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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-08 CPC MIN• City of Stillwater Planning Commission October 8, 2001 Present: Russ Hultman, chair Glenna Bealka, Robert Gag, David Peroceschi, Karl Ranum, Paul Teske Darwin Wald and Terry Zoller Others: Community Development Director Steve Russell Absent: Dave Middleton Mr. Hultman called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Approval of minutes: Mr. Wald, seconded by Mrs. Bealka, moved approval of the minutes of Sept. 10, 2001, as presented; motion passed unanimously. Case No. SUP/01-43 A special use permit for a martial arts/dance school with once office at 215 N. Williams St. in the RB, Two Family Residential District. Sara Gilberg, applicant. (Continued from Sept. 10) Present were Ms. Gilberg and Timothy Quarberg, the potential tenant. Mr. Quarberg explained his plans for the space and his philosophical view of martial arts. Ms. Gilberg stated she and her family live in the neighborhood and have tried to be careful in choosing the right tenant. Gary Starns, the property owner immediately adjacent to the building, asked if the city had inspected for parking spaces. Mr. Russell stated that according to the city ordinance, the proposed use requires 17 parking spaces, which can be accommodated in the parking lot. Mr. Starns shows photos of a yellow no-parking space that had been painted black. He also raised a question about a garage door that had been installed. Jana Vaughn, 722 Mulberry St., spoke on behalf of the Gilbergs. She stated the neighborhood had improved since the Gilbergs purchased the property. She noted they had put a lot of work and effort into the building and had gone to great lengths to find a tenant appropriate to the neighborhood. Mary Starns said there are not 28 spaces in the parking lot. She also stated the proposal will result in constant turmoil, parking and traffic problems and noise. Mr. Ranum asked if the garage door was part of the original plans submitted by the Gilbergs. Mr. Russell said plans show a door at that location, but it doesn't look like a garage door. Mr. Ranum expressed a concern about the garage's impact on neighbors. Mr. Zoller stated the proposed use would have less of an impact on neighbors than other possible use. He moved approval as conditioned, noting there was no reason not to approve the request. Mrs. Bealka seconded the motion. Mr. Hultman suggested adding a condition that the yellow no- 1 • City of Stillwater Planning Commission October 8, 2001 parking line be repainted according to the original agreement. Mr. Russell suggested conditions could be added that all deliveries be made between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, that delivery vehicles not block the roadway or driveway and that the garage door remain closed except when vehicles are entering or exiting the garage. Mr. Ranum suggested adding a condition that signage be installed indicating delivery vehicles are allowed only between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mr. Ranum, seconded by Mrs. Bealka, moved the amendments to the original motion. Mr. Zoller stated the amendments were acceptable to him. Mr. Ranum seconded the amended motion. Amended motion passed unanimously. Case No. V/01-49 A variance to the front yard setback (30 feet required, 5 feet request) for construction of an addition to an existing garage at 115 N. Harriet St. in the RB, Two Family Residential District. Mark Balay, representing John and Madeline Macindoe, applicant. Mr. Balay was present and reviewed drawings of the proposed addition. He noted that with the addition, basically a garden shed structure, the garage will be under the 1,000 feet allowable for accessory structures. Mr. Ranum asked if the eaves on the new structure overhang the wall of the existing garage, and if they do, if it would be possible to change that in the plans. Mr. Balay said that change was acceptable. • Mr. Zoller, seconded by Mr. Wald, moved approval as conditioned, with the additional condition that no part of the new structure extend west of the existing building line. Motion passed unanimously. Case No. V/01-50 A modification to approved plans including a special use permit, variance and design review for the St. Croix Boat and Packet Co. ticket office, south of the Main Street parking lot in the CBD, Central Business District. Mark Balay, representing St. Croix Boat and Packet Co., applicant. Mr. Balay reviewed the requested changes to the original SUP. The primary issue of discussion was the request for vehicular access to the upper plateau near the ticket office. The original plans called for four parking spaces, and the request is to make that area available for drop-off for handicapped persons