The URL can be used to link to this page

PL 05/03/1989 - 30701n CITY OF FRIDLEY PLANNING COMNlI83ION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 ____________�__________________________�_________________��_____ CALL TO ORDER• Vice-Chairperson Kondrick called the May 3, 1989, Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Dave Kondrick, Dean Saba, Sue Sherek, Alex Barna, Paul Dahlberg Members Absent: Don Betzold Others Present: Barbara Dacy, Planning Coordinator Michele McPherson, Planning Assistant Amin Kadir, 1401 Gardena Ave. N.E. Pat Dowd, Target Tom Whisenhunt, Target Raquel Rudquist, 2322 Seabury Ave. S., Mpls. Charles Wood, 23675 Xanadu Ave., Jordan Jerome Farrell, 2908 Jersey Ave. N., Crystal /'� (See attached list) APPROVAL OF APRIL 19. 1989, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to approve the April 19, 1989, Planning Commission minutes as written. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPER60N RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. � 1. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT. SP #89-06, BY ISLAMIC CENTER OF MINNESOTA: Per Section 205.07.01.C(4) of the Fridley City Code to operate a daycare center for 35 children in Rooms 102, 104, and 106 of the Islamic Center, on Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 17 and 33, Meloland Gardens, the same being 1401 Gardena Avenue N.E. MOTION by Mr. Barna, seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to open the public hearing on SP #89-06. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICK DECLARED THE POBI�IC HEARING OPEN AT 7:34 P.M. Ms. Dacy stated she is pleased to announce that Michele McPherson has been hired as the new Planning Assistant. She stated Michele �"� ^ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 2 has been employed by the City for about 1 and 1/2 years as the Landscape Intern, and they are very happy to have her employed in her new position. She stated Ms. McPherson would be presenting the staff report on this item. Ms. McPherson stated the special use pernait is for a daycare center at the Islamic Center of Minnesota (formerly Faith Academy) located at 1401 Gardena Avenue. She stated the property is zoned R-1, Single Family District. A daycare is allowed in an R-1 district with a special use permit. Ms. McPherson stated the building must meet code for F-3 occupancy which will require the installation of fire alarms in each room and in the hallway adjacent to the daycare rooms. There must be an exterior exit from each of the rooms and to the outside from one of the rooms for fire escape purposes. Ms. McPherson stated the State Daycare Regulations require an outside enclosed play area. The hours of operation will be from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ms. McPherson stated staff is concerned about a conflict with traffic from Totino Grace during the school year. There should not � be as much conflict during the summer months when Totino Grade is not in session. Staff is proposing the Islamic Center expand their current parking area to allow a turn-around situation to allow parents to drive in, drop off their children, and exit easily. This would prevent drop-off conflicts on Gardena Avenue. Ms. McPherson stated staff is recommending the Planning Commission recommend approval of SP #89-06 by the Islamic Center of Minnesota to allow the operation of a daycare for no more than 35 children at the Islamic Center, Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the following stipulations: 1. All drop-off and pick-up of children shall occur on the premises. 2. The daycare hours of operation shall be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 3. The building shall meet the requirements of the State Daycare Regulations, the Building Code, and the Uniform Fire Code, including the following: a. An enclosed outdoor play area adjacent to the facility b. outside exits from the daycare rooms ^ c. fire alarms in each daycare room and in the hallway outside the daycare rooms ,.,, PLANNING COMMIBBION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 3 4. The Islamic Center shall modify the parking lot as illustrated on the modified site plan. 5. The petitioners shall complete stipulations #1, #2, #5, and #7 from SP #88-17. Ms. McPherson stated stipulation #5 refers to stipulations 1, 2, 5, and 7 from SP #88-17 which required parking lot improvements, a dumpster screen, combination of all the individual lots into one tax parcel, and maintenance of the weeds. Mr. Amin Kadir, Director of the Islamic Center at 1401 Gardena Avenue, stated this would be a non-religious daycare center which will service the Islamic community as well as the Fridley community. He stated they have been working with the Building Inspector, Darrel Clark, and the Fire Chief, Bob Aldrich, and they will meet all the City's requirements. Mr. Kadir stated that regarding the parking lot, with 35 children arriving over a period of two hours in the morning, that is about one child arriving every 4-5 minutes. He stated right now the parking lot is not being used to its capacity during the day Monday through Friday, especially in the morning. They would like to reach r"� a compromise where they can designate some parking for the sole purpose of dropping off children. The expansion of the parking lot is more of a financial obligation than they are able to meet right now. Ms. Pam Porchniak, 7305 Van Buren Street N.E., stated she takes her child to a daycare center, and all the parents arrive at once. Even though the daycare center has a large parking lot, it is always full. The Islamic Center might want to take this into consideration, as they might have some very angry parents if there is not enough room in the parking lot. MOTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Barna, to close the public hearing. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTIN(3 AYE� VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE PIIBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:45 P.M. Ms. Sherek stated she agreed with Ms. Porchniak. She would be opposed to anything that will limit the traffic flow for turn- around purposes. What they might find is some parents, rather than fight the traffic into the parking area, will pull in, drop of their children, and then back out onto Gardena Avenue during the busy traffic times. � Mr. Dahlberg stated parents might also park on Gardena to drop off their children, and that situation should definitely be avoided. ,^"'� � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 4 Mr. Dahlberg stated that with the diagonal parking arrangement, the Center will lose some parking spaces. Mr. Kadir had indicated the lot is not used at its capacity during the week. However, on the weekends when they have their activities at the Center, they might have to rely on Totino Grace's lot more. Is that going to cause any difficult for the Center? Mr. Kadir stated the daycare operation is Monday through Friday, and most of the activities for the Islamic Center are on the weekends. The parking spaces will only be reduced by 2-3 spaces, and he did not think that would be a great change. Mr. Saba stated he agreed Ms. Sherek, and they should keep stipulation #4 about the parking. MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to recommend to City Council approval of Special Use Permit, SP #89-06, by the Islamic Center of Minnesota per Section 205.07.O1.C(4) of the Fridley City Code to operate a daycare center for 35 children in Rooms 102, 104, and 106 of the Islamic Center, on Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 17 and 33, Meloland Gardens, the same being 1401 Gardena Avenue N.E., with the following stipulations: 1. 2. Al1 drop-off and pick-up of children shall occur on the premises. The daycare hours of operation shall be Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 3. The building shall meet the requirements of the State Daycare Regulations, the Building Code, and the Uniform Fire Code, including the following: 4. 5. a. An enclosed outdoor play area adjacent to the facility b. outside exits from the daycare rooms c. fire alarms in each daycare room and in the hallway outside the daycare rooms The Islamic Center shall modify the parking lot as illustrated on the modified site plan. The petitioners shall complete stipulations #1, #2, #5, and #7 from SP #88-17 as follows: a. (#1) A masonry dumpster enclosure with wooden gates shall be installed by August 1, 1989. ^ b. (#2) The property owner shall combine individual lots into one tax parcel, as requested by the City %"'� � �"� PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 5 c. d. Assessor (buildable lots abutting Hillcrest Drive and Oakwood Manor shall be exempted). (#5) All existing hardsurface areas shall be improved with sealcoating, curb and gutter and striping by August 1, 1989. (#7) The property owner shall take care of the weed problem by August 1, 1989. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMODSLY. Mr. Kondrick stated this item will go to City Council on May 15. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF A PRELIMIIJARY PLAT. P.S. 87-05, TARGET NORTHERN DISTRIBUTION CENTER ADDITION. BY TARGET STORES INC.: To create two lots by replatting Outlot 1, Block 1, Fridley Industrial Park Plat 1, Anoka County, Minnesota, together with the North Half of the Southeast Quarter of Section 11, Township 30, Range 24, Anoka County, Minnesota, excepting the west 675 feet thereof, including that portion of Able Street vacated or to be vacated included in said North Half of the Southeast Quarter, generally located at 1090 - 73rd Avenue N.E. MOTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to waive the reading of the public hearing notice and open the public hearing. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTIATG AYE, CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY AND THE PIIBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 7:55 P.M. Ms. Dacy stated the property is located west of Highway 65, north of Locke Park, and south of 73rd Avenue. The property is zoned M- 2, Heavy Industrial. Ms. Dacy stated the petitioner is requesting to plat its 76-acre property into two parcels. The eastern lot will contain the existing Target facility, and the western lot will contain the proposed warehouse expansion. Ms. Dacy stated that in 1984 when Target was contemplating this building expansion, they applied for a vacation to vacate Able Street. In order to vacate the right-of-way, Council conditioned their approval upon Target entering into a street relocation agreement to relocate Able Street to provide access to Locke Park and construct a building. At that time, the current access to Locke Park was not constructed. In the lapse of time between 1984 and the present, the County constructed the current entrance. �"'1 PLANNINd COMMISSION MEETING. MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 6 There is now no longer a need for a street entrance into Locke Park; however, the City still wants to maintain a bikeway/walkway access into the park. Ms. Dacy stated in 1987, the petitioner completed an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) process with the City. The City Council approved the EAW in August 1987. Through that EAW process, it was noted that the wetland area located approximately in the center of the property was subject to the jurisdiction of the Army Corps of Engineers. The petitioner subsequently found out they had to revise their site plan and receive an Army Corps of Engineers� permit. The result of their work with the Army Corps is to actually move the parking area out of the wetland area to preserve it and recreate a wetland area in the area where the original building expansion was to be located. The revised site plan, in conformance with the Army Corps, relocates the parking area further to the west and on the western side of the building. Ms. Dacy stated the item being acted on at this meeting is for a preliminary plat to divide the total acreage into two lots with the new lot line being moved 33 feet to the east from the easterly right-of-way line of Able Street. So, the current building exists on Lot 1 and the proposed building will extend into Lot 2. The n proposed site plan locates the proposed building