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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-10-2020 PC MinutesHastings Planning Commission February 10, 2020- Regular Meeting Agenda Hastings City Hall - City Council Chambers 7:00 p.m. Chair Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 1. Call Meeting to Order Planning Commissioners Present: Johnson, Martin, Siebenaler, Best, Messina, Romens, and Halberg Planning Commissioners Absent: None Staff Present: Community Development Director John Hinzman, and City Planner Justin Fortney 2. Approval of Minutes Discussion on having further discussion detail in Planning Commission Minutes. Commissioner Messina moved to approve the minutes as presented seconded by Commissioner Halberg. Ayes 7; Nays 0. Motion approved. PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. Real Estate Equities - Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, Special Use Permit for building over 40 feet in height, and Site Plan #2020-05 - Senior Housing Facility at Schoolhouse Square. Vermillion Street and 10th Street. Hinzman provided a summary of the proposed actions to construct a 90 unit, four story, independent living senior apartment building. Alex Bisanz of Real Estate Equities provided further detail on the proposal. Commissioner Johnson opened the public hearing at 7:21 pm. Sonia Metzger, President of the Schoolhouse Square Townhome Association, 920 Ramsey Street stated she understood senior housing would be built, but was told it would be about 50 units. This project is larger than what was planned. She would like to see the traffic study. The townhome association owns part of the road, how will that be addressed. Will this be Section 8 housing? Norm Madsen, 812 Ramsey Street had questions on maintenance of the roadway between the townhomes and the apartments. Where will surface parking be located. Will the apartment units be subsidized housing? Bisanz stated a traffic study has been completed that showed minimal impact, there will be a shared easement between the townhomes and the apartments, parking exceeds City minimum requirements, the housing will not be Section 8 and that residents will need to be at least 55 years of age. Rents will be approximately $900 - $1,200 per month. Hinzman provided a history of the Schoolhouse Square development including the establishment of a maximum density per a Development Agreement executed in 2003. Councilmember Tina Folch asked if the parking in the garage would be EV charging ready. Greg Schmitt, 215 8th Street E had concerns about additional traffic, could the density cap be exceeded in the future, lighting, and landscaping. Wes Lund, 120 7th Street E stated the building is tall, perhaps too tall, traffic is a concern, will stormwater runoff affect adjacent properties. Tom Kusant, 805 Ramsey Street questioned whether the width of the road was adequate for emergency access. Bisanz stated conduit could be added to accommodate electric vehicles, a proof of parking within the dog run area could be constructed if needed in the future, lighting plans have been submitted and are within maximum limits for illumination, stormwater will be accommodated though an underground chamber to avoid surface ponding, there is a demand in the market for senior housing, the Fire Marshall has reviewed and access is acceptable. Chair Johnson closed the public hearing at 8:15. Commissioner Martin referred to the 2006 Site Plan and Special Use Permit approval for a similarly sized building on the site, albeit a condo building with less units. Commissioner Messina cited other apartment projects and believed the parking provided would be adequate. Traffic flow is not an issue for him either. Commissioner Siebenaler believes most residents will have vehicles and will contribute to traffic in the area; 10th and Sibley is a busy area. Could the access to the underground garage be moved further north, closer to the access to Ramsey Street? How will joint maintenance of the private road between the townhomes and the apartments be handled. Height of the building is a concern. Bisanz stated moving the garage entrance further north would result in the building being taller in order to have grade access to the garage. Commissioner Best asked if the developer is still considering a partnership with DARTS to provide transit for residents. Bisanz stated they are still pursuing. Commissioner Romens asked how long the building will be age restricted and how many cars per hour at peak. Bisanz gave a summary of the traffic study. Motion to table the Preliminary\Final Plat, Special Use Permit, and Site Plan by Commissioner Siebenaler. There was no second to the motion. Motion by Commissioner Martin to recommend approval of the Preliminary and Final Plat subject to the conditions of the staff report. Second by Commissioner Messina. Motion approved 6-1 (Siebenaler nay). Motion by Commissioner Messina to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit subject to the conditions of the staff report. Second by Commissioner Halberg. Motion approved 6- 1 (Siebenaler nay). Motion by Commissioner Halberg to recommend approval of the Site Plan subject to the conditions of the staff report. Second by Commissioner Romens. Motion approved 7-0. The previous actions will be forwarded to the City Council on February 18th for final action. 