Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/11/09 Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting August 11,2009 1. Call to Order Chair Rotty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Vanderbeck, Bonar, Rotty, Kuyper Members Absent: Stokes Also Present: Tony Wippler - Assistant City Planner, Lee Smick - City Planner 2. Approval of Minutes a) July 14,2009 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION by Bonar, second by Vanderbeck to approve the minutes. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. Public Hearings a) Variance request to encroach into side yard setback. Applicant: Mike and Peggy Vought 716 4th Street Farmington, MN 55024 The applicant has requested to encroach into the required five foot minimum side yard setback in the R-D zoning district. The home was built in 1970 and the area in question was the location of a deck that was constructed with the original structure. The applicant is proposing to construct a 6 x 15 foot deck where the previous deck was located. The previous deck has been removed and the proposed deck would not extend any further into the setback than the original deck did. The new deck will however, be eight feet longer than the previous structure. Planning staff is concerned that the deck will be very close to the property line and even perhaps on the property line. Staff would require that the applicant provide a survey showing the exact distance to the property line if the variance were approved. The approval would therefore be based upon the following contingencies: 1. The applicant submit to the Planning Division a property survey prepared by a licensed surveyor in the State of Minnesota, prior to the issuance of a building permit. 2. Obtaining all necessary building permits necessary for the construction of the deck. Commissioner Bonar asked if when the home was constructed there were no requirements for easements. Staff stated that here are no required easements on this property. Commissioner Vanderbeck asked ifthere was a concern raised by the adjacent property owner. Staff stated they had not heard from them. All legal notices of the public hearing were distributed. Chair Rotty stated that he agrees that the survey is a very good idea. Mike Vought stated that he will be able to find his stakes and would like to know if that would suffice for the required survey information. Staffwill discuss the survey with the applicant. MOTION by Vanderbeck, second by Kuyper to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Bonar, second by Vanderbeck to approve the variance with the recommended contingencies. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Planning Commission Minutes August 11, 2009 Page 2 b) Variance request to split property into 1 acre sites. Applicant: Doug Malszycki 19585 Flagstaff Avenue Farmington, MN 55024 The applicant is seeking a variance from the minimum lot size requirement in the A-I zoning district to subdivide and exiting 10 acre parcel to create 2 buildable lots of 1 acre each. The remaining 8 acres would contain the existing home. The applicant would like to subdivide the lot to enable his two sons to each construct new homes. The Planning Commission denied this request when it was previously proposed in 2004. At that time there was a very different building climate and this property has been guided in the Comprehensive Plan to remain agricultural until 2030. The approval would be contingent upon the following: 1. A combined driveway access is required from the two 1 acre properties in order to reduce the number of accesses on Flagstaff Ave. Doug Malszycki stated that the configuration of the lots could be rearranged as well if necessary. Staffhas received two comments from neighbors indicating that they do not have an issue with the proposal. Commissioner Bonar asked if the majority of the similar variances that have been approved previously did not result in a decrease in tillable acres. Staff stated that that was correct. He also asked if this is currently a Dakota County roadway so the accesses would have to be per their approval. Staff stated that there would need to be replatting of the parcel as well. Chair Rotty stated that have only one additional access is a good idea and may help with the County approval process. MOTION by , second by to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Vanderbeck, second by Kuyper to approve the variance request with the recommended contingency. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. c) Ordinance establishing Downtown Commercial District Overlay District (DC) Design Standards. Applicant: City of Farmington 430 Third Street Farmington, MN 55024 Staffhas requested that this item be continued to the September 9, 2009 Planning Commission meeting so that they can obtain further feedback from downtown business owners. MOTION by Bonar, second by Kuyper to table this item until September 9,2009. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. d) Ordinance Amendment to Section 10-6-3 (B) 1 sub. (t) of the City Code concerning A- Frame Signs. Applicant: City of Farmington 430 Third Street Farmington, MN 55024 Staffhas requested that this item be continued to the September 9,2009 Planning Commission meeting so that they can obtain further feedback from downtown business owners. MOTION by Kuyper, second by Vanderbeck to table this item until September 9,2009. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Planning Commission Minutes August 11,2009 Page 3 e) Ordinance amending Section 10-6-20 of the City Code concerning Industrial Park Design Standards. Applicant: City of Farmington 430 Third Street Farmington, MN 55024 Staff is proposing to revise the existing design standards that will be used for the proposed future industrial park expansion area and the current industrial park. The ordinance has been revised to include a Purpose, Process, and Applicability section, and a minor change to the maintenance section excluding maintenance requirements to buildings since the City does not have a building maintenance code. Another revision pertains to the exterior surface of the building. The proposed revision allows for pre-engineered metal not to exceed 50% of the exterior surface of a building and it may only be applied on the upper half of the building. If approved, this change would also pertain to the existing industrial park. Screening on interior lots would no longer be required. The outdoor storage of the Code has also been revised regarding screening requirements, and the exterior