Loading...
1988-09-27 Planning Comm MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA SEPTEMBER 27, 1988 - 7:30 P.M. 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of Minutes, August 23. 4. Introduction of New Commission Member, Michael Dwyer. 5. NEW BUSINESS: (Non-Hearing Items) a. CASE NO. 88-36, Linsmayer, Variance. b. CASE NO. 88-39, Lathrop, Lot Split. c. CASE NO. 88-37, Paster, Variance for Temporary Sign. 6. HEARING: a. CASE NO. 88-38, Paster, Conditional Use Permit for PUD Amendment. (8:00 P.M.) 7. Verbal Review. 8. Adjourn. NOTE: Next month's meeting will be held in the Fire Station, 2121 Dodd Road. Page 1 September 27, 1988 CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES The regular meeting of the Mendota Heights Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, September 27, 1988, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 750 South Plaza Drive. Vice- Chair Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. The following members were present: Anderson, Duggan, Krebsbach, McMonigal, and new member Mike Dwyer. Commissioners Morson and Burke had notified the Commission that they would be unable to attend. Also present were Planning Consultant Howard Dahlgren and Public Works Director Jim Danielson. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Duggan moved approval of the August 23 minutes as submitted. Commissioner McMonigal seconded the motion. Ayes: 4 Nays: 0 Abstain: 1, Dwyer INTRODUCTION OF Vice-Chair Anderson introduced and NEW MEMBER welcomed Mr. Michael Dwyer, 558 Stone Road, who was appointed by Council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Stu Henning. Mr. Dwyer, a resident of Copperfield, is an attorney with a Minneapolis law firm. CASE NO. 88-36, Mr. Nicholas Linsmayer, 1935 Glenhill LINSMAYER, Road, was present to request a five foot VARIANCE side yard setback variance for Lot 17, Block 1, Valley View Oak 1st, to allow construction of a 20' by 35' in-ground swimming pool. He noted that his proposed pool placement will still maintain a 10 foot setback from his home, as had been requested by City staff. He had a letter of approval from his affected neighbor, Richard Swanberg, 1224 Culligan Lane. Vice-Chair Anderson asked what the pool fence would be like. Mr. Linsmayer responded that it would be a six foot vertical cedar, board on board fence. Commissioner Krebsbach felt approval from Mr. Larry Culligan, who will see the fence from his property, would be good to have on record. Page 2 September 27, 1988 Commissioner Duggan asked where the pool will drain. Mr. Linsmayer stated it will not be drained, since it is an in- ground pool. Commissioner Duggan moved to recommend approval of the requested five foot side yard setback variance as shown on the map submitted with the agenda materials, conditioned upon written approval from the Culligan family approving the plan. Commissioner Dwyer seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 88 -39, Mrs. Mary Lathrop, 640 Marie Avenue, was LATHROP, LOT present to request approval to split her SPLIT 202 foot wide lot into two parcels, A and B. Her present home is on Parcel A, which she plans to sell, so she can build a new home on Parcel B. It was noted that there is a shed on Parcel B, which she stated belongs to her neighbors, the LeMay's. She felt that as long as she owns Parcel B and had written approval from the LeMay's, the shed location should present no problem. The Commission felt she should get a more accurate measurement of the shed on Parcel A which is nearest the center of the lot lines. Vice -Chair Anderson felt the proposal would not be out of character for the neighborhood, and the newly created lot would still contain over 21,000 square feet. Commissioner Krebsbach moved to recommend approval of the subdivision of Lot 18, Willow Springs Addition, into Parcel A and Parcel B, 640 West Marie, as set forth on the certificate of survey reviewed at the meeting, contingent upon written agreement between the LeMay's and Mrs. Lathrop that Mary Lathrop will remove the shed from her property (Parcel B) when she sells that property. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 88 -37, Mr. Edward Paster was present to request Page 3 September 27, 1988 PASTER, SIGN variances to allow a temporary (semi- VARIANCE permanent, for 2-3 years) sign (TEMPORARY) advertising space for lease in the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center. He proposes to place two 4' x 8' signs on the property line along Dodd Road. It was noted that City Ordinance allows 25 square feet and the proposed signs are 64 square feet. The Ordinance also calls for a minimum setback for free standing signs at 20 feet from a side lot line, and the proposal is for a zero setback. Mr. Paster noted that he is paying $500 for the sign, and would like it in place for 2-3 years, not three months, and he would like to place the sign on the boulevard in the area where the Firemen's Ball sign is now. He also noted that he has to pay a $200 sign permit fee and wondered if the fire department had to pay the same fee. He also noted that their sign is on his property and they never asked permission to put it there. Mr. John Streeter, the construction foreman, said the legs would be treated 4x4 posts, 12 feet long, with four feet in poured concrete in the ground. There would be four feet clearance from the ground to the bottom of the sign. Planner Dahlgren noted that the Ordinance requires a 100 foot setback from the property line in a B-4 zone. Vice-Chair Anderson expressed concern with the viability of the shopping center and also with obscuring the visibility by placing the sign on the property line. He felt this placement would obscure the motorists vision while attracting their attention. He felt that for lease signs in the windows and the sign on the McDonald pylon should be enough advertising. Mr. Paster felt that his firm needs to correct the entrance into the center. Vice-Chair Anderson felt a flat sign facing Dodd Road would be preferable since it would not obscure anyone's vision. Commissioner Duggan asked if McDonalds, ) Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 CASE NO. 88-38, PASTER, CUP/PUD AMENDMENT Page 4 September 27, 1988 Mendakota or Amoco know of the proposed sign. Mr. Paster said he has not talked to them about his proposal. Commissioner Duggan then suggested placing a brick/block sign on Mendakota's property across from the entrance to the center. Mr. Paster suggested that he could move the sign back from the street and place it up higher to help visibility. Planner Dahlgren suggested putting the sign under the existing pylon on TH 110. Commissioner Duggan moved to recommend denial of the variance as requested due to potential traffic hazards, distractions approaching an already busy intersection, and in light of more viable options. Commissioner Dwyer seconded the motion. Vice-Chair Anderson opened the meeting for the purpose of a public hearing to consider a request from Paster Enterprises for a conditional use permit for a planned unit development to allow installation of two pylon signs and a bell tower at Mendota Plaza Shopping Center. Mr. Paster noted that the existing center sign, if moved from McDonalds to the Paster property, would need to be five feet higher than the existing sign. He noted this would give them better visibility. Planner Dahlgren felt the legs could be longer, but that the sign does not need to be larger. He felt a 41 foot sign is pretty high. Commissioner Duggan asked Mr. Paster when they decided to add the extra five foot height. Mr. Paster responded that he decided that the night before the meeting. He also stated that the bell tower is proposed to be 6'10" above the tenants names and that three bell towers would give a good architectural image to the center. The base of the bell tower will be "coining" stone and brick or stone/block/brick material. Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 Ayes: 5 Nays: 0 VERBAL REVIEW ADJOURN Ayes: 5 Page 5 September 27, 1988 Vice-Chair Anderson felt this was a good plan, but that there needs to be agreement on the height of the signs. There being no public for comments, Commissioner Krebsbach moved to close the public hearing at 9:05 P.M. Commissioner McMonigal seconded the motion. Commissioner Duggan moved to recommend approval of the conditional use permit for a planned unit development amendment prepared by Paster Enterprises with the following conditions: 1. That pylon A may be five feet taller than the existing sign. 2. That the bell tower is ok as presented. 3. That pylon B as redesigned by Planner Dahlgren be redrawn by an architect and submitted to Council for the public hearing. The sign may be five feet higher than shown and that it be placed on a redesigned concrete or grassy area. Vice-Chair Anderson added that the placement of pylon B is based on a redesigned driveway entrance and may not be closer than 30 feet to the TH 149 right-of-way, and that this be subject to final engineering and landscape detail approval by city staff. Commissioner Dwyer seconded the motion. Public Works Director Danielson gave a verbal review of the cases that had been before the City Council. There being no further business to come before the Commission, Commissioner McMonigal moved that the meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Duggan seconded the motion. Nays: 0 Page 6 September 27, 1988 TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:15 P.M. It was noted that this would be the last Commission meeting to be held in this Council Chamber. The October meeting would be held at the Fire Station, 2121 Dodd Road.