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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006/05/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CTY OF OFFICIAL MINUTES C ILOUIS CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION RK May S,2006 The meeting convened at 6:31 p.m. Councilmembers present: John Basill, C. Paul Carver, Phil Finkelstein, Paul Omodt, Loran Paprocki, Susan Sanger, and Mayor Jeff Jacobs. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening); Community Development Director (Mr. Locke); Planning and Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal); Associate Planner (Mr. Fulton); City Clerk (Ms. Stroth); Management Assistant (Ms. Honold); Organizational Development Coordinator (Ms. Gothberg); and Recording Secretary(Ms. Samson). Guests present: Planning Commission members: Lynne Carper, Claudia Johnston-Madison, Robert Kramer, and Carl Robertson. Lake Forest Neighborhood Association President Sharon Abelson. From Mobius: Will Stockton and Marjorie Herdes. 1. Zoning Code Amendments (Lot Divisions) Zoning and Planning Supervisor Meg McMonigal talked about lot divisions for existing platted parcels and design standards. Councilmember Basill said height of homes is a concern. Councilmember Basill said some of his neighbors have said that hardy board does not look as good as brick or stucco. He said if split lots are allowed, there must be strict architectural standards. Councilmember Basill said he doesn't favor splitting lots if the splitting results in smaller lots. Councilmember Sanger is concerned because splitting lots is discretionary. The Council has a right to put additional controls on it, and it doesn't make sense to her that a split lot meets the 2/3 provision of lot size requirements. How is it determined if a lot is compatible? What are the grounds for denial? An opportunity is needed up front to see the proposed home, otherwise, a decision is made in the abstract. Councilmember Carver suggested the ordinance be written in such a way as to induce the kind of behavior that is advantageous to the neighborhood. Ms. McMonigal asked what kind of design Council would like to see included for review in order to make judgments on a case-by-case basis. City Manager Tom Harmening suggested the Planning Commission figure out the design guidelines. Mr. Harmening said he is hearing that at least four Councilmembers favor giving the Planning Commission official review of lot divisions for existing platted parcels and provide recommendations. Ms. McMonigal distributed a subdivision analysis. Community Development Director Kevin Locke said if the current character of the neighborhood is to be protected, staff recommends creating a new single-family zoning district and setting a somewhat higher than 9,000 square foot lot size, which would reduce the number of lots that could be divided. Mr. Locke summarized that staff has identified some characteristics of the zoning code that could potentially be strengthened to prevent future subdivisions in large lot areas. Potential areas include increasing the minimum lot size, and minimum lot width, further regulating steep slopes and reducing maximum lot coverage. Study Session Minutes -2- May 8, 2006 Mr. Harmening said he is hearing a consensus that creating at least one new zoning district has ment, and staff and the Planning Commission can work on this and get back with a recommendation. Councilmember Finkelstein would like to include France Avenue up to 26t. Mayor Jacobs remarked that there is a dichotomy of two legitimate public policy end results: preserve open space and urban infill. Councilmember Finkelstein said it is necessary to distinguish between platted lots versus nonplatted. Councilmember Sanger suggested having a moratonum for a limited period of time and state what specific goals would have to be accomplished within that penod of time. One goal would be the development of large lot zoning district and a second goal would be a fresh look at the subdivision ordinance, leaving aside the platted lot question, and to be done within x number of months. Mr. Harmemng suggested staff speak to the city attorney to see what the options are to craft a finely wntten moratorium on lot splits for a short period of time as seems reasonable to get a new zoning ordinance district in effect and a new subdivision ordinance. Mr. Harmening also suggested looking at just a residential moratorium that is defensible but also allows other things to happen in the community. Mr. Harmening will discuss with the city attorney. In regard to hardy board as a building matenal, associate planner Adam Fulton said staff is refemng specifically to using hardy board on multi-family dwellings. Councilmember Sanger would like to know if the size of the pieces could be limited. Ms. McMonigal said staff can look at it more closely and limit the large panels. Councilmember Finkelstein said he is hearing people want a lesser percentage of hardy board as a class I material and prevent the big slabs of hardy board. Ms. McMonigal said staff will look at it. Councilmember Finkelstein asked if a defimtion for park is needed. Councilmember Sanger said every publicly owned parcel should be identified that doesn't already have major buildings on it. She thinks the definition for parks should be broadened. Mr. Locke said, for starters, Council would like to have a parks and an open space zoning district, the issue will be creating that zoning category. Mr. Locke said there are two pieces to it: creating a zoning district in the ordinance and creating the map. Mr. Harmening said the outcome he hears is that Council wants a park and open space zoning district but there is no agreement to go through an elaborate process with neighborhoods. Mr. Harmening suggested appointed Commissioners be relied upon, and the Comprehensive Plan provides some guidance. Councilmember Paprocki requested that staff look at city-owned parks right away. Councilmember Sanger would like more elaboration in regard to the standards for maintenance of awnings and canopies and the application of how signs would work. The Planning Commission will address her concerns. In regard to establishing a maximum height in MX district, Councilmember