HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 10-07-1970aaT ITITS tea A REGULAR MUMING CP
41 ME PLAV41NG COMISSION
PEYMOU1111, MINNESOTA
CCTOBF. 7, 1970
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order
by C1: °Jrman Egan at. 7:35 p.m. on October 7, 1970 in the PlyTwui
Public Works Building,
Present; Chairman: Egan, Planner Bergly, Engineer Hagen,
Commissioners Roth, Anne, Pollock, Prekker,
Neils,, Kroskin, and Hainer..
Absent: Commissioner Chapman
The first item of business was a request for a conditional use RE: NORTMSTERt
permit by Northwestern Fell Telephone Company to permit a BELL REQUESTS
s~vitching station in an R-0 District. CONT)ITIONAL USE
PERMIT
Planner Bergl y explained 'that the site they are requesting
to build a local telephone switching station is south of
County Road 9 ;end east of Xenium Lane., fie explained that the
parcel of land is 10 acres and it would have- frontage on
Xeni um Lane.
1t. Bob Dokken represent'inp Northwestern Bel exn wined the
proposal to the Commission, He told the Commission that the
area is now served by the two offices which are located in
the Medicine Lake area and in the Crystal, area, Iie said that
the reason they were asking for this location for their office
was because it was in the center of the area served and would
be the most economical site for the building, He said the
station Mould be built no later than 1976 and no earlier than
1974.,Ile said that they had looked at several pieces of land
but they felt this best suited their needs.
Planner ,Bergl.y .asked for some examples of other stations which
were located in and arotLid the area, Mr.. Dokken said that there
were such stations in Wayzata, Navarre and the office in Crystal,
Commissioner dune asked ,fr. Dokken how much of the land this
station would actually rise up. qtr, Dokken said 'Ghat, not all the
Land is necessary and they hav ; an option to buy either 5 acres
or 10 acres. Cozinnissioner June stated that his reason for
asking this was because the parcel under discussion was indicated
for median density on the guide plan and .cross from a residential
area and he felt that if the company had all this land that
they may want to expand, and he didn't feel that this was a good
idea for this type of area,
Engineer Hagen asked for the size of the proposed ouildr-ng; and
it was annvered thait would 1~e about I01' x 3P01 Mr, Dokken
said that they are asking only for the approval of a switching
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center, He said that the s e of building is rather smal l in
size,: has a small amount of maintenance and only, 8 to 12
emt la pees
Engineer Hagen stated that he felt one thank the Planning
Commission, should he aware of is that this is an area the
Qiide plan: recommends should be medium density residential
and if the momhers are going to grant this approval there ani
many conditions that should be set and also they should not
give permission to build this building until -they see theplansforit.
Mr. Dokken stated that novr the telephone company is using
arch i tactual work on tbeir buildbig r instead of just a box
type =.alding_
Commissioner Neils asked i rr i)okken how much c uipmont would
be outside and W. llokken ansaaerecl this as to only the .9 to
12 cars of the employees who work them,
Commissioner nor expressed an ideti of moving; this to the
west side of Interstate #494 and athcNn 'it would'he located in
the right type of district. Mr, Dokken stated that the owner
is all but sold out on a long term contract for apartments.
Ile then shoved the Commission some pictLares of the new buildings
which are tieing buil t. He stated that the buildings pictured
were going .on about a 3 -acre lot.
Cmnissioner June once again stated that he doesn't feel, any
objection, to the building but what he is worried about is the
development of the land. 'Mr. Dokken, stated that they are nowr
asking only to build a switching station and oily that and
that in the future if they wished to build something; else they
would expect to have to come hack to the Commission.
Commissioner Neils stated that after parkway dedication there
probably i raul,dnlf be much more than five acres of land loft,
qtr. Dokken said they could buy the front S acres of the entire
19 acres, but trv option provides that a 301 easement be pro-
vided along ether the north or south line of their property
to the ease 5 .acres and this will continue until another type
of access is built.
Engi
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the Commission if they agree or dis-agree what the proper con-
ditions would be to accept ti,is° type of building in the
location. Ile also started that they would have to work out the
details and arrangements so that they could feel, reasonably sure,
that they can build.
14r. Doo ken stateA that all he is asking; now is for assurance
that they will be able to put a building up on the site
which is acceptable to the Commiassion, Chairman Agan felt that
this was a risk aml he suggested that N3r,, Dokken go into the
industrial area,: iJr, Dokken said he has checked into the
industrial area and it would be much too costly to build a
building of this type in that area,
Engineer Hagen said -that they should consider the :Fact that
in a fear years there will be different members on the Commission
and they may not feel the same about this request, and it may
be hard for the company to place a building on this site,
Commissioner Pollock stated that he was of the opinion that
this is definitely not the proper place for the building and
that there are appropriate sites to the south, north, and hest.
Ile stated he would say definitely no to this building being
placed here:. Connmissioner Hafner also agreed with Ccmissioner
Pollock on this. Commissioner :Neils stated that they should
consider the Guide Plan very carefully Before thf y should permit
this use so as not to set a precedence for infringement on the
Chide Plan.
Planner Ferglyy stated that this is a public service use and that
the ordinance allows such use in any district by conditional use
permit. Commissioner Doth said that this is true only when found
to be necessary and he said that there is plenty of land which
this building could lie placed on as a Permitted use and that
he doesn't feel that this is necessary as a use. tiir. Do,ken
stated that in roving Farther west the land would cnst more
and it would also cast more for the continuing phone service to
the area.
Cha:4rman Egan stated that they should either defer, approve,
give tena.tive approval or deny the request for this building;,
Commi.sionei Pollock moved denial of the request on the basis
that he .feels that there are more appropriate locations on the
map for the building. lbe motion was seconded by Co missioner
Tune. Colvniss oner Pr4kker stated that lie would like to have
some more h1formation on'what sites would be available for them..
Cortimi.ssioner Kroskin stated that by moving the building to the
north that they could use the land to the south for a buffer.
The motion was voted upon and Commissioner Prekker and Yroskin
opposed the motion while the rest were in favor of -the motion.
The motion was carried.
PTIONI
Page 4
The next item of business was for the site plaza. approval of an RP` SITE PIAN,
apartment complex located near the southeast corner of County APkOViV FOR
Road, 6 and Highway 101, Bruce U board, representing 'Ail,l:er, MILLER) I T -J BY
Me:lby & Hanson Architects, Inc. presented a plan as to how RMSTN ARCH.
they wish to have the site and building designed. Ile stated
that it is a 60 unit apartmentI:roj ect . Isle said that there
are 60 outside parking spaces and 60 garage parking spaces,
so that each unit has 2 parking spaces. Ie said -that the
apartment would have a roaplete security system There as
an elevator in the building to serve the 3 floors of the
anartr ent. Ile also exnlained the drainage system to the
Commission
The question was Brought up about the neighborhood situation
in this area. He said that the children have created a Path
and that they would leave a S foot spare for the ch l.lren to
use and that they would place some type of hedge 5 fest from
the test property line to define the pathvray and serve as a
bu I"fer «
Commissioner Roth asked what the outside of the building would
be made of and Mr. Hubbard said that the first floor of the
building would be brick, fie said that it would be similar
to the Sagamorer Apartments, Co;m-aissioner flamer asked What the
renting price would be of a 1 bQdroom apartment and Mr, I-bbbard
said it would be between $185, and $1.95, a month, Commissioner
Pollock asked what 'type of lighting would be used. Mr. Hubbard,
said that there would be lights on the garages and in the front
of the building.. Some posts mi.eht be used to give the proper
amount of lighting. Commissioner Neils asked about where the
garbage area would be and Mr. Hubbard said that this would be
in the garage area. Ile said that they have several ideas in
mind about how to handle this situation but first they would
like to find out who will be collecting the garbage. Ile said
that there would be a seperate building attached to the garage
with its oam venting system.
Mr. If libard stated that they wishcd to begin excavating .so
that they, can get the building started in, the spring.
Cconissionertr 'veils 8sRed that Being this apartment is :so
close to a school wouldn't it be desirable to have a walk-
way placed in the right of -way. F rig i neer Dagen answered
Oat the right-of-way j:s a big ditch and the Village must
have a plan to get the children safely, gross the -road.
Commissioner .lune redorwen&d approvala -- ilae site plan with A)TIOIN
the land:scapinA plan to be developed at unproved, the walk-
uny be developed within a year from con ;legion of ane building
and also hoar the refuse storage area ura ll he handled that
vill be put; into the ,garages, The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Hafner. All were'in favor of the notion. The
motion vas carried.
Page 5
The next item of bu iness was a discussion with School District
8281 on a proposed ,7mior fligh Site, Pr Hood: appeared 7 first
b,fore the Comr ission to represent District #281 and he gave
a brief previeis of khat was to be presented tonight and also
the present situation of ;School DYStrict #281, He stated that
at the present time they are in need, of the Stf &aior Ftigh
School. lie said that they need this building ry September of
1971 but that they will not get it open until September of 1972,
Dr. .flood gave his apologies to the Co:md'ssion and he said that
in no way have they ever tried to bypass the Coanission or the
Council. lie said that they have tried to cooperate with the
Council and the Commission.
lie stated that they have spent many months looking for the
most desirable site and they thought that they had found one
but then they found out that this does not meet with what they
need for it had:
1. no thoroughfare
2. no utilities going to that -site for 5 orf years
lie said that they have again looked and th v think that they
have found a site which will well serve the purm-e of the
school. pr. flood introduced str, Boynton to explain the new
sate they have found to the c mtmi.ssxon. The new Junior Higlh
will accomodate from 1.,2011 to 1,700 students..
