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11-09-09 PC Agenda AGENDA Planning Commission Regular Meeting Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road Council Chambers Monday, November 9, 2009 7pm 1. Approval of Minutes a. September 29,2009 Regular Planning Commission Meeting 2. Informal Public Hearing - Zoning Code Amendment - Regarding the Building Board of Review a. Applicant - City of Golden Valley b. Purpose - To amend Section 11.35, Subd. 7(A) and Section 11.36, Subd. 7(A) (Light Industrial and Industrial Chapters of the Zoning Code) to remove language regarding the Building Board of Review 3. Short Recess 4. Other Business a. Planning Commission Meeting Schedule 5. Adjournment This document is available in alternate formats upon a 72-hour request. Please call 763-593-8006 (TTY: 763-593-3968) to make a request. Examples of alternate formats may include large print, electronic, Braille, audiocassette, etc. Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission September 29,2009 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Tuesday, September 29, 2009. Vice Chair Waldhauser called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Those present were Planning Commissioners Cera, Eck, Keysser, Kluchka, McCarty, Schmidgall and Waldhauser. Also present was Director of Planning and opment Mark Grimes and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman. 2. un imously to approve eysser abstained from 1. Approval of Minutes June 22, 2009 Regular Planning Commission Meetin Eck and McCarty noted some typographical errors. MOVED by Eck, seconded by Waldhauser and ~()tion c the June 22, 2009 minutes with the noted corredi(;.>ns. Cha voting. Informal Public Hearing Setback Requirements ndment - Regarding Front Yard Purpose: To allow in the Single'Farli1lily be located within 30 feet of the front yard property line District (R-1) Hogeboom sta h een seeing more requests recently for decks to be located in nt xplained that the City Code allows an open front porch to be located .3 yard property line but that decks have different requirements even tho t porch without a roof is considered to be a deck. He stated that st belie ard decks and open front porches serve the same purpose so the rec mend I 0 amend the Code to allow decks to be located within 30 feet of a front ya;~R pro~lrty line just like open front porches. Waldhauser questioned the language regarding a 5' x 5' landing area or stoop and asked if front yard decks could be larger than 5' x 5'. Hogeboom explained that for a structure to be considered a stoop or landing it has to be no larger than 25 square feet in area, anything larger than that would be considered a deck. He added that a structure up to 25 square feet in size is allowed to be built in a setback area, however if it is larger than 25 square feet it has to meet setback requirements. Waldhauser asked how a raised patio would be considered. Hogeboom said if it is more than 8" in height it would be considered a deck. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission September 29,2009 Page 2 Keysser asked if the word deck is defined in the Zoning Code. Hogeboom said it is not defined in the Code. However, it is common to refer to a porch as having a roof and a deck as not having a roof. Keysser referred to the proposed ordinance language and asked if open front porches, along with decks should be included in section E. Hogeboom stated that the Planning Department has an intern who is currently working on language regarding garden structures which might affect how open front porches are regulated. Eck questioned if stairs leading to a deck or porch are included.in Hogeboom said no and explained that ~tairs are allowedto be built in Waldhauser asked if a person would be able to build an open front p front of it. Hogeboom said with the proposed new language an op fri1~..porch deck could be built together if it doesn't go closer than 30 feet t fronfyard p line. . ;~ Planning Commission will be reviewing this ordinance again. Grimes Commission could choose to table this item in order to review any McCarty said he is not comfortable adding language regarding the original or ting grade of the property because this ordinance doesn't require that. He said he likes how the proposed ordinance is currently written. d in;tlhe ordinance. He g locating the original or grade isn't being built up . Hogeboom said there are t language could be added to ould like language regarding E~'f..the proposed new ordinance. Kluchka asked where the definition of a deck sh questioned if there should be some language a existing grade of a lot before a deck is buil ,e before a deck is built in order to get aro the controls in place regarding the grading this section of the City Code as we original grade added to sections Cera questioned if the City and therefore, closer tha want to see the front yard decks. Grimes expl' d originally discussed front porch. o allow open front porches and decks to be larger o t roperty line. The Commissioners agreed they reqUltnent remain 30 feet for open front porches and n the language regarding open front porches was that 5 extra feet would be adequate space for an open bllc hearing. Seeing and hearing no one wishing to comment, hearing. Kluchka said he thinks adding language regarding grade would be more consistent with the rest of the City Code. Keysser suggested the language regarding grade be added only to section E. McCarty suggested recommending approval of the ordinance as it is written and if there is an issue with people building up their grade just to pour concrete then the issue can be revisited. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission September 29, 2009 Page 3 MOVED by McCarty, seconded by Cera and motion carried 5 to 2 to recommend approval of the Zoning Code amendment to allow decks to be located within 30 feet of the front yard property line in the Single Family Zoning District (R-1) with the language currently proposed by staff. Commissioners Kluchka and Waldhauser voted no. 3. Informal Public Hearing - Zoning Code Amendment - Regarding the Number of Street Curb Cut Access Points Applicant: City of Golden Valley Purpose: To limit the number of street curb cut access p the Single Family Zoning District (R-1) in Hogeboom stated that during the City's Pavement Managem several situations where people want to have more tham has been city policy to only allow one curb cut. He ordinance would add language to the Zoning Co with certain exceptions such as a having two Ie disability which requires additional drivewaya.cc driveway. e have been c. stated that it th pproving the proposed uldomly allow one curb cut garages, a physical an existing horseshoe M poli McCa in the Pav ill all exis.ting driveway conditions and not just . not allowing a homeowner to keep t I to him. Hogeboom noted that driveway roperty. Kluchka said he would still like to allow Kluchka said he would rather "gra allow for existing horseshoe driv something they already have s aprons are on City propert existing conditions to sta Cera asked if it is a cuts that the City wo and a cost issue, The associated with or aesthe an und ogeboom explained that there are some secondary curb "ed. Grimes added that it is a traffic issue, safety issue like the homeowner to pay the additional costs cuts. Waldhauser said she doesn't think it is an issue of cost City just wants fewer cuts into the street. Cera questioned if owing only one curb cut is impervious surface issues. this issue has been handled in the past. Hogeboom stated that the not to allow second curb cuts but it is not officially in the City Code. ned if it makes sense to put this language in the City Code this far along nt Management Program process. Waldhauser questioned if the City wants to put these requirements in the Zoning Code and which would allow variances from these requirements. Hogeboom said another option would be to place the requirements in a different section of the City Code where variances aren't allowed. Cera questioned what kind of hardship would apply in requesting a second curb cut. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission September 29, 2009 Page 4 Keysser asked if a person building a new home could construct a horseshoe driveway. Hogeboom said city policy no longer allows horseshoe driveways at all. Grimes stated that the Planning Commission could choose to table this discussion to allow someone from Public Works to come to a meeting and talk about this issue. McCarty said he thinks there are two separate issues. One is if it is a Public Works issue or a Planning issue and the other is why the City limits property owners to one curb cut. Keysser opened the public hearing. Seeing and hearing no 0 Keysser closed the public hearing. Kluchka said he doesn't think this ordinance change is a good idea. see a good reason to prevent a home owner from having more th 0 McCarty added that he is having difficulty understanding why t sue I addressed now when there is only a little bit of the project Ie MOVED by Kluchka, seconded by Cera and mo . unously to table this item in order to obtain further clarification from the PUblic Works<Department. Waldhauser added that it would be helpful to see some' res. No reports were Reports on Meetin Council, Board t-Iousing and Redevelopment Authority, City ppeals and other Meetings 5. 