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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/08/16 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - Regular Planning commission August 16, 2023 6:00 p.m. If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call Sean Walther or the administration department at 952.924.2525. Planning commission Members present: Jim Beneke, Mia Divecha (arrived 6:02 p.m.), Matt Eckholm, Katie Merten, Tom Weber, Jan Youngquist Members absent: Michael Salzer Staff present: Laura Chamberlain, Jacquelyn Kramer, Melissa Kennedy, Sean Walther Guests: City residents 1. Call to order – roll call 2. Approval of minutes – July 5, 2023 It was moved by Commissioner Eckholm, seconded by Commissioner Beneke, to approve the minutes as presented. The motion passed 5-0. 3. Hearings 3a. Conditional use permit for St. Louis Park school district data center Applicant: Cunningham Group (on behalf of client: St. Louis Park Public Schools) Case No: 23-12-CUP Ms. Kramer presented the report. Commissioner Beneke asked if the new sidewalk is part of the CUP proposal in front of the commission today. Ms. Kramer stated yes and pointed it out to the commissioners. Commissioner Divecha asked where the entrance of the data center will be. Ms. Kramer pointed out the entrances and noted there is sidewalk all around the building, and she showed the pathway and exits. Commissioner Divecha asked what is south of the data center. Ms. Kramer stated that is an existing paved loading zone used to drop off equipment at the maintenance building and will also be used for equipment drop off at the data center. Commissioner Youngquist asked if there will be fencing between the adjacent playground and the maintenance center. Ms. Kramer stated yes, there will be fencing around the playground. Chair Weber asked about the two ADA parking spots being added and if those are on the public right of way. Ms. Kramer stated yes, that is correct. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Aug. 16, 2023 2 Chair Weber opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chair Weber closed the public hearing. Commissioner Divecha noted the email that was received [from Chris Teigen, 6316 35th St. W. on August 12, 2023] and asked if there is anything that should be addressed. Chair Weber noted the email addressed construction times on the site and trash collection be completed later in the morning vs. earlier times. Ms. Kramer stated she has shared this email with the school district. Jim Langevin, facilities manager with the school district, noted the school district is in the process of having the trash receptacles moved back to their original location, which will help with noise heard by residents during collection. Commissioner Beneke asked if there are many service vehicles parked in the area currently. Mr. Langevin stated the site is used primarily for storage of extra gravel for the track field at the school inside a box truck. He added part of the renovation includes moving this truck and gravel inside the maintenance garage. It was moved by Commissioner Youngquist, seconded by Commissioner Divecha, to approve the conditional use permit for St. Louis Park school district data center as presented. The motion passed 6-0. 3b. Comprehensive plan amendment for 1639 Utah Dr and zoning map amendment for 1608 Utah Ave S Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case No: 23-09-CP, 23-10-Z Ms. Chamberlain presented the report. Commissioner Divecha noted the city wants to sell this land at 1639 Utah Dr. to the owners of an adjacent lot and asked if they are ok with this plan. Mr. Walther stated the city has entered into a purchase agreement with the owners of the adjacent lot and the city council approved selling the property and directed staff to do this, but the sale of the property has not closed. Commissioner Divecha asked if the city owns 1608 Utah currently. Ms. Chamberlain stated yes. Commissioner Divecha asked what a passive park is. Ms. Chamberlain stated this is a level of park meaning there are not many facilities there and it is intended to be an open space and has a bench only. Commissioner Divecha asked if there is any plan to change that. Ms. Chamberlain stated no. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Aug. 16, 2023 3 Commissioner Youngquist asked if the well has been capped at 1639 Utah Dr. Mr. Walther stated yes it has and noted the city only learned about this well recently and did not meet any current standards for wells. It was closed and sealed recently and a shed over it was also removed, adding this well did not serve any public purpose. Commissioner Youngquist asked when the city sells land, where do the proceeds go. Mr. Walther stated it varies, but typically first is used to making the whole for any expenses incurred. He noted in this case it is a very small property and the proceeds will cover the closing costs. Commissioner Beneke asked if there is any way to utilize the space at 1639 Utah Dr. at all as a park. Ms. Chamberlain stated no and there is no public access to this property, adding it is on the rear corner of the adjacent lot and very far from the street. Commissioner Merten asked how deep is the well and if there are any concerns someone could hit it in the future. Mr. Walther stated he does not have that information with him, but that the well was removed to a certain depth below the surround grade to avoid this, and the city is also required to file a disclosure with Hennepin County so all future owners are made aware of it. Chair Weber opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chair Weber closed the public hearing. It was moved by Commissioner Divecha, seconded by Commissioner Eckholm, to approve the comprehensive plan amendment for 1639 Utah Dr and zoning map amendment for 1608 Utah Ave S. as presented. The motion passed 6-0. 