HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 12-01-1976PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF PLYMOUTH MINNESOTA
December 1 197
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Davenport
at 7:30 p.m. in the Council .Chambers of the Public Works Building, 14900 -23rd Avenue
North.
MEMBERS PRESENT:: Chairman Davenports Commissioners Erickson, Hagen, Schneider,
Stewart and Threinen
MEMB:'H,s ABSENT. None
STAFF P'ESENT Charles Dillerud and Kate Marx
OTHERS PRESENT, Jenny Berg and Kris Grangaard, YAAC Representatives
Communis Development Revenue Sharing Funds—Year III
Staff explained the past history and projects involved with Year I and Year II CDRS
Community Development Revenue Sharing) funding through Hennepin County and the
Federal Government. It was pointed out that Year III funding was expected to increase
from that of the previous years and that the purpose of this first public hearing at
this time was to obtain input from the Commission and the public as to projects for
Year III funding:. A second public hearing would be held at the December 15, 1976 _Planning
Commission meeting at which time the Commission would formulate a recommendation to the
Council as to the expenditure of the monies.
Chairman Davenport opened the public hearing to comments fromthe audience.
Mr. Tom Berg, 3820 Trenton Latae, President of the Middle East Homeowners' Association,
stated that he felt the monies should be directed toward Dutch Elm Disease problems.
eriaps replanting would be a possibility with other types of trees.
Staff explained that the present plan of the City included disposition of elm wood from
private property and removal of elm trees from City owned property. However, no ,plans
existed for replanting at this -time,
Mrs. Ruth Ault, 18805 County Road 6, a member of the former Plymouth Housing Committee,
asked if the Monies would be eligible for aide in housing for the low and moderate income
programs. Staff responded that it would be possible to have the City purchase depressed,
vacant land, which would be buildable, for sale to builders who would in turn build a
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes December 1, 1976
home under contract with the City at a lower resale price than the current market
all ows r
Chairman. Davenport closed the public hearing at 7:55 p.m,
The Commission discussed various projects which would be eligible for the CORS funding.
It was general consensus that the foll,owir¢g be considered.
a) Acquisition of all future sites for water towers, pumping stations, etc.
b) Access for public boat launching to Medicine Lake,
c) Purchase and preservation of historic sites, specifically old City Hall.
d) Dutch Elm Disease solutions—i.e. planning of and refs-estation for the areas
of the City suffering from the, disease.
It was suggested that at the second public hearing for the CDRS Year III projects,
members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission and Human Rights Commission be
present to give their views with respect to the expenditure of the funds.
A
Chairman Davenport stated that discussion of the item would be continued at the meeting
of December 15, 1976, the date of the second public hearing,
A-59.6 Robert Ostman A-546 Conditional Use Permit Renewal
Staff presented petitioner's request for a conditional use permit renewal for the
continued operation of a, small toolmaking shop in a garage at a private residence.
A recommendation for approval was proposed subject to the conditions as listed in the
Staff report of November 24 1976.
MOTION was made by Commissioner Erickson supported by Commissioner Hagen that the
PlanningCommission make the following recommendation to the City Council=
That the request of Robert Ostman for a conditional use permit renewal for
a home occupation to operate a small toolmaking shop in a garage at his
private residence, 4825 Vicksburg Lane, be approved subject to the following
conditions:
1) No outside storage of waste and/or materials.
2) The operation of the toolmaking shop be Limited to the petitioner with
no additional employees permitted
3) No signs be permitted.
4) Permit be for one year beginning January 19, 1977.
MOTION CARRIED (3-2-1) (Commissioner Stewart and Threinen against,
Chairman, Davenport abstained) MOTION CARRIED
Commissioners Stewart and Threinen stated that they did not feel that the use fit
tithin the Zoning Ordinance definition of "home occupation" as it was not service
oriented'.,
Planning Commission Plieeting Minutes -3- December 1, 1976
A-669 City of Plymouth A-669 Site Plan
Staff presented the City's request for site plan and landscape plan approval of the
watertower to be located at the northwest corner of Xanthus Lane and County Road V46,
The Commission discussed the various plans presented for landscaping of the land and
the tower,
Mr.. William Driscoll, 1430 Alvarado Lane, stated that he had not seen the plans prior
to this meeting. He added that he preferred the parking to be located up next to the
tower, however, rather than as proposed on County Road #6.
