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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 11-05-2008Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting November 5, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT: Acting Chair James Davis, Commissioners Terry Jaffoni, Erik Aamoth, Karl Neset, Scott Nelson and Gordon Petrash MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, Senior Planner Marie Darling, Planner Joshua Doty 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 Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Neset, to approve the November 5, 2008 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 15, 2008 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the October 15, 2008 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. B. ELEMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION (2008100) MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the request by Elements of Construction for a variance for 35 percent impervious surface area coverage to allow construction of a 14 -foot by 18 -foot screen porch addition for property located at 11535 48th Avenue North. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 5, 2008 Page 2 6. PUBLIC HEARING A. JGM PROPERTIES, INC. (2008084) Acting Chair Davis introduced the request by JGM Properties, Inc. for site plan amendments, interim use permit and variances to allow a parking expansion on two properties located at 9909 South Shore Drive and 1605 State Highway 169 North. Planner Doty gave an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Nelson said that he liked the drainage plan to the pond. He asked where the pond would be added between the parking lots and if the surface would be built up to a higher grade for potential overflow. Planner Doty said that drainage would leave the pond directly into a stormsewer line that goes into the City pond located northwest of the Ryerson Steel property. Acting Chair Davis introduced the applicant, Jay Mutschler, representing JGM properties. Mr. Mutschler said that he did not have any additional comments and that he was available for any questions. Acting Chair Davis continued the public hearing from the October 15, 2008 Planning Commission meeting and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. Commissioner Aamoth asked if the neighboring property owner was satisfied with the remedy proposed for the drainage issue and if the outdoor storage concern from the previous Planning Commission meeting had been resolved. Planner Doty said that the drainage revisions satisfied the property owner. He said that the applicant is comfortable with the condition in the approving resolution that requires that the applicant either remove the outdoor storage or request a separate approval of a screened, outside storage area. Commissioner Jaffoni asked for the location of the existing railroad line that serves the Ryerson property. Planner Doty indicated the railroad location on the site plan and said that one of the conditions is that the property owners obtain approval from the railroad before removal of bituminous surface from the drive aisle. Commissioner Jaffoni asked about the interim use permit request and what interest Ryerson would have in the property being used for extra parking spaces when they don't need the number of parking spaces that they have. Planner Doty said that the proposed parking spaces are to provide a new location for parking, rather than additional spaces. He said that the owner would like to have more convenient parking spaces on the north end of the building for their tenants. Planning Manager Senness added that the new parking spaces would be for the tenants of JGM Properties and would not be for Ryerson. Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 5, 2008 Page 3 MOTION by Commissioner Neset, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to approve the request by JGM Properties, Inc. for site plan amendments, interim use permit and variances to allow a parking expansion on two properties located at 9909 South Shore Drive and 1605 State Highway 169 North. Roll Call Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. B. WESTHEALTH, INC. (2008097) Acting Chair Davis introduced the request by WestHealth, Inc. for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) amendment to allow changes to their signage plan relating to area identification and directional signs for the property located at 2805 and 2855 Campus Drive. Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Petrash asked if the proposed signs would be aluminum. Senior Planner Drill deferred this question to the applicant. Acting Chair Davis asked about the new curb cut that was mentioned for one of the proposed sign locations. Senior Planner Drill said that a new curb cut was recently installed in the west portion of the site along Campus Drive. He said the new curb cut does not show up on the aerial photographs, but does show up on the plan. Acting Chair Davis introduced the applicant, Sean Sonder, representing WestHealth. Mr. Sonder said that the signs would be aluminum. He said that all the graphics are for outdoor use and that the lettering would not yellow over time. He said that the banners would be of durable, exterior grade fabric and would be digitally printed with exterior ink that also will not fade over time. He said that all of the aluminum would be painted and primed. Commissioner Aamoth asked if it was intended for the light pole banners to be seen at night. Mr. Sonder said that the light pole banners would not have any special or additional lighting. He said that the banners would help identify the parking lots. He said that not all of the light poles would have a banner. He said the banners would be spaced far enough apart so that the next one would be easily seen. Mr. Sonder said that this would be a unique system so that once you are in the campus and follow the directional signs around, it would be quicker and easier to get to the correct destination. Mr. Sonder confirmed for Commissioner Jaffoni the current and the proposed total square footage of signage, including the wall signage. He said that it is more important to get people around the site than to identify the site. He said that was why the small directional signage is proposed. He said that they have opened up the driveway entrance on the east Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 5, 2008 Page 4 side of the site so that people can drive all the way around the building without having to backtrack. Commissioner Jaffoni asked how many parking lots would have the banner delineation. Mr. Sonder said that banners would be provided in the four main customer parking lots. Commissioner Petrash said that this proposal was very pleasing, as far as signage is done, and added that he liked the new logo for WestHealth. Acting Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. MOTION by Commissioner Neset, seconded by Commissioner Petrash, to approve the request by WestHealth, Inc. for a PUD (Planned Unit Development) amendment to allow changes to their signage plan relating to area identification and directional signs for the property located at 2805 and 2855 Campus Drive. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. C. LIBERTY PROPERTY TRUST, LLP (2008101) Acting Chair Davis introduced the request by Liberty Property Trust, LLP for a site plan amendment for an 85,780 square foot three-story addition and an interim use permit for reduced parking for property located at 4700 Nathan Lane North. Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the staff report. Senior Planner Darling confirmed for Commissioner Nelson that the City Council approved a 60,000 square foot addition to the building in 1996. She noted that it was a different owner at that time. Acting Chair Davis introduced the applicant, Richard Weiblen, representing Liberty Property Trust. Mr. Weiblen said that ATK is currently a tenant in two buildings in Plymouth. He said that it is their intent to bring all of ATK into one building. Mr. Weiblen said that he and the project team staff present were available for any questions. Commissioner Neset asked how many more jobs the new facility would bring into this area. Mr. Weiblen said that there would probably be about 125 or so more jobs. Acting Chair Davis asked if these jobs would be from current locations in Plymouth or if they would be coming in from facilities located outside of Plymouth. Mr. Weiblen said that these jobs would be coming in from another city. Approved Planning Commission Minutes November 5, 2008 Page 5 Acting Chair Davis noted that on the submitted plans, ATK was listed as ATK Advanced Weapons. He asked if there would be any munitions at this site. Mr. Weiblen said that they are mainly a research and lab facility. He said that they look at new products for both aerospace and defense. Commissioner Jaffoni said that this is an exciting project and that it is good to have it in the area. Acting Chair Davis opened the public hearing. Acting Chair Davis introduced Chris Kissling, 4640 Orleans Lane North. Mr. Kissling asked how the height of the proposed addition would compare to the height of the existing building. He asked if there would be additional parking or if the current parking would remain. Acting Chair Davis closed the public hearing. Senior Planner Darling deferred the building height question to the applicant's architect. She said that the existing parking area along State Highway 169 would be disturbed during construction and that some parking spaces would not be replaced. Senior Planner Darling confirmed for Acting Chair Davis that there would be underground parking with the proposed addition and that she is not aware of any underground parking in the existing building. Acting Chair Davis introduced Dave Sheppard, Pope Associates, Inc., representing Liberty Property Trust. Mr. Sheppard said that the roofline of the proposed addition would match the existing building and that the intent is to have the proposed addition look as though it has always been a part of the existing building. MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Aamoth, to approve the request by Liberty Property Trust, LLP for a site plan amendment for an 85,780 square foot three-story addition and an interim use permit for reduced parking for property located at 4700 Nathan Lane North. Roll Call Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Acting Chair Davis, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.