3c. Comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments for MnDOT conveyance near 2840 Toledo Ave S Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case No: 23-13-CP, 23-14-Z Ms. Chamberlain presented the report. Commissioner Divecha asked with the status changing to a passive park, what does the city support now in terms of maintenance of the park. Ms. Chamberlain stated this property when it is sold to the city, it will be maintained. She added changing this to an active park is not anticipated by parks and recreation department plans at this time. She stated this could be considered during the next comprehensive park plan process. Commissioner Divecha asked if there was a safety hazard there, would this be the city’s responsibility to maintain that. Mr. Walther stated that the city will be responsible for the property as it is for other city owned land. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Aug. 16, 2023 4 Commissioner Divecha asked if MnDOT or the city initiated this. Mr. Walther stated MnDOT approached the city as they deemed it to be deemed excess land. He added there are different processes for different land parcels. Commissioner Merten asked what is to the north of this parcel and if it is open space. Ms. Chamberlain stated that is property also owned by MnDOT and city is in talks with MnDOT about acquiring that property, however as that property is not being used as park space it is not part of this project. She added if there is developability to the area, that would come as a cost to the city, but noted the city is interested in it. She stated any development to that property would require another amendment to the comp plan. Mr. Walther made a correction stating the city has already purchased the property to the north, but the purpose of that purchase has not been determined yet and this will be explored through a separate process with the neighborhood and community at a later date. Chair Weber asked if this is the location where signs have been set up to save Rock Island. Mr. Walther stated there is an active group looking to preserve that area. He added the city did salvage historic “beehive” barbeques from the old Hwy. 100 area, and this came forward when MnDOT was selling the area and the city may be able to acquire it. Chair Weber opened the public hearing. Pat Bruhn, 3340 Xenwood, stated she does not know a great deal about this parcel but asked if there is anything left there that is salvageable from the WPA structure. Mr. Walther stated there are some elements including a retaining wall and some landscape elements that remain but are not in good condition, and folks that are concerned consider those ruins from the former wayside rest. Ms. Cannon asked what will happen to this open space. Chair Weber stated it will be a passive park, but not active with no equipment or trails. Mr. Walther stated programing and maintenance will be determined by the city’s Park department, adding it will be maintained as it is today. Wendy Newpower, 2921 Toledo Ave. S., stated the area is a big open space, and a bike path in front of it. She noted folks want to preserve the ruins, and it was a rest area years ago, adding it’s beautiful. She stated its very nice space and should remain as it is. Chair Weber closed the public hearing. Commissioner Divecha appreciated the comments made. She stated just to confirm, zoning the property in this way does not make it allowable for residential. Ms. Chamberlain stated that is correct, adding it will be zoned further away from residential and the comp plan guidance will keep this area not developed. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Aug. 16, 2023 5 It was moved by Commissioner Eckholm, seconded by Commissioner Beneke, to approve the comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments for MnDOT conveyance near 2840 Toledo Ave S. as presented. The motion passed 6-0. 3d. Comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments for 3301 Webster Ave S Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case No: 23-15-CP, 23-16-Z Ms. Chamberlain presented the report. Commissioner Merten asked if there is a level up from Park and Open Space, and if changing it change the maintenance level of the park. Ms. Chamberlain stated the use of park space is allowed in all of the city’s zoning districts. She stated there are areas that could have R1 or C1 zoning and in this case the city is updating city owned public parks so they continue in this use and would be eligible for single-family development or commercial use. Mr. Walther added the Park and Open Space designation does not indicate the type of park it is, as well as the zoning does not indicate the type of park either. Chair Weber stated the zoning is R2, and asked if it was a right of way, why was it an R2. Ms. Chamberlain stated the zoning goes to the center line of the right of way and she presented this on the map. Commissioner Youngquist asked why the northern boundary has a jog in it. Ms. Chamberlain stated the determination was made by MnDOT, and this is the boundary they identified as well as the legal description of the legal boundary. Mr. Walther added they are also avoiding some stormwater ponds. Chair Weber opened the public hearing. John Bruhn, 2240 Xenwood Ave., noted this space gets used quite heavily and it the only open space in the area. He stated currently the open space to the east is an open field which was abandoned by MnDOT and then planted with tall grass. He noted the area is used to walk dogs and the paths have doggie bag collection stands, and it is very heavily used. He stated the birds – warblers and native sparrows – migrate through there also, adding it’s a great wildlife area. He also noted there is a basin that catches storm water also. He stated he and his neighbors really want to see this retained as open space and added he appreciates any efforts on the part of the commission to do this. Chair Weber closed the public hearing. It was moved by Commissioner Beneke, seconded by Commissioner Eckholm, to approve the comprehensive plan and zoning map amendments for 3301 Webster Ave. S. as presented. The motion passed 6-0. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Aug. 16, 2023 6 4. Other Business - none 5. Communications Mr. Walther stated the September 6 meeting will be cancelled. Staff anticipate a study session on the September 20 meeting regarding the housing types zoning code update. 6. Adjournment – 7:00 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Sean Walther, liaison Tom Weber, chair member DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC