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PL 03/20/2002 - 30917CITY OF FRIDLEY � PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 20, 2002 CALL TO ORDER: Acting Chairperson Oquist called the March 20, 2002, Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Leroy Oquist, Barbara Johns, Brad Dunham, Ken Vos (for Larry Kuechle) Members Absent: Dave Kondrick, Larry Kuechle, Dean Saba, Diane Savage Others Present: Stacy Stromberg, Planner Paul Bolin, Planning Coordinator Lonnie L. LeClair, 234 69�' Avenue Kemal Balogul, Board Member, AI-Amal School Salah Ayari, President, AI-Amal School Anawar Abdelkarim, Vice President, Islamic Center of Minnestoa APPROVE THE MARCH 6 2002. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES: MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to approve the March 6, 2002, Planning Commission meeting minutes as presented. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #02-02, by Lonnie Le Clair, for an addition to an existing shed, generally located at 234 69�' Avenue, NE. MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to waive the reading and open the public hearing. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED AT 7:32 P.M. Ms. Stromberg stated that the petitioner is requesting a special use permit to allow the construction of a 96 square foot addition to an existing 240 square foot shed at 234 69�' Avenue. The existing shed and proposed addition will be used for storage. Section 205 requires a special use permit to allow accessory buildings other than the first accessory building over 240 square feet. It requires the total square footage of accessory structures not to exceed 1400 square feet. The total square footage of the existing garage and shed plus the proposed addition to the shed is 786 square feet. The existing 240 square foot shed located in the rear yard was built in 1984. At the time it was constructed, a roof was extended an additional 96 square feet from the west wall of the structure. A petitioner is requesting to enclose the 96 square foot area, therefore expanding the existing structure. Ms. Stromberg stated that the roof from the shed extends an additional 12 feet. This is the area the petitioner is requesting to enclose. Staff recommends approval with the following 0 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 20, 2002 PAGE 2 stipulations as second accessory buildings over 240 square feet are a permitted special use in ^ the R-1 zoning district: 1. The petitioner shall obtain all necessary building permits prior to construction. 2. The structure shall not be used for a home occupation or living area. 3. The total square footage of all accessory structures must not exceed 1,400 square feet. 4. The shed addition shall be architecturally compatible with the existing home and finished with complementary siding and color scheme. The petitioner, Lonnie LeClair, stated he does not have any issue with the stipulations. Mr. Oquist asked if the shed was going to be enclosed completely. Mr. LeClair stated that the north side and south side will be enclosed and the west wall will have two steel doors. Mr. Oquist asked if he was going to use this only for storage. Mr. LeClair stated it was only for storage. � Dr. Vos asked if the neighbors had any questions. Mr. LeClair stated the neighbors wonder why he did not do this before and why he had to get a permit. � Dr. Vos stated this is a reasonable request. Since the roof line is already there, it is appropriate. /""� MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to recommend approval of SP #02-02 with the following stipulations: 1. The petitioner shall obtain all necessary building permits prior to construction. 2. The structure shall not be used for a home occupation or living area. 3. The total square footage of all accessory structures must not exceed 1,400 square feet. 4. The shed addition shall be architecturally compatible with the existing home and finished with complementary siding and color scheme. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Oquist stated this will go to City Council on April 8. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #02-03, by AI-Amal School, to convert the property into a licensed daycare center, generally located at 1413 Gardena Avenue NE. MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to waive the reading and open the public hearing. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED AT 7:39 P.M. Ms. Stromberg stated that the petitioner is requesting a special use permit to allow a licensed daycare center at 1413 Gardena Avenue. The existing home would be converted to meet 10 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 20, 2002 PAGE 3 County and State licensing requirements for a daycare center. The property is zoned R-1, ,� single family. The existing home was built before 1949 with finro home additions constructed in 1952 and 1996. The existing garage was built in 1987. The property is owned by the Islamic Center of Minnesota and exists as a licensed family daycare. Section 205 requires a special use permit to allow daycare centers that are located in places of worship, schools, or in other buildings located on arterial or collector streets in the R-1 zoning district, provided they meet specific parking and Iot size requirements. Code requires one parking space for each 100 square feet of usable daycare floor area. The petitioner indicated that 614 square feet of the home will be used to accommodate the daycare center. According to the above code requirements, six parking spaces will be required for the daycare center. � Ms. Stromberg stated that the existing driveway and parking area provide enough space for 6+ vehicles. Staff has observed the property and noticed there are a maximum of three vehicles parked in the driveway at any given time. The code requires that in order for a daycare center to be located in the R-1 zoning district, a minimum lot size of 12,000 square feet is required. The dimensions of the property are 100 feet by 200 feet which is 20,000 square feet exceeding the minimum lot size requirement. The petitioner has stated that the daycare center will accommodate approximately 10-14 preschool age children and will operate Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Staff recommends approval with the following stipulations as daycare centers are a permitted special use in the R-1 zoning district provided they are located in places of worship, schools, or in other buildings located on arterial or collector streets: 1, At least one (1) off-street parking space shall be provided for each 100 square feet of useable day care floor area. 2. If the dropping off and picking up of children from the day care center becomes a traffic hazard, a curb expansion like what currently exists at the Islamic Center will be required. Ms. Johns asked if the code requirement of six parking spaces applies only to daycare staff or the parents of the children. Ms. Stromberg stated that it applies to the staff. Ms. Johns stated that if there are six staff, there will be no room for the parents to drop off children. They would be dropping children off in the bump-out curb near the AI-Amal school. Ms. Stromberg stated that the people dropping off and picking up children are not there for an extended period of time, and there is enough room to accommodate at least six vehicles. Mr. Oquist stated that it accommodates six staff vehicles, not six drop-offs. Mr. Bolin stated that the parking is factored by the square footage and factors in enough parking space for staff and parents to drop-off and pick-up children. Six hundred fourteen square foot area for daycare will not require six staff members. Staff has driven by this site often to see how many vehicles there are, and there are never more than two or three in the driveway. Ms. Johns asked if the whole home would be used for daycare. Mr. Bolin stated that it does not get counted toward the licensing requirements with the County and State. Mr. Oquist asked if this was a center already. 11 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 20, 2002 PAGE 4 Ms. Stromberg stated that it is a licensed family daycare, not a daycare center. This is licensed �—.� by the County. The center needs to meet more requirements by both the County and the State. Mr. Dunham asked how a need is determined for the additional curb area for drop-off in the event parking is an issue. Ms. Stromberg stated staff needs to monitor it; and if there is concern, staff would recommend a curb expansion. Mr. Bolin stated that the school and daycare itself will also help monitor that situation. Mr. Dunham stated that he lives close, and there is a lot of traffic. If there are 14 children and all 14 get picked up at the same time, there will be a shortage of parking. Mr. Bolin stated that may be possible. Mr. Anawar Abdelkarim, Vice President of the Islamic Center of Minnesota, stated that 614 square feet is the upper floor of the house that would be used for daycare. Mr. Oquist asked if the whole house would be used for the daycare center. Mr. Abdelkarim stated that the basement is not used for the daycare center. Ms. Johns asked if anyone would be living in the basement. � Mr. Abdelkarim stated that it would only be used on the main level, and nobody will be living in the basement. Dr. Vos asked if there was any concem about the bump-out and the drop-off of the children. Mr. Abdelkarim stated there is enough room for six cars. If the drop-off is an issue, they will work it out with the school and see what needs to be done. Mr. Oquist asked if he meant they would use the school bump-out area for the daycare center. Mr. Abdelkarim stated they can use it if they need to. Ms. Johns asked if that was safe. Mr. Bolin stated they would insist on extending the bump-out if the parking is not going to work. A separate bump-out would be built out near the daycare. Dr. Vos asked the number of staff people. Mr. Abdelkarim stated he did not think it is more than three staff. Ms. Johns stated that if there are 14 children, there are State requirements for the number of staff. Mr. Abdelkarim stated that he thinks so. � Dr. Vos stated that it is age dependent. 12 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 20, 2002 PAGE 5 Ms. Johns asked if the fence goes around the entire property and where the children will be � outside. Mr. Abdelkarim stated that the whole perimeter of the back of the outside of the house has a fence to be separated from the other school. Mr. Dunham asked if the cars would be parked one behind the other because it is not too wide. Mr. Bolin stated there is enough room to park finro side by side. Mr. Dunham stated that there is a little concern, and he hopes it all works out. Mr. Abdelkarim stated they have worked for a couple of years to get a center and will have some of the same kids that are in the family daycare now. Ms. Johns stated that there are more rules now with the State and County involved in the daycare center. Mr. Oquist asked staff if they had heard from any neighbors. Mr. Bolin stated that he had one call from a neighbor wondering when the meeting was and where the item was on the agenda. MOTION by Dr. Vos, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to close the public hearing. ^ UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED AT 7:53 P.M. Ms. Johns stated she is a little concerned about the drop-off. If close monitoring is involved, it should be okay. Mr. Oquist stated the cars are always parked on the side where Gardena Avenue is so no one has to cross the road. Mr. Dunham stated that at 4:00 p.m., there is a lot of activity. If staff is watching that, it should be fine. Mr. Oquist stated Totino Grace High School has the biggest activity around 2:00 p.m., so if the majority of children leave before 4:00 p.m., that will make it easier. Mr. Salah Ayari, President of AI-Amal School, stated they can use part of the parking lot at Totino Grace if needed. Mr. Oquist asked when the kids are normally dismissed from AI-Amal. Mr. Ayari stated they are normally dismissed at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Oquist stated that if they are using the Totino Grace parking lot, the director of the daycare center should be there. � MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to recommend approval of SP #02-03 with the following stipulations: 13 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, MARCH 20, 2002 PAGE 6 1. At least one (1) off-street parking space shall be provided for each 100 square feet of � useable day care floor area. 2. If the dropping off and picking up of children from the day care center becomes a traffic hazard, a curb expansion like what currently exists at the Islamic Center will be required. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Mr. Oquist stated this will go to Council on April 8. 3. RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 27. 2002, APPEALS COMMISSION MEETING: MOTION by Dr. Vos, seconded by Ms. Johns, to receive the minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 19. 2002, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & ENERGY COMMISSION MEETING: MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Mr. Dunham, to receive the minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED � THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. OTHER BUSINESS: Mr. Bolin stated staff would like to welcome a new member to the Planning Commission, Brad Dunham. Mr. Dunham is a Realtor with Edina Realty, and it will be nice to get a Realtor's perspective for some of the land use items. Mr. Dunham has been a Fridley resident for the past 18 years. Mr. Bolin stated Ken Vos, Vice-Chairperson of the Appeals Commission, was at the Planning Commission sitting in for Larry Kuechle so there would be a quorum. He thanked Ken and welcomed Brad. He stated the next Planning Commission meeting is April 3. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Ms. Johns, seconded by Dr. Vos, to adjoum the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON OQUIST DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MARCH 20, 2002, PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNED AT 8:00 P.M. RespectFully submitted, � � Sign L. John n � �� Recording Secretary 14