Planning Commission Minutes 01-07-2014MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - 6:00 PM - Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Present: Brad Fyle, Charlotte Gabler, Sam Burvee, Grant Sala
Absent: None
Others: Angela Schumann, Ron Hackenmueller, Steve Grittman, Lloyd Hilgart
1. Call to order
Brad Fyle called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes — December 3rd, 2013 Regular Meeting
CHARLOTTE GABLER MOVED TO ACCEPT THE DECEMBER 3, 2013 REGULAR
MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. GRANT SALA SECONDED THE MOTION.
MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
3. Citizen Comments None
4. Consideration of adding items to the agenda None
5. Public Hearing — Consideration of an Amendment to the Monticello Zoning
Ordinance, Chapter 3, Section 4(D) — RA (Residential Amenities) District.
Applicant: City of Monticello
Angela Schumann summarized that the commissioners had agreed to increase the base
required lot width from 90 feet to 100 feet and eliminate lot averaging in the RA
(Residential Amenities) District during their October 1, 2013 workshop. She noted that
the increase in lot width would enable a larger square footage home, the retention of lot
amenities and the situation of homes relative to the "5 foot rule" (which allows the garage
to be no closer than 5' to the street than the home).
Based on further consideration of the need for flexibility in subdivision design,
Schumann suggested that Planning Commission reconsider eliminating lot width
averaging or increase the percentage of lots required to meet or exceed the 100 foot
width.
It was noted that developers seek to meet the minimum width in order to enable the
maximum number of lots allowed and that this can make it difficult for builders to
accommodate other standards.
After some discussion, the consensus of the commission was that it would be useful to
review actual plats and housing styles which have been developed and built and clarify
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how well the vision for the RA District has been addressed prior to making any
amendments to the ordinance. This would also provide an opportunity for commissioners
to consider if amending the ordinance would support the Comprehensive Plan goal of
providing step up or higher end housing.
Brad Fyle opened the public hearing. As there were no comments, the public hearing was
closed.
CHARLOTTE GABLER MOVED TO TABLE ACTION ON RESOLUTION 2014-
001, AMENDING THE MONTICELLO ZONING ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 3,
SECTION 4(D) — RA (RESIDENTIAL AMENITIES) DISTRICT UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE. SAM BURVEE SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION
CARRIED 4 -0.
6. Public Hearing - Consideration of adopting Ordinance #589 rezoning a portion
of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, Oakwood Industrial Park, from B -2 (Limited Business)
to B -4 (Regional Business). Applicant: City of Monticello Planning Case
Number: 2014 -002
Angela Schumann summarized that the City had rezoned two parcels located at 101
Chelsea Road from an industrial designation to a commercial designation in response to
a request to allow "Places of Public Assembly" as a permitted use.
As that use is no longer relevant, staff asked that the site be rezoned from B -2 (Limited
Business) to B -4 (Regional Business) to accommodate a wider variety of commercial land
uses, including the possible location of an indoor commercial entertainment enterprise. The
site had previously served area recreation needs as a bowling facility. The site's location
along two collector routes supports a regional designation for potential uses. Rezoning
to B -4 would continue to be consistent with the pattern of transition from industrial to
commercial land uses as guided by the Comprehensive Plan for this area.
The request meets both the second and third considerations for amendment to the
Official Zoning Map of Monticello in that it addresses needs arising from a
changing condition, trend, or fact affecting the property and surrounding area; and in
that it is consistent with achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the
comprehensive plan.
Brad Fyle opened the public hearing. As there were no public comments, the public
hearing was closed.
SAM BURVEE MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2014 -002, RECOMMENDING
REZONING OF OAKWOOD INDUSTRIAL PARK, LOT 1 & 2, BLOCK 1 FROM B -2
(LIMITED BUSINESS) TO B -4 (REGIONAL BUSINESS). CHARLOTTE GABLER
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 3 -1 WITH BRAD FYLE VOTING IN
OPPOSITION.
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Fyle stated that he did not support the rezoning request because the B -2 District
designation provides an adequate buffer for the industrial park.
7. Public Hearing — Consideration to recommend for the adoption the 2014 City of
Monticello Official Zoning Map
Angela Schumann asked that the Planning Commission table action on adoption of
the Official Zoning Map. She indicated that it is necessary to provide clarity as to
shoreland boundaries along the Mississippi River and Otter Creek, as required by the
text of the zoning ordinance, prior to adopting the map.
