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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.11.22April 11th, 2022 Page 1 of 2 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met On Monday, April 11 th, 2022 at 6:02 PM. in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. Planning Commission Members Present: Commissioners Mike Osterman, Carmie Mick, Keith Louwagie, Bob Loso, Chair Gina Dullinger, Adam Scepaniak, Anne Jarrell Staff Present: Nate Keller, Community Development Director Approval of the Agenda: Dullinger made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Mick and passed unanimously by those present. Approval of the Minutes: Loso made a motion to approve the minutes of March 141h,2022. The motion was seconded by Mick and passed unanimously by those present. Loso abstained. Old Business: a. Public Hearing - Wedding/Special Event venues within Rural Residential Areas Discussion occurred at Feb. 14th and March 14th meetings. Commission agreed to continue discussion at the April meeting. Staff received a formal ordinance amendment request which is under consideration this evening. Keller informed the Commission that the big questions before them are: is the use appropriate in a Rural Residential area, and if so, what should the conditions be? Dullinger opened Public Hearing at 6:06PM. Ken Bellicot and Kristyn Farrell,' 2244 "Orchid 'Loop South, St. Cloud, Applicants: They informed the Commission of their intent to construct a purpose-built facility. This is not a remodel or renovation. The intent is to be a wedding and event center. They understand they need approval from the Commission and finvite a'dialogue with, the Commission. Joseph Bechtold,`28263 Jade `Road, 'St. Cloud, annexed area now a part of St. Joseph: Mr. Bechtold informed the Commission that he is a lifelong residence of the area. He wanted to verify the Rural Residential [RR] as identified on the map provided. He shared that.he believed this is a rather large area. Keller did verify that and also pointed out that proposed conditions such as a minimum acreage lot size and requirement to be on an arterial street will eliminate a lot of properties from qualifying for this kind of a use. Mr. Bechtold informed the Commission that people who live in the RR areas do so because they like their space, don't want to live in a city and particularly enjoy the evenings and weekends. His concern is that the ordinance change is being done to accommodate a commercial business. His opinion is that this will open a can of worms and allow for other businesses in the future. He reminded the Commission that the ordinance says the intent for the RR designation is to provide low density development for those persons who desire'a rural' lifestyle. He believes the ordinance change will impact and change the entire area and is only being done to satisfy one potential business. He is concerned that if any businesses come in and do not succeed, a structure will be left behind that does not conform. He is not against the business in St. Joseph, he is against the business in this area. He believes the City should examine their comprehensive plan and identify future commercial areas and perhaps then change the ordinance for that area for these types of uses not all of the RR designated areas. Randy Schmitz, 31101 County Rd 133, Owner of Rolling Ridge Event Center: Mr. Schmitz thanked the Commission for all of their work on this as it is a complicated issue. He gave them background on the process that he had gone through to open Rolling Ridge. In 2001, they started the process, they were in the township and were required to annex to the City and rezone. They were required to switch over to city utilities within one year. They paid three water and sewer connection charges, they have three utility bills each period, they moved an old 120-year-old barn 75 feet to be within April 11th, 2022 Page 2 of 2 400 feet of a fire hydrant as was required at the time. The project did not begin until 2013 and the physical work began in 2015. The project was very costly, with $30,000 into the plans before a shovel hit the ground. When they started, their project was unique. He stated that since then well over 300 of these types of venues have been built around the state. He stated that many of these new venues around the state have curtailed building codes. It is his belief that he should not even be speaking to the Commission as there is already an ordinance in place so businesses and neighbors do not have to go head to head. He believes the City already set the precedent and the standard and wants to be sure the city holds up the same precedent and the standard their businesses that he was held to. Dullinger closed the Public Hearing at 6:23PM Commission asked how the County handled these types of venues. Keller replied that he believed the County only allowed them in agricultural areas. The Commission discussed building'a new structure versus remodeling an existing structure, noise, traffic, disturbance to neighbors, tax structure, connections to city services and requirements of adjacent properties. Dullinger read Section 502.27of Ordinance 502 on the intent of establishing the RR designation. The Commission asked Keller if, the City has identified some rural residential areas they feel would be best to designate for commercial growth in the future. Keller replied that there is a comprehensive plan and the potential commercial growth areas are tied, in part to utilities being available. There was additional discussion on fire suppression and conditional use. Dullinger reviewed the intent of the Rural Residential ordinance. Mick commented on the use being a better fit in commercial zoned areas. Dullinger Motioned to Deny Ordinance 2022-001, Amending the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Special Event Facilities within Rural Residential Areas as the proposed conditional use is not consistent with the intent and character of the Rural Residential zoning district; seconded by Jarrell. Aye: Dullinger, Jarrell, Mick, Louwagie, Osterman Motion Carried: 5:2 Nay: Loso, Scepaniak New Business: Joint Planning District Board Termination The St. Cloud Area Joint District Plan (JDP) was created to facilitate Regional Community Based Planning. It was a pilot program ran through the Community -based Planning Act and funded by the 1997 legislature. In November of 1997 eight jurisdictions entered into a joint powers agreement to complete the pilot program. Since the goals of the JDP has been accomplished area cities are being asked to terminate the JDP. The Joint Board has not met since 2015. All of the Communities involved be acting on this termination in April with all expected to adopt the resolution. Loso motioned to Approve Resolution 2022-AAA Terminating the St. Cloud Area Joint Planning District Joint Powers Agreement; seconded by Dullinger and passed unanimously by those present. Other Business: None, Adjourn: Loso moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:57 PM. The motion was seconded by Mick and the motion carried. Minutes approved by: Nate Keller Community Development Director