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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/06/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA JUNE 5, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Carl Robertson; Claudia Johnston-Madison; Jessica Kraft; Courtney Erwin; Lynette Dumalag; Matt Eckholm; Jim Beneke; Alanna Franklin (youth member) MEMBERS ABSENT: none STAFF PRESENT: Sean Walther, Jennifer Monson, Gary Morrison 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes: April 3, 2019, April 17, 2019 and May 15, 2019 Commissioner Robertson made a motion to approve the minutes for April 3, 2019 and April 17, 2019. Commissioner Kraft seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. City staff will amend and bring back the May 15, 2019 minutes regarding Historic Walker Lake. 3. Public Hearings A. Bridgewater Bank Corporate Center – Major Amendment Applicant: Peter Brodd Location: 4424 & 4400 Excelsior Blvd and 3743 Monterey Dr. Case No.: 19-13-PUD Jennifer Monson, Planner, presented the staff report. Bridgewater Bank wants to extend the restaurant space from 4,000 square feet to 5,500 square feet. The additional space would be on the east side of the building. Commissioner Robertson asked what the larger restaurant would be displacing in the interior of the building. Ms. Monson explained the restaurant will take some space from the retail bank and some of the retail space that is fronting Excelsior Blvd, which they are looking for a separate tenant for that frontage. Commissioner Erwin asked if a tenant has been secured yet for the restaurant. Official Minutes Planning Commission June 5, 2019 Ms. Monson explained the representatives for Bridgewater Bank are waiting on this approval before finalizing the tenant, to be sure they are meeting everyone’s needs. But yes, they do have a tenant in mind that they are discussing details with now. Chair Eckholm asked if the market dictated the size of the use. Ms. Monson said this is not the case. The developers already had a restaurant in mind and are hoping to move forward with the original intent. Commissioner Erwin asked what the numbers were the parking number s for a high turnover restaurant compared to a fine dining restaurant. Ms. Monson mentioned on page 26 table 5 it will show the demand as 70 and the demand for 5,500 is 84. The parking study uses more accurate building data for what’s being constructed today. Commissioner Dumalag questioned whether the restaurant is an evening only operation. Ms. Monson answered it is a lunch and evening operation. The Chair opened the public hearing. Melody O’Connor Allen, 4525 Park Commons Dr unit #401, said she wanted to discuss the traffic flow for the area surrounding the Bridgewater Bank. She asked to be shown the map to see the parking lot entrance and exit. Ms. Monson presented the site drawing and explained the direction traffic will have to go in order to enter or leave. Ms. O’Connor Allen said she just wanted to make sure, and she now understood. The Chair closed the public hearing. The developer, Peter Brodd with Bridgewater Bank wanted to note the space planning by the restaurant is a minimum they are requiring before entering into agreement. They are trying to respond to the market and they cannot give out the name of the interested party. Commissioner Dumalag asked if the restaurant is okay with the traffic counts. Official Minutes Planning Commission June 5, 2019 Mr. Brodd said they are okay with the traffic counts. Commissioner Johnston-Madison asked whether or not the Engineering department has given any information for the Monterey 36th Street plan and the neighborhood meeting in the future. Mr. Walther explained that there was a delay and they are currently in the Capitol Improvement Process now. The city still has a goal that it will be implemented by opening day. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to recommend approval of the major amendment. Commissioner Erwin seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. B. Zoning Ordinance text Amendment regarding mobile uses Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case No.: 19-11-ZA Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator, presented the staff report. There are two parts to the ordinance, the first is to allow mobile uses on any property that is zoned residential and occupied by any use other than single-family or two-family residential dwellings. The second part of the amendment is to the definition of mobile use- food to include grocery stores. Mr. Morrison explained the city received a request from Twin Cities Mobile Market which operates a mobile grocery store. Their intent is to provide access to food to areas and people who might have trouble getting to a market for various reasons. Mr. Morrison explained that mobile grocery stores are currently not allowed in the city, and mobile uses are currently not allowed at multiple-family dwellings. The