2016-02-23 Planning Comm Minutes
CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSON MINUTES
February 23, 2016
The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, February
23, 2016 in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve at 7:00 P.M.
The following Commissioners were present: Chair Litton Field, Jr., Commissioners Michael
Noonan, Doug Hennes, Christine Costello, and Brian Petschel. Those absent were: Howard Roston
and Mary Magnuson. Others present were City Planner Nolan Wall and Public Works
Director/City Engineer John Mazzitello.
Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved as submitted.
Approval of January 26, 2016 Minutes
COMMISSIONER NOONAN MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COSTELLO TO
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 26, 2016, AS PRESENTED
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 2
Planning Commission Appointments
The Commission made note that Litton Field, Jr. and Christine Costello were re-appointed for a
three-year term each. The Commission also recognized it newest member, Mr. Brian Petschel.
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
COMMISSIONER HENNES MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NOONAN, TO
ELECT LITTON FIELD, JR. AS THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 2
COMMISSIONER NOONAN MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COSTELLO, TO
ELECT DOUG HENNES AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 2
February 23, 2016 Mendota Heights Planning Commission Meeting Page 1
Public Hearings
PLANNING CASE #2016-04
City of Mendota Heights
Proposed City Code Amendments concerning Industrial Zoning District uses
Chair Field noted that this DRAFT Ordinance 491 discussion and review is a continuation from
the previous Planning Commission meeting and that the public hearing is still open.
City Planner Nolan Wall explained that this item was tabled at the last meeting to address feedback
and ideas from the Commission and to bring back additional revisions for further discussion. Items
included in the staff report proposed two different options dealing specifically with the existing
permitted uses allowed within the Industrial District.
Planner Wall summarized each of the sections and included an updated table of uses list. He shared
a diagram that goes through each of the proposed options for discussion by the Commission.
Commissioners asked questions and/or had discussions regarding "and similar uses” in the
proposed “commercial recreation” definition being a catch-all phrase and could that potentially
open this up for unintended uses; adding “sports training facilities” to the list of proposed
commercial recreational uses; the list of permitted uses versus conditional uses and prohibited
uses; “municipal” use versus “governmental” use; and the rationale for eliminating “use, storage,
and manufacturing of firearm ammunition” and adding language to include fireworks and other
explosives.
Once it was established that the Commission was leaning towards Option Two, Planner Wall
summarized the changes he had heard thus far.
COMMISSIONER NOONAN MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HENNES, TO
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF PLANNING CASE 2016-04, DRAFT ORDINANCE 491,
OPTION TWO AS DISCUSSED AND WITH THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 2
Chair Field asked Planner Wall to send the Commissioners a clean copy of DRAFT Ordinance
491 with the revisions discussed this evening for administrative review.
Chair Field advised the City Council would consider this application at its March 3, 2016 meeting.
COMMISSIONER COSTELLO MOVED, SECONDED THE COMMISSIONER PETSCHEL,
TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 2
February 23, 2016 Mendota Heights Planning Commission Meeting Page 2
Verbal Review
Planner Wall gave the following verbal review:
PLANNING CASE #2016-02
Sean Doyle, S.D. Companies, LLC., 755 Willow Lane
Lot Split and Wetlands Permit
• Approved by the City Council as recommended by the Planning Commission
PLANNING CASE #2016-03
City of Mendota Heights
City Code Amendments concerning Subdivision Ordinance (DRAFT Ordinance 490)
• Adopted by the City Council as recommended by the Planning Commission
Announcements
Planner Wall expressed his appreciation to the Commission for all of their work in the past year
and he is looking forward to working with them in the coming year. He also welcomed
Commissioner Petschel to the group.
Chair Field expressed his appreciation to Planner Nolan Wall, City Engineer John Mazzitello and
staff for the introductory session for newly-appointed Commissioner Petschel.
Adjournment
COMMISSIONER NOONAN MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER COSTELLO, TO
ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:46 P.M.
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 2
February 23, 2016 Mendota Heights Planning Commission Meeting Page 3