10-25-2016 PC MINMeeting of the Elk River Planning Commission
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Members Present: Chair Johnson, Commissioners Alexander Feinstein, Mark Konietzko, Jill
Larson -Vito, Mike Nicholas, Robert Rydberg and Brad Thiel
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Planning Manager Zack Carlton, Senior Planner Chris Leeseberg and Sr.
Administrative Assistant Debbie Huebner
Also Present: Councilmember Burandt, Council Liaison
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 Vice Chair Konietzko.
2. Consider August 23, 2016, Planning Commission Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Larson -Vito and seconded by Commissioner Nicholas to
approve the August 23, 2016, Planning Commission agenda. Motion carried 6-0.
4.1 SCB Ventures, LLC — 14043 Business Center Drive NW
• Preliminary Plat Approval for Elk Path Business Center Sixth Addition, Case No. P
16-17
The staff report was presented by Chris Leeseberg. Staff recommended approval of the plat
based on the fact that the request meets the 8 findings for approval outlined in the
ordinance.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, Chair Johnson
closed the public hearing.
Moved by Commissioner Larson -Vito and seconded by Commissioner Nicholas to
recommend approval of the request by SCB Ventures for Preliminary Plat Approval,
Case No. P 16-17, with the following conditions:
1. All comments in the Engineers Memo dated October 4, 2016, shall be addressed.
2. All comments in the Stormwater Coordinators Memo dated October 4, 2016, shall
be addressed.
3. All comments in the MnDOT Senior Planner Memo dated October 12, 2016, shall
be addressed
Planning Commission Minutes
Octobu 25, 2016
Motion carried 7-0.
4.2 SprintlVeteran Signworks — 19179 Freeport Street NW
• Conditional Use Permit to amend Elk Park Center PUD Agreement relating to
signage, Case No. CU 16-29
The staff report was presented by Chris Leeseberg. Staff recommended approval of the
request as presented.
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Commissioner Larson -Vito asked how the change would affect the adjacent Starbucks. Mr.
Leeseberg stated that they would be allowed to have a wall sign 15% of the wall area.
Chair Johnson opened the public heating. There being no public comment, Chair Johnson
closed the public hearing.
Moved by Commissioner Larson -Vito and seconded by Commissioner Nicholas to
recommend approval of the request by Sprint for a Conditional Use Permit to amend
the Elk Park Center PUD Agreement relating to signage, as outlined in the staff
report. Motion carried 7-0.
4.3 John Madsen — Ordinance Amendment
• Ordinance Amendment Dog Daycare/Overnight Stay, Case No. OA 16-17
The staff report was presented by Chris Leeseberg. Staff recommended approval of the
request as proposed in the report.
Commissioner Thiel asked if the use would be both daycare and overnight stays. He stated
he was not sure about the 14 day stay limit and how it could be enforced.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
John Madsen, applicant — stated yes, he is asking for daycare and overnight boarding. He
stated that he is ok with the 14 days, but he wanted to know if there could be an exception
process for those rare cases where longer than 14 days would be needed. He cited as
examples someone being in the hospital, undergoing treatment, or extended vacations.
Commissioner Larson -Vito stated she did not see how it would work to put an arbitrary
number on the permit. She did not see what difference it would make if you had 7 dogs for
7 days or one dog for 30 days. Mr. Leeseberg stated that more dogs together could generate
more noise because once one dog starts barking, other dogs might join in.
There being no further comments, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Thiel stated that he was comfortable with 21 — 30 day stays, as that would
allow for exceptions. Discussion of the number of days followed.
Planning Commission Minutes
October 25, 2016
Page 3
Motion by Commissioner Konietzko and seconded by Commissioner Feinstein to
recommend approval of the request by John Madsen for an ordinance amendment to
allow commercial kennels in the Central Commercial (C-1) District as presented,
with the following change:
Section 30-1022 — C-1 central business district (d) Conditional Uses (19) Commercial
Kennel (a) no long term boarding exceeding 30 days takes place
Motion carried 7-0.
4.4 Pauline Clark — 611 Xenia Avenue NW
• Zone change from RaI (Single Family Residential) to R2b (Two -Family Residential),
Case No. ZC 16-06
The staff report was presented by Zack Carlton. Staff recommended approval of the request
with the two conditions listed in the staff report.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Pauline Clark, applicant — stated that they have a buyer interested in the property. She noted
that the neighbor has stated he has no problem with the rezoning.
There being no further comments, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Konietzko and seconded by Commissioner Feinstein to
recommend approval of the request by Pauline Clark to rezone the property located
at 611 Xenia Avenue from R -1c (Single Family Residential) to R -2b (Two -Family
Residential). Motion carried 7-0.
4.5 Spectrum High School — 11044 Industrial Circle NW
• Conditional Use Permit for Institutional Use, Case No. CU 16-28
Zack Carlton stated that the applicant is working on significant changes to their application
and asked that this item be postponed one month.
Chair Johnson opened the public and continued this item to the November 22, 2016
Planning Commission meeting.
4.6 City of Elk River — Ordinance Amendment
■ Ordinance Amendment to allow decks in the wetland buffer setback area, Case No.
OA 16-15
The staff report was presented by Chris Leeseberg. Staff recommended approval of the
amendment as written.
Commissioner Thiel asked why there was no mention of signage for the buffer. Mr.
Leeseberg explained that with the change, it would no longer be necessary.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 4
October 25, 2016
Chau Johnson opened the public hearing.
Craig Wensmann of Bogart Pederson in Becker, MN — explained the dilemma the buffer
wetland setbacks causes for undeveloped lots previously platted, citing Rolling Hills as an
example. He stated that some lots become unbuildable due to the setbacks. Mr. Wensmann
asked that the Planning Commission take into consideration setbacks for homes, not just
decks.
Chau Johnson stated that the variances requests have all been for decks. Commissioner
Larson -Vito stated that variance requests will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis, such as the examples Mr. Wensmann cited.
There being no further comments, Chau Johnson closed the public hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Larson -Vito and seconded by Commissioner Nicholas to
recommend approval of the ordinance amendment to allow decks in the wetland
buffer setback area, for properties platted prior to June 19, 2006, as presented by staff.
Motion carried 7-0.
4.7 City of Elk River — Ordinance Amendment
• Ordinance Amendment to define outdoor storage, Case No OA 16-16
The staff report was presented by Zack Carlton. Staff recommended approval of the
amendment as detailed in the staff report.
Chau Johnson opened the public hearing. There being no public comment, Chau Johnson
closed the public heating.
Motion by Commissioner Larson -Vito and seconded by Commissioner Konietzko to
recommend approval of the ordinance amendment regarding outdoor storage as
proposed. Motion carried 7-0.
S. General Business
Commissioner Thiel will attend the November 7 and November 21, 2016, City Council
meetings.
6.1 City Council Liaison Update
Councilmember Burandt reviewed the September 19, 2016, City Council actions taken on
the planning items from the September 27, 2016, Planning Commission meeting.
7. Adjournment
Planning Commission Minutes
October 25, 2016
There being no further business, the meeting of the Elk River Planning Commission
adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Debbie Huebner.
Tina Allard
Ci lerk
ohnson, Vice Chair
Planning Commission
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