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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 [10] Oct 17 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of st. Joseph met in special session on Monday, October 17, 1994 at 7:30 p.m. at the st. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Chair Hub Klein. Commissioners Linda Sniezek, Marge Lesnick, Dan Nierengarten, Andy Brixius. Council Liaison Ken Hiemenz. Secretary of the Commission Judy Weyrens. Others Present: Merl Jerzak, Tom Skahen, Mike Deutz, Diane Schneider, Lee Kapsner, Art Hiemenz, Edith Hiemenz, Martha Kierzek, John Kierzek, Lawrence Roering, Betty Roering, Joan Schuh. Public Hearinq - College of st. Benedict, Re-zoninq request: Chair Klein reconvened the hearing at 7:30 p.m. The hearing to re-zone the property located at 313 W. Minnesota from the current single family, R-l to Educational & Ecclesiastical, EE, was tabled at the October 3, 1994 to insure that proper notice had been served. Merl Jerzak spoke on behalf of the College of st. Benedict. He stated that the College has recently received the property and are in the process of determining the best use for the property. The College has a need for student housing for single parent families and tradi tional students. Under the current Ordinances, only three (3) students could occupy the house. If the property were re-zoned as EE a greater density would be allowed. Jerzak stated that the College is requesting the re-zoning because the property is contiguous to the College property. If the property were not re- zoned the College could use the home to house approximately three (3) single parent families. Mike Deutz questioned if EE zoning is available to all property owners in st. Joseph. If the only purpose is to allow for a higher density rental unit, then that option should be available to all property owners. Jerzak stated that the College would not have requested the re- zoning if the property would not be contiguous to the College campus. Commissioner Brixius arrived at 7:40 p.m. Sniezek discussed the characteristics of the neighborhood and didn't feel it is good planning to place a high density rental unit adjacent to an elderly apartment complex and in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Klein expressed concern about enforcing the current Ordinance whereby it only makes provisions for three (3) unrelated persons to occupy a rental unit. If the property is re-zoned to EE, the City loses all control of the property and st. Benedict's can place as many students in the house as they desire. Klein feels the Council and Planning Commission made a good decision to restrict the number of tenants in a rental unit and the Commission should stand behind the Ordinance. Hiemenz discussed the procedure for annexation which includes the property owner petitioning the City, requiring fifty percent of the adjoining property owners support. The Ordinance also allows for the Planning Commission to conduct re-zoning hearings. Proper notice has been served the adjacent property owners and at this time the Planning Commission must make a recommendation to the Counci I . Lee Kapsner stated no objection to the use, as he currently lives near College owned housing and has experienced no problems. After considerable discussion, Sniezek made a motion to deny the re-zoning request of the College of st. Benedict. Denial is based on the following: 1. A high density rental is not conducive to the neighborhood. Currently the neighborhood is residential with an elderly apartment complex adjacent to the proposed area. 2 . By the admission of the College representative, the CoIl ege has other uses for the property and the City would not be causing a hardship by denying their request. The motion was seconded by Nierengarten. Ayes: Klein, Sniezek, Lesnick, Nierengarten, Hiemenz, Brixius. Nayes: None. Motion Carried 6:0:0 Sunset Manufacturing - Tom Skahen: Tom Skahen appeared before the Commission requesting authorization to make application for a building permit. Skahen stated that Sunset Manufacturing is short of storage space and is considering constructing a cold storage unit. The storage shed would be a separate building and placed in the middle of their facility. Currently their building is shaped in a U. The size of the storage building would be 40 x 50. Hiemenz questioned whether or not fire regulations could be met, as the buildings would only be separated by five (5) feet. Klein made a motion authorizing Sunset Manufacturing to make application for a building permit, subject to the plan approval of the Building Official. The motion was seconded by Lesnick. Ayes: Klein, Sniezek, Lesnick, Nierengarten, Hiemenz, Brixius. Nayes: None. Motion Carried 6:0:0 Tax Increment Financinq: Commissioners received information with regard to the formation of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. Hiemenz stated the TIF district has been outlined as the entire Industrial Park and the Brandenberg property. At any time the district can be expanded to include additional properties. The Council has scheduled a public hearing on the matter for November 3, 1994. After reviewing the information and discussing the mechanism and uses of TIF, Kl ein made a motion to recommend the - Council approve the formation of a TIF District and conduct a public hearing for TIF project #1, DBL Labs expansion. The motion was seconded by Sniezek. Ayes: Klein, Sniezek, Lesnick, Nierengarten, Hiemenz, Brixius. Nayes: None. Motion Carried 6:0:0 Council Liaison Reports: Hiemenzreported that he attended a League of Minnesota Regional meeting where the topic of discussion was the open meeting law and ethics. He has a video that he would like to share with the Planning Commission and requested that it be placed on the November agenda. Adiourn: Lesnick made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.; seconded by Sniezek. Ayes: Klein, Sniezek, Lesnick, Nierengarten, Hiemenz, Brixius. Nayes: None. Motion Carried 6:0:0 ~to/~ud udy Weyrens Secretary of the Commission