03-14-1995 SPECIAL MEETINGOITY OF RIOHFIELD
PLAnninG oommisSion
RGEnDR
March 14, 1995
7:00 p.m. -- Special Meeting
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AjPPR,®VffIl Of Mnutao
ITEM #1 95 -TAP -1 510 -512 West 78th Street - Allow
relocation of Hagen Office Systems and
Richfield Plumbing
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Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. Requests must be made
at least 96 hours in advance to the Administrative Service's Director at 861 - 9702."
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Regular Meeting
February 21, 1995
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Daniel Linnihan; Commissioners: Pamela
Dmytrenko, Timothy Erlander, David Gepner, Mitchell
Hadley, Kevin Hansen Kristal Stokes, Dawn Postudensek
and Paul Wasko
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
COUNCIL LIAISON: Martin Kirsch, Mayor
STAFF PRESENT: Byron Wallace, Community Development Director; Bill
Weaver, City Planner.
The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chairperson Linnihan
at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
M /Erlander, S /Stokes to approve the minutes of the regular Planning
Commission meeting of January 10, and January 21, 1995.
Motion carried: 9 -0
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Planning Commission Minutes
February 21, 1995
Page 2
CASE 95 -ACUP -1, 407 West 66th Street
ITEM #1 Richfield State Agency
Amended Conditional Use Permit
Community Development Director Wallace provided background on the proposal
of Richfield State Agency. Their proposal requested approval for eliminating the
concrete median dividing the north east entry drive which was part of their original plan.
Wallace stated that the median and alignment of the drive were requested as a method
of restricting the turning movements into and out of the site. He also described the
mediation process that had been requested to reach agreement between the neighbors
and the Richfield State Agency. He further stated that after observing the site in
operation on several occasions he witnessed very few turns into and out of the site that
headed south on Grand Avenue or entered the site from northbound Grand Avenue.
His conclusion was that the traffic threats that previously existed were indeed corrected
by the new drive alignment. He also stated that he did not feel that the median was
necessary.
Jan Suse representing Richfield State Agency described the reasons for
requesting the change. He stated that the median was not needed based on their
observations and that the median would make snow removal more difficult.
Jim Moore, 6615 Grand Avenue spoke against the change. He stated that he
had witnessed repeated left turns into the property from cars northbound on Grand
Avenue. He also stated that he had video taped several other turns right as they exited
the site . He disputed the conclusions that the traffic volumes previously experienced
by Grand Avenue residents were no longer present.
Bernard Meyer, 6645 Grand Avenue also voiced his disfavor of the proposed
change.
M /Stokes, S /Dymetrenko to close the public hearing.
Motion carried: 9 -0
Commissioner Linnihan stated that a much bigger issues of traffic within the
entire area needed to be examined. He suggested that the matter be referred to the Ad
Hoc Traffic Committee.
Planning Commission Minutes
February 21, 1995
Page 3
Commissioner Erlander said that sign education would have little impact and
didn't think the problem could be solved without blocking off 67th Street.
M /Stokes, S /Dymetrenko to recommend approval of the amended the final
development plan to reflect the change from concrete median to stripping and that
should a future study of traffic in the area deem the concrete median necessary that it
be put in place.
Motion carried: 9 -0
M /Stokes, S/ Wasko second proposal that refer a traffic study to be performed by the
traffic committee and the area be bounded by Grand, 67th, 66th Lyndale and include
Harriet Avenue and that the results be reported back to the Planning Commission by
the April meeting.
Motion carried: 9 -0
CASE 95 -ACUP -2,2400 W. 64th Street
ITEM #2 Fraser Community Services
Amendment to Conditional Use Permit
City Planner Weaver presented a description of the Fraser School project. He
stated that the request is the result of plans to enlarge the school. He stated the
expansion would include additional space for therapy, class and meeting rooms. The
additional space would help to reduce the list of approximately 100 children awaiting
services. Weaver also stated that Fraser would be vacating Queen Avenue in order to
accommodate the need for additional parking.
Bob Gunderson Chair of the Fraser Board of Directors spoke briefly on the
parking issues associated with Queen Avenue. He described the ownership issues
relating to the property to the east of Fraser. He also described the efforts relative to
the vacation of Queen Avenue.
Diane Cross, Executive Director of Fraser Community Services spoke about
Fraser School and Fraser Community Services.
M /Erlander, S /Dymetrenko to close the public hearing.
Motion carried: 9 -0
Planning Commission Minutes
February 21, 1995
Page 4
M /Erlander, S /Stokes to recommend approval of the request to amend the
Conditional Use Permit.
Motion carried: 9 -0
PC Letter #6,
ITEM #3 City of Richfield Zoning Ordinance
Review Amended Ordinance
M /Erlander, S /Dymetrenko to recommend approval of the Comprehensive
Amendment to the Zoning Code.
Commissioner Linnihan described the history of the zoning code amendments
and revisions.
Director Wallace also described the process of replacing the old code with the
new. He highlighted some of the changes for the new members of the commission.
Motion carried: 9 -0
REGULAR BUSINESS
PC Letter #2,
ITEM #3 Election of Planning Commission Chair, Vice -Chair
Secretary
Commissioner Erlander nominated Commissioner Linnihan as Chair no other
nominations
M/ Erlander, S/ Stokes cast a white ballot for approval of Commissioner Linnihan as
Chair.
Planning Commission Minutes
February 21, 1995
Page 5
Motion carried: 9 -0
Commissioner Erlander nominated Commissioner Stokes as Vice - Chair, no other
nominations.
M/ Erlander, S/ Wasco cast a white ballot for approval of Commission Stokes as Vice -
Chair
Motion carried: 9 -0
Commissioner Stokes nominated Commissioner Erlander as Secretary, no other
nominations
M/ Stokes S/ Dymetrenko cast a white ballot for approval of Commissioner Erlander as
Secretary.
Motion carried: 9 -0
PC Letter #3,
ITEM #3 Appointment of Liaisons
The following liaison representatives were chosen by the commission:
Community Services Commissioner Stokes, Commissioner Wasko Alternate
City Council and HRA Community, Development Director Wallace
School Board Commissioner Dymetrenko, Commissioner Linnehan Alternate
Commissioner Hansen Alternate
Traffic Commissioner Linnehan, Commissioner Postudensek Alternate
Planning Commission Minutes
February 21, 1995
Page 6
PC Letter #2,
ITEM #3 Approval of By -Laws
Commissioner Wasko suggested an amendment to the By -laws to require a review of
the Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance on a regular basis.
M /Erlander, S/ Stokes adopt existing by -laws
Motion carried: 9 -0
NEW BUSINESS
Staff discussed commission goals and objectives. Commissioner Linnihan suggested
that the Planning Commission have a set of goals and objectives for 1995 that could be
presented at the City Council's Boards and Commissions meeting on April 10, 1995.
OLD BUSINESS
LIAISON REPORTS
School Board: Commissioner Dymetrenko reported on the School Board
meeting. Plans were approved for Phase II remodeling. The fund balance of over $1
million will be used to add back seven full time teacher positions.
Community Services Advisory Commission:
T.
City Council:
Ad Hoc Traffic Committee:
Planning Commission Minutes
February 21, 995
Page 7
ADJOURNMENT
M/ Hadley S /Postudensek Adjourn meeting.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:53 p.m.
imot y ande -
Planning Commission Secretary
CITY OF R10HRELD
Knnninrz oommission
action Requolt
Item: #1 Agenda Section: Public Hearing
Case: #95 -TAP -1 Date: March 14, 1995
GENERAL INFORMATION
Petitioner: Richfield Plumbing
Location: 510 West 77th Street
Type of Request: Transitional Activity Permit
Zoning: C -3
Land Use: Commercial, high density commercial
Comp. Plan: Freeway strip
References: (see attached Citations section for excerpts)
Zoning Code: 520.31 and 520.57
City Code:
ACTION
Proposed Change: Combine two existing structures, construct a 4,004 s.f. addition in
order to relocate Richfield Plumbing and Hagen Micro Age.
Staff
Recommendation: Approve the Transitional Activity Permit request with stipulations.
HISTORY
Public Notice: Notice of the Planning Commission's consideration and public
hearing was mailed to all property owners within 350 feet of the
subject property.
Public Hearing: The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on March
14, 1995.
Hearing
Examiner:
City Council: Planning Commission action would set a City Council public hearing
date of March 27, 1995.
ANALYSIS
Proposal: Richfield Plumbing is proposing to combine the two buildings now
located at 510 and 512 West 78th Street into one building with an
address of 510 West 77th Street The proposal also involves
construction of a 4,004 s.f. addition to the rear of the building and
construction of a unified facade facing West 77th Street. The new
building will house both Richfield Plumbing and Hagen Micro Age.
Background: Both Richfield Plumbing and Hagen Micro Age are currently located
within the area being redeveloped by the CSM Corporation.
Specifically, they are located within Phase II of that project. In order
for Phase II to be successfully completed, Richfield Plumbing and
Hagen Micro Age along with other businesses, must be relocated.
The deadline for relocation is June 1, 1995. In order to remain
within Richfield, both businesses have decided to relocate close to
their previous locations. Because the site chosen is within the C -3
zoning district and is currently nonconforming, a Transitional Activity
Permit is needed. The Transitional Activity Permit allows for the
expansion or extension of existing nonconforming structures or
uses. The existing structures are currently nonconforming in Floor
Area Ratio (FAR) and the proposed expansion will continue to be
nonconforming. The required FAR is .75, the FAR of the proposed
project is approximately .30.
Issues: Key issues important to consider relative to this case are:
the urgent need to relocate both businesses;
the willingness and desire of both businesses to relocate
within Richfield;
the implicit goal of the City of Richfield to retain the
businesses relocated as a result of the CSM
redevelopment project.
In addition to the general issues cited above, more site
specific issues are:
parking
storm water management
78th Street access.
Using the parking standards outlined for the C -3 zone the proposed
use would require 118 parking spaces. Clearly the site size cannot
accommodate that level of parking capacity. Neither business has a
history of generating high levels of parking demand.
There is insufficient space to provide on -site storm water retention;
however, Richfield Plumbing has agreed to compensate the City of
Richfield for providing off -site storm water retention capacity.
Access to the rear of the building will continue from 78th Street until
such time as 78th Street is included within the 1 -494 expansion.
When and if 78th Street access is no longer possible, a driveway
connecting the West 77th Street access to the rear of the building
should be constructed. The driveway should be aligned parallel to
the east property line.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommended
Action:
Preferred: Recommend that the City Council approve the request with the
following stipulations:
1. Payment in -lieu of providing on site storm water management be
made to the City.
2. The area between the east building wall and the east property
line should be maintained as a landscape buffer until such time
as access to 78th Street is no longer possible.
Basis: 1. Relocation of both business is imminent and it is the desire of
the City to retain businesses requiring relocation as a result of
the CSM redevelopment project.
2. The Transitional Activity Permit process provides a means for
accommodating nonconforming uses.
3. This project meets the requirements for Transitional Activity
Permit and does not have an adverse impact on the surrounding
property or the City as a whole.
Alternative: Recommend that the City Council deny the request with a finding of
fact that the proposed use would have an adverse impact on
surrounding properties or the City as a whole.
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