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PL 10/07/2009 - 29947PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 7, 2009 Chairperson Kondrick called the Planning Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: Brad Dunham, Leroy Oquist, Dean Saba, David Kondrick, Marcy Sibel, Brad Sielaff, Jack Velin OTHERS PRESENT: Stacy Stromberg, City Planner George Brown, HB Fuller Chuck Schwalbe, Sign Wise Group APPROVE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES: September 16, 2009 MOTION by Commissioner Dunham to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP 09-13, by H.B. Fuller Co., to allow limited outdoor storage in the rear yard of the property, generally located at 5220 Main Street NE. MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Sibel. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:04 P.M. Stacy Stromberg, City Planner, said the petitioner, George Brown, on behalf of HB Fuller, is seeking a special use permit to allow limited outdoor storage in two designed areas, one within the side yard and the other within the rear yard of the property, which is located at 5220 Main Street. The items stored outdoor will consist of storage trailers that contain empty 55 gallon drums, pallet storage, and other misc. materials/equipment required for their business. Ms. Stromberg said that the property is zoned M-2, Heavy Industrial as are the properties to the north and south. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad property is to the west and Single Family Residential properties are located to the east. It is located on Main Street, south of Interstate 694. The property was originally developed in 1959. Storm damage in 1965, required the building to be reconstructed. Several additions have been constructed since 1965. Ms. Stromberg said that this summer the City's Community Development department has hired a Code Enforcement Intern to do systematic inspections of our commercial and industrial properties. As a result, many of our industrial businesses will be coming before the Planning Commission and City Council for special use permits for outdoor storage. This special use permit request is one of those that came to staff's attention during those systematic inspections. Ms. Stromberg said that City Code allows limited outdoor storage in the industrial districts that is up to 50% of the building footprint with a special use permit. The buildings square footage is 43,600 square feet, so City code would allow up to 21,800 sq. ft. of outdoor storage on this site. The petitioner is requesting to have outdoor storage in two designated areas. The first area is located behind the building and is 10,800 sq. ft. in size. The second area is in the side yard and is in the loading dock area and is 5,100 square feet in size. Both areas combined are 15,900 square feet which is below what code would allow for outdoor storage space on this site. The two areas the petitioner has designed as outdoor storage areas, won't be full of outdoor storage items, instead the petitioner has created these two contiguous areas to encompass all of their outdoor storage needs. Ms. Stromberg said that before the special use permit can be issued, several additional requirements need to be met. Those specific requirements relate to height, screening, parking, and the types of materials allowed to be stored outside. Ms. Stromberg said that based on the breakdown of uses within the building, which was provided by the petitioner, parking needs for this site are 73 parking stalls. The petitioner has stated that they have 42 parking stalls on their site. As a result, they fall short of meeting code requirements by 31 stalls. Since this business has been in operation in this location for around 40 years, staff has asked the petitioner to provide staff with a better understanding of how the interior manufacturing space is used. Ms. Stromberg read the letter from George Brown, HB Fuller's Sr. Facility Technical Manager, who stated "HB Fuller currently has 39 employees at the Fridley plant, of which 27 work the day shift, 7 work 2nd shift and S work 3rd shift. At our peak when we were at 100% capacity and when our divisional offices were in the building, we had SI employees of who 34 were on the day shift, 9 were on 2nd shift, and 8 were on 3rd shift. We no longer have a separate division of our company and do not anticipate going back to those levels, but even at the highest point within our company, we had ample parking. It should also be pointed out that we have large machines within our manufacturing space that take up a lot of space and we also have large areas of warehouse space dedicated to storage of materials. " Ms. Stromberg said that staff hasn't noticed that parking seems to be an issue on this site, despite the fact that code would require them to have additional stalls. Based on what the petitioner has stated, about the amount of manufacturing space that is allocated for large equipment and warehouse space, staff would feel comfortable allowing the site to continue to function with the 42 parking stalls that currently exist. Staff will stipulate though that all parking stalls be clearly marked and that at which time parking does become an issue for this tenant or future tenants of the building that the interior space may need to be re-worked to better meet City code parking requirements. Ms. Stromberg said that the petitioner plans to designate two outdoor storage areas on the property. The first area is 10,800 square feet in size and is in the rear yard of the property. Within that storage area will be pallet storage, misc. equipment storage and storage of trailers that contain empty 55 gallon drums. Storage area two is 5,100 square feet in size and is in the side yard of the property, by the loading docks, between 2 sections of the building. This area will be used to store two storage trailers that hold the empty 55 gallon drums that are used for the petitioner's business. It should be noted that the storage trailers that are used will not meet City code height requirement of 12 ft. for outdoor storage, however, these trailers will be coming and going as all the 55 gallon drums are used. However, because the material within the trailers is continually being used for the petitioner's business and the trailers will come and go on the site; staff is comfortable allowing them to remain. Ms. Stromberg noted that one of the trailers on the north side of the lot is slightly over the petitioner's property line. The petitioner has articulated to staff that they have a verbal agreement with the neighboring property owner, Mr. Timmerman to have the trailers stored in this location and have had this agreement for at least 20 years. Ms. Stromberg said that the proposed outdoor storage areas will not be visible from Main Street, however storage area one will be visible from the railroad right of way. As a result, City staff will stipulate that the petitioner plant some ivy along the rear fence or plant some shrubbery along the fence line to help screen the area from the railroad right- of-way. The proposed site plan meets all other code requirements that aren't already addressed in this report. City staff hasn't heard from any neighboring property owners. Ms. Stromberg said that Staff recommends that if the special use permit is granted, the following stipulations be attached. 1. The petitioner shall submit a landscape plan to be approved by staff within 30 days of issuance of this special use permit, showing areas for installation of ivy or sufficient shrubbery to further screen the outdoor storage area from the rail right- of-way. 2. The petitioner shall stripe all parking stalls to meet City code requirements. 3. If a parking shortage occurs on the site, the petitioner shall develop an agr�eeable plan approved by City staff to re-work the interior space of the existing building or find other parking options. 4. The location and type of materials shall be reviewed by the Fire Marshal. Commissioner Oquist asked what type of materials would be stored under stipulation number four. He asked if it would be outdoor storage items. Ms. Stromberg said that is correct. The Fire Marshal would like to know what is being stored outside. Commissioner Oquist asked if the storage items would be checked on a monthly basis. Ms. Stromberg answered no, the Fire Marshal will check out the items periodically but not on a monthly basis. Commissioner Oquist suggested to add something to stipulation number four about the fact that we're referring to outside materials. Commissioner Velin asked if the storage that was facing the rail road tracks really needed to be screened. Chairperson Kondrick said that with the North Star Rail coming in maybe those folks don't want to look at the storage areas. Ms. Stromberg said that it is a code requirement to have the area screened from the rail right-of-way so it was not something additional staff was asking them to do. Chairperson Kondrick asked if the petitioner understood and was in agreement with the stipulations. George Brown, H.B. Fuller Co., said yes, he understood the stipulations and agreed with all of them. MOTION by Commissioner Saba to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:15 P.M. MOTION by Commissioner Saba to approve the Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP 09-13, by H.B. Fuller Co., to allow limited outdoor storage in the rear yard of the property, generally located at 5220 Main Street NE with the following stipulations: 1. The petitioner shall submit a landscape plan to be approved by staff within 30 days of issuance of this special use permit, showing areas for installation of ivy or sufficient shrubbery to further screen the outdoor storage area from the rail right- of-way. 2. The petitioner shall stripe all parking stalls to meet City code requirements. 3. If a parking shortage occurs on the site, the petitioner shall develop an agreeable plan approved by City staff to re-work the interior space of the existing building or find other parking options. 4. The location and type of materials, specifically for outdoor storage, shall be reviewed by the Fire Marshal. Seconded by Commissioner Oquist. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Chairperson Kondrick said that this item will go before the City Council on October 26, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. 2. Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #09-14, by Sign Wise Group, to allow an electronic gas pricing sign, generally located at 7899 East River Road NE. MOTION by Commissioner Sibel to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:16 P.M. Stacy Stromberg, City Planner, said that the petitioner, Sign Wise Group, who is representing Mohamed Zaro, who is the property owner, of the property located at 7899 East River Road, is requesting a special use permit to allow a free-standing electronic LED gas pricing sign. Ms. Stromberg said that an 80 sq. ft. free-standing sign already exists on the subject property. The petitioner is planning to reface the existing sign and insert a 28 sq. ft. panel, which will allow for an electronic LED gas pricing sign. The new sign face will also have panels inserted in it, which will allow space for signage for other tenants within the rest of the building. Total square footage of the sign is 80 sq. ft. Ms. Stromberg said that the subject property is located at the southeast corner of 79tn Way and East River Road. The property is zoned G1, Local Business. Motor vehicle fuel and oil dispensing services are a permitted special use in the G1, Local Business zoning district. In 1992, the City Council approved a special use permit to allow motor vehicle fuel and oil dispensing service as an accessory use to a convenience store. A variance was also granted in 1992, to reduce the hard surface setback requirement from 20 ft. to 6 ft. to allow the construction of a gasoline pump island. The original free- standing sign was constructed in 1981; however, there have been several changes and modifications to the sign since it was constructed. Ms. Stromberg said that electronic changeable signs are an approved special use in any zoning district, except residential, provided the message doesn't change more often than once every 45 seconds. The sign also needs to be in conformance with the sign requirements for the zoning district, in which the property is located. The subject property is zoned, G1, Local Business, which requires that free standing signage cannot exceed 80 square feet in size. The existing and proposed sign meets that size requirement and all other sign code requirements for free-standing signage. The petitioner is proposing a retro-fit the existing sign, by installing a 28 sq. ft. panel which will display an electronic LED gas pricing sign. The new sign will also identify the property as the "Riverboat" and have panels for names of the businesses within the strip mall to be displayed. Ms. Stromberg said that Staff recommends that if the special use permit is granted, the following stipulations be attached. 1. Petitioner shall obtain sign permit and current sign erector license prior to installing any signage on site. 2. Message on L.E.D. sign shall not change more often than authorized under Section 214. 07 of the Fridley City Code. 3. Message on L.E.D. sign shall never fZash or have motion that may distract vehicular traffic in the area. 4. The existing manual gas pricing sign on the pole below the 80 square foot existing cabinet shall be removed upon installation of the electronic gas pricing sign. S. The existing sign pole shall be repainted. Chairperson Kondrick asked if Mr. Schwalbe had anything to add to the staff presentation. Mr. Schwalbe, Sign Wise Group, said that one of the stipulations was changed to allow them to keep the old sign up until the new sign is done so the gas prices can be posted. Chairperson Kondrick asked if he was okay with the other stipulations. Mr. Schwalbe answered yes, definitely. MOTION by Commissioner Saba to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Dunham. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:23 P.M. Commissioner Oquist said that the new signs are nicer looking than the old ones and it is great to have the new technology. Chairperson Kondrick added that it will be easier to change the prices. MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to approve the consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #09-14, by Sign Wise Group, to allow an electronic gas pricing sign, generally located at 7899 East River Road NE with the following stipulations: 1. Petitioner shall obtain sign permit and current sign erector license prior to installing any signage on site. 2. Message on L.E.D. sign shall not change more often than authorized under Section 214.07 of the Fridley City Code. 3. Message on L.E.D. sign shall never flash or have motion that may distract vehicular traffic in the area. 4. The existing manual gas pricing sign on the pole below the 80 square foot existing cabinet shall be removed upon installation of the electronic gas pricing sign. 5. The existing sign pole shall be repainted. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Chairperson Kondrick said that this item will also go before City Council on October 26, 2009. 3. Receive the Minutes of the September 3, 2009 Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to receive the minutes of the September 3, 2009 Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission Meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Saba. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY OTHER BUSINESS: 4. Approve the 2010 Planning Commission meeting dates. Stacy Stromberg, City Planner, said that in 2010 the Planning Commission will only meet once a month; the third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to approve the 2010 Planning Commission meeting dates. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Ms. Stromberg said that at the last meeting there were several SUP's requested for outdoor storage. All of them were approved at the September 28th City Council meeting Ms. Stromberg said that the ne�t Planning Commission meetings scheduled are October 21St and November 4tn ADJOURN MOTION by Commissioner Saba to Adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Oquist. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:25 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Krista Monsrud, Recording Secretary