HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/09/05 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - Planning Commission - RegularAGENDA
PLANNING COMMISSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6:00 P.M.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
1. Call to order – Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes of Aug. 1, 2018
3. Hearings
A. Zoning ordinance amendment – educational facilities in the R-4 zoning district
Applicant: Yeshiva of Minneapolis
Case No.: 18-39-ZA
B. Zoning ordinance regarding home occupations
Applicant: City of St. Louis Park
Case No.: 18-43-ZA
4. Other Business
5. Communications
6. Adjournment
STUDY SESSION - TOUR
1. Tour of AC Hotel by Marriott and Walking Tour of the West End
If you cannot attend the meeting, please call the Community Development office, 952.924.2575.
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department at 952/924-2525 (TDD 952/924-2518) at least 96 hours in advance of meeting.
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
August 1, 2018 – 6:00 p.m.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Matt Eckholm, Claudia Johnston-Madison,
Lisa Peilen, Carl Robertson, Joe Tatalovich,
Alanna Franklin (youth member)
MEMBERS ABSENT: Jessica Kraft
STAFF PRESENT: Jacquelyn Kramer, Sean Walther, Meg McMonigal
OTHERS PRESENT: Jeff Miller, consultant
1. Call to Order – Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes of June 20, 2018 and July 11, 2018
Commissioner Peilen recommended approval of the June 20, 2018 minutes.
Commissioner Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed
on a vote of 6-0.
Commissioner Carper recommended approval of the July 11, 2018 minutes.
Commissioner Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed
on a vote of 5-0-1 (Peilen abstained).
3. Public Hearings
A. Conditional Use Permit Park Spanish Immersion School
Applicant: St. Louis Park School District No. 283
Location: 9400 Cedar Lake Road
Case No.: 18-30-CUP
Jacquelyn Kramer, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. She discussed
building and site improvements proposed for the relocation of Park Spanish
Immersion to 9400 Cedar Lake Road. She said the applicant will submit a sign
permit that meets all city requirements. Ms. Kramer stated that wetland
delineation also needs to be completed to determine if the grading and site
improvements will impact that wetland.
Unofficial Minutes
Planning Commission
August 1, 2018
Page 2
Ms. Kramer reviewed the conditions of approval and staff findings. She noted
that staff has not received any comments from the public regarding the
application. She said the school district has held community meetings for this
project as part of meetings regarding improvements to be made in the district.
Chair Robertson asked why there wasn’t an existing conditional use permit for
the property.
Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, said the school was established
prior to the conditional use permit requirement.
Commissioner Carper asked why the relocation was occurring.
Tom Bravo, applicant, St. Louis Park School District facilities manager, spoke
about the district’s study on growth. After determining how Central Community
Center was going to be developed in the future, it was decided that moving Park
Spanish immersion from Central Community Center to the Cedar Manor School
site would allow for Park Spanish Immersion’s expansion and growth.
The Chair opened the public hearing. As no one was present wishing to speak
he closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Peilen made a motion recommending approval of the conditional
use permit with conditions as recommended by staff. Commissioner Johnston-
Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 5-0-1
(Tatalovich abstained).
4. Other Business
5. Communications
6. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:12 p.m.
A study session followed the regular meeting.
Unofficial Minutes
Planning Commission
August 1, 2018
Page 3
STUDY SESSION MINUTES
1. Comprehensive Plan – Draft Survey Report and Plan by Neighborhood Section
Jeff Miller, consultant, Hoisington Koegler, spoke about the Community Engagement
Phase 2 Report.
He presented for discussion eight of twenty proposed land use changes based on
comments received in the survey.
There was a discussion about use of the ESRI Community Atlas as the source for
employment, population and housing units listed for each neighborhood. Meg
McMonigal, Principal Planner, said staff plans to go back and using city sources in order
to provide more accurate numbers for housing units and removing employment data
from the Plan by Neighborhood.
Ms. McMonigal distributed sheets showing seven planning areas, improvement
priorities and opportunities related to the Plan by Neighborhood section. She explained
that section is generally not a policy document but a description of each planning area.
All Plan by Neighborhood and survey comments will be shared with all city departments.
