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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/09/16 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularMeeting: City council Meeting date: November 2, 2020 Consent agenda item: 4k OFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA SEPT. 16, 2020 – 6:00 p.m. WEBEX MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Beneke, Lynette Dumalag, Imran Dagane, Matt Eckholm, Courtney Erwin, Jessica Kraft, Tom Weber. MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jacquelyn Kramer, Gary Morrison, Sean Walther 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of Aug. 5, 2020 Commissioner Dumalag noted there were no names included on a motion. Mr. Walther stated that was due to a technical issue with the recording. The change included the following: “Commissioner Dumalag moved and Commissioner Erwin seconded the motion…” Approval of Minutes of Aug. 19, 2020 (study session) Commissioner Weber was absent, and the minutes will be corrected to reflect this. Commissioner Eckholm noted his name was misspelled on page 5. Approval of Minutes of Sept. 2, 2020 (study session) Commissioner Dumalag noted as it relates to the “Covid and interiors” topic it should read, “Commissioner Dumalag asked if the commission should be spending time on this since another authority review does this already.” Commissioner Eckholm stated on page 4 it should read, “…the least appropriate place to put a large parking garage is next to public transit.” Commissioner Eckholm made a motion to approve the above noted minutes with corrections. Commissioner Dumalag seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 3. Public Hearings A. Accessory dwelling units zoning code text amendment Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case Nos: 19-15-ZA Rita Trapp, consulting planner, presented the staff report and an overview of the ADU ordinance. City council meeting of November 2, 2020 (Item No. 4k) Page 2 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes September 16, 2020 Ms. Trapp noted the ordinance classifies the ADU into two groups – attached or detached. She stated ADU’s implement some of the goals and strategies from the city’s comprehensive plan. Ms. Trapp explained the ordinance components, including the ADUs are only allowed on single-family lots in the R1, R2 or R3 zoning districts. All ADU’s must be at least 300 square feet in size with attached or detached having different upper limits. She also noted side and rear yard and height requirements for ADUs. No additional parking requirement is recommended and keeping the same amount of parking allowed with no more than 3 vehicles allowed parked on a lot or 5 if there are 5 licensed drivers. However, more parking is allowed within a garage and on the street. Ms. Trapp added the ordinance also prohibits short term vacation rentals of dwelling units and ADUs which is prohibited in the city regardless and prohibits sale of an ADU independent of the principle building and lot. She added that up to one family and 2 boarders are allowed on the lot. Ms. Trapp noted three options to be reviewed by the commission as well as potential language that can be added or clarified by the commission. Commissioner Erwin thanked Ms. Trapp and staff for providing options related to an owner occupancy requirement. Commissioner Weber asked about the detached ADUs 15 feet provision as met. He asked for clarification on this, and if the 15 feet is for the primary house as well. Mr. Walther stated the rear yard requirements are 25 feet for the principal building and the typical detached accessory building is 2 feet. He stated the commission suggested ADUs be 15 feet away to add separation and privacy for neighbors to the rear of the property. Chair Kraft opened the public hearing. There were no callers into the public hearing. The Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Beneke stated he is excited to see this proposal as it relates to naturally occurring affordable housing. He stated the only part he’s concerned about is the potential of ADUs being set up as rental properties managed by remote owners. He stated he felt there should be owner occupancy, but added it might be too costly to build, so then possibly fewer ADUs would be built ultimately. He stated he is happy about the third option which stated it has to be owner occupied when constructed. He added to start with they might want to add this requirement. Commissioner Eckholm stated he agreed with Commissioner Beneke related to the third option, to introduce more housing to the community, and it is a good start. He added City council meeting of November 2, 2020 (Item No. 4k) Page 3 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes September 16, 2020 this will be just one of many options as part of the 2040 plan and he strongly supports option 3. Commissioner Dumalag also supports option 3. Commissioner Weber asked how option 3 works if someone built an ADU for a family member to rent vs. an absent landlord. Mr. Walther stated staff reviews all building permits and could easily determine if a property is homesteaded or not and identify the owners of property. Commissioner Dumalag asked about the permit process timeline. Mr. Walther stated there is no approval needed by the commission of city council outside of administrative approval. Added new construction or major addition applications are typically turned around within 3 weeks or less, depending on any changes that are needed. There may be notice to neighbors if it meets the present threshold to require a construction management plan. Commissioner Dumalag asked if the certificate of occupancy then is issued. Mr. Walther stated, yes, upon completion of the construction. If the property was rented, it likely also requires a rental license. Chair Kraft noted in the past she had supported option 1, but after hearing this discussion, option 3 is a good compromise and she supports adding that language to the ordinance. Commission Erwin stated while she still has concerns about someone coming into a neighborhood and buying up properties, she noted AUDs can be expensive. She stated she will be curious how many will be built in the city in the next 10 years, but added she still supports option 3. Commissioner Weber asked if the ordinance can be revisited at a later date for updates or changes, and if there is a numerical goal for ADUs to be produced. Mr. Walther stated there is no goal for a number of ADUs to be built, however he added the city can compare progress to other nearby cities and housing production as a whole. Commissioner Beneke made a motion, Commissioner Dumalag seconded, recommending approval of the accessory dwelling units (ADU) zoning code ordinance text amendment as presented by staff, with the language from option 3. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. B. Painted signs zoning code text amendment Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case Nos: 20-18-ZA City council meeting of November 2, 2020 (Item No. 4k) Page 4 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes September 16, 2020 Gary Morrison, assistant zoning administrator, presented the staff report. Mr. Morrison stated this zoning code will allow signs painted directly onto a building and requires surfaces to be refinished after a sign is removed. Chair Kraft opened the public hearing. There were not callers into the public hearing. Chair Kraft closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber made a motion, Commissioner Eckholm seconded, recommending approval of the painted signs zoning code text amendment as presented by staff. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. C. Architectural design zoning code text amendment Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case Nos: 20-17-ZA Gary Morrison, assistant zoning administrator, presented the staff report. The changes include revising the list of approved exterior materials, minor clarifications, and restructuring the ordinance. Chair Kraft opened the public hearing. There were not callers into the public hearing. Chair Kraft closed the public hearing. Commissioner Eckholm made a motion, Commissioner Dumalag seconded, recommending approval of the architectural design zoning code text amendment as presented by staff. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 4. Other Business - none 5. Communications Mr. Walther noted planning commissioners will meet as the Board of Zoning Appeals on October 7 at 6 p.m. and hold a hearing for a fence height variance application. 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:09 p.m.