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Home My WebLink About1/25/11 Planning Commission Minutes Workshop January 25,2011 1. Call to Order Chair Rotty called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Members Present: Rotty, Bonar, Franceschelli Members Absent: Kuyper, Vanderbeck Also Present: Lee Smick - City Planner, Tony Wippler - Assistant City Planner 2. Discussion - MN GreenSteps Best Practices and Action Options Planner Smick indicated that they will go through all the steps to determine what the Planning Commission would choose for program requirements. Member Bonar offered his assistance with #2 - Private Buildings, items 1 and 2. Under Private Buildings item 6c - expedited permit review, Planner Smick acknowledged that this item could be considered "complete" . #4 - Outdoor Lighting & Signals, discussion focused on items 6 and 7. Member Bonar has some interest in working with the utility companies and gathering more information. Member Franceschelli also noted that item 6 could also be worth considering. Utility companies could offer incentives and/or rebates to customers for making energy efficient changes. Member Rotty indicated that he doesn't like to forward on to the Council anything that could cost money because of the current economy but, he does support researching these items. The consensus of the board was to keep things budget neutral. #5 - Building Reuse - Planner Smick noted that with our Historic Preservation Ordinance, this item has been completed. She also has researched the MN Main Street model and there are some options. Bonar noted that item 3 (school), should also be looked at. #6 Comp Plan - Planner Smick indicated that items 1 and 2 have been completed Also, Item number 3 b (watershed impacts),3 g (fire), and 3 i (sewer & water) have been completed. Member Franceschelli discussed item 3 f, Police and would like us to look further into that requirement. We have agreements in place that offer assistance to surrounding communities, ifneeded and may qualify as fulfilling this item. Also, look into ALF and see if that qualifies under item h, health. We need to look at taking advantage of the practices we already have in place. #7 Higher Density, Planner Smick stated that there are no completed practices for this category. After some discussion it was agreed that in allowing mother-in-law apartments in some zoning districts item 2 d, allowing accessory dwelling units by right in selected zoning districts, would qualify as a practice. #8 Mixed Uses, Member Bonar asked about the 2009 Minnesota Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development. Member Rotty believes this was discussed at a earlier workshop. Planner Smick noted we don't do this just yet. Member Franceschelli asked about item 2 b, designed to facilitate and encourage access by walking and biking. He feels our trail system would meet the criteria for this item. Planner Smick will research. Planning Commission Minutes January 25, 2011 Page 2 #9 Highway Development, Member Franceschelli asked about item 4 b, Highway Commercial District. He thinks Highway 3 would qualify. Assistant Planner Wippler noted that this area is not a "district" but rather a zoning classification and there are differences. Smick noted that commercial districts have their own standards of design similar to downtown. Member Franceschelli asked how hard it would be to move forward on this. Planner Smick said it's in the comp plan as a goal. Assistant Planner Wippler stated that as he and Planner Smick discussed the 2030 Comp Plan, they identified Trunk Highway 3 and Spruce Street to VRC, for redevelopment design and aesthetics improvements. #10. Conservation Design, Planner Smick noted that 2 items have been completed under this category. We have a NRI and NRA (Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment) in place as well as incorporating a woodland best management practices policy. #11. Complete Green Streets, 2 items are complete under this category. Remedy street-trail gaps and traffic calming measures. The City has a street/trail gap-map that they work off to find these areas. The roundabout qualifies as the traffic calming measure. Member Bonar asked about item 3, document the installation of trees and the Walnut Street project. Would that qualify? Staff will look into this. #12. Mobility Options, 1 a, Produce/distribute maps by neighborhood, civic/commercial sites, best bike and pedestrian routes. It was noted that bike racks are available at the majority of the City parks. Item e, has been completed because we do have an active living campaign with Dakota County. And under #6 in our Comprehensive Plan, we do have proposed transit service areas that have been identified. It was pointed out that we also have Dial-A-Ride. #13. City Fleets, Planner Smick noted we currently monitor fuel costs monthly and have maintenance schedules for all vehicles. Item I, police utilize bicycles. #14. Demand-Side Travel Planning - Two business practices need to be completed under this category. The items in this category would all be future practices. #15. Environmental Purchasing, A policy or ordinance needs to be adopted regarding purchasing. Item a, EnergyStar equipment has been purchased thereby completing this item. The City's cleaning supplies comply with National Green Standards. Staffwilllook into this category with more depth to see what other items are complete. #l6. Urban Forests, we are a Tree City USA so item 1 is complete. We also maximize tree planting in our main downtown street (item 4) and ordinances have been adopted for tree protection and landscaping nuisances items 5b and c. #17. Stormwater, we have completed item 2c, stormwater runoff, Sa, Rain gardens and 6, adopt a erosion and sediment control ordinance. #18. Green Infrastructure, completed items are 1 ,identify gaps in city's parks, trails and open spaces and remedy at least one. 2, Plan and budget for a network of parks, etc. in new developments 3a & b, at least 20% of total city land are in protected green infrastructure and Planning Commission Minutes January 25, 2011 Page 3 all residents are within 1Iz mile of a park or protected green space. Sa, Low maintenance native landscaping. The board also noted that with the Adopt a Park and Pond programs, item 8, Develop a program to involve community members in land restoration and stewardship, would also be complete. #19. Surface Water - we are currently in the process of completing Item 3, working with other organizations to support citizen education. Item 4 is complete, Adopt a shoreland ordinance consistent with the Dept. of Natural Resources rules. #20. Water & Wastewater Facilities - Item 3, Establish an on going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines. #21. Septic Systems - No completed items. #22. - Solid Waste Reduction - staffis currently working on a couple items. Item 1, Adopt percentage reduction goals, (a) overall waste generation and (b) paper use and junk mail. Planner Smick will check with PCA regarding Item 2, Adopt and meet aggressive goals for the overall percentage diversion of currently disposed waste from city operations into recycling and organics collection. Item 6, Organize residential solid waste collection by private and/or public operations to accomplish multiple benefits, has been completed. Item 7, offer volume-based pricing on residential garbage and/ or feebate on recycling to encourage participation, is also complete. #23. Local Air Quality - Item 2, Regulate outdoor wood burning, (a), recreational burning, is complete. #24. Benchmarks & Community Engagement - Council should identify areas of interest to complete. #25. Green Business Development - Staff will research Item 2, Connect at least 5 businesses with assisted providers, including utilities, who conduct personalized energy, environmental sustainability and waste audits. Staffwill check with the ED Specialist regarding energy audits and green services. Item 7, Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign, working with local organizations and assistance providers, is something that the city will be moving towards. #26. Item 1, Adopt a model Ordinance for Sustainable Development, (b) Model Wind energy ordinance is an item that is currently being looked at in an effort to be proactive. #27. Local Food - Item 1, Incorporate working Landscapes - agriculture and forestry, (b) Local Food Production District is complete and Item 3a, Create a Farmer's Market and 3c, A community or school garden, orchard or forest have also been completed. Discussion is currently taking place regarding Item 4b, backyard gardening/chickens. #28. Business Synergies - Item 3, Require, build or facilitate in a business/industrial project. (f) Renovated buildings, is complete. Planning Commission Minutes January 25, 2011 Page 4 5. Meeting ended at approximately 7:30PM Respectfully submitted, ~~ Sue Miller Administrative Assistant