PL 12/19/1979 - 30526CITY OF FRIDLEY
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PLANNING CONIl�ICSSION MEETING DECEMBER 19, 1979
CE�,LL TO ORDE$ •
Chairman Harris called the December 19, 1979, Planning Commission meeting
to order at 7;37 p.m.
ROLL CALL•
Members Present: Ms. Hughes, Mr. Harris, Mr. Treuenfels, Mr. Langenfeld,
Ms. Schnabel
Members �lbsent: Mr. Oquist
Others Present: Jerrold Boardman, City Planner
Bill Deblon, �ssociate Planner
APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 28, 1979, PL�NDTING CONIl+�IISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by N1s. Hughes, seconded lay Mr, Langenfeld, to approve the November 28, 1979,
Planning Commission minutes.
Ms. Iiughes indicated the following corrections to the minutes;
�w^^ Page 2, paragraph 6: "plum wall" should be changed to "plutnb wall"
� Page 3, paragraph 1: "heavy landscaping" should be changed to "extensive
landscaping"
UPON �, pOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CH�,IRMAN H�RR,IS DECL�RED THE MINUTES �,ppROVED
AS .�MENDED .
�#PPROVAL OF DECEMBER 5, 1979, PL�,NN.LNG CONIlKISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Treuenfels, seconded by Mr. Langenfeld, to approve the
December 5, 1979, Planning Commission minutes as written.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, �LL VOTING AYE, CH,�IRMAIV HARRIS DECLAR,ED THE MOTION C�RRIED
UNAN'tMOUSLY.
1. CONTINUED: PROPOSED CH�NGES TO CH�PTER 205. ZONTNG:
MOTIOIJ by Mr. Langenfeld, seconded by Mr, Treuenfels, to receive the revised
Proposed Changes to Chapter 205. Zoning.
Mr. Boardman stated that he had not yet completed all the changes in the
revised Zoning Code, but he was getting close. He stated that under the
"General Provisions" on page 8, he left in "Declaration of Policy", "Non-
comforming Uses �of Structure","Lot Provisions" on page 10, "Accessory Buildings
and Structures Provis�.ons", "Required Yard and Open Space". He left in the
� "Environmental Quality" section. He took out the "Performance Standards" and
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PLANNING COrINIISSION MEETING, DECEMBER 19, 1979 P�GE 2
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those will be put into each of the districts. He took each of the districts,
went through all the "Performance Standards", took all the modifications and
changes suggested by the Planning Commission for the "Performance Standards",
and had those drawn up for each of the sections. He stated the Planning
Cou�ission had wanted him to rework the parking requirements, and he had not
yet gotten the parking requirements put into those sections.
Mr. Harris asked:the Commission how they wanted to handle this document.
Ms. Schnabel stated she would like to have some time to study the revised
document and compare it with past notes.
Mr. Boardman stated that when the Commissioners go through the revised document,
they should check to make sure all the corrections made by the Planning
Commission were put into the "Performance Standards".
Mr. Boardman stated that, as requested, he had located the "Townhouse" section
behind the "R1" section. After the "Townhouse" section, he had put the "P District".
He was looking at the end of "Industrial" as being the location for the "PUD"
(Planned Unit Development). The Planning Commission had talked about the
differences between "Special Districts" and "PUD Districts", so there would
probably be a separate "PUD" from "Special Districts".
^� UPON �1 VOICE VO�, ALL VOTING AYE, CH�IRM,AN HARRIS DECL�,RED THE MOTION C�,RRIED
_ ,� UNAI�TIMOUSLY . ,
MOTION by Mr. Langenfeld, seconded by Mr. Treuenfels, to continue discussion
on Proposed Changes to Chapter 205. Zoning until the next meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ,�LL VOTING AYE, CHAIRMAN HARRTS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY.
2. RECEIVE DECEMBER 6, 1979 HUN.�1N RESOURCES COM1rIISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Mr. Treuenfels, seconded by Ms. Hughes, to receive the December 6, 1979,
Human Resources Commission minutes.
Mr. Langenfeld stated he enjoyed reading Mr. Haines' (Executive Director of
Unity Hospital) comments about health care.
Ms. Hughes asked Mr. Treuenfels why the Human Resources Co�ission asked
Mr. Haines to come to a commission meeting.
Mr. Treuenfels stated that the problem of health care is of great interest as
far as human resources, particularly for the aged and people living on limited
incomes. Many questions have been asked and there has been quite a lot of
debate in the papers on health care, and there never seems to be a good
explanation for rising costs, etc. Mr. Treuenfels stated that Mr. $aines
�. made an interesting presentation and opened his eyes to a number of facts
�- that he had not been aware of.
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PLANNING CONIlKCSSION MEETING, DECEMBER 19, 1979 PAGE 3
Ms. Schnabel stated that the most interesting remark made by Mr. Iiaines was
that the hospital is not licensed to provide medical care, only the doctors.
It is a common assumption by people that a hospital is there to provide
medical care. It is also probably one of the reasons why people criticize
hospitals more than is necessary.
UPON � VOICE VOTE, �`L �OTT.I�TG AyE, CH�I,IgMAN HAgRIS DECL�RED THE MOTION CARRIED
UN�IVIMOUSLY .
3. RECEIVE DECEMBER 11, 1979, COMM[TNITY DEVII,OPMENT CON.�ILSSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Ms. Schnabel,to receive the December 11, 1979,
Community Development Commission minutes.
Ms. Hughes asked .about the responses to the letters on alley vacations that the
City had sent out to the citizens.
Mr. Deblon stated that, for the most part, people did not mind the alley
vacation, but did ask about the rise in taxes. There has been some communi-
cation problems with some people, and there is going to have to be further
explanation and mediation in some cases, especially in the areas where 9�/o
want an alley vacated and 10% don't.
Mr. Harris stated he thought for those alleys where there are no problems,
��'° they should have a blanket vacation, because it could save a lot of problems
r in the future.
UPON E1 VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRM�IIV H�RRIS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED
UN�IIVIMOUSLY.
4. RECEIVE DECEMBER 11, 1979, ,APPEALS CONIMLSSION NIINUTES:
MOTION by Ms. Schnabel, seconded by Mr. Langenfeld, to receive the December 11, 1979,
�ppeals Commission minutes.
Ms. Schnabel stated with the request on page 2 of the minutes, the petitioner
had an existing garage that he wanted to convert to living area and then dig
a new garage below the existing garage. The petitioner made the remark at
the meeting that he was told by Darrel Clark that he could avoid applying for
a variance if he made part of the new living area storage--in other words,
the 2-4 feet closest to the lot line. She stated the A,ppeals Commission was
a little concerned. She could not recall this ever coming up before, and she
was concerned because she thought it was a way to circumvent the Zoning
ordinance.
Mr. Boardman stated that he did not think this was the case, and he did not
think there was any situation where it was recoa�ended by staff that this be
done. As far as he lmew,about what happened was that the petitioner,
Mr. Earl Hansen, came in and stated he needed to get construction, underway
before winter. Mr. Clark told him the oniy way he could get construction
��- started was if that was not living space, because you can legally put non-
inhabitable space up to five feet of a property line. Then, Mr. Clark had
�.L,,, PL�NI�TING CONlMISSICI�T MEETING, DECEMBER 19, 1979 P�#GE 4
told him that if he wanted to use that space for living space, he would have
to get a variance. However, Mr. Clark had warned him that by starting con-
struction, he was taking a risk that if the Appeals Commission turned down
the variance, he would never have that space as living space.
Mr. Boardman stated that to begin with, Mr. Clark had talked to the contractor,
and not necessarily the owner, Mr. Hansen, when the building permit was issued.
Mr. Hansen had told Mr. Boardman that the contractor had told Mr. Hansen it
was o.k. to go ahead with construction, but the contractor did not tell
Mr. 13ansen that he would not be able to use that space for living space without
a variance. So, there were things going on between the contractor and the
owner of the property that M�. Clark was not aware of. When Mr. Clark talked
to the contractor, he was talking to a representative for the owner.
