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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 03-05-2003Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting March 5, 2003 MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice -chair Frank Weir, Kendall Griffith, Jason Rohloff, Nancy Franke - Wilson, and Melissa Musliner MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Peggy Larson and Commissioner James Holmes STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Anne Hurlburt, Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, Planner Rebecca Bowers, Associate Planner Joshua Doty, and Office Support Representative Janice Bergstrom 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Director Hurlburt stated that Consent Agenda Item 6A. has been removed from the consent agenda for a brief explanation of a change in the staff report, and Item 8A., Cancellation of the March 19, 2003 Planning Commission meeting has been added. MOTION by Commissioner Griffith, seconded by Commissioner Rohloff, to approve the amended March 5, 2003 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Rohloff, seconded by Commissioner Griffith, to approve the February 19, 2003 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. CONSENT AGENDA A. MARLYN SJAARDA (2003008) Vice -chair Weir introduced the request by Marlyn Sjaarda for a variance to allow construction of an addition to the side of the home located at 11720 38th Avenue North. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 2 Associate Planner Doty gave an overview of the revised staff report. Associate Planner Doty stated the side yard setback is revised from 8.5 feet to 7.5 feet after factoring in the proposed fireplace on the south side of the addition. A second change amends the outlot width from 73 feet to 34 feet. Associate Planner Doty stated the revised report does not change staffs recommendation for approval. Commissioner Rohloff asked if the applicant has reviewed the revised staff report. Marlyn Sjaarda stated he agreed with the revised information in the report. MOTION by Commissioner Rohloff, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, recommending approval of a variance to allow construction of an addition to the side of the home located at 11720 38th Avenue North which would be set back 7.5 feet from the property line where 15 feet is specified by the Zoning Ordinance. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2003007) Vice -chair Weir introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for a Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow two menu boards with a permitted drive-through restaurant. Planner Bowers gave an overview of the February 26, 2003 staff report. Commissioner Wilson questioned how this ordinance would be enforced. Planner Bowers responded that extra research has been conducted to review all drive-through restaurants in the City. Staff has just compiled the information and will be discussing enforcement of existing illegal signs with the code enforcement officer. Director Hurlburt added a building permit would be required and that process would monitor appropriate signage, enforce the ordinance and would also educate. Commissioner Rohloff thanked the staff for their work on this issue. Commissioner Rohloff said the ordinance takes into account safety, aesthetics and will allow a business to do what they do and, therefore, he will recommend approval. Commissioner Griffith echoed Commissioner Rohloff s comments and stated he feels the proposed ordinance is consistent with City goals and would provide gaudiness control. MOTION by Commissioner Rohloff, seconded by Commissioner Griffith, to approve the Zoning Ordinance text amendment to allow two menu boards with a permitted drive-through restaurant. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 3 B. ASSOCATION FREE LUTHERAN BIBLE COLLEGE (2003009) Vice -chair Weir introduced the request by the Association Free Lutheran Bible College for a planned unit development amendment to allow grading and site work for a ball field for property located at 3120 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the February 25, 2003 staff report. Senior Planner Drill stated that e-mail correspondence had been received from Greg and Beth Cramer, 3020 Quaker Lane, expressing concerns about use of the ball field, the potential for on -street parking on 31st Avenue, and removal of trees. Senior Planner Drill also noted that all remaining perimeter landscaping would be installed this spring. He stated that no permits will be issued until the financial guarantee for the landscaping is submitted. Commissioner Musliner asked about enrollment for the school. Senior Planner Drill responded that the PUD sets a maximum enrollment of 375 students and seminarians. Vice -chair Weir introduced the applicant David Borg, 17259 79th Place North. Mr. Borg stated that the proposed ball field would overlap with the location of the former ball field, and would be roughly half the size of the former ball field. Mr. Borg said it has always been the intent of the school to have a place for the students to play. They do not belong to a conference at this time and the field would not be of regulation size. The field would be used for intramural activities such as softball, soccer, and touch football. Mr. Borg added there would not be lights or a scoreboard related to the field. Mr. Borg said the remaining site work, tree planting, and sodding will be completed this spring. Mr. Borg asked for an explanation of the financial guarantee requirement. Senior Planner Drill stated that the City requires a financial guarantee for landscaping on all projects, which is usually in the form of a letter of credit. The City then holds the financial guarantee through one growing season to ensure winter survivability of the landscape materials. Senior Planner Drill added that the previously -posted letter of credit was for site grading. Jim Strecker, 17400 139th Avenue North, representing the Bible College, stated they have no issue with the requirement for the financial guarantee. Commissioner Musliner asked if other types of activities would be held on the ball field. Mr. Borg responded that the future gymnasium/auditorium would hold graduation ceremonies and the maximum number of graduates would be roughly 200. Mr. Borg said the site would hold parking for that ceremony. Mr. Borg stated they would encourage students not to park on 31st Avenue, but he couldn't say that would never happen. He reiterated that the ball field would be used for intramural activities. