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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. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 2 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. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 3 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. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 4 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. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 5 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. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 7, 2007 Page 6 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.