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Home My WebLink About1999 [12] Dec 06 Official Minutes - Planning Commission Pursuant to due calhmd-IWtiee-thereof, the--Planning- COOlffiission-forthe-City of St. .Töseph-metinregülar session on I Monday, December 6,1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Chair HuhKlein. Commissioners Gary Utsch,-Marge Lesnkk,Kurt Schneider, Jim Graeve and Cory Ehlert. Pl:ínning Commission Secretary Chad A. Carlson. Members Absept: Commissioner S. Kathleen Kalinowski Others Present: Judy Weyrens, Mark Lambert, Steve Streng, Lou Krebsbach, and Jim Krebsbach, Greg Kacures. North Park Third Addition -MatkLambert Mark Lambert addressed the Planning Commission requesting approval of the North Park Third Addition Final Plat. Lambert explained the history of the plat and the Planning Commission and City Council desires in 1998. The Planning Commission- and City Council- both- appmved the-preliminary plat with the- conditions stated in Mr. John Scherer's letter. Lambert further stated that negotiations have been taking place with the Mayor regarding other opportunities for the City, such as a trail centerfortheLakeWabegon TraiL Negotiations wm continue with the Mayor and City Council this month. The recording of the final plat is crucial to obtain ownership of the property from the Burlinlfíon Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Lambert stated the property is zoned agriculture and will be used as a parking lot. Utsch questioned the status of the water tower easement for the maintenance of the tower. Lambert stated that Mr. Bettendorf suggested that the City obtain a 120" circular easement around the tower for maintenance. The proposed easement would take a majority of the property in question aIldtheCity wolilðbe initiating a taking, with compensation. ~egotiations are still occurring and an easement has not been secured. Ehlert referencedthe- J6lm Seheref letter-eiting-that- the water rowef easement and theawrova~ of the- final- plat are- separate issues. The Planning Commission and City Council should not make one contingent on the other. I Lambert clarified that a cross easement agreement for the light poles and siren has been executed. Lesnick questioJled if there will be access to the parking lot from County Road #2. Lambert responded by stating there willbe no access off of County Road #2. The original development plan for the site did include access to Ceuaty Read #-2, whieh-ha&- beeR- dropped-. Lesnick questioned if the entire property was paved, would this create a drainage problem for the City of St. Joseph? Lambert stated that a majority of the lot is paved and has not created a drainage problem at this point. Graeve stated th¡lt Planning Commission cannot accept or approve the proposed final plat without first waiving the Ordinance requipng final plat approval within one year upon action on the preliminary plat. Graeve stated that Lambert presentf'Xl the preliminary plat of North Park Third Addition almost two years ago. Lambert stated that due to timing of negotiations with the Mayor of St. Joseph, the waiver must be granted. The negotiations have not been done in a timely fashion since the City Council approved the preliminary plat in 1998. Lambert summarjzedthe negotiations that have taken place wîththeMayor öfSt. Joseph. Carlson summwìzed the process for approving a final plat according to the Ordinance. Carlson clarified the Planning Commission's limitations on accepting a final plat of a development. Lambert restated the lot will continue to be used as a parking lot. Delaying the approval of the final plat will delay the acquisition of the property un:filOctöber 2000 and-does not serve anyone any good. The fact that the final plat was not present~d earlier is a result ofthe negotiations with the Mayor of St. Joseph. Lambert further stated that he assumed the M~or had the authority to make decisions regarding any negotiations and in hindsight should have been working th the entire City Council. I Ehlert questioned if the City could.purchase a portion of the property for maintenance on the water tower from Lambert now and record the plat after this transaction. Lambert stated that he does not own the property until a plat is filed. The City would have to contact the railroad ifthey wish to proceed in that manner. December 6, 1999 Minutes Graeve clarified the need to record the fmal plat is strictly to execute the purchase agreement with the railroad. Schnei der expressed- his eoncem- with- the- deJ.ay ÌfT presentiflg- the- final plat to the Planning Commission. If the- negotiations with the Mayor did delay the process, the City Council should consider a committee when negotiating I projects with landowners in the future. A set of guidelines could be used and decisions made in a timely fashion. Lambert stated that he was instructed to work with Mayor. Other people should have been involved if the Mayor didn't have complete