Twin Cities Mob ile Market is hoping to operate this summer, if the ordinance is approved. Chair Eckholm asked why grocery was banned from the ordinance in the first place. Mr. Morrison said the intent of the existing code was to allow food trucks in the traditional sense, where the food is prepared on the vehicle for immediate consumption. Official Minutes Planning Commission June 5, 2019 Commissioner Johnston-Madison remarked whether or not any grocery stores have commented on this. Example being what if they locate a mobile grocery store in front of Fresh Thyme and apartment buildings being above it. Mr. Morrison remarked the mobile use is not allowed on streets only on private property, unless the street is closed for an event. Therefore, it is a private matter. If the grocery store does not want the mobile use on their property, they can simply say no to it. Commissioner Kraft asked if there is a limit of how many trucks that could be parked on a private property or for events. She also asked if there are limits on the times of day they are allowed to park. Mr. Morrison remarked there are no limits and there have been some events where multiple trucks have been present. He said trucks are not allowed on public streets unless it’s for an event and that event would have hours of operation. Commissioner Beneke asked if they are able to setup a permanent operation on private property. Mr. Walther added that the mobile use section of the ordinance is under temporary uses, so it is not something the city would contemplate about it becoming permanent. If this becomes an issue it’s something we can address when we’re doping the licensing and permitting a revisit in the city ordinance if needed. The Chair opened the public hearing. Jess Weisman, 6320 Minnetonka Blvd, said he is interested in the topic of mob ile use. Mr. Weisman asked whether the mobile use truck is a non-profit or a for profit business. Mr. Morrison remarked that this particular truck is funded by the Wilder Foundation and is a non-profit. Commissioner Robertson clarified that the ordinance allows for a profit or non- profit, it would not discriminate. Mr. Morrison stated that is correct, it does not differentiate. Official Minutes Planning Commission June 5, 2019 Mr. Weisman questioned if mobile uses like kitchens need to have a commissary kitchen in St. Louis Park. Mr. Morrison stated you do not need one. Mr. Weisman asked if they can setup seating outside the bus. Mr. Morrison said they can. Mr. Weisman questioned if they can be in a park, in St. Louis Park and if permission is needed. If so, is there a fee. Mr. Morrison said the truck can and the Park’s department will regulate that permit and there is a fee. Commissioner Kraft made a motion to recommend approval for the zoning ordinance amendment for mobile uses. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 4. Other Business A. Board of Zoning Appeals (BOZA) & Planning Commission by-laws Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator, presented the staff report and explained all detailed changes being proposed for the BOZA by-laws. Commissioner Johnston-Madison asked about section 3 and if this could affect notice of notifications for the paper. Mr. Morrison responded it does not, and we will continue to post the meetings for six o’clock. Commissioner Johnston-Madison asked how it would be publicized when both meetings are going to take place. Mr. Walther responded it will be listed as addressed on the agenda for each Commission. The intention is to keep a six p.m. start even if the items are for the Board of Zoning Appeals first, similar to that of the Planning Commission. Commissioner Robertson asked about the voting status of the youth member and if there are any updates. Official Minutes Planning Commission June 5, 2019 Mr. Walther said there is no change, just a similar update as the last discussion which is, the city is hiring a consultant to come in and focus on youth issues generally within the city and this is one item we are hoping to include. They are expected to be hired this summer and expected to be here for six months. Commissioner Robertson motioned that the changes to the bylaws be approved. Commissioner Erwin seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 5. Communications: Mr. Walther welcomes the new commissioners to their first meeting and explained the next meeting is June 19 and they will have the first Board of Zoning Appeals meeting at that time; the agenda will have the BOZA by-laws and an application related to a variance for a garage at 7627 North Street. Following the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on comprehensive rezoning. July 3 meeting will be cancelled and city council on June 10 will be having a study session and taking up two matter as one discussion item one is accessory dwelling units and the other is home occupations. 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.