Minutes

New Brighton Planning Commission

Regular Meeting - February 17, 1998

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, Jim O'Brien, Norm Schiferl, Jeff Schopf, Paul Zisla

Absent:	David Schmitz

Also Present:	Kevin Locke, Director of Community Development

Cary Teague, City Planner

George Gregori, City Council Liaison

Approval of Minutes

Schiferl stated, on Page 13, the minutes show a reference to his remarks on the noise issue. Schiferl said that someone in the audience made a comment earlier that evening, which was probably not picked up on the tape, that prompted his comments. Schiferl asked to add after "Schiferl said he would like to deal with the noise issue" the sentence, "He was referring to a comment made earlier in the evening by an unnamed person in the audience."

Motion by Schiferl, seconded by O'Brien, to adopt the minutes as amended.

Baker asked about the procedure on adding text to the minutes as requested by Schiferl. Locke suggested we could insert the additional sentence into the minutes as a note for clarification. Schiferl agreed.

Livingston asked about the procedure for adding language to the minutes that would make it clear that, when Brightondale was originally built, the Planning Commission intended the setback from Brightondale to the homes be maintained. Livingston said the record should make this point clear so that in the future there is no confusion on this point.

Locke said, to some extent, that point may be reflected in the minutes. Zisla said we cannot simply reconstruct the record. Mayor Benke said, according to the City Attorney, the record cannot be changed in that manner. The Council's actions will clarify the record.

Baker called for a vote on the amended minutes. 6 Ayes - 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

Report on Council Action

Gregori reported, at the last City Council meeting, Mike Gould of G & P Properties withdrew his application for the Alzheimer's wing at Brightondale and the senior coop unit. We anticipate that he will come back with a proposal for the coop unit only.

Gregori stated the Council approved Donatelle Plastics' site plan. The Council also approved the condemnation proceedings for the Williams pipeline easement, which will allow Donatelle to begin development. Stoney Lake Properties and Pratt Homes were approved as developers for the commercial property on County Road E2 and 5th Avenue. The Council also approved the contracts for street and maintenance improvements on 5th Avenue for BCP III.

Agenda Review

Baker added an item to introduce Cary Teague, the new City Planner.

Introduction of new City Planner

Locke introduced Cary Teague, the new City Planner. Erny Mattila will spend more time on long-range projects such as the Comp Plan update and redevelopment projects.

Public Hearings - None

General Business

Workshop Session on I-35W Corridor	Presentation by Design Center

Locke stated, about a year ago, the City of New Brighton entered a joint powers agreement with six communities along the I-35W Corridor. The cities are Roseville, Arden Hills, Shoreview, Mounds View, Blaine, and Circle Pines. The purpose of the Coalition is to deal with issues that go beyond the individual cities' borders. The key issue is the transportation concerns on I-35W. The Coalition will also deal with issues such as economic development, housing, or technical questions. The Coalition has been spending time on the GIS System. A joint GIS consultant has helped create a base of information for the entire corridor. The Coalition has authorized purchasing a server, which will be located in Roseville, where all of the GIS information will reside. The Coalition cities will have access to the information.

Locke said the Coalition had created a tentative work program. Locke referred to the material sent to the Planning Commission in the agenda packet. Locke said a key action was hiring the Design Center from the University of Minnesota to help the Coalition frame the issues and develop solutions to the issues. Locke introduced Bill Morrish and Carol Swenson of the Design Center. Locke stated they would lead the group in a discussion of the Corridor. They are attempting to meet with the Corridor cities' planning commissions. We also invited the Economic Development Commission and the City Council to participate in tonight's discussion.

Morrish gave a short presentation on the Design Center. The Coalition effort is a unique one. The Design Center is trying to gather information on a wide range of subjects relating to the Coalition area. In the process, Morrish said they were meeting with the Coalition's advisory commissions for their comments on the issues to define issues that are common to the cities. Transportation, land use, economic development, residential housing, and the environment are some topics the Design Center is examining. The Design Center will make recommendations on carrying out the ideas. The Center has been identifying the design, finance, policy and implementation issues in the Coalition and using a range of scenarios that might be used in solving the problems. The Metropolitan Council is very interested in this project because the Coalition cities could define the context from which the Council could review their comp plans. A city's comp plan could focus on issues inside the city and how their comp plan coordinates with adjacent cities. The Met Council is interested in having the Design Center write the criteria for reviewing a subregional comp plan. That is very different from the way the Met Council has looked at comp plans in the past.

