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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 05-13-1970PUNNING COM ISSION rRUTES SPECS MEETING PLYMOUTH, MINNESOTA MAY 13, 11970 special, meeting of the planning Commission was called, to order by Chairman Ed Egan on May 13 1971 at 7'130 p.m. PRESHNTt Commissioners Prekker, 1icfner, Pollock, Chapman, Kroskin Neils, June, Chairman .Egan, Engineer Dagen, Planner Bergly ABSENT= Commissioner Roth Chairman Egan opened the public Hearing on the petition of RE: Northwestern College to rezone property located near the: Northwestern intersection of County Road 9 and Eernbrook Lane from lc -,0 College to E.w4 for the purpose of construction of Northwestern College. The petitioner also requested that a special use permit be granted for the location of a radio tower on the site, Chairman Egan asked the proponents to explain their request. Mr. Dahlgren of Midwest Planning & Research, who was retained by Northwestern College as a consultant can the matter, pre- sented the plans of Northwestern College for consideration,, Mir. Dahlgren. explained the history connected with the develop- meat of the Central Guide Plan and the college proposal. He introduced the officers of Northwestern College who were prese i.t at the hearing, and he then proceeded with his pre- sentation by describing the location of the site and explain- ing the v ri.ous features involved in the site development. lie stated that there were approximately 117 acres involved in the total site. Of this area it was proposed that 26 acres be reserved as public open space easement. He indicated that it was proposed to locate. the 500` tall radio tower at the southeasterly corder of the 11.7 acres. This proposed tower would be in the, area proposed to be set aside for pub- lic open space easement. Mr. Dahlgren explained the intended use of .the college site stating that it was proposed to have a three year liberal arts curriculum with a maximum enrollment of 1„500 students. He stated that projected enroll- ment nrollmenswouldreach900studentsinthethirdyearofoperation with an anticipated 30% of the students being commuters and the balance being resident students Kr. Dahlgren indicated that it was planned to construct the radio transmitter, tower, and temporary studio immediately s FOC licensing has been obtained:.He indicated that the Planning Com6is s ioa Minutes, - May 13, t5 7 0 Pg 2 i. administration building, of on approximate 12,800 square I foot size, would be started taider construction in 1971. He stated that the balance of the buildings in the complex would be constructed as funds became available from friends and constituency of the. college. Mr. Daalgren indicated that the. 5OO' tall radio tower would serve the 100, 000 watt KTlS-FM Stereo station of the school. He pointed, out that it would be stabilized by 21 cables attached to the tower and tied to 6 ground anchors which are located in a radius up to 3351 from the base of the tower. Mr. Dahlgren: indicated that the quality of the archite: tare involved in :the development of the college complex will be unified as a 4ingle entity with basic exterior materials of brick and epoxy bonded aggregate,, lie indicated that the proposed easement for public open space of approxim telt' 26.8 acres would be for the use of the general public as long as the Village would continue to designate it as open space and for parking purposes He pointed out that this open spate easement would be cca- tiguous with the proposed large central park plazanpd fer this general area of the Village Mr. Dahlgren :showed slides: of typical college campuses in tae Metropolitan: area and also showed various. views of radio towers that have been constructed;' in the Twin City area. Mr. Dahlgren sated that the entire plan for the Northwestern College ;could fit in with the Central Area UI de Plan. Mr. Dahlgren was questioned about the proposed location of a parking lot near Fernbrook Lane. Re indicated with the assistance of .an architect from Hirsch, ' Stevens & Samuelson, Inc. that the parking lot would be located approximately 40' from the l=ernbrook Lane property line. Mr. Dahlgren completed his presentation by requesting that the Plannifig 'Commission favorably consider the application. of Northwestern College to have the property in question rezoned from RSO to Rµ4 for the development of the college and that they approve the development of the radio tower facility as pr. posed conditioned upon Northwestern College granting a permaoent easement for public open space of 26. 3 acres sof land lying ;n the southerly portion of the site; Mr. Dahlgren presented 'members of the Platinlng Planning Commission Minutes May 131 1970 - Pg. 3 Commission with bound reports giving pertinent infor- mation concerning the proposal, The report is entitled Worthwestern College, Campus Development Information, June, 1968 - May, 1970. Chairman Egan then asked if any of the Commission members had questions to ask of Mr. Dahlgren or of the proponents.. Comm.ss$.over Kroskin asked where expansier «ould take place on the proposed layout.. Mr. Dahlgren ansT,sred by stating. that with the planned layout of the college expansion could take i,lace in any of a number of directions as felt most desirable at the time the need arises. Commissioner Neils asked 'the petitioners what requirements the FAQ. had established as far as obstruction lighting on the tower. Mr. (orneli.us from KTIS explained what tete