CCP 06-21-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PLANNING COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS Regular Meeting —May 18, 2010 7:00 p.m. Present: Commissioners Bruce Howard James Alvey, Verne McPherson, Steve Danger, Paul Zisla Norm Schiferl and Erin Nichols-Matkaiti Absent: None Also Present: David Phillips -Council Member, Janice Gundlach-City Planner, and Katie Bruno -Office Assistant. Agenda Review: The agenda was reviewed and approved. Minutes: Minutes from April 20, 2010 were presented and approved. Council Action: Council Member Phillips reported the council went on a tour of three local multi- family housing projects, looking for potential ideas for future development in the Northwest Quadrant. All three of the developers indicated the difficulty in financing is a large deterrent in development. Councilmember Phillips announced the town Hall meeting will take place Saturday May 22nd at the Family Service Center. Public Hearing: (A) Bethel University requests consideration of a Nonconforming Use Permit to permit demolition of the northerly detached garage structure, reducing the number of covered parking stalls, and allowing an additional 17 surface parking stalls on site at 799 1st AVE NW. City Planner Gundlach reported the applicant is requesting a Nonconforming Use Permit to permit demolition of a detached garage structure at 691-799 1s` AVE NW. A Nonconforming Use Permit is required as Chapter 1 I of the Zoning Code requires a minimum number of covered parking stalls per dwelling unit. With demolition of covered parking the site will not meet this standard. Additionally, areas of the existing parking lot maintain setbacks less than required by code. The purpose of the nonconforming use permit process is to determine if nonconformities on site can be practically reduced and/or eliminated. Bethel College has been interested in removing the detached garage structure at the north end of the site for several years. The concerns of the college are outlined in the applicant's narrative, but generally are related to reducing on -street parking and security/safety concerns. The college is also interested in pursuing other improvements on site relating to landscaping, sidewalks and drainage that would not typically require permits. Although these improvements wouldn't typically require permits, they do impact the parking lot nonconformities on site. As such, at staffs request the applicant has shared these conceptual plans (attached to this report) and staff has considered the impacts of those future improvements in making a recommendation on this request. Staff feels it is more advantageous to the neighborhood to provide adequate total on-site parking than to meet the covered parking requirement. While the overall net gain of surface parking is thought to be a good trade in exchange for covered parking, there are opportunities to further decrease nonconformities. Main concern is front yard parking lot setback of 0'. Staff has concluded a 15' front yard parking lot setback can be attained, while still providing 185 total parking stalls (minimum required). 35 notices went out, with one inquiry was received, no objections were made.