HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 [11] Nov 12 November 12, 2008
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council met in joint session with the St. Joseph Planning
Commission on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 6:30 PM at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall.
St. Joseph City Council Members Present: Mayor Al Rassier. Councilors Dale Wick, Renee Symanietz,
Steve Frank, Rick Schultz. Administrator Judy Weyrens.
St. Joseph Planning Commission Present: Chair S. Kathleen Kalinowski. Commissioners Michael Deutz,
Ross Rieke, Mark Anderson, Michael McDonald, John Meyer. Council Liaison Dale Wick.
City Representatives Present: Planning Consultant Cynthia Smith - Strack.
Others Present: Carol Jenkins, Ellen Wahlstrom, Bob Wahlstrom, Phil Welter, Katherine Kraft, Judy
Meyer, LaNae Cobb, Jeffrey Hariland, Josh Wimmer, Justin Pfannenstein, Trevor Pfannenstein, Sarah
Pennings, S. Paula Revier, S. Kara Hennes, Jim Degiovanni, Margy Hughes, Joe Walz, Hubert Walz,
Mariterese Woida, Thomas Kroll, Benedict Leuthner, Mary Kay Moening, Thomas Schueller, Bill Fahrney,
Gary Hawkins, Mary Hawkins, Linda Buetnhoff, Janet Hariland, Susan Palmer, Margy Hughes.
Public Hearing — 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update: Mayor Rassier and Planning Commission Chair
opened the Joint Public Hearing for the Comprehensive Plan Update. Kalinowski stated that the Planning
Commission has been working with Planning Consultant Cynthia Smith - Strack of MDG to update the
2002 Comprehensive Plan. At this time Kalinowski turned the floor over to Smith - Strack.
Smith - Strack stated that the St. Joseph Comprehensive Plan is a dynamic planning tool intended to guide
the overall future growth and redevelopment of the City of St. Joseph. The Comprehensive Plan is based
on local and regional historical facts, trends and governmental planning standards. The document before
the Planning Commission and City Council is reflective of the community planning process that was
conducted in the year 2008.
The Comprehensive Plan provides a knowledge base for instituting a hierarchy of policies that will assist
the community in processing a variety of development issues on a defined policy level. This information
and policy base will allow decision makers to evaluate and guide future development and redevelopment
proposals benefiting the residents of St. Joseph and fulfilling the City's goals and objectives.
In addition, the Comprehensive Plan is looking into the future, to 2030, which is updated typically every
five to eight years. The Comprehensive Plan could be viewed as an umbrella, covering many different
facets of the future, while balancing competing interests. The Plan should help direct quality development
balancing property rights with the common good. It is important to recognize that the Comprehensive
Plan is a working policy document that is not intended to sit on a shelf. Smith - Strack stated that the Plan
is not an Ordinance with requires enforcement, it is a policy. At this time the floor was opened to the
public for comment.
Don Fischer, 235 — 4 Avenue SE, approached the Council and Planning Commission addressing the
following concerns:
• Map 4 -8 indicates that Graceview is a PURD and given the recent land use matter regarding the
Graceview Apartmetns, he requested that that reference be removed.
• Map 4 -6A indicates that the property associated with the former Kennedy School is guided for
medium density residential and requested that it be guided for educational as it is still under
ownership of the School District and the property could be used for a charter school in the future.
• Chapter 9, page 12 should include language that the City will require sidewalk on both sides of
collectors and requires connection to sidewalks for all high density dwelling units.
Benedict Luether, Collegeville, approached the Council and Planning Commission addressing the
following concerns:
• The proposed plan illustrates a proposed expansion to the orderly annexation area which
includes property owned by St. John's Abbey and they do not wish to be included in an
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annexation area. Luether stated that the goals of the City do not appear to align with the long
term goals of the Abbey.
• Encouraged the City to complete an inventory of the resources in the City as good decisions are
made when complete information is available.
• Re- define the property owned by St. John's from the proposed open space preservation to
educational.
• Encourage the development of the downtown area to give a sense of place and definition. The
downtown should be enhanced with live features such as flowers, plantings and green space.
• St. Joseph should include a goal to create a green greenway trail connecting the new county park
to the Wobegon and encouraging alternative transportation.
Joe Walz, approached the Council and Planning Commission addressing the impact of the proposed
greenway goals included in the Comprehensive Plan as they relate to property along CR 2 and 194. Walz
presented a brief history of the taking of property for the construction of 194. It is his recollection that 194
severed the Walz property as the St. Benedicts and St. Johns opposed any impact to their property so the
Walz farms were divided leaving parcels on both sides of the interstate and land locking others. His
family experienced a loss of revenue as a result.
Walz stated the proposed goal of establishing a Greenway along 194 will again result in a loss of revenue
for the Walz family as it is their intent to develop the property. He estimates that if the City would adopt
and implement such a goal, his family would lose approximately 16 acres of land and at $ 1 per square
foot, the revenue loss would exceed one million. Walz stated that in checking with other communities that
abut 194 (St. Cloud RV, Rogers, Maple Grove) they do not have such a requirement and he encouraged
the removal of this goal from the Comprehensive Plan.
Mari Terese Woida, 104 Chapel Lane, approached the Council and Planning Commission and stated that
the proposed Comprehensive Plan includes significant changes and the content of such is important to
understand. Woida commended Smith - Strack on the draft plan and stated that the plan includes strong
language for parks and downtown development.
Margy Hughes, 128 Able Court, approached the Council and Planning Commission to encourage
additional language in the Comprehensive Plan relative to natural resources. She stated that the
language should include enforcement of erosion controls, completion of a natural resource inventory and
encouragement of alternative drainage methods.
