HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04] Minutes, March 11th
March 11, 2019
Page 1 of 2
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met in special
session on Monday, March 11, 2019 at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Planning Commission Members Present: Chair Gina Dullinger, Commissioners Chad Hausmann, Matt
Johnson, Steve Olson, Daryl Schaefer, Brian Theisen, Community Development Director Therese Haffner
Members Absent: Mike Ross
Others Present: City Administrator Judy Weyrens, Isaac Lindstrom, Amy Braig-Lindstrom, Colleen
Petters
Approval of the Agenda: Dullinger made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded
by Schaefer and passed unanimously by those present.
Approval of the Minutes: Olson made a motion to approve the minutes of February 11, 2019 and
February 28, 2019. The motion was seconded by Theisen and passed unanimously by those
present.
Public Hearing, Zoning Ordinance Amendments: Community Development Director Haffner stated the
purpose of hearing is to consider amending Ordinance 502, Zoning Ordinance, including amending
stormwater management standards, general performance standards allowing for solar and wind energy
systems, B-1 and B-2 district permitted uses, and telecommunication regulations. The Tower Ordinance
amendments are to properly manage telecommunication towers, small cell equipment and DAS
consistently with state and federal law.
Haffner stated the City has received interest in allowing solar panels on residential buildings. The 2018
Comprehensive Plan supports both wind and solar energy systems and language has been included in
the General Performance Standards adding solar and wind energy systems.
Staff also took this as an opportunity to review further ordinance updates that may have been needed due
to changes in community needs, ordinance intent and relevance, and consistencies with the MN State
Statutes, MN State Building Code, and the City Comprehensive Plan. Proposed amendments to the City
Stormwater Management Ordinance have been drafted to be consistent with the City’s MS4 permit.
Dullinger opened the public hearing.
Isaac Lindstrom, All Energy Solar: Lindstrom stated he works for All Energy Solar and they are currently
working on two solar projects in the City of St. Joseph. Lindstrom questioned the area of the solar
collector surface of ground-mounted solar energy systems not exceeding one half the building footprint of
the principal structure. Lindstrom is considering areas where there are larger agricultural areas where the
parcel may be using a lot of energy, but the principal structure may be small.
Colleen Petters: Petters stated as owners of Millstream Shops and Lofts, they would like to have solar
panels roof-mounted on their buildings. Petters supports the roof-mounted panel language in the
ordinance as well as the CUP requirements for more sizable solar panel installations.
rd
Amy Braig-Lindstrom, 20 3 Ave SE: Braig-Lindstrom stated she is in support of the ordinance changes
and thanked staff for their time and look forward to moving forward with their solar project pending
ordinance approval.
As no one else present wished to speak, Dullinger closed the public hearing.
In response to Lindstrom’s comments, Haffner stated the ground-mounted system language was in
regards to installations on a smaller scale. If someone wanted to install a larger solar system, then the
CUP process would kick in.
March 11, 2019
Page 2 of 2
Dullinger asked what is considered a temporary pool. Haffner stated a temporary pool was not defined in
the building code or zoning ordinance; however, staff governs a temporary pool as one that is removed
seasonally.
Dullinger stated she would like to have it defined in the Ordinance. Haffner stated that the City of St.
Cloud defines a temporary pool as an above ground pool that is constructed with nonmetallic, molded
polymeric walls or inflatable fabric walls, which is not intended as a permanent installation and
installed/removed seasonally. Consensus of the Planning Commission was to include the definition for
temporary pools in the Ordinance as written in the City of St. Cloud Ordinance.
Hausmann asked what the process would be if an applicant wanted to use a singular pole for a
telecommunications tower. Haffner stated they would have to go through the CUP process.
Dullinger made a motion to recommend the City Council approve the amendments to Ordinance
502 – Zoning Ordinance as presented; including the definition for a temporary pool. The motion
was seconded by Hausmann and passed unanimously by those present.
Council Liaison Report: Theisen reported that the City Council approved the preliminary plat for the
Industrial Park. The City Engineer presented the Feasibility Report for the industrial park improvements
and the Council ordered the public improvement hearing for March 18, 2019.
Adjourn: Olson moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:12 PM. The motion was seconded by Schaefer
and passed unanimously by those present.
Therese Haffner
Community Development Director