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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[03] Minutes - April 4 2011My OF ST., rJSM Planning Commission Agenda Item 3 MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM: SUBMITTED BY: STAFF RECOMMENDATION: PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: May 2, 2011 Minutes — April 4, 2011 Administration Approve the minutes of April 4, 2011 ATTACHMENTS: Request for PC Action Draft PC Minutes — April 4, 2011 REQUESTED PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: Approve the minutes of April 4, 2011. 1 -2 3 -6 3:1 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 3:2 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday April 4, 2011 at 7:OOPM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Vice -Chair Mike Deutz, Commissioners Ross Rieke, Gina Dullinger, Rick Schultz, Joe Dubel, John Meyer and City Administrator Judy Weyrens Others Present: Tom Klein, Matt Glaesman Approval of the Agenda: Rieke made a motion to approve the agenda with the following addition: 5.5 Interim Use Permit — Process The motion was seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously. Minutes: Meyer made a motion to approve the minutes of March 7, 2011. The motion was seconded by Rieke and passed unanimously. TIF District 2 -2, St. Joseph Meat Market: Previously, the EDA reviewed and accepted a TIF application from the St. Joseph Meat Market to expand their existing facility. The estimated expansion cost is $354,000 and they have identified a financing gap of $70,000 to $80,000. The EDA has recommended that the Council accept the application of the St. Joseph Meat Market to utilize TIF for the expansion. Since then, the Council has accepted the project to move it forward to the hearing stage which is set for April 21, 2011. Part of the TIF process requires that the Planning Commission consider the impact of the proposed project as it relates to the Comprehensive Plan and development objectives. Weyrens advised the Commissioners that the St. Joseph Meat Market project is the first project that will utilize the revised development process. Previously all commercial and industrial permits were reviewed by the Planning Commission. In 2010 the City Council at the recommendation of the Planning Commission revised the Ordinance that relived property owners the requirement to seek Planning Commission approval for development in any commercial or industrial zoning district. Relief was conditioned that the property must meet the requirements of the pertinent zoning district. Therefore, the building plans for the St. Joseph Meat Market project will not be reviewed by the Planning Commission. Meyer clarified that they are not being asked to approve the TIF rather determine that the expansion does fit in with the City's future plans. Deutz advised the Commissioners that, other than determining that it fits with the Comprehensive Plan, this item is not open for discussion. Meyer made a motion to authorize the Acting Chair and Administrator to execute Resolution 2011- 001, recommending the Council adopt TIF 2 -2, as the proposed development meets the development goals and Comprehensive Plan for the City of St. Joseph. The motion was seconded by Rieke. Discussion: Due to the fact that this body will not review the development plans, Dubel questioned who will ensure that they meet all of the development requirements. Weyrens replied that staff will review the plan during their development review. The motion passed unanimously. Sustainability — St. Cloud Regional Plan: Matt Glaesman approached the Commissioners to discuss the St. Cloud Area Sustainability Framework Plan. He stated that a group was formed about three years ago to begin discussing sustainability. That group has evolved over time and several cities and counties have joined the "discussion ". Glaesman stated that the Sustainability Plan is simply a list of really good ideas based on current practices and what is being done in other areas to determine what we should learn. This group has come up with 14 "Best Practice Areas" [BPA]. 3:3 The next question the group asked is what to do with that list. Glaesman stated that it will be used as a resource. The group plans to create a website that can be used as a guiding force for land use planning. The current land use document is 12 years old and is in need of updating. Glaesman advised the Commissioners that an event called "Fun in the name of Sustainability" will be held at Lake George on April 30 from 9AM -1 PM. Weyrens questioned Glaesman as to whether or not the sustainability plan was incorporated into the City of St. Cloud's Code of Ordinances. He replied that they have not been incorporated into the Ordinances; however, they will offer incentives for sustainability. Schultz questioned what the City of St. Joseph can do. Glaesman advised the Commissioners that, if the City wants to commit time and resources, they can send a representative to the meetings. Glaesman suggested that the City work with one BPA at a time. Each BPA has a vision, goals, three priority initiatives and actions as well as general actions. If the City were to send a representative, they would benefit by knowing what the group is working on. The group meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at Lunchtime in the Sunroom at Lake George. Interim Use Permit — Process Clarification: Weyrens stated that, in the past, each Interim Use Permit were reviewed for Ordinance compliance on an annual basis. Property owners would complete the application process and then have to attend a meeting only to have the matter approved without comment, Therefore, Weyrens questioned whether or not the Planning Commission would consider revising the policy so that the Interim Use Permits are renewed internally provided the property does not have a history of documented violations. In that case those permits would be considered by the Planing Commission. Meyer made a motion to recommend that the City Council amend the process the renewal of Interim Use Permits allowing permits without documented violations to be renewed internally by staff. The motion was seconded by Schultz and