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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-05-08 CPC MINSTILLWATER PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Date: May 8, 1989 Time: 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Gerald Fontaine, Chairman Glenna Bealka Jean Jacobson Judy Curtis Jay Kimble Rob Hamlin Don Valsvik Steve Russell, Comm. Dev. Director Members Absent: Mark Ehlenz Nancy Putz Chairman Fontaine called the meeting to order. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Jean Jacobson, seconded by Glenna Bealka to approve the minutes of April 10, 1989 as submitted. All in favor. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. V189-29 - Variance to the sideyard setback requirement (ten feet required, five feet six inches proposed) for the construction of a three season porch and deck on top of an existing garage at 1415 North Second Street in the RA, Single Family Residential District. Angus MacDonald, owner of the property, presented the application. Mr. MacDonald addressed the possible run-off problem and stated that the run-off would be controlled either with gutters and downspout, or by adding dirt and sod to the hill. There were no comments from the audience. Members of the Commission felt the project would enhance the property. Motion by Don Valsvik, seconded by Judy Curtis to approve the variance request subject to two conditions. Motion carried 7-0. Case No. SUPIV189-30 - Special Use Permit and Variance for the renovation of a Carriage House into personal living quarters with two Bed and Breakfast guest rooms, a deck, and carport at 306 West Olive Street in the RCM, Medium Density Residential District. Charles and Judy Dougherty, owners, presented the request. They explained that four additional parking spaces are planned. Two of the existing rooms on the third floor of the Bed and Breakfast will be combined, therefore the number of guest rooms will only be increased by one. The Carriage House will also be made into the owners' living quarters. There will be a deck on the front, and two decks on the sides for the guest rooms. 1 Stillwater Planning corfffd Sion Minutes May 8, 1989 There were a number of comments from audience members: Mary Weber, 205 West Chestnut, commented on the increase in traffic over the past five years in the neighborhood. She and other neighbors have signed a petition requesting rezoning of the area from multi-family to duplex in order to keep the area a family- type neighborhood. Leo Lohmer, 303 West olive, stated that ordi- nance 681 allows only five units for a Bed and Breakfast. Miller Weeda, 220 S. 4th Street, stated that there has been an increase in on-street parking in the area. Joan See, 318 West Olive, felt that the Bed and Breakfast enhances the neighborhood, and stated that the Bed and Breakfast is preferable over rental property. George Schmitt, 208 West Chestnut, felt that there is no problem at this time, but an expansion of the Bed and Breakfast would create a parking problem and is opposed to the request. Barb Flo, 225 West Chestnut, stated that her home shares a sewer line with the Bed and Breakfast and in the past there has been sewer backup. She has a serious concern regarding adding volume to the sewer line. John Oertel, 118 S. 5th Street, stated that the neighborhood is already saturated, and his home had low gas • pressure this past winter on cold days. Richard Kilty, 118 West Oak, questioned the need for additional rooms. John Paquette, 225 West Chestnut, stated his concern regarding the sewer, and the population density. Mr. Dougherty aaddressed several of the concerns of the audience: The renovation is planned in order to provide better living conditions for himself and his wife. The additional guest room will help to finance the renovation. The Carriage House will be used as his family's home when they have children. The Carriage House has a different sewer line from the main house; therefore, sewage from the main house will actually be reduced. He again stated that four additional parking spaces are planned to reduce on street parking. Steve Russell reminded the Commission that in addition to the variance for 10 guest rooms, a variance is required for the setbacks (25 ft. and 45 ft. required; 3 ft. and 5 ft. proposed). The Chairman closed the public hearing and the Commission discussed the request. Commissioners felt because of the effort made in writing the Bed and Breakfast ordinance, and the strong neighborhood opposition, the request should be denied. Motion by Don Valsvik, seconded by Rob Hamlin to deny the variance request. Motion to deny carried 7-0. The Commission continued to discuss the rezoning petition. Motion by Don Valsvik, seconded by Jean Jacobson to recommend that the City Council take a serious look at the Chestnut Hill residents' request that zoning be changed from Multi-family to Duplex. Motion carried 7-0. 2 Stillwater Planning Commission Minutes May 8, 1989 Case No. V/89-28 - Variance to the twenty-five foot height limit requirement (twenty-nine feet proposed) for a free standing sign in the IP-C Industrial Park Commercial District. The sign will be located at the Stillwater Inn Motel, 1750 West Frontage Road. Gunnar Balstad, Applicant. The applicant was not present at the meeting. The variance is requested because of the low elevation at,the location of the sign. In addition to height variance, the request is also for size variance. The "Best Western" sign proposed will be larger than the existing "Motel" sign. Motion by Rob Hamlin, seconded by Jean Jacobson to approve the 29 foot height of sign (or 25 feet above nominal average elevation), and to deny the variance to sign size (total surface area not to exceed Sign ordinance limit of 100 square feet). Motion carried 7-0. OTHER ITEMS • Annual Review Case No. SUP188-6 - One year review of a Special Use Permit for a five room Bed and Breakfast and to conduct special events at the Overlook Inn located at 210 East Laurel Street in the RB, Two Family Residential District. David and Janel Belz, Applicants. The applicants were not present at the meeting. The Commission reviewed the staff report and found no problems. There are two conditions to be met: 1) The parking spaces shall be signed with an approved plan. 2) Results of the inspection of the septic system shall be submitted to the City. Case No. 89-31 - Request for a portable ticket booth located in Hooley's parking lot. A representative of the Minnesota Transportation Museum presented the request. He stated that the area along the tracks will be cleaned up from the parking lot north to the trestle. The plan also calls for directional sandwich board signs. The Commission informed the applicant that such signs would not be allowed on public property, but private property owners may allow signs to be placed on their property. The signs would require a variance from the City. Motion by Judy Curtis, seconded by Glenna Bealka to approve the location of the Minnesota Transportation Museum ticket booth with two conditions: clean-up of the tracks, and no free-standing signs. Motion carried 7-0. F- -I L J Motion by Rob Hamlin, seconded by Glenna Bealka to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m. All in favor. 3