Minutes

New Brighton Planning Commission

Regular Meeting - July 18, 1995

7:30 p.m.

Call to Order

Larry Baker, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

Roll Call

Present:	Larry Baker, Mike Livingston, Paul Zisla

Absent:	Roger Blomquist, Steve Jensen, Joann Knuth, Virginia Sande

Also Present:	Paul Buschmann, Planning Intern

Kevin Locke, Director of Community Development

Erny Mattila, City Planner

Roger Williams, Council Liaison

Approval of Minutes

Motion by Livingston, seconded by Zisla, to approve the June 20, 1995, Planning Commission minutes. 3 Ayes, 0 Nays, Motion Carried.

Report on Council Action

Williams reported the City Council approved the Salem Baptist Church youth house proposal and the Mark Besser commercial building.

Williams said the Public Policy Committee was given the responsibility for reviewing the qualifications for the various commissions and then recommending to the Council some procedures for marketing those vacancies. The Council wants to be more organized in deciding what qualifications they are looking for and how to find the best qualified people. The Public Policy Committee will be asking each commission to discuss these qualifications.

Agenda Review

Mattila added "Update on the MacGillis & Gibbs Site" under Announcements and Updates.

Baker asked if General Business could be heard with only three members present, which is not a quorum. Mattila responded General Business can be considered. The recommendation to the City Council, for example, would be a 3-0 vote, or a majority recommendation. Mattila mentioned Steven Jensen said he favored the proposed item.

Public Hearings - None

General Business

LP 305	Patio Enclosures

Mattila outlined the case report on an application for site plan review to construct a 11,678 square foot office/warehouse building in an industrial district.

In answer to a question from Baker, Mattila outlined the mechanism for the Letter of Credit.

The applicant Ron Ryan of R.J. Ryan Construction represented the applicant. Ryan said Patio Enclosures built porch additions and solariums. The owner of Patio Enclosures is very anxious for the new facility to be built.

Zisla said he had a general comment to make on the site plan review process. Zisla said he was becoming concerned about the Planning Commission's site plan process. The Commission should be able to see what the final building will look like.

Mattila asked if Zisla meant he would like to see a color schematic. Zisla said that would be good, but did not know if the Planning Commission could require one or simply encourage people to submit one.

Mattila responded he always encourages applicants to submit a color schematic. The problem is that many applicants are working with limited budgets. Livingston said requesting a color schematic from all applicants is unreasonable.

Zisla agreed.

Motion by Zisla, seconded by Livingston to recommend approval of LP-305 subject to conditions.

3 Ayes - O Nays. Motion Carried.

Announcements and Updates

MacGillis and Gibbs

Locke said he would like to update the Planning Commission on the discussion of MacGillis and Gibbs at the last Economic Development Commission meeting. The June EDC minutes refer to this item. The MPCA and the EPA representatives asked what the City's plans were for redevelopment of the site. They said it would be useful to know about redevelopment plans because they have to invest in locating utilities to serve the cleanup process. The MPCA and the EPA would like to locate these utilities to serve New Brighton's plans best.

Locke said the EDC discussed redevelopment plans for the site at their July meeting. The EDC reviewed the plan in the Old Highway 8 Corridor Plan, which is beginning to be somewhat dated. Many issues were raised. The EDC felt New Brighton should update the Corridor Plan. The Staff will collect information for the EDC to present to them in August. The hope is to develop some goals and some preliminary alternatives for the site. The EDC plans to ask for ideas from the Planning Commission at that point before the EDC makes recommendations to the City Council. It may result in amending and updating the Old Highway 8 Corridor Plan.

Locke commented some key issues the Economic Development Commission is looking at are:

How the tracks that run between MacGillis and Gibbs and Bell Pole affects the reuse of the property.

Does rail service have market potential?

How can the City speed up the planned the extension of County Road E2 across the railroad tracks?

The Tom Thumb area to the north of MacGillis and Gibbs is identified as a redevelopment site in the Old Highway 8 Corridor Plan. It seems clear there should be a connection on how both sites are used.

The extension of County Road E2 may change the desired uses between the overpass of the railroad tracks to County Road E and to the Dairy Queen area.

The issue of how to deal with existing businesses as the area is redeveloped. For example, the minimum industrial lot sizes.

Should we encourage heavy industrial, light industrial, or high-tech uses on those sites?

The Planning Commission ideas on any of these questions or others will be most helpful.

Baker asked what the Comprehensive Plan calls for in the area. Locke responded the plan talks in general about industrial use, but most of the plan directs the reader to the Old Highway 8 Corridor Plan for the Old Highway 8 sites.

Mattila said the zoning along the railroad tracks is light industrial and the sites along Old Highway 8 are commercial. South of the Tri-City Legion is industrial.

Baker asked if the railroad track that serves MacGillis and Gibbs is also an active track in general. What are the chances of vacating that track?

Locke responded staff will research the uses of the track. Baker commented the track limited the uses for the MacGillis and Gibbs site.

Locke said the site was about 25 acres. Most of the site is long and narrow, even at the narrowest spot it is about 200 feet or more deep. Should the site be divided into two large parcels or is it more realistic to have a series of smaller parcels? New Brighton may have the opportunity to free up part of the site in the next year or two, even while the cleanup activity is going on.

Baker asked who owns the site now. Locke responded MacGillis and Gibbs. The Federal government has placed an environmental lien on the property for more than $1 million, and all of the cleanup costs will ultimately be placed as a lien against that property, that could be millions of dollars. MacGillis and Gibbs will probably go out of business. New Brighton would like to redevelop the site soon.

Williams said an EDC member wondered if the track should be viewed as a plus.

Baker remarked most uses that would need trackage would be relatively large buildings. Locke said he would agree with Baker, but from the tax base perspective may not be what the City envisions for the site.

Williams said it was his personal view that, if the trackage were abandoned for one reason or another, the City should try to preserve that rail corridor throughout the length of the City as a recreational corridor.

Locke stated apparently traffic has increased on the track because it is being used as a turnaround. The increase has been a concern for the Fire Department because it has increased the time some east/west streets are blocked.

Fountain Terrace Apartments (owned by Bethel College)

Mattila said Bethel College had purchased the right-of-way along 1st Avenue and I-35W that was owned by the State of Minnesota. Bethel wants to expand their parking area.

Mattila said he spoke with Les Proper, Director of Public Works, Mark Bishop, Fire Marshal, and Kevin Locke. Mattila said they agreed that expanding the parking would not be a good idea for the following reasons:

1.	About eight garage stalls would be eliminated

2.	A natural sound barrier would be eliminated for the residential neighborhood to the west

3.	It would be built on a very deep slope

4.	The Fire Marshal said the parking area would need a second access on First Avenue

Bethel College is debating whether to come to the Planning Commission with the request. Mattila said he wanted the Planning Commission to be aware of the possibility.

Adjourn

Motion by Baker, seconded by Livingston, to adjourn the meeting. 3 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

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Erny Mattila, City Planner