6. update of current Planning Department projects. He discussed the omprehensive Plan update and stated that the Metropolitan Council opy of the plan and has asked the City to make several adjustments such as s lining the demographical forecast throughout the plan, providing additional housing density information, creating a section of the plan wherein the City's implementing regulations are defined, providing more detailed data concerning future land uses, providing more detailed data concerning the City's designated redevelopment areas and extending traffic forecasting data. Hogeboom discussed the Douglas Drive Corridor study. He stated that the study is in its final phase and is expected to be completed by the end of 2009. He talked about an open house that was held in August to allow property owners a chance to view Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission September 29,2009 Page 5 information generated by the study. He discussed a $1,050,000 allocation from Transit for Livable Communities (TLC) to construct a sidewalk along the east side of Douglas Drive. He explained that TLC supports the City's proposal to construct a sidewalk along Douglas Drive, but believes that the City must also implement other aspects of the "complete street" philosophy into the design. The Commission discussed three lanes versus four lanes on Douglas Drive and the timeline of the project. Grimes stated that staff doesn't know the timeframe of the project yet, but they will be working with MnDOT, Hennepin County and TLC on this project and will be trying to get it on the 2015 County project list. Hogeboom stated that the City has extended its participate in the Active Living program un . planning intern, Kevin Knase, will be wo into city code which foster elements of Hogeboom discussed the Bottineau Boulevard Transitway. He ex County is currently studying the feasibility of constructing a ligh the Bottineau Boulevard/West Broadway Avenue corridor be Minneapolis and the Arbor Lakes Shopping Center in Maple<:;f map that showed four alignment options for Robbinsdale and~inn discussed the issues with each option. He invited the issioners house on September 30 at the Crystal City Hall. Hennepin County to 10. He stated that the g development guidelines Hogeboom discussed the City's' I "Green Team" and stated that the team is working on incorporatingepvironment friendly applications such as wind energy and rain barrels intbti~e and policy. He stated that the Green Team- initiated ordinances are be formally presented to the Planning Commission in November. 7. Adjournment Lester Eck, Secretary Planning 763-593-8095 I 763-593-8109 (fax) Date: November 3, 2009 To: Planning Commission From: Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development Subject: Removing Building Board of Review Language from the Zoning Code The Building Board of Review (BBR) was established in 1988. The purpose of the BBR was to advise the Building Official regarding structure continuity and aesthetics of buildings presented for building permit approval. The Board meets only when projects are brought to it by the Building Official. Over the years, approval processes for those areas in the purview of the BBR have gradually changed, such that now it is rarely called upon to meet. Staff has worked on new processes that can reasonably provide for review previously undertaken by the BBR. Given this background, it is being recommended to the City Council that the BBR be discontinued. The Sign Permits and Regulations section and the Light Industrial and Industrial Zoning District sections of the City Code reference the BBR regarding landscaping plans. Attached is proposed ordinance language that has been prepared to remove reference to the BBR in these sections of the City Code, Staff recommends approval in amending Section 11.35, Subd. 7(A) and 11.36, Subd. 7(A) of City Code to remove language pertaining to the BBR. Only the portions in Chapter 11 require Planning Commission recommendation. Attachments: Proposed Ordinance Removing Reference to the Building Board of Review (1 page) Section 4.20, Subd. 8(E) Sign Permits and Regulations showing proposed language revision (1 page) Section 11.35, Subd. 7(A) Light Industrial Zoning District showing proposed language revision (1 page) Section 11.36, Subd. 7(A) Industrial Zoning District showing proposed language revision (1 page) ORDINANCE NO. ,2ND SERIES AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY CODE Amending Sections 4.20, 11.35 and 11.36 Regarding Removing Reference to the Building Board of Review in the Sign Permits and Regulations, Light Industrial Zoning District and Industrial Zoning District Sections of City Code The City Council for the City of Golden Valley hereby ordains as follows: Section 1. City Code Section 4.20 entitled "Sign Permits and Regulations", Subd. 8(E) is amended by deleting the last sentence. Section 2. City Code Section 11.35, entitled "Light Industrial Zoning District", Subd. 7(A) is amended by deleting the last sentence and replacing it with the following sentence: "Such landscaping shall conform with a landscape plan that conforms to City standards and is approved by the City Manager and his or her designee". Section 3. City Code Section 11.36, entitled "Industrial Zoning District", Subd. 7(A) is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following sentence: "All required yards shall be landscaped according to a landscape plan that conforms to City standards and is approved by the City Manager or his or her designee". Section 4. City Code Chapter 1 entitled "General Provisions and Definitions Applicable to the Entire City Code Including Penalty for Violation" and Section 10.99 entitled "Violation a Misdemeanor" are hereby adopted in their entirety, by reference, as though repeated verbatim herein. Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Adopted by the City Council this 1 st day of December, 2009. IslLinda R. Loomis Linda R. Loomis, Mayor ATTEST: IslSusan M. Virniq Susan M. Virnig, City Clerk 94.20 lowest element of the sign shall be required. At the discretion of the Building Official or his or her designee, a property survey and an engineered plan for foundations and/or soil tests may be required for freestanding signs. C. Illumination. Direct rays or glare of light from an illuminated sign shall not be visible from public rights-of-way or property other than that on which the illuminated sign is located. Any external source of illumination must be provided with shields or lenses that concentrate the light onto the sign. D. Menu Signs. If the name of the business or business logo is included in a menu sign, the sign area of such name or logo shall be counted as sign area for determining maximum sign area allowed. E. Sign Quality. All signs shall incorporate materials and colors which are compatible with the building upon which the sign is located. Compatible shall include, but is not limited to, materials that are consistent with the principal architectural features and colors of the building(s) being identified. All signs shall be of good quality, and shall be designed to include attractive and tasteful colors and design elements. The layout of the sign shall give the sign a neat and orderly appearance. At the discrction of the Building Offici<ll or his or her dcsignec, thc sign pcrmit m<lY bc rcvic.....cd by thc Building BO<lrd of Rc',:ic..... . F. Sign Setbacks. Signs other than residential nameplates and neighborhood identification signs must be entirely located at least ten (10) feet from all property lines and ten (10) feet from any driveway on the premises on which the sign is erected and maintained. The following additional setbacks are required: 1. Signs must be outside the corner visibility zone, as per the corner visibility requirements in Chapter 7 of the City Code. 2. Shopping center pylon signs shall have a minimum setback of thirty-five (35) feet from a street property line. G. Streets and Easements. No sign other than public signs shall be erected or placed upon any public street, right-of-way, public easement, public land or project over public property or public easements. H. Wall Signs. The following requirements are applicable for all wall signs: 1. Spacing. Signs applied to a building shall be placed as to allow a space between the end of the sign and the edge of the building or individual occupancy equal to ten (10) percent of the linear frontage of the building or individual occupancy. 2. Sign Projection. No sign may project out more than eighteen (18) inches from the face of the building to which it is attached. Golden Valley City Code Page 70f9 911.35 1. In the case of premises adjoining a Multiple Dwelling, Business and Professiona.1 Office, or Institutional Zoning Districts, required side and rear yard setbacks shall not be less than fifty (50) feet in depth. Source: Ordinance No. 546 Effective Date: 9-18-81 2. In the case of premises adjoining a Commercial, Light Industrial, Industrial, or Railroad Zoning District, required side and rear yard setbacks shall be not less than twenty (20) feet in depth. Source: Ordinance No. 271, 2nd Series Effective Date: 11-15-02 3. One-half (0.5) of the required side and rear yards, as measured from the lot line, shall be landscaped, planted, and maintained as a buffer zone. *Subdivision 7. Use Qualifications A. Landscaping. All open areas of any site, lot, tract or parcel shall be so graded so as to provide proper drainage, and except for areas used for parking, drives, or storage, shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, or planted ground cover. Such landscaping shall conform with a landscape plan that conforms to City standards and is approved by the Building BO<:lrd of RC\lic'''' City Manager or his or her designee. B. Storage. All raw materials, supplies, finished or semi-finished products and equipment shall be stored within a completely enclosed building, or within the confines of a one hundred percent (100%) opaque wall or fence not less than six (6) feet in height. C. Screening. All principal, accessory, and conditional uses, except business signs, which are situated within fifty (50) feet of a Residential Zoning District or an R-2 Zoning District shall be screened and buffered from such Zoning District by a separation of open space which shall have a minimum depth of thirty (30) feet, and .shall include a