authority to handle the negotiations. Graeve questioned if the County and City Engineer have been consulted regarding the details of the final plat. Carlson stated that he has requested comments from both the County and City Engineer and they will be available for the City Council meeting on December 16111. Graeve made a motion to recommend that the City Council waive Section 54.6, Subdivision 4 (b) and approve of the North Park Third Addition Final Plat und~r the following conditions: 1) the use of the property restricted to a parking lot for the Campus Villas; 2) the property remains zoned Agriculture; and 3) approval from County and City Engineer. Seconded by Ù¡snick. The motion was approved by the following vote: Ayes: Chair Klein, Commissioners Graeve, Utsch, Lesnick, Schneider, and Ehlert Nays: None Motion Carried Super America Expansion - Lou Krebsbach Lou Krebsbach presented plans for the expansion of the Super America station on College Avenue and Hwy #75. A updated site plan was presented to the Planning Commission along with detail on the following project items: ,-' . 1) 800 SF addition to the north end of the building to accommodate more food service area and cooler I space. Other renovations included the bathrooms; 2) Request to cut the Doulevard on the north side of the lot to accommodate vendor parking; 3) Relocation of the rubbish are~ to the southeast comer of the lot. The rubbish containers will be surrounded by a brick structure matching the existing building and landscaping; 4-} Additiooal laOOs€~ will œ placed Of}- the Hwy #-75- side, Hear the pylon sigfi; alld 5) Relocation of the vacuum cleaners to the northwest comer of the lot, with parking. Krebsbach stated thafhe approacl1edTIîcli: Taufen, PublîeWmk Director, regarõmg the Doulevard cut on the north end of the lot. Taufen stated that is a workable situation, but needed to be presented to the Planning Commission. Carlson informed the Planning Commission that the boulevard cut would require City Council action and the proposed location of the rubbish containers would require a variance to side and rear yard setbacks in the B2 District. Lesnick questioqed the relocation of the rubbish containers. Krebsbach stated that the proposed location suits the traffic flow on tl}e lot. Carlson stated that the Planning Commission could approve the proposed site plan, contingent upon receiving a variance for the rubbish containers and receiving approval from the City Council for thebou1evard cut. Schneider questioned if th~ requirements of a variance request would delay the project. Krebsbach stated that plans and drawings can be~in on the remodeling to conserve time. Carlson stated that the Planning Commission and City Council could hear-&varian€.e~st- iH-JæH1ary. Klein questioned Carlson ifthere are utility easements in the boulevard. Carlson stated that the City will research easements in the boulevard prim to the City Council hearing the request. Graeve made a motion to approve the site plan as presented, contingent upon receiving a variance for the I proposed location of the rubbish containers and City Council approval of the boulevard cut on the north end of the lot; Seconded by Ehlert. Deœmber 6, 1999 Minutes The motion wa~ approved by the following vote: Ayes: Çhair Klein, Commissioners Graeve, Utsch, Lesnick, Schneider, and Ehlert Nays: None Motion Carried I Franklin Sie:n - Billboard Relocation Carlson presented a summary of the negotiations regarding the relocation ofthe Franklin Sign Billboard located at the new intersection of County Road #133 and Highway #75. The billboard is located in Stearns County right-of- way and the County has requested input from the City regarding its relocation. Carlson recommended that the Planning Commission- considera-leeatien-4-5(}- feet- west of the-present looatitm. Lesnick made a motion to the recommend that the City Council approve the relocation of the Franklin Sign Billboard 450 feet to the west of the present location; Seconded by Utsch. The motion was approved by the following vote: Ayes: Çhair Klein, Commissioners Graeve, Utsch, Lesnick, Schneider, and Ehlert Nays: None Motion Carried Commissioner Announcements Graeve requested the presence of Councilor Twit at the next Planning Commission meeting to discuss the possibility of a moratorium on äll new rentäl permits. The premise is to protect the community's older housing stock for first tiqIe homebuyers rather then student rental units. Carlson stated that he wouhtcontacteourrcilorTwitro sc]1edule a meeting with the Planning Commission. Council Liaison Report None Approval of Minutes - November 1. 1999: I Graeve moved tJ)llpprove the-Novemòerl,11)99 minutes òffhePlanningCommÎssÎon as presented; Seconded by Ehlert. The motion passed unanimously by all present. . Adjourn: The meeting adjourned by consensus at 8:30 p.m. ?/~-;¿ / . ¡y. / . (:~I?~-~~ -~~'== l Chad A. Carlson Planning Commission Secretary I December 6, 1999 Minutes