Minutes

New Brighton Planning Commission

Regular Meeting - May 19, 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

Erny Mattila, Project Manager

Cary Teague, City Planner

Matt Fulton, City Manager

Approval of Minutes

Motion by Schiferl, seconded by Livingston, to table approval of the April 21, 1998 minutes due to being provided with incomplete copies of the minutes. 6 Ayes - 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

Report on Council Action

Because Steve Larson was unable to attend the meeting, Fulton and Teague reported on the Council actions since the last Planning Commission meeting.

Agenda Review

Motion by Baker, seconded by Livingston, to move Item A. to after Item C. 6 Ayes - 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

Public Hearings - None

General Business

LP-341	G & P Properties

Teague reviewed the planning report concerning site plan review to remodel a portion of the Rice Creek Shopping Center. Teague showed slides of the site.

Ken Nordby, of NAI Architects, represented the developer. Nordby described the proposed commercial development and how it would relate to the proposed Meadow Wood Shores senior housing development.

Schiferl asked why G & P was proposing more parking spaces than the Code requires. Nordby responded the area is already paved and the parking is shared with other businesses. Nordby described how the traffic would be redirected. Schiferl asked, if the area were not already paved, how much parking would be needed. Nordby answered they would need approximately ninety-six parking spaces. The pharmacy drive-through will help the parking situation. Nordby said G & P was negotiating with the three current tenants to relocate them to the new area of the center.

Baker said the two prints of the site provided by G & P show two different parking plans. Nordby showed the proposed parking on both prints. Baker asked about the driveway behind Lowell's Automotive Specialists. Nordby showed how traffic would flow around Lowell's. Nordby said that G & P would enclose the dumpsters, but had to work this out with Lowell because the dumpsters are on shared property. Baker asked if delivery trucks would block the entire driveway. Nordby said Snyders was aware of the situation. Snyders knows that, during the morning delivery hours, using the drive-up window may be inconvenient for customers. However, Snyders was adamant about their proposed location and the provision of a drive-up window. Baker said, if the drive-up window were blocked by trucks, there will be a big traffic problem. Nordby said Snyders was aware of the potential problem, but they still want the window.

O'Brien asked if the window would be blocked all the time or only when trucks were maneuvering. Nordby answered the window would only be blocked when trucks are maneuvering.

Zisla asked about the traffic to New Market. Has there been any discussion with the owners of the building housing the Pizza Factory and the Spectacle Shoppe about improving the back elevation of their building. Zisla said he was concerned about how the buildings would fit together.

Nordby said G & P had no control over the back of the Pizza Factory building because it is a separate entity and is thriving. G & P is trying to update the old Rice Creek Center and have it stand on its own merit. Snyders does not want the square footage it has now. Snyders wants to go from 18,000 square feet to approximately 10,000 square feet. If Snyders cannot do that, they will close their store.

Zisla asked about the parking for the proposed Video Update store. Nordby responded Video Update would probably choose the parking closer to Silver Lake Road. Nordby pointed out the subject area on the plan.

Baker said he was concerned about the back driveway. Perhaps Snyders should look at putting the drive- in window on the front of the building. Baker pointed out the possible location on the site plan. Nordby responded that would be the front of the store and, to have the drive-in window there, they would have to put their pharmacy in the front. Since the pharmacy is 40 feet long, that would block their windows. Nordby illustrated the difficulties of putting the window in front of the store on the plan.

Zisla asked about the plans for the entire area, especially the Dairy Queen and the SuperAmerica. Mattila said he was currently working with Paul Page, the architect with the Hoisington Koegler Group, on a strategy for the area. Mattila is setting up a series of meetings with SuperAmerica, Dairy Queen and the City Engineer. Mattila said they would look at the trench area and discuss how to reorient SuperAmerica and Dairy Queen and have access to New Market. The Ericksons will also be involved in the discussion.

Motion by Livingston, seconded by Zisla, to recommend approval of LP-341, subject to conditions.

Schiferl suggested amending the motion by adding Condition No. 5, "The site be subdivided as a minor subdivision." The Commission discussed the condition and decided not to add the condition to the motion.

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

Sketch Plan Review	Larry Beach

Teague reviewed the planning report on two concept plan options for single family development of property located east of Silver Lake Road, west of 23rd Avenue and north of Stony Lake. Teague showed slides of the site.

Baker asked if the proposed water treatment pond is a relocated wetland. Larry Beach, the applicant, responded the Rice Creek Watershed District is requiring the pond for water runoff from the streets.

O'Brien asked, what was the Park Director's opinion of the trail. Teague responded the Park Director had suggested the trail to provide access for the residents of the new homes to the sidewalk on Silver Lake Road.

Beach stated that no one would want a public trail next to their house. Beach said he would work with the Park Director, but he did not know why there should be bicycle traffic in there. Beach said such a trail would be difficult to do.

Zisla asked how much park dedication fees were per lot. Beach responded $750. Zisla commented that Maurie Anderson, the Parks Director, usually has wonderful ideas. However, if the trail would be a problem for development of the site, Zisla did not think the Commission should require it. Zisla said that preserving the trees and vegetation was more important for the community than to have another walking access.

The Commission discussed the path proposed by the Parks Director. The Commission decided the trail was not needed.

Zisla asked, if the developer puts in a private road, would the homes have maintenance agreements. Zisla said, if there is a public street and there is no homeowners' association, people could do as they wished with their yards. There would seem to be no need for an association. Zisla said he liked the diversity that comes from not having an association.

Mattila stated that a PRD with a public street was possible to provide flexibility to the lot width requirements. Mattila described the requirements of a PRD.

Schiferl asked what would the benefit be to the City if the City granted a PRD. Zisla said the rationale could be based on the lake front, the trees and the slopes on the site. The City would benefit by preserving the natural amenities of the site.

