HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 11-01-2006Approved Minutes
City of Plymouth
Planning Commission Meeting
November 1, 2006
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Holmes, Commissioners Melissa Musliner,
Kathleen Murdock, Frank Weir, E. J. Clyman and Sarah Anderson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Neset
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Planner Joshua Doty, 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 Clyman, to approve the
November 1, 2006 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 18, 2006 PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Musliner, to approve the
October 18, 2006 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
B. HTG ARCHITECTS (2006096)
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Musliner, to approve the
request by HTG Architects for a site plan amendment to allow construction of a credit
union with drive-through at Rockford Road Plaza for property located at 4190 Vinewood
Lane North. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
C. HOLLY HAMILTON (2006097)
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Musliner, to approve the
request by Holly Hamilton for variances for lot area and width, front setback and
impervious surface coverage for construction of a new single-family home for property
located at 10620 30th Avenue North. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 1, 2006
Page 2
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. REPRISE DESIGN, INC. (2006095)
Chair Holmes introduced the request by Reprise Design, Inc. for zoning ordinance text
amendment to allow tutoring/learning centers in the CC -R (City Center Retail) zoning
district and conditional use permit for Kumon Learning Center for property located at 3475
Plymouth Boulevard.
Planner Doty gave an overview of the October 24, 2006 staff report.
Commissioner Musliner asked if they are only open past 5:00 p.m. on Mondays and
Thursdays. Planner Doty answered affirmatively.
Commissioner Weir asked why Learning Centers are not allowed in the CC -R district
currently. Planner Doty said this use was added to the C-2 district in February of this year.
He said the City did not add it to any other districts at that time. He said this is the first
time it has been requested. Planning Manager Senness said that the City did not look at the
CC -R at that time and it was an oversight. She said it could have been looked at then
because the districts are very similar.
Commissioner Clyman asked if the maximum amount of parking spaces required is based
on the maximum amount of students at any given time. Planner Doty said that was correct.
Chair Holmes introduced the applicants, Peter Beck and Jeff Milke, representing Kumon
Learning Center. Mr. Beck said this will be one of twelve existing Kumon Learning
Centers in the metropolitan area. He said it is a relocation of an existing center from the
St. Louis Park area. He said they are relocating to better meet the needs of the current
client base. Mr. Beck said the Center will operate initially with 10 students at any given
time and they hope to grow to 20 students.
Commissioner Clyman asked if the Learning Center has a pickup and drop off policy
where students can't leave the facility until their parents come inside to get them. Mr.
Milke said that they do have a policy and the safety of the students is their first concern.
He said that their policy is to have a check-in person, a gatekeeper, located at the entrance
of the waiting area. He said the check-in person would let the student in and out of the
classrooms. He said they emphasize to parents that they will not release the student out of
the building until they can hand the student off to a parent.
Commissioner Clyman asked if there is a lobby area for parents. Mr. Milke answered
affirmatively. Commissioner Clyman asked if parents typically wait in the lobby. Mr.
Milke said that is not very common. He said it is more common for preschool kids and
their siblings. He said these parents typically would wait, but most parents tend to pick up
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 1, 2006
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and drop off. He said there could be three to five parents in the waiting area for every ten
students.
Commissioner Clyman asked if they see a lot of carpooling as the parking ratio is six
students per parking space. Mr. Milke said that they see a lot of siblings. He said if there
is a student from one family in Kumon, then chances are that the family would have
another student in Kumon. He said for that reason there tend to be a number of kids
coming at one time.
Chair Holmes opened the public hearing.
Chair Holmes introduced Brad Middendorf, President of Town Center Office Plaza
Association, 15600 35th Avenue North. Mr. Middendorf said that he wanted to point out
parking issues. He said that right now there are three PIDs on their site that don't have
access to their rear parking and they only have access to spaces via 35th Avenue or
Plymouth Boulevard. He said there is congestion on 35th Avenue and Plymouth Boulevard
with Lifetime Fitness being across the way. He said they get a lot of visitors that park in
their back parking lot and the public streets. He said there's been some contention with
that street parking already. He said that with the counted spots in the proposed space, it
doesn't seem like there's a lot of extra space. He asked how City staff found that the
businesses close at 5:00 p.m. when there are several days in the beginning of the week
where businesses have people working past 5:00 p.m.
Chair Holmes closed the public hearing.
Planner Doty said the zoning ordinance standards for parking would be met with on-site
parking. The off-site parking is additional space. He said the business hours information
was provided from the applicant.
Planning Manager Senness asked for clarification from Mr. Middendorf if there are people
from the office building parking in the Town Center parking areas. Mr. Middendorf said
that was correct. Planning Manager Senness asked if he has spoken with the property
owner. Mr. Middendorf said no, but has contacted the police department. He said they
have been out three to four times addressing the parking issue. Planning Manager Senness
asked whether the police department has resolved this. Mr. Middendorf said they have not
done anything about those parking in the parking lot. He said that there is not a practical
way to monitor the parking lot as some go in and out all day and some park all day. He
said they have a lot of businesses, potentially 36 different owners in the complex. He said
a lot are open until 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. He said that employees coming in at 9:00 a.m. have
stated that there is not a single parking spot available along the street and that parking is at
a premium on Plymouth Boulevard and the side street. Planning Manager Senness said
that if cars are parking all day and are not part of the owners of the building, he may want
to put notes on the cars or something else to let them know. Mr. Middendorf said that they
have not done that yet.
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November 1, 2006
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Commissioner Clyman asked if City staff knows of any other buildings that have similar
situations and what other methods there are to regulate parking. Planning Manager
Senness said that this issue has not come up recently. She said if property owners do have
this issue, they talk to private towing groups and have that done on their own.
MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Murdock, to approve the
request by Reprise Design, Inc. for zoning ordinance text amendment to allow
tutoring/learning centers in the CC -R (City Center Retail) zoning district and conditional
use permit for Kumon Learning Center for property located at 3475 Plymouth Boulevard.
Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously.
7. NEW BUSINESS
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MOTION by Chair Holmes, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m.