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Approved <br />PLANNING COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS <br />Regular Meeting - March 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. <br />Present: Commissioners Larry Baker, Steve Danger, Tom O'Keefe, Norm Schiferl, and Paul Zisla <br />Absent: Bruce Howard, Jim O'Brien, and Council Member David Phillips. <br />Also Present: Sharon Doffing, Council Member, and Janice Gundlach, City Planner. <br />Agenda Review: Agenda was approved. <br />Minutes: Minutes for February 17, 2009 were presented and approved. <br />Council Action: Council Member Doffing reported Council has approved a change to the ordinance <br />regarding firewood storage and weeds. An ordinance regarding municipal development financial <br />assistance was also passed at the last Council meeting. The Council approved the Colliers market study <br />for the Northwest Quadrant and she noted several positive highlights from businesses within the City. <br />Public Hearing: LP2009-001 Site Plan Approval for 45,000 SF Warehouse Addition to 1565 1St AVE <br />NW, known as the Mission Foods Plant <br />The applicant is requesting Site Plan approval to allow construction of a 45,000 SF storage/warehouse <br />addition to the existing manufacturing and warehouse facility at 1565 0 Avenue NW, known as the <br />Mission Foods plant. The proposal includes curbing and paving improvements to the existing surface <br />parking lot, proof-of-parking stalls, pond construction, re-orientation of loading dock facilities, <br />construction of a guard house, and interior remodeling. <br />Over the last year and a half staff has been made aware of expansion needs at this facility. In 2007 the <br />occupant of the building, Mission Foods, requested and received approval to construct a second silo on <br />the east end of the site. Staff was advised in late February of the building owner's intention to pursue the <br />expansion and has been working with the applicant's architect in refining the Site Plan to ensure all <br />Industrial District standards have been met. <br />O'Keefe asked staff if they knew of the purpose behind the ordinance that allows only a single dock door. <br />Gundlach replied that she suspects it was to limit the view of that type of activity from the street. She <br />added that this site is unique since the dock area is lower than the street level and believes the view could <br />be screened. However, the existing ordinance must first be addressed; either by changing the ordinance or <br />advising the applicant to remove two of the loading docks. <br />Zisla inquired what is required prior to a planning commission review of the site plan review for <br />landscaping. He added that the applicant should not be held responsible for changes if the City Forester <br />was not in the office. Gundlach replied that there are several issues regarding this application: landscape <br />plan is required at the time of submittal and while a plan was provided no new landscaping was proposed; <br />the applicant was highly encouraged to meet with staff before submitting their application to avoid any <br />delays, the applicant chose not to meet with staff and submitted the application on the last day of the <br />deadline; the issues were immediately recognized and the applicant was notified, however the City <br />Forester was on vacation.