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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-17 DTPC MIN DOWNTOWN PARKING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 17, 2018 REGULAR MEETING 8:30 A.M. Chairwoman Pelletier called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Present: Vice Chair Pelletier, Commissioners Hopfe, Johnson, Lettner, McAllister Absent: Chair Andersen; Commissioners Glynn and Johnson. Staff: Community Development Director Turnblad, Police Chief Gannaway, Parking Enforcement Officer Pasket, Zoning Administrator/Assistant Planner Olson- Williams APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Pelletier accepted the agenda as presented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of April 19 meeting minutes Pelletier noted that the date for the Criterium Bike Race should be June 17, not July 17. With this correction the minutes were approved. SPECIAL EVENTS Lumberjack Days Turnblad reviewed the agenda item by summarizing his staff report of May 9, 2018. Lumberjack Days is scheduled this year from Thursday July 19th through Monday July 23rd. Setup will be on the Thursday clean up would occur on Monday the 23rd. The actual event will run from Friday July 20th to Sunday the 22nd. The Locals have requested the use of Municipal Lots 5, 8b and 9 along with Mulberry Circle and a portion of Water Street. This represents 126 fewer parking spaces than the City Council approved for use by the festival. Downtown Parking Commission May 17, 2018 Page 2 of 4 The Commissioners were pleased that fewer parking spaces are needed for the event. NEW BUSINESS Rydeen Carriage Rides Turnblad reviewed the item by summarizing his staff report of April 12, 2018. Matthew Rydeen would like to offer horse drawn carriage rides every other weekend in downtown Stillwater. This would begin in mid-June and run through mid-October. The horses are stabled in Stillwater Township. The carriage is stored at his parents’ home at 418 W Maple. The plan would be to trailer the horses to 418 W Maple. Then to hitch to the carriage and drive the carriage to the staging area in the two public parking spots in Lot 8b south of Mulberry Street. The Parking Commission stated that they preferred not to reserve public parking spaces for the staging area. Vice Chair Pelletier asked Mr. Rydeen if he had asked the owners of private parking lots if they would allow him to stage on their property. Mr. Rydeen said he had spoken with the owners of Shorty’s, Brick Alley and Maple Island Brewery. But, did not get an approval. Vice Chair Pelletier suggested that Rydeen talk with Mark Desch about possible using his surface lot for this purpose. Lettner moved to table the request until Rydeen consulted with Desch about the possibility of staging on his lot. Commissioner Hopfe seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Mitigation Spaces in Downtown Parking System Turnblad summarized his report of May 10, 2018. Approved use of public parking spaces for expanded businesses accounted for 16.7% of the total public parking spaces downtown. Including the 55 residential units that do not have private parking provided, 19.8% of the public parking system would be committed to covering shortages on business and residential properties. Commissioners mentioned that at many peak demand times, the public parking system is at capacity and at times does not meet demand. They also mentioned that even though many employees would not take advantage of a shuttle system between downtown and more remote public parking lots, it may be worth exploring the possibility of providing a shuttle service for employees and visitors. JX Event Center Turnblad introduced the parking mitigation request by summarizing his report of May 14, 2018. In order to use space in the building at 123 N 2nd that has stood vacant for several years, Judd Sather is proposing to change the mix of uses in the building. The result would be that the number of required parking mitigation spaces for the lower level would increase from 18 to 39 (31 during off season); on the main level the proposed changes would not Downtown Parking Commission May 17, 2018 Page 3 of 4 increase the impact on the public parking system and therefore not be required to mitigate any parking spaces; and on the upper level, the required mitigation would remain unchanged at 34 spaces. Therefore, the proposed changes would result in 73 required mitigation spaces (65 during off season). The 2015 parking mitigation requirement was 52 spaces. Mr. Sather stated that the 2015 plan assumed an average event attendance of 400 people. Over the last two years, the actual average size has been 205 people. Using the same formula as 2015, this would require 17 parking spaces to be mitigated. This would reduce the required mitigation parking spaces to 48 in the off season and 56 in the high season. Vice Chair Pelletier moved to leave the required parking mitigation at 52 spaces, with the two conditions found in the staff report. Commissioner Hopfe seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. Short Term Rental, 209 S Main Turnblad summarized his report of May 11, 2018. The three apartments of this case are being converted to Short Term Home Rental units. This requires one parking space for each of the three units. There are no parking spaces on the property. So, the three spaces are required to be approved by the Parking Commission. Since the change in use does not increase the demand for parking over the existing apartments, Vice Chair Pelletier moved to approve the use of the public parking system to mitigate the lack of on-site parking, with the conditions included in the staff report. Hopfe seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Forge & Foundry Distillery Turnblad introduced the parking mitigation request by summarizing his report of May 10, 2018. The applicants are proposing to operate a craft distillery and tasting room, doing business as Forge & Foundry Distillery in the garage area of the former armory on Chestnut and 3rd Streets. The tasting room proposed at the new location, as with the previous one, would allow patrons to purchase and sample spirits produced on the site, as well as cocktails from spirits made on the site. The distillery’s tasting room will be open to the general public Wednesdays through Sundays. Production will occur throughout the week. 2,472 square feet of the armory will be dedicated to the distillery. Of that, 1,500 square feet would be the production area. Total parking required is 12 spaces. None are available to the distillery on the property. So, the applicants are requesting that the business be allowed to use public parking to mitigate its required spaces. Downtown Parking Commission May 17, 2018 Page 4 of 4 Turnblad mentioned that at this location on street parking on 3rd Street exists and is quite often available. Also, Municipal Parking Lots 18, 19 and 20 up 3rd Street would have excess capacity during peak demand times for the distillery. Commissioner Lettner moved approval of using the public parking system for the 12 required parking spaces, with the conditions found in the staff report. Commissioner McAllister seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. Handicapped Parking during Events Turnblad stated that Mayor Kozlowski received a complaint from a resident that during events downtown handicapped parking spaces tend to be eliminated. He also said that the Commission and staff should keep this in mind as event organizers request permission to reserve parking lots. We should pay special attention to the handicapped parking spots to make sure the number and distribution remains reasonable during events. Northern Vineyards – Food Vending Turnblad introduced the item by saying that Northern Vineyards Winery has submitted an application on behalf of Kowalski’s Market to allow a Kowalski’s food vending trailer to be located at 223 North Main Street every other Friday afternoon from July through October. If approved, the food vending would operate between 3:00 and 7:00 pm. The vending trailer would use two of the four private parking spaces on the property. Since the two parking spaces are privately owned, there is no direct impact upon the public parking system. However, there is an indirect impact. Customers that would normally park on the private property during the nine dates proposed will now need to park in the public system while the spaces are occupied by the vendor. Vice Chair Pelletier moved approval of the request to mitigate the two parking spaces by using the public system, with the two conditions found in the staff report of May 16, 2018. Commissioner McAllister seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. UPDATES Turnblad updated the Commission on the City Council action to table their decision on use of the Stillwater Mills on Main parking garage by the general public. Staff was directed to follow-up with the owners of commercial garage for some type of middle ground, and then to report back to the Council. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:14 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Bill Turnblad, acting secretary