Loading...
04-24-1984 PC MIN o o ELK RIVER PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD AT THE ELK RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY APRIL 24, 1984 Members Present: Chairman Tracy, Commissioners Wille, Temple, and Tralle. Commissioner Oster arrived at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Pearce arrived at 7:30 p.m. Members Absent: Commissioner Hartman. Staff Members Present: Rick Breezee, Building and Zoning Administrator 1. Call Meeting to Order Chairman Tracy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Consider Agenda for the April 24, 1984 Planning Commission Meeting Prairie House Restaurant was added to the agenda as Item #7a, and Wade Palmer variance for an agricultural building was added to the agenda as Item #7b. It was the consensus of the Planning Commission members to accept the agenda as amended. 3. Consider the Minutes of the March 27, 1984 Planning Commission Meeting Commissioner Tralle indicated that on 115 of the minutes, there was no second recorded in the motion. The Planning Commission Secretary indicated that she would go back to her notes and correct this. COMMISSIONER WILLE MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MARCH 27, 1984 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AS AMENDED. COMMISSIONER TRALLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0. 4. Conditional Use Permit Request by Mr. Warren Williams Mr. Warren Williams indicated that he lives at 21268 York Avenue NW in Elk River. Mr. Williams further indicated that he was requesting a conditional use permit to construct a 24 foot by 30 foot wooden horse barn on his property. Mr. Williams further indicated that he owns a total of 4~ acres. Commissioner Tralle questioned Mr. Williams as to how many horses he intended to have. Mr. Williams indicated that he had one horse at the present time and would like to get one more in the future. Commissioner Tralle then asked Mr. Williams if he had any problem with the limitation of three horses and no other livestock. Mr. Williams indicated that he would have no problem with this at all. COMMISSIONER TRALLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TOfAPPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR MR. WARREN WILLIAMS OF 21268 YORK AVENUE NW, SO THAT HE CAN CONSTRUCT A WOODEN HORSE BARN ON HIS PROPERTY, AND THAT THERE BE A MAXIMUM OF THREE HORSES AND NO OTHER LIVESTOCK, AND ALSO THAT THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BE REVIEWED IN TWO YEARS. COMMISSIONER WILLE SECONDED THE MOTION. Discussion was held whether the structure should be landscaped and provided with foliage and shrubbery. Mr. Warren Williams indicated that he felt if the property would be in the open he could see where landscaping would be feasible, 06. o Planning Commission Minutes April 24, 1984 Page Two but he further indicated that his property is densely wooded and not visible from neighboring residents, and the he felt this would not apply to him. It was the consensus of the Planning Commission Members that Mr. Williams did not need to landscape around his building. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0 WITH COMMISSIONER OSTER ABSTAINING. 5. Conditional Use Permit Request by Mr. Gary Denzer Rick Breezee, Building and Zoning Administrator indicated that Mr. Gary Denzer who lives at 13425 Southridge Road, Minnetonka, has just purchased some land in the City of Elk River, and is anticipating constructing a single family dwelling for his own personal use on this land which is 35 acres in size. Rick Breezee further indicated that Mr. Denzer is requesting a conditional use permit to place a temporary trailer on his property while constructing his home. Commissioner Tralle indicated that he felt items such as these could be dealt with on Staff level. COMMISSIONER TRALLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT 13425 SODTHRIDGE ROAD, MINNETONKA, BE GRANTED A CONDITIONAL USE A TEMPORARY TRAILER ON PROPERTY HE OWNS FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD. OSTER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 5-0. GARY DENZER OF PERMIT TO PLACE COMMISSIONER Conditional Use Permit Request by Elk River Bituminous Incorporated Present for this item were Mr. Bill Hanley, Attorney; Mr. Gerry Hicks, President of Elk River Bituminous; and Mr. Donald Obernolte, Landscape Deisgner. Chairman Tracy indicated that the Elk River Bituminous Inc. is applying for a con- ditional use permit to.conduct a mineral extraction operation located at the intersection of Highway #169 and 213th Avenue. The Planning Commission reviewed the presentation layout of Elk River Bituminous and commended on the excellent and thorough job done on the presentation. Chairman Tracy questioned whether there was a need for fencing. Rick Breezee indicated that the Zoning Ordinance requirements for licensing deals with fencing, if needed, for safety purposes. Commissioner Wille questioned whether there was a time period for rehabilitation. Rick Breezee indicated that there was a time stipulation in the request for the rehabilitation period. Chairman Tracy indicated that he wanted to discuss the time period for the con- ditional use Permit. Rick Breezee indicated that it was up to the specific operator as to the length of time. It was agreed that a 20 year time period would be appropriate. COMMISSIONER WILLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONDUCT A MINERAL EXTRACTION OPERATION FOR ELK RIVER BITUMINOUS BE GRANTED AS PROPOSED WITH A TIME LIMITATION OF TWENTY (20) YEARS PLACED ON THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. COMMISSIONER TRALLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 6-0. o o Planning Commission Minutes April 24, 1984 Page Three 7. Assembly of God - Concept of New Church There was no one present for the Assembly of God Church, therefore this item was tabled. 