HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 03-07-2007Approved Minutes
City of Plymouth
Planning Commission Meeting
March 7, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Holmes, Commissioners Frank Weir, Karl Neset,
John Cooney, James Davis, Terry Jaffoni and Erik Aamoth
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Marie Darling,
Park and Recreation Director Eric Blank, Housing Program Manager James Barnes, City
Engineer Bob Moberg 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 Weir, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to approve the
March 7, 2007 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 21, 2007 PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the
February 21, 2007 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. T -MOBILE CENTRAL, LLC. (2007003)
Chair Holmes introduced the request by T -Mobile Central, LLC. for a conditional use
permit to allow installation of a 75 -foot monopole with telecommunications antennas at
Bass Lake Playfield for property located at 5450 Northwest Boulevard.
Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the February 27, 2007 staff report. Senior
Planner Darling noted that one letter has been received, provided to the Planning
Commission and added to the public record.
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March 7, 2007
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Chair Holmes asked if the existing light pole that is being replaced with a new pole will
remain in the same position as the pole that is there today. He also asked if there will be a
chain link fence around the equipment. Senior Planner Darling said the new light pole will
be placed in the same spot. She said there will be a chain link fence on the three sides and
along the top of the retaining wall to keep small children from climbing into the enclosure.
Chair Holmes asked about the safety issue for children who may crawl around from the top
down into the equipment area, which is at a lower height. Senior Planner Darling said it is
possible that the more nimble children could get around and into that area. She said the
chain link fence along the top is intended to keep small children from playing and climbing
around the equipment.
Chair Holmes asked who would be responsible to clean out the equipment area of the
growth of weeds and debris that blows in. Senior Planner Darling said that question will
be referred to the applicant.
Commissioner Davis asked for clarification on T -Mobile's coverage area. Senior Planner
Darling said that question will also be referred to the applicant.
Chair Holmes introduced the applicant, Kari Brown, representing T -Mobile Central, LLC.
Ms. Brown said that this site was chosen because of the light poles that already exist there.
She gave a presentation of the existing light pole and examples of light poles and
equipment that are in existence around the area to represent the intended replacement pole.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked what types of danger there is to children if they get in the
equipment area. Ms. Brown said they have highly secure cabinets throughout the cities and
they do not have a problem with break-ins. She said the problem is with graffiti. She said
that T -Mobile will maintain the site and that one of their technicians will check on the site
once or twice a month. She said that children could crawl into the area but there would not
be a safety issue for them.
Ms. Brown confirmed for Commissioner Weir that T -Mobile is responsible for maintaining
the inside of the enclosure.
Ms. Brown explained the coverage area. She said that T -Mobile is looking at expanding
their coverage based on customer requests and complaints in this area.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked if there will be any signs posted around the equipment area to
keep people out. Ms. Brown said that the equipment area will be locked and signs are not
usually included unless the City were to request them. She said the tower is not climbable.
She said the lights will be put back up onto the new light pole at the same angles.
Chair Holmes opened the public hearing.
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Chair Holmes introduced Rick & Lynn Brokke, 5485 Rosewood Lane North. Mr. Brokke
said their concern is the aesthetics and safety issues. Mrs. Brokke asked what the diameter
of the bottom of the pole is compared to other poles that are there. She asked if more
antennas will be able to be added if more are needed. She asked what revenue the City is
getting for this type of pole and if property taxes will go down. She asked what would
happen if another company wanted to put up a pole on that site.
Chair Holmes introduced Bob Kohns, 12820 54th Avenue North. Mr. Kohns said this is an
economic issue. He presented a three -acre site on Northwest Boulevard that would provide
the coverage area that T -Mobile is looking for. He said the money the City will generate
could go to the Homeowners Association. He said the equipment and tower should be
placed along Northwest Boulevard because in winter the equipment is under snow and
these towers go down in big storms. He said that this park does not get plowed until days
after a storm.
Chair Holmes introduced Tom Mottaz, 12945 55th Avenue North. Mr. Mottaz said that his
concern is the size of the base and the nature of the tower. He said that the location of the
cabinets will be hidden from view and asked if the tower and cabinets will be lit in some
way to avoid vandalism. He asked when the tower will be put up.
Chair Holmes closed the public hearing.
Planning Manager Senness referred to the applicant on a number of the questions raised in
the public hearing. Ms. Brown said that the existing light pole is probably 20 inches in
diameter, so the diameter at the base will be 24-30 inches versus the 20 inches.
Ms. Brown said that they will work with the Parks Department on a construction timeframe
when children aren't there. She said that once the project is started, it will take three to six
weeks to complete and they will start construction in September, if approved.
Ms. Brown said that they have a lot of vandalism in industrial park sites and at sites in very
rough neighborhoods. She said it is just a lot of clean up. She said they do put a barbwire
fence on top in industrial areas, but that is not feasible here.
Ms. Brown said that there is not another location in this area that can accomplish what they
need and meet zoning requirements. She said that it is important to get into this coverage
area for 911 calls.
Ms. Brown said that the other site on Northwest Boulevard has housing all the way around
it, it has a high elevation and is only three acres in size. She said the park has 18 acres and
they were able to locate the tower in the middle, farther away from the adjacent homes.
