4.4. SR 05-26-1998IT~ 4.4.
of
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
Sandra Thackeray, City Clerk
May 26, 1998
Request for Conditional Use Permit for
Boys and Girls Club of Elk River
On Monday, May 18, 1998, the City Council reviewed a request for a
conditional use permit for the Boys and Girls Club of Elk River. Prior to
voting on the CUP, it was decided that two of the council members would
abstain because they serve on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors.
The vote would have been a 2-0-2 vote with two council members voting in
favor and two abstaining. I was uncertain as to whether two votes in favor
would have been sufficient to pass the motion. Therefore, a vote on the issue
was tabled.
After doing some research on "Abstentions," I found the subject to be very
complicated. To make a long explanation short, in the instance of a majority
vote, a 2-0-2 vote would pass if the two voters are abstaining because of a
personal interest or conflict of interest in the matter. If the two abstentions
chose to abstain just because they chose not to vote on the matter, the vote
would not pass.
In essence, the issue is complicated and the advice that is normally given is
to avoid this type of situation whenever possible.
In Summary ..... In this case, a 2-0-2 vote would pass the conditional use
permit.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
.y of
Item # 6.12.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor and City Council
Scott Harlicker, Planning Assistant/~'
May 18, 1998
SUBJECT:
Request by Boys and Girls Club of Elk
River for Conditional Use Permit,
Public Hearing Case No. CU 98-10
Request
Consider a request by the Boys and Girls Club of Elk River to construct a
building to house the boys and girls club.
Location
Lions Park, southeast corner
Zoning/Land Use
PUD (Planned Unit Development) / OS (Open Space)
Attachments
· Location map
· Site plan
· Report from the City Engineer
Overview
The Boys and Girls Club of Elk River is proposing to a construct a 12,000 sf.
building in the southeast corner of Lions Park to house their club facility.
The proposed building will be adjacent to an existing parking lot near the
entrance from Jackson Street. The proposed building will be one story,
decorative block earth tone building with a shingle roof. The building will be
connected to municipal sewer and water. Access to the site will be via the
existing driveway from Jackson Street. Parking will be provided in the
existing lot located in front of the proposed building. There is some
discrepancy between the distances shown on the landscaping plan and the
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to Mayor and City CounciYCU 98-10
May 18, 1998
Page 2
site, utility and grading plan. In order to be certain of the existing site layout
the site should be surveyed.
Parking
The facility will be utilizing an existing 47 space parking lot that currently
serves the east side of the park. There is also a 54 space parking lot located
on the west side of the park with access from Lions Park Drive. There is a
total of 101 parking spaces for the park. At the present time parking has not
been a problem for the park.
The existing layout for the east parking lot has 11 spaces along the north side
of the lot. Because of the increased traffic generated by the boys and girls
club, in order to direct traffic safely into the lot it might be necessary to
eliminate 2 or 3 of these spaces and install a landscaped island. With the
construction of the proposed boys and girls club, parking may become a
problem during certain times since the club will be utilizing the east parking
lot. However, there is additional space available for expansion of the east
parking lot if that becomes necessary. The parking lot should be resurfaced
and striped after construction has been completed.
Grading and Drainage and Utilities
Drainage is proposed to be directed overland to an existing off-site swale. The
City Engineer is reviewing the grading, drainage, and sewer and water plans.
His comments are contained in the attached memo.
Landscaping
With the use of this portion of the parking being intensified, additional
landscaping should be provided. The landscape plan shows trees that do not
exist. A more formal landscaped entrance drive would be an option as would
shade trees around the perimeter of the parking lot and an evergreen screen
along the south property line. A revised and accurate landscape plan should
be provided for staff review and approval.
Planning Commission Meeting
At the Planning Commission meeting held on April 28th Councilmember
Thompson gave an overview regarding the types of activities that will be
offered at the club and the age groups the club will target. The club will be
open Monday through Saturday; membership will include boys and girls ages
6 to 18. Activities offered will include a game room, computer lab, gym, and
arts and crafts. Dana Anderson, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation
s:\planning\scott\cu9810cc.doc
Memo to Mayor and City Counci]JCU 98-10
May 18, 1998
Page 3
Commission, was also at the meeting and indicated the Commission was in
favor of the project. The Planning Commission discussed the club's impact on
the park and the possible expansion of the parking lot.
Recommendation
The Planning Commission recommended the City Council approve this
conditional use permit for the construction of a 12,000 sf. Boys and Girls
Club with the following conditions.
1. Elevations of the building be provided for review and approval.
2. All comments of the City Engineer be addressed.
3. A revised landscaping plan including additional landscaping along the
entrance drive and parking lot be provided for review and approval.
