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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 10-02-2013Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting October 2, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman James Davis, Commissioners Marc Anderson, Dick Kobussen, Gordon Petrash, Scott Nelson and Bryan Oakley MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Nathan Robinson STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Barbara Thomson, Senior Planner Shawn Drill, Public Works Director Doran Cote 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 Chairman Davis said the public hearing for Rachel Contracting (2013074) will be opened and continued to the October 16, 2013 meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Kobussen, to approve the October 2, 2013 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 18, 2013 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the September 18, 2013 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. B. GREG AND LAUREL NEWTSON (2013076) MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to approve the request by Greg and Laurel Newtson for a variance to allow a detached garage in a front yard at 2325 West Medicine Lake Drive. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. RACHEL CONTRACTING (2013074) Approved Planning Commission Minutes October 2, 2013 Page 2 Chair Davis introduced the request by Rachel Contracting for a preliminary plat for "Ferndale Terrace" for six lots for three two-family homes for property located at the southeast corner of County Road 6 and Ferndale Road. Planning Manager Thomson stated the applicant has requested additional time to review the wetlands on the site and complete additional work on the tree inventory. Planning Manager Thomason asked that the item be considered at the net planning commission meeting. Chair Davis opened and continued the public hearing to the October 16, 2013 meeting. B. STEWART CAPITAL PARTNERS (2013077) Chair Davis introduced the request by Stewart Capital Partners for a preliminary plat and variance for "Stewart Capital Addition" to establish a buildable single-family lot at 17825 24th Avenue N. Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the staff report. Commissioner Nelson asked if neighboring lots conform to the RSF-1 zoning o are some smaller than 18,500 square feet. Senior Planner Drill stated that the neighboring lots conform to the RSF-1 standards. Commissioner Oakley asked if the service road is public or private. Senior Planner Drill said he believes it is private. Chair Davis introduced the applicant, Terry Schneider. Mr. Schneider said one reason this lot was considered for a new home, even though lots to the south do meet minimum standards, is because the private service road looks like a part of the lot. He said the proposed home would be the same size and footprint as homes to the south, just rotated with the driveway off 24th Avenue. Mr. Schneider said establishing the site as a buildable lot would allow a family to live there and maintain it. Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. Chair Davis said he drives the County Road 101 often and sees this vacant parcel just sitting there. He stated this seems like a good use for the land, and a good plan to put some land to use and improve the view on County Road 101. Chair Davis said he will vote in favor of this. Commissioner Oakley said he will vote in favor, but reluctantly. Commissioner Oakley stated he does not see that the variance request clearly meets all 6 standards. Commissioner Oakley said if any neighbor had spoken against this proposed development, he would vote against it. Approved Planning Commission Minutes October 2, 2013 Page 3 Chair Davis asked Commissioner Oakley which requirements he considers not being met. Commissioner Oakley said the variance request does not meet Standard #5, but the others are questionable. Commissioner Oakley referenced Standard #3 and said he believes the request is based solely on economic considerations. Commissioner Oakley also referenced Standard #6, that developing the lot is not the minimum action required to address practical difficulty. He said others are questionable and said you can make argument it meets some of them, but in his opinion it does not meet those two. Commissioner Oakley stated if people to the south who are most affected did not feel it was necessary to speak against it, he would not raise that. Commissioner Anderson said he will speak in favor and said this property ws impacted by the reconstruction project of County Road 101. He said 24th Avenue ended u being turned into a cul- de-sac, and this is a good solution for this piece of property. Commissioner Anderson said he will support the proposal. Gerald Peterson, 17815 24th Ave. N, asked if this is going to be a rental property. Planning Manager Thomson stated that is not something that is addressed in the zoning ordinance. MOTION by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Anderson to approve the request by request by Stewart Capital Partners for a preliminary plat and variance for "Stewart Capital Addition" to establish a buildable single-family lost at 17825 24th Avenue N. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved. Commissioner Kobussen voting nay. C. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2013086) Chair Davis INTRUDUCED THE City of Plymouth Capital Improvement Program for 2014- 2018. Public Works Director Cote gave an overview of the staff report Chair Davis said there have been recent articles about an armored vehicle and asked if that is Item 14CD-NEW4. Public Works Director Cote answered affirmatively. Commissioner Petrash questioned why priority is indicated as "n/a" on all. Public Works Director Cote explained that the software program used for preparation of the CIP program is a canned package and that is a piece of the report that can't be turned off. The City Council shoe not to use "priority" as a determining criteria. Commissioner Petrash asked where earnings from the sale of equipment is reported. Approved Planning Commission Minutes October 2, 2013 Page 4 Public Works Director Cote said the central equipment fund does not show up in this report. He said departments are charged an annual allocation and when a piece of equipment is sold, any earnings go into the central equipment fund to build the fund for future replacements. Public Works Director Cote said this keeps the allocation fairly level. Public Works Director Cote added this report shows only gross value, not net value. Public Works Director Cote reviewed the sanitary sewer projects. Chair Davis asked why it is so expensive to abandon the Autumn Hills sanitary lift stations. Public Works Director Cote explained that the gravity sewer would have to be extended from the south side of Hollydale to the lift station which is a distance of one-fourth to one-half mile. He said because there is no development and it is an active golf course with wetlands in that area, they will do directional drilling for a subterranean connection. Commissioner Anderson said he did not see replacement or refurbishing for the generators at the lift stations. Public Works Director Cote said the generators are routinely replaced and this is rhtough the central equipment fund. Public Works Director Cote added the generators are on a preventive maintenance schedule as they do not get a lot of use, but are wll amintaned for emergency. V said when lift stations are refurbished, the look fo r opportunities to site an onsite generator. Public Works Director Cote reviewed street projects. Commissioner Petrash asked about a solution to negotiating the railroad tracks on Vicksburg Lane. Public Works Director Cote stated a bridge over the railroad tracks in being proposed. Public Works Director Cote reviewed water projects. Chair Davis said he is surprised that the third water treatment plant won't be needed with all the new development in northwest Plymouth. Public Works Director Cote said the per capita demand is going down even as population increases. He said showers, water heaters, toilets, etc. are more efficient than they were 20 years ago and people are more diligent about sprinkling with more sophisticated irrigation systems. Commissioner Petrash asked if it is projected the City of Plymouth would buy water from Maple Grove. Public Works Director Cote said that is one option in lieu of a new water treatment plant if the demand would be there. He stated right now we can maintain, and based on projection in the Approved Planning Commission Minutes October 2, 2013 Page 5 Comprehensive plan, this new water treatment plan is shown as a "maybe", now that we are using less water per capita. Public Works Director Cote reviewed the water resources projects. Commissioner Anderson commented there have been recent articles about the controversial tree removal to put a pond in for water quality. He said that project has been postponed and other alternatives are being looked at. Commissioner Anderson asked where that project is. Public Works Director Cote said that was a 2013 project but because of the delay, it will be placed on the 2014 list. He said this project is part of a wetlands restoration project near the Four Seasons Mall. Commissioner Anderson asked about the Xanthus Lane storm sewer replacement project. Public Works Director Cote said the storm sewer between two properties is collapsed and starting to damage the property next door. Public Works Director Cote said they will drill directionally to place a pipe to the existing piping to Mooney Lake. Chair Davis asked about the street lighting project on Peony Lane and Schmidt Lake Road. Public Works Director Cote said the Plymouth Community Foundation is looking for a project to partner with the City of Plymouth and proposed to install overhead street lights to improve pedestrian safety for the high school walkers. Public Works Director Cote said the City Council appreciated the offer but chose not to add this project to the CEP. Chair Davis opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak on the item. MOTION by Commissioner Petrash, seconded by Commissioner Oakley, recommending the City Council approve the Capital Improvement Program for 2014-2018. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Chair Davis, with no objection, to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 p.m.