HomeMy WebLinkAbout2a. Minutes - September 13, 2021Hastings Planning Commission
September 13, 2021 - Regular Meeting Agenda
Hastings City Hall - Council Chambers
7:00 p.m.
The Hastings Planning Commission of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a
regular meeting on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Hastings City
Council Chambers.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Planning Commissioners Present: Messina, Halberg, Matzke, Teiken,
Romens, Best, & Peters
Planning Commissioners Absent: None
Staff Present: City Planner, Justin Fortney and Community Development Intern,
Grady Timmerman
2. Approval of Minutes – August 30, 2021
Commissioner Halberg motioned to approve the minutes from the August 30,
2021 regular meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Teiken. Vote: Ayes 4; Nays: 0
(Best, Romens, and Peters abstaining). Motion approved as presented.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. River City Investments - Rezoning, Site Plan, Special Use Permit, Preliminary
Plat, and Final Plat #2021-34 - Siewert Apartments. 32 Unit Apartment Building -
NW Corner of 3rd & Tyler. Staff Report by John Hinzman.
Mr. Hinzman presented the staff report and provided a summary of the requests
including the rezoning of the property from C-3 – Community Regional
Commerce to DC – Downtown Core, approving the replat of two existing lots into
a single lot of record, and approving the Site Plan for construction of the four
story 32-unit apartment building.
A public hearing was held, but no comments were made. Luke Siewert was
available for questions.
Chair Messina commented that the windows in the garage design were a good
addition and helped hide its garagelike appearance.
Commissioner Teiken echoed Chair Messina’s comments and asked about any
proposed irrigation systems that would be used for the landscaping of the project.
Mr. Siewert responded that he didn’t have a definitive answer to that question,
but that it would depend on the type of plants planted and their specific
requirements.
Commissioner Romens inquired into the availability of on street parking the site
currently has and any proposed changes to time allotments for the change in
usage.
Mr. Fortney responded that there is currently on street parking available and that
there have not been any changes to time allotments as they relate to the change
in use.
Commissioner Matzke inquired into the ownership and demolition timeline of the
house located on the western most lot.
Mr. Siewert responded that the developer has gained ownership of the property
and the house is scheduled to be demolished by the end of the year to be ready
for a spring build.
Commissioner Halberg motioned to recommend approval for the rezoning of the
property from C-3 – Community Regional Commerce to DC – Downtown Core.
Seconded by Commissioner Teiken. Vote: Ayes 7; Nays: 0. Motion approved as
presented.
Commissioner Romens motioned to recommend approval of the Preliminary and
Final Plat of Siewert Apartments including the replat of two existing lots into a
single lot of record. Seconded by Commissioner Best. Vote: Ayes 7; Nays: 0.
Motion approved as presented.
Commissioner Matzke motioned to recommend approval of the Site Plan for the
four story 32-unit apartment building. Seconded by Commissioner Halberg. Vote:
Ayes 7; Nays: 0. Motion approved as presented.
4. KO Storage - Special Use Permit and Site Plan #2021-35 - Mini Storage
Expansion. 2699 Commerce Drive. Staff Report by Justin Fortney.
Mr. Fortney provided a summary of the Special Use Permit and Site Plan for the
expansion of a storage facility located at 2699 Commerce Drive. The expansion
includes the addition of three mini-storage buildings to the site. The proposed
use, retail services and sales, is allowed by the Zoning Ordinance in this district
with a Special Use Permit (SUP).
A public hearing was held, but no comments were made. The applicants were
available for questions.
Commissioner Teiken asked about landscaping requirements and what
constitutes outdoor storage.
Mr. Fortney replied that outdoor storage would be anything stored outside of the
buildings such as vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. and that because it is only a minor
site plan they aren’t subject to the landscaping ordinance however any
landscaping that’s impacted does have to be replicated.
Commissioner Peters asked why the applicant decided to omit controlled access
measures and if there are any requirements for such measures in place in the
ordinance.
Mr. Fortney responded that there aren’t any requirement of that type in the
ordinance and Mr. Stickler added that the applicant felt that the security cameras
that are going to be installed and that are equipped with license plate and facial
recognition software would be sufficient enough for the security of the property.
Commissioner Matzke inquired into the number of storage facilities the industrial
park currently has and how to regulate storage facilities trying to locate within the
industrial park in the future.
Mr. Fortney responded that there are currently four storage facilities located
within the industrial park and that besides the Special Use Permits, the City can
control who purchases the property within the industrial park as a means to
regulate the use.
Mr. Stickler noted that the expansion will be constructed in phases with two of the
structures being built in the first phase and the remaining structure being built in
the second phase. He also expressed concern over this affecting the one-year
sunset clause of the SUP.
Commissioner Romens requested that temporary seeding be included as a
condition in the first phase of development.
Commissioner Romens motioned to recommend approval of Special Use Permit
and Site Plan #2021-35. Seconded by Commissioner Teiken. Vote: Ayes 7;
Nays: 0. Motion approved.
Mr. Fortney noted that City Council is set to review the Special Use Permit and
Site Plan during their September 20th meeting for final approval.
OTHER ACTIONS
5. Downtown Parking Study Update - Staff report by Grady Timmerman.
Mr. Timmerman provided a summary of the report that outlined background
information, existing conditions, parking utilization, and an analysis of data.
Commissioner Romens inquired into the occupancy rate of Artspace Lofts to
gauge its applicability to future developments.
Mr. Timmerman responded that he can’t verify the exact occupancy rate, but that
the apartment should be fully occupied because when he was helping advertise
for the Maker’s Alleyway Market, the property manager asked him to print out
flyers for all of the apartment’s units.
Commissioner Teiken asked if the loss of parking spaces caused by the
installation of parklets along East 2nd Street were accounted for.
Mr. Timmerman responded that the loss of parking spaces caused by the
installation of the parklets were accounted for in the study.
6. Other Business
7. Adjourn
7:54 p.m. motion to adjourn made by Commissioner Halberg and seconded by
Commissioner Best. Motion to adjourn approved 7-0.
Next Meeting – September 27, 2021
Respectively submitted:
Grady Timmerman
Community Development Intern