only. Mr. Balay said his client had no problem with staffs' recommendation that buses not be allowed to use the driveway for drop-off. Members' primary concern was one of safety due to cars backing up after dropping persons off. Mr. Ranum suggested the possibility of eliminating one or two of the parking spaces so cars could loop around, rather than having to back up. There also was a suggestions to have the drop- off at the existing curb cut. Mr. Russell noted that with plans for development of the Aiple property, the goals is to keep as much congestion as possible off the pedestrian pathway planned for the Aiple property. It was noted that the Downtown Parking Commission currently is undertaking a study of the use of Main Street for additional parking. 2 • City of Stillwater Planning Commission October 8, 2001 After considerable discussion, Mr. Ranum moved to approved the realigned pedestrian walkway, to limit the number of parking spaces in the upper plateau area to one and to temporarily close the ingress/egress to the site at the south end of the south city parking lot subject to further study by city staff with more recommendations to be made at the November meeting. Mr. Gag seconded the motion; motion passed unanimously. Case No. V/01-41 A variance to the rear yard setback (25 feet required, 0 feet requested) for construction of a single family residence at 1511 N. Main St. in the RB, Two Family Residential District and Bluffland/Shoreland District. John Hoeschler representing Elayne Aiple, applicant. (Continued from Sept. 10, 2001, meeting) Present were Mr. Hoeschler and Jack Morris, the potential buyer. Mr. Morris expressed his interest in constructing a single-family residence on the parcel in question. He noted that with the 100-foot setback required from the river and the 25-foot setback from the railroad tracks, he would be left with just 20 feet on which to construct a residence. Mr. Hoeschler suggested the question is what the city wants the ultimate use of the property to be. He said the Marina has expressed interest in the property, as have potential developers of the Territorial Prison site to provide river access for condo owners. He said there is pressure on the 40 property and some type of development will occur. He suggested that a single-family residence would be the least intrusive use. Mr. Zoller said his personal preference would be for the property to be in public use. He noted that a goal of the city has been to get the Territorial Prison site back on the tax rolls, and he would look favorably on a use of the Aiple property that might encourage development of the prison site. Mr. Teske also spoke in favor of putting the prison site back on the tax rolls, and of providing river access to more people than a single-family residence would. Mr. Russell noted the city had not received any response from the DNR on the proposal due to the state employees' strike. Mr. Hoeschler also stated he thought the DNR would prefer a single- family residence as least intrusive. He also noted that a single-family residence likely would generate more taxes than a homeowners' association use would. Bruce Ahlers, 110 Lakeside Dr., who owns property to the north of the Aiple property, spoke in favor of the single-family use. He said he was opposed to the increased traffic other uses might bring. Mr. Ranum said the parcel is developable, even without the requested variance. Mr. Ranum, seconded by Mr. Teske, moved to deny the variance. Mr. Zoller, seconded by Mrs. Bealka, moved to amend the motion to grant a 10-foot variance from the rear setback. Motion on the amendment failed on a 4-4 vote, with Mr. Zoller, Mrs. Bealka, Mr. Hultman and Mr. 3 City of Stillwater Planning Commission October 8, 2001 Peroceschi voting for the amendment, and Mr. Wald, Mr. Gag, Mr. Teske and Mr. Ranum voting against. Vote on the original motion to deny the variance passed 6-2, with Mrs. Bealka and Mr. Peroceschi voting against. Other items: • Fence Ordinance revisions - Mr. Ranum said members had previously talked about the sight line triangle for corner lots. Mr. Russell said there is wording regarding the provision in the city's supplemental regulations. Mr. Ranum, seconded by Mr. Peroceschi, voted to include the language regarding the sight triangle in the Fence Ordinance; motion passed unanimously. Mr. Ranum also expressed concern about allowing fences to be placed on property lines as proposed. • Swimming Pool Ordinance revisions - Consensus was that the entire ordinance needs reworking. Mr. Ranum, seconded by Mrs. Bealka, moved to direct staff to reconsider the proposed revisions; motion passed unanimously. Mr. Wald, seconded by Mr. Ranum, moved to adjourn at 10:20 p.m.; all in favor. Respectfully submitted, • Sharon Baker Recording Secretary E 4