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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/04/17 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA APRIL 17, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Joe Tatalovich; Lisa Peilen; Carl Robertson; Alanna Franklin (youth member); Matt Eckholm; Lynne Carper; Claudia Johnston- Madison; Jessica Kraft MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Sean Walther; Jennifer Monson; Jacquelyn Kramer 1.Call to Order – Roll Call 2.Approval of Minutes: March 20, 2019 and April 17, 2019 Commissioner Robertson made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 3.Public Hearings A.Mixed use zoning ordinance Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case Nos: 19-08-ZA Jennifer Monson, Planner, presented the staff report. The proposed amendments are for the mixed use zoning district and explained that several of the parcels are currently guided for mixed use in the city. Commissioner Peilen asked for more detail on exactly what a glazed transom is and why it is encouraged. Ms. Monson responded that a glazed transom is a window above a door or window, to add visual interest, daylight to internal spaces and pedestrian activity to the street. Commissioner Carper asked for more detail regarding the inclusionary commercial policy. Mr. Walther said the Economic Development Coordinator is looking into the details to effectively administer the ordinance. Official Minutes Planning Commission April 17, 2019 Page 2 Commissioner Carper asked a question regarding the 20 foot wide pedestrian connection through parking lots, and asked for other examples in the city. Ms. Monson said the language is taken from another portion of the code, and a good example where this was applied would be the renovations to the Shoppes at Knollwood. Chair Eckholm sited the sidewalks located at the Highway 7 Target, and the purpose of them is to provide a safer route through a large parking lot to get to the store. Commissioner Robertson commented that he took issue with the reference to ensuring high quality architecture design. He stated it is not something the commission can ensure. He suggested using the word ‘promote’ instead. Commissioner Robertson stated the performance standards should be revised to clarify that residential uses are allowed, but not required, in a mixed use building. It could have retail uses on the first floor with offices uses above.. Commissioner Robertson discussed the conditions for private entertainment uses. Ms. Monson said private indoor entertainment was prohibited in buildings with residential uses due to fitness equipment vibration and noise. Commissioner Johnston-Madison agreed with Commissioner Robertson that the conditions should be amended to not prohibit all private indoor entertainment with residential uses. Commissioner Carper asked for clarifications regarding conditions for hotel and motel uses. Ms. Monson said permitted accessory uses are allowed on 25% of the building frontage and the other 75% have to be non-residential active uses. A quarter of the ground floor building frontage could be the hotel lobby or entrance. She said the rooms for a hotel or motel are not allowed to be along the front ground floor of the building. She said she would clarify the language in the code. Commissioner Carper asked about the transparency description and how we go about determining what high transparency and low reflecting is. Starbucks was given as an example of the window transparency and how difficult it can be to see in. How are we able to define it so everyone is following the same rule and go out and define the ordinance. Official Minutes Planning Commission April 17, 2019 Page 3 Ms. Monson said since the planning commission and city council are still discussing window transparency throughout the city, we can delete the definition and all references to transparency in the mixed-use district, and reference whatever is adopted for the rest of the zoning ordinance. Chair Eckholm opened the public hearing and then closed the public hearing as no one was present to speak. Chair Eckholm asked if the commission had any amendments or motions. Commissioner Robertson motioned to strike the transparency section until it can be discussed further, which would also include the definition of transparency. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion. Commissioner Kraft asked if the mixed use district will reference the proposed transparency ordinance still being review by the commission and city council. Ms. Monson responded that the mixed use district references all other required portions of the zoning code when rules are not specified in the district. Commissioners voted and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to remove conditions 1 and 3under private indoor entertainment. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Commissioner Carper made a motion to remove the discussion on inclusionary commercial. Commissioner Kraft seconded the motion. Commissioner Robertson said he believes this to be an important enough provision to maintain, even if it needs later refinement, and that it would help start the discussion with developers. Chair Eckholm agreed with Commissioner Robertson. Commissioner Carper said after hearing commissioners’ arguments, he agreed and withdrew his motion, and Commissioner Kraft agreed to withdraw her second to the motion. Commissioner Robertson stated that 80% class I materials is too high of a minimum and asked for thoughts from the other Commissioners. Official Minutes Planning Commission April 17, 2019 Page 4 Chair Eckholm said he would prefer to remove the material requirements in the mixed-use district at this time, and instead reference the architectural standards used elsewhere in the zoning code, because the planning commission will be working on an ordinance updating material requirements throughout the city. Commissioner Kraft agreed. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to strike the requirements for 80% class I materials. Commissioner Kraft seconded the motion. Commissioner Carper asked if striking this will create problems later and asked Mr. Walther for his opinion. Mr. Walther said it would defer to the existing class materials contained elsewhere in the zoning code and should not cause any problems. The motion passed on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to replace the word ensure with promote and to delete the second promote in the purpose section regarding high quality architectural design. Commissioner Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to recommend approval of the ordinance with the changes that have been made. Commissioner Peilen seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 4.Other Business Commissioner Carper followed up with Mr. Walther about the student member of the Commission being able to vote. Mr. Walther said he followed up with the City’s attorney and the conversation broadened. The city will be looking at this issue and how it applies to student members on all the boards and commissions. Mr. Walther said administration is looking to hire someone on a short-term basis that will be working on youth specific opportunities throughout the community and this can be an item they could focus on. Because of this we think it’s best to hold off on this until the staff person is hired to review this for all commissions. 5.Communications: Official Minutes Planning Commission April 17, 2019 Page 5 Mr. Walther stated that following there will be a study session on Accessory Dwelling units. Mr. Walther said that the next meeting on May 1 will be a Public Hearing for a temporary amendment for food trucks and mobile uses, with a possible study session item. Mr. Walther stated that City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment to chapter 2 of the ordinance / city code, which is appointing Planning Commissioners as the members of the Board of Zoning Appeals. The second reading will be scheduled for May 6 and effective by the end of May. 6.Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m. STUDY SESSION 1.Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Staff and commissioners went over the topics and goals for the night which included; ADU ordinance policy, what the city council wants to see and what the Planning Commission wants. City Council gave a mandate to look into ADU’s as referred in the comp plan and one of the goals for city council is to have as many eligible properties have access to the ADU ordinance. Ms. Kramer went over the results of the ADU survey that was sent out before the meeting with the commissioners and discussed as needed as brought up. And prepare any questions that come up during discussion for staff to look further into. The topic of vacation rentals such as Air BnB and VRBO was brought up as something that will need to be addressed if the push for ADU’s continues because of the popularity throughout the states. The study session commenced at 8:00 p.m.