less than ten feet from the existing building. City ordinance requires a 20 foot side yard between the lot line and the building. However, the ordinance also states that no side yard is required if a common wall is provided between the two buildings which meet the requirements of the building code. If the buildings are separated, the building code requires 120 feet of separation. This issue should be resolved prior to final plat consideration by the City Council, and the site plan and plat amended accordingly. Ms. Dacy stated the petitioner is requesting to relocate the bikeway/walkway access along the west lot line and meander it through the two detention ponds on the northwest corner of the site, connecting it to the proposed bikeway/walkway along the south side of 73rd Avenue. Ms. Dacy stated that regarding the grading and drainage issues, the proposed building is 82,075 sq. ft. which is larger than the 1987 proposal. However, the overall impervious surface for building a parking area has only increased by 1.7%. The entire runoff from the site will be directed into two detention ponds in the northwest corner of the site. The wetland area will remain as is and a wetland area will be recreated in the center of the site. Ms. Dacy stated the petitioner conducted a neighborhood meeting, ,� and some traffic concerns were raised by the neighbors. The City ' has plans for the improvement of 73rd Avenue in 1991 from two lanes to four lanes. The improvement plan shows an expansion of the r� PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING� MAY 3, 1989 PAG� 7 pavement to the south side (Target side) by 10 feet. There will be no alteration of the existing frontage road or the existing north side of 73rd Avenue. The City can complete the pavement expansion and curbing within the current right-of-way; however, the proposed bikeway/walkway will have to be constructed in an easement which staff is recommending be reserved on the Target property. That will necessitate the removal of some brush and smaller trees along 73rd Avenue; however, there a 200 ft. setback will still be maintained from the right-of-way to the edge of the proposed parking area. Trees will be removed to recreate the wetland in the center of the site; however, a 100 ft. setback will be maintained from the new recreated wetland to the south right-of-way line. The buffer of existing trees will remain. Ms. Dacy stated the neighbors were concerned about the new entrance onto 73rd Avenue opposite Jackson Street. The petitioner has indicated this entrance will be used only as an emergency entrance if the current access from the Highway 65 service road is picketed or if there is a strike. Staff is recommending as a stipulation that this entrance be used only in an emergency situation. This new entrance is opposite the Jackson Avenue intersection on the north side, and the neighbors were concerned about the direct view looking south from Jackson. The petitioner has indicated to staff � that they are revising the landscaping plan to provide a planting screen to block the view into the property and they will replace trees that are lost due to the construction of the entrance. Ms. Dacy stated employees and truck traffic will increase as a result of the proposed expansion. There will be 530 employees entering and leaving the site. Truck traffic is expected to increase from 160-180 trucks per day to an estimated 220 trucks per day using the Highway 65 entrance. The increase in traffic from the employee access should not adversely affect the traveling capacity of 73rd Avenue. Ms. Dacy stated three building expansions are proposed. The major one totals approx. 570,000 sq. ft., another expansion onto that to the west of 86,000 sq. ft., and a 91,000 sq. ft. expansion on the northeast corner. The petitioner has provided adequate parking spaces to meet the code requirements for warehouse and office purposes. • Ms. Dacy stated staff is recommending approval of the preliminary plat, PS #87-05, with the following stipulations: 1. The lot line shall be located between the two parcels, such that either the required setback is maintained between the lot line and building, or the proposed ^ expansion is connected to the existing building by a common wall. The petitioner shall revise the site plan r"� � �^� PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 8 and preliminary plat prior to final plat consideration by the City Council. 2. The petitioner shall of Engineers and the to grading the site. receive approval from the Army Corps Rice Creek Watershed District prior 3. The petitioner shall submit a landscape plan prior to building permit issuance. 4. The petitioner easement along connect to the construction p: the City. 5. 6. shall convey a 15 foot bikeway/walkway 73rd Avenue and along the alignment to 73rd Avenue easement. A bikeway/walkway an shall also be submitted for review by Truck/trailer access shall be limited to the entrance on the Central Avenue Service Road, except in strike or emergency situations, where the entrance west of Able Street may be used temporarily. A special use permit application must be filed for exterior storage on the property. Mr. Barna recommended that the word "strike" be deleted in stipulation #5. Mr. Pat Dowd, Target Project.,Manager for Construction, introduced Tom Whisenhunt, Director of the Project for Distribution who represents the Distribution Center people; Raquel Rudquist, the Project Architect; Naeem Qureshi, Civil Engineer; and Chuck Woods, the Landscape Architect. Mr. Dowd stated Target has been a member of Fridley for 20+ years. Originally, Fridley was the Target headquarters for the entire country. In Fridley, Target employs the most people than any of the other cities around the country where they have stores or companies, with the possible exception of Los Angeles. Currently, the existing distribution services a five-state area in Western Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota. Expansion of the center has been contemplated since the early 1980's, but to date, it was put off due to constructing facilities in other states. They are really now operating out