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04-08-91 PC Minutes MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION 1 April 8, 1991 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Chamber, 7800 Golden Valley Road,. Golden Valley, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Chair McAleese at 7:05p.m. Those present were: Johnson, Kapsner, Lewis, McAleese, McCracken-Hunt and Prazak. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development; Beth Knoblauch, City Planner and Mary Dold, Secretary. I. Approval of Minutes - March 11, 1991 MOVED by McCracken-Hunt, seconded Lewis and motion carried unanimously to approve the March 11, 1991 minutes as submitted. II. Informal Public Hearin -Amendment to Conditional Use Permit No. 49 Applicant: Airborne Express Address: 830 Boone Avenue North, Golden Valley, Minnesota 1 1 Request: Amendment to a Conditional Use Permit to allow expansion of a terminal for package delivery service in the Light Industrial Zoning District. Chair McAleese introduced this agenda item and .asked Beth- Knoblauch, City Planner, for a brief summary of the request. Ms. Knoblauch stated that when Airborne came before the Planning Commission late last year, plans were already on the board for an expansion to the terminal portion of the building, but the company had not provided sufficient detail at an early enough date to consider the expansion. Airborne. is requesting an amendment to its CUP so that an exten- sion of almost 55 feet at the east end of the terminal area with a new loading dock extending about 30 feet east of that. The new loading dock will face north, away from the nearby Mallard Creek apartments. The expansion appears to meet all zoning requirements. The ten factors were reviewed and recommendation for approval was given by staff. Commissioner McCracken-Hunt asked about the number of handicapped parking spaces on the site. Chair McAleese asked if the City had. received any complaints from Mallard Creek residents. Beth Knoblauch commented regarding complaints and said that none had been reported that the Planning Department is aware of. Roger Johnson, representative for Airborne responded to Commissioner McCracken- Hunt's question concerning handicapped parking. He stated that when the plan was reviewed by Jay Ipsen, from Inspections, it was noticed that the plan did not note the handicapped parking space on the south side of the parking area and will be put in a revised plan. Chair McAleese opened the Informal Public Hearing. Seeing and hearing no one Chair McAleese closed the Informal Public Hearing. c, f Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 8, 1991 Page Two Beth Knoblauch commented that all recommendations remained the same except for No. 1 and No. 2 which stated that the site plan dated March 11, 1991 shall be made a part of the approved permit along with the floor plan and elevation sketches. MOVED by McCracken-Hunt, seconded by Prazak and motion carried unanimously to recommend to the City Council approval to amend the Conditional Use Permit, Airborne Express, Applicant. III. Informal Public Hearin -Amend Zonin Code/Com rehensive Land Use Plan Applicant: U.S. West NewVector Group,-Inc./City of Golden Valley Address: Southwest Corner of Brookview Park, Golden Valley, MN Request: Amend zoning code from Institutional I-4 to a Radio and Television Zoning District and amend the Comprehensive Cand Use Plan Map Chair McAleese asked Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development to give a brief summary of this request. Mr. Grimes stated US West NewVector Group, Inc. approached the City requesting to lease a portion of the southwest corner of the Brookview Golf Course to construct a monopole tower for cellular phone trans- mission and a 36' x 12' building which would house the necessary equipment that goes along with the tower. The proposed tower and building would not physically interfere with the operation of the course. Access would be from General Mills Blvd. and used by golf course vehicles and US West. Mr. Grimes commented US West designed a building that would "fit in" with the golf course environment and would do landscaping to screen the building as much as possible. The pole is proposed to be 90 ft. and would blend in with other light poles along I-394 and the poles holding up the net for the driving range. The area would be fenced with a security type chain link fence to prevent access from the site. The City is proposing to lease the property to US West contingent on zoning approval, which would take place before the 1st consideration of the City Council. The lease is for five years with four - five year extensions (25 years total). The funds from the rent will go to the golf course. Staff recommends approval and noted the five findings found in the staff report dated April 3, 1991. Commissioner Lewis asked how the City would benefit by US West's request and has. another site been looked at in Golden Valley. Mr. Grimes stated that the City would not benefit from this rezoning and US West could comment on another site in Golden Valley. Commissioner Prazak asked about the height of the monopole. Mr. Grimes stated the pole would be approximately 100 ft. Commissioner Lewis asked about interference with the helicopter at KARE 11 and Mr. Grimes stated that the helicopter has a different landing pattern and the monopole would not interfere. Chair McAleese asked if the City Council had approved the lease. Mr. Grimes stated the lease is contingent on the zoning changes. ~~ Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 8, 1991 Page Three Commissioner McCracken-Hunt commented on setting a precedent of using park land for leasing of property. Mr. Grimes commented he couldn't imagine anything else for use on park land. David Larson, representative for US West NewVector Group, Inc., talked about the increasing demand by customers for cellular phones and in turn the need for additional monopoles. He talked about the size of the building, roof line, and the monopole height. There are limited sites available along Hwy. 169 and going east on I-394. In the search area General Mills has most of the available land but does not want to tie this land up on along-term basis. David Hellerman, Project Manager for US West stated that they are working with the Department of Transportation but is taking along time to work things out. Commissioner Kapsner asked if the Interchange Building would be appropriate to put a pole -- Mr. Hellerman stated that this would be too high. Chair McAleese asked about the pole height and Mr. Hellerman stated that it would be approximately. 