Sue Palmer, 37 College Avenue North, approached the Council and Planning Commission to encourage
the City to incorporate the long term plans of the College in Chapter Four of the Plan. The College of St.
Benedict has completed a master plan for the future and includes the property on both sides of College
Avenue.
Ellen Wahlstrom, 409 — 8"' Avenue NE approached the Council and Planning Commission commending
them for the work that has been completed on the Comprehensive Plan; however, she encouraged the
City to review the plan as it relates to surface water management. The plan uses soft words such as
"should consider adopting" or "recommends" when it references the protection of water ways and natural
resources. In her opinion the City should adopt and enforce a storm water management plan. She stated
that the challenge facing the future growth and development is that the environmental landscape is
change for all of us and we need to work together to find the best designs to meet the future development
and environmental challenges.
Katherine Kraft, 104 Chapel Lane approached the Council and Planning Commission requesting the
Comprehensive Plan include language that establish goals to preserve the history of the City and eligible
landscape. As part of a corridor study a historical and archeological study was completed which identified
eleven properties that were eligible for registration of the federal historical register. So that these
properties are not forgotten she encourages the City to include the reference in the Comprehensive Plan.
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Paula Revier, 104 Chapel Lane approached the Council and Planning Commission to recommend
additional language to the implementation section of the Comprehensive Plan (Chapter 11). She
requested that language be added showing a commitment to alternative energy sources and educating
the leadership of the City, its residents and others in the importance of planning with conservation of land
and resources in mind.
Phil Welter, 29413 Kiwi Court approached the Council and Planning Commission on behalf of the St.
Joseph Action Group. He stated that he is the co -chair of the Action Group and they are requesting that
the Council and Planning Commission delay action on adopting the draft plan based on the number of
issues raised at this hearing. He stated that the Action Group has attended all Planning Commission
meetings regarding the plan update and have read the entire document thoroughly and have numerous
concerns, some of which have already been expressed. The following are additional concerns that have
yet to be expressed:
• Density & Zoning — The density and zoning standards should be reviewed so they are consistent
with the current practices and trends.
• Language — soft words such as shall and will, should replace "it is suggested or should be
considered "; language in the document should be reviewed for clarity and precision; dated,
unnecessary and irrelevant material should be eliminated.
• Additions — additional language should be added to address design standards, cultural and
historical preservation, and downtown revitalization.
• Next steps — consideration should be given to what happens after the Comprehensive Plan is
adopted particularly in relation to the existing policies and ordinances. Once the Comprehensive
Plan is adopted are those documents consistent or compatible with the plan?
• Downtown Redevelopment — the St. Joseph Action Group is willing to research and seek funding
for the downtown development as well as host a worshop that would be inspiration for City
Officials and other attending.
Jim Diegovanni, 12822 County Rd 121 approached the Council and Commission and discussed the lack
of language given to agricultural issues. The proposed draft includes an area that is identified as an
Orderly Annexation Expansion Area, most of which is agricultural in nature. No mention is given for open
space which is good for the hydrology or the preservation of the strong historical roots of farming to this
area. He stated that St. Cloud will provide plenty of opportunities for low density residential so he
requested that additional consideration be given to add language in the Comprehensive Plan preserving
open space and agricultural uses.
Jeff Janssen, St. Joseph Township Chair, approached the Council and Commission approached the
Council and Commission and stated that St. Joseph Township appreciates the willingness of the City to
work with St. Joseph Township. He stated that the Township does have concern with the proposed
expansion area that is included in the draft Comprehensive Plan as no mention is given to the St. Joseph
Township Plan. Therefore, he requested that before the Plan is adopted the City and Township have
additional discussion on the future plans for the Township and how they can be incorporated into the City
Comprehensive Plan.
Tom Kroll, Land Use Manager/Forester for St. John's approached the Council and Commission to share
his insights on the proposed Comprehensive Plan. He stated that St. Joseph is a community that
maintains a small town feel with strong historical features to includes the churches, school and
universities /colleges. It is a community that has an open Interstate exchange that provides a greenway or
porch feeling to the City. In reviewing the Comprehensive Plan it appears that more focus is given to
development then land preservation. He stated that a number of representatives from St. Joseph recently
attended a "Growing Green" seminar which focused on conservation design and implications of the St.
Joseph Comprehensive Plan.
Kroll stated that he had the opportunity to have some experts review the proposed plan and presented
the following comments:
• Chapter two should include language that would require a natural resource inventory rather than
state that the City should establish a priority listing.
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• Chapter two should also include language that would require larger subdivision to complete an
inventory as part of the preliminary plat process.
• Development standards in the City should require a minimum of 25% open space. Most of the
property developed in the City is annexed from the Township where development is one house
per forty acres; therefore the City is still allowing for higher density and would be gaining green
development in the process.
• He disagrees with the comments provided by the City consultant that adding green space
requirement would increase the housing cost reducing the amount of affordable housing. He
stated that his experience is that dense housing without green space almost guarantees bad
outcomes forcing renovation every 30 years.
• Chapter two should include a provision stating that the City will develop conservation
subdivision /design standards for use in the appropriate areas of the City. These standards will
consider reducing or eliminating minimum lot size, setbacks, width requirements and other design
constraints but require a certain percentage of the site (at least 40%) be set aside in protected
open space.
There being no one further wishing to speak, McDonald made a motion to close the public hearing,
seconded by Deutz and passed unanimously by those present.
The Commission agreed to discuss the testimony presented at a special meeting to be held on November
26. It is anticipated that after this meeting the plan will be forwarded to the City Council for adoption.
The meeting was adjourned by consensus.
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