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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/10/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularMeeting: City council Meeting date: December 7, 2020 Consent agenda item: 4n OFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA OCTOBER 21, 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, Jennifer Monson, Gary Morrison, Sean Walther 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of September 16, 2020 Commissioner Weber made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Dumalag seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 3. Public Hearings A. Comprehensive plan and zoning amendments to allow for a new zoning district for the Historic Walker Lake district Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case Nos: 20-19-CP; 20-20-ZA Laura Chamberlain, consultant from HGKI presented the staff report. She gave a history of the area and the revitalization plan intended to revitalize and preserve the area. The plan was accepted earlier this year with input from businesses and residents in the area. The guidance includes parking, mix of uses, building form and public realm. With this guidance , the city prepared a new zoning district paired with design guidelines, used as guidance vs. requirements, for the area. A comprehensive plan amendment is needed for the new zoning district. She explained the amendment in detail to the planning commission. She noted the public outreach included a presentation to the Walker Lake Business Association and a virtual neighborhood meeting, both with overall support. Commissioner Beneke asked for review on the vertical mixed -use requirement. He asked if both MX-1 and MX-2 mixed use areas can both have businesses. Ms. Monson stated that non-residential uses are required on the ground floor for street facing facades in both districts. She explained that the MX-1 district requires another use above the ground floor use but that MX-2 does not. City council meeting of December 7, 20 20 (Item No. 4n) Page 2 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes Oct. 21 , 2020 Commissioner Beneke asked for a summary of the parking requirements. Ms. Monson stated the parking requirements have already been approved by city council. The new requirements now require much less parking in the district because of the presence of ample public parking. Commissioner Weber asked if there are any other development anticipated that might fall into MX -2 in the future . Ms. Monson stated there are none at this time but could easily expand if needed at a future time and be more specific to each area within the city. Chair Kraft opened the public hearing. There were no callers on the line. The Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Beneke made a motion, Commissioner Dumalag seconded, recommending all staff recommendations approving the comprehensive plan and zoning amendments to allow for a new zoning district for the Historic Walker Lake district . The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. B. Nordic Ware amendment to special permit Applicant: Dalquist Properties, LLP - 5005 Highway 7 Case Nos: 20-23-SP Ms. Kramer presented the staff report. The applicant requests an amendment to a special permit. She noted the applicant proposes a 21,220-square-foot building addition with a new loading dock and parking area. She added an existing water main will be relocated as it serves a public need so the city retains access . An additional easement will be added for the relocated water main. Ms. Kramer stated the amendment meets all zoning requirements and no public feedback has been received at this time. Commissioner Erwin asked if the parking lot required any traffic study. Ms. Kramer stated the proposal did not require this and staff found this did not preclude any potential improvements to the CSAH 25 corridor in the future . Mr. Walther added this parking replace d off-site parking that was used in the past; demand is not increasing significantly and did not warrant a traffic study. Commissioner Weber asked if the road to the east of the addition is public or private for the easement and relocation of the water main. Ms. Kramer stated it is public and is Quentin Avenue. One of the conditions of the approval will be that Nordic Ware take over maintenance of this road. Mr. Walther stated the road is predominately private due to previous right-of-way vacations, but a small portion near the frontage road remains in public right-of-way. It will be treated as private driveway as stated by Ms. Kramer. Chair Kraft opened the public hearing. City council meeting of December 7, 20 20 (Item No. 4n) Page 3 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes Oct. 21 , 2020 Mr. Dahlquist, the applicant, thanked the commission and noted this is their 75th year in business. He stated they continue to grow, including unprecedented growth during the Covid -19 pandemic and continued growth of online sales. This project will allow for additional capacity for the building. He added the building on the site is metal and has been used as storage . This new addition will remove the metal shed and help the facility to look better and will be a nice addition to the community. Chair Kraft closed the public hearing. Commissioner Eckholm made a motion, Commissioner Erwin seconded, recommending approval of the amendment to the special permit as subject to conditions recommended in the staff report. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 4. Other Business - None 5. Communications Mr. Walther stated the city council adopted accessory dw elling unit , signs and architectural materials ordinance s, with strong support from the city council. He also noted the planning commission still does not have a youth commissione r; the city will continue to recruit . Mr. Walther added the next meeting is Nov ember 4 and will be a study session only. The topics will include scale of single -family houses and home occupations. 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.