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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 [07] Jul 06 I Official Minutes - Planning Commission Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Tuesday, July 6, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Chair Hub Klein. Commissioners S. Kathleen Kalinowski, Marge Lesnick, Gary Utsch, Kurt Schneider, Jim Graeve. Council Liaison Cory Ehlert. Deputy Clerk Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Gene Boysen, Fred Mehr, Tom Carlson, S. Mari Terese Woida, S. Thomasette, S. Ingrid Anderson, S. Marlene Meierhofer, Richard Helgeson, Kim Freemoe. St. Joe ~ Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic ~ Special Use Request: Chair Klein opened the hearing at 7:00 p.m. and stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider a Special Use Permit to allow for the construction of new equestrian medical facility for the St. Joe-Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic. The property is currently zoned Industrial and St. Joseph Code of Ordinances 52.21 Subd 2 states: all industrial uses shall require a Special Use Permit. The property is legally described as: The Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section Ten, Township One Hundred Twenty Four, Range Twenty-Nine West. The request for special use has been submitted by the St. Joe-Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic, Rick Bohlman, 809 County RDad 75 East, St. Joseph MN 56374. Dr. Gene Boysen spoke on behalf of the clinic. He stated three reasons for the expansion: I 1. Equestrian Medical Facility 2. Storage space, currently space is rented from Schroeder Sports. 3. Office Space. The building will be a structural steel building with rockfaced colored concrete block on the west lower section, facing County Road 75. The upper portion of the building will be prefinished metal siding to match the existing clinic. The middle of the building will be two stories in height to accommodate the equme. Graeve questioned the use of the north driveway. Boysen stated that the NW end of the building will be the equine center with the north driveway providing access. The equine center will have 4 - 6 stalls and will have the capability to house the animals overnight. Boysen clarified that no change will be made to the existing facility. Kalinowski questioned how the waste will be disposed of. Boysen stated that they have not q~termined if the material will be composted or hauled out. Ehlert questioned if any part of the area will be fenced. Boysen stated th~ northern section of there property will be fenced so that the horses can be outdoors. Further, som~ treatment will be performed outside while the animal is walking. Upon being questioned about landscaping, Boysen indicated that they are wil)ing to plant shrubbery and install landscape rock around the building. I There being no further questions, the hearing was closed at 7:30 p.m. July 6, 1999 Page 1 of 5 Lesnick made a motion recommending the Council accept the following findings ofthe Planning I Commission regarding the Special Use Permit request of the St. Joe-Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic. Resolution offmding The request of the St. Joe-Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic for a Special Use Permit came before the Planning Commission at a public hearing held on July 7, 1999. The purpose of the hearing was to consider issuance of a Special Use Permit. The permit is being requested to allow the construction of a new equestrian medical facility. St. Joseph Code of Ordinances 52.21 subd 2 states that all Industrial uses shall require a Special Use Permit. The property is legally described as: The Southeast Quarter of the Northeast Quarter of Section Ten, Township One Hundred Twenty Four, Range Twenty-Nine West. The request for special use has been submitted by the St. Joe-Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic, Rick Bohlman, 809 County Road 75 East, St. Joseph MN 56374. Notice of this matter was duly served and published. In consideration of the information presented to the Planning Commission and its application to the Comprehensive Plan and Ordinances of the City of St. Joseph, the Planning Commission makes the following findings: The proposed use is consistent with the standards for a Special Use Permit as stated in St. Joseph I Code of Ordinances 52.8 subd 4 (a-k). Therefore, based on the above findings, the Planning Commission recommends the City Council approve the Special Use Permit as requested. .,'::' Commissioner Schneider arrived at 7:20 p.m. Liaison Reports Ehlert reported on the following City Council activity: (J The City Council will be reviewing the revised draft Zoning Ordinances on August 5, 1999. (J The Highway 75 Zoning District, B-2, boundary was approved by the Council on July 15, 1999. (J The following projects have been approved by the Council: 1) Reconstruction of Joseph Street to include utilities and curb and gutter; 2) Northland Drive from Gumtree Street East to CSAH 75; 3) extension of utilities to the St. Joseph Business Park. 0 The City will be interviewing architects for the remodeling of the First State Bank building and the City Hall. Before remodeling can begin the City must finalize the purchase agreement with the First State Bank of St. Joseph. (J The Council has narrowed the candidate search for the position of Clerk! Administrator to three. Hopefully within a week a candidate will be selected I Casey's Store - Buildin~ Concerns: Lesnick questioned the layout of Casey's Store and why the side facing CSAH 75 is not brick as is the rest of the building. Commissioners agreed and stated it was their July 6, 1999 Page 2 of 5 I understanding that the site plan submitted to the Planning Commission and Council indicated the building side facing CSAH 75 would be brick faced. Ehlert stated that he discussed the matter with EDA Director Chad Carlson who stated that the site plan had to be modified slightly as required by the Pollution Control Agency. According to Carlson, had the City notified Casey's Store earlier the design could have been changed. At this time the only resolution is to plant trees along the backside. Utsch questioned what step was missed and how this type of error can be prevented in the future. He stated it was his understanding that once the City approves a site plan, it cannot be changed. Kalinowski concurred and requested the Building Official be contacted to determine if the site plan has been changed. Ehlert stated that he can forward the concerns of the Planning Commission to the Mayor and the Building Official. Graeve made a motion to strongly encourage Casey's General Store to finish the West Side ofthe building in a similar design as the other three sides. The motion was seconded by Ehlert. Discussion: The request is based on the number of complaints the City Council and Planning Commission have received and the revised site plan not having Planning Commission approval. St. Benedict's Monastery - Arts/Heritage