Morrish stated that understanding what data needs to be gathered, how to gather it, and how to combine it to make a livable community is important. Morrish reviewed a work plan on possible topics and directed the audience on the comments the Design Center needs to have to go on with their work.

Schiferl asked if I-35W is a way of defining a commonality for the involved communities or is it the central feature? Morrish responded the answer is both. Morrish said the Design Center wanted to define other issues that tie the communities together.

Mayor Benke stated, in meeting with area mayors and school board representatives, it is apparent that I- 35W is very important to the area. For instance, a study is being done that looks at I-35W from Texas to Duluth as a trade corridor. Both I-35W and I-694 are trade corridors. It is fair to assume the area communities need to develop this Corridor to keep healthy. A major expansion of I-35W or I-694 is unlikely. Therefore, we must deal with transportation issues with that fact in mind. Growth management is another topic that we should deal with regionally. As we update our comp plan, New Brighton will have many issues relating to the larger area. In doing our last two comp plans, the model we followed was that disparate uses would be buffered from each other. We may have to change that thinking to regional thinking. We recently changed the zoning for the proposed development at Rice Creek Plaza to allow business and commercial uses within a residential unit. In some cases, mixed uses may be appropriate. These changes in thinking are occurring across the metropolitan area. In redoing our comp plan, we must think regionally. Benke said finding an alternative to building new freeways is very important.

O'Brien asked about Roseville's participation in the Corridor. Morrish responded Roseville is providing their expertise in technology and taking the leadership role in the GIS component. The Roseville community development department was probably the first to recognize some pressures that would be placed on the Corridor based on economic development issues.

Morrish said that thinking regionally would make it possible to relocate small businesses in the center of residential areas and organize zoning areas in adjoining cities to work together to avoid spot zoning.

Baker asked if the Coalition is considering different densities in the same zoning category. Benke answered the main concern of the Coalition is to balance potential growth with the capacity of our infrastructure. For example, if a 50-story office building were built at Highway 96 and I-35W, the I-35W ramps providing access to that building would be under such pressure that building would probably be a failure. We need to balance the desired uses with freeway capacity and the rest of the infrastructure. The purpose of the Coalition is to help us think creatively.

Morrish said the major arterials in the area can be good residential areas, but may be better sites for medium and higher density housing than it is for small business. The small businesses could be consolidated in one area to provide for better transit. Cooperating on attracting certain development may be beneficial for the Coalition cities. The question is how much can we do together.

Benke said he would like to cite an example. Benke said Beach's Service Station on Long Lake Road just south of Irondale is an excellent service station. We want to reduce dependence on the automobile as a community goal. Beach's is a nonconforming use because of past zoning and business practices which constrains Beach's from upgrading its facility. It may make sense to relax the constraints on nonconforming uses to allow them to upgrade their facilities. Beach's could possibly expand to offer a car wash and convenience store. Residents of that neighborhood could walk over to Beach's to buy a quart of milk instead of driving to buy the milk.

Baker asked, if the current law requires that if the City rezoned the area around Beach's to residential making it necessary for Beach's to move, would Beach's have to move within the City to fund such a relocation. Benke answered, if the City forces a business to relocate, we are required to assist them in relocating to an acceptable site, which may or may not be within the City. Benke responded that zoning the area residential there would be an example of the old thinking. If the City required Beach's to relocate, you would again have the situation where driving would be necessary to buy services.

Benke said he used the example of Beach's to illustrate the need for creative thinking to achieve area- wide goals. Benke said there is a need to add a chapter to the comp plan on the communications infrastructure. Many small businesses operate out of the home. New Brighton has a home business ordinance that may be inadequate. If half the small businesses in the future will be home-based, do we have the communications infrastructure to support that? If we do not, New Brighton may not see the healthy business climate that we want. We may have to look at our codes on telecommunications to see if they are appropriate.