of five warehousing situations in the Midwest--Plymouth, Mendota Heights, Bloomington, DesMoines, and Fridley. They are now in the position where they have to get into another warehouse base yet this year in order to continue to operate. In order to service the stores in this five state area, they need to consolidate under one roof, and that is the reason for the replat petition. � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINa, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 9 Mr. Dowd stated they had brought along some boards and drawings which might explain some of the traffic issues, the scope of the project, etc. Ms. Rudquist showed the landscaping plan. She stated there was some concern from the neighbors about screening the view of the parking area from Jackson Street, and they have located some landscaping in that area to reflect that concern. Mr. Barna stated he is concerned about the appearance of the south side of the building. A 35 ft. block wall is not very pretty to those viewing it from the park side. Mr. Woods stated they will have plantings along that area and will do what they can to soften that side of the building. They will be using a combination of shrubs, flowering materials, and some vines. Mr. Barna stated he would like to see some definite plans to break up the visual impact of that large building. Mr. Whisenhunt stated they will have to maintain a fire lane down the south side of the building. There are also some tall unsightly ^ power poles taller than the building, and access must be maintained to those. So, while tall plantings might sound attractive, he did not know how they would work in with the above factors. Mr. Dahlberg asked why the plat was being requested, why the division into two plats? His reason for asking was that if the buildings are connected, then it is still a part of the primary building on the site, so, technically, there might not be the need to plat it into two parcels. Mr. 6lhisenhunt stated he thought the issue was that when they drew the building and drew the expansion, they drew out a concept showing the two buildings standing off because they did not know the footings. That 10 feet might have mislead the engineers into thinking that they physically wanted to separate the building. He believed Mr. Dahlberg is correct in that one large plat is really what they want. Mr. Dahlberg stated the combining of the two parcels with the vacation of the street and the property that is gained by the vacation into one large piece of property seems to make the most sense. Ms. Rudquist stated this would certainly be preferable to them. ^ Ms. Dacy agreed. She stated the combination might be the way to go; however up until this point, she did not think staff had PLANNINa COMMI88ION MEETING. MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 10 �1 received a clear indication as to whether or not the buildings were going to be attached. Mr. Dahlberg stated this should be resolved prior to the City Council meeting. Ms. Dacy stated the Planning Commission can approve the replat as one or two lots. There would be no changes in the stipulations, except stipulation #1. Ms. Sherek stated she has a concern about the truck egress from the Target plant. She stated she lives across Highway 65 and she almost gets run over every morning about 7:00 a.m. by trucks on 73rd Avenue. She is curious to know if Target representatives have any way of controlling the truck traffic to use Highway 65 to Highway 10 or I-694 to 35-W instead of 73rd Avenue to 35-W. While 73rd Avenue is rated for that type of truck, when 73rd Avenue enters Moundsview, it becomes more of a residential street. The truck traffic is causing problems for the neighborhood and it is not appropriate. Mr. Whisenhunt stated Target certainly has a good relationship with their carriers, and he would be glad to address this concern with � the managements. Mr. Keith Bellefeuille, 7310 Jackson Street N.E., stated his concern is not only for the view from Jackson Street, but also for the safety. He has lived here 10 years and has seen a lot of accidents on 73rd Avenue. He would propose moving the entrance to the parking lot as far west as possible. Mr. Bellefeuille stated he would like to know what "emergency'� means and when they might expect that entrance to be used by trucks, how often, and what control the City or anyone else has over that. Mr. Bellefeuille stated he would like to see the south side of the building made of glass walls as opposed to block walls. Glass walls seem to take on the color and light of its surroundings and would make the building more "park-like". Mr. Whisenhunt stated the entrance on 73rd and Jackson which was shown as proposed secondary truck entrance was changed after the neighborhood meeting. They are now saying they will maintain the existing secondary access close to Central Avenue, but the only traffic going in and out of the entrance at 73rd & Jackson is vehicular traffic to service the small building, and that entrance will be heavily landscaped. � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 11 �^� Mr. Dowd stated the entire truck circulation and trailer parking area is a secured area, fenced in its entirety, and enters and exits at one location with a guard at Highway 65. Mr. Qureshi stated they are essentially extending the wetland area. The Army Corps of Engineers wants them to compensate for the wetland area lost for construction. There will be no change in drainage in this area. They are creating another wetland or pond so that all the water that comes off the parking lot and building will go into the pond, then spill over into the existing pond, then an outlet from the existing pond will go into the storm sewer on 73rd Avenue. The amount of runoff that is going to be allowed to leave the site has to be maintained at its present condition. Any excess water that will occur because of added paved area will have to be stored in this pond, and that is the primary reason for adding a pond. They are not changing the pattern or amount of runoff from what is leaving the site now. Ms. Rudquist stated that regarding Mr. Bellefeuille's suggestion of a glass wall on the south side, they could make a presentation of their ideas for the design of the south wall at the Council meeting. ^ Ms. Pam Porchniak, 7305 Van Buren Street N.E., stated the questions regarding whether the entrance across from Jackson Street would be used during a strike and what constitutes an emergency had not been answered. Mr. Whisenhunt stated any entrance is a��strikable" entrance; however, he could not imagine anyone wasting time on the 73rd/Jackson entrance. The primary entrance is off Highway 65. He would suggest stipulation #5 be deleted in its entirety. Once they decided to keep their secondary entrance as it exists, then this entrance became very minor. Ms. Porchniak asked how the fencing would be landscaped. Mr. Woods stated they intend to have lower scale plantings along 73rd Avenue to help screen the fencing, and they will have some ivy plantings on the fence to soften the view. Mr. Bob Lange, 189 Logan Parkway, stated he is also concerned about the drainage. Mr. Qureshi again stated that this development will not change the amount of water leaving the site any more than it is now in its undeveloped state. Mr. Dick Pearson, 7231 Jackson Street N.E., stated he is concerned �` that the plantings along 73rd Avenue are sufficient to screen the parking lot. PLANNING COMMI83ION MEETING. MAY 3, 1989 " PAGE 12 �� Mr. Pearson stated traffic is already heavy on 73rd Avenue. Adding one lane each way will make it more difficult to enter 73rd Avenue from Melody Manor, particularly at Jackson Street. Ms. Dacy stated at this time there are no plans for a stop sign at that intersection; however, they do have to meet certain standards to make sure the street is designed in a safe manner. Ms. Porchniak suggested Target consider staggered starting times for Target employees. It might help alleviate some of the traffic problems. MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to close the public hearing. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPER80N KONDRICR DECLARED THE PIIBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 9:15 P.M. Mr. Saba stated the plan looked like a well thought out plan, and the expansion is definitely needed. Target has certainly tried to address all the concerns of the neighborhood. ^ Mr. Dahlberg commended Target for their responsiveness to the community and the neighbors. It is appreciated when a petitioner has done their homework and taken the opportunity to find out the neighbors� needs and concerns. His only recommendation is that the plat be resolved before the Council meeting. Mr. Barna suggested the first sentence in stipulation #1 be deleted and that stipulation #1 read as follows: "The petitioner shall revised the site plan and preliminary plat prior to final plat consideration by the City Council." The Commissioners concurred with this suggestion. MOTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Saba, to recommend to City Council approval of Preliminary Plat, P.S. #87-05, by Target Northern Distribution Center Addition, by Target Stores, Inc., 1. The petitioner shall revise the site plan and preliminary plat prior to final plat consideration by the City Council. 2. The petitioner shall receive approval from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Rice Creek Watershed District prior to grading the site. ^ 3. The petitioner shall submit a landscape plan prior to building permit issuance. PLANNINa COMMISSION MEETING� MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 13 �� 4. The petitioner shall convey a 15 foot bikeway/walkway easement along 73rd Avenue and along the new west lot line alignment to connect to the 73rd Avenue easement. A bikeway/walkway construction plan shall also be submitted for review by the City. 5. Primary truck/trailer access shall be limited to the entrance on the Central Avenue Service Road with the secondary access at existing Able Street. 6. A special use permit application must be filed for exterior storage on the property. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. Ms. Dacy stated the public hearing for the final plat will be set by the City Council at their May 5 meeting for June 5, 1989. Chairperson Kondrick called a 10 minute recess at 9:20 p.m. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF A REZONING ZOA #89-01 BY JEROME FARRELL• ^ To rezone the properties described as Lots l, 2, 28, and 29, Block 2, Commerce Park, from C-1, Local Business, to C-2, General Business, the same being 250 Osborne Road N.E. MOTION by Mr. Dahlberg, seconded by Mr. Saba, to open the public hearing. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERBON RONDRICR DECLARED THE PIIBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 9:25 P.M. Ms. Dacy stated this property abuts Osborne Road on the north, Commerce Lane on the west, and the University Avenue Service Road on the east. The property is zoned C-1, Neighborhood Commercial District, and is surrounded by M-1 and M-2 zoning to the south, C- 1 zoning to the southeast, vacant M-2 zoning to the northwest, and C-2 and C-3 to the north. Ms. Dacy stated five variance requests were brought before the Appeals Commission and those were summarized in the staff report. One of the variance requests was to reduce the size of parking stalls from 10 ft. x 20 ft. to 9 ft. x 18 ft. , and the Appeals Commission approved that variance. Ms. Dacy stated that if this proposed plan was not before the Planning Commission and they were just looking at zoning issues, ^ staff would probably recommend that this property, and probably the C-1 property to the south, be rezoned to C-2. Given the way the PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 14 '"� - immediate area has developed, staff feels C-2 uses and regulations are more appropriate than C-1 in this location. Ms. Dacy stated the Appeals Commission raised some concerns about egress and ingress to the site and whether there would be a traffic problem leaving the site onto the service road and then onto Osborne Road. At peak times, staff agrees that stacking could occur. Looking at the width of the driveways, staff is recommending the