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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/02/24 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularMeeting: City council Meeting date: April 5, 2021 Consent agenda item: 4j Official minutes Planning commission February 24, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Imran Dagane, Matt Eckholm, Courtney Erwin, Jessica Kraft, Tom Weber Members absent: Jim Beneke Staff present: Jacquelyn Kramer, Gary Morrison, Sean Walther 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of Jan. 20, 2021 Commissioner Kraft made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Erwin seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 5-0. 3. Public Hearings 3a . Nordic Ware Building 9 expansion amendment to the special permit and zoning ordinance text amendment Applicant: Dahlquist Properties Case No: 21-01-SP, 21-02-ZA Ms. Kramer presented the staff report. She noted the proposed changes require an amendment to an existing special permit and a text amendment to the zoning ordinance . She added the project meets all other ordinance requirements. Ms. Kramer stated the applicant held a virtual neighborhood meeting February 11 and staff recommends approval of the amendment to the special permit and zoning text amendment subject to conditions recommended by staff. Chair Eckholm opened the public hearing. There were no callers on the line . The applicant, David Dahlquist, CEO, Nordic Ware made comments. He noted their business is growing and they want to expand their location to accommodate increased business. Mr. Dahlquist added they want to also accommodate the coming light rail users with their café concept . Commissioner Weber asked related to the café if this will be operated by Nordic Ware or if a 3rd party will run it. Mr. Dahlquist stated they are still determining that, but their intent would be to use a St. Louis Park 3rd person who runs a bakery. City council meeting of March 15, 2021 (Item No. 4i) Page 2 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes January 20, 2021 Chair Eckholm asked about the interior of the café and if they would use it as a Nordic Ware museum. Mr. Dahlquist stated this is a good thought they would consider, possibly with photographs. The Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber stated he is glad an industrial zoned company along a highly used bike trail and light rail is turning itself outward to open to the community. He is grateful to Nordic Ware for that. He suggested to staff that in the f uture the commission may want to consider changes to the IG zoning district to allow these types of uses, instead of amending the code every time a project like this comes up like this . Chair Eckholm stated Nordic Ware is being a great neighbor to the light rail and living up to the city’s expectations. He stated employment near transit is important. He added he wants Nordic Ware to stick around and he is excited to use the bike trail in this area, noting it is an excellent use of the space. He also noted the use of solar energy on the site and appreciates this as well. Chair Eckholm stated Nordic Ware will be expanding, but they also looked to this project as a way to interact with the community. He added other industrial businesses near transit could emulate this example. Commissioner Erwin made a motion, and Commissioner Weber seconded, recommending approval of the amendment for the special permit for building 9 expansion and zoning ordinance text amendment. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. 4. Other Business 4a. Sign zoning code amendments Applicant: Audrey Janzen, Operations Director Case No: 20-30-ZA Mr. Morrison, assistant zoning administrator, presented. He noted this item was tabled since the January discussion and being brought back for discussion again this evening. He stated the planning commission conducted a public hearing on this topic on Jan. 20, 2021 and no comments were received. Staff’s recommendation is to deny the application to amend the zoning ordinance to allow rooftop signage. Chair Eckholm stated that limiting this to PUDs narrowly limits this type of signage to buildings in this area, and the design of rooftop screening structure is under the direction of properties developed in conjunction with the city’s PUD ordinance . He stated he is more comfortable with this version than the previous version. City council meeting of March 15, 2021 (Item No. 4i) Page 3 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes January 20, 2021 Commissioner Erwin asked if illuminat ion of signs and size of signs is covered in the city code or does that need to be addressed in a separate point. Mr. Morrison stated it is covered and it does not need to be addressed in this amendment. Commissioner Weber asked if there is anywhere in the code that requires annual or regular inspections to be sure it can support the sign over time . Mr. Morrison stated there is nothing in the zoning ordinance that requires annual inspections for any structures. Commissioner Weber asked with the amendment proposed today, does staff see where