Matt Fulton, New Brighton City Manager, stated that a good example is the ability to transfer GIS information throughout the Corridor. There is a group of participating cable commission communities up to the Anoka County border. The Anoka County area is serviced by another cable provider. It has worked well for the area served by Meredith to use their coaxial cable for transmission of data. The challenge is to connect the systems in a manner where everyone has the benefit of all of the information, whether GIS information or another source.

Zisla asked if Morrish had an example of hot issues the Design Center has defined for the area. How does that fit into the Met Council structure? Zisla said he could understand why we need a coalition for planning for the Twin City Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills. Are there some specific things that staff has seen in the last few years where working it with other cities would be better? Are there examples that apply to our area?

Benke said County Road E2 was an example. If New Brighton wants to develop the pole yards, the City will be constrained by the fact that E2 is a county road and any improvements to the interchange at I- 35W may never happen. The question is to get people to and from the jobs we would like to create on the pole yard's site? The freeway is full of people commuting from the far suburbs through our corridor. New Brighton cannot solve the traffic problems alone, but seven cities can coordinate their efforts through a joint powers agreement and working with the Met Council and MnDOT. Several studies are underway in the metropolitan area dealing with various aspects of growth management. The Met Council's development guide for redoing our comp plan says that we must address the problem of accommodating 650,000 new residents in the region in the next twenty years. More than 300,000 new jobs will be created. The impact on the transportation infrastructure creates a need for $10 billion worth of reinvestment. Only $3.4 billion of funding is available. Benke said that, considering the constructural framework going from the Met Council down to the cities, we have no idea whether or not decisions made at the local level will be adequate for what needs to be accomplished. The Corridor project is an effort to see if, in fact, we can do things locally to make the regional plan rational. If not, the Met Council and the Legislature have some rethinking to do in regional planning. For instance, at what point does the right of owning a home in the far suburbs become overburdening in terms of the public interest? We may need to start to put some costs to for the choices on the individuals making those choices rather than assuming that society will fund the answer to congestion problems. Therefore, fundamental public policy choices that we are beginning to be identified through the I-35W Corridor Coalition.

Morrish said that the Met Council's Regional Plan deals with the urban core and the edge. The Met Council does not have a strategy for the gray areas in the middle. The Met Council and some legislators see the Coalition as a mechanism by which to define the needs in that gray area. Urban models cannot be used in communities like New Brighton. We will have to develop new models. The Coalition and New Brighton have a great opportunity to articulate the criteria for looking at that gray area.

Zisla asked if Morrish could cite specific examples. For instance how does planning for the arsenal impact an edge community such as Blaine, which is in the Coalition?

Morrish replied he would give examples showing the complexity of the Corridor. New Brighton and Roseville are looking at maintenance and upgrade of buildings and some infill. If a city does not have a big tax base to generate the tax increment a city needs for this maintenance and upgrade, the city must get owners focused on the renovation. The available models are not suitable for New Brighton because these models are based on higher density urban development. If a major road, like Highway 96, was expanded to six lanes, many options for land use would be eliminated. The land use problems in Roseville and New Brighton can be lessons from which Blaine can learn. We can begin to utilize internal interconnections. Now, people have to go out on the highway to get to their neighbors. By working with interior arterials, we can begin to go neighbor to neighbor and eliminate some drive trips.

Zisla asked if the Coalition was formed because it makes sense due to the economic development patterns. Is there something else beside being along I-35W that makes it a subregion?

Morrish answered water could be a connection. I-35W was used as a basic building tool on which to base a subregion. One question is how do you urbanize your employment base and rethink land use. Land use in the gateway areas such as Highway 96 is an example. By reconstituting brown fields, you could make higher amenity sites and clean up groundwater at the same time. We have to make as many mosaics as possible to illustrate how people relate in the area.

Benke stated that, at this point, we do not even know what all the questions are, much less the answers to those questions. This is an effort to put all our issues on the table and see what we can do together to make our long-term planning easier.

Zisla said that obviously the Met Council level is unwieldy. Many people in the greater area do not know where the community boundaries are. What is the social circle that defines a community? We have to plan in a logical sense rather than in political boundaries, which may divide an area in the middle of a street.

