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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.30.03 Work Session Minutes City Council/Planning CommissionIHRA Workshop Minutes April 30, 2003 Mayor Ristow called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. Absent: Also Present: Mayor Ristow, Councilmembers Cordes, Fitch, Fogarty, Soderberg Dirk Rotty, Ben Barker, Bob Heman, Chaz Johnson, Todd Larson Todd Arey, Yvonne Flaherty Joel Jamnik, Ed Shukle, Kevin Carroll, Robin Roland, Cynthia Muller Paul Hardt, Nick Roberts Dale Pettis, Jeff Thelen, Jan Karrmann, Larry White, Michelle Leonard Present: Industrial Park Lot Solit The meeting was held to discuss the splitting of a lot in the industrial park into three lots. One of the lots is being discussed for a daycare. Council first took a poll to see where they stood. Councilmember Fitch was in favor of the concept, as well as Councilmember Cordes, however there should be conditions placed on the type of building materials used. The Planning Commission would be willing to look at a lot split, and decide on a conditional use permit. Attorney Jamnik stated all three bodies needed to be on the same page. A simple majority is required of each body. A no vote would end the project. Staff stated the lot in question is in the 2nd Addition of the industrial park. There is park/open space to the north and a pipeline easement through the middle, which does not allow for structures. By splitting this area into three lots, there would be a 50-foot easement along the border of each lot. Lot 3 would have a future road on the east side, and the building would face east. This lot would include an extension to 208th Street for access until the road to the east is built. It is easier to sell smaller lots. Council asked about bringing in utilities and if the pipeline has been abandoned. The process is not that far along to review utilities and the pipeline has not been abandoned. Council stated within five years there have been no serious inquiries regarding the lot, and questioned how dividing this into three lots would make people buy it. Staffhas received inquiries about smaller lots. Once the lots are split, they would be available to advertise. Council then asked if there was additional cost for utilities to be run to three lots rather than one. Staff stated PIC had a similar issue and needed rerouting of the sanitary sewer. The HRA allowed additional funds through TIF for the project. Council expressed some concern that a permanent access from lot 3 to 208th Street would prohibit the city from imposing an assessment against the lot for the cost of the future road on the east side of the lot. The HRA felt the access to 208th Street would be temporary and future access would be from the east. The temporary driveway is too close to the intersection. This would be made clear when the lot is sold. City Council/Planning CornmissionIHRA Workshop April 30, 2003 Page 2 The Planning Commission has dealt with lot 2. They would like a consensus if the lot split is approved. The city needs to decide if they should wait for a tenant for one large lot, or split the lot, and take the tenant for lot 2. The HRA asked ifthere were any drainage issues by splitting the lots. Staff stated the drainage would be addressed when the lots are split. Drainage costs have been dealt with and assessments would be paid by the developer of each lot. Mayor Ristow stated he has no problem with the lot split as long as architectural designs are met for the industrial park. The Planning Commission asked if the siding for the proposed daycare is concrete. Mayor Ristow stated according to the building official it is lap siding. Councilmember Soderberg stated the siding proposed did not fit the definition of tip-up siding or poured concrete. When the design standards were set, this material was not anticipated. The HRA agreed to the lot split with the contingency that access to lot 3 be changed from 208th Street to the east once the road to the east is built. Staff stated the lots are priced at $1.50/sq. ft. and include all assessments with the exclusion of County Road 31. As to when the road to the east will be built, depends on when the Murphy property is sold. The Planning Commission asked regarding the property for the daycare, what the building inspectors thought of the material. If it does not meet the design standards, the Planning Commission would have to approve a variance in order for Ms. Karrmann to be able to use HardiPlank. Attorney Jamnik stated the role ofthe building inspectors was to determine ifthe material requested matched the list of materials in the design standards. The quality of the material was not considered, just if it matched the list. The material did not exist when the list was made. A variance can be granted. Attorney Jamnik also stated that considering the lot split does not mean an agreement has been reached to deviate from other standards. Chair Rotty stated the Planning Commission needed to determine whether a daycare is a reasonable use in the industrial park. If they do not think it is appropriate, Ms. Karrmann needs to be advised. Commissioner Heman felt it was a good location for a daycare. He also thought the building materials could meet the requirements as the requested siding is poured and tipped up on site. He is in favor of the project. Commissioner Johnson agreed. The daycare could be utilized by industrial park employees. He agreed to consider the requested siding, but wanted more