01-26-1986 PC MIN
ELK RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1986
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Membe r s
Present: Chairman Tralle, Commissioners Temple, Warner,
Merrick and Wilson - Commissioner Wilson arriving
at 9:00 p.m.
Members Absent:
Commissioners Fuchs
Staff Present:
Tom Bublitz; City Administrator, Stephen Rohlf;
Bu~lding and Zoning Administrator
1. Call Meeting to order
Chairman Tralle called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Consider Agenda for the January 28, 1986 Planning Commission
Meeting.
Items 3.5 Electing Chairman and Vice Chairman to the
Commission, and Item 7.5 - Gary Santwire/sign on Barrington
Square PUD were ad~ed to the agenda.
COMMISSIONER MERRICK MOVED TO APPROVE THE JANUARY 29, 1985
AGENDA AS AMENDED. COMMISSIONER WARNER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
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Consider Minutes of the November
Commission Meeting as submitted.
26,
1985
Planning
COMMISSIONER TEMPLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 26, 1985
MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. COMMISSION WARNER SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
At this time, Chairman Tralle introduced the new Building and
Zoning Administrator, stephen Rohlf.
3.5 Electing Chairman and Vice Cbairman to the Commission
COMMISSIONER TEMPLE MOVED TO REAPPOINT JIM TRALLE AS CHAIRMAN
AND ELECT STEVE MERRICK AS VICE CHAIRMAN. COMMISSIONER
WARNER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
4. Variance Request by Lloyd H. Anderson/Public Hearing
Mr. Lloyd Anderson reviewed the variance request and noted
that it would be an advantage to the City and himself to
grant a variance as this would be a better looking product.
He also indicated that 60 to 70 truck loads of fill would
have to be hauled in if he did not get the variance.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 26, 1986
The Building and Zoning Administrator indicated that Mr.
Anderson hated to build an house on that lot as it would be
an economic hardship to build upon the lot because it drops
sharply off from the road. An abnormal amount of fill would
have to be hauled in if the front yard setbacks are inforced.
Chairman Tralle opened the public hearing. No one appeared
for or against the request.
Chairman Tralle closed the public hearing.
Bill Harju/Soil Conservation questioned the drainage outlet
on this property.
The Building and Zoning Administrator noted that their was
no drainage easement on the lot and this should not be a
problem.
Commissioner Templequestioned if a variance was granted would
he still ,1eed to haul additional fill in. Mr. Anderson
indicated it would still take 30 or 40 truck loads of fill.
COMMISSIONER WARNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO
APPROVE THE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR LLOYD ANDERSON.
COMMISSIONER TEMPLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED
4-0.
5.
Variance Request by Christian Builders. Inc./P.H.
Chairman Tralle indicated this property was located at Lot 4,
Block 5, W. H. Houlton's Addition. He noted that Charles
Christian, Jr. was present and would present this item to the
Planning Commission.
Mr. Christian indicated they were requesting a variance as
they would like to face the house toward 5th Street the way
all the other homes adjacent to the property face, and
without the variance the house would have to face Seymour.
Chairman Tralle asked the Building and Zoning Administrator
if he had ever been out to the property. Mr. Rohlf
indicated that he had and that Seymour is little more than a
dirt path and the City has looked at vacating it. The
Building and Zoning Administrator also indicated that the 10'
setback from the property line adjacent to Seymour that the
variance would allow would be keeping with the side yard
setback from a R-IC Zone.
Chairman Tralle opened the Public Hearing.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 26, 1986
Mr. Lloyd Anderson indicated he used to own that lot and he
was for the variance request because Christian would be the
only house facing Seymour instead of 5th.
Chairman Tralle closed the public 'hearing.
Chairman Tralle went over the five standards for a variance
request for Charlie Christian, Jr.
COMMISSIONER W~RNER MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE REQUEST ALLOWING A 18' ENCROACHMENT
ON THE 38' FRONT YARD SETBACK AS OUTLINED IN THE BUILDING
AND ZONING ADMINISTRATOR'S MEMO. COMMISSIONER MERRICK
SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
6. Consider Zone Change for John o. Nickerson/Public Hearing
John Nickerson was present and he was requesting that this
property be changed from an R3 zone district to an R4 to
accommodate an 18 unit apartment complex.
Chairman questioned the size of the property. Mr. Nickerson
indicated that it was 10.8 acres.
Chairman Tralle asked what principal uses would be lost to
the property if it was changed from a R3 zone to an R4 zone.
The Building an Zoning Administrator indicated that in a R-3
zone would be losing the single family and going to a multi-
family dwelling containing not more than twelve (12)
dwelling units per structure.
Mr. Rohlf, the Building and Zoning Administrtor informed Mr.
Nickerson duplexes were not allowed in an R4 district. Mr.
Nickerson indicated he was not aware of this.
Mr. Nickerson indicated he was part owner and part agent and
that two parties were interested in purchasing this
property. One party was interested in putting in duplexes
and the other party a 18 unit complex.
This was tabled by the Planning Commission until a firm'
decision could be made by Mr. Nickerson on which way he was
going to go.
7. Conditional Use Permit/Northern States Power Company/Public
Hearing
Chairman Tralle introduced this item and indicated this was
for a Resource Recovery Facility for an RDF plant.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
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Mr. Dale Thielen/Public Relations Department, UPA showed a
video titled "National Ecology" on Baltimore Resource
Recovery Facility and indicated this was a good illustration
of what the project would look like. Mr. Thielen also
indicated that the plant would take approximately two years
once the permits were issued and indicated the conditional
use only applies to the first phase of the project.
