3. PCSR 12-22-2015Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Item 3.1
Meeting of the Elk River Planning Commission
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Chair Eric Johnson, Commissioners Andrew Crook, Jeremy Johnson, Jill
Larson -Vito, Mark Konietzko and Brad Thiel
Commissioner Garrett Christianson
Senior Planner Chris Leeseberg and Sr. Administrative Assistant Jennifer
Johnson
Call Meeting to Order
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River Planning Commission
was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Eric Johnson.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider November 24, 2015, Planning Commission Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Jeremy Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Konietzko
to approve the November 24, 2015, Planning Commission agenda.
Motion carried 5-0.
4a. Consider October 27, 2015 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Konietzko and seconded by Commissioner Thiel to
approve the October 27, 2015, Regular Planning Commission meeting minutes.
Motion carried 5-0.
4b. Consider October 27, 2015, Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Larson -Vito and seconded by Commissioner Crook to
approve the October 27, 2015, Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting minutes.
Motion carried 5-0.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2
November 24, 2015
5.1 Request by Big Tex Trailer World for a Conditional Use Permit to allow
trailer sales and service at 17369 U.S. Highway 10, Case No. CU 15-21 —
Public Hearing
Mr. Leeseberg reviewed the staff report. He also discussed the handout regarding city
ordinance requirements when a building is purchased, requiring connection to city water and
sewer services. He stated the building will be leased and therefore this ordinance requirement
is not necessary; however, the CUP conditions require the site be served adequately by water
and sewer systems. Staff recommended approval of this request with the conditions listed in
the staff report and indicated the condition to connect to city services can be modified after
the commission discusses.
Commissioner Thiel asked questions regarding the requirements of the parking surface of
the back area of the property.
Mr. Leeseberg stated the current surface area is an approved surface and staff is not
recommending any changes.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Mark Fleisher, 85489 Harts Rd, Yulee, FL, represented the applicant and indicated the
operations at their facility would require low water consumption, asking that they continue
to use the current well and septic system on the property. He indicated they are leasing the
property with the intention of purchasing it in the future and wants to be a good neighbor in
Elk River for many years to come. He requested the condition of connecting to city utility
services be waived at this time due to the additional financial burden.
Commissioner Eric Johnson asked the applicant if the septic system was in compliance.
Mr. Fleisher indicated the septic was recently pumped and there appeared to be no apparent
indication of any problems. He again stated the use of the facility would require low water
and sewage use.
Commissioner Konietzko clarified if connecting to city utilities is a requirement when the
property is leased and not purchased.
Mr. Leeseberg stated it is a condition of the CUP and would be required if the building is
purchased.
There being no one else to speak, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Chair Johnson stated he was in favor of waiving condition #5 stating it would make more
sense to have the condition in place when the property was purchased.
Commissioners Jeremy Johnson and Konietzko agreed.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 3
November 24, 2015
Commissioner Larson -Vito stated she reads that connecting to services would be a
requirement if purchasing the building, but not leasing it. She stated she was hesitant to
require conditions of something when the applicants are leasing and not owning the
building.
The commission discussed adding a contingency to condition #5 that the well and septic be
found in compliance, and therefore wouldn't be required to connect to utility services until
the property is purchased.
Motion by Commissioner Jeremy Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Crook to
recommend approval of the request by Big Tex Trailer World for a Conditional Use
Permit to allow trailer sales and service at 17369 U.S. Highway 10 with the following
conditions:
1. The Conditional Use Permit shall not be recorded until all conditions have been
substantially completed.
2. The authorized use shall not begin until the Conditional Use Permit is recorded.
3. If the authorized use ceases for more than six months, the Conditional Use
Permit shall expire.
4. The Conditional Use Permit is not a building permit and the applicant must
apply for and receive approval of required building and sign permits before
construction may begin.
5. In lieu of hooking up to city services, a certificate of compliance or notice of
noncompliance, for the existing septic system, must be signed by a licensed
inspection business or by a qualified employee certified as an inspector who is
authorized by the local unit of government. The certificate of compliance or
notice of noncompliance must be submitted to the local unit of government no
later than 15 days after any compliance inspection.
6. The two subject parcels shall be combined.
7. A landscape plan shall be approved by city staff.
8. Landscaping improvements shall be installed by June 1, 2016.
9. All asphalt areas be seal coated.
10. All parking stalls for trailers and vehicles shall be marked as required by
ordinance.
11. The building shall be inspected by the city's Building Official and Fire Marshal
to verify compliance with all building and fire codes.