driveways be striped to allow a free right hand turn on each of the exits, one lane in and two lanes out onto the service road to help facilitate traffic. The Appeals Commission looked at widening the southern driveway, but that is intended for a drive-through window for a fast food restaurant and the petitioner had some concerns about widening that driveway. Ms. Dacy stated staff is recommending approval of the rezoning request, ZOA #89-01, by Jerome Farrell, with the following stipulations: 1. Approval of the variance requests request for the number of parking spaces to be 335 spaces on-site, with cross parking easements to provide 384 spaces. /�°� 2. Compliance with the site plan stipulations as recommended by the Appeals Commission as follows: a. The driveway onto Commerce Lane is shifted to the south 15 feet. b. The landscape plan shall be amended to provide a 36 inch planting strip along Osborne Road and the University Avenue Service Drive and to provide columnar arborvitae instead of columnar buckthorn. c. Underground sprinkling shall be installed in the front and side yard setback areas. d. A storm water management plan must be submitted prior to issuance of building permit and must be approved by the Public Works Director. e. A dumpster detail shall be submitted prior to issuance of the building permit. f. The petitioner shall submit a lighting plan prior to building permit issuance to be reviewed and approved by the Public Works Director. � g. The rezoning application must be approved by the City Council. '„� PLANNING COMMIBSION MEETING MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 15 h. The petitioner shall file a plat application to create a separate parcel for the second free- standing building by July 1, 1989. i. The petitioner shall submit an on-site traffic sign and pavement marking plan prior to building permit issuance. The one way exits shall be clearly marked on the site. j. The site plan shall be revised to include landscape islands on the east end of the three interior parking aisles. Ms. Dacy stated staff is also recommending the Planning Commission consider recoaumending that the City Council amend the size of parking stalls to 9 ft. x 18 ft. Ms. Sherek asked what provisions are being made for pedestrian safety for people crossing Osborne Road to the shared parking at Marquette Bank and Bob's Produce. Ms. Dacy stated there is no designated crosswalk. She agreed this not the perfect solution. However, with the industrial nature to /'� the south, most of the business is during the day 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the traffic on Osborne Road is not as significant as it obviously is on the service road. Maybe the City can work with the County on getting a crosswalk on Osborne Road. �� Ms. Dacy stated a cross parking arrangement with Perkins would be perfect; however, the petitioner has stated that a restaurant usually does not want competition as a next door neighbor. Staff had asked the petitioner to look at the Mayflower site, but that site has only 12 spaces and it is to the rear of the proposed theater. She felt they were looking at overflo� parking only at peak periods. The majority of the year, that parking might not be needed. But, she agreed with Ms. Sherek that there is a safety aspect here. Mr. Barna stated he would rather decrease the size of the parking stalls and put more stalls into the site than have people crossing Osborne Road. Ms. Sherek stated that whether or not the petitioner has a cross parking easement with Perkins, people are going to first park at Perkins, then on the service road, and then Osborne Road before they are going to park across the road. Unless someone can convince her differently, she feels the petitioner is attempting to overutilize the size. This project just doesn't look like a safe situation. Mr. Kondrick agreed. He stated the parking situation is not good. � PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 16 Mr. Saba stated a crosswalk across Osborne Road is almost mandatory. Ms. Dacy stated Fridley's parking ratio for retail is quite high at 1 car per 150 sq, ft. of retail. If they used a ratio of 1 car per 200 sq. ft. of retail, the required spaces would be reduced by 20. Mr. Farrell agreed there is a parking issue; however, they have put theaters into retail centers before, and there is quite a bit of shared parking. The theater people have spent six months looking at this site. They are requiring 310 stalls on the whole site, and they know what is being done with the retail on the site. Mr. Farrell stated Fridley's parking requirement for retail is somewhat higher than other communities. They would not have proposed this development on this site if they perceived that much of a parking problem, and they would not be able to get other tenants if it was conceived that there would be a parking problem. This was not really addressing the safety issue, but he did not think the site is underparked at all. ^ Mr. Farrell stated the reason they have not pursued a cross parking easement with Perkins is because most restaurants are willing to provide a cross parking easement with the stipulation that there be no restaurant on the new site. He stated that has decided economic drawbacks for them. Mr. Kondrick asked if the petitioner would consider reducing the number of theater screens to six. Mr. Farrell stated they are going with what the theater people want. The trend is to go with more screens and a smaller seating capacity. Mr. Dahlberg stated he is really concerned about the traffic movement more than any other issue. He is very disappointed to see all the traffic from the site going onto the service road. It is virtually impossible whenever there is any traffic at all on the service road to make a left hand turn to go west on Osborne Road or to go north on the service road. He realized that the theater times are staggered, but they are only staggered 10-15 minutes, and traffic does not clear out in that amount of time. Utilization of the site and orientation of the buildings is not appropriate for this site. It did not make any sense to force traffic onto only one street