Finkelstein suggested prohibit gaining height by adding more soil in order to get a better view. Councilmember Sanger requested staff to check on allowing greater height if one has more green space or open space around it to balance it. She wants to keep height of buildings near freeways. Study Session Minutes -3- May 8, 2006 2. Off-Sale Liquor Licenses City Clerk Nancy Stroth presented a staff report. Ms. Stroth said two representatives from Napa Jacks are present. Ms. Stroth asked Council what their concerns are regarding off-sale liquor licensing. Councilmember Carver said he doesn't perceive a problem but he is not specifically in favor of a blanket number of liquor stores. Councilmember Omodt was concerned whether the police can effectively continue to enforce. Councilmember Finkelstein said off-sale stores have gone from 9 to 14 within the last year. Councilmember Finkelstein said there is no limitation as to where the liquor stores are located. Like Councilmember Carver, Councilmember Sanger doesn't want to limit the number of liquor stores unless she hears some police concern about it. She would like to know why more liquor stores want to locate in St. Louis Park. Mayor Jacobs said he would be concerned about overtaxing the police department's ability to enforce and the city clerk's department to enforce the periodic background checks and the continuing licensing. Councilmember Paprocki thinks it is an appearance issue. Councilmember Paprocki said St. Louis Park currently has enough liquor stores to service St. Louis Park residents. He said appearance is reality and St. Louis Park has enough liquor stores. Besides appearance, Councilmember Basill's concern is as the number of liquor stores increase, the more desperate they are to sell. Mayor Jacobs said he doesn't think St. Louis Park should limit the number of liquor stores, however, have staff look at increasing fines for violations. Mr. Harmening said the police department has not been able to point to or suggest a nexus between the number of liquor licenses and crime and disorder for off-sale liquor sales. Like Councilmembers Basill and Paprocki, Councilmember Finkelstein thinks it is an appearance issue and the number of new off-sale establishments is too big of an increase for one year. Councilmember Sanger would like to know if it is possible to criminally charge the owner and not just the server. Management Assistant Marcia Honold said staff can return with best practices information. Mr. Harmening said he is not hearing agreement on limiting the number of liquor stores, not hearing distance requirements but he does hear requests to require mandatory training, look at penalties for violation and perhaps make those more stringent, he hears aesthetics and the need for best practices. Councilmember Basill said image and liquor store names do matter. Councilmember Omodt would like to consider proximity to schools. Item 4 was discussed prior to Item 3 4. Vision St. Louis Park Mr. Harmening asked Council if staff could move forward with the vision action teams. Councilmember Sanger thinks staff should move forward with the vision action teams, however, Council should choose the leaders for the action teams, and action teams should have the authority to identify their own sub-goals from the major goals stated. Study Session Minutes -4- May 8, 2006 Organizational Development Coordinator Bridget Gothberg said the members of the action teams will be volunteers and staff could make recommendations for chairs. Ms. Gothberg and Mr. Harmening will meet with Jim Brimeyer next week to talk about his willingness to be the lead chair for all of the action teams such as he did in 1994. Councilmember Finkelstein asked once accepted would the Vision St. Louis Park 2006 be used as a blueprint. Absolutely! Mr. Harmening said Vision St. Louis Park is a major piece of information at the Council's disposal, which articulates what the city has heard from the community. The Council indicated to move forward with the action groups. 3. Meadowbrook STEP and Children First Councilmember Sanger would like to discuss a philosophy regarding funding in general. Council discussed funding. Councilmember Omodt met with Meadowbrook staff and will present them with a draft plan and a public relations plan on May 9th Councilmember Basill said there must be a way to keep them going so that they can be self- sustaining but an exit strategy is needed. He would like to see alternatives and a long term plan developed on how to keep Meadowbrook, STEP and Children First going. Councilmember Basill left at 9:07 p.m. Mr. Harmening asked how much funding to give. Councilmember Sanger suggested offering matching grants. Mayor Jacobs said there is a need to consider public safety and the city budget. Councilmember Carver said the money should come with strings attached. Mr. Harmening summarized the next step. The city is willing to consider up to $20,000 per Meadowbrook, STEP and Children First subject to certain conditions, i.e., these are challenge grants, to be available in January 2007, must be matched one-to-one, and the training piece to teach these agencies how to seek grants from other sources may need to be added. Mr. Harmening will have conversations with Meadowbrook, STEP and Children First and return to Council for authorization with conditions spelled out. 5. Motor Vehicle Sales Tax (MVST) Council discussed MVST. Councilmember Sanger offered additional language to the sample resolution, to request the legislature make up the funding difference created by moving MVST funds to transportation. Councilmember Omodt favors Councilmember Sanger's edit to the sample resolution. Councilmember Carver is comfortable with it too. Councilmember Carver said a resolution does have a purpose, and St. Louis Park has a personal stake in transportation. He requested it be updated to reflect the new language. This item will go to the Council on May 15t. Study Session Minutes -5- May 8, 2006 6. Future Study Session Agenda Planning Mr. Harmening and the Council discussed study session agenda planning. Mr. Harmening will send an application to Councilmembers from the League of Minnesota Cities. The meeting ended at 9:45 p.m. 1 c ,‘ y .,,,, City Clerk Mayo