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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/20/2009 Planning Commission Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANIVING COMMISSION MEETING Apri120,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. ROLL The Orono Planning Commission met on the above-mentioned date with the following members present: Chair Ra.lph Kempf, Commissioners Kim Kang,Tess Rice, and Denise Leskinen. Representing Staff were Assistant City Administrator for Long-Term Strategy Mike Gaffron,Melanie Curtis,Planner Evelyn Turner, and Recorder Jackie Young. Planning Commissioner Jon Schwingler arrived at 6:44 p.m. Council Member James Murphy was present. Chair Kempf called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. CONSENT AGENDA Item No. 2 was added to the Consent Agenda. Chair Kempf opened the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. There were no public comments regarding Application#09-3401. Chair Kempf closed the public hearing at 6:36 p.m. *1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NIINUTES OF MARCH 16, 2009 Kempf moved,Kang seconded,to approve the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of March 16,2009, as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. NEW BUSINESS *2. #09-3401 CITY OF ORONO,2389 BLAINE AVENUE,REZONING Kempf moved,Kang seconded,to recommend approval of Application#09-3401, City of Orono, 2389 Blaine Avenue,rezoning from LR-1C-1 to B-1. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. 3. #09-3399 DEAN TRONGARD, 1240 GARDEN COURT NORTH,VARIANCE,6:45 P.M. Dean Trongard,Applicant,was present. Turner stated the applicant is proposing to replace the flat roof with a pitched roof of a two-car garage, and in order to do that,is requesting a variance to enlarge an accessory building that is located closer to the street than the house. City Code does not allow accessory structures to be located closer to the street than the principal structure. Turner displayed a plan of the proposed garage from various elevations on the overhead. The applicant proposes to construct a gable roof with the ridge parallel to Garden Court. The pitch of the roof would be 10:12,which is the same pitch as the house roof. This would place the peak of the roof PAGE 1 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING April 20,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. approximately 13 feet above the existing roof. The code requires a detached accessory structure to be located no closer to the house than the front street. The house is set back about 130 feet from Garden Court. The garage is set back about seven feet from the right-of-way and 21 to 22 feet from the roadway itself. Turner stated issues the Planning Commission should take into consideration include the difficulties of maintaining a flat roof in Minnesota,which have been the part of the basis for granting similar variances in the past. The Commission may also want to consider the unattractiveness of the building as a contributing factor. The attached garage is 480 square feet. The proposed garage is 624 square feet. There are no other accessory structures on the property. Staff feels the proposed roof is more compatible with the neighborhood than the flat roof. Staff recommends approval subject to the shingles of the new roof matching the house shingles and the siding of the gable end being the same as the siding of the existing walls. Kempf stated it is difficult to tell from Exhibit F whether the pitch of the roof of the garage is different from the pitch of the roof from the house. � Turner stated she reviewed the house plans but is not aware of any plans for the attached garage. Trongard stated he is proposing to match the pitch of the house and that he measured the pitch of the attached garage to be 10:12. Chair Kempf opened the public hearing at 6:52 p.m. There were no public comments regarding this application. Chair Kempf closed the public hearing at 6:52 p.m. Schwingler stated he feels that the proposed garage is an improvement and that he concurs with Staff's recommendation. Kempf commented he can understand the hardship associated with a flat roof,and that given the close proximity of the garage to the street,as depicted in Exhibit E,the structure will have a substantial impact on the neighboring properties. Trongard stated he would like to have some attic space. Trongard indicated he did uncover the footings and found that they go down at least 24 inches. He has spoken with the building inspector,who did not feel it would be a problem to add an attic truss. Kang recommended some additional plantings be added along the sides of the garage to help soften the impact. Trongard indicated he is planning to add some more plantings. Trongard indicated he is also considering adding one or two windows in the gable end of the garage. Kempf stated typically in three-stall garages one of the stalls will typically be set forward slightly or a smaller gable will be added near the larger gable to help reduce the appearance of massing. Kempf noted PAGE 2 MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Apri120,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. this structure has existed for a considerable length of time and that a pitched roof would be preferable over a flat roof. Kang moved,Schwingler seconded,to recommend approval of Application#09-3399,Dean Trongard, 1240 Garden Court North,granting of a variance to enlarge a two-car garage,subject to the shingles of the new roof matching the house shingles and the siding of gable end being the same as the siding of the existing walls. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. PLANNING COMIVIISSION COMMENTS 4. REPORT OF PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 23,2009. Kempf reported on the March 23, 2009, City Council meeting. Attending the meeting was Kevin Bork, Westonka School District,who stated their goals for the coming year are to maintain Westonka's high test scores and regain their financial stability. In addition, a representative from the DNR discussed stabilization of certain areas of lakeshore that require attention,including a city-owned strip of land on Brown's Bay. A number of the neighbors were present for the hearing and offered their input on the restoration project. Neighbors expressed concern that there would be an expansion of the use by the general public of that area as well as increased noise and trash. The possibility of having a fence erected along the property line was discussed but no firm decisions were made concerning the fence. Kempf noted that Jasin Larson's application was discussed. The applicant's revised plan included substantial dormers in both the front and the back,which had a considerable impact on the massing. The application was ultimately approved by the Council. Kempf recommended that future applications in which revised plans are required reappear before the Planning Commission rather than proceeding on to the Council. 5. OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION Kempf welcomed Denise Leskinen to the Planning Commission. Leskinen noted she was employed by the City of Orono a few years ago and that she is presently employed by the City of Wayzata. Murphy stated the work near Molly's Corner is proposed by the Watershed District rather than the DNR and that it is likely a fence will be constructed along the property lines of the city-owned lot. The main concern of the residents in the area was access during the winter months. Historically this area has been used as a fishing spot and the Council would like to maintain that use. Murphy noted Orono's Board of Equalization met last week and that there were approximately 40 people in attendance. Murphy noted Orono's share of the property taxes is 14 to 16 percent of a resident's total property tax bill but that a number of the people are expressing dissatisfaction with the amount of taxes that they are paying in total. Orono has seen approximately a one percent decline in value on lakeshore properties and a five to six percent decline throughout the rest of the City. Murphy stated in his view the PAGE 3 Y � � MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING April 20,2009 � 6:30 o'clock p.m. attempts by the Minnesota Legislature to eliminate these local Board of Equalization hearings is not wise and that he expects more people to be at next year's Board of Equalization. Kang asked whether Orono is taking any steps to address the concerns of the business owners in Orono and Long Lake located on Old Highway 12, especially given the proposed new road closure and detour. Murphy stated they have had a number of discussions concerning the new Highway 12 and the impact it has had on the businesses in Long Lake. Murphy stated as it concerns the signage,Mn/DOT followed its procedure and called Old Highway 12 Wayzata Boulevard,which unfortunately added to the confusion. A number of the business people also expressed frustration that the new Highway 12 was opened up prior to Christmas. Murphy noted that the stretch of Old Highway 12 from Crystal Bay Road to Highway 6 will be closed in the near future,with traffic being detoured across County Road 6 and down Willow. A number of business leaders have expressed concerns about the signage and other issues. The work was scheduled to commence today,but due to road restrictions still being in place in Delano,the work has been delayed until those are lifted. Murphy stated the new Highway 12 project had been in the works for the past 20 years and every business person should have been aware of the impact that it would have on their business. Murphy commented it is an unfortunate situation but that the City of Orono's options are limited. Kang stated in her view the businesses did not expect traffic to drop on Old Highway 12 to the level that it has. Kempf asked what progress has been made in the area near County Road 6 where Mn/DOT removed all the vegetation and trees. Murphy stated the City has worked with Mn/DOT on that issue and that a re-vegetation plan has been developed. Murphy noted the City has received a noise complaint regarding the noise from the new Highway 12 and that a formal complaint has been filed with Mn/DOT by some of the residents. Murphy stated the other part of the closure involves the installation of the bridge for the Luce Line and that there will be a detour associated with that work as well. Schwingler asked whether that section of Highway 12 will be repaved. Murphy indicated they are attempting to get Mn/DOT to repave Old Highway 12 prior to Hennepin County assuming control of the road but they have not received a response back from Mn/DOT. Murphy reported the City of Long Lake has lost approximately 10 percent of its tax base since the highway project commenced. PAGE 4 . . . . MINUTES OF THE ORONO PLANNING COMIVIISSION MEETING Apri120,2009 6:30 o'clock p.m. 6. SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND CITY COUNCII,MEETINGS ON APRIL 27,2009,AND MAY 11,2009 April 27,2009—Kim Kang May 11, 2009—Jon Schwingler ADJOURNMENT Rice moved,Schwingler seconded,to adjourn the Orono City Council meeting at 7:28 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. <� ph Kemp , Chair PAGE 5