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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.10.96 Planning Packet . . . AGENDA PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 8:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVE MINUTES a. August 13, 1996 - Regular 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS a) 8:00 P.M. - Conditional Use for Frontier Communications Switching Building in Nelsen Hills Farm Addition b) 8:00 P.M. - Rezoning Request for Lots 7 and 8, Block 5 plus Vacant Land Immediately to the North from R-3 to R-2 c) 8:00 P.M. - Rezoning Request for 60 x 120 Foot Lot on West Side of Second Street Immediately South of Feely Elevator from R3 to B-2 d) 8:00 P.M. - Preliminary Plat of Farmington Industrial Park Third Addition 4. DISCUSSION a) Request for Variance for 6 Foot Front Yard Fence - 5893 193rd Street b) Consideration of Sidewalk Cafes in Downtown c) Proposed Zoning Amendment Regarding Recycling d) Proposed Zoning Amendment Regarding Antenna Towers e) Todd and Lena Larson Special Exception Request for Accessory Apartment f) Comprehensive Plan Amendment Regarding MUSA Expansion 5 . ADJOURN PRIMARY ELECTION DAY - MEETING TO BEGIN AFTER POLLS CLOSE AT 8:00 P.M. . . . AGENDA REPORT PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 (NOTE: THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 8:00 P.M. DUE TO THE PRIMARY ELECTION) 1. Call to Order 2. Approve Minutes 3. Public Hearings 8:00 P.M. - Conditional Use Request - Frontier Communications Switcbing Building on West 1/2 of Lot 1, Block 3, Nelsen Hills Farm Lot 1, Block 3 of Nelsen Hills Farm was a large lot because of the 100 foot wide gas line easement which divided it into two segments. The east half was large enough for a single family home, but, the west half includes only 28 feet of depth between the gas line easement and the front yard setback along Euclid Path. Since the original lot exceeds 20,000 square feet, it has been divided into two lots separated at the centerline of the gas line easement. The westerly half is an ideal location for the telephone company switching building and a conditional use for such a use was approved by the Planning Commission on September 14, 1993. This approval was not acted upon within one year and, therefore, must be reapproved in order to proceed. The landscape plan was revised to reflect comments made during the original hearing. . RECOMMENDATION Approve the conditional use permit for a telephone company switching building at the northeast corner of Euclid Path and 190th Street West. 8:00 P.M. - Rezoning Request - Lots 7 & 8, Block 5, plus Vacant Parcel Immediately to tbe Nortb - from R-3 Higb Density Residential to R-2 Medium Density Residential These lots came to the attention of staff when a similar request was submitted for Lot 9 and the north one half of vacated Locust Street. This block is already largely developed at medium density and would be more appropriately zoned R-2. The landowners agree. . RECOMMENDATION Forward a recommendation to City Council endorsing a change in zoning from R-3 High Density Residential to R-2 Medium Density Residential for Lots 7 and 8, Block 5, plus the vacant parcel immediately to the north. . . . 8:00 P.M. - Rezoning Request - 60 x 120 Foot Lot on West Side of Second Street Immediately South of Feely Elevator from R-3 High Density Residential to B-2 General Business This lot came to the attention of staff when recycling in the south building of the Feely Elevator complex of buildings was being discussed. The Feely Elevator building had been divided by a zoning district line by mistake. This error was recently corrected by the City Council, leaving this long and narrow lot adjoining the railroad as high density residential. It was agreed at the time of the earlier discussion that zoning should be changed to be included within the downtown business district. . RECOMMENDATION Forward a recommendation to Council endorsing a change in zoning from R-3 High Density Residential to B-2 General Business 8:00 P.M. - Preliminary Plat of Farmington Industrial Park Third Addition This plat, situated north of County Road 50 between FEI and Duo Plastics, was submitted by Mark peltier with one large lot and one large outlot totaling 29 acres. The purpose of the plat was to create a site for mini storage units. A problem which has developed is the HRA decision not to proceed with the fourth phase of the Industrial Park. This made storm water retention and an outlet expensive and the Developer believed he should have been given better cost information at the beginning. The plat was withdrawn from consideration after the hearing was advertised. 