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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-14 CPC MIN PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 14, 2018 REGULAR MEETING 7:00 P.M. Chairman Collins called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present: Chairman Collins, Commissioners Hade, Hansen, Lauer and Siess (left at 7:45 p.m.) Absent: Commissioners Fletcher and Kocon; Councilmember Menikheim Staff: City Planner Wittman, Community Development Director Turnblad APPROVAL OF MINUTES Possible approval of minutes of February 14, 2018 regular meeting Commissioner Siess mentioned that the City Council denied second reading of the ordinance related to retail uses in Business Park Industrial districts. Ms. Wittman replied that is not in the February 14 Planning Commission meeting minutes because the Council had not yet denied second reading; that action was taken at the February 20 City Council meeting. Motion by Commissioner Lauer, seconded by Chairman Collins, to approve the minutes of the February 14, 2018 regular meeting. Motion passed 4-0 with Commissioner Hansen abstaining. OPEN FORUM There were no public comments. PUBLIC HEARINGS Case No. 2018-01: Consideration of a Zoning Text Amendment to amend the City Code by adding exterior residential lighting standards. City of Stillwater, applicant. Chairman Collins stated the public hearing will be tabled to the April meeting per the applicant’s request. Case No. 2018-02: Consideration of a Variance to the maximum structural coverage in the RB – Two Family District for the property located at 618 3rd Street South. Michelle and Shane Quinn, property owners. (Tabled from February meeting per applicant’s request.) Chairman Collins stated the public hearing will be tabled to the April meeting per the applicant’s request. Planning Commission March 14, 2018 Page 2 of 4 Case No. 2018-09: Consideration of a Preliminary Plat and Zoning Map Amendment for the property located at 12588 Boutwell Road in the AP district. Boutwell Farm LLC, property owner and Kevin Von Riedel, applicant. Chairman Collins recused himself stating that he is on the Board of Directors of the Washington County Historical Society, the current property owner, and that the applicant has made an offer on the property. He turned the gavel over to Vice Chairman Lauer. Community Development Director Turnblad reviewed the application. Kevin von Riedel, Westridge Development, LLC, plans to develop a property of about 4.9 acres at 12588 Boutwell Road. The property includes the farm house originally owned by Reverend Boutwell. The house and a granary will be saved. The preliminary plat, to be known as Boutwell Farm, shows 10 single family lots that are proposed to be zoned RA, Single Family Residential. Boutwell Farm Road will be constructed to serve the ten lots. The road will temporarily have access to Boutwell Road via an easement encumbering Lot 10. When the property immediately to the east develops, Boutwell Farm Road will be extended through their property and intersect with Boutwell Road in alignment with Minar Avenue. At that time, the temporary connection will be removed and the 40 foot wide temporary road easement will be vacated, but a 30 foot wide utility easement will remain in place for public utilities that will be located there. The applicant has requested approval of: 1. Rezoning to RA, Single Family Residential; 2. Preliminary Plat known as Boutwell Farm for 10 single family lots. Staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat and rezoning with 17 conditions. Commissioner Siess asked if it was the City’s idea or the developer’s idea to bring the application forward before the wetland delineation was done. Mr. Turnblad explained it has not been possible to complete the delineation because of the season. Staff believes that the wetland delineation will not extend far enough up the hill to impact the building sites. Therefore staff was satisfied accepting the application with the condition that the delineation will be completed before the final plat. Applicant Kevin Von Riedel, Boutwell Farm LLC, stated he has a purchase agreement with the Washington County Historical Society to purchase the property and preserve the Boutwell House and granary building. He has a wetland delineator scheduled as soon as possible in mid to late April. Commissioner Hansen asked what is the intention with the preserved Boutwell House. Mr. Von Riedel replied that the south and eastern façades of the house will be preserved, the rest will be rebuilt, and it will be sold. He would not do this work, but would sell the house to a builder who specializes in doing this type of work. Commissioner Siess asked if the other houses will complement the Boutwell house. Mr. Von Riedel replied no, as an 1800s farmhouse, it is not a desirable style today. Because it faces Boutwell and the other homes will face the new street, it