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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP - January 12, 2010 0 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. . ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304. (763) 755-5100 FAX (763) 755-8923 . WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US ANDOVER PLANNING & ZONING & OPEN SPACE COMMISSION INTERVIEWS JANUARY 12,2010 MINUTES The Andover Planning & Zoning and Open Space Commission Interviews was called to order by Mayor Mike Gamache, January 12, 2010, 6:30 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Sheri Bukkila, Don Jacobson, Mike Knight, Julie Trude Councilmember absent: None Also present: City Administrator, Jim Dickinson C Dennis Cleveland - Planning and Zoning Commission Mr. Cleveland explained to the Council why he would like to be on the Planning & Zoning Commission again. Councilmember Knight asked when the Planning & Zoning Commission sends an item to Council and the Council does not see it the way the Commission does, does he see problems in that. Mr. Cleveland stated no. He thinks of it as an on going discussion, starting with the Commission and moves on to the Council. Councilmember Jacobson asked what can the Council do to improve how the Planning & Zoning Commission works. Mr. Cleveland indicated it would be helpful for both sides to communicate better. Having a joint meeting once a year would improve the communication. Mayor Gamache stated he would like Mr. Cleveland's thoughts about Andover moving forward. Mr. Cleveland feels the rural nature area is changing. Development is going to happen and he welcomes that. Councilmember Trude asked what his thoughts are regarding rural areas verses urban areas. Mr. Cleveland stated rural areas will change and the only thing that is constant in the City is change. The commission guides those ways of change. 0 Councilmember Bukkila asked ofthe projects that he had to review this last year which was the most difficult and how did he feel if the decision did not go his way. Mr. Cleveland indicated he is not concerned about the issue going his way; he is more concerned with being heard. He is interested in the public hearing input, which mayor may not change his decision. 0 Andover City Council Interviews for Planning & Zoning and Open Space Commission Openings Minutes-January 12,2010 Page 2 The Council thanked Mr. Cleveland for his three years of service on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Doug Falk - Planning and Zoning Commission Mr. Falk explained to the Council why he would like to be on the Planning & Zoning Commission agam. Councilmember Knight asked what Mr. Falk sees ahead for Andover. Mr. Falk indicated he does not see anything, the economy is sour. Councilmember Knight asked if he is satisfied with the way the Commission functions. Mr. Falk indicated that is one of the questions he has for the Council. Councilmember Jacobson indicated the economy is down, what issues could the City face in the next few years. Mr. Falk stated the City will face financial issues especially with the housing market going down. Councilmember Jacobson asked if the Commission is doing an adequate job with planning. Mr. Falk stated city staff does a great job providing the information, but he feels at times when the information is given to him that the job of the Commission is half done. He would like to 0 have more input on the entire process. Mr. Falk asked the Council how they feel the Commission is doing. Councilmember Jacobson stated on the zoning the Commission is doing a great job, he feels on the planning side the Council should be soliciting ideas from the Commission. Councilmember Trude suggested having a joint meeting. Councilmember Knight stated he values what the Commission has to say on the issues. Mayor Gamache feels the Commission is very valuable. Councilmember Bukkila asked over the year on what issues did he weigh in on the most and why. Mr. Falk indicated one issue would be the vehicle ordinance. He feels the ordinance is very vague. The Council thanked Mr. Falk for his three years of service on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Bruce Perry - Open Space Commission Mr. Perry explained to the Council why he would like to be on the Open Space Commission again. Councilmember Jacobson indicated the process for the Open Space Commission to purchase a parcel was a long, slow process what can be done to speed it up. Mr. Perry stated the Commission now has the education with the process and the next purchase should go quicker. 0 Mayor Gainache asked if he sees the Commission moving forward towards a second referendum. Mr. Perry stated that is probably something the Commission should be looking at. Councilmember Trude asked if the Commission is looking at applying for grants. Mr. Perry 0 Andover City Council Interviews for Planning & Zoning and Open Space Commission Openings Minutes - January 12, 2010 Page 3 indicated it is too late to apply for grants this year. They will be preparing this year for the 2011 grant deadline. Councilmember Bukkila wanted to know if Mr. Perry is not appointed to the Commission what they would be losing. Mr. Perry stated his two years of experience is a big asset to the Commission. Councilmember Knight wanted to know if he has any ideas on how the process could be improved. Mr. Perry stated more communication between the Council and Commission would be very helpful. The Council thanked Mr. Perry for his two and a half years of service on the Open Space Commission. . Eric Myers - Planning and Zoning Commission Mr. Myers explained to the Council why he would like to be on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Councilmember Knight asked if Mr. Myers is familiar with what the Planning & Zoning 0 Commission does. Mr. Myers stated they deal ordinances, setbacks and neighborhood issues. Councilmember Jacobson asked him ifhe felt strongly on an issue how would he prove his point of view. Mr. Myers stated he tries to be a solution thinker, so he listens to both sides. He indicated he would follow the ordinances and use sound judgment. . Councilmember Trude asked how he sees the City and as we plan for the future does he see anything that is missing. Mr. Myers stated he feels the City has been smart in its growth plan from the business prospective. He does not see any problems with the residential part of the City. Councilmember Bukkila asked what his experience is with ordinances. Mr. Myers indicated in his professional work he has drafted out codes and ordinances. He is familiar with how codes are laid out. Mayor Gamache indicated recently the City passed a single-family rental ordinance what are his thoughts on how that is working. Mr. Myers felt the City did a good job on the ordinance. He believes after a period of correction the rentals will be going back to single-family neighborhoods. . The Council thanked Mr. Myers for his interest in wanting to serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission. 