Proiect: Representatives of the St. Benedict's Monastery appeared before the Commission to request authorization to make application for a building permit to construct an Arts/Heritage Building. The Building will house a Benedictine museum, gift shop and gallery. S. Ingrid Anderson spoke on behalf of the Monastery. Anderson stated that the Monastery considers the project an enhancement to the campus and will be available to the public. At this time the site plan has not been completed, but the architects are aware of the setback requirements and are confident they will all be met. I Ehlert questioned if the adjoining property owners have been contacted regarding the project. Anderson stated that they have not, but contact will be made before the project is started. Ehlert also questioned if the Monastery has a parking plan, to which Anderson stated it, is not yet complete. Anderson stated that the Monastery does not anticipate much traffic, but the site will have parking available. Ehlert stated that he would like to see a parking plan and make sure the adjoining property owners are aware of the plans before allowing the Monastery to make application for a building permit. Kalinowski stated that the property is zoned as Educational and Ecclesiastical and as such a parking plan is not required and there are not setback requirements unless the property abuts a residential neighborhood. EWert stated that he is not trying to delay the project, rather make sure that all property owners are held to the same standard. Anderson stated that the Art/Heritage Building will have a minimum of 25 to 30 parking spaces and will be outlined when the architect completes the site plan. Ehlert made a motion authorizing the Monastery of St. Benedict to make application fQr a ÞH"~j"g permit for the construction of the ArtlHeritage Building contingent upon the approval of the Fire Chief and Building Official. The motion was seconded by Lesnick and passed unanimonsly by those present. Discussion: Ehlert encouraged the Monastery of Sf. Benedict to submit a parking plan with the application for a building permit. Kalinowski again stated that since the Ordinance does not' require such, the Planning Commission should not require submission of a parking plan. Arlington Place - Sign Permit Request: Alrington Place owner Richard Helgeson appeared before the I Commission to request authorization to make application to secure a Sign Permit. Helgeson stated he wopJd like to construct a 29 square foot sign to identify Arlington Place. July 6, 1999 Page 3 of 5 Weyrens clarified that St. Joseph Code of Ordinances 52.13 subd 9(a) states: One (1) identification sign not I exceeding thirty-five (35) square feet in area for the following uses: church, school, hospital, parks and recreation areas or similar uses. Such signs shall be solely for the name and of the use and its activities and may be illuminated but not flashing. The Commission needs to determine of the Assisted Living Facility falls under the above Ordinance. Vtsch made a motion authorizing Arlington Place to make application for a sign permit based on the Ordinance stated above, the Assisted Living Facility is perceived as being similar in nature to a hospital. The motion was seconded by Graeve and passed unanimously. St. Joseph Auto Sales - Kim Freemoe: Kim Freemoe, St. Joseph Auto Sales, appeared before the Commission to discuss installing a fence on the southern property line. After reviewing the Fence Ordinance the Planning Commission determined that the fence could be eight feet in height as the property is zoned Commercial. The Planning Commission encouraged Freemoe to consider a shorter fence and discuss the matter with the neighbor. Weyrens reminded Freemoe that the west properly line abuts a County Road and as such the County must be contacted for setback information. Further, if the County setback is greater than the City setback, the County setback requirements prevail. Commissioner Graeve left the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Northland Drive: EWert reported that the City Council has approved the construction of Northland Drive from CSAH 75 to Gumtree Street East in the Northland Addition. At the public hearing many residents expressed the need to develop a second east/west road to relieve traffic on Gumtree. Residents stated it is their opinion that if an additional access is not created Gumtree will become a major roadway and pose safety concerns. The Council spent considerable time discussing alternative road connections including redesigning the I new phase of Northland and extending Fir Street to the east to create another connection. However, the City Engineer discouraged the Council from changing the design as the rO&Q could þecome a maintenance headache due to the steep grade. Therefore, the Council has referred the matter to the Planning Commission for review and consideration. Ehlert further stated that~0l11~T~~ip~nts \,-;ere unaware when purchasing their homes that Gumtree would eventually be a major roadway. Ehlert presented the following proposal for consideration: Extend 4th A venue NE to the South, through the Rothfork property and then gradually curve the road to construct an east/west connection through the Brandenburger estate. Ehlert stated that this proposal would relieve traffic from Gumtree Street, provide an additional east/west access, and provide access to the Brandenburger and Rothfork properties. Utsch stated it is his understanding that the role of the Planning Commission is to plan for the future. With that in mind, Utsch stated it is his opinion that a road north of the existing development is more important than an additional east/west road south of the development. As St. Cloud provides alternative routes to St. Cloud, residents will avoid driving CSAH 75 and he<ld north to connect to an east/west connector to St. Cloud. Further, it is his understanding that the original plat of Northland included Gumtree as a major roadway serving th~ pevelopment. Lesnick stated it is her opinion that the majority of residents in Northland will not use Northland Drive to access CSAH 75 as the intersection is nQt regulated by a traffic light. Morning and evening traffic on CSAH 75 is not conducive to left turning traffic. Schneider spoke in support of creating an additional e<lst/west access. Schneider stated that he lives on I Gunrtree-Street and if Gumtree is the only access to Northland Drive it will become a safety issue. July 6,1999 Page 4 of 5 I Further, Schneider stated that he questions the City Engineer regarding the grade of the road if Fir Street were extended to Northland Drive. Kalinowski requested that the Planning Commission Members receive a copy of the proposed road along with information on corridor preservation. Weyrens stated that she will forward the information to the Planning Commission. Adiourn:Lesnick made a motion to adjourn at 9:15 p.m.; seconded by Utsch and passed unànimously. '~çé<¡ ;J.øy~vz¿ / Judy Weyrens Deputy Clerk I I July 6, 1999 PageS of5