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072224 Signed MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Richfield, Minnesota Regular Planning Commission Meeting July 22, 2024 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Holmvig-Johnson at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Planning Commissioners Present: Eddie Holmvig-Johnson, Brett Stursa, Cole Hooey, Benjamin Surma, Matt Taraldsen, Stephanie Kowalkowski, and Brendan Kennealy Commissioners Excused: None Staff Present: Sam Crosby, Planner II and Ruby Villa, Planner I Others Present: Sam Buckner, Owner of Stall One Automotive APPROVAL OF MINUTES MIKennealy,, S/Taralsden, to approve the minutes of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of May 29, 2024, the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Work Session of June 25, 2024 and the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Work Session of July 9- 2024. Motion carried: 7-0 OPEN FORUM Chair Holmvig-Johnson reviewed the options to participate in the open forum. There was one speaker. Andy Carlile, 7544 Lyndale Avenue South, doing business as Richfield BP, expressed some concerns regarding the public hearing item. Chair Holmvig-Johnson clarified that the open forum is typically for items not on the agenda. Carlisle stated that he would return to the podium during the public hearing portion of the meeting. ITEM # 1 1 APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA M/Surma, S/ Taralsden, to approve the agenda. Motion carried: 7-0. PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE ITEM # 2 PERMIT AND VARIANCES FOR AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP AT 7524 LYNDALE AVENUE SOUTH. Planner Villa presented Staff Report No. 13. Commissioner Hooey asked staff to clarify the subdivision requirements for the request. Planner Villa explained that the parcel was comprised of 3 lots, but a few months ago the southern lot, Lot 10, was sold off and the subject request includes the remaining lots 8 & 9. In consultation with the City Attorney, lots 8 & 9 must be legally combined, not just by PID only, and that has been included as a condition of approval. Commissioner Surma asked about the shared access to Lyndale Avenue between this parcel and the property to the north and whether the City has had any communications with the owner of the property to the north. Planner Villa stated that the shared access is non -conforming, and thus is allowed to continue, but staff has included a condition of approval that the applicant attempt to enter into a shared access agreement with the property owner to the north to formalize the matter. Chair Holmvig-Johnson invited the applicant to present. Sam Bucker, owner of Stall One Auto, introduced himself to the Commission and stated that his business is currently located at 1009 West 80'h Street in Bloomington. He also stated that the property was sold and that is why he is relocating his business. Chair Holmvig-Johnson opened the public hearing. Andy Carlisle, owner of Carlisle Auto Service Incorporated, which has been at 7544 Lyndale Avenue South for 25 years, spoke in opposition to the request. Carlisle stated that another car repair shop is not needed in the area, evidenced by the proximity of Richfield Transmission Center and Richfield Honda. Carlisle also stated that the previous lawn care business was noisy, used the alley too much, and had overflow parking of commercial vehicles onto Aldrich Avenue. M/Stursa, S/Taralsen, to close the public hearing Motion carried: 7-0. Commissioner Hooey asked about the intent and impacts of buffer yard requirements. Planner Villa hypothesized that they are intended to mitigate the adverse impacts of such a use, such as noise and odors. She pointed to the conditions of approval that relate to business operations, site access, and parking, which would help to mitigate negative impacts in the absence of buffer yards. Commissioner Surma asked for more specifics about the conditions regarding fencing and screening. Planner Villa explained the proposal for a 6-foot-tall privacy fence along the northern half of the back of the property and the fence along the front of the property to screen cars awaiting repair. Commissioner Stursa inquired about enforcement of the conditions in the resolution. Planner Villa explained that enforcement is mostly complaint based, and starts with violation letters, then builds to either prosecution or revocation of the conditional use permit. Commissioner Surma can attest to the previous neighborhood impacts and believes that the conditions as laid out by staff are sufficient to mitigate those impacts. Commissioner Stursa clarified that the request is not a rezoning and that the lack of buffer yards are not being created by this proposal, they are existing site conditions. Therefore, she supports the request as presented by staff. Commissioner Kowalkowski asked how staff will monitor compliance with the conditions. Planner Villa mentioned that we collect an escrow to ensure compliance if additional time is required to comply with conditions beyond the imposed timeline. Commissioner Kowalkowski inquired as to how the applicant determined the number of parking spaces needed and the flow of the property. Planner Villa explained that the parking on the property was determined by the requirements in the zoning code for a car repair shop. Planner Crosby also stated that the business is capable of being operated on an appointment basis, meaning that the owner does have considerable control of the flow of cars coming into the property. The City would expect the owner of the business to regulate the business accordingly, to prevent overflow parking. Chair Holmvig-Johnson asked the applicant if he has ever received a violation letter while operating in the City of Bloomington. Buckner stated that he has not. Commissioner Hooey asked the applicant how he would handle a situation where he has more cars awaiting repair than parking spaces. Buckner responded that if the situation required, there is room for another 10 cars inside the building. Commissioner Kowalkowski asked the applicant about pick-up requirements. Buckner stated that he has a 48-hour pickup policy that he is very strict about. M/Stursa. S/Hooey. to recommend approval of a conditional use permit and variances for an auto repair shop at 7524 Lyndale Avenue South. Motion carried: 7-0. LIAISION REPORTS Community Services Commission: Commissioner Kowalkowski reported that the Commission reported on park building rentals restarting after eight years. They received good feedback on the rentals and anticipate more usage this year. Also, Woodlake renovation project planning is well underway. Four responses were received from the Construction Manager at Risk RFPs. They have also completed wetland delineation which came in showing more room than anticipated. An open house was also held with 100 attendees, and they began site concept and design meetings. City Council: Chair Holmvig-Johnson reported that at their last few meetings, the Council had work sessions with the Planning Commission and an evaluation of the City Managers performance. The Council also expressed positive comments about recommendations that the Planning Commission has made recently. Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA): Commissioner Stursa reported that the HRA approved a preliminary development agreement for JO Companies for 40 units of affordable housing at 6501-6526 Penn Avenue. This was to indicate that they will request assistance from the HRA for a total of $5 million; most of that being land costs. Richfield School Board: Commissioner Kennealy reported that on June 24th the Superintendent presented to the School Board and the budget for 2024-2025 was reviewed. At the July 15th meeting, Health Services Supervisor Michelle Whiteside presented and Superintendent Unowsky shared data related to board goals and the board discussed their self -evaluations. Transportation Commission: Commissioner Surma reported that an open house was held last week at the Community Center by the Commission, Richfield Public Works, and Hennepin County to discuss the recommended layout of Nicollet Avenue for proposed reconstruction between 66th and 77th Streets in 2026. The new design is one lane each way with a center turn lane and sidewalks with one way bike lanes on each side, as well as roundabouts proposed where the signalized intersections currently are, and at 73rd Street. The open house was well attended. Chamber of Commerce: Commissioner Hooey had no report. Sustainability Commission: Commissioner Taraldsen had no report. ITEM #3 CITY PLANNER'S REPORT Planner Crosby had no report. ITEM #4 NEXT MEETING TIME AND LOCATION The next regular meeting is on Monday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. ITEM #5 ADJOURNMENT M[Taralsden, S/Hooey, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried:7-0 and the meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m. Submitted by: R by Vil] Planner Brett Stursa Planning Commission Secretary