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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04] 2014 [06] Jun 02 Minutes June 2, 2014 13 Page of Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 6:30 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Chair Ross Rieke, Commissioners Gina Dullinger, Brad Cobb, Matt Killam, Daryl Schaefer, Chad Hausmann, City Administrator Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Tom Klein, Tim Ortmann, Thomas Ortmann, Ellen Ortmann, S. Margaret Wurn, Tom Conyers, S. Ardilla Kvamme Schultz made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of item 9.5 Approval of the Agenda: Joint Meeting and moving item 5 Election of Officers to after item 7. The motion was seconded by Dullinger and carried unanimously. Schultz made a motion to approve the minutes for May 5, 2014 with Approval of the Minutes: correction to the others present section. The motion was seconded by Schaefer and passed unanimously. Public Hearing, Interim Use Permit: Chair Rieke called the hearing to order at which time Weyrens stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider an Interim Use Permit to allow a non-owner occupied th rental at 308 – 10 Ave SE. The property is legally described as Lot 1, Block 3, Cloverdale Estates Fourth Addition. St. Joseph Code of Ordinances 52.27 subd. 5(b) allows for an Interim Use Permit as follows: Residential Renal provided the property owner is relocating and the dwelling has been actively for sale and on the market for at least three months. For purposes of establishing if the property is owner occupied, the owner must be a natural person, and all owner(s) occupy the property as their principal residence and have for at least two years. The owners may not exceed two in number. For the purpose of determining ownership, the owner(s) must provide a copy of a recorder deed or recorder contract for deed. A purchase agreement will not be accepted as evidence of ownership. Weyrens reported that back in February 2013, the Planning Commission had conducted a public hearing to consider an amendment to the R1 Zoning District adding a provision for property owners to secure a rental license for non-owner occupied if they have been trying to sell their home without success. An th application to secure an IUP to allow for a non-owner occupied rental at 308 – 10 Ave Se was submitted by Thomas, Timothy, and Ellen Ortmann. The owners have met both the listing and residency requirements. As no one present wished to speak, Rieke closed the public hearing. Schaefer moved to recommend the City Council accept the Findings of Fact, issuing an Interim Use Permit to Thomas, Timothy, and Ellen Ortmann allowing a non-owner occupied rental at 308 – th 10 Ave SE. The motion was seconded by Cobb and passed unanimously. th Discussion: Weyrens stated that the recommendation will go before the City Council on June 19, 2014 for final approval. Public Hearing, Rezoning: Chair Rieke opened the public hearing at which time Weyrens stated the purpose of the hearing is to consider rezoning property recently annexed south and abutting Minnesota Street West from the current agricultural/urban expansion to a combination of B3, Highway Business and P, public. As no one present wished to speak, Rieke closed the public hearing. Weyrens stated that when the annexation was initiated, one of the properties was going to be commercially used. However, that has since fell through. She added that it does not change what the June 2, 2014 23 Page of rezoning would be. The proposed rezoning is consistent with the St. Joseph Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission would need to either accept the rezoning amendment as published. Schultz made a motion to accept the proposed rezoning amendment as published. The motion was seconded by Killam and passed unanimously. Discussion: Cobb asked what the next steps are. Weyrens stated that if approved by the Council, the zoning map would be amended and individuals would need to meet the requirements of the B3 zoning district in those areas. Election of Officers: Weyrens stated that Current Chair Rieke has indicated he would like to step down as chair, but still remain on the Commission. The Commission will need to nominate and elect a Chair and Vice Chair. Rieke opened the floor for nominations. Schultz made a motion to close the nominations for Planning Commission, nominating Matt Killam for Planning Commission Chair. The motion was seconded by Schaefer and passed unanimously. Gina Dullinger will remain the Vice Chair of the Planning Commission. Sign Ordinance: Weyrens stated the Planning Commission has reviewed a draft sign ordinance at the March meeting and in January held a joint meeting of the EDA, City Council, and Planning Commission to discuss signage. The local sign companies were emailed drafts of the Ordinance for tonight’s meeting for discussion. Killam opened the floor for discussion. Steve Anderson, Franklin Outdoor Advertising, Cold