Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 07-08-2009Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting July 8, 2009 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Davis, Commissioners Dick Kobussen, Terry Jaffoni, Gordon Petrash, Scott Nelson, Erik Aamoth and Marc Anderson MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, Senior Planner Marie Darling, Park and Recreation Director Eric Blank 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 APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Davis announced that item 7.A. had been withdrawn by Margaret Green. Chair Davis announced that item 5.B. would be removed from the Consent Agenda and become item 7.B. under New Business. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the July 8, 2009 Planning Commission Agenda as amended. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 20, 2009 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Kobussen, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the May 20, 2009 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2009015) Chair Davis introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for a preliminary plat and variances to subdivide and incorporate 5.92 acres of the property located at 5815 Juneau Lane North into the City's Northwest Greenway trail corridor. Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the staff report. Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 8, 2009 Page 2 Chair Davis introduced Park and Recreation Director Eric Blank. Park and Recreation Director Blank said that he was available for questions. Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. Commissioner Anderson said that he was familiar with the City's involvement in the trail system and that he is very much in support of the trail corridor. He said that he thinks that it is a very good solution to getting the property that is necessary for this trail corridor. Commissioner Nelson asked if the parcel that the City would acquire includes buildable land on both sides of the wetland and if the wetland area would always remain as wetland or if it would be affected by future development. Senior Planner Darling said that the property line would run through the wetland. Planning Manager Senness added that any alteration to the wetland by the City or by the other property owner would be subject to the requirements of the Wetland Conservation Act. MOTION by Commissioner Jaffoni, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve the request by the City of Plymouth for a preliminary plat and variances to subdivide and incorporate 5.92 acres of the property located at 5815 Juneau Lane North into the City's Northwest Greenway trail corridor. Roll Call Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. MARGARET GREEN (2009021) (Withdrawn) B. THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT (2009017) Chair Davis introduced the request by Three Rivers Park District for variances to allow trail signage for nine sites along the Luce Line and Medicine Lake Regional Trails. Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the staff report. He added that there have been concerns regarding Site 7, not for the directional sign along 36th Avenue that requires a height variance, but for a trail kiosk sign along East Medicine Lake Boulevard that does not require a variance or any other City approvals to be located in the area south of 36th Avenue and west of East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Senior Planner Drill said that the trail kiosk sign was originally planned to be located over 100 feet south of the intersection. He said that no variance is required for the proposed kiosk sign and that digging for the footings had commenced. He said that staff received phone calls about the location of the kiosk sign and Three Rivers Park District subsequently stopped work and looked for an alternative location. Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 8, 2009 Page 3 Senior Planner Drill said that the alternative location for the kiosk is the area south of the Missions Inc. driveway entrance off of East Medicine Lake Boulevard across from the City lift station. Commissioner Davis asked if the kiosks would be lit. Senior Planner Drill said that the kiosks would not have lighting. Commissioner Anderson asked why the requested directional signs would be 14 feet high instead of 12 feet high. Senior Planner Drill said that the increased height would help to prevent vandalism and theft of the directional signs. Chair Davis introduced the applicant, Delbert Miller, representing Three Rivers Park District. Mr. Miller said that they are proposing to move the subject kiosk sign to the alternative location south of the original location to address residents' concerns. He said that Missions Inc. had suggested locating the kiosk sign even farther south in the treed area. He said that they would need to locate it further north because there are City and private utilities located in that area. He said there are also grade and lake issues with the area Missions Inc. suggested. He said that the Wetland Conservation Act, the DNR and the Corps of Engineers would not allow filling in waters on Medicine Lake for signs. Mr. Miller said that they also looked at a suggestion by Missions Inc. to locate the kiosk sign location near benches at 32nd Avenue. He said that there would also be a problem there for obstructed views of the lake. He said that although that area is also City land, it would be subject to restrictions of those who have deeded access rights and would raise concerns with that set of neighbors. Commissioner Kobussen asked if there was a way to consolidate the traffic control signs along the trail. Mr. Miller said that both MnDOT and ASHTO have guidelines and standards for trails that they have to adhere to. He said that he agrees that there is a fine line to maintain signage that is needed and to avoid sign pollution. Commissioner Aamoth asked if Three Rivers Park District had spoken to neighbors regarding the alternative location for the kiosk sign. Mr. Miller said that they had not because this came up recently and they were looking at four possible locations and were trying to survey each one. He said that he felt that the new proposal to install the planned kiosk sign in the alternative location would be a reasonable solution for trail users and neighbor views. Planning Manager Senness said that staff did talk with one of the neighbors about the new location. Commissioner Petrash asked if there has been a study or analysis done for the use of these kiosks. He said that it would be sad to move the location of the sign to optimize views if no one would use it. Mr. Miller said that they have had this sign system in place in other cities since 2006. He said that they have their own research department that keeps track of usage. He said Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 8, 2009 Page 4 that people love the signs because they show the whole trail system and the aerial photos show homes, schools, fields, parks, lakes, creeks and where the trail meets up with neighborhood trails. He said that there are about 75,000 people who use this trail and that this is a lot because of Armstrong High School and their sports teams. Chair Davis introduced Gabriele Bower, 3510 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Ms. Bower said that she appreciates Three Rivers Park District's concern and willingness to install the kiosk in the alternative location. She said that her concern with the original location is about the view being obstructed as well as the possible traffic from people attracted to the sign that are not from the neighborhood. She said that there would not be any parking space and cars could end up in driveways. Commissioner Petrash asked if she had any concerns about the latest proposal. Ms. Bower said that she appreciates the latest proposal and that it is a good proposal. Chair Davis introduced Logan Coombs, 3510 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Mr. Coombs said that Three Rivers Park District made it clear that they are willing to install the kiosk in the alternative location. He said that Three Rivers Park District doesn't have many options for location. He said that they have a good proposal and that he supports it. He said that he has Missions and Hazelden across from him and Armstrong behind him who are all good neighbors and that he wants to have Three Rivers Park District in his list of good neighbors. Chair Davis introduced Jeffrey Hammer, representing Missions Inc. located at 3409 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Mr. Hammer said that they are concerned with the style and placement of the kiosk sign. He said that they designed their sign so as not to be obtrusive or block views. He said that the kiosk becomes a billboard. He said that they support the trail and the use of it. He said that they appreciate the consideration for moving the sign location but that they would still like to see the location move further south away from their site. Chair Davis introduced Norbert Herby, 3430 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Mr. Herby said that there is no shoulder along East Medicine Lake Boulevard and there is no parking or stopping so anyone in a car would not be able to look at this sign at all. He said that there is parking at the beginning of the trails but that this is in the middle of the trail. He said that the alternative location would be much better. Commissioner Petrash asked how traffic movement would be anticipated. Mr. Miller said that the sign is not aimed at automobiles and that it would not be visually set up to attract attention of motorists. He said that he couldn't say that somebody wouldn't stop their car, but that it is not set up that way. He said that their staff looked at similar locations and cars don't stop to read the kiosks. Planning Manager Senness asked how wide the trail is and added that there would be a boulevard, trail and then the kiosk on a concrete slab so that it is evident that this is not for vehicular traffic but for people on the trail. Mr. Miller said that the trail is 10 feet wide and that Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 8, 2009 Page 5 the kiosk would sit back on concrete. He said that there would be room in front of the kiosk for people to pull their bikes off the trail to view the sign so that they don't block the trail. Chair Davis introduced Butch Nelson, 3516 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Mr. Nelson said that there is a stunning view of the lake when heading south on Zachary Lane. He said that anything that gets in his view of the lake gets in the way of what he bought the property for. He said that he was concerned that the kiosk would be along the road where cars would want to stop and look at it. He said that he would like to see the kiosk placed more on the boulevard and turned so that cars wouldn't see it. He said that he felt that some of the existing traffic control signs could be removed. He said that the sign could be put in the area of trees rather than by the 32"d Avenue benches and that there would be plenty of room in the lift station area. He said that he appreciates living there with his view and without a lot of signs. Commissioner Nelson said that there is a driveway entrance to Missions Inc. near the bottom of the hill and asked if there was also a stop sign for the trail in that area. Mr. Miller said that there is a stop sign on the trail at that driveway and that he is not aware of any issues or incidents. Commissioner Aamoth asked how Three Rivers Park District is governed. Mr. Miller said that they have an independent, seven -member board that is organized by the State legislature. He said that the board currently consists of five members from districts and two members that are appointed by their county board of residence. Commissioner Aamoth asked if the board had taken action on this proposal. Mr. Miller said that the board approved the overall concept three years ago and then the grant was approved for these signs. He said that they would not have to go back to the board to change the location of the kiosk to the alternative site. He said that if everyone is comfortable with the proposed relocation of the sign, it would happen. He said that the sign would be located at least 1/3 mile from the intersection at 36th Avenue and East Medicine Lake Boulevard. He said that he felt that it would be extremely difficult to see the sign from any homes and that the relocation would also accomplish keeping the sign out of the lake area. Commissioner Nelson said that he applauded Three Rivers Park District for making the effort to relocate the sign and in finding a logical and satisfactory compromise. He said that he does not have a problem with the 14 -foot height of the directional signs and understands the reasoning for the height. He said that this is what makes this city one of the best places to live. He said that he would vote in favor of this proposal. MOTION by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve the request by Three Rivers Park District for variances to allow trail signage for nine sites along the Luce Line and Medicine Lake Regional Trails. Commissioner Aamoth said that he understood the importance to have signs available for people and that he would vote in favor of this proposal. Approved Planning Commission Minutes July 8, 2009 Page 6 Chair Davis said that the addition of signs would benefit users. He said that he would also vote in favor of this proposal. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Davis, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.