She said that the proposed location is the most optimum site. She said it meets zoning and
residential requests for the area. She said the property off Northwest Boulevard would be
out of the search area and would not provide a solution to the coverage problems.
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Ms. Brown said that T -Mobile will go in and plow the site if they need access to the area in
the winter. She said their technicians access sites in rural areas where they have to plow a
half mile in and where they have to walk and carry equipment. She said that this is a site
with easy access because the parking lot is very close to the pole and to the equipment area.
Ms. Brown responded to Chair Holmes that there would not be any antenna additions.
Senior Planner Darling said that in working with the Park Department, T -Mobile is limited
to six antennas. Chair Holmes asked how far the antennas extend from the pole. Ms.
Brown said they are two -feet off the face of the tower. She said they are very short
antennas called short arms.
Senior Planner Darling said that staff encourages applicants to locate on industrial sites, but
not all parts of the City have industrial areas. She said the first choice is to install the
antennas on an existing tall structure, like a water tower or other equipment locations with
tall vertical elements, and away from residential homes. She presented a tower in La
Compte Playfield, east of County Road 73, as a comparison. She said the equipment is
next to the park building and the lights were reestablished at the same height.
Park and Recreation Director Blank said the agreement with T -Mobile is a standard
agreement that is used and there are a number of agreements for poles on water towers. He
said that the $10,500 payment goes into the general fund and ultimately does offset taxes.
Senior Planner Darling said that the applicant has a study on the impact on property values.
Ms. Brown said they had three separate studies done in Minnesota and Wisconsin
concerning the real estate impacts from towers. She said the studies state that there is no
property impact whatsoever and the studies are available and have been used for public
submittal many times.
Commissioner Neset asked what kind of material the gates are made out of. Ms. Brown
said that the gate facing the ballfield is chain link to match the fence. Commissioner Neset
asked if there is a different kind of fence material that would screen out the equipment.
Ms. Brown said that they often put colored strips through the chain link. She said they
could match the white fence above.
Commissioner Davis said that this pole is for T -Mobile only. He asked if another carrier
wanted to come in, would it be considered independently. Senior Planner Darling said
there is only one tower per property allowed.
Commissioner Aamoth asked about the City's perspective about vandalism and if anything
has been done to mitigate it. Park and Recreation Director Blank said that all vandalism in
our parks is a concern. He said that this park has been a target over the years, especially
the building.
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Commissioner Aamoth asked if there are any plans to plant trees to surround the pole.
Park and Recreation Director Blank said that once construction is complete, then they will
look at landscaping.
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Neset, to approve the
request by T -Mobile Central, LLC. for a conditional use permit to allow installation of a
75 -foot monopole with telecommunications antennas at Bass Lake Playfield for property
located at 5450 Northwest Boulevard.
Chair Holmes said that as the City looks to plan the best community possible and look at
various resources, the need is to utilize what's there. He said it would be a positive thing
to replace the existing light pole with a taller tower. He said that he would vote in favor of
this motion.
Commissioner Neset added that the 18 -acre site is distant from homes. He said it is not
great to look at but they do have to go in. He said that he would vote in favor of this
motion.
Commissioner Aamoth said that it is important that people be able to make emergency
calls when they need to and that he would vote in favor of this motion.
Commissioner Davis said they have to go in somewhere in the community and this is the
least impacting place in the area. He said the other site would be more controversial. He
said this is the best place for it for coverage and that he would vote in favor of this motion.
Roll Call Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
7. NEW BUSINESS
A. TWIN CITIES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY (2007008)
Chair Holmes introduced the request by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for a site plan
and variances to allow construction of a four -unit townhouse structure for property located
at 10801 South Shore Drive.
Senior Planner Darling gave an overview of the February 27, 2007 staff report.
Commissioner Davis asked if this will be built by volunteers. Senior Planner Darling said
that they are already assembling volunteers. Planning Manager Senness added that
churches are often times partners in such ventures.
Chair Holmes introduced the applicant, Mike Nelson, representing Twin Cities Habitat for
Humanity. Mr. Nelson introduced Chad Dipman, who is also representing Twin Cities
Habitat for Humanity.
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Commissioner Weir asked for clarification on homes being built by volunteers. Mr.
Nelson said that in their 20 -year history in the Twin Cities, they have transitioned from
rehabilitation and building one and two-story single family homes into multifamily
townhomes. He said that their work is all done through volunteer labor. He said a union
site supervisor directs the volunteers daily. He said the volunteers have varying levels of
expertise and that they hire licensed professionals for electrical work, heating and
plumbing.
Commissioner Davis asked if staff has heard from the owner of the property to the south of
the site since the variance is so close to their property. Senior Planner Darling said that
since public notices were sent out, staff has not heard from the property owner, although
staff has talked with him in the past. Planning Manager Senness added that the property is
for sale at the present time.
Housing Program Manager Barnes thanked Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for coming
in to Plymouth and thanked all the key players who helped with this project.
Planning Manager Senness added that this is the first Habitat for Humanity in the City of
Plymouth and it is a very exciting project.
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the
request by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for a site plan and variances to allow
construction of a four -unit townhouse structure for property located at 10801 South Shore
Drive. Roll Call Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
8. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Chair Holmes, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 p.m.