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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 [03] Mar 08 I Official Minutes - Joint Meeting of the Sf. Joseph Planning Commission and Sf. Joseph Township Planning Board March 8, 1999. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the St. Joseph Planning Commission and the St. Joseph Township Planning Board met in a working session on Monday, March 8, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph City Hall. The purpose ofthe working session was to review and discuss the Transportation PIan of the St. Joseph Township Comprehensive Plan. St. Joseph Plannine: Commission Members Present: Chair Hub Klein. Commissioners Marge Lesnick, Gary Utsch, Kurt Schneider, Jim Graeve and Liaison Cory Ehlert. Secretary Chad A. Carlson. St. Joseph Township Plannine: Board: John Schroeder, Matt Symalla, Jeff Janssen, and Ralph Eiynck. Others Present: Ellen Wahlstrom and Fred Sandal, APO Working Session began at 7:10 p.m. Fred Sandal, APO representative presented information from the St. Joseph Township Comprehensive Plan. The focus of the presentation centered on the development of the transportation component of the Comprehensive Plan and the philosophy of St. Joseph Township. The time frame ofthe Comprehensive PIan is as follows: 1) Identify and resolve issues presented tonight and by the St. Joseph City Council. 2) Present the Comprehensive Plan to the public at a public hearing. 3) Adopt the Comprehensive Plan in April. I Sandal identified the process the St. Joseph Township Board and St. Joseph Township Planning Board went through to complete the Comprehensive Plan. The following criteria was used: 1) Land Use Planning . a) Future land use b) Existing land use 2) 20 year Orderly Annexation Plan 3) 20 year Transportation Plan Sandal stated the coordination among the two jurisdictions is critical to protect future roadways within the area. Sandal finished his presentation and opened the discussion to the St. Joseph Planning Commission. Graeve questioned the purpose of the CR#2 bypass to CSAH #75. Sandal stated that the County and City of St. Joseph have shown interest in routing traffic around St. Joseph and not down Minnesota Street. Sandal further stated the exact design and alignment is still to be determined. Sandal expressed the position of the APO regarding the following corridors: 1) The St. Joseph Township Transportation Plan includes a corridor study proposed by Steams County to the east of the City. APO does not support this corridor and it may be relocated due to the large wetlands in the area. 2) Typically, corridor spacing is !j,¡ to Y2 a mile apart to effectively move traffic in high-density areas. APO supports the conclusion by the St. Joseph Township Planning Board that 12111 Avenue and Lynx Road corridors are essential to move traffic north and south. 3) APO supports the protection of the east/west corridor north ofCSAH #75 to coordinate with the planning currently taking place by the City of St. Cloud. Graeve stated that the 12th Avenue corridor area should be eliminated south of the existing Pond View I Ridge Addition. Graeve further stated that in his opinion the corridor area is residential in nature and does not compliment a major thoroughfare. Therefore, Graeve feels a more suitable location would be the Lynx Road corridor. Schroeder stated that eliminating the 12th A venue corridor would result in loc~l traffic finding an alternative route, i.e. Baker Street. In Schroeder's opinion, moving traffic from 12th Avenue, which is designed to I handle traffic, to Baker Street, which is not designed to handle the traffic, would not be prudent planning by the City or Township. However, Schroeder did agree that the Lynx Road corridor may be a future thoroughfare around the community and all options should remain open. Ehlert expressed concern with 12th Avenue, south of the southern e~st/west corridor, connecting to CR #121. Ehlert agreed the protection of the corridor in necessary, but questioned the purpose of the connection. St. Joseph Township Planning Board informed the City Planning Commission that there are development interests in the area Ehlert is made reference to. Schroeder stated that if the corridor is not protected, the corridor may be lost. Ehlert concurred. Klein stated the Planning Commission had no intention of making 12th Avenue a collector street, nor was the Planning Commission aware of the future alignment ofCR #133 with 12th Avenue, crossing CSAH #75. Klein stated his support for preserving the corridor as the development of Pond View Ridge Addition continues and confirms the need for a corridor. However, Klein emphasized the Lynx Road as the community bypass. Utsch stated that the City needs to consider future growth in determining the need for road corridors. Utsch further stated that past mistakes can be avoided in the future by protecting certain road corridors today, and the St. Joseph Township's Transportation Plan will assist the City of St. Joseph in these efforts. Carlson stated that the developers of the Pond View Ridge Addition were required to design 12th Avenue as a collector street, thereby requiring an 80' right-of-way. Wahlstrom stated that neither the City nor the developer notified the residents loc~ted along 12th Avenue I that the street would be a collector street capable of handling large amount of traffic. Graeve stated that current development patterns show that most of the development south ofCSAH #75 will be residential, and he would not support any major corridors in the area. Graeve further stated that there is no development occurring on the Lynx Road corridor and therefore suggests that this should be only location for a future north/south roadway. Sandal stated that as the City continues to grow within the orderly annexation boundaries, the elimination of road corridors will present problems for years to come. Sandal referenced current road corridor problems within the City of Sartell and the City of St. Cloud. Graeve suggeste~ the Pl&nnjng Commission resear~h the option oflooping 12th Avenue back to the north or a cul-de-sac. St. Joseph Townsþip rlannin~ :ßoarq discusseq otþ~ ç:qrridors within the St. Joseph Township boundaries with the City r¡wwing Commission and emphasized theprotectlün of the corridors for the future. Carlson requested that St. Joseph Township reconsider the future land-use proposal to the north of the east/west corridor in the northern portion of the community. Carlson further stated that the St. Joseph Economic Development Authority has expressed their support with the Transportation Plan as presented. Sandal stated that the Comprehensive Plan will be presented to the St. Joseph Township Board on March 29, 1999 and requested that comments from the City of St. Joseph be submitted prior to the meeting. Sandal anticipates a public hemmg in April. I I Graeve questioned if the Joint City and Township Planning Board would review the Comprehensive Plan. St. Joseph Planning Commission came to a consensus that the St. Joseph Township Transportation Plan is acceptable as presented. However, further discussion with the City Council and Planning Commission regarding the entire St. Joseph Township Comprehensive Plan will be done on March 10, 1999 and written comments will be submitted to the St. Joseph Township Board following that meeting. Other Business: Carlson presented a request for a building permit by Schroeder Sports for the construction of a 10'xlO'interior office within the existing facility. Lesnick made a motion to allow Schroeder Sports to make application for a building permit for remodeling as presented. The motion was seconded by Schneider and passed unanimously by those present. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:55. ChadA.O¡,lson ~~ Planning CommissiOn Secretary I I