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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-05-11 CPC MIN• STILLWATER PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Date: May 11, 1992 Time 7 p.m. Members Present: Gerald Fontaine, Chairman Gene Bealka, Glenna Bealka, Duane Elliott, Gary Funke, Rob Hamlin, Don Valsvik, and Darwin Wald Steve Russell, Comm. Dev. Director Ann Pung-Terwedo, Planner Absent: Angela Anderson Chairman Fontaine called the meeting to order. Motion by Darwin Wald to approve the minutes of April 13, 1992. Seconded by Gene Bealka. Motion carried 7-0-1, Duane Elliott abstained. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. SUP/92-11 - Continuation of Special Use Permit to conduct a professional theatre with the service of coffee and dessert at 324 South Main Street (Grand Garage). Robert Halverson, applicant, appeared on his own behalf. Gene Bealka noted that the original application "guaranteed" the provision of 14 parking slots and expressed his concern that overflow parking might use the Esteban's lot. Chairman Fontaine pointed out that the parking lot was for the use of all Grand Garage businesses, not just Esteban's. Steve Russell stated it has been the City's policy to deal with (downtown) parking on a cooperative basis, and not limit start-up businesses based on parking. Darwin Wald asked Mr. Halverson if he had complied with the three conditions of approval. Mr. Halverson stated that he had not submitted the health and building inspection reports for the service of food as he thought the food vendor, Enos Bakery, was going to take care of that. He assurred commission members he would submit the required reports the following day. Several members complimented Mr. Halverson on his current production. Gary Funke made the motion to approve the special use permit with the three conditions as . recommended; seconded by Rob Hamlin. All in favor. 2 • Case No. BM/92-20. Building moving permit to move a 2,000 square-foot, single-family residence from the corner of Pine and Fifth Streets to a 22,397-square-foot lot at the southeast corner of Cherry and Everett streets. Casey VanderBent and Kelly Davis, architect, appeared on behalf of the applicant, Hope House of the St. Croix Valley. Mr. VanderBent said Hope House representatives have met with neighbors to explain the site plan and plans for an addition to the residence. Mr. VanderBent said the intent is to minimize the risk to the trees on the property and to integrate the house and addition to fit the character of the neighborhood. He said later in the discussion that Hope House would work with neighbors to address any landscaping concerns. Two neighbors appeared before the commission to express their concerns. Carol Peterson asked to go on record opposed, not to Hope House, but to the placement of any kind of structure on the property. She spoke of the need to retain open space for future generations. David Vesall also stated he was opposed to any kind of structure on the property. Mr. Vesall said there was a need for Hope House, but also a need for open space and green space. Gary Funke noted the property has been sold to Hope House. Putting the property back on the tax rolls benefits everyone, he said. He agreed with the need to save the park (at Washington School) and the ravine area, but said he favored putting Hope House on the four lots in question. Rob Hamlin asked how the parcel fits in with the city's long-range plan for open space. Steve Russell stated that the matter had been referred to the Park and Recreation Commission. The Park and Recreation Commission did not feel the parcel was appropriate for city purchase at this time, Mr. Russell said. Glenna Bealka said she thought the building fits in with the neighborhood, but that it takes time to get used to change. Gary Funke made the motion to approve the building moving permit with the recommended conditions; seconded by Darwin Wald. All in favor. Case No. V/92-22. Variance to the corner sideyard setback requirement (24 feet proposed, 30 feet required) for a house on the southeast corner of Everett and Cherry Streets. Gary Funke moved to approve the variance with the recommended conditions, plus conditions for the house addition specifying the slope of the roof; use of horizontal siding; use of double-hung windows; use of similar shingles and similar colors. Seconded by Glenna Bealka. All in favor. Case No SUP/92-14. Special use permit to construct a pool and office addition to the existing Stillwater Senior High School along with a parking lot at 523 West Marsh Street. 3 • Ken Grabow appeared on behalf of the applicant, ATS & R Architects. Assistant Superintendent Ken Pedersen was also present. Mr. Grabow explained that the pool would be constructed on the west side of the building. A 68-car parking lot will be constructed for pool users; a berm planted with 24 Black Hills spruce will screen the parking area from the residences to the south. Grabow noted that the addition of a bus loop should cut down on traffic that currently accesses the area from the south. Darwin Wald questioned whether 68 spaces would be adequate where there is an overlap of pool programming. Mr. Grabow noted that people could use other on-side parking areas in addition to the designated pool parking area. Mr. Pedersen stated that doors accessible to the gymansium area would be left open as an entrance for people who might have to use other parking areas. Mr. Grabow did have a concern with a condition limiting the maximum height of parking lot light fixtures to 20 feet. Mr. Grabow said plans call for 30-foot fixtures and felt th 20-foot height limit might require the use of more fixtures. Duane Elliott moved to approve the special use permit with the recommended conditions; seconded by Gene Bealka. All in favor. Case No. V/92-16. A variance to sideyard setback requirements for the construction of a garage (20 feet required, 16 feet requested) at 726 West Linden Street. Applicant Richard Orthmeyer appeared on his own behalf. Mr. Orthmeyer explained his request to move a 24 x 24 foot detached garage onto his property. He