11-10-55 PC Minutes ���
� GOLDEN VALZ,EY PLANNTNG CONIMISSION °
Minutes of Meeting of November 10, 1955
�`he regula.r meEting of the Golden Va11ey Planning Commission was
called to order at 8:05 P.M., No''vember 10, 1955, at the Village
Ha11. M2mbers �resent were Loughland, Lync�, Borchert, Putnazn,
Patterson, Ravgland, L,aBissoniere, Hanson and Ve1z. Administrator
Owens and Engineer Ogard were also present at i.he m�eting.
The minutes of the previous meeting�were read and approved.
White P1at:
Mr. LaBissoniere reported for the plat committee on recommended .
changes in the proposed p1at. Putnam interrupted th.e r.2port to ad-°
vise the Commission that, at a recent zoning comTnittee meeting, i�-
formation was presented that the Ninneapolis Paxk Boarcl was interested
in acquiring a portion of the White praperty for the extension of
Theoc�ore Wirth Park. He proceeded to contact the Park �oard and was
informed that they planned to obtain a strip of land along the Wes-t
boundary of the White property, including frontage on Sweeney Lake,
and gave Mr. Putna�n a, map showing the present bound.a.y of Theodore
' Wirth Pask and the proposecl acquisition. This map was presented to
the Commission. The Whites were asked if they werr� aware of this
; and indicated that they were not. Apparently no 1ega1 legal action
` , had been taken by the Minneapolis Park Board to this date.
. The indicated extension of Theodore Wirth Pax�k would seriously afFect
� the pro�osed plat of the property and there was considerable discussion
as to what course of action would be the most advantageous to Golden
Valley and the Whites. �everal proposals were made to Mr. White regard-
ing changes in the plat to provide park or playground area in Outlot A,
but none znet with his approval. He requested that the plat be approved
as presented, with minor changes, since at this time he owned the prop-
erty and l�ad been the owner for a nvmber of years. He could not under-
. stand why the Commission should_'delay ac�tion on his plat because of
� possible future action by the Minneapolis Park Board. It was the general
opinion of the Commission that a portion of the lake frontage should be
set aside for public use and felt that the area indicated as Outlot A
would serve this purpose without seriously affecting the p1at. Loughland
moved that the plat be approved provided that Outlot A be deeded to or
acquired by the Village of Golden Valley for Park purposes; and �ro-
vided that the following chanc�es are made in the p1at:
. 1. A11 streets to be made 60� wide except the road bordering on
the west property line which may be 50� wide.
2. Increase Lot 3, Block 3, to 100� width measured perpendicularly
to side 1ot lines.
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3. Increase Lot 2, B1ock 3, to 100� width at a distance of 65�
back from the front 1ot line.
�.. The above increases in widths of Lots 2 and 3, B1ock 3, make
Lot 1 unbuildable due t.o lack of depth, therefore, Lot 1 should be
eliminated. The ��turn-a.�oun�;�t.."could be moved adjacent to Lot 2 or �
the remaining portion (approximately 1�0' width� of I;ot 1, B1ock 3,
could. be apportionecl to Lots 2 and 3 of B1ock 3.
5. Outlot B to be includecl as part of �,ot 11, Block 3.
The motion was seconded by Raugland and caxr3.ed.
N1r. i�ihite informed the Coramission that he �rould not take the plat to
the Village Council under these conditions.
J. J. Oys Propertys
LaBissoniere reported that Mr. ays had not presented a.ny plant to
the Plat Committee to o1.a.te and recommended that this matter be fle- .
ferred. .
Nlary Hi 11 s P1 at s
LaBissoniere reported that no new information had been receivecl ancl
recommended deferment.