Commissioner Peilen said she had concerns about the community input received
regarding establishment of neighborhood design guidelines mentioned in the West
Central Planning Area.
Ms. McMonigal and Mr. Walther requested any additional comments on the survey
report or the draft Plan by Neighborhood section be submitted to staff via email, and if
needed, the comments staff receives from individual commissioners regarding the Plan
by Neighborhood can be discussed by the commission at an upcoming meeting or
during the planned development tour in September. Commissioners were asked to
email comments to Ms. McMonigal.
The meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Sells
Recording Secretary
Planning Commission
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Agenda Item #3A
3A. Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Educational Facilities in the R-4 Zoning District
Case No.:
18-39-ZA
Recommended
Action:
Chair to close public hearing.
Motion to recommend approval of the Zoning Ordinance
Amendment pertaining to Educational Facilities in the R-4
Multiple-Family Residence as recommended by staff.
REQUEST: Staff is requesting an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to allow student housing
at Educational Facilities in the R-4 Multiple-Family Residence zoning district with conditions.
The proposed ordinance is attached for your review. It proposes to amend section 36-166(d)(8)
of the St. Louis Park city code. In summary it proposes to:
1. Limit the number of dorm rooms allowed based on the parcel size.
2. Limit the number of students to 200 that can live at the school.
BACKGROUND: In 2013, the city council approved a zoning text amendment to the R-3 Two-
Family Residence zoning district, and a conditional use permit for the Yeshiva Jewish boy’s high
school. The text amendment was to allow student housing in schools located in the R-3 Two-
Family Residence zoning district. The conditional use permit authorized the Yeshiva to operate a
school with dormitories. The zoning text amendment and the conditional use permit allowed up
to 50 students living on-site. The Yeshiva constructed dormitories for 40 students.
In 2016, the Yeshiva constructed additional dorms increasing the number of students living on
site from 40 to 50.
The Yeshiva is anticipating an expansion to its facilities. The expansion includes a new
gymnasium, additional classrooms and additional dormitories. The dormitories would increase
the number of students living on-site to a total of 200. They hope to have the improvements
completed in time for the start of the 2019 school year.
The proposed improvements require several zoning applications, including conditional use
permit amendment, comprehensive plan amendment, re-zoning to the R-4 zoning district, lot
combination and potentially a couple setbacks to the side yard and floor area ratio.
These applications cannot be applied for until the zoning ordinance is amended to increase the
maximum number of students allowed to live at the school.
Agenda Item No 3A – Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Educational Facilities. Page 2
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Zoning Amendment
The Yeshiva is currently operating in the R-3 Two-Family Residence zoning district with 50
students living on-site. While the density allowed in this zoning district is compatible with a
school housing up to 50 students, it is not consistent with a school housing up to 200 students. A
school with 200 students living on-site is more consistent with a multiple-family residential
district which allows a higher density. Therefore, staff is recommending that the R-4 Multiple-
Family Residence zoning district be amended to allow schools with up 200 students living on-
site, and that the R-3 Two-Family Residence district remain with the 50 students living on-site
maximum.
If approved, this ordinance would require the Yeshiva to rezone to the R-4 Multiple-Family
Residence zoning district before it can construct additional dormitories. The property the
Yeshiva is located on is a viable R-4 Multiple-Family property. It is located at the corner of
County Road 25 and Ottawa Avenue South. It is adjacent to the R-3 Two-Family Residence
district to the east and north, and adjacent to the R-C High-Density Multiple-Family Residence
zoning district to the west. The proposed Belt-Line transit station is located within walking
distance, approximately 700 feet, to the south.
Proposed Amendment:
Schools are currently allowed in the R-4 District with the following conditions:
Educational (academic) facilities with more than 20 students. The conditions are as follows:
a. Buildings shall be located at least 50 feet from a lot in an R district.
b. Outdoor recreational and play areas shall be located at least 25 feet from any lot in an R
district.
c. An off-street passenger loading area shall be provided in order to maintain vehicular and
pedestrian safety.
d. Access shall be to a roadway identified in the comprehensive plan as a collector or
arterial or shall be otherwise located so that access can be provided without generating
significant traffic on local residential streets.
