Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 6-8-21Planning Commission Minutes Regular Meeting June 8, 2021 1. Call to Order Chair Rotty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Rotty, Franceschelli, Lehto, Tesky, Windschitl Members Absent: None Also Present: Tony Wippler, Planning Manager 2. Approval of Minutes a. MOTON by Franceschelli, second by Windschitl to approve the minutes of May 11 and 25, 2021. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. Public Hearings – Chair Rotty opened the public hearings a. Amendment to Section 11-4-2(D) of the Subdivision Ordinance Regarding Private Streets – Continued Staff is reviewing the portion of the Subdivision ordinance (Section 11-4-2(D)) relating to private streets. Currently private streets are allowed in the R-2, R-T and R-D zoning districts under a Planned Unit Development. Usually private streets are found within a townhome development. Staff is proposing to only allow private streets in the R-3 (townhome developments) and R-5 (apartments) zoning districts. Private streets are not built to city standards, meaning not as wide, not enough boulevard area or right-of-way to accommodate snow storage and general maintenance of the road. The city does not want to have to take over private streets. Some cities regulate the length of a private street or limit the number of units that access the private street. Lakeville goes by the number of units and calls them private drives. Typically private streets are within outlots which go up to the back of curb. Staff also wanted to discuss setbacks. Currently in the R-3 the city allows for a 25 ft front yard setback. On a private street, that will go from the building to the curb of the street, there is no boulevard area. Member Windschitl was in favor of R-3 as townhomes usually have extra parking spaces to clear snow. He had a concern with the R-5 because of the number of units. He felt it was best to go by the number of units for street length. Staff suggested we could go with allowing private streets in just the R-3. Member Lehto agreed with keeping private streets in just the R-3 and not the R-5. Member Tesky also agreed with just the R-3 for private streets. We also need to make sure there are accommodations for off-street parking. Member Franceschelli asked why not make all city standard streets. You don’t need cul- de-sacs so emergency vehicles can get through. He would agree with the R-3 only for private streets, but really favored just all city standard streets. With many private streets, two cars cannot pass each other. Staff noted the city’s standard for the width of private streets, does allow for room for emergency vehicles, etc. As far as making all streets Planning Commission Minutes June 8, 2021 Page 2 public, there is some staff that would favor that. Planning Manager Wippler still felt private streets should be allowed in some circumstances. Developments are planned that private streets are the responsibility of the development. He felt it made sense to allow them with townhome developments and to put other criteria on them, such as length or number of units. Member Franceschelli liked the idea of calling them drives. Chair Rotty had a similar feeling about having all public streets, but agreed with limiting them to R-3 zoning and have some criteria with them. Residents deserve to have a safe street. As far as other criteria, most cities have a maximum length for a private street. Chair Rotty asked if a developer could come in with a PUD and want a variance on any new ordinance. Staff stated currently, they are only allowed as a PUD. That would remain. They could request a variance, but staff may not approve it. Member Franceschelli stated there is nothing preventing them from getting court relief if you give them that out, so why give them the out. Don’t give them the option of getting a variance. This is the standard and you are required to meet it or redesign accordingly. Staff agreed within the code we want to be specific with requirements. Chair Rotty agreed with that. Staff will limit private streets to R-3, look at length or number of units and some sort of connectivity or turn around. Requirements should be very similar to public streets. MOTION by Franceschelli, second by Tesky to continue the public hearing to July 13, 2021. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Discussion a. Findings of Fact for Conditional Use Permit Denial – Armando Gutierrez – 310 Third Street A public hearing was held on May 11, 2021, to start an auto repair major use out of this property. The Planning Commission unanimously denied the conditional use permit. All members agreed with the Findings of Fact. MOTION by Franceschelli, second by Lehto to adopt the Findings of Fact for conditional use denial for 310 Third Street. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 5. Adjourn MOTION by Franceschelli, second by Tesky to adjourn at 7:33 p.m. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, Cynthia Muller Cynthia Muller Administrative Assistant