required fence or vegetative screening of not less than ninety percent (90%) opacity, and not less than six (6) feet in height above the level of the said Residential or R-2 Zoning District. Source: Ordinance No. 546 Effective Date: 9-18-81 *Subdivision 8. Building Height No building or structure, other than water tanks, water towers, essential service communication structures as provided for in Section 11.71 of this Code and lighting fixtures, shall be erected to exceed a height of forty-five (45) feet in the Light Industrial Zoning District. All necessary mechanical equipment and elevator penthouses will not be included in computation of building height. Golden Valley City Code Page 5of9 9 11.36 1. In the case of premises adjoining a Commercial, Light Industrial, Industrial, or Railroad Zoning District, side and rear yard setbacks shall be not less than twenty (20) feet in depth. Source: Ordinance No. 271, 2nd Series Effective Date: 11-15-02 2. All required front yard setbacks shall be landscaped, and one-half (1/2) of the required side and rear yard setbacks shall be landscaped. Source: Ordinance No. 551 Effective Date: 9-11-81 *Subdivision 7. Landscaping and Screening A. All required yards shall be landscaped according to a landscape plan that conforms to City standards and is approved by the Building BO<Jrd of Rcvic'.'y' City Manager or his or her designee. B. A solid screen, consisting of either a solid fence or wall not less than six (6) feet in height, or a planted landscape screen providing at least ninety percent (90%) opacity and at least six (6) feet in height at the time of planting, shall be installed and maintained along all property lines separating an Industrial Zoning District from any Residential, Multiple Dwelling, or Institutional Zoning District. C. All waste material, debris, refuse, junk or damaged vehicles shall be either kept entirely within an enclosed building, or completely screened from public streets and adjacent property. D. In the Industrial Zoning District, no materials or equipment shall be stored outside, unless screened in such a manner as not to be visible from adjacent properties or streets. No storage shall be permitted within the required landscaped area. Source: Ordinance No. 551 Effective Date: 9-11-81 *Subdivision 8. Lot Coverage No building or structure, or group thereof, shall occupy more than fifty percent (50%) of the total land area of any lot or parcel in an Industrial Zoning District. Source: Ordinance No. 609 Effective Date: 11-11-83 *Subdivision 9. Temporary Retail Sales A. Temporary retail sales shall include only the retail sales contemplated by the permitted uses in the Commercial Zoning District. Retail sales contemplated by the conditional uses in the Commercial Zoning District are excluded. Golden Valley City Code Page 4 of 8 alley Moran urn Planning 763-593-8095 I 763-593-8109 (fax) To: Planning Commission From: Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development Subject: Changing of Planning Commission Bylaws to One Meeting Per Month Date: November 5, 2009 Over the past year, the Planning Commission has cancelled meetings due to lack of an agenda. The staff would like the Planning Commission to consider changing the bylaws to provide for only one meeting a month. Currently, the bylaws state that the Planning Commission meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The bylaws also allow for special meetings to be called by the Chair or when three members of the Commission request a meeting in writing. The alternative would be to leave the bylaws as is so that there are still two scheduled meetings. They would be cancelled if there is no agenda like they have been done numerous times during 2009. With the elimination of one meeting, there may be some added time for those wanting to go on to a Planning Commission agenda. Staff requires that applications for planning related items be submitted a minimum of four weeks before a Planning Commission hearing. If the Planning Commission changes the bylaws to one meeting per month, the Commission would have to decide which Monday meeting would be eliminated. Staff has no preference. Staff recommends that any change to the bylaws would go into effect January 1, 2010. Attachments Planning Commission Bylaws (5 pages) ,. BY-LAWS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY ANNUAL MEETING Section 1. The annual meeting of the City Planning Commission shall be the first regular meeting in May of each year. REGULAR MEETING Section 2. Regular meetings of the Commission shall be held at 7 pm on the second and fourth Monday of each month. A majority of the membership of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. A City staff representative to the Planning Commission shall serve as Recording Secretary. SPECIAL MEETING Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the Chair whenever he/she deems the same expedient or whenever three members request the same in writing. Section 4. The members may adjourn from time to time, absentees being notified. If no quorum is present on the day fixed for a regular, continued or special meeting, the members present may adjourn until a quorum is obtained, or may adjourn said meeting without a definite day fixed. Section 5. Chair or staff shall give personal notice to each commissioner, at least forty- eight hours previous to any special meeting, of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. Section 6. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that named in the call thereof, except by consent of two-thirds of the entire Commission, or by unanimous consent if fewer than two-thirds, but at least a quorum are present. If such consent is obtained, any measure adopted by a vote of a quorum shall have the same effect as if adopted at a regular meeting. ATTENDANCE Section 7. Staff will maintain a record of those Commission members present and those absent for each Planning Commission meeting. Each Planning Commission member is responsible to notify the Planning Staff in the event that he or she will not be able to attend a regularly scheduled meeting. Attendance is required at 'all meetings. Absence from three (3) consecutive meetings or 25 percent of the regularly scheduled meetings in anyone year shall constitute grounds for automatic review of a member's appointment by the Council. It shall be the Chairperson's responsibility to contact the Commission member involved and report circumstances for the absences to the City Council. (Revised by the Planning Commission 7/05, Adopted by City Council ) CONDUCT OF BUSINESS Section 8. Meetings shall be called to order by the Chair, or in his/her absence, by the Vice Chair. In the absence of both, the Secretary shall call the meeting to order. In the absence of all officers, the senior member present will call the meeting to order. Section 9. The minutes of previous meetings shall be submitted for approval and any errors noted and corrections made, after which, the regular order of business shall be taken up. The further order of business, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, shall be as follows, and may be shown on the agenda of each regular meeting: 1. Action Items 2. Planning Items 3. Administrative Items 4. Other Business 5. Adjournment Section 10. All motions and resolutions offered and/or adopted by the Commission shall be recorded in writing. If it is desired that more than the substance thereof be entered in the minutes, the Chair shall so direct the Recording Secretary, who will incorporate the additional details with the minutes of the meeting. At the request of any Commissioner, the vote of each commissioner shall be taken and entered on the record on any question before the Commission. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Section 11. At the annual meeting in May of each year, the Commission shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and such other offices as it may deem necessary; but in case of failure to elect at the time specified, the election shall take place at a subsequent meeting without delay. The Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary shall hold their respective officers until the next annual meeting after their election, and until their successors are elected and qualified. DUTIES OF THE CHAIR Section 12. The Chair or designee shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and may present to the Commission such matters as in his/her judgment require attention. When the Commission has not established rules of parliamentary practice, the Chair shall be guided by Roberts' Rules of Order Revised. The Chair shall review the Commissioners' attendance records every six months in both February and August. (Revised by the Planning Commission 7/05, Adopted by City Council ) The Chair shall exercise a general supervision over the business, papers, and property of the Commission and shall act as the Commission's Executive Officer. The Chair or his/her designated representative shall present to the Council all Planning Commission recommendations. The Chair shall perform all other duties as the Commission may prescribe. The Chair may appoint ad hoc committees unless the Commission shall otherwise direct, and shall be an additional member ex officio of all committees. The Chair shall appoint a Planning Commission member to chair each ad hoc committee. The Chair is a voting member of the Commission. DUTIES OF THE VICE CHAIR Section 13. The Vice Chair shall act for the Chair when the Chair is absent or disabled. All duties of the Chair's office or as a member of any committee shall temporarily devolve upon the Vice Chair. Vice Chair shall perform all other duties the Commission may prescribe. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION SECRETARY AND RECORDING SECRETARY Section 14. The Commission Secretary shall sign the minutes and perform all other duties the Commission may prescribe. In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, the Commission Secretary shall call the meeting to order. A member of the Planning staff shall attend all meetings and act as Recording Secretary to the Commission, and shall, in addition, perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office. He/She shall keep a true and complete record of all proceedings of the Commission, and have charge of the all books, documents and papers which properly belong to this office. REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS (BZA) Section 15. Any member of the Planning Commission may serve as the representative to the Board of Zoning Appeals. The vice-chairperson of the Planning Commission, appointed each year at the annual meeting of the Planning Commission, shall be the fifth member of the Board. All of the members of the Planning Commission are alternates to the Board. In the absence of any member of the Board, any member of the Planning Commission may serve as an alternate. At least one member of the Planning Commission shall be present at each meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals (Revised by the Planning Commission 7/05, Adopted by City Council ) AD HOC COMMITTEES Section 16. The Chair may appoint ad hoc committees unless the Commission shall otherwise direct, and shall be an additional member ex officio, of all committees. The Chair shall appoint a Planning Commission member to chair each ad hoc committee. All committees shall consist of at least three members, except as otherwise ordered by the Commission. Three members of any committee shall constitute a quorum of such committee. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, the members present may prepare reports and submit them to the Planning Commission on behalf of the committee, in which case the report shall name the committee members who prepared it. Nothing in the foregoing shall be construed as waiving the rights of the Commission at any time to increase or curtail the duties of any committee and/or to direct or control its actions. AMENDMENTS Section 17. The above rules and regulations, or any portion thereof, may be suspended by a majority of the members of the Commission at any regular meeting, or may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the entire Commission at any regular meeting subsequent to the meeting when the same is proposed. MOTION WITH DUTIES OF PLANNING COMMISSION The ordinance establishing the Planning Commission has several charges and general duties giving direction to the Commission. The City Council, by motion, approves the following list of duties which amplifies and/or gives more specific direction to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall: A. Review and make recommendations on specific development proposals made by private developers and public agencies. B. Review and make recommendations on proposed rezonings, subdivision plans, amendments to the zoning text, platting regulations and variances and similar items having to do with administration and regulatory measures. C. Conduct special studies dealing with items such as renewal, civic design, maintenance of a suitable living and working environment, economic conditions, etc. These studies may be conducted at the initiative of the Planning Commission and/or specific direction from the City Council. (Revised by the Planning Commission 7/05, Adopted by City Council ) D. Review major public capital improvement plans against the policy and goals stated in the Comprehensive Plan for the area. E. Advise and make recommendations relative to housing, new development, and redevelopment projects proposed by the HRA prior to the final commitment of such projects by the HRA. This charge shall also relate to such responsibilities as: 1. Make recommendations to the City Council andlor HRA on the use of Federal and State Funds received for housing and community development. 2. Make recommendations to the City Council on the City's participation in other Federal, State, Metropolitan Council, County and Multi-City Housing and Community Development programs. F. Advise and make recommendations in matters relating to and affecting the environment such as: 1. Taking into account environmental concerns and the impact on the environment of any Planning Commission recommended action. 2. To cooperate with and coordinate environmental proposals and programs with other City groups and Federal, State, Metro, County and other municipal groups. 3. To make such reviews of land reclamation, filling, excavation and grading applications as are required by City ordinance or referred to the Commission by the Council; provided that no review or recommendation shall remove or limit the right of a property owner in accordance with City ordinances and the statutes and constitution of the State of Minnesota. (Revised by the Planning Commission 7/05, Adopted by City Council )