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Planning Commission Minutes 02-06-2019MINUTES REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, February 5th, 2018 - 6:00 p.m. Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center Commissioners Present: Brad Fyle, Sam Murdoff, Marc Simpson, John Alstad, Katie Peterson Council Liaison Present: Charlotte Gabler Staff Present: Angela Schumann, Steve Grittman (NAC), Ron Hackenmueller 1. General Business A. Call to Order B. Consideration of approving minutes a. Regular Meeting Minutes — January 2, 2018 MARC SIMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 2, 2019. SAM MURDOFF SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 5-0. C. Citizen Comments None. D. Consideration of adding items to the agenda Brad Fyle asked for an update on the Briggs Properties downtown apartment complex. E. Consideration to approve agenda MARC SIMPSON MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. SAM MURDOFF SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 5-0. 2. Public Hearings A. Public Hearing - Consideration of a request for Variance to Chapter 4.5 Signs for a forty (40) foot pylon sign Applicant: Scenic Sign Steve Grittman explained that the variance request at 112 Thomas Circle (Twin City Staffing) as indicated in the staff report. He noted that the neighboring business — Morton Builder's sign obscured their sign heading west. Grittman explained that the current sign is 30 feet and located in the Freeway Bonus Overlay District which allows pylon signs to be 32 feet in height. The applicant was seeking an eight foot variance or ten feet higher than the existing. Grittman reviewed the statutory obligations for approving variances such as identifying practical difficulties to the use of the property or conditions. Staff recommended denial of the variance request and identified alternative opportunities for the sign that would not require a variance. Examples include raising the sign two feet to code, relocating the sign further to the west or applying wall signs. Planning Commission Minutes — February 5, 2019 Page 1 1 4 John Alstad asked if the Morton Builder's sign could be lowered. Grittman confirmed if the property owner agreed, but not something that the City could impose on them. Sam Murdoff asked if the Morton Builder's sign was in constructed first. Grittman believed so. Charlotte Gabler asked if MnDOT would have to review the sign. Grittman declined and stated that the sign was on-site and would not require review. Brad Fyle asked if Morton Buildings sign was legal. Grittman believed so. Signs that were approved through a PUD were discussed. Alstad asked how long the Twin City Staffing sign has been in place. Ron Hackenmueller indicated this year. Brad Fyle opened the public hearing. John DeZurik, Scenic Sign, Lisa Sefras, Twin City Staffing, Mike Miner, Twin City Staffing, introduced themselves. DeZurik summarized that they looked at alternatives for location of the sign, but felt the current location was practical. He requested that the sign be allowed to be above Morton Builder's for readability and the cost the business has spent on the sign already. Sefras indicated that Morton Builder's submitted a letter indicating that they were supportive of the Twin City Staffing sign being raised. She indicated that the Morton Builder's sign is also blocked if you are heading east. Sefras also indicated the difficulty of moving the sign due to a large drainage and utility easement that exists on the north side of the lot. Sefras indicated that they have space that is leasable and they would like to preserve the wall sign space for a possible tenant. Sefras read a letter that was submitted by the possible tenant (Twin Star Equipment) in support of the variance request. She identified other existing signs that are larger than Twin City Staffing sign. Mike Miner indicated the unique configuration of the lot. Brad Fyle asked if there were obstructions on the west side of their lot. The applicants confirmed that there were trees. Katie Peterson asked what the height of the sign would need to be to be above Morton Builders sign. The applicants indicated that an additional six to ten feet would be requested. Sam Murdoff questioned why the location of the sign was not better evaluated by the applicant before construction. Planning Commission Minutes — February 5, 2019 Page 2 14 Simpson asked if the current sign has caused a hardship to the business. Miner indicated that they work with fifteen different businesses in Monticello and believe they could expand their business with the additional height of the building. Simpson also asked when applicants come into their business, if they are asked how they found out about the job opportunities. Miner indicated that since they have only been in Monticello a month, that the number was not representative. Murdoff asked about the drainage and utility easement. The Planning Commission continued to discuss the item. Hearing no further comments, the public hearing was closed. SAM MURDOFF MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. PC -2019-007, DENYING THE VARIANCE FOR SIGN HEIGHT, BASED ON THE FINDINGS IN SAID RESOLUTION, AND AS MAY BE OTHERWISE STATED BY THE COMMISSION/BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING. JOHN ALSTAD SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 5-0. B. Public Hearing - Consideration of a request for amendment to Monticello Zoning Ordinance Chapter 5 and Chapter 8, Section 4 related to use, standards and definitions for event centers, places of public assembly, personal services, and commercial recreation - indoor Applicant: City of Monticello Angela Schumann asked that the Planning Commission continue the Public Hearing to the March meeting and table action. She indicated that staff would like to review any proposed ordinance changes with the City Attorney. Charlotte Gabler asked if staff would also review the proposed ordinance in regards to the newly approved Central Community District standards. Schumann confirmed. SAM MURDOFF MOVED TO TABLE ACTION ON THE ITEM AND CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE MARCH 5TH, 2019 REGULAR MEETING. KATIE PETERSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 5-0. 3. Regular Agenda A. Consideration of a review of the Special Use Overlay District Steve Grittman provided the review of the Special Use Overlay District. He noted the importance of reviewing the district annually. Staff did not recommend any changes to the district as a result of the 2018/2019 analysis Planning Commission Minutes — February 5, 2019 Page 3 1 4 B. Consideration of an update on the 2040 Monticello Comprehensive Plan Angela Schumann indicated that she was requesting the Planning Commission's feedback on the draft version of the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an updated 2040 Monticello Comprehensive Plan. Schumann indicated that the last Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2008. Schumann indicated the need for an updated comprehensive plan due to future decisions that will greatly affect or change the community. Staff proposed a two phase process for the update. The first phase would include a future based scenario effort. Schumann indicated that community and stakeholder engagement would be critical for the first phase. The second phase of the plan would include traditional comprehensive planning. The new plan would revisit each of the chapters of the existing plan, but would add a chapter titled Community Identity & Culture. Schumann explained the importance of the updated comprehensive plan for guiding the city especially in their Strategic Plan. The RFP was provided in the agenda packet. The plan was expected to be completed by 2020. Commissioner Murdoff noted that the timeline included might be optimistic. Schumann concurred. C. Consideration of the Community Development Directors Report Angela Schumann explained the Community Development Directors Report as indicated in the agenda. Schumann provided two additional items to the report. New Government Training Services (GTS) classes the Planning Commission may be interested in are available. Staff also received a notice from MnDOT regarding the I-94 expansion project that would be occurring in the next year. An EAW would need to be completed and Planning Commissioners were requested to send any comments to staff. 4. Added Items Briggs Rivertown Suites — The developer was expecting to begin building, but ran into ground water. Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring again. 5. Adjournment SAM MURDOFF MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:24 P.M. MARC SIMPSON SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED, 5-0. Recorder: Jacob Thunander Approved: Mqrch 5, 2019 Attest: Angela SchumaW C{n nunity Development Director Planning Commission Minutes — February 5, 2019 Page 4 14