010 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Davis, Commissioners Dick Kobussen, Nathan Robinson, Gordon Petrash, Scott Nelson, Erik Aamoth and Marc Anderson MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, City Engineer Bob Moberg and Office Support Specialist Laurie Lokken 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. OATH OF OFFICE Planning Manager Senness administered the oath of office to Nathan Robinson, who was sworn in as Planning Commissioner for the City of Plymouth. 2.A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Commissioner Kobussen, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the February 3, 2010 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 6, 2010 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the January 6, 2010 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2009052) Chair Davis introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for the annual update to the Zoning Ordinance and City Code. Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the staff report. Approved Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2010 Page 2 Commissioner Nelson asked if a carport could be allowed as a temporary structure for boat storage during the winter months. Senior Planner Drill said that there is no provision for temporary structures in the building code. Chair Davis asked if the Wetland Conservation Act is a federal or state law. Senior Planner Drill said that it started out as federal legislation and the State of Minnesota has adopted it. Commissioner Aamoth asked if the carport regulations would apply immediately for properties that currently have carports. Senior Planner Drill said that it would apply to all carports. He added that the design standards are not changing. He said that the first part of the amendment would clarify that carports must comply with the design requirements that are already in the ordinance. He said that if a carport was built without a permit and does not comply with the regulations, it would be illegal and would need to be removed. Commissioner Kobussen asked if self-propelled lawn mowers could be stored in a carport. Senior Planner Drill said that under the draft provisions, lawn mowers could not be kept in carports. Senior Planner Drill said that carports could be used for parking of vehicles and recreational vehicles. He said that there are a few exceptions (stacked firewood and trash containment enclosures) but that lawn mowers and other items could not be stored in a carport. Commissioner Kobussen asked if the Commission should consider allowing self-propelled lawn mowers in carports. Senior Planner Drill said that the Planning Commission could consider recommending such a change to the draft provisions. Commissioner Kobussen said that if there wasn't a garage, it would be better to store a lawn mower in a carport rather than in the yard. Senior Planner Drill said that the City already has a separate regulation stating that lawn mowers and other household items cannot be kept in the yard. He said that current regulations require lawn mowers to be stored inside of a building such as a garage or storage shed. Commissioner Petrash asked if there are very many carports in Plymouth now. Senior Planner Drill said that there are not very many at the present time. Senior Planner Drill said that during the past year, staff has received more requests for them and more complaints about them. He said staff would like to ensure that the City has good regulations in place should they become more popular in the future. Planning Manager Senness added that there have been a few examples in the past year that made it evident that it would be helpful to have additional language in the code, in order to make the regulations easier to enforce. Commissioner Kobussen asked about picture/graphic-type window signage. Senior Planner Drill said that any type of picture/graphics are counted as signage and would be limited to 50 percent of the window openings. Planning Manager Senness said that window signage is currently allowed but the proposal would be to limit it. She added that on the recent Stone Source variance, the city limited how much signage they could have on the windows, and it was close to 50 percent. Chair Davis asked if this change would make Stone Source noncompliant. Planning Manager Senness said no, as the city granted a variance for their signage so they are covered. Approved Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2010 Page 3 Commissioner Kobussen asked how the window signage regulation would be enforced. Planning Manager Senness said that staff enforces issues like this through complaints. She said that the limit on window signage could be publicized in the city newsletter and on the website so people are more cognizant of the fact that there has been a change. Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the annual update to the Zoning Ordinance and City Code. Commissioner Aamoth asked about the proposed wetland changes. Planning Manager Senness said that, basically, it provides some additional flexibility for medium and low quality wetlands and it also makes us compliant with state law. Chair Davis asked who would get the flexibility. Planning Manager Senness said the homeowner or developer would have more flexibility with the lower quality wetlands. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. 2009 PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT AND 2010 WORK PROGRAM Planning Manager Senness gave an overview of the staff report regarding the 2009 Planning Commission annual report and the 2010 work program. Commissioner Aamoth asked how the annual report was distributed. Planning Manager Senness said that it would be transmitted to the City Council, along with the 2010 work program, and it would be available to the public on the city website. Commissioner Aamoth asked why there weren't any pictures of some of the projects. Planning Manager Senness said that we have not done that in the past but that it could be considered in the future. MOTION by Chair Davis, without objection, recommending approving the 2009 Planning Commission annual report and adopting the 2010 work program. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. B. ELECTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR FOR 2010 Approved Planning Commission Minutes February 3, 2010 Page 4 MOTION by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve James Davis as Chair of the Planning Commission for 2010. MOTION by Chair Davis, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve Scott Nelson as Vice Chair of the Planning Commission for 2010. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. C. APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONER TO SERVE AS LIAISON TO THE PARK AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE Commissioner Kobussen volunteered to serve as liaison to the Park and Recreation Advisory Committee for 2010. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Davis, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m.