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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.15.25Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met on Monday, April 15th, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. Planning Commission Members Present: Commissioners Keith Louwagie, Isabella Margl, Jon Hazen, Gina Dullinger, Mark Thompson Staff Present: Nate Keller Public Comments: None Agenda Review & Adoption: Thompson made a motion to approve Agenda Review & Adoption. The motion was seconded by Dullinger and passed unanimously. Approval of March loth, 2025, minutes: Dullinger made a motion to approve the March 10th minutes. The motion was seconded by Hazen and passed unanimously by those present. New Business: a. Home Occupation Cherrico Pottery (public hearing) Keller provided background on the request. The property at 29055 County Road 121 is seeking a Special Home Occupation License. The property was granted a license in 2020 and technically the license expired in 2021. The pottery business is run of the detached garage. Due to the business being run out of an accessory building this triggers the "Special Home Occupation license" which is just a Home Occupation but with formal triggers including public hearing, PC recommendation, and Council authorization. The garage is approximately 3,000 SF with 600 SF being the office area and the remaining space devoted to the pottery business. The owners of the property are the only employees. In the past the owners utilized up to three interns who have been on -site for 6-12 hours a week. Keller highlighted the two conditions tied to employees and retail sales on -site Commission members asked questions tied to off-street parking and location of on -site parking, signs, expiration of license, historical questions regarding the home occupation. Joel Cherrico the owner of the property along with Keller answered the Commissions questions. Hazen opened the public hearing. No one spoke at the hearing. Hazen closed the public hearing. Louwagie made a motion on resolution PC2025-007 approving the Finding of Fact for the Special Home Occupation License. The motion was seconded by Dullinger and passed unanimously by those present. b. STR Voss 24 Minnesota Street East — Conditional Use Permit (public hearing) Background on the request was provided by Keller. Keller explained the property is zoned R-1 Single - Family, with a future land use of B-1 Downtown Commercial. Keller provided historical background on the STR ordinance and reason for the C.U.P. The owner has listed this residence as his principal residence and lives on the property on the main floor of the site. The property has a side entrance that leads to the basement. The basement area will be the area of the property that will be rented out to STR tenants. The basement has a living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, laundry. One of the conditions staff is recommending is that the rear of the property parking area be paved due to the use of the property being intensified with more parking. At present the area is gravel. Commission members asked about: the number of dwelling units and what consists of a dwelling unit, the number of days that constitute a STR, if the owner needs to reside in the house during the rental, lodging tax, emergency contacts. The owner Jacob Voss who was on the Zoom call responded to some of the questions along with Keller. Hazen opened the public hearing. No one spoke at the hearing. Hazen closed the public hearing. Thompson made a motion to approve the Finding of Fact Resolution PC2025-008 approving the Conditional Use Permit. The motion was seconded by Louwagie and passed unanimously. Old Business: a. Planning Commission — Ordinance 205 (public hearing) Keller provided background on the proposed amendments based on the past several months of Commission feedback and discussion. Hazen opened the public hearing. Joe Walz 33003 County Road 3 spoke about his frustration about not being able to serve on the Planning Commission. Walz stated that despite him not living in the city he does own land in the city and should be able to have representation because of the taxes he pays. Hazen closed the public hearing. Dullinger commented that Walz brings up a good point and asked Keller if it's common to have property owners serve on the Planning Commission. Keller stated that it is not common, typically Commission members are residents. From what Keller has seen in other communities it tends to be more common that a Board like the EDA allows greater flexibility on who can serve on the EDA. Sometimes EDAs for example allow business owners to serve regardless if they are a resident. Hazen asked if that was the case for the city's EDA. Keller said he cannot recall what the ordinance states but can follow up on the question. Other Business: a. General Updates Keller provided updates on: Flower and Flour P.U.D. amendment and patio project, I.U.P. for Distillery, Casey's site, Pine and Fiber closing, Rental License, Laser Dentistry, Joint Planning Board and Stearns County Service Center project. AdIiourn: Thompson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:55PM. The motion was seconded by Louwagie and the motion carried. Minutes approved by: Nate Keller Community Development Director