HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-05 Planning Commission Minutes
CITY OF CORCORAN
Corcoran Planning Commission Minutes
December 5, 2023 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran Planning Commission met on December 5, 2023, in Corcoran, Minnesota. All Planning
Commissioners were present in the Council Chambers. Members of the public were able to
participate in-person.
Present: Commissioners Lanterman, Brummond, Horn, Lind, and Van Den Einde.
Also present: Planner Davis McKeown, Planner Lindahl, City Administrator Tobin, and Council
Liaison Vehrenkamp.
1. Call to Order / Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Agenda Approval
Motion made by Horn, seconded by Brummond, to approve the agenda for the December 5, 2023,
Planning Commission meeting.
Voting Aye: Lanterman, Brummond, Horn, Lind, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion passed 5:0)
4. Open Forum (none)
a. City Administrator Jay Tobin took a moment during the open forum to introduce himself to
the Planning Commission.
5. Minutes
a. September 7, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Brummond, seconded by Van Den Einde, to approve the September 7,
2023, Planning Commission Minutes.
Voting Aye: Lanterman, Brummond, Horn, Lind, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion passed 5:0)
b. October 5, 2023, Regular Meeting Minutes
Motion made by Lind, seconded by Brummond, to approve the October 5, 2023, Planning
Commission Minutes.
Voting Aye: Lanterman, Brummond, Horn, Lind, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion passed 5:0)
6. Other Business
a. Draft 2023 Annual Report and 2024 Priorities
i. Staff Report – Staff Report presented by Planner Davis McKeown.
ii. Commission Discussion & Recommendation – The Commission discussion included
the consideration of expanding the landscaping ordinance to encourage more
diverse options for preserving natural habitats beyond tree plantings; supplementing
landscaping requirements of new developments with the preservation of existing
natural habits; clarification of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) design standard
guidelines; encouraging the creation of community farms; preserving agricultural
areas through agricultural zoning; clarification of the Green Acres program; a
question regarding the schedule for the 2050 Comprehensive Plan; staff priorities for
2024, such as updating residential district standards, updating the home occupation
licensing; setting goals that address the standards for landscaping; supporting
community farms/agribusiness; revising the home occupation ordinance, the
standards for the commercial/industrial zoning districts; receiving more information
about Metropolitan (Met) Council density requirements; adding background
information for the Met Council density requirements to the next training session; and
a request for a training session to go over the City Code, the Comprehensive Plan,
and applicable state laws to help the Commission and public better understand their
role within the legal system.
b. Commercial/Industrial Updates Discussion
i. Staff Report – Staff Report was presented by Planner Davis McKeown.
ii. Commission Discussion – Commission discussion included a summary of the
Council’s response to the questions posed to them during the September 14, 2023,
Work Session; clarification on who will participate in the business survey; a question
of what prompted the update; the need to clean up the ordinance and reduce
variance requests; wanting to get input from everyone; future discussion surrounding
where future development will occur; cohesion of development; a request for a list of
all of the permitted and conditional uses for each district; removing extraneous
language throughout the Commercial and Industrial sections of the Zoning
Ordinance; making the code easier to read for business owners and prospective
owners; wanting to hear from business owners, landowners, and lessees; a
reference to the commercial area in the City of Stillwater; a reference to Arbor Lakes
of Maple Grove; controlling the flow of development to ensure a variety of business
types; emphasis of a community perspective; the community element in Downtown
Delano; encouraging the development of a charter school; the possibility of a
municipal liquor store; designing a business community that serves Corcoran
residents; the market reality of Corcoran’s position in development; trying to create a
downtown versus letting the market drive development; the lack of authenticity in
recently built downtowns; creating community commercial areas rather than large
commercial areas; revisit the vision of the City and guiding documents to guide
economic development; development being driven by private interests; identifying a
zoning district to allow the operation of butcher shops; addressing the lighting
standards for commercial developments; creating more opportunities for allowed
uses rather than conditional uses; addressing the height transition between uses;
options to restrict specific land uses and the legal risk of doing so; the
encouragement of sustainable business practices; the architectural standards and
flexibility for commercial districts; and offering a credit for commercial businesses
that invest in infrastructure.
7. Reports/Information
a. Other Business - None
b. Planning Project Update – Planner McKeown informed the Commission about the items
expected for the January 2024, Planning Commission Meeting.
c. City Council Report* – City Council Report included a discussion about City projects and a
question about the Met Council density requirements.
8. Commissioner Liaison Calendar
City Council Meetings
12/18/2023 (M) 1/11/2024 1/25/2024 2/8/2024 2/22/2024 3/14/2024
Van Den
Einde
Brummond Horn Lind Lanterman Van Den
Einde
9. Adjournment
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Brummond, to adjourn the December 5, 2023, Planning
Commission meeting.
Voting Aye: Lanterman, Brummond, Horn, Lind, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion passed 5:0)
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 pm.