Planning Commission Minutes 11-01-2011MINUTES
MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, November 1, 2011- 6:00 PM
Mississippi Room, Monticello Community Center
Commissioners Present: Rod Dragsten, Brad Fyle, Charlotte Gabler, Barry Voight
Commissioners Absent: William Spartz
Council Liaison: Lloyd Hilgart
Staff. Angela Schumann, Ron Hackenmueller, Steve Grittman-NAC
1.
2.
3.
Call to order
Rod Dragsten called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Consideration to approve Planning Commission minutes of October 4, 2011
BRAD FYLE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 4, 2011.
MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BARRY VOIGHT. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Citizen Comments
a. Paxmar Development
Kent Roessler, representing Paxmar Development, of 5160 Viking Boulevard in
Anoka, asked if the Planning Commission would be open to discussing the possibility
of amending existing ordinance and PUD standards to motivate builders to make a
commitment to Monticello.
Paxmar is a real estate land development company that has been purchasing distressed
properties from banks to provide lot inventory for builders. They purchased the
neighborhoods of Carlisle Village and Sunset Ponds in Monticello.
Paxmar has had a number of builders initially interested in these neighborhoods who
then lose interest when they learn the particulars of Monticello's building standards. In
this economy builders are looking for concessions such as reduced fees or relaxed
code requirements and will go elsewhere if accommodations cannot be readily made.
Builders also seem to be quite hesitant to go through the formal process of addressing
the Planning Commission and City Council to request a variance or a special use
permit with little expectation of success.
The Planning Commission and Paxmar seemed to agree that it is important to support
growth in the City and to ensure that the quality of development is as good as or better
than that which already exists. Several Commissioners pointed out that they'd have to
see what a plan looked like before making any determination about concessions.
Planning Commission Minutes — 11 /1 /11
Paxmar indicated that they too are making concessions in significantly reducing prices
of the lots for sale.
Staff reminded the commissioners that both of these neighborhoods were approved as
part of the previous zoning ordinance and, as such, are governed by those older
standards. Bang Voight stated that he'd prefer not to amend the base code language
but would consider rewriting the PUD to reflect current code standards and actual
conditions. Charlotte Gabler agreed. Bang Voight noted that making some
concessions may be workable as long as the overall look of the property was
aesthetically pleasing.
Lloyd Hilgart said that he would be open to looking at the fee structure.
Paxmar have been directing builders to Angela Schumann and Ron Hackenmueller to
get an initial read on a number of building scenarios. Staff recommended that two
commissioners also work with the developer and builders to preliminarily discuss
proposals to encourage success prior to taking the issue through the formal public
process. Rod Dragsten and Barry Voight agreed to represent the Planning
Commission in any such upcoming meetings with Paxmar, City staff, and builders to
consider some building proposals.
Steve Grittman suggested that a neighborhood meeting might help establish some
parameters for development. Staff pointed out that Carlisle Village has an active
neighborhood group which may have some valuable input.
Brad Fyle asked about the building fees and development costs in other communities.
Staff agreed to provide this information as part of the December agenda packet.
b. Letter from Master's 5' Avenue
Staff noted that Master's 5f Avenue had sent a letter to the Planning Commission
supporting the Embracing Downtown Plan and recommending that the City move
forward in support of the plan.
Consideration of adding items to the agenda None
5. Community Development Director's Report
The Planning Commission had previously called for a Public Hearing on the PUD
amendment to be held at the December Planning Commission meeting. Angela
Schumann asked that action on this item be tabled until the January meeting.
BARRY VOIGHT MOVED TO TABLE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PUD
AMENDMENT TO THE JANUARY 2012 PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BRAD FYLE. MOTION CARRIED
4 -0.
Planning Commission Minutes —I I/l/11
6. Adiourn
BARRY VOIGHT MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 6:37 PM. MOTION
WAS SECONDED BY CHARLOTTE GABLER. MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Recorder: Kerry T. Burri J'✓
Approved: December 6, 2011
Attest:
Angela Schuma C unity Development Director