01-29-2019 PC MIN City of
El „� Meeting of the
River Elk River Planning Commission
Held at Elk River City Hall
Tuesday,January 29, 2019
Members Present: Chair Eric Johnson, Commissioners Jill Larson-Vito,John Jordan,
Robert Rydberg,Alexander Feinstein, and Brad Thiel
Members Absent: Commissioner Mike Nicholas
Staff Present: Planning Manager Zack Carlton,Senior Planner Chris Leeseberg,and
Sr.Admin.Assistant/Recording Secretary Jennifer Green
Also Present: City Council Liaison Nate Ovall
I. 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. Consider January 29, 2019, Planning Commission Agenda
• Moved by Commissioner Thiel and seconded by Commissioner Feinstein to
approve the January 29, 2019, Planning Commission agenda.
Motion carried 6-0.
3. Consider December 18, 2018, Planning Commission Minutes
Moved by Commissioner Thiel and seconded by Commissioner Feinstein to
approve the December 18,2018, Planning Commission minutes.
Motion carried 6-0.
4.1. Abiding Savior Lutheran Church — 12942 193rd Ave. NW
■ Institutional Use (church) Expansion, Case No. CU 18-21
Mr.Leeseberg presented the staff report.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing. There being no one to speak, Chair
Johnson closed the public hearing.
Moved by Commissioner Larson-Vito and seconded by Commissioner
Feinstein to recommend approval of the request by Abiding Savior Lutheran
• Church for a Conditional Use Permit for an Institutional Use (church)
Expansion as the standards set forth in Section 30-654 have been satisfied.
Planning Commission Page 2
January 29,2019
Motion carried 6-0 III
4.2. Venture Pass Partners, LLC — 17994 Zane St. NW
■ Preliminary Plat of ER Ventures 2nd Addition, Case No. P 19-01
Mr. Carlton presented the staff report.
Chair Johnson opened the public hearing.
Dave Carland,President of Venture Pass Partners,LLC, 19620 Waterford Court,
Shorewood,thanked staff and the Planning Commission for reviewing their request
and indicated a springtime start of the project.
There being no one else to speak, Chair Johnson closed the public hearing.
Moved by Commissioner Larson-Vito and seconded by Commissioner Jordan
to recommend approval of the request by Venture Pass Partners,LLC, for a
preliminary plat of ER Ventures 2nd Addition with the condition that Variance
V 19-01 permitting a deviation from the minimum lot size has been approved.
Motion carried 6-0
4.3 River Walk— 17354 Zane St. NW — continued from December 18, 2018 III
• Zone Change—from FAST to PUD, Case No. ZC 18-05
• Conditional Use Permit to Establish a PUD, Case No. CU 18-15
Mr. Carlton presented the staff report and requested these items be continued to the
February 26,2019,Planning Commission meeting.
Chair Johnson stated the public hearing remained open from the previous month's
continuance and asked for a motion that the public hearings be continued for each
item until February 26,2019.
Moved by Commissioner Thiel and seconded by Commissioner Rydberg to
approve the request by Patrick Briggs and Dan Andersen to continue the
public hearing for the River Walk Zone Change ZC 18-05 to the February 26,
2019, Planning Commission meeting.
Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Commissioner Thiel and seconded by Commissioner Rydberg to
approve the request by Patrick Briggs and Dan Andersen to continue the
public hearing for the Conditional Use Permit CU 18-15 to the February 26,
2019, Planning Commission meeting.
Motion carried 6-0. III
POlEBE1 IT
NATURE
Planning Commission Page 3
January 29,2019
• 5.1 City Council Liaison Update
Chair Johnson welcomed Councilmember Ovall to the Planning Commission.
Councilmember Ovall discussed the council's review of the request by ResCare for a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and the council's decision to request staff prepare
findings of fact for denial of the CUP to allow establishment of an Institutional use
at 633 Upland Ave. NW.
The Commission recessed at 6:45 p.m. and reconvened at 6:46 p.m. to go into work session.
6.1 River Walk Apartments
Mr. Carlton presented the staff report.
The Planning Commission discussed the latest set of plans for the proposed
apartment buildings,with two phases of development. The plans would convert the
existing Saxon building to mixed use storage/residential. The Comprehensive Plan
and zoning support residential uses, and the applicant is proposing a Planned Unit
Development (PUD) for the mix of uses. The project also requires vacation of a
portion of the Zane Street right-of-way, a plat to configure the lots, and a Zone
• Change (ZC)/Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to establish the PUD district. Mr.
Carlton asked if the Planning Commission supports a PUD that mixes mini-storage
with residential uses,as the area is guided for high density residential.
The Planning Commission reviewed the site design and needs for a cul-de-sac on the
north end of Zane St. They discussed the DNR's Wild and Scenic River District
requirements for a 30'bluff setback. DNR comments indicate the plan as proposed
by the applicant would violate DNR standards but in situations such as this,the
DNR would look to the city for deviation from their standards.The Planning
Commission discussed concerns with the bluff and requested drawings on how the
project would be engineered with identification of impact to the bluff.
The Commission discussed how the space will mesh between the residential and
mini storage units,and requested floorplans and information regarding proposed
design standards.They also discussed how the project will be marketed and how the
public will understand the commercial aspects of the facility. They discussed the
visual effect of the overall property from the highway and the consensus of the
Planning Commission was to require higher design standards to ensure the building
looks like an apartment building when viewed from Highway 10. They also asked for
clarification on whether or not the storage units only be available to residents of the
apartment units or to the public at large.
7. Adjournment
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
r® ■ E ® EI II
NATURE
Planning Commission Page 4
January 29,2019
Minutes prepared by Jennifer Green. •
Tina Allard
City Clerk
er--
ncJohnson
Planning Commission Chair
0
INA
r ® lESE , .1