when there is access to three streets. What is wrong with access to Commerce Lane? �1 � PLANNING COMMI88ION MEETING MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 17 Mr. Farrell stated there is nothing wrong with an exit to Commerce Lane. The Appeals Commission suggested another lane north around the drive-through to allow traffic to go out onto Commerce Lane. Mr. Dahlberg stated that one lane is not going to alleviate the stress on the service road in terms of traffic volume. Ms. Dacy stated that regarding the driveway at Osborne and Commerce Lane, there is a median on Osborne that would prevent traffic from crossing Osborne and going west. That would mean authorization from Anoka County to cut a median. A second alternative would be to have a right turn in/right turn out at Osborne and Commerce Lane. That still would not accommodate�the westbound traffic but might relieve some of the eastbound traffic. Mr. Dahlberg stated the development could be laid out differently on the site so the site could be accessed from two streets. He did not see the logic for the plan as it is designed, other than its orientation toward University Avenue. Moving the theater and the commercial to the south would improve the parking layout. Mr. Farrell stated they worked on this proposal for a couple of months. This orientation is what they came up with for maximum r`1 utilization of the site, and because the theater people want the theater and the parking facing University. Mr. Dahlberg stated he still did not like the current plan. He realized the Planning Commission is not addressing a proposal at this meeting, but a rezoning. However, if they recommend approval of the rezoning, then potentially they are endorsing this proposal because that is what is being proposed for the site. He stated he is not opposed to the rezoning, but he is opposed to this specific proposal. Ms. Dacy stated staff's recommendation is for the Planning Commission to base their approval on the variances as recommended by the Appeals Commission and the site plan stipulations. If the proposal never existed, staff would still recommend the rezoning. In the past, however, the City Council has passed a rezoning based on a particular plan. Mr. Bob Lange, 189 Logan Parkway, reminded the Commission members of the restricted traffic conditions at the Holly Shopping Center at Mississippi and University where all the traffic accesses onto one street. He agreed with Mr. Dahlberg's concerns. An exit on the south side of the property to Commerce Lane would be very useful. ^ Mr. Jim Fuqua stated he is with Conoco, Inc., who owns the Jet Store on the corner of Osborne and University. He stated he expressed concern at the Appeals Commission about the blocking of � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 18 their driveway on the service road by the traffic coming out of the proposed development. He stated he is not opposed to the rezoning or the proposed development and is willing to work with the petitioner on the driveway location. MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Barna, to close the public hearing. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERBON RONDRICR DECLARED THE PIIBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 10:10 P.M. Mr. Dahlberg stated, again, it is position that it is not appropriate to take all the traffic out onto one street. He also did not think it is appropriate to approve a development when the development has to rely on cross parking easements on other sites to meet the parking requirements. In this particular case, with cross parking easements with Marquette Bank and Bob's Produce, they also had the potential of creating serious problems for pedestrians and traffic on Osborne Road. Mr. Dahlberg stated he agreed with Ms. Sherek when she commented earlier that this appears to be overutilization of the site. He encouraged the Planning Commission members to vote against the /'� proposal as submitted. A theater is fine and retail is fine, but not in the way it has been presented. /'1 Mr. Saba stated he liked the idea of a theater in this location in Fridley. His one objection, too, is dumping all the traffic onto Osborne Road. Sharing some of the traffic load with Commerce Lane would be a better plan. Ms. Sherek stated this proposal is not an appropriate utilization of the site. The traffic situation at the service road and Osborne Road is a bad situation. She did not feel as strongly about a cross parking easement when that parking is adjacent to the site, but when a cross parking easement has to be across a busy County road in order to meet the parking requirements, then she could not possible agree with the proposal. Mr. Barna stated it is not a matter of the utilization of the site; it is a matter of the traffic flow design. Mr. Kondrick stated he also agreed with Ms. Sherek and Mr. Dahlberg. Too much is being proposed for this site. Parking should be on site, and people should not have to go off site for parking. Mr. Saba stated he would feel more comfortable about this proposal if there was a better traffic flow design. �� '�1 PLANNING COMMIS3ION MEETING. MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 19 MOTION by Mr. Barna to recommend to City Council Rezoning, ZOA #89-01, by Jerome Farrell, based development, the variances as approved by the Appeals and the site plan stipulations . MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. approval of on planned Commission, MOTION by Mr. Dahlberg, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to recommend to City Council denial of Rezoning, ZOA #89-01, by Jerome Farrell, to rezone the properties described as Lots 1, 2, 28, and 29, Block 2, Commerce Park, from C-1, Local Business, to C-2, General Business, the same being 250 Osborne Road N.E., based on the following reasons: 1. inappropriate utilization of the site 2. one street frontage for complete access and egress 3. cross parking easements off site across Osborne Road causing very unsafe conditions for pedestrians and traffic IIPON A VOICE VOTE� RONDRICR, DAHLBERG� BHERER� BAHA VOTING AYE, BARNA VOTING NAY, VICE-CHAIRPER30N RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED BY A VOTE OF 4-1. Mr. Dahlberg stated he did not object to this type of development, and he encouraged the petitioner to consider a redesign of the site and resubmit that for review. Ms. Dacy stated this item will go to City Council on May 15. Ms. Sherek stated that if the City Council approves this rezoning request, she would recommend one additional stipulation: In view of the traffic flow concerns on this property, all the snow must be hauled off site in order to not reduce the number of parking spaces or to limit visibility. 