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04-13-92 PC MinutesMINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION April 13, 1992 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Chair McAleese at 7:03 PM. Those present were Commissioners Groger, Johnson, Kapsner, Lewis and McAleese; Commissioner Prazak was absent. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development; Beth Knoblauch, City Planner; and Mary Dold, Administrative Secretary. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 23, 1992 MOVED by Lewis and seconded by Kapsner, and motion carried unanimously to approve the March 23rd minutes with the following change: Commissioner Groger was absent. II. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION --LINDA McCRACKEN-HUNT Chair McAleese noted the Resolution of Appreciation and asked that the comple- tion of signatures be delayed until after the informal public hearings are heard. III. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT Applicants: William L. Feist d/b/a Feist Automotive Group, Inc., and Craig Starbird (owner of the property), Address: 5500 - 5530 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota Request: Allow for auto repair and sales of automotive related items in a Commercial District. Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development gave a brief summary of his staff report. This included a history of the site. Mr. Grimes also reviewed the proposed improvements and staff recommendation. There has been some concern by staff about the property being unkempt. The Inspection Department and Police Department have gone to the site to check on junk cars, signage problems and debris. Staff feels this is an opportunity to get the site cleaned up to where it would be more acceptable to the neigh- borhood. Staff recommendation is to approve the CUP with the recommendations as stated in the staff report. Chair McAleese asked for a rewording of Required Improvement #12. The first sentence of #12 is to be added to #7. The applicant, Bill Feist, asked staff about the fence line. Mr. Grimes com- mented that the survey he submitted indicated that the fenceposts were on City property along Lilac Drive or within the setback area on the north end of the site. These fenceposts would have to be removed. Commissioner Lewis asked about the fence that was now under construction. Mr. Feist commented he stopped work on the fence with only the posts in the ground until the CUP issue is resolved. k Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 13, 1992 Page 2 Commissioner Lewis asked about the junk cars on the site. Mr. Feist said people bring cars for repair and leave them because they can't pay for repair or don't pick them up. Mr. Feist then must have them towed after all notices have been served. This can take up to 30 days. Commissioner Kapsner asked about traffic at the proposed retail tire store. Mr. Feist commented that the showroom area at 5530 will be low key. There would be no body work or engine repair done at this site. Commissioner Lewis asked about the disposal of oil. Mr. Feist commented that he has licensed people to pick up waste oil. Mark Grimes commented that the con- ditions should have a condition that the parking lot and drainage plan be approved by the City Engineer. Commissioner Groger asked how many cars Mr. Feist anticipates will be on the lot at one time. Mr. Feist stated 15 cars would be on the lot at one time and the length of time would be two days. These cars have to be licensed cars. Mark Grimes commented that the area that will be fenced in and paved is a rather large area and will easily accommodate 15 cars. Commissioner Groger asked if anything else would be stored on the property. Mr. Feist said that a tow truck will be stored on site every once in a while. Chair McAleese opened the informal public hearing. Joe Shaughnessy, 1315 Welcome Avenue, commented that he would like to see all conditions enforced such as no car storage outside the fenced-in area, no cars for sale, and no Sunday work. Bruce Forress, 1425 Unity Avenue North, talked about the hazardous waste con- cerns; not only oil waste but also oil filters, floor dry which is soaked with oil, and parts washer solvent. His concern is .that these wastes are managed appropriately. Marilyn K. Scheidel, 1316 Welcome Avenue, expressed concern for the privacy fence for the cars that will be parked in the lot over night. She would like to see a wooden fence instead of chain fence so cars would not be visible. She is also concerned about the enforcement of cars being parked on the lot and that this be upheld. Chair McAleese asked the applicant to step forward and answer questions from the audience. Mark Grimes commented that all cars would be stored in the fenced-in area to prevent