09/21/2009 Planning Commission Minutes

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Monday,September 21,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. Schoenzeit commented in his view this is a great addition to the community and that if parking does become an issue,it can be addressed at that time. Leskinen stated in her opinion it is an excellent plan and that she does not feel parking will be an issue. Leskinen noted having access off of Highway 12 also helps to keep traffic flowing through the parking lot. Kang asked how deliveries would be handled without disrupting traffic in the parking lot. Golchek stated on the north side of the building there is a loading dock,which is away from where the customers would enter the store. Kang moved,Kempf seconded,to recommend approval of Application#09-3423,Harvest Moon Natural Foods Co-op,2380 Wayzata Boulevard West,granting of an amendment to PUD No. 1 and a parking variance subject to StafPs recommendations. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. 5. #09-3424 MICHAEL AND DONNA EBERTZ, 1220 TONKAWA ROAD,VARIANCES, 8:05 P.M.—8:48 P.M. Michael and Donna Ebertz,Applicants,were present. Curtis stated the applicants are requesting a 75-250 foot zone hardcover variance and a street setback variance in order to construct entrance monuments with a gate on their property. One monument is proposed to be 1-foot off of the lot line and the other is proposed at 12 feet from the lot line. The gate is proposed to be as close as 21 feet to the paved traveled surface of Tonkawa Road. The applicants have constructed entrance monuments for a gate on their property without building permits. They were notified by the building inspector that permits were required and a survey showing the location of the monuments was also required. Upon receipt of the survey, staff noted that one of the monuments was located within the right-of-way of Tonkawa road. When notified of the setback issues, the applicants chose to request a variance for the setback rather than move the monument out of the County right-of-way. In 2007,the applicants went through a variance process in order to construct a new home on the 1.07 acre property. At that time entrance monuments were not considered part of the approved plan nor were they accounted for in the hardcover calculations. The hardcover calculations that were submitted were not prepared by the surveyor and reflect an increase in the area within each zone. Staff finds that the plans must abide by the previous level of hardcover. There is no hardship to grant a hardcover variance as the property is already considerably maxed out on hardcover. Additionally Staff finds that although the location of the entrance monuments may be reasonable considering the distance from the paved County road,the gate setback is not. The purpose for the 40-foot setback from the roadway is to allow for stacking off the roadway when the gate is closed. A truck with a boat trailer pulling into the property would be well into Tonkawa Road with the gate at the proposed location. When a gate is proposed all of the calculations have to assume the gate is closed. Planning Staff recommends the following: Page 10