also is questioned several of the recommended conditions of approval. Specifically, he said the condition that no tres be removed would be impossible to meet; some trees would have to be removed to move the building onto the property and to conform to the required 12-foot driveway. Mr. Orthmeyer said he had no objection to paving his portion of the driveway, but felt that a more reasonable condition would be to require paving the remainder of the drive when development occurs on the other parcels the roadway accesses. As far as the condition that an existing one-stall attached garage be closed off and converted to living space, Mr. Orthmeyer said that would defeat the whole purpose of his request -- he would like to have the equivalent of a three-stall garage. Karl Ranum appeared to express the Ranums' concerns, especially about the possible loss of trees. He also told the commission that they still plan to develop the parcels they own on Williams Street when economic conditions are favorable. A lengthy discussion ensued on the recommended conditions. Chairman Fontaine questioned requiring that the driveway be paved with asphalt considering that the use of gravel driveways is fairly common. Steve Rusell pointed out that asphalt has been a condition on more recent permits, using Hope House as an example. Mr. Russell also noted that the city does not usually allow two separate garage buildings on the same property. The tendency is to turn one of the buildings into some type of business use, he said. Chairman Fontaine said that should not be a concern, 4 since the city has no way of preventing someone with a one-car garage using it for business purposes. Duane Elliott pointed out that many new homes have three-stall garages. He also said the location of the property is such that the site could allow for the requested use. After Chairman Fontaine closed the discussion, Rob Hamlin moved to approve the request, excluding conditions 1 (that the 12-foot driveway be paved with asphalt) and 3 (that no trees be removed), with the additional conditions that a large oak tree be saved; that there be no commercial use of the garage; and that an existing storage shed be removed. Don Valsvik seconded the motion. The motion failed on a 5-3 vote. (Don Valsvik, Rob Hamlin and Darwin Wald voted in favor of the motion.) Don Valsvik then made a motion to also eliminate condition 2 (that the existing garage be converted to living space); seconded by Duane Elliott. The motion passed on a 5-3 volte. (Don Valsvik, Darwin Wald and Rob Hamlin voted against the motion.) Case No. SUP/92-17. Special use permit to use an existing 7,289 square-foot medical office building at 375 East Orleans Street (Stillwater Clinic) for an office/counseling center. Richard Gager appeared on behalf of the applicant, Human Services Inc. of Washington County. He stated that in the future -- a year or more -- a modest addition is is planned to the existing building if funds become available. Also appearing on behalf of HSI were Paul Wolff and Dr. Bob Butler. Dr. Wayne Carlson of Stillwater Clinic was also present. Commission memberfs felt the proposal would be a good use of the building. Gary Funke moved to approve the special use permit with the recommended conditions; seconded by Darwin Wald. All in favor. Case No. V-92-18. Variance to the Bluffland/Shoreland Ordinance to construct a single-family residence on slopes greater than 12 percent at 14490 Dellwood Road. Applicants Dennis Evavold and Gail Englund appeared on their own behalf. Mr. Evavold stated they were aware of the recommended conditions of approval and had no objections to the conditions. Steve Russell stated that because the proposed residence is in the Bluffland area, it requires more specific review criteria. He said he was not sure if the Department of Natural Resources would become involved in the review or not. Mr. and Mrs. Johjn Schultz, neighbors to the north side of the Evavold/Englund property, appeared to express their concern about the steep grade and possible erosion problems if the slope is disturbed. 0 5 Chairman Fontaine pointed out that the conditions of approval requiring the preparation of a grading/drainage/eriosion control plan represented a pretty good safeguard. Gary Funke moved to approve the variance with the recommended conditions; seconded by Gene Bealka. All in favor. Case No. V/92-21. A variance for an existing six-foot high cedar fence (42 inches allowed), 21 feet from the property line, at 623 West Olive Street. Applicant Michelle Elliott did not appear, and the case was continued until the June 8 meeting. Case No. CPA/92-2. A Comprehensive Plan Amendment to include the Brown's Creek Surface Water Management Plan and the Middle St. Croix River Surface Water Management Plan into the City of Stillwater's Comprehensive Plan. Ann Pung-Terwedo explained that the two watershed districts have been working on developing their management plans since 1986. The management plans have now been adopted. The intent is to amend Stillwater's Comprehensive Plan by taking the goals and policies from the watershed districts' management plans and applying them specifically to the City. There was a brief discussion intitiated by Rob Hamlin's concern about the problem of having policies, but no provision for enforcement. Specifically mentioned were • problems with on-site septic systems in the remaining unsewered areas in the older sections of the City. Ms. Pung-Terwedo told commission members that water samples would be taken of Lily Lake, McKusick Lake and Brown's Creek this summer. She also said there are plans to meet with the Soil and Water Conservation District to determine how much of Stillwater's water contributes to Perro Creek and Perro Pond. Don Valsvik made the motion to recommend adoption of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment, along with the recommendation the city look at enforcement of policies. Duane Elliott seconded the motion. All in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m. Just prior to adjournment, Judy Gulden appeared and made a brief statement about the importance of planning. 0