She pointed out that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is
currently in the process of revising floodplain mapping for Wright County and
suggested that it would be difficult to determine shoreland boundary until maps have
been completed and approved.
Staff will work with WSB and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to
delineate the appropriate overlay boundary for the Shoreland District as related to the
floodplain. Staff will also conduct an analysis related to the special use overlay to be
included as part of the official zoning map. In addition, the revised map will serve to
document any map amendments approved in 2013.
Brad Fyle opened the public hearing. As there were no comments, the public hearing
was closed.
CHARLOTTE GABLER MOVED TO TABLE ACTION ON ADOPTION OF THE
2014 CITY OF MONTICELLO OFFICIAL ZONING MAP. GRANT SALA
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
8. Consideration to adopt a Public Values Statement for Collaborative Stage PUD for
K -12 Educational Use in the R -3 (Medium Density Residence) District and CCD
(Central Community District). Applicant: SRCS Building Company /Miller, Eric
(NAC) Planning Case Number: 2013 -002
Steve Grittman reported that the Planning Commission and the City Council had met
jointly with the developer for the Swan River Montessori School to consider common
objectives related to the proposed facility expansion project. These objectives were
summarized in a Public Values Statement which would serve as a tool for evaluation for
the City and a design guideline for the developer during the Planned Unit Development
(PUD) process.
The proposed project would involve construction of a separate building on a site to the
west of the existing school (503 Maple Street) to allow for increased classroom and office
space. The facility would continue to share common support facilities such as parking,
student drop -off. The new space would enable the school to expand programming
without expanding student population.
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Grittman noted that the City Council must also adopt the Public Values Statement in
order to move the proposal beyond the collaborative stage of the PUD process. He also
confirmed that the Planning Commission would have the opportunity to consider the
proposed project further throughout the PUD process.
GRANT SALA MOVED TO ADOPT THE FINAL PUBLIC VALUES STATEMENT
FOR THE SWAN RIVER MONTESSORI EXPANSION. SAM BURVEE SECONDED
THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
9. Consideration of a request for extension of a Conditional Use Permit for a Drive -
Through Facility, Joint Parking and Joint Access. Applicant: SA Group Properties,
Inc.
Angela Schumann reported that SA Group Properties, Inc. had requested an extension of
the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) originally issued for a proposed commercial
development project at Broadway Market in 2006. She noted that the CUP for cross -
parking, cross access and a drive - through at the corner of CSAH 75 and CSAH 39 had
been extended for continuous one -year periods since that time and had now expired due
to non -use.
Schumann indicated that legal counsel for the applicant had advised extending rather than
amending the CUP at this time as existing private reciprocal easements of record and
access and parking improvements are already in place. Staff pointed out that it will be
necessary to amend the CUP prior to development if it does not reflect previously
approved plans.
Charlotte Gabler said that she'd like to draw the line on extensions. In response, Angela
Schumann explained that although the revised zoning ordinance allows for only one
extension, this particular CUP had been approved under the provisions of the previous
zoning ordinance, which did not limit the number of extensions. Schumann also noted
that, in this case, the proposed development is appropriate for the site, would be
consistent with plans already approved, and is likely to be developed.
SAM BURVEE MOVED TO RECOMMEND EXTENSION FOR ONE YEAR OF THE
SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2006 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A DRIVE - THROUGH
FACILITY, JOINT PARKING AND JOINT ACCESS FOR THE BROADWAY
MARKET DEVELOPMENT, WITH THE CONDITION THAT ALL PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED CONDITIONS BE ASSIGNED TO THE EXTENSION. GRANT SALA
SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
10. Consideration to review a summary and recommendation of next steps as related to
R -4 (High Density Residence) Workshop (NAC)
Steve Grittman summarized that the Planning Commission and City Council had met in
joint session to discuss issues related to locating R -4 (High Density Residence) Districts.
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The meeting focused on defining principles and factors by which to consider future R -4
rezoning requests as development proposals come up on a case by case basis. There was
general agreement that various factors work in combination and that no single factor is
determinative. The following factors were identified as key considerations in rezoning to
R -4:
• Replacement land use
• Local transportation network access to roadways
• Architectural compatibility and building massing need buffering
• Adequate public facilities
• Proximity to lower density residential neighborhoods performance based
consideration
• Proximity to other high density residential neighborhoods
Brad Fyle said that he'd prefer to identify one R -4 site and speculated that property on 7t'
Street west of the former Kmart site seemed to him to be a general concept area.
