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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 04-02-2008Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting April 2, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Holmes, Commissioners Terry Jaffoni, Erik Aamoth, Karl Neset and James Davis. (Commissioner Jaffoni arrived at 7:05 p.m.) MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Frank Weir STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, Planner Joshua Doty, Public Works Director Doran Cote 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 Davis, seconded by Commissioner Neset, to approve the April 2, 2008 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 19, 2008 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Neset, to approve the March 19, 2008 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved. B. ROLLIN B. CHILD, INC. (2008012) MOTION by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Neset, to approve the request by Rollin B. Child, Inc. for a site plan amendment and variance for an 18,945 square foot building expansion and front yard parking setback for RBC Tile & Stone for property located at 1820 Berkshire Lane North. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. THE ROTTLUND COMPANY, INC. (2008003) Approved Planning Commission Minutes April 2, 2008 Page 2 Chair Holmes introduced the request by The Rottlund Company, Inc. for a planned unit development amendment and preliminary plat to create 20 single family lots and one outlot from one existing outlot for property located west of Cheshire Parkway and north of 55th Avenue North. Planner Doty gave an overview of the March 25, 2008 staff report. Planner Doty added that the applicant is requesting additional time and that staff recommends that the Planning Commission open the public hearing, take any testimony from anyone who wishes to speak on the item and then continue the hearing to the May 7, 2008 Planning Commission meeting. Chair Holmes opened the public hearing. Chair Holmes introduced David Benson, 5515 Fernbrook Lane North, representing the Glacier Vista Twinhomes Association. Mr. Benson said that he is concerned about the access to the neighborhood off of Fernbrook Lane. He said that a direct interchange from Cheshire Lane to that neighborhood would be an advantage to future homeowners. He said that the proposed access off of Fernbrook Lane will make the interchange more difficult for people exiting from Fernbrook Lane on to 56th Avenue. Mr. Benson said that Fernbrook Lane is very narrow for two-way traffic. He said that when vehicles are parked along the side of the road it becomes a one-way road. He said the road is at a weird pitch and becomes slippery and dangerous in the winter. Mr. Benson said that he is concerned about the water pressure and what the plan is to address that. He asked if they would continue to suffer with poor water pressure if more homes are added. Planner Doty said that adding another access point to Cheshire Parkway does not meet standards in the subdivision regulations. He said the regulations require that the access to the subdivision be from a lower order roadway (Fernbrook Lane) and not a higher roadway Cheshire Parkway). Planner Doty said that Fernbrook Lane is a narrow roadway but is an approved street under subdivision regulations. He said that it is considered a low volume street with two-way traffic and parking on one side. He said that subdivision regulations for lower volume roadways state that there can be no more than 500 trips per day on low volume streets. He said that with the Glacier Vista homes and the 20 proposed homes, the daily trips would total 272, which would comply with the subdivision regulations. Public Works Director Cote said that this area is some of the highest land in Plymouth. He said that they are at a dead end of the existing trunk watermain. He said that the extension of the watermain to County Road 47 would help alleviate the water pressure issues. He said that conditions have been added to the resolution that require the developer to provide system improvements to make that pressure work until the watermain is extended. Approved Planning Commission Minutes April 2, 2008 Page 3 Commissioner Davis asked what the normal street width is. Planner Doty said that 28 -foot wide streets are typical and that there are some streets in Plymouth that are 32 feet wide. Planning Manager Senness added that the standard changed a number of years ago from 32 -foot wide streets to 28 -foot wide streets and that lower volume streets are allowed to be the narrower 24 feet. MOTION by Commissioner Neset, seconded by Commissioner Aamoth, to continue the public hearing to the May 7, 2008 Planning Commission meeting. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. B. PROVIDENCE ACADEMY (2008011) Chair Holmes introduced the request by Providence Academy for an amendment to the site plan and conditional use permit to allow building expansion and site improvements for property located at 15100 Schmidt Lake Road. Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the March 25, 2008 staff report. Chair Holmes introduced the applicant Patti O'Donnell, representing Providence Academy. Ms. O'Donnell said that they are submitting site variations from the original plan based on expansion needs. She said that their elementary school has a waiting list and that if the project is approved, they would be able to start hiring teachers for this next school year and utilize existing classrooms until the completion of the new classroom addition in 2009. Ms. O'Donnell said that the overall site plan amendment had been refined over the past several years. She said that current field limitations have hampered them from holding some field events and that the proposed changes will provide amenities that are on par with other schools in the community. Chair Holmes asked if the dome over the tennis courts would be opaque so that lighting is diminished. Chair Holmes introduced Troy Gamble, representing Anderson Engineering. Mr. Gamble said that the dome material would be opaque, which does better to contain the light in the dome. Chair Holmes opened the public hearing. Chair Holmes introduced Franzi Schneider-Krumpus, 5140 Quantico Lane North. Ms. Schneider-Krumpus said that the break in the trees located northwest of the athletic field is to allow for stormwater drainage. She asked if there would be any type of structure Approved Planning Commission Minutes April 2, 2008 Page 4 proposed by the new track to discourage kids from going into the woods during athletic events. Chair Holmes introduced Thomas Klevorn, 4755 Kingsview Lane North. Mr. Klevorn said that during the original construction period, the radio frequency used in construction vehicles would set off the alarm in his residence and he had to turn the alarm off. He asked if something could be done about the radio frequencies used. Mr. Klevorn asked that consideration be given to the traffic flow on Schmidt Lake Road for safety. Mr. Klevorn asked how the lighting would be fixed. Chair Holmes introduced Gary Zurek, 5050 Quantico Lane North. Mr. Zurek said that the tennis court is currently located 120 to 140 feet from his property line and the proposed changes would bring the tennis court within 30 feet from the property line. He said that moving the tennis court closer to the property line creates a privacy issue. Chair Holmes closed the public hearing. Mr. Gamble said that the west side of the athletic field would be fenced off and there would also be a retaining wall along where the track bleachers would sit above the existing ground. Mr. Gamble said that this would be a substantial deterrent and that there would not be easy access to the woods. Ms. O'Donnell added that during football games, there are two security officers that patrol the site and would be able to address kids going into the woods. She said that the security officers are also there during the peak morning traffic and that they make sure that there is no danger along Schmidt Lake Road. Public Works Director Cote said that the applicant could address the issue of radio frequencies during construction if they would affect alarm systems. Public Works Director Cote said that there is typically more traffic in the mornings and traffic is less significant in the afternoons. He said that there would have been a traffic study completed when the original plan for Providence Academy was proposed. He said that could be looked at to see if a need for a traffic signal there had been warranted or recommended. Planning Manager Senness added that if there is an issue with people not complying with speed limits as posted, there is the possibility of speaking with the Police Department to step up enforcement. Chair Holmes said that it is a high volume, high speed area by everyone and not just Providence Academy traffic. He said that it would be a good time for the police to look at that stretch and slow traffic down. Approved Planning Commission Minutes April 2, 2008 Page 5 Commissioner Neset asked that a recommendation be made to the Police Department to have them place a speed trailer on Schmidt Lake Road. Planning Manager Senness said that staff would follow up on this recommendation. Senior Planner Drill said that the revised lighting plan would address a maximum mounting height of 25 feet on light fixtures, would show required house shields and would provide watts per square foot calculations. Chair Holmes asked if the revisions would put the lighting plan in conformance with the City Ordinance. Planning Manager Senness said that a condition in the resolution requires them to submit a revised lighting plan that complies with City regulations before building permits could be issued. Senior Planner Drill said that the applicant has revised the landscaping plans to provide a coniferous screen along the lower level of the retaining wall and over story trees at the higher elevation. He said that the new tennis courts would be lowered five feet from their current elevation. Commissioner Neset asked to go on record that his daughter attends Providence Academy but that it would not sway his vote and would not require him to abstain. Commissioner Aamoth asked if Providence Academy would be able to come back for an extension if the project is not completed within the approved eight years. Senior Planner Drill said that they would be able to ask for an extension and that it would require review by the Planning Commission and approval by the City Council. MOTION by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Aamoth, to approve the request by Providence Academy for an amendment to the site plan and conditional use permit to allow building expansion and site improvements for property located at 15100 Schmidt Lake Road. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Holmes, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m.