PL 06/07/2006 - 30892n
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CITY OF FRIDLEY
PLANNING COMMISSION
June 7, 2006
CALL TO ORDER:
Commissioner Savage called the regular meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 7:30
p.m.
ROLL CALL:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
MEMBERS ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Diane Savage, Barbara Johns, Brad Dunham, David Kondrick,
Leroy Oquist
Dean Saba, Larry Kuechle
Stacy Stromberg, City Planner
Kenneth Goldman, K& N Labs
APPROVE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES: - May 3rd, 2006
MOTION by Commissioner Oquist, seconded by Commissioner Dunham to approve the
minutes with the correction of Barbara Johns name.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE DECLARED THE
MOTION CARRIED UNAMINOUSLY.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1. Consideration of a Special Use Permit. SP# 06-06, bv Kenneth Goldman. to
increase the lot coveraae reauirement from 40% to 43°/a. to expand the existina
buildina, to be used for additional laboratorv instrumentation, conference room
and office space, aenerallv located at 7830 Elm Street.
MOTION by Commissioner Kondrick, seconded by Commissioner Johns, to open the public
hearing.
UPON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:32 P.M.
Ms. Stromberg, City Planner, presented a request from the petitioner, Kenneth Goldman of K
& N Labs, who is seeking a special use permit to increase the lot coverage requirement from
40% to 43%, to expand his existing building at 7830 Elm Street, to be used for additional
laboratory instrumentation, conference room and office space.
Ms. Stromberg stated that the subject property is located on Elm Street, north of 78th Avenue
and is zoned S-3, Heavy Industrial Onaway Addition as are all surrounding properties. The
existing 2,380 square foot building was constructed in 1985. The existing property is 10,760
square feet and the existing building is 2,380 square feet (34 ft. by 70 ft.), which meets the
allowable 40% lot coverage requirement. The petitioner plans to construct a 2,240 square foot
(32 ft. by 70 ft.) addition to the existing building, which increases the lot coverage to 43%, thus
the need for a special use permit.
Ms. Stromberg stated that code requires that a special use permit may be granted as long as
� the property is meeting all other code requirements. All other code requirements are being met,
including but not limited to parking and setbacks. City Staff has not heard any comments from
neighboring property owners.
Ms. Stromberg stated that City Staff recommends approval of the special use permit request as
an increase in lot coverage for a one story building from 40% to 50% is a permitted special use
in the S-3 zoning district, provided all other code requirements are met, subject to stipulations.
Therefore, Staff recommends that if the special use permit is granted, the following stipulations
be attached:
1. The petitioner shall obtain all necessary permits prior to construction.
2. The petitioner shall comply with MN Rules Chapter 1306 for fire sprinkler
requirements.
3. The petitioner shall comply with all ADA requirements for parking.
4. Addition shall be architecturally compatible with the existing building and finished
with complementary exterior building material and color scheme.
5. No outdoor storage of equipment or materials is permitted without a special use
permit.
6. Petitioner shall submit landscape plan to be reviewed and approved by City Staff
prior to issuance of a building permit.
7. Petitioner shall submit grading and drainage plan to be reviewed and approved
by City engineering staff prior to issuance of a building permit.
Commissioner Kondrick questioned how many employees are employed at K& N Labs and if
there would be sufficient parking.
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Mr. Goldman, K8�N Labs, replied that K& N Labs has 5 employees and the parking would be
sufficient.
Commissioner Kondrick questioned if neighbors have made any comments on this addition
request.
Ms. Stromberg replied that City Staff has not received any comments from neighbors.
Commissioner Savage questioned if Mr. Goldman had any problems with the stipulations.
Mr. Goldman stated he did not have a problem with the stipulations. He also shared photos of
the cuRent lab which showed why this additional space is needed. Space currently is very
crowded and business has been so busy they can hardly keep up with the demand. He also
commented that they were going to move the business to another location but employees
wanted to stay in Fridley. The space requested will be just enough to serve their needs at this
time. He also shared floor plans from an architect and discussed the materials that will be used.
The front exterior will be rock faced block and they will match the existing awning.
MOTION by Commissioner Kondrick, seconded by Commissioner Oquist, to close the public
hearing.
UPON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:42 P.M.
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Commissioner Kondrick commented that he drove by the property and thought the plan will
look nice and had no reason to deny the request.
Commissioner Oquist stated that the request seemed straight forward and agreed with
Commissioner Kondrick.
Commissioner Savage agreed with others and stated that the addition is within code
requirements.
MOTION by Commissioner Kondrick, seconded by Commissioner Dunham to approve Special
Use Permit, SP# 06-06, by Kenneth Goldman, to increase the lot coverage requirement from
40% to 43%, to expand the existing building, to be used for additional laboratory
instrumentation, conference room and office space, generally located at 7830 Elm Street with
the following stipulations:
1. The petitioner shall obtain all necessary permits prior to construction.
2. The petitioner shall comply with MN Rules Chapter 1306 for fire sprinkler
requirements.
3. The petitioner shall comply with all ADA requirements for parking.
4. Addition shall be architecturally compatible with the existing building and finished
with complementary exterior building material and color scheme.
5. No outdoor storage of equipment or materials is permitted without a special use
permit.
6. Petitioner shall submit landscape plan to be reviewed and approved by City Staff
prior to issuance of a building permit.
7. Petitioner shall submit grading and drainage plan to be reviewed and approved
by City engineering staff prior to issuance of a building permit.
�` UPON A UNANIUMOUS VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Receive the minutes of the April 11, 2006, Environmental Qualitv and Enerav
Commission Meetinca
MOTION by Commissioner Johns, seconded by Commissioner Oquist, to receive the minutes
as presented.
UPON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED
3. Receive the minutes of the Februarv 2. 2006, Housina and Redevelopment
Authoritv Commission Meetina
MOTION by Commissioner Kondrick, seconded by Commissioner Johns, to receive the minutes
as presented.
UPON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED
4. Receive the minutes of the April 26, 2006, Appeals Commission Meetina
MOTION by Commissioner Kondrick, seconded by Commissioner Oquist, to receive the
� minutes as presented.
UPON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE
DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED
� OTHER BUSINESS:
5. Update on the Sign Code
Ms. Stromberg, City Planner, stated that City Council has heard the concems of the Planning
Commission regarding too much signing on the interstate 694 comdor. Currently, staff is
proposing to City Council a change in the language that would reduce the amount of signage
allowed for properties allow interstate 694 by creating a 275 ft. buffer measured from the
centerline of 694, which will include JLT Group Property, Home Depot, Cub Foods, Medtronic,
Home Valu, Minikahda Mini Storage, All Temp, Target and Nedegaard Billboard Site.
Properties within this buffer will be allowed an interstate sign where the size of the sign is
determined based on the square footage of their lot and an additional free standing sign on a
different street, which they are proposing to reduce from 80 square feet to 40 square feet.
Property owners would have the ability to increase the size of this sign to 80 square feet if they
reduce their interstate sign by 40 square feet. 80 square feet will be the maximum size allowed
on the additional free standing sign.
Ms. Stromberg stated that there has been no other discussion about all other sign code
amendments, except for the fact that the City Council feels that all churches should be treated
the same.
Commissioner Dunham questioned if property owners would be limited to advertise their
business only on the sign or if they could advertise anything.
^ Ms. Stromberg stated that City Staff can not enforce the content of the sign message, only the
sign sizes and location.
Commissioner Dunham commented that the 40/80 square footage compromise doesn't do
much to control the size of the interstate signs. We are still offering more than other
communities and should be in line with other communities regarding the size of sign allowed.
Commissioner Johns agreed that not much has changed in the last sign code text
amendment. Allowing a sign size using the base on acreage of the property is still not the best
way to determine the size of the sign. The size should be determined by the amount of frontage
along interstate 694.
Commissioner Savage recalled that other cities are not as generous with the size of the sign
as Fridley and really not much changed from the first sign proposal.
Ms. Stromberg stated that she had further researched other cities and shared the following
information:
Vadnais HeiQhts - allows sign size to increase up to 50% or 340 square feet with
a conditional use permit.
Shoreview - allows sign size up to 300 sq. ft. with conditional use permit.
Brooklyn Center - allows sign size up to 250 sq. ft.
Eagan - allows sign size up to 300 sq. ft.
Commissioner Oquist questioned where Staff came up with 500 sq. ft. maximum. He
�"'� recommended changing the maximum on the sign code proposal to 340 sq. ft. This seems
more reasonable and in line with other communities.
Ms. Stromberg stated that the 500 sq. ft. originally came from Medtronic requesting a billboard
type sign along 694. The billboard sign for Medtronic was recently approved through an
�� amendment to their master plan. It is likely that the billboard would be considered their highway
signage, and any other signs along the interstate would need to come before the Planning
Commission for approval due to the S-2 zoning and master plan approval.
Commissioner Kondrick stated that he would not be in favor of a 500 sq. ft sign anywhere in
the City of Fridley.
Commissioner Oquist recommended changing the largest allowable sign size from 500 sq. ft.
to 340 sq. ft. and if Medtronic requests an additional 500 sq. ft. sign we take them through the
master plan amendment process. This way we would be in conjunction with the other
communities.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Commissioner Oquist, seconded by Commissioner Kondrick to adjoum.
UPON UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE, COMMISSIONER SAVAGE DECLARED THE MEETING
ADJOURNED AT 8:02 p.m.
RespectFully Submitted,
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Krista Monsrud
�` Recording Secretary
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CITY OF FRIDLEY
SIGN-IN SHEET
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
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