To allow student housing, this provision would be added to the above existing regulation:
e. Student housing. At a minimum, the student housing must meet the following
conditions:
1. No more than 200 students may live on-site.
2. The maximum number of dorm rooms allowed shall be determined by multiplying the
district density maximum by the lot size.
3. An outdoor recreation area shall be provided that contains at least 40 square feet per
student living at the school.
4. The housing must be supervised 24 hours a day, seven days a week by responsible
adults living on-site.
5. The students living on-site must be actively enrolled in the school as a full-time
student.
6. The student housing must be located on the same parcel as the school.
Item number 2 above would limit the Yeshiva to 60 dorm rooms which meets their needs.
Agenda Item No 3A – Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Educational Facilities. Page 3
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the attached amendment to the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to
Educational (Academic) Facilities.
Attachments: Draft Zoning Amendment
Prepared by: Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator
Reviewed by: Jennifer Monson, Planner
Agenda Item No 3A – Zoning Ordinance Amendment - Educational Facilities. Page 4
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Draft Ordinance
Sec. 36-166. R-4 multiple-family residence district.
***
(d) Uses permitted by conditional use permit. No structure or land in any R-4 district shall
be used for the following uses except by conditional use permit. These uses shall comply with
the requirements of all the general conditions provided in section 36-33 regarding conditional
use permits, and with the specific conditions imposed in this subsection.
***
(8) Educational (academic) facilities with more than 20 students. The conditions are as
follows:
a. Buildings shall be located at least 50 feet from a lot in an R district.
b. Outdoor recreational and play areas shall be located at least 25 feet from any lot
in an R district.
c. An off-street passenger loading area shall be provided in order to maintain
vehicular and pedestrian safety.
d. Access shall be to a roadway identified in the comprehensive plan as a collector
or arterial or shall be otherwise located so that access can be provided without
generating significant traffic on local residential streets.
e. Student housing. At a minimum, the student housing, if provided, must meet the
following conditions:
1. No more than 200 students may live on-site.
2. The maximum number of dorm rooms allowed shall be determined by
multiplying the district density maximum by the lot size.
3. An outdoor recreation area shall be provided that contains at least 40
square feet per student living at the school.
4. The housing must be supervised 24 hours a day, seven days a week by an
adult living on-site.
5. The students living on-site must be actively enrolled in the school as full-
time students.
6. The student housing must be located on the same parcel as the school.
Planning Commission
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Agenda Item 3B
3B. Zoning ordinance regarding home occupations.
Case No.:
18-43-ZA
Recommended
Action:
Chair to open and close the public hearing.
Motion to recommend approval of amending the zoning code land
use description for home occupations.
Request: The city council directed staff to specifically prohibit firearm sales as a home occupation.
Staff proposes to do so by adding firearm sales to the list of uses that do not qualify as home
occupations. Staff suggests we also specifically exclude other land uses that are prohibited from
locating near residential and that are not controlled through city licensing.
Another suggested modification will assist city staff with administration and enforcement. There
have been instances where staff has had trouble proving that the home occupation was for gainful
employment. Staff believes stating that a home occupation includes both for profit and not for
profit activities would eliminate that issue.
Current land use description: The zoning code describes home occupations as follows:
Home occupation means an occupation, profession, or activity which provides gainful
employment to a resident of a dwelling unit which is clearly an incidental and subordinate use
to the residential use and which does not alter the exterior of the property or affect the
residential character of the neighborhood. Auto body/painting, motor vehicle sales, motor
vehicle service and repair, retail sales, massage, medical/dental office, animal handling, beauty
shop and barbershop, warehouse/storage and manufacturing/processing do not qualify as home
occupations.
Proposed land use description: The proposed land use description would read as follows:
Home occupation means an occupation, profession, or activity conducted for profit or not for
profit in a dwelling unit and by a resident of that dwelling unit, which is clearly an incidental
and subordinate use to the residential use and which does not alter the exterior of the property
or affect the residential character of the neighborhood. Auto body/painting, motor vehicle
sales, motor vehicle service and repair, retail sales, massage, medical/dental office, animal
handling, beauty shop and barbershop, warehouse/storage, manufacturing/processing, firearm
sales, currency exchange, payday loan agency, sexually-oriented business and high-impact
sexually oriented business do not qualify as home occupations.