7a. Prairie House Restaurant Mr. Russ Boetz1er indicated that he represented both the Prairie House people and the Developer, and that he would like to present to the Planning Commission a new site plan and landscaping plan. Mr. Boetz1er further indicated that they were changing the location of the Prairie House Restaurant two lots to the north from the previous location. Rick Breezee indicated that he felt approval of the Prairie House site plan should be contingent upon two things. First he felt there should be more green space and landscaping, and secondly he indicated .that the area where the Prairie House wants to locate is one large piece of property, and approval of this area would have to be contingent upon the City Council approving an administrative sub- division for the lot. Mr. Boetz1er indicated that the access to the restaurant would be on Dodge Avenue and that there would also be a shared drive for an access, and that would be blacktopped and utilized by the Prairie House. Mr. Boetz1er further indicated that the primary reason for the shared drive is because of the need for off- street parking for the boats, trailers, and trucks in the area. The question was raised as to who would maintain the shared drive. Mr. Boetz1er indicated that the party owning the Prairie House would maintain the shared driveway until there are adjoining property owners who will then help in the maintenance of the shared driveway. Chairman Tracy questioned how many parking stalls the Prairie House had. Mr. Boetz1er indicated that at the present there were 72 parking stalls proposed. There was .a concern as to the parking area abutting the shared driveway, and also on the corner of the lot. It was felt that if these cars backed out at anytime without looking, and another vehicle was coming from the shared drive, there could be a safety hazard created. Rick Breezee, Building and Zoning Administrator indicated that maybe the answer would be to eliminate the first nine stalls along the shared driveway, which would then leave the Prairie House with 63 stalls. Commissioner Tra11e indicated that he would like to see the restricting of direct access to any parking stall off of the shared driveway. It was the consensus of the Planning Commissioners that Rick Breezee's plan to eliminate the first nine parking stalls along the shared drive, ::and~_shElwing the additional curbing, green area and landscaping would be a good, feasible plan. COMMISSIONER PEARCE MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE SITE PLAN FOR THE PRAIRIE HOUSE RESTAURANT WITH THE PROVISIONS THAT THE NINE PARKING STALLS ALONG THE SHARED DRIVE BE ELIMINA.TEDWHICH WOULD THEN ELIMINATE ANY PARKING OFF OF THE SHARED DRIVEWAY, AND THAT AN INCREASE OF THE.PLANTINGS ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE PRAIRIE HOUSE RESTAURANT PROPERTY BE MADE, AND ALSO THAT APPROVAL BE CONTINGENT UPON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUBDIVISION BY THE CITY COUNCIL. COMMISSIONER WILLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED. 6-0. o o Planning Commission Minutes April 24, 1984 Page Four 7b. Wade Palmer, Variance for an Agricultural Building Mrs. Palmer was present and indicated that their property abutts Greenhead Sub- division. Rick Breezee, indicated that the zoning for their property is A-l and that an agricultural building must be 600 feet from any neighboring structure in an A-1 zone. Rick Breezee indicated that he felt the Wades may not need a variance because it looked as if where they were placing their pole barn would be at least 600 feet from any neighboring structure. Mrs. Palmer indicated that they owned almost eight acres. Commissioner Tralle questioned Mrs. Palmer as to how many horses she intended on having on the pro- perty. Mrs. Palmer indicated that they wanted a maximum of five horses. COMMISSIONER TRALLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT A VARIANCE BE GRANTED IF NECESSARY TO MR. WADE PALMER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AGRICULTURAL BUILDING ON HIS PROPERTY WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THEY HAVE A MAXIMUM OF FIVE HORSES AND NO OTHER LIVESTOCK ON THE PROPERTY. COMMISSIONER PEARCE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 6-0. 8. Handout Material relating to Concept Known as Granny-Flats Rick Breezee, Building and Zoning Administrator indicated that as stated in the handout, the Granny Flat is a housing system that provides for the establishment of an independent living structure on the premises of the family of an elderly individual. He further stated that it provides for the establishment of this housing unit to be in close proximity to the house of the elderly individual's younger relatives, thus insuring them the needed support system of the family unit. While assuring that support, it also allows the elderly individual to live independently within his own structure. This in turn allows the family, while providing the support to the elderly individual, to be able to maintain an independence to themselves. Chairman-Tracy indicated that he thought the idea was a good idea in that he also felt that we did not have enough housing in Elk River or the surrounding areas for the elderly. Rick Breezee indicated that he has seen two particular homes in the Elk River area that have separate living spaces for other members of the family, but attached to their existing house. Rick Breezee further indicated that the 'onlyproblem with thiE is that the owners of the home could try to sell the home as a duplex. Rick Breezee further indicated that he felt the concept of Granny Flats is that a par- ticular area should be set aside in the City for this type of structure. Commissioner Pearce indicated that he felt the City needs more multiple dwelling units, and further indicated that he felt that the City should proceed slowly and with caution to incorporate the concept of Granny Flats at the time they start incorporating the flexible zoning. It was the consensus of the Planning Commission to have Rick Breezee, Building and Zoning Administrator, draft a letter to the City Council explaining to them that the Planning Commission is in favor of the Granny Flats Concept and the issues presented to them at the joint meeting with the City Council. o o Planning Commission Minutes April 24, 1984 P~eFbe Discussion was held regarding the matter of variances and some conditional use permits being done on Staff level. It was felt if some conditional uses are rejected by the City Staff, the applicant could appeal by going to the Planning Commission. Further discussion was held regarding the City being served by consultants such as consulting attorneys, engineers and planners, and how items are delayed be- cause of this, and that it usually pays in the long run, to hire a full-time position for such positions. There being no further business, COMMISSIONER WILLE MOVED THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING BE ADJOURNED. COMMISSIONER TRALLE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 6-0. Meeting Adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Rick Breezee Building and Zoning Administrator RB:st