requirements were on the spacing of lighting and the type of lighting which would be necessary. there being no further questions from the Planning Commission members, Chairman Egan asked for any comments from the floor in favor of the proposal.. He requested that comments be limited to ports in favor of the proposal which had not been previously covered in the presentation. i Members of the audience who spoke in favor of the proposal included :Sam Marfield of Bel.garde :enterprises and Mrs. Haldorson; a resident of Plymouth on Dunkirk Lane,, and several others. Chairman Egan thereupon asked if there were any people present who wished to speak against the proposed rezoning. Mr. Ted 2ubekowski., 3816 Fernb;rook Lane, asked about potential interference with TV and radio reception which -ai.ght be experienced because of the pro- posed tower. Mr.; Don Malley, engineer from KTIS, indicated` that there should be very little difficulty experienced from the proposed transmission' of radio signal from the tower, since this transmission would be FU only. He said that they would be willing' to attempt to help solve any interference problems that they caused He indicated' that the area of possible interference could extend as much as 400-500 yards from the tower. He also indicated that it was his feeling that it way approximately 2200 feet from the center of the tower to the nearest existing building in the. area, Mr., James Olson, Fernbrook Lane resident, asked what effect the development of the college in the area would have on the passible upgrading of Fernbrook Lane from its present gravel road status. Mr. Dahlgren indicated that the college took. the position that it was most willing to cooperate and pay their share of the cost of the extension of utilities and roads in the area.. Planning Commission .Minutes - May : 3, 1970 - Pg. 4 Mr. ,Dahlgren reiterated the request that the college, was, asking for a proposed rezoning of the land in question from R-Cto R-4 and that they were asking. that tha zoning: ordinance be amended to allow for the con- struction of a radio tower such as the one requester in an R-4 zone, and that the proposed construction of a radio tower be approved Chairman, Egan thereupon asked for a show of hands of residents of the Village ,in favor of the proposed rezoning whereupon the majority of people in attendance raised their 'hands. ;Chairman Egan than i asked if there Caere any other comments or questions from members of the Planning Commission. There being none, he directed the public hearing closed on the matter. Chairman Egan opened the discussion on the petstion, of RE. DeVao, Inc. to obtain a conditional use permit for the DeVaci, Inc. installation of as temporary storage building between Storage their present plant facility and the proposed new building Building which was approved by the Planning Commission in March of 1970. Mike Monteon and Mike Sell. of DeV'ac: were present to explain the proposal. They indicated that the request would be for the use of this temporary all -metal clad building for a period of five years as a temporary shelter for products constructed at the plant. Several of the Planning Commission members questioned the reasons for the application since at a hearing on the conditional use permit for the building proposed in March of 1976 there -was an expressed, desire oil the; part of DeVac to be able to. cons tru6t addi tl ona.l, building facilities on the same lot as the ,or-Lginal plant. The petitioner stated that this desire would not be thwarted since this was to be a temporary building. They expressed the need for :the building to protect against vandalism which could occur to their product stored outside. The Planning Commission questioned the applicant about what would happen at the end of five years --wondering if the building would be removed at that time or if an extension of the conditional use permit would be required. No resolution was made of this question. Several of the Planning Commission members also expressed cor,zern over a precedent being set in the Village by allowing metal buildings of this type to be constructed stating that they would imagine that several buildings of this same type would be requested to be allowed in the Minneapolis Industrial Park and other areas of the Village. Plauning Comtuissiou Minutes w May 13, 1970 - Pg - 5 This was felt by some to be contrary to the intent of the Village ordinances which tend to try to upgrade the, duality of construction in the 'Village After considerable discussion, the motion was made by MOTION Commissioner Chapman, seconded by Commissioner prekker, recommending denial of the request. All members present voted in favor of the motion. Chairman E8an opened discussion on the requested site RE; play: approval for Belgarde' s Flax Meadows Apartment Belgarde Complex, mr,. Karring.tron and 1Nh% Marfield were present Pox Meadows representing the petitioner. They presented their pre- Apartments pared drawings which showed the detailed site plan and buil ii1g elevations for the apartment complex. The Planning. Commission recommended that action be deferred on the matter until May 27 1970 so that they would have time to review the. proposal. The drawings which were delivered to the Village office on May 11th for reviewal did not reach the Engineering Department or the Planner. Inadvertently, these drawings had been supplied to the Building Department. Motion was made by Commissioner Pollock, seconded by Commissioner Krosl-, n., to refer the plans to Planner Bergly for a reports ar- t, n May 27th Planning Commission meeting, The next matter discussed at the Planning Commission RE: meeting was the feasibility, or the desirability, of Central chan.gin? the Central Guide Plan in the area of the Guide Plan Cavax a—vgh ,Addition. At the direction of the Village in regard Council, this matter was brought to the Planning to the Commission's attention for reconsideration. The question Cavanaugh to be resolved was the status of the size of the. dedication Addition which should be required ,from Belgarde Enterprises for park purposes in the central area. This question has implications regarding the possibility of the expansion of the l,avanau h Addit . g an in the neighborhood. It Was. stated that this entrapped area of single family homes in the Cental Arca would not be able to grow larger if the guide plan as accepted by the Planning Commission for the Centra: Area were to be followed completely. One of the Planning Commission members indicated that he felt that any small enlargement of the area would not be of great advantage to the residents since a total connection with other,- residential areas -would appear :to be almost impossi,';". Planning Commission members indi- cated that they felt a great deal of discussion had Planning Comission Mkalates - May 13, 1970 - Pg b already taken place on what to ` do with the Cavanaugh Addition and the central park area and how it should be proteeted .from excessive traffic into the park when it will be developed; henee, they felt no change should be recommended One of the residents in the audience asked if cash could, be required in lieu of part of the proposed 40 acre dedication by Belgarde and if the cash rece ved in this manner could be used for the development of the central, park area. Representatives, of the Belgarde firm indicated that they were not in favor of such a change and that they preferred to see the large park area whJ..ch would also benefit their development, Motion was made by Commissioner Kroskin, seconded by MOTION d Commissioner dune, recommending that; th.e Plymouth Council should require, the dedicatior.of the full 40 acres- of land by Belgarde D-"terpiFises in the central area. Comissioner Chapman reported on zoning committee actiota RE: regarding Minneapolis Irxdustrial Park`s proposed mini-park MIP MR41- for warehouses, This was with, regard to their_ request for a conditional PARK for use permit heard at the April 29t:h, meeting Warehouses of the Planning Commission. He reported that the committee recommended denial of the conditional use permit for the following reasons: 1) Too many buildings were proposed on the lot:, which i tended to make the area look. overcrowded 2) The d'ir'e Chief recommended the need for the estab- lishment of fi7,.e lanes through the complex, Ther: are not enough parking stalls shown on the plan if the proposed buildings are used for light manufacturing rather than v.sreho Bing4) No staging area, or truck parking area, has :been provided on the planar They further stated that any modular system such; as the one.. proposed would require a modification of the Plymouth zoning ordinance in that the arrangement would have 'co be much less dense than the one proposed. QuesdWns arose as to the control of parking and traffic if a misted use were to evolve in the area. Commissioner Pollock suggested that the staff should: study the proposed use concept.. Ile :Wade a motion that the matter be referred MOTION Tanning Commission inu.tes May 13, 1970.Pg. 7 to the Planner for study and possible ordinance change, suggesting that the matter be discvssed with `,Unneapolis: Industrial .dark officials. Motion was seconded by Commissioner June. All members present voted in favor of tk-xe motion. Chairman Egan explained to the Commission that he and RE". Commissioner Pollock, along with Planner Bergly and Iatersection Engineer Hagen, had visited the site of the proposed: of Co. Rias, intersection of County Roads 15 and 61 and that they had 15 & 61 tentatively agreed on a .suggested relocation of this intersection. This suggestion will. be brot ght to the attention of the Planning Commission at their meeting on May 27, 1970, Upon inquiry of the P1• ntNing Commission members ` if RE there were any other steins to be brought up for dis Northwes tern cussion, Commissioner Neils suggested that the North- College western College issue be discussed for possible action; at this time. Some amount of discussion ensued concerning the proposed rezoning of the lana in question. It was pointed out that under the uses: by conditional use permit section of the Plymouth zoning; ordinance in aa R--1 area there is a statement which is similar to the one in the R-4 section under which the college application is being considered. Discussion centered around the possibi4t:y that if the college was not: const octet' after the land had bee;a rezoned R-4 that. ;apartments mi,gtat be constructed oz, the site. Because of this it: was determined that it would probably be better to rezone the land to R-1 and allow the college use by conditional use: permit. Motion was made by Commissioner Pollock, seconded by MOTION Commissioner Hafner to recoTcrriLend the rezoning of the site of Northwestern College from R- to R-1. Upon calling for a vote on the matter, .seven commissliloners voted aye. Commi.ss vn=er RrosM.n -,oted, against. The meeting Baas adjourned at approximately 10-.30 p.m.