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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/09/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - Regular OFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 – 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Claudia Johnston-Madison, Lisa Peilen, Carl Robertson, Ethan Rickert (youth member) MEMBERS ABSENT: Torrey Kanne, Richard Person, Joe Tatalovich STAFF PRESENT: Sean Walther, Jacquelyn Kramer, Jennifer Monson, Gary Morrison 1. Call to Order – Roll Call Chair Peilen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Approval of Minutes of August 16, 2017 Commissioner Carper made a motion to approve the minutes of August 16, 2017. Chair Peilen seconded the motion. The motion failed on a vote of 2-0. Commissioners Johnston-Madison and Robertson abstained. 3. Public Hearings A. Conditional Use Permit – American Legion Post 282 Location: 6509 and 6515 Walker Street Applicant: Paul Revere Masonic Lodge and the American Legion Case No.: 17-24-CUP Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator, presented the staff report. The request for a conditional use permit is to operate a Places of Assembly. The Paul Revere Masonic Center has reduced the size of its operation and are in the process of remodeling the building to convert it to a two-tenant building. The second tenant space is proposed to be leased to the American Legion. Mr. Morrison explained that the American Legion proposes to operate the existing kitchen and an Assembly area on the east side of the building. The Assembly area is expected to be used primarily as a food service area where meals and drinks will be served to club members and guests. Mr. Morrison reviewed conditions specific to Assembly use. He provided a detailed review of parking conditions. He discussed conditions regarding intoxicating liquor. The application does meet all conditions. Mr. Morrison stated a neighborhood meeting was held on August 29, 2017. Official Minutes Planning Commission September 6, 2017 Page 2 Commissioner Carper asked about the use of surrounding buildings and related traffic. Mr. Morrison responded uses include NTB, the historic Walker Building which consists of small offices/low occupancy, print shops, manufacturing, therapeutic massage, and a school maintenance facility. He said traffic is pretty light during the week. The main traffic is down Lake St. going west to Louisiana. Commissioner Carper asked Mr. Morrison to point out the location of the Community Center. He asked about programming for children at the center. Mr. Morrison responded Spanish Immersion is in the building. There is some thought to relocate that use and make the Community Center an administrative school building. Commissioner Carper asked about traffic controls at Walker Street and Lake. Mr. Morrison responded that is a two-way stop. Commissioner Carper asked about access for the American Legion. Mr. Morrison showed property lines for the building right along the south side wall. Everything else south of that is public right-of-way. He spoke about the agreement the city has with the neighboring property that will not allow the PRMC or American legion to have access to the right-of-way to the east, and that the gate will have to be removed. Commissioner Johnston-Madison suggested that bike racks be added to the site plan. Commissioner Johnston-Madison asked about number of employees of American Legion and parking. Kristine Strout, 2935 Rhode Island Ave. S., manager, said they have about 12 total employees, with three during the day shift. She would like employees to park in the public parking except for the closers. She’d like closers to park near the building. She said the American Legion is family friendly, and kids do come in with their families to eat. The Chair opened the public hearing. Official Minutes Planning Commission September 6, 2017 Page 3 Megan Phimister, 3451 Zarthan Ave. S., co-chairs the Sorensen Neighborhood Association. Both she and her co-chair Lois Zander support the request. The Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Johnston-Madison said new businesses are coming to the area and there is a lot of potential for revitalization. She said she supports the request with concern about the addition of bike racks. Commissioner Carper said it is a reasonable request. Chair Peilen supports the request. Commissioner Carper made a motion to recommend approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Place of Assembly uses at 6509 and 6515 Walker Street with conditions recommended by staff. Commissioner Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 4-0. 4. Other Business None 5. Communications None 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. STUDY SESSION MINUTES September 6, 2017 1. Mixed-use Zoning District Concept Review—Building setbacks, step backs, façade details and buffer yards Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, explained the discussion item is for continued feedback from the commission before staff generates an official request for a zoning amendment on the topic. Jennifer Monson, Planner, noted that the topics of building orientation, building height to street width ratio, and transitions between residential districts were introduced at the August 16 study session. Ms. Monson gave a summary of the direction staff proposes for building orientation with a primary street frontage and a secondary street frontage. She stated that there wasn’t