Trach Construction Company Plata
Defe�red because of lack of new information. �
Re-p1at, K.louda et al:
De�erred because no plat �ras presented. �
Etzler-Waiver: �
Mrs. Anna Etzler appeared to recfu.est side lot wa3vers to permit con- �
struction of a large home on Lot 17, B1ock 2, Spring Green 5outh Addition,
to within 12 feet o� the IVorthwest lot line and to �rithin 13 feet of the
Southeast lot line. The Trunk Highway right-of-way borders the 1ot on
the Southeast and a waiver on this side was not considered objectionable.
The need fo'r waivers �ra.s due to the design of the hoffie being controlled
by two large trees, and the desire for a �hree-car garage on the Northwest
side. It was pointed out to NLrs. Etzler that this appeared to be a case
of too large a home for the 1ot, and no h.ardship existed. It �ras suggested
- that the necessary additiona.l property,be obtained �'rom the ad,jace�.t lot
- to the Northwest as this lot is larger than the minimum required by ordi-
nance. A�ter further discussion of the problem, Raugland moved that �he� �
rec�uuest for side-1ot waiver on t�ie Northwest be clenied and that it,be
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recQmme�.ded to Mrs. E�z1er that additional 1anc1 be obtained from the
ad,jacent 1ot; a.nd fvrther that the Commission recommend �o the Council
that the requ�st for �aiver on. the Southeast be granted. Seconded by •
Hanson, carried.
Webb-Waiver: �
Mr. Webb of 3317 Major Avenue appeased to request a side 1ot waiver to
within 10 feet of his 5outh lot line to permit construction of a 10 foot
br2ezeway and a l�. foot single garage attached to his present home �r,�rhich
is 31� feet from the 5outh lot 1ine. TYiere was .considerable discussion
regarding the possibilities of a detached garage, eliminating the breeze-
way and attaching the gaxage to the house, and other arrangements. 11r.
Wrebb said he had a signed contract f'or the construction of the ga.rage ancl
b�ee2eway and would like to have his recruest granted. Discussion the�.
centered about wh�.t items might be considered as constituting a hardship.
Apparently such items as sp�cce needs, exis�ing struc�ures, and the lay
� �of the land have been considered by the Zoning Commit�e2 when recommend-
ing the granting of waivers in the past. Administrator Owens suggested
that it might be desirable to introcluce a new basis for granting waivers
which could be designated as "w�.ivers for variance�� in addition to the
. present so-ealled hardship waivers. There was considerable discussion .
regarding this proposal �.n.c1 it appeared that the past considerations on
waivers have to some degree taken thi.s into account.
President Borchert referred Mr. Webb�s request to the Zoning Committee
so they could have the opportvnity to view the property and make a
recoznroenc7.a.ti on.
Dawn Acres, Second Addition Plat:
LaBissoniere reported ichat the Plat Committee recommended that the plat
. be given preliminary approval provided that the followi�g changes are
incargorated in the plata ,
. 1. Bassett Creek Drive �rom Nob1e to Regent to be a 60 foot street.
2. Owner to deed to the Village the property South of a line fro�a
Regent, East to the center line of Bassett Creek, thence along the center
13�.e of the creek to a point roughly �outh of M.H. It4, thence parall.el
to the South lot lines to M.H. 42, thence along the North easement line
of the trvnk sewer to Noble Avenue, for a ponding area. �
3. Increase Lot 12, Block 5, to 115 feet frontage on Bassett Creek
�lrive and recluce Lot 11, Block 5, to 108 foot frontage.
1�. Move the �outh lot line of Lot 6, B1ock 3, northwaxd 5 feet
at the front and make this lot line perpendicular to the street line .
5. Correct error in --c�imensions of Lot 6, Block 1.
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After t�e ab ove report, questions were raised about the proposed
vacation of a portion of DaTan Acres, 1st Addition, and the lack of
park or ponding a.rea in that p1at. The questian was also ra�sed as
�o the exact limits o� the Da�m Acres, 2nd Addition, p1a�. Mr. Sank-
stone, of the Caswell Eng3neering firm, advised the Commission that
the plat extended westerly to include the �tility and clrainage ease-
ment on the.West boundary of the platted 1ots. The Commission �as
agreed tha� the low ground to thg West should be reserved for pondinq
area at such time in the future as the remaining property Wes� of 1�.�n. .