firefighting or wind damage concerns are still a concern . Mr. Morrison stated the advantage of requiring it to be submitted with a PUD approval is that the rooftop structure is reviewed for safety by all departments including fire and building and energy. That way the structure can be designed to accommodate fire and building concerns . Commissioner Kraft stated this is a good compromise and the language is specific on which situations are allowed . She wondered if there might be variance requests in the future and what the city’s response might be, or if further discussions would then be needed. Chair Eckh olm stated the PUD Is a nice hedge and the implication is that the city participated in the design of the structure for safety and aesthetics . The PUD provides more review authority than simply allowing the rooftop screening signs as a regular building permit or a variance. Commissioner Weber thanked city staff and the applicant for this work. Commissioner Weber made a motion, and Commissioner Kraft seconded, to recommend approval of the ordinance as presented today. 5. Communications Mr. Walther stated the city manager and deputy city manager have both announced their retirements. The city council is working on a search to hire a new city manager, and Mr. Harmening will stay until there is a replacement, but not beyond August 1. He added applications for boards and commissions close Feb ruary 28. Also, the council approved the first reading of outdoor seating for the general industrial district and it proceed to the 2nd reading and adoption. He noted SLP Living on Highways 169 and 394 requested an extension and city council has not yet considered the matter. The next meeting of the Planning Commission is March 3, with a full agenda and three public hearings. City council meeting of March 15, 2021 (Item No. 4i) Page 4 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes January 20, 2021 He noted a study session would immediately follow the regular meeting. The subject of the meeting is a transit -oriented development zoning district. 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:55p.m. Study session The study session commenced at 6:56 p.m. 1. Transit oriented development zoning district Mr. Walther presented the proposed approach to TOD zoning around the future LRT station area. He noted the new zoning of the area and redrawing of this district within the city. He spoke about the 2040 comprehensive plan goals and plan strategies for TOD land uses. Commission Weber asked if the commission will be looking at the language of TOD zoning, or going through the land parcels and rezoning. Mr. Walther stated the proposed approach would rezone the land near LRT stations to a newly created TOD zoning district . Chair Eckholm asked if this will look like Texa Tonka or Historic Walker Lake District areas, that feels walkable from the train station into the areas of the zoning district. Mr. Walther stated we would be adopting codes that better align with the station area planning that has been done previously, so the process isn’t starting from scratch. This will be looking more at the code and review process and setting the minimum expectations through zoning regulations. Chair Eckholm stated there is an area that is close to the Blake Station in Hopkins and asked if there is a coordinated effort here. Mr. Walther stated plans would be shared with surrounding jurisdictions . He stated the boundaries with the West Lake and Blake Road stations do not overlap as much as the stations within St. Louis Park . That coordination was built into the SWLRT and 2040 comprehensive plan processes. Commissioner Kraft asked how this more general zoning district is created but also more specific for the goals of each of the stations . Chair Eckholm asked also how closely the city will adhere to on the visions for each station and how this might be reconciled. Mr. Walther stated this will be part of the conversation and how committed the commission and city is to all these elements. He added these items may need to be recalibrated based on current citywide priorities and goals. Commissioner Weber stated he would like also to have a conversation about industrial zones along the stations that cannot change but might be made more accessible and provide additional opportunities. He stated there may be parcels still zoned industrial, but City council meeting of March 15, 2021 (Item No. 4i) Page 5 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes January 20, 2021 what changes can be made to make them more accessible to the community. He also noted the old Sam’s Club, which could also be another opportunity. Chair Eckholm added he would like to see if there is any well integrated form-based code in industrial areas, to allow for other bu ildings and businesses to come into the area, as new uses come in. Mr. Walther stated the previous plans touch on some of the items the commissioners are asking for. Mr. Walther noted in the agenda there are some links to the station area plans and maps for the commissio n to review. The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.