O'Brien said that we could preserve more trees if we could make the road more reasonable in size. Teague said, in either concept, the area of paved road would be the same. Beach said the road could be narrowed if parking were allowed on only one side of the road. The Commission briefly discussed the traffic flow to Silver Lake Road and 23rd.

Teague said he had talked with several residents who live around the periphery of the site. The residents have not commented specifically on proposal, however did express concerns regarding traffic, tree removal and wetland protection.

Baker asked the developer if he would rather have a public or a private road. Beach responded he favored a public road.

Schiferl asked if the City had ever considered purchasing the site for a park. Teague said he did not believe the City has considered that.

Baker said he could go along with a variance on Lot 6. The public street versus a private road could be a condition for a variance. Baker said he favored a public street. A public street would be an advantage for the homeowners. Schiferl asked why not just do eight lots? Beach said its would not be economically feasible to do eight lots. Livingston said he had no problem with the site as proposed.

Zisla suggested Beach show how he has taken advantage of the site and how the homes would fit in with lake when he makes formal application. That could help the Commission decide the variance.

Project Planning - Discussion and Input	New Brighton Staff

Matt Fulton reviewed his memo on the item. Fulton said the Council and Staff would like comments from the municipal commissions on the categories outlined in the memo.

Schiferl referred to Question No. 3 in the memo. Schiferl said a training opportunity might be helpful for commission members, other than the one scheduled for mid-May. Schiferl commented, concerning Question No. 1, he was impressed with the efforts of the I-35W Corridor Coalition and the Old Highway 8 planning process. Schiferl said he would like to see more emphasis put on bicycling within the City. On Question No. 2, Schiferl stated it would be good if the Police Department and the City Council had a program that stressed traffic laws. Schiferl recalled that a survey of residents done a few years ago showed people like the neighborhoods and the location. Schiferl asked if the City has done a more comprehensive survey of what residents really wants. Fulton responded the City staff is planning a more thorough survey.

O'Brien said he would agree with Schiferl's comments on traffic law compliance problems. Is there a precedent for having a 20-mile an hour speed limits on neighborhood streets? Fulton said the message, then, is the problem of traffic speed in residential areas.

Zisla commented it would be wonderful if developers could work some issues out with neighbors before they come before the Planning Commission. A procedure to accomplish that should be worked out.

Mattila responded that we invite people to come in and meet with the City Planner in our public hearing notices. Unfortunately, those letters only go out for public hearings.

Baker referred to the G & P proposals. Baker commented that G & P did not do a good job of showing their changes. For instance, at the last meeting G & P had the wrong acreage because of a change in the plan. Baker said Staff should require proposals with significant changes to be handled like a new proposal. The Planning Commission should be able to see the proposal features in black and white and not have to interpret the developer's intent. Zisla suggested that having a checklist to refer to would be helpful.

O'Brien said, at a recent meeting, Mayor Benke referred to working with adjacent suburbs. In response to Question No. 1, that seems like a real opportunity for future planning. Area-wide planning will become more important. The City should formally pursue area planning.

Schiferl asked if there was a possibility of reconsidering a mini-transit service in the City. Fulton said the I-35W Corridor Coalition was preparing an RFP for focusing on the transportation transit needs for the corridor. Reducing traffic on I-35W was the original reason for establishing the Coalition. Zisla asked how reducing traffic on I-35W would benefit New Brighton. Zisla commented on the use of ramp meters in New Brighton. Zisla commented traffic reduction was the goal of MnDOT and the Met Council's. The Commission endorsed Zisla's comments.

Fulton responded the reason the Met Council is interested in the I-35W Coalition it that the Coalition is the only group with an area-wide growth management strategy. Transit is a logical way of addressing traffic reduction.

Baker stated, regarding Question No. 3, the City Staff does a wonderful job of preparing items for Planning Commission meetings.

Schopf said, to help Council select commission members, candidates should attend a meeting of the particular commission. The descriptions attached to the commissions do not really relate to the actual work of the commission. Also, the candidates should think about how they will relate to the other commissioners and to the work of the commission. Schopf suggested the City create a commission to deal with housing redevelopment, which is an issue that is becoming very important. The City is doing an excellent job on redeveloping commercial property, but some of New Brighton's homes and apartment buildings are aging. Schopf said that, as a business owner, he has noticed an increase in bad checks and shoplifting and suggested there may be a link between this situation and the aging of New Brighton's housing. Schopf said New Brighton should have maintenance standards for housing.

Zisla stated the City Council decided against a point of sale program. Mattila responded that New Brighton has a housing maintenance code for rental property that we strictly enforce. New Brighton would need a separate housing maintenance ordinance on single family homes. Such a program would take money and additional staff.

Livingston stated that, from a planning standpoint, he was concerned about the number of new churches coming into the City. Livingston said churches should serve the community, but when most of the church members live elsewhere, that community service is questionable. Does New Brighton has a more liberal zoning code for churches that is attracting churches that do not draw their membership from the community? Mattila responded New Brighton's Zoning Ordinance is the basically the same as other cities' ordinances.

Comprehensive Plan Task Force Appointment

Fulton reviewed his memo to the municipal commissions on the Comprehensive Plan Task Force. Fulton stated the City would like representatives from all the municipal commissions and other community leaders to deal with the issues concerning the Comprehensive Plan update. Fulton asked for two volunteers from the Planning Commission to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Task Force. O'Brien volunteered to serve on the Task Force. The other Commission members said they would serve on an as needed basis.

Announcements and Updates - None

Adjourn

Motion by Livingston, seconded by Baker, to adjourn the meeting. 6 Ayes - 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

_______________________________________

Cary Teague, City Planner