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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 13, 2007 aU'Y\tv\:d.1cL 1;(-( \-07 0 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING - NOVEMBER 13, 2007 The Regular Bi-Monthly Meeting of the Andover Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order by Chairperson Daninger on November 13, 2007, 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Chairperson Daninger, Commissioners rim. KH-.chGFf, Michael Casey, Valerie Holthus, De"on Walton, Douglas Falk and Dennis Cleveland. (l(Y\.U'~ I 2 -11- 6 ( Commissioners absent: Commissioners Tim Kirchoff and Devon Walton. Also present: City Plarmer, Courtney Bednarz Associate Plarmer, Andy Cross Others 0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES. October 23, 2007 Motion by Falk, seconded by Casey, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. PUBLIC HEARING: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (07-13) FOR EXPANSION OF ABOVE GROUND UTILITIES AT 14800 PRAIRIE ROAD NW. Mr. Bednarz noted Northern Natural Gas has proposed an expansion of the existing facilities within Prairie Knoll Park as a part of a larger pipeline project to provide natural gas to the Xcel Energy Riverside power plant in Minneapolis. Commissioner Holthus wondered how long the facility has been there. The applicant indicated it has been there before the park was there. Commissioner Holthus wondered if there have been any problems in the past with the above ground utilities being there. Mr. Bednarz stated it has not been an issue for the 0 City. Regular Andover Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes - November 13, 2007 Page 2 0 Motion by Casey, seconded by Falk, to open the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. Ms. Liz Babcock, Northern Natural Gas, indicated she was at the meeting to answer questions. Commissioner Falk wondered what the purpose of the station was right now. Ms. Babcock explained they are expanding the facilities to accommodate Center Point Energy. Commissioner Falk wondered if there will be an addition of more pipelines going in the City. Ms. Babcock indicated Centerpoint will be adding more, not Northern Natural Gas. Chairperson Daninger asked if the parking lot would have access for the park or will it be gated at the road. Ms. Babcock indicated the access at l48th Lane will be gated but the current access will remain the same. Chairperson Daninger wondered if the gate were not to be closed, will the equipment still be protected. Ms. Babcock stated it will be the same as it is now. It will be protected from the public. She stated Northern has agreed to put a parking lot over the pipeline. 0 Motion by Falk, seconded by Casey, to close the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. Commissioner Cleveland wondered how far from the street will the gate be. Ms. Babcock indicated it will be about ten feet. Motion by Falk, seconded by Casey, to recommend to the City Council approval of the proposed conditional use permit subject to the conditions of the attached resolution. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. Mr. Bednarz stated that this item would be before the Council at the November 20, 2007 City Council meeting. PUBLIC HEARING: V ARlANCE (07-03) TO ALLOW REDUCED FRONT YARD SETBACK FOR LOTS IN WOODLAND ESTATES ~ ADDITION. Mr. Cross explained Woodland Development has requested a variance to front yard setback requirements in the new Woodland Estates 3rd Addition. Mr. Cross discussed the staff report with the Commission. 0 Motion by Casey, seconded by Cleveland, to open the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. Regular Andover Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes - November 13, 2007 0 Page 3 Mr. Joe Hauglie, Woodland Development indicated he has added two exhibits since the packet was put together. He showed and explained the exhibits to the Commission. Mr. Hauglie stated the two hardships are the topography of the land and they worked with the neighbors to move the retaining wall twenty feet from the property line to save the trees. Commissioner Holthus wondered how many feet from the rear property line to the retaining wall on the lots east of Verdin Street. Mr. Hauglie stated from the retaining wall to their property line is twenty feet, which contains the twenty foot tree preservation area. Chairperson Daninger thought this was brought up at a Council Workshop and he wondered ifhe was requesting five or ten feet at that time. Mr. Hauglie indicated they are requesting ten feet. Chairperson Daninger asked if they anticipated the size of the houses at the preliminary plat because his concern is why this was not discussed then. Mr. Hauglie stated they did not because the retaining walls were not placed at that time and a lot was done on site with trying to save trees. 0 Chairperson Daninger wondered if they considered having lesser lots to accommodate this. Mr. Hauglie stated they did not. Chairperson Daninger asked what the hardship for the variance is. Mr. Hauglie explained what they felt were hardships. Chairperson Daninger asked if the dirt moving was done because he has had questions as to why the trucks were still there. Mr. Hauglie stated there will not be any more work done. Mr. Winslow Holasek wondered why the variance would include all the lots, usually it is only for one lot and also wondered if the option would be open for anyone else to get a variance for an entire row of homes. Chairperson Daninger stated anyone is allowed to apply for a variance but it may not be approved. He noted they approve on a case-by- case basis. Motion by Falk, seconded by Casey, to close the public hearing at 7:24 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. Commissioner Casey stated right now they have twenty feet from the property line to the retaining wall and from the retaining wall to the footprint of the house is thirty feet. Mr. 0 Cross stated that depends on the housing plan, which has not been confirmed so this is not a dead set number. He noted the minimum is thirty feet. Regular Andover Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes - November 13, 2007 Page 4 0 Commissioner Casey asked if the deck footprint would be included on the building setback. Mr. Cross indicated all homes now need to show where a deck can legally be placed in order to get the building permit. Commissioner Casey stated he would lean towards approval of this to save trees. He would also want full disclosure of the deck and if a deck would be possible on the home or not because of the variance. Commissioner Falk thought the developer was working with the existing residents very well and thought this could move forward. Commissioner Holthus agreed. Commissioner Cleveland concurred with the other Commissioners. Chairperson Daninger stated he did not like this at all. They have ordinances in place and felt they were opening a Pandora's Box by allowing this. He stated he did not see a hardship here because he thought they would see these issues immediately as they started building the development. He stated he has seen other developments with retaining walls that close that seem to work. Motion by Falk, seconded by Holthus, to recommend approval of the variance to front yard setback requirements in the new Woodland Estates 3rd Addition. Motion carried on a4-ayes, I-nays (Daninger), 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. 0 Mr. Cross stated that this item would be before the Council at the November 20,2007 City Council meeting. RESIDENT FORUM: 2008 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Mr. Bednarz stated this item is intended to allow property owners an opportunity to ask questions and make comments about the Comprehensive Plan. It is not the intent for a fmal decision to be made on any specific request that may be raised. Mr. Bednarz reviewed the three stations setup around the Council Chambers. The Commission walked around and fielded resident questions regarding the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update for future discussion. OTHER BUSINESS. Mr. Bednarz updated the Planning Commission on related items. Mr. Bednarz stated they will be having another resident forum on December 11, 2007 at 0 7:00 p.m. on the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update. Regular Andover Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes - November 13, 2007 Page 5 0 Chairperson Daninger stated he received a letter from a resident regarding multi-color fences along Hanson Boulevard and he would submit this to staff for review and possible future discussion. ADJOURNMENT. Motion by Casey, seconded by Falk, to adjourn the meeting at 8: 12 p.m. Motion carried on a 5-ayes, O-nays, 2-absent (Kirchoff, Walton) vote. Respectfully Submitted, Sue Osbeck, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, lnc. 0 0