input from Council regarding the building materials. Commissioner Barker stated there might be a better location, but Ms. Karrmann is trying to keep her business in Farmington and he felt it could be a benefit to the industrial park. Commissioner Larson stated he is not against the daycare being in the industrial park. However, the requested siding does not meet the original intent of the industrial park. Chair Rotty stated the Planning Commission did support the Conditional Use Permit, however they did not reach a full consensus on the building materials. Councilmember Soderberg asked if the daycare is not approved, does this prohibit other businesses from in house daycare? Attorney Jamnik stated the daycare would be defined as a separate or incidental use. To have daycare listed in the code as a conditional use avoids this. Ms. Jan Karrmann stated she has put several years of research into this project. There is not enough daycare in Farmington, and why should residents go out oftown? There are two daycare centers in the city and they both are at maximum capacity. Industrial park businesses felt this would be a valuable asset to their employees. The industrial park is a great location. She does City Council/Planning CornmissionIHRA Workshop April 30, 2003 Page 3 not want to construct a pole barn. Her building will look as good as any other building out there. Councilmember Fitch stated as far as design standards, the city has turned down other businesses that would not comply with those standards, and asked Ms. Karrmann if it would be a hardship for her to comply. Ms. Karrmann replied it would, as she might not be able to buy as much playground equipment, kitchen equipment, etc. Any additional equipment would have to be purchased later. She felt each case should be dealt with individually. This is not an industrial application. Mr. Larry White stated the siding is 90% cement and sand, and therefore considered a concrete product. They could build a building out of concrete block and paint it to meet the standards, but it would not look as attractive. They would like the building to have a more warm feeling to kids. The siding is warranted for 50 years. The building could be converted to light industrial use in the future if needed. Mr. Dale Pettis stated he is concerned about traffic, but is for the daycare. He would like to see 208th Street extended. Mr. Jeff Thelen asked if3M were here with a daycare, would it be allowed? He listed several businesses that were turned down. He asked how these businesses could be turned down and the city still consider a daycare. The city did not want the property used for a city garage but wanted to save room for an industrial use. He does not see the logic in allowing a daycare. Mr. Thelen then stated there are covenants written to allow a maximum of 10% steel covering. He asked if the city or HRA was hoarding property for their own use on 3rd and Spruce Street and saving it for a City Hall? Staff stated the City Hall Task Force has targeted that property for a new City Hall and is awaiting Council's decision. The HRA has a letter of understanding with Vinge Tile on 2 lots on Hwy 50. Mr. Thelen agreed that Vinge would be a good fit for the industrial park. HRA Chair Arey stated the HRA owns the lot at 3rd and Spruce Street and under staff recommendation they are not marketing it due to a possible new City Hall. Councilmember Cordes stated the siding is not an acceptable use. Attorney J amnik stated if the Planning Commission feels the siding is acceptable, the Planning Commission can recommend a change to the ordinance. Hardi-Plank is not a listed acceptable use and the building official says it does not meet the design standards. Councilmember Soderberg stated it is a poured cast product, and he has no problem with it. Councilmember Fitch stated it is fine for residential use, but high standards have been set for the industrial park. Other businesses have been turned down that did not meet the standards. The question for the Planning Commission is does it meet current standards of the industrial park? Chair Rotty recommended a text amendment to the ordinance. Staff stated the covenants were adopted during the first phase of the industrial park. During the second phase the covenants became part of the ordinance. Council requested staff investigate the covenants and decide if the ordinance should be changed. Council agreed to divide the lot. Councilmembers Soderberg, Fogarty, and Fitch reached a consensus that daycare should remain as a conditional use in the industrial park. Councilmember Fitch stated the conditional uses should be reviewed for the future. Staff stated the requested building materials do not meet design standards for the industrial park. If Ms. Karrmann would like to appeal this, it would need to go to the Planning Commission. City Council/Planning CornmissionIHRA Workshop April 30, 2003 Page 4 Blaba Prooerty The HRA felt the best development opportunity for 3rd and Spruce Street would be to market the lot with the Blaha property. Mr. Blaha is willing to sell the property for $265,000. He will not sign a right of first refusal with the city. Council has agreed to decide on whether to move forward with the proposed City Hall project within 45 days. Councilmember Fitch suggested if the property is used for a City Hall, the HRA should buy the property. The meeting adjourned at 11 :20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, (1 ~4;~ ;;~~~:.- /7 r." Cynthia Muller Executive Assistant