Spring, MN: Anderson approached the Commission thanking the City for reaching out to sign companies on the sign ordinance. As he read through the Ordinance, he noticed a few areas he would like to bring up. Anderson stated that the Ordinance mentions that property values decrease due to billboards. Anderson stated that in his experiences, property that has a billboard on it has increased in value. He added the City needs to clarify more on where billboards will be allowed and not allowed rather than banning them completely. He feels they should be allowed, but regulated. Anderson compiled a list of 20-30 businesses in St. Joseph that are utilizing billboards around the area. He encouraged the City to find areas for billboards, adding that billboard companies don’t want to have them right in downtown, rather closer to the highways and interstates. All the area cities allow billboards to some degree. Anderson noted the draft ordinance states the exterior of the sign should blend with the surroundings and relate to the primary buildings. Anderson feels this would add additional costs for businesses as additional cosmetic work would need to be done. Regarding Subd 15(c), Multi-tenant Wall Signs, Anderson stated those signs are typically able to be15% of the wall to which it is attached, rather than the 5% that is stated in the draft. Anderson suggested raising the freestanding sign height restriction to 20-25 feet rather than 15 feet. He added that for a 10 foot high sign, the actual sign would only be five feet off the ground and that can lead to vandalism. Cobb asked if Anderson had any experience or understanding of property values of adjoining properties. Anderson stated that it has never been an issue for him and they abide by the setbacks that cities have in the ordinances. Mark Devore, Lamar Advertising: Devore approached the Commission stating that as an outsider, it doesn’t look like too much is changing. He agrees with Anderson that there should be certain zoning areas that allow for billboards. Devore added that Lamar operates 5 digital billboards in St. Cloud and they do not want to put any billboards in the downtown area of St. Joseph. Billboard companies are mainly concerned with CR 75, CR2, and along I-94 once it is annexed. June 2, 2014 33 Page of Schultz stated that two of the reasons the City is looking at redrafting the sign ordinance is changing technology (digital) and is does the current Ordinance reflect adequate provisions for signage in the business districts. Devore stated that there is a place for everything. He added that they sat down with Waite Park and they created corridors where signs are allowed. He offered to sit down with the City/Staff to have discussions as well. Tom Conyers, Indigo Signs: Conyers stated he has had a chance to review the sign ordinance. Their company is happy with the ordinance for on premise signs and feels that it is very middle of the road. Weyrens suggested allowing staff an additional month to look at additional sign ordinances and consult with area cities; bringing it back to the July meeting. Schultz added that he is leaning towards allowing off-premise signs in order for businesses downtown to direct business to them. Schultz suggested sitting down with the sign companies to get standards sign sizes in each of the corridors. Weyrens stated that a recommendation needs to be made by the end of October to the City Council. Council Liaison Report: Schultz stated that the government center project was not approved. The facility committee will be put on hold and additional discussions will be had. Hausmann stated that he is working on a similar project where he works and they are seeing the construction rates increasing at a faster rate than bond rates. The costs are going to continue to increase. Schultz added that around $500,000 has been spent the past two years on the project and objections to the project had not come forward until the last minute. APO: Schultz stated that he has been elected chair of the APO. The trip to Washington DC this year has been cancelled and they are hoping to reschedule for next March. Joint Meeting: Weyrens stated members of the Planning Commission are invited to attend a Joint th workshop meeting with the Council on June 10 at 5:30 PM to go over the possible extension of the east/west corridor as it goes from CR 121 to the East. The meeting is an open meeting, but it is a discussion between the Planning Commission and City Council. No action will be taken. Weyrens added that an additional Planning Commission meeting might take place June 16, 2014 for an interim use permit. An employee of the new Army Reserve wants to rent a house that has been on the market for quite some time. The owner of the home is applying for a non-owner occupied interim use permit. Cobb made a motion to adjourn at 7:46 PM. The motion was seconded by Hausmann and Adjourn: passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator This page intentionally left blank