To view a redline version of the changes, see the attached draft ordinance.
Home occupation requirements: While staff does not propose changes to the required conditions
for home occupations, staff expects commissioners will be curious about what they include. The
10 conditions include:
Agenda Item No 3B. Zoning ordinance regarding home occupations. Page 2
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
a. All material or equipment shall be stored within an enclosed structure.
b. Operation of the home occupation is not apparent from the public right-of-way.
c. The activity does not involve warehousing, distribution, or retail sales of merchandise
produced off the site.
d. No person is employed at the residence who does not legally reside in the home except that
a licensed group family day care facility may have one outside employee.
e. No light or vibration originating from the business operation is discernible at the property
line.
f. Only equipment, machinery, and materials which are normally found in the home are used
in the conduct of the home occupation.
g. No more than one non-illuminated wall sign limited to two square feet in area is used to
identify the home occupation.
h. Space within the dwelling devoted to the home occupation does not exceed one room or
ten percent of the floor area, whichever is greater.
i. No portion of the home occupation is permitted within any attached or detached accessory
building.
j. The structure housing the home occupation conforms to the building code. If the home
occupation is day care or if there are any customers or students, the home occupation has
received a certificate of occupancy.
Recommendation: Staff recommends the proposed ordinance amending the land use description
of home occupations.
Attachment: Draft Ordinance
Prepared by: Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor
Agenda Item No 3B. Zoning ordinance regarding home occupations. Page 3
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Ordinance No. ___-18
The City of St. Louis Park does ordain:
Section 1. Chapter 36 of the St. Louis Park City Code is hereby amended by adding
underscored text and deleting the strikethrough text. Section breaks are represented by ***.
Sec. 36-242 Descriptions.
***
(d) Commercial Uses.
***
(14) Home occupation means an occupation, profession, or activity conducted for profit or not
for profit in a dwelling unit and which provides gainful employment to a resident of a by
a resident of that dwelling unit, which is clearly an incidental and subordinate use to the
residential use and which does not alter the exterior of the property or affect the
residential character of the neighborhood. Auto body/painting, motor vehicle sales, motor
vehicle service and repair, retail sales, massage, medical/dental office, animal handling,
beauty shop and barbershop, warehouse/storage, and manufacturing/processing, firearm
sales, currency exchange, payday loan agency, sexually-oriented business and high-
impact sexually oriented business do not qualify as home occupations.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect fifteen days after its publication.
Reviewed for administration: Adopted by the City Council __________
Thomas K. Harmening, City Manager Jake Spano, Mayor
Attest: Approved as to form and execution:
Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk Soren Mattick, City Attorney
First Reading
Second Reading
Date of Publication
Date Ordinance takes effect
Planning Commission
Meeting Date: September 5, 2018
Study Session Item 1
1. Tour of AC Hotel by Marriott and Walking Tour of the West End
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None at this time.
SUMMARY: Periodically the planning commission tours recently developed properties to see the
implementation of recommended projects. These tours offer commissioners a chance to see the
buildings, experience the site design elements, and ask for feedback from the building occupants.
The planning commission will tour the AC Hotel by Marriott, located at 5075 Wayzata Boulevard,
at 7:30 p.m. on September 5, 2018. The group will meet in the lobby, and will receive a tour of the
building and grounds by one of the AC Hotel employees.
Immediately following, the planning commission will tour the West End to observe window
transparency examples and pedestrian scale amenities, both of which are used to enhance the
pedestrian realm. These examples will help guide planning commission recommendations with
respect to a zoning text amendment for window transparency requirements and updates to the
mixed-use zoning district.
NEXT STEPS: At future planning commission study sessions, staff will present a draft of the
proposed zoning text amendment for window transparency, and a draft of the mixed-use zoning
district.
Prepared by: Jennifer Monson, Planner
Reviewed by: Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administer