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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-11 CPC MIN• Planning Commission October 11, 1999 Present: Jerry Fontaine, chair Glenna Bealka, Russ Hultman, Karl Ranum, Kirk Roetman, Darwin Wald, and Terry Zoller Others: Community Development Director Steve Russell Absent: John Rheinberger and Tom Weidner Acting chair Kirk Roetman called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Approval of minutes: Mr. Wald, seconded by Mrs. Bealka, moved to approve the minutes of Sept. 13, 1999; all in favor. Case No. V/99-39 A variance to the front yard setback (30 feet required, 21 feet requested) for restoration of an original front porch at 1113 6th Avenue South in the RB, Two Family Residential District. James and Carole Brown, applicants. The applicants were present. Mr. Brown noted the requested porch is 6' x 20', rather than 5' x 21' as indicated in the agenda packet. Mr. Brown stated the proposed porch would be no farther is forward than the front stoop currently is. Mr. Russell noted the setback from the property line is 16' 8" and that many other residences in the area do not meet the required setback. There were no comments from the audience. Mr. Fontaine, seconded by Mr. Wald, moved approval as conditioned; all in favor. Case No. V/99-42 - Mr. Russell informed members he had received a call earlier in the day saying the applicants were withdrawing their request. Mr. Ranum, seconded by Mr. Hultman, moved to accept the withdrawal of the application; all in favor. Case No. SUP/99-43 A special use permit to assume the operation of the William Sauntry Mansion Bed and Breakfast at 626 N. Fourth St. in the RB, Two Family Residential District. Thomas and Sandra Lynum, applicants. Representing the applicants were Bob and Darlene Lynum and Nick Rosendick. The applicants do not plan to make any changes to the operation of the B&B and plan to live on the premises. Mr. Fontaine, seconded by Mr. Hultman, moved approval as conditioned. Mr. Roetman questioned the condition that the owner must live on site; Mr. Russell replied that is to provide accountability in the operation of the business. Mr. Roetman also suggested that conditions of approval No. 10 and 12 are redundant; Mr. Russell agreed that No. 12 could be eliminated. Mr. Fontaine and Mr. Hultman accepted amending the motion to eliminate condition of approval No. 12. Mrs. Bealka asked whether the motion should clarify the permit allows for six guestrooms. • Planning Commission October 11, 1999 Mr. Ranum suggested adding language to the motion referencing the permit is for six guest rooms as allowed in permits granted earlier, SUP/98-12 and SUP 97-5. Mr. Fontaine and Mr. Hultman accepted that amendment to their motion; amended motion passed unanimously. Case No. ZAT/99-7 A Zoning Text Amendment regulating auto repair uses in Residential Districts. City of Stillwater, applicant. Mr. Russell briefly reviewed the issue. He said he had met with Mr. Gannon and reviewed the site and talked about cleaning up, especially in back of the shop. The proposed ordinance would require all permanently stored autos/equipment to be fenced and screened from view. There is a six-month provision for the owner to clean up and be in compliance. John Baird, 800 Towne Circle, called attention to a memo to the City Council dated April 30, 1999, which stated the temporary storage structure on the site is not up to code. He asked why that issue has not been addressed. Mr. Russell responded that enforcing the building code is not the responsibility of the Planning Commission, it is the responsibility of the building official. Ray Davis, 912 W. Laurel St., stated no one wants to put a burden on anyone else. He suggested that Mr. Gannon do some "recycling" and plan for some reasonable movement of all the cars and have fewer stored in front. Mr. Davis later said a fence isn't necessarily the solution; see if voluntary promises can be met, he suggested. Mr. Gannon agreed that he doesn't sell a lot of cars, but has had a dealer's license for 25 years. He said he it would be nearly impossible to fence the front of the building if he were required to do that in order to store additional vehicles as the neighbor to the west doesn't want fencing; the neighbor would rather have trees planted. Also, he said requiring fencing along the east property line would block off access to the sign shop business. He said he would go along with "policing" the front of his building and having the better cars up front, and he agreed to work with Mr. Russell in addressing concerns. Rich Cummings, Ward 3 City Council representative, noted this issue is not specific to Mr. Gannon's business. There are other potential problems the ordinance is intended to prevent. Other than unsightly cars stored on Mr. Gannon's property, Mr. Cummings said there is a safety issue with the trash receptacle and junk stored in the back. He said he thought the proposed ordinance was a fair one. Nancy Brown, formerly of 518 W. Owens St., called Mr. Gannon's property an eyesore that needs to be cleaned up. She also stated there is a parking issue, with some of Mr. Gannon's customers/vehicles parking in the City park area. In the Planning Commission discussion, there was some question as to the definition of permanently stored autos. Mr. Wald raised the question of whether putting a price on vehicles 2 Planning Commission October 11, 1999 would change the definition of a storage area to a used car lot. Mr. Ranum suggested looking at how other municipalities address the issue. Mr. Zoller said he conceptually agreed with the ordinance. He suggested the matter be referred to the City Council, noting the Council must have two reading of an ordinance before it goes into effect, and directing staff to better define "permanently stored autos" for inclusion in the final ordinance language. Mr. Roetman said he would prefer that the revised language be returned to the Planning Commission before being forwarded to the City Council. Mr. Zoller made a motion to send the proposed ordinance to the City Council and direct staff to address the Planning Commission's concern regarding the definition. Mrs. Bealka seconded the motion; motion failed 2-4, with Mr. Ranum abstaining. Mr. Fontaine, seconded by Mr. Wald, moved to table the matter, directing staff to add language clarifying the definition of stored autos; motion passed unanimously. Other items: • Mr. Zoller said he had attended Met Council's workshop regarding growth design and found it to be very informative. • There was discussion as to the need for a workshop session to discuss priorities, goals and role of the Planning Commission. Mr. Russell suggesting establishing an agenda for such a session. Mr. Fontaine and Mr. Roetman agreed to work with Mr. Russell to frame an agenda 40 for a future workshop session. Mr. Wald, seconded by Mr. Ranum, moved to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.; all in favor. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording Secretary