100' which included a whip antenna that could be lowered. Chair McAleese also asked if the City turns this request down what alternatives would they have. Mr. Hellerman stated they would have to look for alternatives that there are customers to be served. Chair McAleese asked about break-ins and problems if a tower would fall down. Mr. Hellerman stated the building is monitored 24 hrs. a day and there have been no problems. He has never heard of a tower falling that engineers look at ice and wind problems. Chair McAleese opened the Informal Public Hearing. Mr. Chuck Burmeister, 6038 Golden Valley Road, commented he felt that this use was not consistent with a park use -- commercial usage does not fit on park 1 and. Commissioner Lewis asked if the building which was presented at the March 25, 1991 Open space and Recreation Commission meeting was approved. Mr. Burmeister stated it was not appropriate. Chair McAleese asked staff if the Park Board would be asked to come forth at the City Council meeting -- Mr. Grimes stated yes. Chair McAleese closed the Informal Public Hearing. Commissioner Prazak commented on establishing a precedent for use of park space. Commissioner McCracken-Hunt stated there will be pressure put on cities and those areas where towers must be put on to serve customers. Park land is sacred -- no objection to cellular phones but not on park land. Commissioner Kapsner commented that the southeast corner is unique -- with the I-394 wall with lights, activity going on 24 hrs. Feels there would be no visual effect. Looking into the area from Brookview Clubhouse would see a building with greenery vs. at present, the wall. .-. A Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 8, 1991 Page Four Commissioner Johnson agreed with Commissioner Prazak that this land should remain park land and the request to rezone is not consistent with the present use. Commissioner Lewis cannot support the request to use park land for commercial use. Chair McAleese is against the proposal but feels that there is a strong possi- bility that the Planning Commission recommendation will be overlooked when the proposal comes before the City Council. Feels it is bad City policy to take park land except for a higher and better purpose. MOVED by McCracken-Hunt, seconded by Lewis and motion carried with a vote of 5 yea and 1 nay to recommend to the City Council denial of the request for an amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Map from Municipal Park to Indus- trial and an amendment to the Zoning Code from I-4 to Radio and Television. IV. Informal Public Hearing - Conditional Use Permit No. 52 Applicant: Systems Control Address: Standard Oil 3rd Addition, Golden Valley, Minnesota Request: Allow for a motor vehicle emissions testing station in an Industrial Zoning District Chair McAleese asked staff for a brief summary of the request. Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development, reviewed his staff report to the Planning Commission pointing out that this program is to begin July 1, 1991. One area of concern is the traffic which would be generated looking at 708 cars a day being served at a maximum waiting time of 15 minutes. If it takes more than 15 minutes, an alternative must be found. Another concern was pollution on the site -- Systems Control has approval by the PCA noting no problems visible. Chair McAleese asked about a traffic study at 10th and Boone. Mr. Grimes com- mented that after talking with the City Engineer, Lowell Odland, the traffic situation would be okay. Dennis Palmer, representative from Systems Control, gave a slide presentation showing the building and how it is used, how cars would come in and out and the landscaping. He talked about stacking of cars and if a problem develops, it would be looked at and corrected. We are working with the Department of Trans- portation on signage so people will know which way to enter from Hwy. 169 and other roads. Chair McAleese opened the Informal Public Hearing. Seeing and hearing no one Chair McAleese closed the Informal Public Hearing. Planning Commission consensus was that it was a good use for the site and access to the site should be good. Chair McAleese agreed with the findings of staff but is concerned with traffic on 10th and Boone. ~, ~R } ,_ Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 8, 1991 Page Five MOVED by Kapsner, seconded by Johnson and motion carried unanimously to recom- mend approval to the City Council for a Conditional Use Permit to allow for a vehicle emission testing station on Lot 2, Block 1, Standard Oil 3rd Addition noting the seven conditions outlined in the memo to the Planning Commission dated April 4, 1991. V. Re orts on Meetin s of the Housin and Redevelo ment Authorit Cit Counci an oard of Zoning Appea s No reports were given. VI. Other Business No other business was presented. VII. Adjournment Chair McAleese adjourned the meeting at 9:25p.m. ~~~ n Lewis, Secretary 1