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 4 Director Hurlburt asked if there would there be activities such as concerts or other assemblies on the ball field. Mr. Borg responded that the bible school has never had a concert outside, and any concert would happen indoors because they want to be good neighbors. Commissioner Rohloff asked if the answer is no to outdoor concerts and assemblies. Vice -chair Weir replied affirmatively. Vice -chair Weir opened the public hearing. Vice -chair Weir introduced Sharon McKenna, 10235 32nd Avenue North, who stated that her backyard backed up to the former ball field, and there was an amplified speaker during some games. Ms. McKenna stated she has no objection to the ball field plan, but asked if a condition could be included to restrict amplified speakers. Ms. McKenna also asked that the landscaping be completed before the City allows anything else to be done. Ms. McKenna said her property faces the dirt berm and that a broken storm sewer caused a flooding problem for her and her neighbors last year. Ms. McKenna said that Darrell Johnson of the City's Engineering Department said the school would need to repair a portion of the erosion fence, but it hasn't been repaired yet over the winter. Vice -chair Weir introduced Richard Skogen, 10130 31st Avenue North, who stated he is not against the proposed ball field, and was happy to hear that the grading plan will be revised so all the drainage flows toward the west, away from his property. Mr. Skogen stated that his house is located 15 feet from the lot line. Mr. Skogen said he feels that the revised grading plan can save possibly 8-9 trees, which would allow better screening between their home and the ball field. Vice -chair Weir introduced Julie Skogen, 10 13 0 31st Avenue North. Mrs. Skogen stated the side of her house is 15 feet from the lot line and she is concerned that any additional flow of water to the east would greatly impact the small culvert and the drainage from her house to the culvert. Mrs. Skogen said the crest of the hill comes down a slope with beautiful trees. Mrs. Skogen suggested lowering the elevation of the ball field, so it would not be as visible from her site. Vice -chair Weir closed the public hearing. Mr. Strecker stated that the drainage from the ball field would be toward the west, away from the Skogen's property. Vice -chair Weir asked about the use of amplified speakers at the ball field. Mr. Borg responded that they would not object to a condition restricting the use of amplified speakers. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 5 Director Hurlburt asked what the distance would be between the edge of the field and the edge of the grading to the Skogen's home. Mr. Strecker responded that the grading would be occurring roughly 60 feet away from the lot line, and 75 feet from the Skogen's home. The distance between the edge of the field and the edge of the grading would be roughly 23 feet, so the ball field would be roughly 83 feet from the lot line and 98 feet from the home. The 23 -foot grading area would have a roughly 3:1 slope that would slope down toward the west, and would be appropriate for mowing and maintenance. Commissioner Griffith asked about the depth of the cut and filling on the east line of the ball field. Mr. Strecker estimated that there would be about 5 feet of cut in the northeast, and about five feet of fill in the southeast portion of the ball field. Senior Planner Drill stated that when the revised grading plan is reviewed, there may be an opportunity to save a few additional trees within the 23 foot grading area, but no guarantees. He also noted that there is an area along the north boundary of the site where the berm needs to be built higher. Mr. Strecker added that the berms immediately north and south of the ball field are completed but he is aware that there is an area near Union Terrace Lane that needs additional berming. Commissioner Musliner asked if the City already has an ordinance to address the noise concern. Planning Manager Senness responded that the City has a noise ordinance that regulates noise at specified levels during daytime and nighttime hours, which follows state standards. Mr. Borg said that the plan preserves a lot of trees, and added that they would plant 24 additional trees above and beyond the City's requirement. Director Hurlburt noted that lowering the elevation of the ball field would require more trees to be cut down. Mrs. Skogen said the elevation of her garage is 964 and the field would be about the same. By lowering the field, more trees would be destroyed but this would create a natural berming. Mr. Strecker stated that some of the 24 trees could be planted along the east side of the ball field to help address Mrs. Skogen's concern about screening. Senior Planner Drill stated that the planting plan would need to be approved by the City Forester, but that there is flexibility in where those 24 trees are planted. Commissioner Griffith said he feels the staff report outlines adequate controls for the proposal and he would support the project. Approved Planning Commission Minutes March 5, 2003 Page 6 MOTION by Commissioner Musliner, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, recommending approval to the Association Free Lutheran Bible College for a Planned Unit Development amendment to allow grading and site work for a ball field for the property located 3120 East Medicine Lake Boulevard. Roll Call Vote 5 Ayes. MOTION approved unanimously. 8. NEW BUSINESS A. CANCELLATION OF THE MARCH 19, 2003 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Director Hurlburt recommended canceling the March 19, 2003 Planning Commission meeting due to the lack of agenda items. MOTION by Commissioner Rohloff, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, to cancel the March 19,2003 Planning Commission meeting. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. 9. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Rohloff, seconded by Commissioner Griffith, to adjourn the meeting. Vote. 5 Ayes. The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.