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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP October 13, 1992 - CA. CITY of ANDOVER SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING - OCTOBER 13, 1992 MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Andover city Council was called to order by Mayor Ken Orttel on October 13, 1992, 7:05 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Jacobson, McKelvey, Perry, Smith Councilmembers absent: None Others present: City Planner, Dave Carlberg City Administrator, James Schrantz Planning and Zoning Commission Members present: Chairperson, Bonnie Dehn Maynard Apel Steve Jonak Bev Jovanovich Randy Peek Economic Development Committee Members present: Mike Auger Bill Coleman Also present: Owners and operators of the auto recycling yards Mayor Orttel explained that for a period of time the City and Council has not allowed any improvements or expansions to the auto salvage/ junkyard operations with the idea that eventually the property would be redeveloped into other types of businesses that were less offensive from a visual standpoint. Because of the cost of acquiring those properties and with the increased awareness of the need for these types of businesses, the discussion is now on other alternatives to allow the operations to continue. Several of the owners have asked for new construction permits, some for environmental reasons to contain the chemicals inside and some to dismantle the vehicles inside. He noted the September 10, 1992, report from the Andover Auto Recyclers Association outlining possible options if this is looked at on a comprehensive basis. Part of the thinking was that if the operations are moved indoors, less outdoor storage would be required. If that would happen, the owners would be able to sell off some of their property for other uses. Councilmember perry questioned how many operations were auto recycling yards, which she interpreted to mean the parts would be in a contained area and the carcasses would be removed. Does this mean that the size of the yards would be reduced? ~ -- Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - October 13, 1992 Page 2 Harrv Haluptzok - stated they are all auto recyclers. They are facing what all U.S. companies are facing that has any type of outside storage, and that is the Storm Water Run Off Program. In Minnesota, the program is being run by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. By October 1, they are required to apply for a license. They will be responsible for any wastes they dump on the ground and will have to test their runoff into the ground. To sell their property, they are required to do soil borings, and they will not be able to develop the property if they dump chemicals into the ground. They need hard surfaces and buildings to continue conducting their operations. Mr. Haluptzok went on that Andover could buyout their operations, though he felt that would be cost prohibitive for the City. The other solution is a compromise. The City would outline how they what they want the businesses to look like. He noted that about 16 percent of the land from the recyclers will be given up for road improvements, both along Bunker Lake Boulevard and the proposed Commercial Boulevard. In addition, the yards are willing to reduce the size of their operations, and he pointed those areas out on an overhead map. The recyclers are willing to put a buffer zone around their operations. Each operation is willing to provide some layout of what the operation will look like -- building, the planting of evergreens, fencing, building fronts, blacktop and stripped parking areas, etc. They are talking about spending a lot of money. If the federal and state regulations require them to have buildings and the City refuses, Mr. Haluptzok felt the issue would have to be settled in court. The state wants a plan of action to stop the spilling of fluids on the ground; and the only way to stop that is to dismantle on a hard surface. Councilmember Smith stated it makes sense to bring the operations indoors, that this is the wave of the future for recycling. He also felt there is a need for these operations. Councilmember Jacobson did not have a problem with dismantling indoors, but he needed to see the outside storage sizably reduced. He didn't want to see carcasses lay outside for long periods of time just rusting away. Michael Lund - stated it may look like the cars are rusting away, but nothing stays very long in his yard. Mr. Haluptzok stated 70 percent of the parts are sold right out of the building, but 10 percent of the business is scrap and 20 percent is other items people want off the car such as certain body parts that they do not want to move to the racks because of potential damage to the parts. Discussion with those present was on establishing a goal on what is expected from the operations over a specific time period. Mr. Haluptzok suggested a realistic time period would be five years in which the operations would construct their buildings, do the required landscaping and reduce the size of their yards by a specified percentage. One of the problems is that the yards are visible from Bunker Lake Boulevard, which is very highly travelled. He felt when that road is improved, they can ask the county to install berms on which they can plant trees Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - October 13, 1992 Page 3 which will provide a visual buffer for their operations. Each operation would have to determine how much they can realistically reduce the size of their yards. He also realized they would have to meet the building codes. Mr. Haluptzok also suggested the operations establish a committee to monitor themselves as a group, to help the City in its inspections, and to police themselves. Discussion was on the alignment for the proposed Commercial Boulevard. Mayor Orttel noted the Council is waiting for the appraisal before making that decision. Yard owners pointed out that both Commercial Boulevard and the upgrading of Bunker Lake Boulevard will directly affect many of their operations. They need to know those specifics before investing a lot of dollars into their own businesses. Mr. Haluptzok also explained that by October 1 everyone in the State of Minnesota had to apply for a permit. By October 1, 1993, they will have to have a plan for water runoff. As owners, they would like to implement their plans as soon as possible. The City needs to understand that they have a right to be there and that their operations are necessary in this country because the car industry is so large. The world is changing, and they want to be a step ahead of what is happening. Councilmember Perry would not want to see any change to the regulations in place for industrial businesses. She appreciates the suggestions made this evening; however, she is still concerned that many of the screening and buffering ideas are already required by the City. She felt there has to be some movement on the part of the owners to follow the existing ordinances. Society has created a need for these businesses, and she felt they have to find a way to live with them and have them be good neighbors within the City. Several owners pointed out that they do meet the ordinances to get their licenses every year. There has also been a reluctance to spent a lot of money on these things when they know they are not wanted. They want to do business in the City and to have their businesses look as good as possible. That is why they are before the City as a group. Mr. Haluptzok suggested a committee be set up to work with the City, help with inspections, make recommendations, etc. He thought everyone wants to improve the operations of the businesses, and he felt that can be done on a five-year plan. Another representative of an owner suggested they dovetail onto the county's road improvement project, to ask the county to design the project such that berming and screening is in place for them to do additional landscaping. That will take care of the five yards facing Bunker Lake Boulevard. Mr. Coleman expressed caution before changing the ordinance. The area has been planned for commercial industrial uses with a long-term impact on increasing the tax base of the community. He, too, did not favor changing the building code for the industrial area. He felt some analysis should be done as to the kinds of businesses that should go into the industrial area that would generate more revenue than the junkyards are generating. Special Andover City Council Meeting Minutes - October 13, 1992 Page 4 Mr. Lund stated he is looking 20 years down the line when he would like to see his son come in and run the business. There is a lot of industrial property available now. Mayor Orttel didn't think the City is talking about allowing more auto recycling yards. Right now they encompass about 75 acres, leaving a lot of area around that could be developed for other commercial uses. The more immediate question is that of aesthetics and environmental damage. All those factors have to be weighed. There was some discussion on the building requirements in a commercial area and the costs for those buildings. JoAnn Wilber stated she has received a bid for a building that meets the ordinance that will cost under $50,000. She also noted that when the car bodies are crushed, they are not necessarily shipped out right away. Sometimes they hold them until the market is there and then ship them. After further discussion, Council agreed to establish a task force to work out a plan of action that is acceptable to both the City and the auto recycling operations. The following agreed to serve on that Task Force: Councilmember Jack McKelvey, Acting Chair Councilmember Todd Smith Planning and Zoning commission Chairperson Bonnie Dehn Planning Commissioner Steve Jonak Mrs. Penny DeNucci, Anoka Auto Parts Harry Haloptzuk, Best Auto Parts JoAnn Wilber, Wilber's Auto Parts EDC member, Mike Auger EDC member, Bill Coleman Mr. Carlberg is to be the City Staff liaison and will set up the first meeting as soon as possible. Mayor Orttel adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ,~~~ Marcella A. Peach Recording Secretary