1999-11-09 Planning Comm Minutes WorkshopCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
NOVEMBER 9, 1999
A workshop meeting of the Mendota Heights Planning Commission was held on
Tuesday, November 9, 1999, in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1101 Victoria
Curve. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. The following members were
present: Duggan, Koll, Friel, Betlej, Kleinglass, Tilsen, and Lorberbaum. Also
present was Public Works Director Jim Danielson.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEW
Chair Duggan called the continued public hearing to order for the purpose of reviewing
six Comprehensive Plan focus sites. He introduced the first site to be reviewed as the
Garron Site. He informed the Commission that the Garron site was an 8.5 acre site
located at the south end of the Mendota Bridge and was owned by John Allen.
Commissioner Friel reminded the Planning Commission of their recommendation to
revise the definition of the Open Space (OS) category so that it included possible
development under all zoning district designations. He went on to suggest that OS be
the designation for the Garron Site. He informed the Planning Commission that he felt
that the OS designation would provide the City with the most flexibility in the
consideration of future development proposals for this site and that it would also not
constitute a "down zoning" under the revised definition of OS.
Commissioner Lorberbaum and Commissioner Tilsen asked whether designating this
site as OS was not avoiding the Planning Commission's duty to plan now for its future
use.
Commissioner Friel responded that he felt that designating the Garron site OS would be
complying with Met Council's requirement for the City to guide the future use of all
property and would allow the City to leave the existing zoning intact.
Commissioner Betlej responded that he felt that the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan
is to signal the City's planning intent to Met Council.
Commissioner Friel stated that the OS designation is a broad enough designation that
the City can select one of many zoning categories in the future without requiring a Met
Council review and approval of a Comprehensive Plan change.
Commissioner Tilsen stated that because of all the site difficulties with the Garron site,
only certain uses will be economically feasible.
Commissioner Friel stated that the current zoning for the Garron site is for business and
the current guide plan is for HR. Because of recent law changes the City needs to be
cautious with this site about leaving itself open for a lawsuit over down zoning, and
guiding the site MR would expose the City to just that risk.
Commissioner Friel moved to recommend designating this site as open space on the
City's Comprehensive Plan.
Commissioner Lorberbaum seconded the motion.
AYES 6
NAYS: 1 (Betlej)
Chair Duggan introduced the second focus site as being the Acacia site. He explained
that this site is a 17 acre site currently owned by Acacia Cemetery, its current
Comprehensive Plan designation is HR and the proposed designation is MR.
Commissioner Friel noted that this residential site does not have transportation or
shopping amenities available but that it has been guided to be HR for a long time. He
was concerned about down zoning the site and recommended retaining the current HR
designation.
Commissioner Tilsen stated that he felt that the Garron and Acacia sites should be
developed together. He was concerned about creating an "island" of residential. He
asked about the possibility of developing this site as non - residential.
Commissioner Friel pointed out that the Planned Unit Development section of the
City's Ordinances allows for mixed use type developments.
Commissioner Tilsen stated that he felt that this site should be guided OS to be
consistent with the Garron site designation and that both sites should be planned
together.
Commissioner Tilsen moved to recommend to the Council that the Acacia site be
guided Open Space.
Commissioner Friel seconded the motion.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
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Chair Duggan introduced the third site as the Resurrection site, a site that has been
approved by the City for development by Hoffman Homes into 46 unit town homes.
Commissioner Friel noted that inasmuch as this site has been approved for development
as LR he would move to recommend guiding it as LR.
Commissioner Tilsen seconded the motion.
Chair Duggan offered a friendly amendment that the recommendation be made subject
to striking the third paragraph from the bottom of page 54 of the draft Comprehensive
Plan, a paragraph that discusses air noise issues.
Commissioner Friel and Commissioner Tilsen accepted the amendment.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
Chair Duggan introduced the fourth focus site as being the Somerset Area site. Chair
Duggan noted that a large area of this site is designated Rural Residential (RR). He felt
that the Rural designation was a misnomer in Mendota Heights and that here, and any
where else Rural appears in the plan should be changed to be "one family residential".
Chair Duggan moved to recommend to City Council an LDR designation for this site.
Commissioner Tilsen seconded the motion.
AYES: 7
NAYS: 0
Chair Duggan introduced the fifth focus site as being the St. Thomas Academy and
Visitation sites located south of Mendota Heights Road. He suggested that Institutional
zoning was the appropriate designation for the site because it allowed R -1, R -1B, R -1C
and R -2 development.
Commissioner Betlej inquired if this designation would not constitute a down zoning of
the land.
Commissioner Friel agreed that an INS designation would constitute a down zoning and
stated that he felt OS would be a more appropriate designation for the site.
Commissioner Tilsen stated that the other sites recommended for the OS designation are
isolated sites and are more appropriate for that type of designation.
Chair Duggan stated that he was aware that these sites would not be up for development
for a long time. He said that the St. Thomas Academy site was being considered for
development as football fields.
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Commissioner Betlej moved to recommend that these sites be guided Institutional
(INS) and that "Monastery" be added as a use allowed within the district.
AYES: 6
NAYS: 1 (Koll)
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the Planning Commission moved to adjourn the
meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
James E. Danielson
Public Works Director
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