05-11-87 PC Minutes263
MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY
PLANNING COMMISSION
May 11, 1987.
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the Council Chambers
of the Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota.
Chairman Prazak called the meeting to order at 7:06 P.M.
Those .present were Commissioners Kapsner, Leppik, Lewis, McAleese, McCracken-
Hunt, Prazak, and Russell. Also present were Mark Grimes, .Director of Planning
and Development, Alda Wilkinson, City Planner, and Gloria Anderson, Secretary.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 13, 1987
It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner McCracken-Hunt,
and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the April 13, 1987 meeting.
II. WAIVER OF THE PLATTING ORDINANCE
APPLICANT: Mr. Curtis Rahman
LOCATION: 6809 and 6823 Country Club Drive
REQUEST: Waiver of the Platting Ordinance to Allow for Division
of Property to Create an Additional Single Family
Residential Lot at 540 Jersey Avenue North
Chairman Prazak
of the waiver re introduced this agenda item and asked staff for a
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request for the waiver of the platting ordinance and gave staff's recommendation
of approval.
Commissioner McCracken-Hunt asked if the existing garage would be removed from
the property at 6823 Country Club Drive and because the house is non-conforming
whether it would need a variance to make any changes.
City Planner Wilkinson said the present garage will be removed and that if a
new detached garage were constructed it probably would not need a variance. A
variance would only be needed if a garage was added to the house or other
changes were made to the house.
Chairman Prazak asked if there was room on the newly created lot fora house
and garage. Staff indicated there was.
Commissioner Russell asked if the surrounding property owners were notified.
City Planner Wilkinson said that notices had been sent to eight adjacent
property owners, including those across the street from the new lot, although
it was not required.
Mr. Curtis Rahman, the proponent, was present to answer questions from the
Commissioners. He stated that several of his neighbors were present and that
they did not object to the lot division.
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May 11, 1987
Page 2
After a brief discussion by the Commissioners, it was moved by Commissioner
Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Kapsner and motion carried unanimously to
recommend City Council approval of the Waiver of the Platting Ordinance to
allow division of the property at 6809 and 6823 Country Club Drive to create a
new single-family residential lot at 540 Jersey Avenue South.
III. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
APPLICANT: Great Shapes, Inc. and The Limit, Inc.
LOCATION: 1724 Douglas Drive
REQUEST: Conditional Use Permit to Allow an Aerobics Studio
and Tanning Salon in a Business and Professional
Offices Zoning District
Chairman Prazak introduced this agenda item and asked fora review of the staff
report and recommendation. City Planner Wilkinson reviewed the request for a
conditional use permit to operate an aerobics studio and tanning salon in a
Business and Professional Offices Zoning District and indicated that staff
recommended approval. She also stated that it is important that the City
Building Inspector make an inspection of the building in conjunction with this
use and that any minor items which he requires be complied with.
Chairman Prazak asked if there would be any substantial changes made to the
building to accommodate the aerobics studio and tanning salon, and Commissioner
Lewis questioned the past and/or present use of the building.
Mr. Bill Ellerbrock, the proponent, was present to answer questions from the
Commissioners. He stated the building has been vacant and that there were not
any substantial changes being made to the building to accommodate this
conditional use.
Chairman Prazak opened the Informal Public Hearing.
Mrs. Wiebesick, 6145 St. Croix Avenue, expressed her concerns over adequate
parking. She indicated they already have approximately 16 cars parked on their
street during the day, these cars being employees or customers of PACE
Laboratories which is next door to the aerobics studio and tanning salon.
Staff indicated that the City was aware of the parking situation in that area
but that the proponent was providing parking for his business which exceeded
the number required by the City Zoning Code.
Commissioner Kapsner indicated that the proposed use of this building should
not add to the parking problem as there is sufficient on-site parking for this
building.
Mr. Ellerbrock indicated that most of his clients would be coming and going in
the late afternoon and evening.
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Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
May 11, 1987
Page 3
Chairman Prazak closed the Informal Public Hearing.
Commissioner McAleese commented that this use (and present zoning) was not
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and asked if we could allow this to
exist or would the Comprehensive Plan have to be reviewed.
City Planner Wilkinson stated that a major portion of the property on the east
of Douglas Drive was inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and that it would
have to be reviewed sometime in the future.
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Commissioners felt that the proposed use of this office building was reasonable.