Grant Sala suggested that it may even be appropriate to rezone more than one site R -4 at
this time especially since there had been some developer interest in the R -4 concept. He
agreed that the process of identifying factors for consideration is a step in right direction.
Sam Burvee indicated that he would prefer to provide guidelines than rezone any
particular site.
SAM BURVEE MOVED TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE R -4
ZONING DISTRICT AND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO INCORPORATE
FACTORS AND PRINCIPLES INTO THE CODE TO MANAGE AND DIRECT THE
LOCATIONS FOR FUTURE R -4 AREAS. GRANT SALA SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
11. Consideration to review for recommendation the extension of Interim Ordinance
#568 for Temporary Signs
Angela Schumann summarized that the interim temporary sign ordinance had been
extended each year since it was established in 2011 in response to concerns voiced by the
business community that it was too restrictive. Extension of the interim ordinance has
provided an annual opportunity to consider whether amending the ordinance would
resolve issues related to the number of allowable days of use.
Building Official Ron Hackenmueller indicated that 40 -45 days per year seemed to be
the average for temporary sign usage. He noted that staff have asked that permit holders
submit 2013 usage data. He pointed out that the majority of violations involve placing
signs on the public right of way or easement and failure to remove temporary signage in
a timely manner.
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Brad Fyle pointed out that the commission had amended the temporary sign ordinance as
a way to increase visibility for local businesses struggling to survive in the midst of an
economic downturn. He suggested that it may no longer be as critical to provide such
flexibility in 2015.
Schumann indicated that it would be useful to provide an opportunity for the new
commissioners to review temporary sign issues prior considering further amending the
interim ordinance. She suggested that extending the interim ordinance through 2014
would enable them develop a recommendation for 2015.
GRANT SALA MOVED TO RECOMMEND EXTENSION OF INTERIM
ORDINANCE #568 TO JANUARY 1sT, 2015. CHARLOTTE GABLER SECONDED
THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
12. Consideration to call for a public hearinp, for amendment to Monticello Zoning
Ordinance, Chapter 6 — Non - Conformities, Section A. Applicant: City of Monticello
Steve Grittman pointed to the need to amend the language in Chapter 6, Section A (1) of
the zoning ordinance to tighten the broad reading in place and bring it into conformance
with state statute. The amendment would eliminate the possibility of expansion of non-
conformities beyond what the City had intended. Grittman recommended that the
Planning Commission call for a public hearing to consider the amendment.
CHARLOTTE GABLER MOVED TO CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR
AMENDMENT TO THE MONTICELLO ZONING ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 6 —
NON- CONFORMITIES, SECTION 1. SAM BURVEE SECONDED THE
MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
13. Community Development Director's Report
TAC Update - The January 9th TAC meeting will be rescheduled.
Vacant Planning Commission Position -Staff agreed to schedule an interview with the
applicant interested in the vacant commission seat and continue to advertise the position
until that time.
BRAD FYLE MOVED TO SCHEDULE THE INTERVIEW FOR THE VACANT
POSITION ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR 5PM ON TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 4TH OR, AS AN ALTERNATE DATE, AT 6PM ON TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 18TH GRANT SALA SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED
4 -0.
Social Media and Native Landscapes — Staff confirmed that public testimony should
only be taken through written correspondence submitted as part of the hearing record or
during the public hearing on an ordinance amendment. Social media may be used to
notify the public about and invite input related to issues to be considered at upcoming
meetings. Staff will prepare a social media release related to the native landscaping
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ordinance in an effort to obtain public input.
reSTOREing Downtown meeting — Schumann agreed to verify that it would be
appropriate for Charlotte Gabler to officially represent the Planning Commission at
reSTOREing Downtown meetings which she had been attending in a non - official
capacity. Grant Sala expressed interest in representing the commission as well. The next
meeting will be January 16th at 8:00 AM at City Hall.
14. Adjournment
CHARLOTTE GABLER MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:23 PM.
GRANT SALA SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Recorder: Kerry Burri
Approved: March 4, 21/1 �
Attest:
Development Director
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