5herm Goldberg, City Engineer, stated that the narking was located near County Road A
to help ward off vandalism of the tower by not allowing such easy access to it.
The Commission asked Mrs. Ruth Ault and Mr. Mahowald:, residents of the area, what their
opinion was of the proposed landscaping plan and the tower treatment. Both responded
that they had not seen the plans before the meeting and did not feel they could formu-
late an opinion at this time;
Commissioner Threi7en stated that he did not feel that the Staff actions had been in
keeping with Council Resolution fl76-292 approving the conditional use permit for the
watertower which stated;
That the landscape plan for the standpipe water reservoir be submitted to the
Planning Commission for their review prior to construction and after a reasonable
time period an effort on behalf of the City would be made to discuss the
landscaping for the site with the surrounding property owners.
MOTION TO DEFER was made by Commissioner Threinen supported by Commissioner Stewart
until the City had carried out the Council directive as per Resolution ##76-292.
MOTION CARRIED (6-0-0) (Allin favor) MOTION CARRIED
Commissioner Hagen left the meeting,
A-701 Rolf Erickson A-701 Conditional Use Permit
Staff presented petitioner's request for a conditional use permit for a height variance
to erect a 60 ft wind generator as reviewed at the Planning Commission Meeting of
November 19, 197t5. Mr. Ericksnn had returned with the additional information as
requested by the Planning Commission at that time. Also, at the request of the Planning
Commission, Staff had contacted tht: surrounding neighbors within 300 ft. of the proposal.
The Commission discussed the safety considerations involved with the location of the
tower as related to its size.
MOT1014 was made by Commissioner Threinen supported by Commissioner Stewart that the
Planning Commission make the following recommendation to the City Council
That the request of Rolf Erickson for a conditional use permit for a height
variance to construct a 60 ft. wind generator tower at his residence, 14520
12ti1 Avenue North be approved.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes -4= December I, 1976
MOTION TO AMEND was made by 'Commissioner Stewart supported by Commissioner Threinen
that the following be added as a condition to the conditional use parmit approval.
Permit be for a periodof three years for purposes of review and control
should the tower cease to be operative, become unsafe, 'etc. When and if the
tower is required to be removed, it shall be at the owner's expense,'
MOTION TO AMEND CARRIED (5-0-0) (All in favor) MOTIONTOAMEND CARRIED
Commissioner Erickson stated that he did not feel the -site was an adequate size fortheproposedtower.. Further, he stated' that he felt the placement of the tower on
the lot as proposed would introduce a constraint on the property to the west.
Commissioner Schneider concurred and added that he felt the constraint on the propertytothewestwouldbetoogreatandunreasonable. He stated that there was other land
in the City that would accommodate the proposal much more easily:
The Commission then voted on the main motion as amended
MOTION CARRIED (3-2-0) (Commissioners Erickson and Schneider
against) MOTION CARRIED
Commissioners Erickson and Schneider stated they were against the motion based on the
variance required for a front yard setback for location of the tower, safety andaesthetics.
MOTION was made by Commissioner Th.reinen supported by Commissioner Stewart that the
Planning Commission make the following recommendation to the City Council
That Rolf Erickson be granted' a variance from Section 17, Subdivision 4,
paragraph c, referring to height variances allowed by conditional use permit.
MOTION CARRIED (3 -?-.0) (Commissioners Erickson and Schneider
against) MOTION CARRIED
DOWNTOWN PLYMOUTH PLANNING'
Alternative Concept Plans
The architects for Downtown Plymouth, Thorsen-Thorshov Associates, Inc., presented
alternative site layouts and schematic building designs, based on the site layouts, to the Planning Commission for review and comment.