It was moved by Commissioner McAleese, seconded by Commissioner Russell and
motion carried unanimously that the proposed use of this office building is
reasonably compatible with the Business and Professional Offices Zoning
District.
It was moved by Commissioner Lewis, seconded by Commissioner Kapsner and motion
carried unanimously to recommend City Council approval of the Conditional Use
Permit requested by The Limit, Inc. and Great Shapes, Inc. for an aerobics
studio and suntanning salon in the existing building at 1724 Douglas Drive
North in a Business and Professional Offices Zoning District subject to the
following conditions:
1. The structure and operation shall conform to all requirements and
recommendations of the City Building Inspector and City Fire Marshal.
2. Signage shall conform to the City Sign Regulations and approval of the
City Building Inspector.
3. Failure to comply with one or more of the above conditions of approval
shall be grounds for revocation of the Conditional Use Permit.
Commissioner McAleese asked staff to keep the Planning Commission informed on
parking problems at PACE Laboratories.
IV. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING
APPLICANT: P.M.F., Inc.
LOCATION: 1340 Douglas Drive
REQUEST: Rezone from Single Family Residential (R-1) to Multiple
Dwelling (M-1) Zoning District to Allow for Construction
of a 55-Unit Apartment Building
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Chairman Prazak introduced this item and requested a review by staff. Director
Grimes reviewed the request for rezoning and gave staff's recommendation of
approval.
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Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
May 11, 1987
Page 4
Mr. Robert Strobel,. P.M.F., Inc, and Mr. John Johnson, Merila & Associates,
Inc., were present to describe the proposed 55-unit, three-story apartment
building and to answer questions from the Commissioners.
The Commissioners had questions and concerns regarding the runoff of water from
the parking area into Bassett's Creek. Mr. Johnson explained that they have
provided an area to which the water would run and from there be released .into
Bassett's Creek at a level acceptable to the Bassett. Creek Commission.
Commissioner Leppik asked what the soil conditions were and the proponent
responded that the soil conditions were good.
Commissioner McCracken-Hunt wanted to know if there were any handicap units
being provided. Mr. Johnson stated that they were providing at least three
handicap units located near the elevator.
Chairman Prazak opened the Informal Public Hearing.
Marian Frederickson, 1170-1180 Douglas Drive, wanted to know what would be done
with the house presently located on this property.
Proponent indicated it would be moved or demolished.
Don Lundquist, 1338 Edgewood Avenue North, had concerns with additional traffic
on Douglas Drive. He stated he would like to see a traffic light somewhere
between Golden Valley Road and the Honeywell plant to make it easier to get
onto Douglas Drive.
Director Grimes indicated that Douglas Drive is a County Road and it was
unlikely they would install another traffic signal. He said he would check
with the City Engineer and perhaps the timing of the present lights could be
adjusted to make access easier.
John Paulson, builder/owner of the Valley Creek Apartments which are directly
north of the proposed apartment building, wanted to know the front setback from
Douglas Drive. He indicated he was required to have a 50 foot setback from
Douglas and that if the new apartments only had a 35 foot setback, they would
protrude out in front of his building making it less visible. Mr. Paulson felt
that if his apartment had to have a 50 foot setback,. the proposed apartment
should also be setback 50 feet.
City Planner Wilkinson stated that the front setback has always been 35 feet
and could not explain the 50 foot setback which Mr. Paulson was referring to
but would check into the matter.
David Phelps, 1300 Douglas Drive, had concerns with how this would affect his
property value, but stated that some of his concerns were alleviated after
seeing the proposal.
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Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission ~ ~ 7
May 11, 1987
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Consensus of the Commissioners was that this was compatible with other uses in
the area.
Chairman Prazak closed the Informal Public Hearing.
It was moved by Commissioner Kapsner, seconded by Commissioner McAleese and
motion carried unanimously to recommend City Council approval of the request by
P.M.F., Inc. to rezone the property at 1340 Douglas Drive from Single-Family
Residential (R-1) to Multiple Dwelling (M-1) Zoning District.
IV. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL, BZA AND HRA MEETINGS
The following reports were given:
April 15, 1987 BZA Meeting, Commissioner McAleese
April 21, 1987 City Council Meeting, Commissioner Leppik
April 21,1987 HRA Meeting, Commissioner McCracken-Hunt
May 5, 1987 City Council Meeting, Chairman Prazak
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.
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