will have a feel of being off by itself. Vice Chairman Lauer opened the public hearing. Ion Capatina, 8160 Morgan Avenue North, expressed concern about past and future noise. He operates a business from his home which requires quiet. He questioned the City placement of a phosphorus filter in front of his house which caused bulldozer and equipment noise and will need to be replaced every few years. He added that the Boutwell House is in very bad shape with rodents and other issues. He would like to see the house repaired by the current owner and not become the responsibility of the Planning Commission March 14, 2018 Page 3 of 4 future builder. Mr. Capatina added that there are at least 100 old trees on the property whose cutting will generate noise with the potential for severely disrupting his work. Mr. Von Riedel replied that many of the trees are undesirable volunteer box elders. They are normally cut down with a hydraulic pinch, not a chain saw. The development of the site will probably take 45 days from the time of starting to remove trees to installing the street. Vice Chairman Lauer closed the public hearing. Commissioner Siess asked if decibel limits have ever been included as a condition of approval for a development. Community Development Director Turnblad said he has not seen a noise standard attached to a development because noise levels are addressed in the nuisance ordinance. Commissioner Siess said she would have a hard time approving this before the wetland delineation is done. Vice Chairman Lauer said knowing that the area is uphill from the existing wetland, he feels satisfied that the wetland delineation when completed won’t impact the building sites, as staff stated. Commissioner Hansen asked if there is any intention of the Boutwell structures being used as an interpretive center necessitating public access. He questioned if the buildings would become an attractive nuisance and encourage people to go onto the property because they think it’s public. Community Development Director Turnblad responded it will look clearly like private property. The granary and home will be on one lot and owned by one family. Ms. Wittman added that the proposed zoning is single family, so a change of use would require an application process. Commissioner Hade said he is uneasy approving this without an official wetland delineation. Mr. Turnblad reiterated that the wetland delineation must be done before the final plat application is submitted, before any dirt is moved. Motion by Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Lauer, to recommend approval of Case No. 2018-09, Preliminary Plat and Zoning Map Amendment for the property located at 12588 Boutwell Road, with the 17 conditions recommended by staff. Motion passed 3-1, with Commissioner Siess voting nay. ITEMS OF DISCUSSION Residential Lighting Zoning Amendment Discussion Community Development Director Turnblad stated the City Council has received several complaints about a property on the north hill. Staff was directed to work on an amendment to address residential lighting. A survey of similar communities indicated most communities limit the brightness allowed in residential areas. Staff will look at potential standards and bring information back next month. Small Wireless Facilities Zoning Text Amendment Planning Commission March 14, 2018 Page 4 of 4 City Planner Wittman updated the Commission on progress of a small wireless facility future zoning text amendment. Because the proposed amendments will affect six sections of the City Code, there has been a lot of cross-analysis to ensure there are no gaps, or conflicts. Commissioner Hansen said he would like to see a continuum showing the City’s preferred areas and areas that the City would prefer be avoided in siting the facilities. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update Chairman Collins noted that the Commission is expected to attend a joint meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, City Council, Planning Commission and Parks Commission at 6:30 p.m. May 23 in the Margaret Rivers Room of the Stillwater Public Library. Ms. Wittman added that a Polco survey is gathering input from citizens on a variety of questions. STAFF UPDATES 2018 Commission Appointments and Chair Elections City Planner Wittman reviewed term expirations. The seats of Chairman Collins and Commissioners Kocon and Lauer will expire in May. Staff has fielded many inquiries but no new applications have been received to date. The deadline for application submission is Friday, March 16. St. Croix River Crossing - materials in packet Ms. Wittman shared information on landscaping projects associated with the St. Croix River Crossing. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Hansen, seconded by Commissioner Hade, to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. All in favor, 4-0. Respectfully Submitted, Julie Kink Recording Secretary