4. Chad Smurawa - Special Use Permit for Retail Facility in the I-1 District and Site Plan #2019-34 - Mini Storage - Northeast Corner of Lightbourn Court and 31st Street. Fortney provided a summary of the proposed actions. Chair Johnson opened the public hearing at 9:05pm Lori Briner, 2193 Glacier Way, asked if there would be outside storage and what the height of the building would be. Fortney stated there are no sites identified for outside storage and the building would be one story in height. Chair Johnson closed the public hearing at 9:07pm Commissioner Messina stated outside storage should not be allowed, he is concerned about the fence height facing the trail; the fence should be tall enough so that access to the site does not become an attractive nuisance. Commissioner Siebenaler asked about the Fire Marshall’s comment of not being able to access the site with a truck. Fortney explained the Fire Marshall could access the site from public streets and this should not be an issue. Motion by Commissioner Siebenaler to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit and Site Plan subject to the conditions of the staff report. There was no second to the motion. Motion by Commissioner Messina to recommend approval of the Special Use Permit and Site Plan subject to the conditions of the staff report with the addition of the following additional conditions: 1-No outside storage, 2-fence must be a minimum of six feet in height. Second by Commissioner Romens. Motion approved 7-0. Action will be forwarded to the February 18th City Council meeting. Motion by Commissioner Siebenaler to adjourn the meeting. There was no second to the motion. 5. Real Estate Equities - Resolution: Finding that Modified Redevelopment Plan for the Vermillion Street Project Area and TIF Plan for TIF District No. 8 is consistent with the General Plan of the City. Hinzman provided a summary of the request. Commissioner Messina expressed his support for the use of TIF on this site. Commissioner Siebenaler asked for clarification of the action requested by the Commission and an explanation of TIF. Hinzman provided clarification on the finding of conformance to the general plan and an explanation of TIF. Motion by Commissioner Martin to adopt resolution as presented by staff. Second by Commissioner Messina. Motion approved 6-0 with Siebenaler voting present. 6. City of Hastings - Ordinance Amendment - C-2 Zoning Uses - Continued. Hinzman provided a summary of the request. Chair Johnson asked if the language of the revised draft included changes discussed at the last meeting regarding the ability to sell existing manufactured homes. Hinzman stated that the issue was discussed with the City’s attorney and they believe the proposed changes do not affect the ability to sell manufactured homes, so no changes were made. Mark Lambert of Hastings Commons spoke in opposition of the ordinance change referring to his lawsuit against the City to allow construction of a motorcoach commerce facility in the C-2 District and the affects the ordinance change may have on his lawsuit. Hinzman stated the lawsuit and the proposed amendment to City Code are two issues, the lawsuit will be determined in the courts and City is free to consider amendments to the City Code. Commissioner Messina asked what the adverse impacts on Hastings Commons will be. Mr. Lambert stated his concerns that if he prevails in his lawsuit, the ordinance change would preclude his moving forward with the use. Commissioner Siebenaler asked for clarification as to why the amendment was not modified per direction at the last meeting. Hinzman reiterated that that the issue was discussed with the City’s attorney and they believe the proposed changes do not affect the ability to sell manufactured homes, so no changes were made. Commissioner Martin shared concerns of not having the ability to review the initial motorcoach commerce facility application that was rejected by staff. Commissioner Messina asked why the appeal for the motorcoach commerce facility was not brought to Planning Commission. Hinzman stated any appeal goes to directly to the City Council serving as the Board of Appeals. Motion by Chair Johnson to recommend denial of the proposed ordinance amendment as presented. Second by Commissioner Siebenaler. Motion for denial approved 7-0. 7. Other Business Hinzman discussed the upcoming Planning Commission meeting schedule. 8. Adjourn Commissioner Halberg motioned to adjourn at 10:22 p.m., seconded by Commissioner Romens. Ayes 7; Nays 0. Motion approved. Next Meeting – February 24, 2020. Respectively Submitted: John Hinzman