4. The parking lot be resurfaced and striped following completion of
construction.
5. The site plan be revised to show area for possible parking lot expansion
and proposed layout for the existing parking lot.
6. The site be surveyed.
s:\planning\scott\cu98 lOcc.doc
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Howard R, Green Oompany
OONSULTING ENGINEERS
April 24, 1998
File: 803530J-0240
Formerly MSA
Consulting Engineers
Mr. Steve Ach
City Planner
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
P.O. Box 490
Elk River, MN 55330-0490
RE:
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
SITE UTILITY AND GRADING PLAN REVIEW
Dear Mr. Ach:
As requested, we have reviewed the Site Utility and Grading Plan for the proposed Boys and
Girls Club to be built in the southeast corner of Lion's Park. The plan was prepared by John
Oliver & Associates and was dated March 13, 1998. Based on our review and comments
received at the staff review meeting, we would offer the following comments:
A. SANITARY SEWER AND WATERMAIN
The plan currently shows connecting to the 6" sanitary sewer and 6" watermain stubs off
of Jackson Avenue, which were intended to serve Bud Holton's lot. The sanitary sewer
shows extending 6" pipe into the site including three manholes at the 90-degree bends.
The water shows a 6" watermain being extended into the site with a fire hydrant located
at the end prior to the building. In discussions with Bryan Adams and Bob McCartney of
the Elk River Municipal Utilities and Bruce West of the Elk River Fire Department, there
seems to be a disagreement as to how to serve the site. Bryan and Bob would prefer
that the 6" water line not be extended into the site with no hydrant placed near the
building, but rather an adequately sized service for the building's water consumption be
extended into the site. The reason for this is twofold: one, a 6" line will be dead-end
with no potential for looping any time in the future. The second issue is soils in this area
are quite organic and very unstable, which makes pipe bedding very difficult. Sand pipe
bedding would have to be imported, but there is still no guarantee that in the future
settlement or movement of the pipe line may cause watermain leaks. Bruce, on the
other hand, feels that a hydrant is necessary near the building for fire fighting purposes.
The closest existing hydrant is located at Jackson Avenue and the entrance road to
Lion's Park. These two departments will continue to discuss this issue and the plan
should be changed if necessary to reflect their conclusion.
The sanitary sewer, as described above, would essentially provide for two individually
owned parcels--the Boys and Girls Club and the Bud Holton property--to be serviced
through the same sanitary sewer service. This is in violation of the City Ordinance. To
provide sanitary sewer to the site as shown, the Boys and Girls Club would have to
°:\PR°'f\~03~°~P¢~4~'r~Pr~:e · St. Paul, MN 55108 · 612/644-4389 fax 612/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389
Mr. Steve Ach
April 24, 1998
Page Two
provide information indicating they have permission to use the service intended for Bud's
property along Jackson Avenue since he was originally assessed for that service. Then,
when Bud's property develops, a new service would have to be connected to the existing
sanitary sewer.
The other solution would be to have the Boys and Girls Club sewer service tapped into
the main in Jackson Avenue. In either case, it should be noted that the sanitary sewer to
service the Boys and Girls Club will be considered a service which is a responsibility of
the property owner.
B. GRADING PLAN
The plan indicates that it is a Grading Plan; however, no proposed elevations are
provided. Therefore, no comments are made relative to the proposed grading of the
site.
C. STORM DRAINAGE
The north and west sides of the side are indicated to flow overland to the Lion's Park
pond. This is indicated by flow arrows. The south or rear of the building is shown to flow
to the southeast corner of the site, then across a 15-foot.drainage easement to be
obtained from the Bud Holton parcel, and then south through what is labeled an existing
swale. This existing swale is the way that this large parcel of land used to drain prior to
being converted to park use, and prior to the installation of trunk storm sewer from the
Lion's Park pond. We are not sure if this existing drainage swale is still operational or if
there are any easements to allow the use of this swale. We would suggest that a better
way to drain the back of the building would be to bring it around the east side to the
north where a catch basin from the existing trunk storm sewer could be strategically
placed.
D. MISCELLANEOUS
One other comment that was raised at the staff review meeting was whether or not the
existing bituminous parking lot would be of sufficient size to service both the park and
the Boys and Girls Club.
If you have any questions regarding these comments, please call.
Sincerely,
Howard R. Green Company
Terry ~ Maurer, P.E.
TJM:tw
Howard R, Green Company
O:\PROJ\8035301\S30-24OI .apt.doc CONSULTING ENGINEERS