Planning Commission Minutes 05-12-1981
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MONTICELLO PLANNING COMMISSION
Tuesday, May 12, 1981 - 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Jim Ridgeway, John Bondhus, Bill Burke, Dick Martie,
Ed Schaffer, Loren Klein
Members Absent: None
l-A. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 14, 1981.
A motion was made by Ed Schaffer, seconded by Bill Burke and unanimously
carried to approve the minutes of the April 14, 1981 meeting as presented.
1. Public Hearing - Conditional Use - Ralph Munsterteiger.
Ralph Munsterteiger was present to present this proposed plan unit
development, which lies at the approximate intersection of Linn
and West 7th Streets, containing approximately 4.74 acres.
This public hearing, being the general concept stage, the first of
three hearings, served so that the proposal could be heard publicly
and considered at an early stage before the developer incurred sub-
stantial expense in the preparation of plans, survey, and other data.
Atthe time of this general concept stage, the developer had filed a
preliminary development stage plan, which showed basically what he
intends to do with the property if the planned unit development is
approved as a conditional use. However, at a later date he would
come back at the development stage hearing for the PUD with his final
proposed plan.
Basically, at this meeting, the only action necessary was for the
Planning Commission to determine whether or not to recommend approval
of this general concept plan for approval for a planned unit develop-
ment. Bill Burke made a motion, which was seconded by Dick Martie
and unanimously approved to recommend approval of this conditional
use for a planned unit development.
2. Public Hearing - Conditional Use and Rezoning - Marvin George.
Marvin George was present at this meeting and presented his proposal
for rezoning Outlot A of the Country Club Manor from B-3 to R-3, and
contingent upon that possible rezoning, he presented his application
for a conditional use for a planned unit development for townhouses
on this same parcel. This proposal, in it's general concept stage,
was similiar to the proposal in item #1: that is; it was being held
at a public hearing at its preliminary level so that the developer
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Planning Commission Minutes - 5/12/81
could obtain guidance as to the general suitability of his proposal
for the area for which it was proposed before incurring substantial
expenses, and the preparation of plans, surveys and other data.
Tim Genung was concerned about rezoning. He questioned whether or
not rezoning was legal. He also requested that it go on record that
he was opposed to this rezoning and conditional use, stating that he
felt there was enough low income houses in this community. (Mr. George
estimated that the approximate cost of these housing units would run
somewhere between $220,000 per four unit development and $300,000 per
four unit development, or between $55,000 and $75,000 per unit.)
Phyllis Ruff, representing Ruff Auto Parts, was present to state her
opposal to any development in that area. She stated that she was
afraid that future buyers may want the salvage yard removed as the
project becomes more densly populated.
A motion was made by John Bondhus, seconded by Schaffer and unanimously
approved to recommend rezoning from B-3 to R-3, and a motion by Martie
and seconded by Burke and unanimously approved to recommend the con-
ditional use to allow a planned unit development on Outlot A of the
Country Club Manor.
3.
Public Hearinq - Ordinance Amendments - Stricter Fire Standards.
At a recent meeting of the Monticello Council, it was suggested by the
Council that the city consider amending the zoning ordinance Sec-
tion lQ-3-4-A, to change the height limitation in zoning districts
R3, RB, Bl, B2, B3, B4, I-l, and I-2 from three stories to two stories.
Thus, three story buildings would only be allowed as a conditional use
contingent upon strict application of a requirement that fire extin-
guishing systems (sprinklers) be required throughout the building:
installed as though they were required throughout the entire building
by the state building code, as adopted by the City of Monticello.
Based upon a recent statute which was adopted by the Minnesota Legis-
lature, it is now possible that the building code can be amended to
allow for stricter fire safety standards (however, only stricter
standards are allowed by the statutes, present standards may not be
relaxed). Also, it was proposed to amend the state building code,
as provided in the statute, to provide for a stricter fire prevention
standard in Section 1214 of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) which
would be adopted as stated, "Doors between the garage and the dwelling
shall be self-closing". This amendment was prompted because most fires
in which lives are lost, happen within individual homes, and statistics
show that many of those fires which destroy a life in a home are started
in a garage and thus move on into the dwelling; in many cases, because
doors are left ajar or open. By adopting an amendment which would
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Planning Commission Minutes - 5/l2/Bl
5. Consideration of a variance - Blocker Outdoor Advertising.
At the onset of this public hearing, the information regarding the
change in a variance hearing process was presented so that all present
could understand how it worked, and those who did not understand it
could ask for a clarification. That is, anyone who was unhappy with
the result of this variance hearing, could, within six days, appeal in
writing this decision, and thus have a right to be heard with their
variance request before the City Council at the next regular meeting.
A representative from Blocker Outdoor Advertising was present to dis-
cuss his application to erect an off-premise sign (billboard of 200
or more square feet on Lot 12, Block 2, Lauring Hillside Terrace.)
This property is zoned I-l.