Mr. Boardman stated this was his understanding of what had happened.
Ms. Schnabel stated she felt the petitioner was somewhat confused by the
various information received at City Hall and had said he never wanted any-
thing but living space. She stated the �l,ppeals Commission had no real problem
with granting the variance, but were concerned because it seemed to be circum-
venting the Zoning ordinance.
Ms. Schnabel stated that on page 8 of the minutes, another question came up
and the Appeals Commission decided to have someone from the Fire Department
%^� speak to the�n again about fire wall situations. The Co�ission had a request
to in�tall a five-stall garage ten feet from an apartment building, and they
were concerned if there was a fire in the garage if there was the possibility
of it spreading to the apartment building and whether or not a fire wall should
be installed in the one wall of the garage next to the apartment building.
Mr. Boardman stated that he was sure Darrel Clark would be able to answer
those kinds of questions. Mr. Clark would not have let that request get this
far and would not a11ow that garage to be built if there was a fire regulation.
No building permits are issued for something that is against fire codes or
building codes, and the Appeals Commission should not have to worry about
those things.
Ms. Schnabel stated the Appeals Commission had been concerned because
Mr. Clark was not at that meeting, and they did not have any of that kind of
information.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING L�YE, CHAIRMAN HARRIS DECLARED TIiE MOTION CARRIED
UNAI�TIMOUSLY .
5. OTHER BUSINESS:
Mr. Treuenfels stated that at the December 5, 1979, Planning Commission meeting,
Mr. Harris had asked him to set up a meeting with Father Pau1 of St. Williams
Church and the Ministerial Committee of Fridley in January for the purpose of
^ coordinating plans or organizations that handle social functions and concerns,
�-" such as I�ZKK,
PLANNING CO1rIl�7ISSI0N MEETING, DECEMBER 19, 1979 P�GE 5
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Mr. Treuenfels stated that the Ministerial Committee's next meeting was on
Thursday, January 3, 1980, at the Fridley Covenant Church, and they were
invited to attend the meeting at 8:00 a.m.
Mr. Harris stated he and Mr. Treuenfels would attend this meeting.
Mr. Harris stated that in regard to park fees, he felt it was within the realm
and responsibility of the Planning Commission to get the impetus going for
setting a policy on p�.rk fees and distribution of park fees. He felt uncomfortable
thax the Planaing Co�ission had to be the "watchdog" for the community, but
someone had to do it.
Ms. Hughes stated if this is a general revenue source for the City, then it
should not be called a park fee, and ehat is what it has been in the past.
If it is a park fee, then it should be dedicated €or park use.
MOTION by Ms. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Langenfeld, to recommend that the Cit
Council take action to establish a policy on park fees--that it be equitabl
applied to property in the City according to some fixed formula so as to
arrive at a specific figure; that it be easil administered and easily under-
stood; and that there be discusssion with t�e Planning Commission on the
� dedication park fees for park purposes.
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UPON A VOICE VOTE, ,p,LL VOTING AYE, CHAIRMi�N H�IRRIS DECLARED TI� MOTION CE�,RRIED
UN�NIMOUSLY.
MOTION by Mr. Treuenfels, seconded b Ms. Schnabel, to direct the Chairman
of the Planning Commission and the Chairman of the Parks & Recreation
Commission to get toge.�her with Cit Council for the purpose of establishing
some kind of communication to discuss the matter of a ark fee.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, �►I,L VOTING AYE, CHtl,IRM�#N HARRIS DECL�RED TFIE MOTIOIV C�+aRRIED
UN�NIMOUSLY.
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Mr. Harris stated he would like to wish each and everyone a happy holiday
and a properous new year:
ADJOURNMENT :
MOTION by Mr. Treuenfels, seconded by Ms. Schnabel, to adjourn the meeting.
Upon a voice vote, all voting aye, Chairman Harris declared the December 19, 1979,
Planning Commission meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
�
Ly e Saba
Recording Secretary