0 Michael Mueller - Open Space Commission Mr. Mueller explained to the Council why he would like to be on the Open Space Commission. Councilmember Knight asked how he feels the Commission is moving along on purchasing property. 0 Andover City Council Interviews for Planning & Zoning and Open Space Commission Openings Minutes-January 12,2010 Page 4 Mr. Mueller feels the process moved very slowly. Councilmember Jacobson asked Mr. Mueller how he would define open space. Mr. Mueller indicated it is a parcel ofland that does not have a building on it. Councilmember Jacobson asked what other ways could land be preserved. Mr. Mueller stated there are conservation trusts and leasing property to farmers. Mayor Gamache asked for his thoughts on a second open space referendum. Mr. Mueller thinks the questions to the voters would need to be fine tuned. Councilmember Trude asked what ideas he has to get a parcel purchased in less then two years. Mr. Mueller stated it is important to have communication with property owners that are willing to preserve their land. Councilmember Bukkila wanted to know his reaction to the parcel that was purchased. Mr. Mueller thought the Commission was looking at smaller parcels throughout the City not a 38 acre parcel. 0 The Council thanked Mr. Mueller for his interest in wanting to serve on the Open Space Commission. Lynae Gudmundson - Planning and Zoning Commission Ms. Gudmundson explained to the Council why she would like to be on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Councilmember Knight asked if she is familiar with the basic functions of the Planning & Zoning Commission. Ms. Gudmundson indicated the commission reviews growth plans for the City and gives Council their recommendation. Councilmember Jacobson indicated some issues the Commission deals with can get emotional for residents, has she dealt with emotional issues in her work environment. Ms. Gudmundson stated she has a lot of experience in that area. She handles real estate appraising and deals with homeowners that have a strong opinion of what their home is worth and lenders who also have an idea of what that house is worth. Mayor Gamache wanted to know her feelings on restrictions in rural areas. Ms. Gudmundson stated the City needs to develop and grow. She indicated that restrictions do not bother her; she wants properties to look good and for growth to develop in an orderly fashion. 0 Councilmember Trude asked if how properties look affect their value. Ms. Gudmundson indicated aesthetics and appeal do affect the value of a property. She believes there needs to ordinances and the bottom line is preserving the housing values. 0 Andover City Council1nterviewsfor Planning & Zoning and Open Space Commission Openings Minutes - January 12, 2010 Page 5 Councilmember Bukkila asked what her threshold is on commercial vehicles in the driveway. Ms. Gudmundson stated to her that is a vehicle that someone drives and it should not matter ifthere are words on the side. She indicated she would have more of an issue with a 36 foot RV sitting in the drive way all summer long then a commercial vehicle. The Council thanked Ms. Gudmundson for her interest to serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Kim Kovich - Open Space Commission Mr. Kovich explained to the Council why he would like to be on the Open Space Commission again. Councilmember Knight asked if Mr. Kovich is satisfied with the process of the Open Space Commission. Mr. Kovich indicated the Commission had numerous properties to evaluate and the process was slow but they wanted to make sure they did things right especially with their first purchase. 0 Councilmember Jacobson asked if it is time to look at another bond referendum. Mr. Kovich indicated not yet. Councilmember J aco bson stated the parcel that has been purchased is large, what are his thoughts on looking at smaller parcels. Mr. Kovich indicated when you are looking at natural resources the parcel has to be large enough to function by it's self. Mayor Gamache asked ifthe Commission would consider looking at smaller parcels in urban areas. Mr. Kovich indicated the criteria for parcel consideration has been set and part of the criteria is based on SIze. Councilmember Trude wanted to know if another meeting with the Council would be helpful. Mr. Kovich indicated it would be helpful but later this spring when they have more information on the parcels that are being considered to purchase. Councilmember Bukkila asked about the accessibility on the parcel that has been purchased. Mr. Kovich stated access is on the west side of the parcel and the thought is in the future the access will get better. The Council thanked Mr. Kovich for his two and a half years of service on the Open Space Commission. The Council discussed the candidates for both the Planning & Zoning Commission and Open Space 0 Commission and made a decision. Motion by Knight, Seconded by Jacobson, to appoint Bruce Perry and Kim Kovich to the Open Space Commission. Motion carried unanimously. 0 Andover City Council1nterviews for Planning & Zoning and Open Space Commission Openings Minutes - January 12, 2010 Page 6 Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Trude, to appoint Dennis Cleveland to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Trude, to appoint Michael Mueller as first alternate to the Open Space Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Trude, Seconded by Bukkila, to appoint Lynae Gudmundson to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion failed 2 ayes (Trude, Bukkila) and 3 nays (Jacobson, Knight, Gamache). The Council discussed the candidates, Doug Falk, Lynae Gudmundson and Eric Myers. Motion by Trude, Seconded by Gamache, to appoint Lynae Gudmundson to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Trude, Seconded by Jacobson, to appoint Doug Falk as first alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. 0 Motion by Jacobson, Seconded by Bukkila, to appoint Eric Myers as second alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried unanimously. Motion by Bukkila, Seconded by Gamache, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:41p.m. . Respectfully submitted, \1 )J.~Ik.Lu..~-tru-'\./ MIchelle Hartner, ecording Secretary 0