12. Concerns identified by the Building Official and Fire Marshal shall be addressed.
Motion carried 5-0.
5.2 Request by ERX Properties, LLC for Zone Change, Outlot A, Aggregate
Commercial Second Addition from CRT Commercial Reserve Transition to
XCR Extreme Commercial Recreation, Case No. ZC 15-1 1 — Public hearing
The staff report was presented by Chris Leeseberg.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing and continued this item to December 22, 2015.
Planning Commission lfinums Page 4
November 24, 2015
5.3 Request by Guardian Angels for Amendment to Sign Ordinance to Allow
Additional Sign, 508 Freeport Ave. NW, Case No. OA 15-1 1 — Public
Hearing
The staff report was presented by Mr. Leeseberg. He indicated staff recommends approval
of the request with the conditions listed in the staff report.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Guardian Angels President and CLO Dan Dixon, 28094 Yak Street, Zimmerman, stated the
sign will greatly assist in providing a clear entrance to their facility.
There being no one else to speak, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Jeremy Johnson and seconded by Commissioner
Konietzko to recommend approval of the request by Guardian Angels for an
ordinance amendment allowing a second area identification sign in the Mixed Use -
Elk River Plaza District not to exceed 50 square feet with a maximum height of 12
feet.
Motion carried 7-0.
5.4 Requests by Elk River Machine:
a. Rezone property at 828 4"' Street NW from various zonings to PUD,
Case No. ZC 15-10- Public Hearing
b. Conditional Use Permit to establish PUD zoning district, Case No. CU
15-20 — Public Hearing
Mr. Leeseberg reviewed the staff report. He indicated staff recommends approval of the
request with the conditions listed in the staff report.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Chris Fairchild, 448 - 137`h Lane, Andover, MN 55304, represented the applicant and
indicated the accessory building option allows for protection of raw materials from the
elements, and by combing the properties into one PUD will allow for a larger accessory
building to hold such materials.
There being no one further to speak, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Jeremy Johnson and seconded by Commissioner Thiel to
recommend approval of the request by Elk River Machine to rezone the property at
8284 Ih Street NW from various zoning districts (Planned Unit Development I-1, and
I-2) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) with the following conditions:
1. The five parcels included in the request shall be combined to create one
parcel.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 5
November 24, 2015
Motion carried 7-0.
Motion by Commissioner Konietzko and seconded by Commissioner Jeremy
Johnson to recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit, creating the Planned
Unit Development, with the following conditions:
1. All conditions of the Zone Change are satisfied.
2. Required building permits must be approved prior to construction beginning.
3. Re -stripe the parking lot to delineate all parking areas and stalls.
4. Submittal of an updated site plan identifying parking and circulation areas.
5. Submittal of an existing grading plan and a plan showing proposed changes.
Motion carried 7-0.
5.5 Request by LeFebvre Companies for Interim Use Permit to Extend
Temporary Office Use, Case No. CU I S-22 — Public Hearing
The staff report was presented by Mr. Leeseberg. He indicated staff recommends approval
of the request with the conditions listed in the staff report.
Commissioner Crook asked about their request from 2012.
Chair Johnson indicated he was on the commission at that time and from what he recalled,
the applicant, due to the unstable economy, didn't want to invest the money on making it a
permanent structure.
The commission agreed that the temporary building was well -kept but felt the applicant
needs to decide if they are committed to making this interim use building a permanent part
of their facility.
Chau Johnson opened the public hearing. There being no one there to speak, Chair Johnson
closed public hearing.
Commissioner Jeremy Johnson stated he felt three years was a reasonable amount of time
for the applicant to investigate making the temporary structure a permanent part of their
building.
After some discussion, staff was asked to provide information in the council staff report if
any building permits were pulled in the past, such as roof inspections, noting that temporary
structures have a different set of guidelines.
Motion by Commissioner Jill and seconded by Commissioner Konietzko to
recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit, creating the Planned Unit
Development, with the following conditions:
1. The Interim Use Permit shall expire on December 31, 2018.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 24, 2015
Page G
2. No further Interim Use Permits for temporary structures shall be granted for
the property.
Motion carried 7-0.
6. General Business
There was no general business.
7.1 City Council Liaison Update
Councilmember Burandt provided an update on recent City Council action taken on items
reviewed by the Planning Commission. They included two withdrawn applications; Big Tex -
Briggs Properties CUP and Rivers of Life IUP.
8. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting of the Elk River Planning Commission
adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Johnson.
Tina Allard
City Clerk
Eric Johnson
Chair, Planning Commission