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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 01-18-2006Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting January 18, 2006 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Frank Weir, Commissioners E. J. Clyman, Nancy Franke - Wilson, Melissa Musliner, Kathleen Murdock, Sarah Anderson and James Holmes MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, 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 Weir requested an addition under new business on the agenda for a special Planning Commission meeting to be held prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Musliner, to approve the January 18, 2006 Planning Commission Agenda as amended. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 4, 2006, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Clyman, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the January 4, 2006 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2005112) Chair Weir introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for the annual update to the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations. Approved Planning Commission Minutes January 18, 2006 Page 2 Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the January 10, 2006 staff report. He submitted a supplement for revisions to Section 21105.06, Subdivision 6 (additional clarification on interior lighting). Commissioner Clyman asked what a candela per square meter under directional lamp sources is versus what a foot-candle under light trespass limitations would be. Senior Planner Drill responded that it's a different way of measuring light — candelas measure the wattage or luminance level. Commissioner Clyman stated that he just wanted to make sure that luminance level of a 1,000 candela does not exceed what's allowed in LZ3 (.8 foot- candle) and questioned which was bigger. Senior Planner Drill stated to keep in mind that the purpose of the foot-candle requirement is to deal with enforcement should there be any issues of compliance. He said staff has a light meter that they can take out and measure what the foot-candles are at the lot line. There is a different formula for calculating candelas. He said the foot-candles at the lot line would be substantially lower than the candelas that were produced at the light fixture. Commissioner Clyman added that he wanted to make sure LED light would not be an exception to all the other lights should there be a complaint. Planning Manager Senness responded with background on the light trespass limitations. She said that was not a part of the model ordinance that we pulled from to develop the regulations. Light trespass limits had been a traditional part of the way we approached enforcement; therefore, we felt it was important to include in the new regulations. She added that the lighting consultant helped us determine foot-candle levels that would be consistent with the rest of the code, including sign lighting requirements. Commissioner Anderson asked if there are any businesses that currently violate the proposed interior lighting regulations. Senior Planner Drill replied that there was an issue recently at the Garden Center for the new Lowe's. Even though the problem lighting was considered to be interior lighting (there is a roof over the garden center), it was producing glare or obtrusive light off of the site. Staff worked with Lowe's to get shields on the light fixtures, and the glare problem was resolved. He added that the Lowe's situation was what called attention to making sure that interior lighting is addressed if the light source is visible off site. Planning Manager Senness stated that the Garden Center design includes a gap between the top of the wall/fence and the roof. Consequently, the lights were visible from the neighborhood to the south, which is at a lower elevation. She said the fixture that they had was a bare bulb with a clear Plexiglas globe around it that actually enhanced the glare factor. Staff worked with Lowe's to install shields around each fixture, and that has resolved the problem. Should something similar occur elsewhere in the future, the draft amendment would provide the City with clear authority to require modifications. Approved Planning Commission Minutes January 18, 2006 Page 3 Chair Weir opened and closed the public hearing. MOTION by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Murdock, to approve the request by the City of Plymouth for the proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations, with the submitted addition. Roll Call Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION passed unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS Chair Weir submitted that the next meeting will be held on February 1, 2006 and will be back in City Hall. He said the request is for a special organizational meeting to be scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MOTION by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Murdock, to schedule a special Planning Commission meeting on February 1, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. to accomplish administrative duties prior to the scheduled 7:00 p.m. meeting for the public. Vote. 7 Ayes. MOTION approved. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Holmes, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 p.m.