Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-02 Joint Board MIN MINUTES OF THE CITY OF STILLWATER AND TOWN OF STILLWATER JOINT BOARD HELD AT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 216 NORTH FOURTH STREET STILLWATER,MINNESOTA 55082 AT 7:00 P.M.,WEDNESDAY,APRIL 2, 2003 At 7:05 p.m. the meeting was called to order by Chairman, David Johnson. Present for the Board were Chairman, David Johnson; Stillwater Town Board Supervisor, Duane Laabs; Stillwater Mayor, Jay Kimble; and Stillwater Council Member David Junker. Also present were Steve Russell, Community Development Director for the City of Stillwater; and David T. Magnuson, Stillwater City Attorney. Also present were members of the public, and the developers and their representatives. Chairman Johnson opened a public hearing on Case No. PUD/03-14. The Conceptual Planned Unit Development permit consideration for the 11.87 acre development, known as Liberty Village, located in the VC Village Commercial Zoning District, at the corner of County Road 15 and County 12, Contractor Properties, applicant. Chairman Johnson asked Steve Russell to present an overview of the application which he did and at that time the developer's representative, Mark Putnam, was asked to give a presentation for the applicant. Mr. Putnam discussed the history of the development of the site and the many meetings that had been held with regard to the elements of the commercial corner. After this presentation Chairman Johnson asked for comments by the public. The following people appeared and gave the following testimony: 1. Jennifer Haas, 2362 Pioneer Place, Stillwater, was concerned about the noise from the dryers and hours of operation of the car wash located at the Kwik Trip convenience store. She noted that Apple Valley required that the car wash limit it hours and change the r 1 dryers to be further away from residential conflict. She asked that the City require that the permit be reviewed at least once a year. 2. Bill McMichael, 153 Rutherford Road, Stillwater, appeared and said that he could go to five gas stations within three miles and there was no need for another gas station. He was concerned about traffic and noise impacting on the residential area. He wanted the car wash eliminated and an annual review of the permit. Mr. Putnam responded to these objections by noting that the design was purposely developed for a mix of uses. The roads would slow traffic, thereby eliminating much of the cut— through utthrough traffic and great deal of effort was brought to bear on blending the uses. He discussed the noise from the car wash as minimal as it was positioned to block the gas pumps from County Road 15 and moved out on the corner to get away from residential conflicts. He noted that the brand of blower would have a large effect and the dryer fans were located twelve feet inside of the building. He opined that the buildings, as well as the street trees,would buffer the sound. 3. Kevin Doctor, 141 Rutherford Road, Stillwater, appeared and felt that the Board was too focused on development and not on protecting the neighborhood and that the Board should give consideration to the neighbors and they should be protected from noise and the appearance of dumpsters on the site. 4. Robert Kroening, 240 Rutherford Road, Stillwater, appeared and gave a history of development and noted the effort brought to have a design intentionally close to a residential neighborhood so that people could walk to work and walk to gas, food and grocery services near their community. He urged the Board to support the project. 5. Chairman Johnson asked how the noise would be abated and he responded that the car wash was the closest to County Road 15 to intentionally move it away from residential -2 - conflicts, further that the blower dryers and the position of the dryers within the building would minimize noise. Steve Russell noted that the City has noise standards and has worked with the car wash on County Road 5 to close the doors when the fans are in operation. A resident asked about the planting of pine trees, which would have a greater effect on noise buffering. Board Member David Junker said that the City Planning Commission had addressed many of these same issues and had limited the car wash hours in the conditions of approval on the Special Use Permit. Board Member Mayor Kimble talked about the noise in this area compared to parts of St. Anthony Village that he remembered as a child, where the noise from the freight cars was substantial,but never heard by people in the neighborhood who became used to it. Board Member Duane Laabs asked about the lighting, the hours of operation of the car wash, the uses proposed for the public park, snow removal, the narrowness of streets, and the noise emanating from