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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.10.22October 10, 2022 Page 1 of 3 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the Planning Commission for the City of St. Joseph met On Monday, October 10, 2022, at 6:00 PM. in the St. Joseph City Hall opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. Planninq Commission Members Present: Commissioners Carmie Mick, Keith Louwagie, Bob Loso, Gina Dullinger, Adam Scepaniak, Anne Jarrell Absent: Mike Ostermann Staff Present: Nate Keller, Community Development Director Others in attendance: Kelly Beniek (Banner Sign Applicant-Winterwalk Committee), Shannon Wiger via Zoom (Applicant for Parking Arrangement at 103 1st Ave NW) 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: Scepaniak made a motion to approve the minutes of September 12, 2022. The motion was seconded by Mick and passed unanimously by those present. New Business: a. Banner Sign - Winterwalk Keller explained The Winterwalk committee submitted a Banner Sign Proposal for the Commission's consideration. Committee is proposing to install a Tx 60' Banner sign across Minnesota Street from November 15th -December 5th. Current ordinance requires no more than 21 days; however, they would like to request an adjustment to have the sign up from November 1st — December 5th. The goal of this banner sign is to have multiple events on it. Ordinance 50211 Subd. 27 allows banner signs to be hung across a road if the Planning Commission approves and a permit is obtained. There are no size restrictions indicated in the code language. Banner Sign approvals do not go before City Council Commission inquired what kind of vertical clearance there would be from the bottom of the sign to the roadway. Kelly Beniek, 118 17th Ave SE, Winterwalk Sign Applicant. Beniek explained to the council the Winterwalk Committee had met with Ryan Wensmann, Director of Public Works to measure clearance and it was decided a three -foot -wide banner would be appropriate so trucks and other large traffic would be able to clear the sign. Beniek explained The Winterwalk Committee is collaborating with CVB and they would like to add the Shop Small Crawl and Snowfest information on the banner. This is why they are asking for an extension on the number of days the sign can be up. Louwagie made a motion to approve the Banner Sign Proposal for the Winterwalk; seconded by, Scepaniak`and passed unanimously by those present. b. Parking, Arrangement at 10315t Ave NW Community Development Director Nate Keller presented a proposed parking plan to the Commission. Shannon Wiger is redeveloping 103 1st Ave NW. The parcel is currently zoned B-1 Downtown Commercial. The redevelopment will result in conversion of a residential use into commercial office space. The conversion will result in approximately 1,700 SF of office space. Current code requires one off-street space per 250 SF of office space resulting in 6.8 or 7 parking spaces needed. Wiger is proposing to locate five off-street parking spaces along the northern side of the building and two on -street parking spaces adjacent to the front of the building on 1 st Ave NW. The new off-street spaces will require anew curb cut approach. The garage will be remodeled into office space with driveway converted to green space (existing curb cut will be closed). October 10, 2022 Page 2 of 3 The Commission expressed concern on: • the 35' available for the parking spaces and drive aisle thru the parking lot may be too narrow of a space for effective parking and traffic flow • using off-street parking spaces to satisfy the required number of spaces needed to meet City code;, City Code provides guidance on drive aisle width but not for unique parking lot arrangements like this. The proposal also includes a buffer constructed of maintenance free fence or coniferous vegetation to protect the adjacent properties, cutting down the amount of space available for the parking spaces and drive aisle. Shannon Wiger, spoke to the Commission regarding her request via Zoom. She is the developer of the property located at 103 1sr Ave NW. Wiger has two businesses that would like to come into St. Joseph and utilize the office space Shannon is creating. Another option is leaving the parcel a residential property which would eliminate the parking concern. Wiger spoke on the difficulty of meeting the parking requirements of this lot due to the size and location of the parcel and short of tearing down part of the building it will be difficult to meet those requirements. The Commission brought up that there has been a plethora of complaints about parking in the downtown area. Loso felt that if we alleviate the parking requirements the City is going backwards and not addressing parking issues coming forward. Wiger added as the owner of several downtown properties she has never had anyone express to her that parking is an issue. Wiger pointed out that street parking should be first come first serve and she personally doesn't feel there is a parking problem in St. Joe. The Commission asked staff if there is a formal site plan application for this project. Keller explained to the commission that there is no site plan application for this project because this is an interior conversion. The site plan would get triggered if there was an increase in the footprint above a certain percent. Dullinger made a motion to Approve the Parking Plan at 1031st Ave NW with the accommodation of 5 off street parking spaces, roughly as shown in the sketch with a suggested 18' drive width and a fence being used as the buffer; seconded by Louwagie and passed unanimously. Old Business: a. Cannabis and Zoning Keller gave a recap to the Commission from the September 6t" PC meeting regarding drafting ordinances pertaining to the selling and licensing of Cannabis products. At that time Staff was directed to look into current buffer requirements for adult entertainment spaces as that information could be used as a guide in helping the Commission with the Cannabis buffer and zoning decisions. Staff is asking the Commission for their recommendation of the proper zoning district for the selling of Cannabis products, appropriate buffer zones, if any, and recommendation on drafted language. The Commission discussed a range of buffer zones that could be used as a radius for the sale of Cannabis products. Staff was asked how surrounding cities are handling buffer zones and drafted language. The commission discussed retail zones B-1, B-2 and the Industrial zone regarding which might be the most appropriate zoning district for the retail sale of Cannabis products. The Commission ultimately agreed for the retail sale of Cannabis products in zones B-1 and B-2. A buffer zone of 500 feet from another establishment that sells Cannabis products and a buffer zone of 1000 feet from public parks and schools. Staff will take this recommendation and look to see where the City is at with the licensing ordinance. The next step would be bringing this information back to the Commission as a formal draft with a public hearing. October 10, 2022 Page 3 of 3 Other Business: None Adjourn: Dullinger moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 PM. The motion was seconded by Mick and the motion carried. Minutes approved by: Nate Keller Community Development Director