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1988-10-25 Planning Comm MinutesREVISED CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA OCTOBER 25, 1988 - 7:30 P.M. 2121 DODD ROAD - FIRE STATION 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of September 27 Minutes. 4. New Business (Non- hearing items): a. CASE NO. 88 -43, Thomey, Variance for Canopy for Amoco Station, 2030 Dodd Road. b. CASE NO. 88 -44, Mary Anderson Construction, Variance for Entrance Monument at Bridgeview Shores. 5. HEARING: a. CASE NO. 88 -40, Colon, Subdivision. (Vacant property on TH 13 between Downing and Garden). 8:00 P.M. ** 6. ADD -ON ITEM: (Non - hearing) a. CASE NO. 88 -45, PARTRIDGE, Variance and Wetlands Permit for 709 Wentworth. SEE ATTACHED MEMOS. 7. Miscellaneous: a. Acknowledgement of Memo Regarding Motions by Chairman. 8. Verbal Review. 9. Adjourn. Page 1 October 25, 1988 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, October 25, 1988 in the Fire Station, 2121 Dodd Road. Chairman Morson called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. The following members were present: Morson, Anderson, Burke, Duggan, Dwyer, Krebsbach, and McMonigal. Also present were Planner Howard Dahlgren and Public Works Director Jim Danielson. APPROVAL OF Commissioner McMonigal moved approval of MINUTES the September 27 minutes as submitted. Commissioner Krebsbach seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Abstain: 2, Burke, Morson CASE NO. 88 -43, Mr. Charles Thomey was present to request a THOMEY, VARIANCE five foot variance to allow installation of a canopy over the fuel pumps at the Amoco Station, 2030 Dodd Road. Mr. Thomey noted that the canopy height had been omitted from the plan submitted, and stated that the canopy would be 32 feet wide, 50 feet long and 14 feet high, plus 2 1/2 feet more for the logo, for a total height of 16 1/2 feet. He noted that the Dodd Road side of the canopy needs the five foot variance to the 20 foot setback, that the sign would be illuminated by lights below the canopy like the Fina canopy nearby, that the piers are already in place, and it would have the same dimensions as those shown in the photographs he had submitted. Mr. Thomey noted that if he was not granted the variance, he would not bother installing the canopy over only half the fuel pumps. Commissioner Duggan moved to recommend approval of a five foot variance as requested by the applicant for a canopy at 2030 Dodd Road not to exceed 16 1/2 feet in height. Commissioner McMonigal seconded the motion. Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 88-44, MARV ANDERSON, VARIANCE FOR ENTRANCE SIGN BRIDGEVIEW SHORES ■ Page 2 October 25, 1988 Mr. Fred Haas from Mary Anderson Construction Company was present to explain the proposed request for three variances relative to proposed entrance signs to their development Bridgeview Shores. He noted that the main sign, which will be installed on Bridgeview Court and Mendota Heights Road, needs a 17 1/3 square foot area variance. The second variance would be an eight foot variance to allow installation two feet from the property line, and the third variance would be a 1 1/2 foot height variance. The signs will be brick and concrete and will be on private property and the property owners will be responsible for their maintenance. The words will be dark brown concrete with light pillars. Commissioner McMonigal felt that perhaps the City's sign ordinance should be reviewed, as a 6' x 1' sign is pretty small and a sign variance had been granted to Park Place for the entrance monument also. Mr. Haas said the signs will not be illuminated, but will be placed at a 45 degree angle on the left hand side of the intersection for better site visibility. Commissioner Duggan asked why the main sign would not be placed at Dodd and Mendota Heights Road. Mr. Haas responded that the sales staff felt the proposed location would be better. Commissioner Anderson stated he sees no necessity for the signs other than as sales advertising. Once the development is full, the City is stuck with these exclusive signs and the City will be liable if there is an accident at one of these intersections, because the City allowed these signs to be installed there. The signs would last much longer than their use as sales advertising. He felt one sign might be permissible, but he felt that the City should not allow so many signs at so many intersections. Commissioner Krebsbach stated she would not be in support of the signs at the Friendly Hills neighborhood boundary since it would be too dividing of the neighborhoods. Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 88-40, COLON, SINGLE FAMILY SUB- DIVISION ON TH 13 - HEARING Page 3 October 25, 1988 Chairman Morson stated he was totally against the monuments. He felt that each developer was trying to outdo the preceding developer. Commissioner Burke asked if there was any future intention of either temporarily or permanently lighting the signs. Mr. Haas stated no. Commissioner Duggan felt that children will try to run across the bridge signs and this would not be a very good situation. He was not thrilled with the whole thing. Mr. Haas asked the Commission if they were not happy with all the monuments, how would they feel about just the main sign? Commissioner Duggan said it should be scaled down closer in size to what is allowed by City ordinance. Commissioner Anderson felt a 12-15 square foot sign might be permissible, but not 23 1/2 square feet of sign area. Chairman Morson asked Mr. Haas if he would be willing to come back with a lesser scale. Mr. Haas responded that it seems that that might be necessary. Commissioner Anderson moved that the requested variances as proposed by Marvin Anderson Construction Company be not recommended for approval to the City Council at this time. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Chairman Morson called the meeting to order for the purpose of a public hearing to consider an application from Mr. Vernon Colon for a subdivision of land on TH 13. Mr. Colon was present to explain his proposal for a 10 lot single family subdivision on his 5.6 acre site on TH 13 between Downing and Garden Lane. Mr. Colon noted that all lots meet the minimum size requirements. Commissioner Anderson noted that this is Mr. Colon's third time at the Planning Commission for this plat. He asked why all Page 4 October 25, 1988 the trees were removed on this lot. Mr. Colon responded that all the trees were runts and that he had received a letter from the Code Enforcement Officer stating that the weeds must be removed from the property. Commissioner Anderson noted his concern with three cul -de -sacs in the plat, i.e., Miriam, Hiawatha, and the proposed new cul- de -sac off TH 13. Mr. Colon stated that seven years ago the neighbors did not want Miriam to be connected to TH 13. Planner Dahlgren noted that the developer should agree to dedicate land to connect Miriam and Hiawatha. Mr. Colon stated that the street connection would be made with a 50 foot wide street connection, rather than 60 feet as noted in earlier discussions. There was some confusion over which drawing the applicant was requesting action on and Commissioner Duggan felt the Commission should consider holding off until a better description and material is received. Chairman Morson asked for questions or comments from the audience. Mr. Gordon Diedrich, 573 Hiawatha (formerly Pierce Street), expressed concern with possible traffic in the area from TH 13. He objected to the connection with Hiawatha and Miriam. He did not want to see a connection from TH 13 through there. Mr. William Neish, 572 Hiawatha, said the neighborhood would be ruined if the two streets are connected. He felt not enough people would use it. Mr. Helmut Kadden, 635 Highway 13, just opposite this site, felt there should be another exit from this property for safety purposes. He was glad to see single family homes proposed there and felt the street should be connected. Mrs. Delores Heidenrich, 598 TH 13, asked about Eugenia Street - is it public or private. She noted that she had been Page 5 October 25, 1988 harassed while walking on it by Mr. Schwanz. She felt it should be opened up to TH 13. Commissioner Anderson noted that Eugenia is public property and can be used by the walking public, but that it is not intended for vehicular traffic. Mr. Wayne Schwanz, 591 Hiawatha, or Lot 21, said he was the most impacted of anyone by this proposal. He noted his picture window would face the rear of the lots and he does not want to see Hiawatha or Miriam connected to TH 13. Commissioner Anderson asked Mr. Colon to consider turning his cul-de-sac around so it doesn't enter the plat off TH 13. Mr. Colon said no, he wanted action on the plat as he submitted it. Chairman Morson asked that staff provide information as to the correct width of Miriam, and what is the future use of Eugenia, will it be vacated, or what. He felt the Commission should see a drainage report prior to this being forwarded to the City Council. He also felt that if Miriam and Hiawatha are 60 feet wide, the connection should also be 60 feet in width, not 50 feet as suggested by Mr. Colon. He asked if Eugenia will be blacktopped as a walking trail in the future. A resident at 586 TH 13 asked what will happen to the alley off Eugenia behind TH 13. Mr. Schwanz noted that he felt Mr. Colon had done a very good job in his layout of the proposed plat. There being no further discussion at this time, Commissioner Anderson moved to continue the public hearing until November 22, at 8:00 P.M., to give Planner Dahlgren time to review the correct plans. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion, offering a friendly amendment that the motion should include the need for a more accurate scale drawing to be submitted to the Commission by either staff or the developer showing the exact width of Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 88-45, PARTRIDGE, VARIANCE & WETLANDS PERMIT Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 Page 6 October 25, 1988 Hiawatha; information on what will happen to Eugenia and Hiawatha; and the correct dimension of Miriam. Commissioner Anderson accepted the friendly amendment, noting that all requirements required by the platting ordinance should be submitted, including names of contiguous property owners being shown on the new drawing to be submitted. Chairman Morson asked for a neighborhood petition either pro or con on the street connection in conjunction with this application. He felt they only heard from 3 or 4 residents and the Commission would like more input from the residents. Mr. Paul McGinley and Mr. Chuck Partridge were present to request approval of a wetlands permit and variance for 709 Wentworth. Mr. McGinley noted that a single family home is proposed to be constructed at that address and placement of the home necessitates a wetlands permit allowing construction of the home within 95 feet of the wetlands area and also a 16 foot front yard setback variance is needed in order to line the home up with the adjacent homes. He noted that the front setback is 38 feet, which is still in excess of the minimum 30 foot requirement. The proposed homeowner, Mr. Tom Shields, had written approval from his contiguous neighbor to the west, Mr. and Mrs. West, but he had been unable to obtain a signature from his easterly neighbor (Somerset 19) since Howard Guthmann is out of town for 10 days. Commissioner Krebsbach moved to waive the public hearing requirement for a wetlands permit and to grant a wetlands permit and 16 foot front yard setback variance to allow construction of a single family home at 709 West Wentworth 38 feet from Wentworth, rather than 54 feet back. Commissioner Dwyer seconded the motion. MISCELLANEOUS VERBAL REVIEW ADJOURN Ayes: 7 Nays: 0 Page 7 October 25, 1988 Commissioner Anderson continued earlier discussions about the future of Eugenia Street, and whether it should be a bike path, or a pedestrian trail, or whether the Parks Commission should take a look at the use for it. He also felt that staff should look at the feasibility of vacating the alley referred to during the Colon public hearing and dedicating a utility easement. The Commission wondered what the proper use of Eugenia should be. The Commission also acknowledged receipt of a memo from Public Works Director Danielson relative to motions being made by the Chair. It was their concensus that the Chair could make a motion if he so desired. Public Works Director Danielson gave a verbal review of the Linsmayer, Lathrop, and Paster cases that had been before the City Council. There being no further before the Commission, moved that the meeting Commissioner McMonigal business to come Commissioner Duggan be adjourned. seconded the motion. TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:35 P.M.