Blocker Outdoor Advertising, who presently own two signs of similiar
description in Thomas Park, is contemplating building a new sign as
described above on Lot l2, Block 2, in Lauring Hillside Terrace, and
giving the City of Monticello a letter relinquishing his "grandfather
rights" to those signs in Thomas Park. This action was prompted when
Mr. Blocker was notified by the people who own the property upon which
the two signs in Thomas Park are located, that the property was going
to be sold and that those signs would have to be removed.
Blocker Outdoor Advertising's concern, at this time, is that they
would like to continue outdoor advertising in Monticello, and are
willing to continue with outdoor advertising under whatever type of
variance is available for them to work cooperatively with the city
in similiar circumstances as was granted to themselves and other
sign owners within the city at recent Planning Commission and City
Council decisions; that billboards would have to removed whenever
another principal use was developed on the parcel upon which the
billboard was located.
At this time, the new owner of the property upon which the signs that
Blocker Outdoor Advertising will be removing has not made any formal
application for a variance to allow him to erect two signs in place
of those which Blocker Outdoor Advertising will be taking down (when
Blocker takes down his two signs, whether or not he gives a letter to
the city relinquishing his "grandfather rights" new signs can be
erected by another individual, in any case, without a variance) .
A motion was made by Martie, seconded by Bondhus and unanimously carried
to recommend denial of this variance request.
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Planning Commission Minutes - 5/12/81
require the door to be self-closing whenever an individual left the
door open, it would automatically close, thus thwarting any fire
which may start in the garage from moving into the dwelling.
After much discussion about the requirement regarding height limita-
tion for the various zoning district, and requiring self-closing doors
between a garage and a dwelling, it was moved by Martie and seconded
by Schaffer to recommend amending the ordinance to require doors
between garages and dwellings to be self-closing, and recommended to
table any further action on the height limitation until a further
meeting at which time more information could be presented. All voted
in favor.
4.
Public Hearing - Rezoning - Delores Guille.
Richard Guille, representing Delores Guille, was in attendance to
present their request to have their property at 806-East River Street
rezoned from R-l to R-2, so that they may be able to rent out the
dwelling as a duplex if they move from the community. In addition
to the rezoning request, a variance from the minimum lot size for a
duplex would be required, since this lot has only 9,787~ of area and
would be required by ordinance to have 10,000 square feet. This would
be 2 percent short of the required square footage for a lot upon which
a duplex could be located. The legal description of this porperty is
Lot 5, except the easterly 20 feet of Block 16, Lower Monticello.
This request was brought before the City Council at the regular meeting
on December 11, 1978, at which time the citizens of the neighborhood
were informed of the rezoning request and were present at the council
meeting to express their opinions. This request, at that time, was
unanimously denied by the City Council.
Presently, Guille's live in the upper level of this dwelling, and a
relative of Mrs. Guille's resides in the lower level of the dwelling.
However, it is possible that the Guilles would like to move to another
community, and retain ownership of this building. By making it into a
duplex, they then could rent both units out.
A letter from Bill and Lucille Sandberg was presented at the planning
Commission meeting stating their objection to this variance and re-
zoning, and a petition from several people in the neighborhood was
also presented expressing their opposition to the rezoning and vari-
ance.
On a motion by Martie, with a second from Bondhus, all voted in favor
of recommending denial of this request.
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6. Public Hearing - A Consideration of a variance - City of Monticello.
Gary wieber, City Administrator, presented the request to the Planning
Commission that the City of Monticello be allowed a two year variance
to not be required to install curbing on the west end of the Commuter
parking Lot, which is being developed between Oakwood Drive on the
north side of Monticello Ford, r-94. This request was being made be-
cause at this time the City of Monticello is contemplating adding
additional parking spaces onto the west end of that lot, and would like
to be exempted for a period of time from placing a curb in, which might
ultimately be removed, so that further development of that parking lot
could take place.
with a motion by Burke, and a second by Bondhus, all voted in favor of
granting this temporary variance until July 1, 1983.
7. Consideration of a Simple Subdivision Request - John Sandberg.
John Sandberg, representing the owner of Lot 6, Block 1, of Sandberg
Riverside, requested a simple subdivision, so that Lot 6 can be
trimmed from approximately 18,000 square feet, down to approximately
12,000 square feet, with the remaining square footage of approxi-
mately 6,000 square feet to be added to Lot 5, Block 1, Sandberg
Riverside.
Mr. Sandberg presented a Certificate of Survey showing that this new
12,000 square foot lot could be developed without requiring any set-
back variances. This lot would be 12,000 square feet, which is allowed
in an R-l zone by the Monticello Ordinances.
With a motion by Martie, and a second by Bondhus, all voted in favor
of recommending this simple subdivision request contingent upon the
person making the request be responsible for all expenses for the legal
documents which would vacate the now unnecessary utility and drainage
easements on the old property line, and also be responsible for the
expense of drafting the new drainage and utility easements along the
new property line, and then showing proof of the recording.
M~ AdJ)u~ned.
Loren D. ~
Zoning Administrator
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