passed unanimously. Council Liaison Report: Previously, the Commissioners have requested that Mayor Schultz provide a brief report on activities. The following is a summary of the monthly liaison report. • Rental Housing Work Group: Schultz advised the Commissioners that the rental housing work group has been meeting for the past 6 -8 months. They are compiling ideas of what to do with rental housing and rental units, in general. He stated that the next step is to address the landlords. A meeting will be held on the third Wednesday in April and notices will go out to all of those with rental licenses. The properties will be divided by sub - groups to see what may be available based on their zoning, etc. The rental housing work group consists of two representatives from the College of St. Benedict, a representative for Campus Villas, Cory Ehlert, Dale Wick, Judy Weyrens, Cynthia Smith - Strack and, on occasion, Kurt Schneider. Information from the meeting will be compiled and presented to both the EDA and the City Council. The purpose of the working group is to find ways of transitioning rental properties. Graceview Estates: Schultz reported that City staff has been meeting with the Graceview Estates Association to discuss their request for the City to take on responsibility for the infrastructure, roads, etc. Deutz questioned whether the association is in trouble, which he was informed that they are suffering financially. According to Schultz, the Liberty Pointe Association is in a similar situation and, in the future, there may not be any associations left. Weyrens added that they are asking the City to take responsibility for the maintenance of the utilities, in the event that something breaks. The risk to the City is that there may be additional costs in the future. They are requesting that the City take on that responsibility as they want to avoid future costs. The City has asked them to bring the streets up to standard by seal coating the streets prior to the City taking over and they have agreed. They have also agreed to give the City ROW to allow the City to create 60' streets in the future. There were some questions as to how they would pay for infrastructure improvements, if needed. Weyrens stated that the City has looked into the 3:4 possibility of creating a new taxing district for those properties; however, that is not an option. She added that there are still some utilities that need to be extended. Of the 78 lots in the association, 20 of them are bank owned. Weyrens explained that that is the cause of the shortfall. • CSB Sewer Agreement: According to Schultz, the City and St. Ben's have agreed on some final language for the CSB Sewer Agreement and that will be brought forward for approval. He added that CSB received their first sewer bill, based on usage, and that is currently being contested. • County Road 2: Schultz advised the Commissioners that the City Engineer recently met with staff regarding the County Road 2 realignment. Currently, the County is in the process of land acquisition and they are planning to begin construction in 2012. • Proposed Fast Food Chain: Schultz reported that there is a possibility of a fast food chain developing at the intersection of County Road 133 and County Road 75. Currently, they are working on some access issues, but the process is moving forward. • St. Cloud Partnership: Schultz advised the Commissioners that Dave Gruenes, Stearns Electric, approached the Council on behalf of the Partnership. Schultz stated that the City has not yet paid the bill for its annual membership. Gruenes explained to the Council that the Partnership is in the process of evolving into a development corporation. The Council has decided to hold off on deciding whether or not to get involved. The Council will vote on this at the April 21$t meeting. • Outdoor Liquor Events: Schultz stated that the Council recently approved two outdoor liquor applications. The first is for Senior Farewell to be held at Sal's Bar. The other being the St. Joseph Parish's 4th of July Festival. • Noise Violation: Schultz reported that the Council recently reviewed a noise violation at a property owned by Ryan Lemieux. Staff is still working through the process on this. • Field Street: Recently, the Council voted to end its contract with WSB for the Field Street Study. The documents will be stopped and things will stay as is, for now. • Park Terrace: The City Engineer recently presented the Feasibility Report for the proposed Park Terrace improvements. This project is proposed to start in 2012. The first meeting regarding the improvements will be held on April 14 at the St. Joseph Fire Hall. • Cable Upgrade: Schultz advised the Commissioners that the Council recently approved an upgrade to the City's cable system. • APO Full Board: Schultz reported that he recently attended the APO meeting at which MN Dot was present and they discussed some of the projects that will be completed in 2011 -2013. He stated that an overpass will be constructed on Hwy 10 at Benton 2 in Rice, Hwy 23 will be expanded to 4 lanes from Hwy 95 to Foley, the intersection of 33`d Street and 15th Avenue in Waite Park is being redesigned, and there will be new lighting installed along 194 and CR2 in St. Joseph to highlight the Park and Ride. Dube[ questioned the proposed development along CR75 as to whether or not they will need to abide by the current setbacks since there has been considerable discussion on this. Weyrens replied that the Planning Commission tabled action on the Transportation Corridor Overlay Ordinance and it will be discussed by City Council at their next meeting. Thus, she stated that they will need to abide by the current ordinances. Weyrens added that another fast food restaurant is looking to develop at 118 1st Avenue NW. They Planning Commission will consider a Special Use and Rezoning request for that 3:5 property at their next meeting. Weyrens added that in addition to development matters, the Commissioners will also see the final plat for the "Professional Plat ". AdRourn: Rieke made a motion to adjourn at 7:4513M. The motion was seconded by Dubel and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator 3:6