vandalism problems and to hide the cars. Mr. Grimes also com- mented that he and Lloyd Becker, Director of Zoning and Inspections, have spent time talking with Mr. Starbird, owner of the property, about the problem of cars on the lot and they hope this CUP will bring some compliance to the property. Mr. Feist commented that he will not be selling cars at this site. Mr. Grimes stated that this should be the site will be closed on noted in the permit. Sundays. His busines Mr. Feist also commented that s hours are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday. Mr. Feist stated that he was licensed for oil waste collection at his Sinclair Station and will :~ i Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 13, 1992 Page 3 check because people are doing oil changes at home and dropping off the used oil at the station. He is concerned about the contents of liquids that are dumped with the oil. Mark Grimes commented that if you sell oil, you must take it back. He also told Mr. Feist that the City does have a dumping area for oil which is open to the public during working hours. Bruce Forress commented that this waste can be take to the Hennepin County Transfer Station. Joe Shaughnessy, 1315 Welcome Avenue, asked about the green area for the site. Mark Grimes commented that the green area will be seeded or sodded and kept cut. Elizabeth Ellgen, 1438 North Lilac Drive, lives across the street and asked where the fence would be. Mr. Grimes said the fence would run along Lilac Drive. Chair McAleese closed the informal public hearing. Commissioners Kapsner and Lewis agreed that this would be a definite improvement to the site and do support the application. Commissioner Groger feels that this is not the ideal solution for the property but feel s Mr. Feist i s wi 11 i ng to work with the City and i mprove the property and will support this application with the conditions stated. Commissioner Johnson is concerned about vehicles that have been left in the past. She is concerned about enforcement of the number of cars at the site. She does support the application with the conditions discussed. Chair McAleese agreed with the other Commissioners that this would be an improvement for the site. He went over with staff, the additions of conditions to the permit. MOVED by Kapsner, seconded by Johnson and motion carried unanimously to recom- mend to the City Council, approval of the Conditional Use Permit to allow for auto repair and sales of automotive related items in a Commerical District. IV. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - MINOR SUBDIVISION OF "EWALD PARK ADDITION" Applicant: Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Golden Valley Address: Golden Valley Road and Xerxes Avenue (Former Ewald Site) Request: Allow for the replatting of six lots to four lots for con- struction of four single-family homes. Mark Grimes gave a brief summary of his report to the Commissioners. He com- mented that the lots meet all requirements and that Habitat for Humanity would put homes on the sites that are compatible with the neighborhood. Beth Knoblauch, City Planner, reviewed with the Commissioners the site plan, talking about where the homes would be placed and the lot lines. P Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 13, 1992 Page 4 Tony Beckstrom, representative for Habitat, briefly talked about the organiza- tion of Habitat. He feels that building four homes in one area has a more posi- tive effect than scattered sites. Habitat feels the lot sizes are very generous. Two homes will be built in 1992 on Lots 1 and 2 and the remaining two homes will be built in 1993. Chair McAleese opened the informal public hearing. Steve Erickson, 1812 York Avenue, thanked staff for working with the neigh- borhood on a project that would be acceptable and fit in. Jay Golfus, 1814 North York, commented that he was pleased with the action of the Planning Commission and City Council. Chair McAleese closed the informal public hearing. The Chair and Commissioners unanimously support Habitat for building homes on this site. MOVED by Groger, seconded by Lewis and motion carried unanimously to recommend to the City Council, approval of the Minor Subdivision to allow for the replatting of six lots to four lots for construction of four single-family homes. V. RESCHEDULE MAY MEETING DATES Mark Grimes suggested May 21st as an alternate Planning Commission meeting date due to the Planning staff being out of town for the meeting of the 11th, and Memorial Day falling on the second meeting date. VI. REPORTS ON MEETINGS OF THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CITY B A No reports were given. VII. OTHER BUSINESS No other business was presented. VIII. ADJOURNMENT Chair McAleese adjourned the meeting at 8:40 PM. can ewes, ecretary 1