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PLM 05/16/2018 CITY OF FRIDLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MAY 16, 2018 Call to Order: Chair Kondrick called the City of Fridley Planning Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call: Members Present: Mike Heintz, Rachel Schwankl, David Ostwald, Mark Hansen, and David Kondrick Members Absent: Brad Sielaff and LeRoy Oquist Others Present: Stacy Stromberg, Planner Gary Valley, Cornerstone Private Asset Trust Company Paul Neiley, 6610 Lucia Lane Troy Eichmann, Furniture Mart USA Roger Tomten, ARCHNET Approve Planning Commission Meeting Minutes: March 21, 2018 MOTION by Commissioner Hansen to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Heintz. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Public Hearing: 1.Consideration of a Plat, PS #18-03, by Cornerstone Private Asset Trust Co., LLC FBO Gary Valley, to subdivide one large single-family lot to create 3 single family lots, generally located at 6663 Lucia Lane. MOTION by Commissioner Ostwald to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Hansen. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:01 P.M. Stacy Stromberg, Planner, stated that the petitioner, Gary Valley, with Cornerstone Private Asset Trust Company, who is the owner of the property at 6663 Lucia Lane, is requesting a preliminary plat to allow the subdivision of one large single-family lot to create three single family lots. Ms. Stromberg noted that the subject property is zoned R-1, Single Family as are the properties to the south and the east. The property to the west is zoned R-3, Multi-family and has an apartment building located on it. The properties to the north are also zoned R-3, Multi-family and they are occupied with single family homes. The existing home on the lot was constructed in 1951 and the garage was constructed in 1955. An addition to the home was constructed in 1979. There isn’t a building permit record for the existing garage that will be located on Lot 2, so it is staffs’ assumption that it was /źƷǤƚŅCƩźķƌĻǤtƌğƓƓźƓŭ/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓaĻĻƷźƓŭƚŅağǤЊЏͲЋЉЊБЋ constructed prior to 1949, which was when the City of Fridley was incorporated. Fridley requires that lots in the R-1 district be a minimum of 75’ in width with a minimum total lot area of 9,000 square feet. Ms. Stromberg reviewed that the existing lot is 81,515 sq. ft. in size. After the replat, proposed Lot #1 which is where the existing house and garage are located, will be 30,950 sq. ft. in size and 75 ft. wide. Proposed Lot #2 which is where the older garage is located will be 10,540 sq. ft. in size and 75 ft. wide. Lot #3 will be 40,000 sq. ft. in size and 144 ft. wide. The petitioner notes that the reason Lot #3 is so large is because they want to keep it as close as they can to allow connection to the sanitary sewer in the street. The reason that Lot #2 has a jog to it is to ensure it has the 75 ft. of width that is required and to also make sure the existing garage on Lot #2 will meet the 5 ft. setback requirement for an accessory structure. Ms. Stromberg said that City Staff recommends approval of this preliminary plat requestas the lots exceed minimum size requirements. City staff recommends the following stipulations if the preliminary plat is approved. 1.All necessary permits shall be obtained prior to construction of new homes, including but not limited to building, driveway, land alteration. 2.Grading and drainage plan to be approved by City’s engineering staff prior to the issuance of any building permits, in order to minimize impacts to the surrounding properties. 3.Any requirements set forth by the Rice Creek Watershed district shall be met. 4.Property owner, at time of building permit application, shall provide proof that any existing wells or individual sewage treatment systems located on the site are properly capped or removed. 5.Property owner at time, of building permit application for the construction of the single-family homes, shall pay all water and sewer connection fees. 6.Property owner, at time of building permit application for the construction of each new single- family home, shall pay $1,500.00 required park dedication fee per lot. (2 new lots = $3,000.00 park dedication fees to be paid) 7.The petitioner shall agree to preserve mature trees to the extent possible. All trees required to be removed for the proposed homes shall be marked and approved by City staff prior to issuance of building permits. 8.The new house on Lot #2 needs to be constructed within 36 months of final plat approval or the existing garage needs to be removed. Commissioner Schwankl asked if any trees that were removed needed to be replaced. Ms. Stromberg replied that the site is pretty wooded, and Fridley doesn’t have a tree replacement ordinance to enforce, so staff is asking that they preserve as many trees as the can, but understand that likely many will need to be removed. Commissioner Hansen asked why the garage wouldn’t be removed. Ms. Stromberg replied that the garage is in good condition considering the age which is why they want to keep it. Gary Valley, Property Owner, said that he understood the stipulations and had no objections to the staff report. Commissioner Heintz asked if the building on the second lot would need to match the garage. /źƷǤƚŅCƩźķƌĻǤtƌğƓƓźƓŭ/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓaĻĻƷźƓŭƚŅağǤЊЏͲЋЉЊБЌ Ms. Stromberg replied that it would need to be architecturally compatible with the colors and roof lines. Staff could add that as a stipulation, if the Commission wanted. Chairperson Kondrick asked how old the garage was. Mr. Valley wasn’t sure but if it couldn’t be incorporated with the new home it would be taken down. Commissioner Schwankl asked if there was a specific time frame was to build. Mr. Valley replied no, he just started on the project. Commissioner Hansen asked what kind of home would be built or what the price range would be. Mr. Valley replied that those details have not been worked out yet. MOTION by Commissioner Heintz to move into record the letter from Alina Cramble at 6645 Lucia Lane and Stacy Neiley at 6610 Lucia Lane. Seconded by Commissioner Schwankl. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Paul Neiley, 6610 Lucia Lane, was not opposed to the development of the lots but was concerned about the traffic on the street. He asked for confirmation that this would not be multi-family homes. Chairperson Kondrick said that this is zoned R-1, so is zoned for single family homes. Ms. Stromberg noted that in the future this could be rezoned but another public hearing would need to be held. The petitioner is requesting to build single family homes. Mr. Neiley asked if the Planning Commission would consider looking at the traffic levels and maybe do something like a cul-de-sac at the end of the street. Chairperson Kondrick replied that this meeting is recorded and City Council would also have the minutes so they will be aware of the issues. MOTION by Commissioner Hansen to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Ostwald. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:23 P.M. MOTION by Commissioner Oswald to approve the Consideration of a Plat, PS #18-03, by Cornerstone Private Asset Trust Co., LLC FBO Gary Valley, to subdivide one large single-family lot to create 3 single family lots, generally located at 6663 Lucia Lane, with the stipulations as submitted by staff. Seconded by Commissioner Heintz. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY /źƷǤƚŅCƩźķƌĻǤtƌğƓƓźƓŭ/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓaĻĻƷźƓŭƚŅağǤЊЏͲЋЉЊБЍ Ms. Stromberg noted that public works and public safety have been active with the neighborhood and Islamic University to try to come up with solutions for the traffic issues. 2.Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #18-02, by ARCHNET, to allow a building addition that will increase the lot coverage from 40% to 49.2%, generally located at 5353 East River Road and PIN #223024430009. MOTION by Commissioner Hansen to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Ostwald. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:26 P.M. Stacy Stromberg, Planner, stated that the petitioner, Roger Tomten, on behalf of Ashley Furniture, is seeking a special use permit to increase the allowable lot coverage requirement from 40% to 49% to allow the construction of a building addition on the north and south side of the existing building, which is located at 5353 East River Road. To allow the southern building addition, the property owner has negotiated purchase of the vacant lot to the south, contingent upon City approvals. Ms. Stromberg stated that the property is zoned M-2, Heavy Industrial, as are the properties to the south, west and east. The property is bordered by the East River Road Service Drive and Interstate 694 on the north. The property was originally developed with the construction of a 142,000-sq. ft. building in 1971. Furniture Mart USA, Inc. purchased the property in 2004 to operate an Ashely Furniture retail store and warehouse. In preparation for the purchase of the property, Furniture Mart applied for and received a special use permit in 2003 to increase the lot coverage requirement from 40% to 48% to allow the construction of a 46,336-sq. ft. warehouse addition to the building. As a result of that special use permit approval, the addition was constructed in 2004, and the building has remained the same size since then. Ms. Stromberg reviewed that in 2012, Furniture Mart purchased the old Home Valu building at 5401 East River Road and expanded and remodeled that building to allow for the Furniture Mart retail store and warehouse that exists today. This “campus” approach has worked for this property owner and their business has continued to grow as they have opened up other retail stores within the metro area. This property serves as the warehouse space for all the retail stores in the metro and because of the continued growth of this business, there is a need to further expand the existing building for additional warehouse space. Ms. Stromberg said that the property owner designed the proposed warehouse addition on the south side of the building which will then move all semi-truck deliveries to Industrial Blvd. The existing truck dock area off of the East River Rd Service Drive will be dedicated to an enhanced customer pick up area and for straight truck loading and delivery. This design separates semi-truck traffic from the customer pick up traffic. To increase efficiency and customer service on the site, the property owner would also like to construct a small addition on the north side of the building with a canopy for customers that are picking up their furniture. The layout they are proposing will be a covered loading area that will improve the safety and configuration of the customer pick up area. This addition will require a variance that will go before the Appeals Commission on June 6, 2018. Ms. Stromberg said that the petitioner is seeking a special use permit to increase the lot coverage requirement for the two properties combined from 40% to 49% to allow for the construction of the warehouse and customer pick up addition. The existing Ashley Furniture property along with the vacant parcel to the south is 491,534 sq. ft. in size. The existing building is 188,794 sq. ft. and the proposed warehouse and customer pick up additions will add another 52,833-sq. ft. As a result of the additions, the /źƷǤƚŅCƩźķƌĻǤtƌğƓƓźƓŭ/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓaĻĻƷźƓŭƚŅağǤЊЏͲЋЉЊБЎ total building area will be 241,627 sq. ft., which increases the lot coverage to 49%, therefore the need for a special use permit. Ms. Stromberg said that the code requires that a special use permit may be granted to increase lot coverage to 50% as long as the property is meeting all other code requirements. The new additions will require a total of 26 new parking stalls. Twenty-one parking stalls will be removed to allow for the construction of the addition to the south. The petitioner is showing on the site plan room for 56 new stalls, which is 9 stalls more than code would require. If the petitioner doesn’t need the extra parking stalls, staff would encourage the installation of more green space or landscaping as opposed to extra parking. The proposed southern addition complies with all setback requirements. Prior to building permit approval, all landscaping and storm water requirements will also need to be complied with. City staff hasn’t heard any comments from neighboring property owners. Ms. Stromberg said that Staff recommends approval of this 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 M-2, Heavy Industrial zoning district, provided all other code requirement are met, subject to stipulations. Staff recommends that if the special use permit is granted, the following stipulations be attached. 1.The petitioner shall obtain any required permits prior to the start of construction. 2.The petitioner shall meet all building, fire, and ADA code requirements. 3.The addition shall be architecturally compatible with the existing building. 4.City engineering staff to review and approve grading, drainage, and utility plan prior to issuance of a building permit. 5.The petitioner shall satisfy Mississippi Watershed Management Organization requirements prior to issuance of a building permit. 6.Landscape and Irrigation plan to be reviewed and approved by City Staff prior to issuance of building permit. 7.Per Section 205 of the Fridley City Code, this Special Use Permit will become null and void one year after the City Council approval date if work has not commenced or if the Petitioner has not petitioned the City Council for an extension. Commissioner Heintz remembers when this building was converted and there was concern about getting the fire trucks around the building; is that still an issue? Ms. Stromberg replied that the Fire Department has looked at the site plan and require 20’ around the building and that requirement will be met. Troy Eichmann, Furniture Mart USA said that this is a significant business operation in the second generation of owners; the business was founded in 1977. Business has grown from 8 trucks to 16 trucks and there are not enough dock doors to distribute the product. It is not efficient to run the trucks through the current facility. Chairperson Kondrick asked if the new building would be used to warehouse other facilities product. Mr. Ikeman replied that this location will service only Minneapolis area with additional opportunity to expand through the lake region like Brainerd, Baxter, and Bemidji. Commissioner Ostwald asked what the timeline was to start building. /źƷǤƚŅCƩźķƌĻǤtƌğƓƓźƓŭ/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓaĻĻƷźƓŭƚŅağǤЊЏͲЋЉЊБЏ Mr. Ikeman replied that they would like to start moving dirt in July. They will work closely with the architect to identify a general contractor to get started. Hopefully the project will be complete by the end of year or early 2019. Chairperson Kondrick asked if the he was ok and agreed with the stipulations. Mr. Ikeman replied yes, they are standard and expected. MOTION by Commissioner Hansen to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Ostwald. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:39 P.M. MOTION by Commissioner Ostwald to approve the Consideration of a Special Use Permit, SP #18-02, by ARCHNET, to allow a building addition that will increase the lot coverage from 40% to 49.2%, generally located at 5353 East River Road and PIN #223024430009, with the stipulations as submitted by staff. Seconded by Commissioner Heintz. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY RECEIVE by MINUTES FROM OTHER COMMISSIONS: 1.March 5, 2018, Parks and Recreation Commission MOTION by Commissioner Ostwald. Seconded by Commissioner Schwankl. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2.March 13, 2018, Environmental Quality and Energy Commission MOTION by Commissioner Hansen. Seconded by Commissioner Heintz. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3.February 1, 2018, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission MOTION by Commissioner Ostwald. Seconded by Commissioner Hansen. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4.April 5, 2018, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission MOTION by Commissioner Hansen. Seconded by Commissioner Ostwald. /źƷǤƚŅCƩźķƌĻǤtƌğƓƓźƓŭ/ƚƒƒźƭƭźƚƓaĻĻƷźƓŭƚŅağǤЊЏͲЋЉЊБА UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 5.April 2, 2018 Parks and Recreation Commission MOTION by Commissioner Heintz. Seconded by Commissioner Schwankl. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Other Business: Stacy Stromberg, Planner, said that the 2 items discussed at their March meeting, the billboard at the public storage and the Pulte Homes patio home plan was approved by the Council. The next meeting is June 20, pending agenda items. Adjourn: MOTION by Commissioner Schwankl to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Ostwald. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIR KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:46 P.M.