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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-05 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN Corcoran Planning Commission Minutes August 5, 2021 - 7:00 pm The Corcoran Planning Commission met on August 5, 2021, in Corcoran, Minnesota. All Planning Commissioners were present in the Council Chambers, but members of the public were able to participate in-person as well as through electronic means using the audio and video conferencing platform Zoom. Present: Commissioners Jacobs, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. Arrived Late: Commissioner Lanterman. Also present: City Planner Lindahl and City Manager Martens. Present via telephonic or other electronic means: Council Liaison Nichols. 1. Call to Order/Roll Call Commissioner Jacobs called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Agenda Approval Motion made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Wu, to approve the August 5, 2021, agenda. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 4:0). 4. Open Forum (none) 5. Minutes a. Minutes – July 1, 2021. Motion made by Wu, seconded by Shoulak, to approve the minutes. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 4:0). 6. New Business – Public Comment Opportunity a. TABLE TO THE SEPTEMBER 2ND MEETING. Zoning Amendment for Assembly Uses (city file no. 21-034). i. Staff Report – Planner Lindahl provided a brief explanation for the request to table the item to the next meeting per City Council direction. ii. Commission Discussion & Recommendation – The Commission discussion included the definition of places of assembly. Motion made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Shoulak, to table item 6A to the September 2nd meeting. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 4:0). b. Public Hearing. Rezoning, Site Plan, Conditional Use Permit, Preliminary Plat, and Variance for Garages Too on the property located at 2240 State Highway 55 and 6315 Horseshoe Bend Drive (PID 32-119-23-44-0001 and 32-119-23-44-0009) (city file no. 21- 016). i. Staff Report – Planner Lindahl presented the staff report. ii. Public Hearing – Chair Jacobs opened the public hearing. Jim Reader, 6200 Rolling Hills Rd, requested copies of the maps in the staff presentation and stated his opposition for the project due to public safety concerns based on experience with a separate site of storage units near his property until the installation of a secured gate, the impact of industrial properties along Highway 55 rather than stores and small business, and the necessity of sewer services to be implemented in the area. Rebecca Gunderson, 6300 Horseshoe Bend Drive, asked for clarification as to what types of items will be stored at the facility. She stated concerns with the four variances required to make the facility fit on the parcel, flooding in the immediate area particularly without sewers, the presence of another storage facility in the immediate area, littering along the future frontage road from customers of the existing storage facility, sound levels in the neighborhood, and the potential impact to property values in the nearby residential neighborhood. Paula Hendrickson, 6330 Horseshoe Bend Drive, stated concerns about access to the site from Highway 55 or Horseshoe Bend Drive. She asked if the industrial lot would be able to expand further into the neighborhood if the existing residential lot is sold as well as for clarification regarding the accessory buildings on the residential lot discussed in the staff report. She stated that a lot of the neighborhoods don’t understand the proposal. She said she is on the fence about the proposal as long as the storage site is not accessed from Horseshoe Bend. Gary Ohrt, 20600 County Road 30, stated concerns regarding access to the site, particularly for large vehicles, from Horseshoe Bend Drive rather than Highway 55 as recommended by MNDOT as well as noise and light pollution. Rebecca Gunderson, 6300 Horseshoe Bend Drive, reapproached the podium to echo concerns with access to the site from Horseshoe Bend. She advocated that traffic should not be allowed on Rolling Hills Rd and Horseshoe Bend. Rick Hendrickson, 6330 Horseshoe Bend Drive, asked about the security system and the lighting of the site. iii. Close Hearing Motion made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Wu, to close the public hearing. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Lanterman, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 5:0). iv. Commission Discussion & Recommendation – The Commission discussed the access to the site planned from Highway 55 not from Horseshoe Bend Drive, the commercial nature of the storage units, internal lighting on the site, security of the site, the accessory structures on the residential lot (lot 2), the stormwater pond on the site and drainage of the area, the dual land designation on lot 2, the applicable architectural standards, a condition to require TLAC fees, the condition that auto repair will not be allowed within the units, storage of hazardous materials, the intention behind the exclusion of commercial activities in the standards for mini storage and self-storage within the City Code, bathroom facilities, and trash receptacles. The Commission also discussed the landscaping plan, the definition of “commercial” vehicles not to be allowed within the storage units, noise pollution, the size of the facility compared to the size of the parcel, signage, potential for this to be used as unintended, the condition requiring a copy of the lease that lists the prohibitions on the site, enforcement of conditions, safety hazards, the need for 12’ overhead doors, and the business owners plans to install security cameras on the site. Motion made by Wu, seconded by Lanterman, to recommend approval of the draft Resolution approving the variances. Voting Aye: Jacobs and Wu Voting Nay: Lanterman, Shoulak, and Vehrenkamp. (Motion failed 2:3). Motion made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Wu, to recommend denial of the draft Resolution approving the variance to allow the lot to develop without municipal services, due to a lack of practical difficulties and the development is premature, making the other application components null and void. Voting Aye: Lanterman, Shoulak, and Vehrenkamp. Voting Nay: Jacobs and Wu. (Motion carried 3:2). Motion made by Wu, seconded by Shoulak, to recommend denial of the rezoning, site plan, CUP, preliminary plat, and the three remaining variances based on the finding that these application components cannot proceed without granting the first variance. Voting Aye: Lanterman, Shoulak, and Vehrenkamp. Voting Nay: Jacobs and Wu. (Motion carried 3:2). c. Public Hearing. Consider Amendment to Section 1030.020 of the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Accessory Structures (city file no. 21-029). i. Staff Report – Planner Lindahl presented the staff report. ii. Public Hearing – Chair Jacobs opened the public hearing. iii. Close Hearing Motion made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Shoulak, to close the public hearing. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Lanterman, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 5:0). iv. Commission Discussion & Recommendation – The Commission discussed the want for a more thorough review of accessory structure standards and the proper procedure to request a Zoning Ordinance Amendment. Motion made by Vehrenkamp, seconded by Wu, to recommend approval of the draft Ordinance Amendment to Section 1030.020 and the draft Resolution approving the findings of fact. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Lanterman, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 5:0). 7. Reports/Information a. Planning Project Update – City Manager Martens confirmed for the Commission that staff does visit sites as much as possible to confirm development projects are carried out as conditioned in the approvals and citizens can call City Hall with concerns. Planner Lindahl confirmed minor PUD Amendments only go to the Council per the City Code, Cook Lake Highlands was tabled to the August 12 meeting, and the status of the Bechtold Farms application. b. Reschedule Planning Commission Training – Planner Lindahl confirmed a survey will be sent out to determine another date. c. City Council Report – Councilor Nichols discussed the Tavera PUD amendment approvals and denials, the approvals and denials for Amberley and Bellwether, the proposal for the Diamond Lake Regional Trail Corridor, and the resignation of Councilor Thomas. d. Other Business – (none). 8. Commissioner Liaison Calendar City Council Meetings 8/12/21 8/26/21 9/9/21 9/23/21 10/14/21 10/28/21 Wu Jacobs Lanterman Shoulak Vehrenkamp Wu 9. Adjournment Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Vehrenkamp, to adjourn the August 5, 2021, Planning Commission meeting. Voting Aye: Jacobs, Lanterman, Shoulak, Vehrenkamp, and Wu. (Motion carried 5:0). Meeting adjourned at 9:57 PM. Submitted by Natalie Davis Planner