Acres, 2nd Adclition, is platted. There was discussion regarding the
desirable use of park, playground, and ponding area terminology on plats.
A1so, that in many cases, the property set a.side for the Village under
these terms should be deeded in fee .title i�ather than platted as park
property. LaBissoniere moved that when a n�w plat is presented which
includes the five changes listed above in the P1at Committee report
it wi11 be given preliminary �.pproval. Seconded by Raugland, carried.
Daurn Acres, First Addition-Vacation:
Mr. 5ankstone of the Caswell �Engineeri:ng Com�any appeared to request
the vacation of portions of Scott Avenue; ��turn-arounds�' at the W�St
terminus of Hampton Road and Maple Lane, and a "turn-around�� on Seott
Avenue at the South line of �.ot 6, B1ock 7; and further proposecl to
deed Lots 1 thru 6, B1ock !�, to the Village for ponding area. ThiS
request being made because the depth of peat makes construction of
SCOtt Avenue very expensive and the Lots to the West ux�bu'rZdable.
'I`he Co�anission criticized the lack of adequate exploration of the
ground prior to the platting of this area. This criticism was not
directed at the Caswell firm as they did not make the exploration on
this property and no refleetion on them was intended. It was pointed
out to Mr. Sankstone that, whemithe ��turn-arounds", he proposed, were
construct.ecl, there would be very little of Scott Avenue left u�iuilt;
and possibly the co�t of the construction of Scott Avenue, north of
'Hampton, would not be too mueh more th,a,n the cost involved in the �three
��turn-a.rounds". After discussion, Lynch moved that the streets be built
as shown on the plat exeept the portion of Seott Avenue South of the
South line of Hampton be vacated and deeded in fee to the Village along ' �
with Lots 1 thru 6 in Block �. for ponding area. Seconded by LaBissoniere,
carried.
There also was considerable discussion of the lack of information on
plats svbmitted to the Commission for study. It is apparent that most
plats have not been prepared according to the established regulations -
of the Village; ancl it was the opinion of the Commission that in the
future plats, which do not conf'orm to the regulations, should no� -be
accepted for consideration. Engineer Ogard was instructed to screen
a11 plats and return those which are not properly prepared.
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General Motors Road-Street Name:
LaBissoniere mov2d that the s0-called General Motors Road be named
Ho13c1ay. L,an.e. ,econded by Lynch, carriecl.
Borch�rt read a le�ter f'rom Mr. Boblett regarding possible industrial
use of the property located at the Northwest corner of Douglas Drive
and the Minneapolis, Northiield and Southern Railroad. Presiden
Borcherf, tentatively set November 19th at 8:30 ofclock A.M. as the
time for a:meeting with Mr. Boblett on the property. �ngineer Ogard
aclvised the Commission that the Vi11ag_e Council hael previously accepted
a final residential plat o�' this property and bonds have been posted with t
the Village for street eonstruction. The plat has not been recordecl ho�r-
ever, and there is a question of the legality of the p1at. If the plat
is 1ega1, the property becomes zoned resiclential automatically, and 3n-
dustrial development would be impossible. The Village Attorney is to
be asked for an opinion regarding this question.
Th.e Commission discussed the need for a paid secretary to relieve the
members o� the .task of taking and preparing the minutes of its' meetings.
. Several proposals were make and the one receiving the most general
approval was to have a member of the Commission elected as Secretary
and provide a paid stenographer to work vnder the Secretary�s direction,.
� Tt �ras decided to advertize for a male stenographer to fi11 such a
position. -
Meeting adjournecl at 11;"�O�o�cloclt P.M.
Secretary
President a •