Dan McConnon,UPA showed an overhead on existing traffic flow
patterns.
Commissioner Merrick was concerned about the
regarding the entry and exiting onto Highway 10.
Mr. McConnon indicated that MnDot was looking into putting
an excelleration lane (west bound lane) on Highway 10.
traffic
Commissioner Merrick questioned how they were going to handle
outside waste if not connected to santary Sewer. Mr. Peter
Jones, Northern States Power Company noted that they would
use a holding tank. Commission Merrick was also concerned
about the grid from the RDF plant and the sludge going to
the landfill.
Norm Schiferl, Anoka County indicated rejects are
primary organic and will ~e our responsibility and we do not
know where that is gOlng to go. This has not been
determined. We have not designated a land fill as of yet.
Commissioner'Wilson was concerned about the storage of metal
bales. Peter Jones noted that they would be put into
enclosed semi-trailers and hauled to scrap markets.
Discussion was held regarding how they were going to control
residential, commercial and industrial garbage.
Chairman Tralle opened the public hearing.
Tom Woods an concerned citizen reviewed a report from the
State of New Hampshire on "Proposed HCL Emission Standard
for New Incinerators" and. also a report from Texas Air
Control Board on "Solid Waste to Energy Facility", a report
from the State of California on Air pollution Aspects
Resource Recovery Facility and a report on Risk Assessment
of the Health effects of POlychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxin
(PCDD) and Dibenzofuran (PCDF) emissions from the proposed
Hennepin County Trash-Burning incinerator. Mr. Woods
reviewed these reports and was concerned about the danger
of dioxins and furans as emissions from the proposed
incineration plant. He was also concerned about the danger
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
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of ash produced by garbage incinerators. Mr. woods noted
his main concern was that the Planning Commission review
this very carefully and to be sure of what their doing is
right.
Mr. Woods also indicated he would like to see that the MPCA
view the Elk River RDF project.
Mr. Erwin
if this
property.
Tom Bublitz, the City Administrator indicated that
the City will be looking at hiring a consultant as this
would give them more knowledge of the situation and review
of the RDF. The City Adminsitrator noted that he had talked
to a couple of people already and noted that just a handful
are familiar with RDF facilities in the state.
Speck who is a joint property owner was concerned
would decrease or increase the value of his
The Planning Commission discussed the comments to be
submitted to the MPCA - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
regarding the Environmental Assessment work sheet.
Commissioner Temple indicated we should not assume the state
will regulate all these controls.
It was the consensus of the Planning Commission that the
City hire a consultant regarding the RDF.
8.
Concept Review for Campground
Art Raudio of St. Cloud presented to the Planning Commission
a concept review regarding future plans for a campground.
The plat is called Tamarack. He noted that this would be a
recreational type of campground with total recreational
facilities. Mr. Raudio also noted that this would include a
9 hole golf course, club house, and would be a membership
type of campground affiliated with other campgrounds. These
would be owned and managed by individuals and have full time
security, also recreational director for teens and tots.
Mr. Raudio indicated a lot of money has been invested in
this and until I get the feel of where the Planning
Commission is coming from I hate to proceed.
Commissioner Wilson asked whether you own
not a lot and can you make reservations.
that it was a limited stay and must make
important holidays.
a membership and
Mr. Raudio noted
reservations for
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
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Commissioner Temple was concerned about the traffic if the
road leading into the campground needed to be upgraded to
handle the traffic. Mr. Raudio noted that the campground
would be filled to capacity only 50% of the time and unless
it was a major holiday and he did not feel it would be any
problem.
Chairman Tralle indicated that his feelings were that it
would definitely be an asset to the City and help our
business area. ,He further indicated this was just a concept
review and we do not have to take a vote on this and
recommended that Mr. Raudio work as close as possible with
City staff and City Engineer. It was the consensus of the
Planning Commission that they would rather see this as a
campground rather than a gravel pit.
8.5 Gary Santwire/Sign on PUD Barrington Square
Gary Santwire addressed the Planning Commission. He
indicated he was interested in putting up a pylon type of
signage and further indicated the sign would be
approximately 20 feet high from the above curve line. The
actual sign itself would be wood and approximately 10' x 15'
with flooded lights and industrial letters.
Discussion was carried
Planning Commission and
lighting.
Mr. Santwire indicated the sign would have flooded lights
with a timer and would be on from dusk to approximately
10:00 p.m.
on regarding the signage by the
they were concerned about the
Chairman Tralle indicated he liked the idea of a wood sign
instead of plastic.
Chairman Merrick also
wood sign but would
smaller in size. Mr.
a problem.
It was the consensus of the Planning Commission that the
light be directed away from Elk Hills and that Mr. Santwire
could go ahead with the sign.
indicated he liked the concept of a
like it to be a little shorter and
Santwire indicated this should not be
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
JANUARY 26, 1986
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There being no further business, COMMISSIONER TEMPLE MOVED
THAT THE MEETING BE ADJOURNED. COMMISSIONER WARNER SECONDED
THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 5-8.
Respectfully Submitted,
~flltffiu fh~
Sharon Maue
Building and Zo~ing Secretary
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