HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-03 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF CORCORAN
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Corcoran Planning Commission Minutes
March 3, 2022 - 7:00 pm
The Corcoran Planning Commission met on March 3, 2022, 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, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
Also present: City Administrator Jessica Beise and City Planner Lindahl.
Also present via telephonic or other electronic means: Council Liaison Vehrenkamp and
Planner Davis McKeown.
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 Brummond, seconded by Lanterman, to approve the March 3,
2022 agenda.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion carried 5:0).
4. Appoint Commission Chair and Vice-Chair
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Van Den Einde, to appoint
Commissioner Jacobs to Commission Chair.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion carried 5:0).
Motion made by Jacobs, seconded by Lanterman, to appoint Commissioner
Shoulak to Vice-Chair.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion carried 5:0).
5. Open Forum (none)
6. Minutes
a. Minutes – February 3, 2022
Motion made by Jacobs, seconded by Van Den Einde, to approve the February
3, 2022 minutes.
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Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion carried 5:0).
7. New Business - Public Comment Opportunity
a. Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) Plan for Cook Lake Highlands
(city file 21-057)
i. Public Comment:
• Lynn Alberts, 7490 Fir Lane, asked about the lack of trail
and if the lighting plan complies with city code.
Public Comment portion closed by Commissioner Jacobs.
ii. Staff Report – Planner Kevin Shay presented the staff report.
iii. Commission Discussion & Recommendation – The Commission
discussion included the Commission’s role in approving a final PUD;
previous discussions of the trail and potential resolution; memory
care sign location; future sign possibilities for the memory care
building; the precedence created by approving multiple signs for
New Horizons; clarification of the lighting standards of the city code;
review of the size of the signs; allowing commercial signage
ordinance in a residential neighborhood; and safety concerns
regarding the density of this area.
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Shoulak, to recommend
denial of the draft resolution approving the Final Planned Unit
Development (PUD) Plan for Cook Lake Highlands.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Lanterman, and Shoulak.
Abstain: Brummond and Van Den Einde.
(Motion carried: 3:0:2).
b. PUBLIC HEARING. Site Plan, Preliminary Plat, and Administrative Permit for
“Corcoran II Substation” (PID 25-119-23-23-0001) (city file no. 22-004)
i. Staff Report – Planner Kevin Shay presented the staff report.
ii. Public Hearing – Chair Jacobs opened the public hearing.
• Suzy Sween, 2112 Holy Name Dr, Medina MN, voiced
opposition of Wright Hennepin’s choice of property and
requested the consideration of health and safety of the
city. She stated concerns about ground currents,
environmental concerns, sound pollution, and the visual
impact of the substation.
• Greg Hoglund, 19220 Hackamore Road, voiced
opposition to the location of the proposed substation and
voiced his opinion that it could be located closer to the
new Lennar homes.
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• Greg Ebert, 20604 County Road 10, voiced his concern
about the value of the rest of the Deizel property
surrounding the substation, expressed that the
substation should be located in an industrial district, and
suggested that the rest of the Deizel property should be
made into a park should the substation be approved.
• Dale Maue, 7450 Kalk Road, voiced that a substation of
this size will have Electromagnetic Fields, ground
currents, noise pollution. He supported the location if
there aren’t practical alternatives.
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Brummond, to close the
public hearing.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den
Einde.
Voting Nay: None.
(Motion carried 5:0).
iii. Applicant Presentation presented by Bob Sandburg, Vice President
of Power Supply with Wright Hennepin Electric, and Kurt Port,
Director of Engineering.
iv. Commission Discussion & Recommendation – The Commission
discussion included concerns over building an electric substation in
a residential zone; the use and process of eminent domain; and the
ability of the applicant to apply for the preliminary plat prior to the
completion of eminent domain.
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Van Den Einde, to
recommend denial of the Preliminary Plat and Administrative
Approval for Corcoran Substation II, given that Wright Hennepin had
not finalized the eminent domain process at this time.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den
Einde.
Voting Nay: None.
(Motion carried 5:0).
c. Public Hearing. Zoning Ordinance Amendment for Ground Mounted Solar
– (city file 22-005)
i. Staff Report – Planner Kevin Shay presented the staff report.
ii. Public Hearing – Chair Jacobs opened the public hearing.
Patrick Farm, of Cedar Creek Energy, provided a brief presentation
on behalf of the applicant and answered initial questions regarding
the capabilities of a 40-kw array; clarification on square footage of
ground mounted arrays; height standards of solar panels; possibility
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and practicality of installing ground mounted arrays in small lots
compared to larger lots; and future panel size and efficiency.
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Brummond, to close the
public hearing.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den
Einde.
Voting Nay: None.
(Motion carried 5:0).
iii. Commission Discussion – The Commission discussion included
concerns over changing the metric for solar panels; questions of the
importance of power output from the city’s standpoint; preference for
the current metric; current metric can better regulate aesthetic; the
applicant’s request versus the staff recommendation; clarification on
installing accessory structures; and possible ramifications for
changing the metric in developments with smaller lots.
Motion made by Brummond, seconded Van Den Einde, to
recommend approval of staff’s recommendation to allow solar
energy independent from other accessory structures.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
Voting Nay: Lanterman
(Motion carried 4:1).
8. Reports/Information
a. Planning Project Update – The Commission discussed the status of the
Pioneer Trail Industrial Park, upcoming meeting agendas, agenda
distribution timeline, and webpage updates.
b. City Council Report – Council Liaison Vehrenkamp noted the discussion
on Wright Hennepin Energy’s substation proposal and updated the
Commission on the sketch plan PUD on the Highway 55 Business Park;
the Corcoran Farms sketch PUD on Larkin Road; approval of the St.
Therese landscape variance; approval of Bellwether 7th final plat; water
treatment facility outlook; water processing plant security; and the MS4
ordinance amendment approval. There was also mention of the Excel
Energy Solar Farm on County Road 19 and granting of a liquor license
and noise waiver for a rodeo.
c. Other Business (none).
9. Commissioner Liaison Calendar
City Council Meetings
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3/10/22 3/24/22 4/14/22 4/28/22 5/12/22 5/26/22
Brummond Jacobs Lanterman Shoulak Van Den
Einde
Brummond
10. Adjournment
Motion made by Lanterman, seconded by Brummond, to adjourn the March 3,
2022, Planning Commission meeting.
Voting Aye: Jacobs, Brummond, Lanterman, Shoulak, and Van Den Einde.
(Motion carried 5:0).
Meeting adjourned at 11:55 PM.
Submitted by Dwight Klingbeil
Planning Assistant