Mr. Boynton stated that a building of this size will: take about
30 acres of land, when you think that the building and parking
facilities alone will take up about 10 acres and the athletic
fields will need about 18 acres. The students that this school
will serve will live primarily in an area along 42nd avenue.
iliey felt the area in which to build a school should be north
of Rockford Read.
Mr. Gene Greed, the architect, next spoke to.the Commission and
told them of the proposed location for the; school. fie said
that the site is located on Zachary Ume north of the present
elementary school which was constructed more than a year agog
Ile. stated: that they have done two things basically:
I. To work out and discuss with Mr. Bergly to
see tris would fi't in the neighborhood
plan and have showed him the 'proposed p1mas
fo: him. to make suggestions on,
2. To look at a schematic use pattern for the
site.
Pe stated that there are two concerns which are: A concern
for the traffic in and around the area and the imlbNrays for
the students who walk to school,
Mr. Green stated that they have established areas for open
recreation spaces and green areas, Said that there are some
construction probleins related to the terrain which might
make it necessm to build on the east end of the property
which would need vehiculilar access. That there appears to
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be no great difficulty In developing a drainage pattern for the
site.
At the present time the Cup e Plan shows a, road to run diagonally
through which would, have to be xeroutid around the school site,
It was stated that there aro large hardwood trees an the south-
east portion of the site whish wbul.d: indicate that the street
should be moved a little further to the lgest which will reduce
the acres by a little less than three acres and leaving a 27
acre site,,
It was stated that the many beautiful trees in this area could
probably, be hest protected and ulitlzed by medium density re-
sidential development as proposed for this area, They could
develop their plan as so to work around these trees and save
them as much as possible.
Chairman Egan thanked :[fir. Hood for presenting the plans for
the school to the V"i:l.lage.
Coomissioner Prekker asked the architect if they would have
to do much earth, moving, It was answered that some earth mcving
would have to be done because there is about a 40 foot change
in elevation.
Mair nan Fgan asked about what amount of enrollment would be able
to walk to school and it was anmi Bred to he about I/3 of the
students, Conmm miss loner Kroskin asked what: the number of students
enrolled was In the elementary school. It, was answered to he about
850.
Mr. green said that there will be- street dedication on the north
and east boundaries. It was stated that there would be an overlap
of ballfields clue to seasonal use, fir. Green stated that it has
been proven that a one story, school building, is cheaper to build
than a ,multiple story building.
Chairman t an ; L..ed that they should. -now discuss the changes Rl sFCUON
necest ary in ction 12 to p i-Ae for the scho1, Planner 1,2 IMY AND
hergly explained the chanes that wc _-!d be necessary to APPROVAL OF
accomodate the school in this particular ste, FINAL PLAN
I mgineer fktgea felt that no connection enouuld be made from
County Road 9 through this neighborhood azo ti. Planner Bergly
said that collector streets are only to get the people out of
the neighborhood areas onto larger capacity roadways and not
tin provide through streets across the neighborhood:
Chairman lagan stated. -that as part of the public hearing we are
i,ntorducing a nein land use which is a Junior High Site and would
nomq lake to open it up to the, public with regard to the changes
we have indicated since our -Last meeting. Comissioner Heffner
asked hoer much totheconsiderationwasgiven commvm=it)r shopping;
center in that cowlex and if the center is really needed, Planner
BQ rgly answered that these centers serve an area of a radius of
miles. 1,16 explained that there are three types of sholsping`
ccnters which are- neighborhood, communi
Page, 8
and bran; any quost1 ons dealing with this to the, next meeting,
Next, the ininutes of Jtiae- :S -iexe aT-Vrovod Motion was made by R { APk'RMIA
Com ssioner Pollock and seconded by Commissioner Neils, ' The OF fir I S OP
motion was carried by an all vote in favor. The minutes Prom JCS 3 TO ISIRPT.
Jime 1.7 to September 16 were also approved by the Commission, , 16 1070
I''oti n was made Izy Com issioner Pollock and seconded by
Commissioner Roth. An all an favorvote, carried the motion,
A motion was mado to adjourn ire meeting by Commissioner ADJOTtRMINTTr
Rafher and was seconded 'by Cha. an Pgars. All were in favor
of the motion, The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 pwm=.
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