lighting section has been modified to address impact on neighboring properties and public right of way. Commissioner Bonar stated that he agrees with the lack of interior screening with the exception of daycares. Commissioner Vanderbeck asked if there was a life expectancy for the metal as compared to block for example. Staff stated that they would have to research that more. There is currently no maintenance code in the City. Commissioner Vanderbeck stated that he was in favor of the reduced screening requirements. Commissioner Kuyper stated that from a public safety standpoint, he likes the reduced screening requirements. Chair Rotty stated that the goal of the standards is to create quality development that is still affordable. He stated that he would like to see this item reviewed by all appropriate parties including commercial developers and business owners. Staff stated that they would like to get more feedback as well. MOTION by Bonar, second by Kuyper to table this item until September 9, 2009. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. f) Ordinance Amendment to Title 6, Chapter 7, Section 1 of the City Code regarding weeds. Applicant: City of Farmington 430 Third Street Farmington, MN 55024 Staff is proposing to amend the City Code as it pertains to weeds on undeveloped, platted lots. The current code requires that these lots not have weeds in excess of 12 inches in height. Staff is proposing to change this requirement to add an additional exception to the requirement. Lots that do not share a common property line with any developed lot(s) which contain a principal structure may be left in a natural state. This does not include noxious weeds. Staff stated there are over 600 platted, undeveloped lots throughout the City with a myriad of ownership situations. Natural Resources staff has also reviewed the proposed exception and sees no issues. Commissioner Vanderbeck stated that he would like to know if the lots in front of developed lots. Staff stated that using a requirement for contiguous lots is more clearly defined. Chair Rotty stated that he would be in favor of trying the proposed changes. Commissioner Bonar asked ifthere were any grant funds available to aesthetically improve the lots. MOTION by Bonar, second by Vanderbeck to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Bonar, second by Kuyper to recommend approval of the amendment to the City Council. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Planning Commission Minutes August 11,2009 Page 4 4. Discussion a) Vermillion River Crossings Senior Housing - Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) Sketch Plan Staff has received a sketch plan from the Dakota County CDA for a for a 60 unit senior housing complex to be constructed on Outlot F of the Vermillion River Crossings Development. The complex would require a conditional use is this district as well as a formal site plan review. The City is working with the owner of the property to have the remainder of Dushane Parkway completed yet this year. There would be one full access on the northern border of the property and it will be a shared access with the property to the north. Parking is proposed in the rear of the building and there would also be underground parking. There would be 28 parking stalls in the parking area. There would need to be a variance if they continue with this plan because the City Code would require roughly 150 parking spaces for this development. The proposed plan meets all ofthe height requirements of the zoning district. The plan also includes a possible roof park. The solid waste department has made a suggestion of installation of a concrete pad somewhere on the site for garbage pick up. They are proposing to extend the 5 foot sidewalk along Dushane Parkway and installing a plaza at the corner of Spruce Street and Dushane Parkway. They have included a drop off area that has been approved by the Engineering Division. Kirk Velett from Insite Architects stated that they are trying to create a downtown feel for the site. Kerry Gill from the Dakota County CDA stated that they would like Planning Commission feedback as they would like to submit their final plan within the next month or so. The CDA's plan is not to begin construction until 2011. They are exploring the possibility of beginning construction on 2010 but it will be dependent upon funding availability. Commission Rotty stated that he liked the drop off area. At this point he feels that it will be a nice addition to the community. Commissioner Kuyper stated that he likes the plaza. He inquired if the parking amount indicated would be adequate. Ms. Gill stated that they do have one to one parking available in the underground area, but they typically have some vacant spaces as some of their residents do not have cars. Garages are rented separately and are not required. The parking lot area tends to be mostly visitor parking. Commissioner Vanderbeck asked about the possible expansion area that is indicated on the plan. Ms. Gill stated that there could be either 6 or 12 additional units. Commissioner Bonar asked for more detail about the northerly access. Staff stated that due to the median placement and design planned throughout the development it is most appropriate to design it this way as it is the only full intersection. This is an outlot so there will need to be a final plat as well. b) Variance from minimum front yard setback requirement in the R-2 Zoning District. Applicant: Thomas Weber 809 7th Street Farmington, MN 55024 The applicant is requesting to locate a new 832 square foot garage in the rear of his yard. The proposal would require a 14 foot variance to the front yard setback in the R-2 zoning Planning Commission Minutes August 11,2009 Page 5 district because he is located on a corner. To the east of the lot there is a tree line. Mr. Weber stated that the structure would be wood framed. He stated that there is screening provided by the tree line, and if he maintains the setback, the garage would be in the middle of his lot. He stated that he has spoken to his neighbors and they did not have an issue with his proposal. Staff stated that they do anticipate that there is a hardship in this case. Chair Rotty stated that he did not see a significant issue with the proposal. Commissioner Vanderbeck asked what would happen to the existing shed on the property. Mr. Weber stated that his neighbor may be taking the shed. 5. Adjourn MOTION by Vanderbeck, second by Kuyper to adjourn. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Approved