Baker stated a problem is this area is that many communities share the same school district. In larger cities like Bloomington or Burnsville, the school district and the city share the same boundaries. This allows for more cooperation.

Benke said that might be a strength or a weakness. Since we already collaborate on school issues, cooperating with neighboring communities on other issues may be easier. It is interesting that Roseville may have a totally different community personality than Mounds View. Baker commented the City of Toronto incorporated all its suburbs into one metropolitan community. Morrish said Toronto did use subdistricts.

Schiferl said the mayor's comments on new concepts impressed him. Schiferl said old thinking limited present housing options. Benke commented age demographics could create the need for new housing options. Morrish said the desire for townhouses was growing rapidly. Benke said New Brighton's strength was that people have a desire to stay here.

Morrish asked the participants to send any further comments to the Center. Locke said more information on the Center's work will be available as time goes on.

Highway 8 Corridor Rezoning	New Brighton Staff Update

The Commission continued the item so Mattila, who is absent, can present his update. There was a brief discussion on the schedule outlined in Mattila's memo. Baker suggested setting up the optional meeting to be used if the subject is not completely covered during the regular Planning Commission meeting.

Realignment of Brighton Village Drive Aisles for Drive-Thru	Kraus-Anderson/ Snyders

Teague reviewed the memo relating to the concept review of the proposed realignment of the driveways in the Brighton Village parking lot southwest of the Snyders building to allow for a drive-thru window on the Snyder's building.

Zisla stated he did not understand the public policy advantage of encouraging drive-through operations. Zisla said he saw absolutely no advantage to be gained from this request. The Brighton Village parking lot is a disaster now. Baker replied the Snyder's' area of the parking lot is okay. Zisla said the whole parking lot was inconvenient.

Gregori said that, when the Rice Creek Center is redeveloped, Snyder's will probably ask for a drive- through at that location. The map included with the memo shows a 12-foot curve between the building and the curb in the lane toward the canopy. Is that enough room for a car to turn in?

O'Brien said he was concerned about turning room also. There may be enough room for most drivers, but not all drivers can do this maneuver and may run into the building. Livingston asked about moving the drive-through to the back of the building. Teague responded that may be an option.

Zisla stated the plans for the center may be consistent with comments made earlier about livable communities. Brighton Village is a place where you often meet your neighbors and stop to visit. Zisla said that community atmosphere was the reason he is against drive-through windows. Destroying the sense of community that comes from interaction between neighbors would be unfortunate.

Teague said the code required stacking for six cars for a drive-through window. The code was probably written to deal with fast food restaurants. The window at Snyder's would not handle the volume of a fast food place. However, that is the code.

O'Brien asked if Snyder's was going to ask for exemption from that requirement. Teague responded Snyder's did not provide a plan. There may be room for six cars, but it will be close. They may have to ask for an exemption from the code.

Locke stated this item is simply a discussion item to get the Commission's opinions. Locke said he agreed that, in light of the earlier discussion on less dependence on cars, drive-throughs are created for the convenience of drivers. The question is how much does our ordinance allow us to restrict these drive- throughs if they meet the ordinance standards. If they have to apply for a variance, the Commission would have a good deal of discretion whether this is a good idea or not.

Baker said the need for a drive-through was a business decision. Snyder's may feel they need the drive- through. The Commission's decision must be based on the code. Baker stated he was concerned about the twelve-foot aisle. O'Brien asked about moving the aisle to the southwest. Teague responded that the slope and cutting into the hill is the constraint.

Schiferl said he was concerned about the narrowness of the site. Schiferl said he did not like drive- throughs because of the dependence on cars, but also because of the emissions.

Zisla said, despite his personal feelings on drive-throughs, Baker's perspective is the correct approach. Baker said Snyder's and Kraus-Anderson should be advised that the Commission would not approve cutting the width of the aisle. Teague said he would pass the Planning Commission's comments on to them.

Announcements and Updates - None

Adjourn

Motion by Livingston, seconded by O'Brien , to adjourn the meeting. 6 Ayes - 0 Nays. Motion Carried. The meeting was adjourned.

_______________________________________

Cary Teague, City Planner