Planning Commission Minutes 07-07-1998
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, July 7, 1998 - 7 p.m.
Members Present:
Dick Frie, Robbie Smith, Rod Dragsten, Richard Carlson
Also Present:
Bill Fair.
Absent:
Council Liaison Clint Herbst
2. Consideration of approval of minutes of regular meeting held June 2. 1998.
AFTER DISCUSSlON, MOTION WAS MADE BY RICHARD CARLSON AND
SECONDED BY ROD DRAGSTEN TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH
CORRECTIONS TO NAME INFORMATION ON ITEMS TWO AND FOUR.
"ROGER CARLSON" SHOULD BE CHANGED TO "RICHARD CARLSON." Motion
carried unanimously.
3. Consideration of additional items to the ag:enda.
A.
Chief Building Official Fred Patch requested discussion regarding a 2' side yard
variance request relating to a garage that was constructed by mistake in the wrong
location.
4. Citizens Comments
None forthcoming.
5. Continued Public Hearing -- Consideration of a request for a conditional use permit
allowing a tower in excess of the district building height limits and consideration of a
variance from the rear yard setback to allow a wireless communications tower. Applicant
U. S. West Wireless LLC. Location: Bondhus Tool Manufacturing Site.
Deputy City Administrator Jeff O'Neill reported that additional research has been done
on the matter relating to the location of the site relative to the helipad. He noted that the
director of the air ambulance at North Memorial Hospital does not object to the tower.
Ken Neilson, representing the applicant, noted that the company reviewed a large area
and found that this site is best suited due to present zoning and location for transmissions.
He also requested a temporary tower to operate while constructing the permanent tower.
Commission Member Robbie Smith asked if they had looked at all locations.
Mr. Nielson stated that they have exhausted all other possibilities.
Jeff O'Neill asked ifthe transmissions will interfere with other electronic devices located
nearby. Mr. Nielson noted that the equipment is licensed through the FCC and will meet
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Planning Commission Minutes - 7/07/98
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all standards. They have never had a problem but will work with the City in the event of
a problem with signal conflict.
Jeff O'Neill asked ifthe warning light at the top ofthe tower will be a strobe light or a
slow pulsing light. Mr. Nielson noted that the light will be a light that will meet the
minimum requirements of the FAA.
City Planner Steve Grittman noted that granting the variance will allow the base of the
structure to be screened from the public right-of-way and does not violate the intent of the
ordinance.
AFTER DISCUSSION, A MOTION WAS MADE BY DICK FRIE AND SECONDED
BY ROD DRAGSTEN AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND
APPRO V AL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, SUBJECT TO THE
CONDITIONS LISTED BELOW, BASED UPON A FINDING THAT THE
PROPOSED USE COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH
FACILITIES IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE.
1. THE TOWER DOES NOT ENCROACH INTO THE FRONT YARD AND IS
PLACED AS FAR FROM THE FRONT LOT LINE AS POSSIBLE.
2. THE EQUIPMENT AREA IS SCREENED FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-
WAY.
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3.
THE TOWER DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE FLIGHT PATH FOR THE
HOSPITAL'S HELICOPTER SERVICES.
4. THE TOWER MEETS ALL OTHER ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS.
5. TEMPORARY TOWER IS ACCEPTABLE BUT MUST BE REMOVED
WITHIN 90 DA YS AND REMOVED IMMEDIA TEL Y AT COMPLETION OF
PERMANENT TOWER.
6. FLASHING LIGHT MUST NOT BE A STROBE LIGHT AND SHALL MEET
FCC REQUIREMENTS.
MOTION BY ROD DRAGSTEN, SECONDED BY DICK FRIE AND CARRIED
UNANIMOUSL Y TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REAR YARD SETBACK
V ARIANCE FOR A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER BASED UPON A
FINDING THAT THE PROPERTY'S UNIQUE SHAPE AND BENEFIT OF
SCREENING BY A BUILDING ON SITE JUSTIFIES THE VARIANCE.
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Planning Commission Minutes - 7/07/98
6.
Continued Public Hearing - Review the fee survey and consideration of an amendment tot
the Monticello Subdivision Ordinance relating to the dedication of land for park
purposes. Applicant. Citv of Monticello.
Chief Building Official Fred Patch gave a general overview ofthe survey data showing
comparative data on fees for services charged by area cities. He noted that generally the
City of Monticello fees are middle of the road or slightly lower. Commission members
agreed that additional time is needed to analyze the data. After discussion it was
determined to table the matter pending further analysis and recommendation by City staff
7. Review of DesiQn Advisorv Team recommendation on signs for Cub Foods.
Chief Building Official Fred Patch noted that the sign plan for the Cub Foods store was
reviewed and approved by the DA T on May 13 based on the finding that the signs were
in conformance with the intent of the CCD District and the Comprehensive Plan. The
sign area is approximately twice that allowable under the City's sign ordinance; however,
the DA T felt that the signs were appropriate to the scale of the building.
Dick Frie asked if we should change the ordinance. It was noted that the CCD district
provides flexibility for signage that allows the larger sign area. We may need to change
the ordinance as it applies to the B-4 and B-3 districts. In these areas, the flexibility does
not exist to allow signs designed for large "Big Box" stores.
AFTER DISCUSSION, MOTION WAS MADE BY ROBBIE SMITH AND
SECONDED BY RICHARD CARLSON TO APPROVE AND SUPPORT THE
RECOMMENDATION BY THE DESIGN ADVISORY TEAM ON THE CUB FOOD
SIGN. Motion carried unanimously.
Additional Items
A. Chief Building Official Fred Patch noted that due to an error by a land surveyor, a
garage was placed at the wrong location and needs a 2' variance to the setback
requirement. It was noted that the variance could include a requirement that the
garage be screened. There is a precedent in the city to allow variances where the
building was placed in the wrong location due to a simple mistake especially
where the variance will not impose a hardship on an adjoining property.
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Planning Commission Minutes - 7/07/98
B.
Planning Commission briefly discussed the interview session with candidate Roy
Popelik.
AFTER DISCUSSION, A MOTION WAS MADE BY RICHARD CARLSON
AND SECONDED BY ROBBIE SMITH TO RECOMMEND ROY POPELIK
FOR FILLING THE VACANT POSITION ON THE PLANNING
COMMISSION. Motion carried unanimously.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Jeffq;zO ~-tjJ
Deputy City Administrator
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