the car wash. Scott Tiagen, representing Kwik Trip, explained that the manufactures say that the blowers ordered would meet the City's noise requirements, would be recessed twelve feet within the building, that landscaping would buffer, and that the owners of Kwik Trip would do all they could to abate the noise. Thereafter the public hearing was closed. Board Member David Junker moved, seconded by Board Member Mayor Kimble to approve PUD/03-14, subject to any conditions of approval on the PUD. The motion passed 4 in favor 0 against 6. The Chairman opened the public hearing on Case No. SUB/03-15, preliminary plat approval for subdivision of an 11.87 acre site into nine lots and one outlot, ranging in size from .35 to 1.47 acres located in the VC—Village Commercial Zoning District at the corner of - 3 - County Road 15 and 12, Contractor Properties, applicant. After some discussion in recognizing the similarities between the Conceptual Planned Unit Development approval previously given, Board Member Mayor Kimble moved, seconded by Board Member David Junker, to approve the subdivision. A motion passed 4 in favor 0 against 7. The Board considered Case No. SUP/03-16, a Special Use Permit for the commercial gas station and car wash, located at the corner of County 15 and 12 in the VC— Village Commercial Zoning District, Contractor Properties, owner. Scott Tiagen, Kwik Trip convenience store, applicant. Chairman Johnson asked Scott Tiagen to give an overview of the project, which he did. He explained the background on the design and the efforts made by Kwik Trip to have architecture fit the site. He explained that Kwik Trip is a family owned business, concentrating on groceries rather than gas, but that Kwik Trip realized that now gas and other features offered at a convenience store are needed in order to attract customers. He said that he received a call from Jennifer Haas and had agreed that a vapor recovery system would be installed with the gas pumps and agreed that this should be added as a condition of approval. He explained that his would avoid air pollution. He mentioned that all pumps were grounded to avoid fire. Board Member Laabs asked if the vapor recovery would lessen fire danger and Mr. Taigen said it possibly could, but it can never be ruled out with absolute certainty. Since no action was needed on this, the Board took no action but commented favorably on their review responsibility for this permit. 8. The Board considered Case No. SUP/03-17, a Special Use Permit for a 4,805 square foot bank building with drive—thru, located in the VC Village Commercial Zoning -4 - District on the corner of County 15 and 12, First State Bank, owner; Kanman Companies, applicant. The Board listened to a presentation by Mr. Keillor, architect for the bank. He explained the concept and the great effort that the architects had put into satisfying the City's design review standards. At the close of the presentation and after listening to comments by the public, the Board took no action, but commented favorably on their review responsibilities as a Joint Board. 9. Mr. Russell explained the 2002 building activity and explained that through 2002. The allotted permits were 840 housing units and that the City had used 718 housing units. He noted that for 2003, 204 housing units would be available for issuance under these standards in the Orderly Annexation Agreement. Mr. Johnson explained that the possible shortage of permits had been discussed at the Town Board and if a ceiling might be reached that would impede progress of development,the Town Board would be willing, at least, to discuss the issue. Board Member Mayor Kimble indicated that he appreciated the position of the Town Board, but every effort would be made to limit growth to the allotted permits in view of the impact of this growth on City services. 10. Mr. Russell presented the status on the Boutwell South area plan and traffic study, noting that it was incomplete and needed further work and that a cost sharing arrangement had been proposed between Washington County, the developers and the City. He noted that with budget problems, the study was on hold until an agreement could be reached on funding. He indicated that he would keep the Joint Board informed. 11. Mr. Russell noted that the City had completed purchase of the Boutwell Cemetery on February 6, 2003 and that the property would be used as open space, as part of the Brown's Creek Nature Preserve, and to augment the City's park system. Appreciation was expressed to - 5 - the Town of Stillwater for the donation of the adjacent park parcel from the Spring Creek Development. Business being concluded,the Board adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ' i-1"1MsJ David T. Magnu• City Attorney an. Acting Secretary -6 -