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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/03/07 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING and STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA MARCH 7, 2018 – 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Claudia Johnston-Madison, Lisa Peilen, Richard Person, Carl Robertson, Joe Tatalovich MEMBERS ABSENT: Torrey Kanne (unexcused), Ethan Rickert (youth member) (unexcused) STAFF PRESENT: Joseph Ayers-Johnson, Jacquelyn Kramer, Sean Walther, Josh Nelson, Jim Vaughan, Meg McMonigal, Marney Olson, Michele Schnitker 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes A. January 17, 2018 Commissioner Johnston-Madison made a motion to approve the minutes of January 17, 2018. Commissioner Person seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 4-0-2 (Peilen and Robertson abstained). B. February 7, 2018 Commissioner Peilen made a motion to approve the minutes of February 7, 2018. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 6-0. C. February 21, 2018 Commissioner Johnston-Madison made a motion to approve the minutes of February 21, 2018. Commissioner Person seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 5-0-1 (Carper abstained). 3. Public Hearings A. Conditional Use Permit – Aquila Park Girls Softball Fields Location: 3110 Xylon Ave. S. Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case No.: 18-02-CUP Official Minutes Planning Commission March 7, 2018 Page 2 Joseph Ayers-Johnson, Community Development Intern, presented the staff report. A conditional use permit is being requested for infill and re-grading of the site for first phase construction of upgraded girls’ softball facilities in Aquila Park. Mr. Ayers-Johnson described the site and proposed construction. Mr. Ayers-Johnson discussed the haul route and construction hours. Construction is expected to last from early May to late August. Mr. Ayers-Johnson spoke about tree replacement. He explained that there will be one-to-one caliper inch ratio tree replacement within the park. Mr. Ayers-Johnson stated that a neighborhood meeting was held on February 13. All questions and comments raised seemed to be satisfactorily addressed at the meeting. Chair Robertson asked if hauling would be intermittent or if it would occur throughout construction. Josh Nelson, Park Maintenance Division, responded that at the beginning of the project trucks may not stack consecutively as they will have to compact some of the soil. The Chair asked about the timeline for phase two of the ball parks. Mr. Nelson said at the direction of the City Council only the schedule for phase one has been determined. Commissioner Carper asked who was responsible for lighting. He asked what time lighting is turned off. Jim Vaughan, Natural Resources Coordinator, stated that the lighting will be LED which produces less spill. He said lighting is regulated b y timers and on an active evening lights would turn off automatically at 10:30 p.m. Commissioner Johnston-Madison asked who would be responsible for watering of the new trees. Mr. Vaughan said lately the city works with a non-profit partner, Tree Trust, for community tree planting. He said Tree Trust is also hired for about two years after planting to follow-up on monitoring moisture and watering. Official Minutes Planning Commission March 7, 2018 Page 3 Commissioner Tatalovich asked if the city has reached out to Aquila School about construction in regards to summer programming at the park. Mr. Ayers-Johnson said the school district has received notification of the neighborhood meeting and the public hearing. Mr. Vaughan said that the city’s Parks Superintendent will be reaching out to the school in April about the construction and further communication and coordination. The Chair opened the public hearing. As no one was present wishing to speak, he closed the public hearing. Commissioner Peilen made a motion recommending approval of the conditional use permit subject to conditions recommended by staff. Commissioner Person seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 6-0. B. Conditional Use Permit for building addition – Lifetime Fitness Location: 5525 Cedar Lake Road Applicant: Lifetime Fitness Case No.: 18-04-CUP Jacquelyn Kramer, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. The applicant requests a conditional use permit to excavate 1,034 sq. cubic yards of soil in connection with construction of a 5,123 sq. ft. addition on the south side of the existing building. Ms. Kramer presented the site plan. She discussed building materials, haul route, construction hours, and the construction timeline. Commissioner Johnston-Madison commented there could be a problem with rush hour traffic and the haul route through that area. Commissioner Carper said it appears that pine trees will be removed during construction. He asked about replacement. Ms. Kramer responded that one significant tree is going to be removed. Three trees will be added as replacement in the new plan. The Chair opened the public hearing. No one was present wishing to speak and the Chair closed the public hearing. Official Minutes Planning Commission March 7, 2018 Page 4 Commissioner Peilen made a motion recommending approval of the conditional use permit subject to conditions recommended by staff. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion was passed on a vote of 6-0. 4. Other Business: None 5. Communications: None 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m. STUDY SESSION The study session began at 6:25 p.m. 1. Comprehensive Plan – Housing Discussion A discussion of the city’s housing programs and the housing section in the Comprehensive Plan update was held. Michele Schnitker, Housing Supervisor and Deputy Community Development Director, and Marney Olson, Housing Program Coordinator, presented an overview of housing in St. Louis Park. Ms. Olson began the discussion with a summary of past housing actions and programs. Commissioners and staff discussed affordable housing in the city. Questions were raised concerning how affordable housing is defined. Ms. Schnitker and Ms. Olson explained the Met Council’s calculations for affordable housing and St. Louis Park’s share of the region’s projected affordable housing needs. Commissioners discussed the link between affordable housing, housing density and development desirability. Commissioners asked for more information regarding affordable housing’s impact on economic viability of providing street-level commercial uses in mixed-use developments. They also asked if staff have conducted a comparative analysis looking at how St. Louis Park’s housing numbers compare to neighboring cities. Ms. Schnitker explained that a comparative analysis was part of the last comprehensive plan update process, but staff have not conducted such an analysis yet for this plan update. Commissioners and staff discussed target numbers for affordable housing and the appropriate amount of rental housing in the city. Commissioner Carper suggested the city purchase land and create mobile home parks as a way to increase affordable housing in