4. CONSIDERATION OF A VACATION SAV #89-02 BY JEROME FARRELL: To vacate the 30 foot drainage and utility easement located on Lots 1, 2, 28, and 29, Block 2, Commerce Park, the same being 250 Osborne Road N.E. Ms. Dacy stated with or without the development, staff recommends approval of the vacation. MOTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Barna, to recommend to City Council approval of Vacation, SAV #89-02, by Jerome Farrell, to vacate the 30 foot drainage and utility easement located on Lots 1, 2, 28, and 29, Block 2, Commerce Park, the same being 250 ^ Osborne Road N.E. � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 20 OPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOII3LY. 5. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATION FOR PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP• Mr. Saba suggested they address this item when they receive the Environmental Quality/Energy Commissions minutes later in the meeting. 6. RECEIVE APRIL 3, 1989, PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MINUTES: MoTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to receive the April 3, 1989, Parks & Recreation Commission minutes. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED T8E MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. 7. RECE_IVE APRIL 6, 1989, HUMAN RESOURCES COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Ms. Sherek, seconded by Mr. Saba, to receive the April 6, 1989, Human Resources Commission minutes. r^� IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPER80N RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. 8. RECEIVE APRIL 13. 1989, HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Dahlberg, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to receive the April 13, 1989, Housing & Redevelopment Authority minutes. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CBAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOIISLY. 9. RECEIVE APRIL 18. 1989, JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL OUALITYfENERGY COMMISSIONS MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Mr. Dahlberg, to receive the April 18, 1989, Joint EQC/Energy Commissions minutes. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERBON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOIISLY. Mr. Saba stated Lisa Campbell has placed an order for recycling bins. The Lions Club graciously gave the City funding for recycling bins. He stated the Commissions made a motion to proceed with two pilot programs using these bins. � MOTION by Mr. Saba, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to concur with the motion made by the EQC/Energy Commission to implement a program as � PLANNING COMMISBION MEETING� MAY 3, 1989 PAGE 21 outlined in Ms. Campbell's memo dated April 12, 1989, with two pilot programs with approximately 108 sets of bins for one area, approx. 100 sets of bins for another area, and approx. 61 sets of bins to be given to residents who have missed pickups. IIPON A VOICE VOTE� ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIIBLY. Mr. Dahlberg stated that at the meeting, the Commissions made a motion to combine the Environmental Quality Commission and Energy Commission into one commission. MOTION by Mr. Dahlberg, seconded by Mr. Saba, to concur with the motion made by the Environmental Quality Commission and Energy Commission on April 18, 1989, and to recommend to the City Council that the Environmental Quality Commission and Energy Commissions be combined into one commission with a membership to be retained at 7, the name of which shall be the Environmental Quality and Energy Commission. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERBON RONDRICR DECLARED T8E MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. � MOTION by Mr. Dahlberg, seconded by Mr. Saba, to recommend to the City Council that the ordinance be amended to set the number of Planning Commission members at seven (7), with two (2) "at large" members to be appointed by the City Council. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERBON RONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. 10. RECEIVE A__PRIL 25, 1989 APPEALS COMMISSIOAT MINUTES: MOTION by Mr. Barna, seconded by Ms. Sherek, to receive the April 25, 1989, Appeals Commission minutes. IIPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON KONDRICR DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED IINANIMOIISLY. ADJOURNMENT• MOTION by Mr. Barna, seconded by Mr. Saba, to adjourn the meeting. Upon a voice vote, all votinq aye, vice-Chairperson Rondrick declared the May 3, 1989, Planninq Commission meetinq adjourne8 at 10:45 p.m. Res ectfully submitted, ,'� Lynn Saba Recording Secretazy r� ! 1 � . . _ . � : � ��=�-��SC � ��' �% � _ �- � � � � ��.��.� �r � �� %z / _ �� _ �� , �� '�� 7�� --�.,c. : �?%`� ��C'� _�� , � �� , ►- �� ,, , �� -� � � � r� r . ��'��r3� ��9V �.�� '�� .� d �o�a. �.� �[�o ( C�,.c� �-V- �/,_G . ��,��tr�c ��.�i��- �305 �%vt �� S� /�/� �� Z�2Z � �`c� B � � � � r � � � �� ,; - �. _ �. � - .�, , � ; �� , , ;,4 f� ��G ,J~. � l � l � , � , ��;�1 1� , i . .� .� _ � � ° � � � � -,�I� �, li i �_ -:� � ;;�. , , ; � ► /� - � .� � 9so� p,�c� o,�� v�* /�� l Sa31 �� n; p�t� %�c`c�� @� � �o� I� 12� vi � ��. �� V ��s 1 � � � G�.� � � v � 1��/ Gavd�,�� v�� 01/%%�- .��i�t/ �dl2 2. - - - �orn S� ��1 J`3t�' .S3``�;c� �� % �_� �..o��@ ��E'f'� G4id� �e � � �'-°�� '?g o I ��te�s�.J s� ri '� (� � ��„� �3Zq ��.�� '3 l� .� �� r�Sow � � �'�c � �/� y 7�.3�� __ S� �`J �� _ - �.�� _ �qo� �� _ �►e . r1� C� s�F�Q - ,�.��' � � � � �.� .��%� �� ` � ' I-�'��l