After review of the architects' materials and presentations, the "°,Mmissioners made
the following observations;
a) It was the consensus of the Commission that parking for the City Hall—
Civic Center site be to the north and east of the structures, rather than
to the south and west of the structures to avoid the "sea of asphalt"'
affect whic1h may be created having the parking lot so close to Niagara
Lane.
b) It was the consensus of the Commission that the Council Chambers beavailableforusetotheCommunityattimeswhentheCouncilorCommissions
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes -5- December 1, 1976
would not be utilizing the Chambers, Also; if the Council Chambers
could be utilized for other Staff needs, such as Police training
sessions, the room should be so designed for the double function
c) Solar energy should be planned for at the initial building stege. If
feasible, it should be used as the source of energy for the building at
the start, As a minimum requirement, the Commission consensus was that
the building be planned for what the architects referred to as. "retro -fit,"
i.e, built in features at the present that would allow conversion to a
solar energy system at such time as it would;be feasible.
d) The Commission expressed a preference for an "in --structure" rather than
rooftop location for mechanical equipment with the understanding that
this locational choice would involve a cost of about $2.00 per building
square foot.
It was noted that, with respect to structure size, and based upon the research of the
architects, the square footage proposedwas perhaps ccnservative.
MOTION was made by Commissioner Schneider, supported by Oommissioner Threinen that the
Planning Commission make the following recommendation to the City Council:
That Site Plein A, as proposed for .site layout for the downtown Plymouth Civic
Center/City Hall area, be approved.
MOTION CARRIED (4-1--0) (Commissioner Erickson against) MOTION CARRIED
Commis Toner Erickson stated that he felt Site Plan 0 was more appropriate as to function
when considered with respect to the adjoining park site. It allowed greater ease of
circulation between the Civic Center and Park in his opinion.
MOTION was made by Commissioner Threinen supported by Commissioner Schneider that the
Planning Commission make the following recommendation to the City Council:
That Scheme C, as proposed for building/structure layout for the Downtown
Plymouth City Hall, be approved.
MOTION CARRIED (5-0-0) (All in favor) MOTION CARRIED
The Commissioners concurred that flexibility of the administrative. office area, ease
of public access to the Council Chambers and general structural efficiency of the
concept were all 1,..4y factors in their decision. Chairman Davenport stated that he felt
Cl was perhaps a more efficient plan that C, although the two were basically the same
A-94 U.S, Postal Service A-94 Site Plan
Staff presented the revised site plan for the U.S. Postal Service site to be located
within Downtown Plymouth, which resulted from the traffic analysis completed for the
site by Bather, Ringrose, 4lolsfelt, Traffic Consultants. The Commission discussed the
changes made as a result of the study in detail.
MOTION was made by Commissioner Threinen supported by Cor,;mi 3sioner Schneider that the
Planning Commission make the following recommendation to the City Council:
That the request of the U.S.. Postal Service for site plan approval for a
post office to be located at the northeast corner of Niagara Lane and 34th
Avenue North be rdraited.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 6- December 1, 1976
MOTION TO AMEND was made by Commissioner Schneider supported by Commissioner Threinen
that the following be added as a condition to the previous recommendation:
Prior to buildingpermit issuance, the landscape plan for the site be
presented to the Planning Commission for recommendation and the City Council
for approval.."
MOTION TO !MEND CARRIED (5-0-0) (All in favor) MOTION TO AMEND CARRIED
The Commission then voted on the main motion as amended.
MOTION CARRIED' (5-0-0) (Ail in favor) MOTION CARRIED
MINUTES OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 17, 1976
MOTION was made by Commissioner Threinen supported by Commissioner Erickson that the
minutes of the November 17, 1976 Planning Commission meeting be ' pproved as written.
MOTION CARRIED (5_0-0) (All in favor) MOTION` CARRIED
MOTION TO ADJOURN was made by Commissioner Erickson supported by Commissioner Stewart.
Chairman Davenport adjourned the meeting at 1.15 p.m
APPROVED BY PLANNING COMMISSION December 15, 1976:
David J. Davenport, Chairman
Plymouth Plarning Commission
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