3. PC DRAFT MINUTES 11-27-2018
Meeting of the
Elk River Planning Commission
Held at the Elk River City Hall
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Members Present: Chair Eric Johnson, Commissioners Jill Larson-Vito, Robert
Rydberg, Alexander Feinstein, Brad Thiel, Mike Nicholas, and John
Jordan
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Senior Planner Chris Leeseberg, and Sr. Admin. Assistant/Recording
Secretary Jennifer Green
1. 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 Johnson.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Consider October 23, 2018, Planning Commission Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Larson-Vito and seconded by Commissioner
Nicholas to approve the October 23, 2018, Planning Commission agenda.
Motion carried 7-0.
4.1 Consider September 25, 2018, Planning Commission Minutes
Moved by Commissioner Larson-Vito and seconded by Commissioner
Feinstein to approve the September 25, 2018, Planning Commission minutes.
Motion carried 7-0.
5.1. AEGIR Brewing Co. LLC – 19050 Industrial Blvd. NW, #1
Conditional Use Permit to operate a microbrewery facility, Case No.
CU 18-17
Mr. Leeseberg presented the staff report. The applicants were present.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. There being no one present to speak,
Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
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October 23, 2018
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Moved by Commissioner Larson-Vito and seconded by Commissioner
Nicholas to recommend approval of the request by AEGIR Brewing Co. LLC
for the Conditional Use Permit to operate a microbrewery facility with the
following conditions:
1. The Conditional Use Permit shall not be recorded until the city
building official and fire marshal have inspected, and signed off
on, the building compliance with all state and local building
codes.
Motion carried 7-0.
5.2. Vinje Investments LLC – PID# 75-432-0101
Zone Change from Townhouse/Multiple Family Residential (R3) to Multiple
Family Residential (R4), Case No. ZC 18-106
Mr. Leeseberg presented the staff report.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Jeff Schiefelbein, representing the Ridgewood Manor Apartment Complex, asked
the Planning Commission to recommend denial of the zone change. He explained
the unit built on this lot would most likely be 2 stories and will significantly block the
open view that Ridgewood Manor currently affords. He stated renting those units
affected would be difficult as renters prefer an open view out their windows and
patios. He stated if they were to recommend approval, he asked that a condition of
planting dense natural shrubbery around the property line be added.
There being no one else to speak, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Mr. Leeseberg stated the city has not received any plans from the applicant and
stated the lot could potentially be used as a single-family property.
Commissioner Thiel stated he doesn’t have a problem with the zone change, noting
any building there could be multi-story.
Commissioner Larson-Vito stated since the Planning Commission wasn’t approving
a site plan at this time, they couldn’t add a condition of requiring any shrubbery as a
part of this application.
Chair Johnson asked if there were concerns with the required number of vehicle
stalls for each unit given the size of the parcel.
Mr. Leeseberg stated there would be numerous things to review but only if the zone
change was approved and the applicant would then look at those concerns.
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October 23, 2018
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Commissioner Jordan asked if notification went out to the surrounding property
owners and was there a defendable reason the Planning Commission could deny the
request for the zone change.
Mr. Leeseberg stated the surround property owners within 350’ of the property were
notified of the public hearing and he didn’t know why no other property owners
came. He stated this request meets the Comprehensive Plan and stated everything
surrounding this lot is zoned multiple family. He stated if the applicant presented a
site plan for the property, it may not require a Conditional Use Permit but staff
would review the plan internally and the plan would have to meet all requirements
such as parking, stormwater, landscaping and screening, etc.
Commissioner Jordan stated he shared Mr. Schiefelbein’s concerns and stated it was
a small spot to put a multi-family building.
Chair Johnson stated he wasn’t opposed to the zone change but was having a hard
time trying to visualize 10 units on that lot and still meet all the ordinance
requirements.
Commissioner Rydberg stated he didn’t feel an obstructed view is something that
can be a reason to deny the zone change request.
Moved by Commissioner Rydberg and seconded by Commissioner Larson-
Vito to recommend approval of the request by Vinje Investments LLC for
Zone Change from Townhouse/Multiple Family Residential (R3) to Multiple
Family Residential (R4) as the rezoning is consistent with the City of Elk
River Land Use Plan adopted as part of the City of Elk River Comprehensive
Plan.
Motion carried 5-2 with Chair Johnson and Commissioner Feinstein
opposing.
5.3 River Walk – 17354 Zane St. NW ~ continued from September 25, 2018
Zone Change – from FAST to PUD, Case No. ZC 18-05
Conditional Use Permit to Establish a PUD, Case No. CU 18-15
Mr. Leeseberg presented the staff report and requested these items be continued to
the November 27, 2018, Planning Commission meeting.
Chair Johnson stated the public hearing was already opened and asked for a motion
that it be continued to November 27, 2018.
Moved by Commissioner Thiel and seconded by Commissioner Feinstein to
approve the request by Patrick Briggs and Dan Andersen to continue the
public hearing for the River Walk Zone Change ZC 18-05 and Conditional Use
Permit CU 18-15 to the November 27, 2018, Planning Commission meeting.
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October 23, 2018
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Motion carried 7-0.
6. General Business
There was no general business. Mr. Leeseberg indicated that Commissioner Rydberg
is the City Council liaison for the November 19, 2018, meeting.
7. City Council Liaison Update
Councilmember Wagner was present at the meeting and discussed the items
presented at the last City Council meeting.
She thanked staff for their assistance with a recent project she assisted the high
school DECA team relating to government/business and appreciated staff’s input
and getting high school students interested in government.
8. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Green.
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Tina Allard
City Clerk
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Eric Johnson
Planning Commission Chair