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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-20 Joint Board MIN STILLWATER CITY AND TOWN JOINT PLANNING BOARD MEETING June 20, 2013 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present: Stillwater City Councilmember Weidner, Mayor Harycki Stillwater Township Supervisors Johnson and Untied Absent: None Staff Present: Community Development Director Turnblad APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Board Member Untied, seconded by Board Member Weidner, to approve the minutes of the April 18, 2013 Joint Planning Board Meeting. All in favor, 4-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. 2013-12. An annexation, zoning map amendment and preliminary plat for a 15-lot residential subdivision known as Brown’s Creek Preserve, located at 12205 McKusick Road North. Jon Whitcomb, applicant. Community Development Director Turnblad explained the request. Jon Whitcomb, Midwest Real Estate Management, plans to develop six acres of property located at 12205 McKusick Road. The site is currently located within Stillwater Township. The preliminary plat for the project, to be known as Brown' s Creek Preserve, shows 15 single family lots that are requested to be rezoned to CCR, Cove Cottage Residential. The project is located on McKusick Road immediately west of Settler's Glen 9th Addition and immediately south of Brown's Creek State Trail. The proposed zoning for the development is the same as Settler's Glen 9th Addition, though the Brown's Creek Preserve lots are considerably larger. In order to develop the property as proposed, the applicant has requested approval of the following: 1) annexation of the 6.0 acre property; 2) rezoning of the property to CCR, Cove Cottage Residential; and 3) preliminary plat for 15 single family lots. On a 7-1 vote the Planning Commission recommended approval of the requests with the conditions identified in the planning report, except that the Commission recommends that the property should be rezoned to TR, Traditional Residential rather than CCR, Cove Cottage Residential. The Park Commission unanimously recommended that the developer meet his park and trail obligations through a cash dedication. City staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat, annexation and rezoning (though to TR, not CCR) with 15 conditions. Board Members discussed the possibility of selling an approximately 40-foot strip of City-owned property to the developer so it can be joined to five adjacent lots. Community Development Director Turnblad will contact the applicant and bring this back to the City Council for discussion before final plat approval. Stillwater City and Town Joint Planning Board Meeting June 20, 2013 Page 2 of 3 Chairman Johnson opened and closed the public hearing at 7:29 p.m. There were no public comments. OLD BUSINESS Orderly Annexation Agreement Extension Board Member Weidner questioned the need to extend the Agreement. He feels it accomplished its original goal and no longer benefits the City. Chairman Johnson responded that, having been involved in the process from the start, the Agreement helped resolve disagreements between the Township and the City. He believes one of the biggest benefits of the process was a better shared understanding of the priorities of both communities. It also has helped the Township recognize the need to pay its fair share for facilities like the Rec Center and the Library. The Metropolitan Council’s reaction to the joint planning effort was very positive. Board Member Weidner pointed out that the Agreement doesn’t have an automatic extension. Why not, on January 1, 2015, by majority vote of the City Council, annex the remaining properties into the City and spare the expense and hearings every time a property owner wants to come into the City? Chairman Johnson replied that if the Agreement were allowed to expire and the City, through annexation, took the rest of the property, he believes there would be a lot of Township residents who would object. Mayor Harycki said he sees the benefit of extending the Agreement, but respects Board Member Weidner’s viewpoint, and suggested discussing it with the entire City Council. Board Member Untied said at the time the Agreement was written, there was such chaos that she is not surprised there was no extension originally included. It has promoted a good relationship between the two municipalities. Mayor Harycki added that the building pace in the late 90s and early 2000’s was so strong that it was assumed that the area would all be developed sooner than it actually was, so the need for an extension was not foreseen at the time. Chairman Johnson added that the officials at the time didn’t know how this was going to work, but they were hopeful that what they put together would benefit both communities. The Agreement disciplined the two governing bodies to go through a planning and discussion process that has been very beneficial. The Township and City now cooperate in a whole host of areas that are easily identified as being cooperative now, when historically they haven’t been. Board Member Weidner commented that he doesn’t see why the relationship between the Township and the City would change if the Agreement is left to expire. Board Member Untied replied because we don’t know who will govern in the future - there could be a Council that says, let’s go after the township. Chairman Johnson thanked Board Member Weidner for his opinion, noting that the Township Board views consideration of the extension as an extremely positive thing because many Township citizens have come to respect and rely on it. He led the Board through the red-line draft of the Agreement section by section. Stillwater City and Town Joint Planning Board Meeting April 18, 2013 Page 3 of 3 Community Development Director Turnblad said he will get a new draft out to the Township Board and City Council and then it can be discussed at another meeting of the Joint Board. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Board Member Weidner, seconded by Mayor Harycki, to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 p.m. All in favor, 4-0. Respectfully submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary