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PL 09/19/2012 - 31343PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING September 19, 2012 Chairperson Kondrick called the Planning Commission Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Jack Velin, Brad Sielaff, Brad Dunham, David Kondrick, and Leroy Oquist Tim Solberg and Dean Saba Stacy Stromberg, Planner Todd Erickson, Folz, Freeman, Erickson, Inc. Jim Heinitz, Furniture Mart Bill Hinks, Furniture Mart Approval of Minutes: August 15, 2012 MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. PUBLIC HEARING Consideration of a Public Hearing for a Special Use Permit, SP # 12-05, by Archnet, Inc., on behalf of Furniture USA, is seeking a special use permit to increase the lot coverage requirement from 40% to 44%, to expand the existing building at 5401 East River Road. MOTION by Commissioner Dunham to open the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED AT 7:02 P.M. Stacy Stromberg, Planner, stated the petitioner, Mike Diem of Archnet, Inc., who is representing the owner of the property, Furniture Mart, is seeking a special use permit to increase the lot coverage requirement from 40% to 44%, to allow for the construction of an addition to the north side of the existing building, which is located at 5401 East River Road. The addition will be used for additional furniture showroom space. Ms. Stromberg stated the property is zoned M-2, Heavy Industrial, as are the properties to the south, west and east. The property is bordered by Interstate 694 on the north. The property was originally developed in 1969 as a retail and warehouse building that housed Plywood America. In the early 1990's, the business changed to Home Valu, which continued operating their business at this location until they closed their doors in 2010. In 1976 a metal building addition was constructed and in 2003, the entry to the building was remodeled. Several interior modifications were made to the building over the 40 years it was in operation. Planning Commission Meeting September 19, 2012 Page 2 Ms. Stromberg stated the petitioner is seeking a special use permit to increase the lot coverage requirement from 40% to 44%. The proposed project includes demolition of the most northern piece of the existing building and then construction of a new 15,002 square foot addition along the north side of the building. The proposed 15,002 square foot addition will be constructed in two phases. The first phase is 8,618 square feet in size and is on the northwest side of the building. The second phase is 6,384 square feet in size and is on the northeast side of the building. The reason for the phasing is so work can start on Phase I while going through the special use permit process, because the addition of Phase II brings the project over the 40% lot coverage requirement. Phasing the project won't hold the construction up. Ms. Stromberg stated the code requires that a special use permit may be granted as long as the property is meeting all other code requirements. Ms. Stromberg stated based on the breakdown of the proposed uses within the building, parking needs for this site after the addition is constructed are 187 parking stalls. The petitioner is showing 187 stalls on the site plan, with 148 stalls to be constructed and 39 stalls as proof of parking. The petitioner has articulated that is unlikely there would be a need to have 187 stalls on site, so staff is allowing them to proof those stalls in order to add additional green space. If the additional stalls are warranted at any time, there is room on site to construct them. Ms. Stromberg stated the proposed addition complies with all setback requirements. It should be noted that there is a cold storage addition on the east side of the building that is considered an illegal non- conforming structure. A building permit was never issued for that building addition. The petitioner plans to remove the existing walls of the structure with Phase I, and will either completely remove the structure with Phase II or will go through the variance process to recognize the existing non-conforming setback. Ms. Stromberg stated City 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. Ms. Stromberg stated staff recommends that if the special use permit is granted, the following stipulations be attached: 1. Any future expansion of the building will require special use permit review. 2. Any future expansion of the building will require a new parking analysis. 3. The existing illegal non-conforming addition on the east side of the building will either be removed with Phase II or the petitioner will seek a variance to recognize the existing non- conforming setback If variance is approved, the structure shall be built to meet building code requirements with a 3-hour firewall. 4. An as-built survey shall be submitted to City upon completion of Phase II. 5. 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. Chairperson Kondrick stated he drove around the site and understands the petitioner's intent. Jim Heinitz, Furniture Mart, stated he is the CEO of Furniture Mart. They have 34 stores and are connected with Ashley Furniture. There are five Furniture Marts in the Twin Cities area and they would like to expand with this sixth one. The business started in 1967 and is one of the top 50 furniture stores in the United States. They have over 100 employees at this facility. You can look at the Ashley stores and Planning Commission Meeting September 19, 2012 Page 3 see we take great pride in how their properties look. They want Furniture Mart to be a beautiful store. Their Ashley store in Fridley is their No. 1 store. They also need more warehouse space which the Home Valu store will provide. Chairperson Kondrick asked the petitioner if he was okay with the stipulations, the timetables, etc.? Mr. Heinitz replied, yes. Commissioner Sielaff asked the petitioner what is the difference between the Ashley store and Furniture Mart? Mr. Heinitz replied, Ashley Furniture only carries Ashley brand furniture. Furniture Mart has over 100 vendors and carries furniture for those just starting out to the more high-end furniture. MOTION by Commissioner Dunham to close the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED AT 7:18 P.M. MOTION by Commissioner Sielaff approving Special Use Permit, SP # 12-05, by Archnet, Inc., on behalf of Furniture USA, to increase the lot coverage requirement from 40% to 44%, to expand the existing building at 5401 East River Road with the following stipulations: 1. Any future expansion of the building will require special use permit review. 2. Any future expansion of the building will require a new parking analysis. 3. The existing illegal non-conforming addition on the east side of the building will either be removed with Phase II or the petitioner will seek a variance to recognize the existing non- conforming setback If variance is approved, the structure shall be built to meet building code requirements with a 3-hour firewall. 4. An as-built survey shall be submitted to City upon completion of Phase II. 5. 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. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 2. Receive the Minutes of the August 2, 2012, Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Planning Commission Meeting September 19, 2012 Page 4 3. Receive the Minutes of the May 8, 2012, Environmental Quality and Energy Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Velin to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Oquist. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. Receive the Minutes of the May 21, 2012, Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Oquist to receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 5. Receive the Minutes of the August 6, 2012, Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. MOTION by Commissioner Sielaff receive the Minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Velin. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Stromberg stated the next meeting will be October 17, 2012. Both the ACCAP project and the Columbia Arena project were approved by the City Council. She also wanted to invite the Planning Commissions and the public to the Landmark of Fridley's Open house (Senior project on the old Sandee's site) on Sunday, September 23rd from lpm-4pm. ADJOURN MOTION by Commissioner Oquist adjourning the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Sielaff. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON KONDRICK DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:21 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Denise M. Johnson Recording Secretary s CITY OF FRIDLEY SIGN-IN SHEET PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Name Address/Business i J C'( L..,!� 3,0 ll�if✓yl i t( l �Q