4. Discussion . Request from Brent Peterson, 5893 193rd Street, for 6 Foot Fence This request for a six foot solid cedar fence built in a front yard in TroyHil1 results from miscommunication about fences in front yards. The lot in question is situated on a corner and the property owner called City Hall to ask for fence setback requirements. He was told that the fence had to be setback 30 feet from the front street, but did not realize that in Farmington every street is a front street. The fence is in and the owner opted for an informal discussion with the Commission to find out his chances of getting a variance. Other options are to move the fence back to the front yard setback or to cut two feet from the top. In the past, the only variances granted were associated with arterial streets. Everest Path in TroyHil1 is a neighborhood collector street and would not attract the same volume of traffic carried by a minor arterial street. The issue is the potential restricted use of a yard for Mr. Peterson versus blocked visibility down the street for whoever may purchase the lot immediately to the north. . RECOMMENDATION Look at the lot prior to the meeting for insight into a possible solution. . . . . Consideration of Sidewalk Cafes Downtown Farmington Bakery would like to invest in street furniture, including tables, chairs and an extended canopy for the sidewalk in front of this store next summer. Currently the ordinance does not allow any uses within public rights of way. When downtown businesses asked for portable signs within the rights of way, the Council added to the sign ordinance a section which requires one million dollars worth of insurance for public liability and property damage caused by the signs. The decision this time is a bit more complex because the bakery already has one table on the sidewalk and it is difficult to imagine how much more could be added without blocking pedestrian flow in front of the building. Another option would be an expansion of the pedestrian area into the street by eliminating the parking spaces in front of the business and converting that area into cafe space in the manner of the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis. This is not likely to be popular idea with the Public Works Department. . Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment Regarding Recycling The enclosed ordinance proposal is based largely on the Prior Lake ordinance with some influence from the Elk River ordinance. Staff anticipates some commentary from the City Attorney prior to the meeting. . Proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment Regarding Antenna Towers The enclosed ordinance proposal is based largely on the Bloomington ordinance which was enclosed with materials sent by the League of Minnesota Cities. Staff anticipates some commentary from the City Attorney prior to the meeting. . Todd and Lena Larson Special Exception Request for Accessory Apartment The site plan suggests the possibility of four off street parking spaces plus two additional spaces in that portion of the driveway within the street right of way. The ordinance calls for landscaping to buffer parking from abutting properties. However, the site layout is such that buffering is not possible without creating a longer driveway or additional parking stalls elsewhere on the property. . Recommendation Approve the requested special exception to create an accessory apartment at 819 7th Street. . Comprehensive Plan Amendment Regarding MUSA Expansion Currently, the City has 597 acres of developable land within MUSA. It is divided between 392 acres of residential property and 205 acres of commercial/industrial land. The Council and Planning Commission agreed in the Spring of 1996 that the 550 acre land area between 195th Street and the Industrial Park is the first priority for MUSA expansion. The 152 acre land area between Dakota County Estates, prairie Creek, Akin Park and Limerock Ridge . , . . on the west and the flood plain and park preserve to the east (all north of 195th Street) is the second priority. The Met Council household forecast indicates a need for 875 acres of MUSA in the year 2000, plus a 5 year overage to 2005 of 1313 acres. The existing available acreage within MUSA, together with the two priority land areas, totals 1299 acres or a near perfect match of need versus availability for the year 2005. The other land areas discussed were not given a priority since some that are very close to existing developed area are within Empire Township. This, perhaps, should be reviewed once again by the Commission since the request for additional MUSA should anticipate City growth through the year 2010. The additional 425 acres would bring the Farmington land area within MUSA to 1724 acres which approximately coincides with the anticipated need of 1775 acres. The major flaw in the apparent match in expectation is that Genstar is within six years of eliminating Ag Preserve from 640 acres of residential land in Empire Township north of the percine plat. The same question can be raised about the Devney farm immediately west of the Industrial Park. This land will be out of Ag Preserve in 1999. A second meeting in September is suggested to discuss this further, as well as to respond to the Met Council request for a five year capital improvement program and an updated transportation plan to accompany the current MUSA expansion plan. ~~ 1! 1),~ Charles Tooker City Planner .