Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF VICTORIA
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

MEETING

Pursuant to due posted and mailed notice thereof, the Victoria Planning Commission met on September 1, 2009, at 7951 Rose in the Council Chambers.

Chair Simanton opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Members Present: Chair, Gordy Simanton; Commissioners: James Donadio III, Grant Peterson and Tom Vogt.

Members Absent:

Others Present: Community Development Director, Holly Kreft; Mayor Mary Hershberger Thun and Tanya Schmieg, Recording Secretary.

A. Adopt Agenda

Chair Simanton added under miscellaneous the procedures for replacement of Commissioner Bud Hiivala.

A motion was made by Donadio, seconded by Vogt, to adopt the agenda as amended. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.
 

#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Minutes of the August 18, 2009 Planning Commission Meeting.

A motion was made by Simanton, seconded by Donadio, to adopt the minutes. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.

B. Review Minutes of the August 10, 2009 City Council Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.
 

None.
 

Ms. Kreft said article XV is the current light industrial district. She explained the area south of Highway 5 and west of downtown is the transitional industrial district. She stated they would allow existing uses to continue but any expansions would need to be done through a conditional use permit. Ms. Kreft explained there are very extensive design standards for the existing light industrial area and she is recommending inserting the central business district regulations for design standards. Commissioner Vogt clarified that this proposal is not to allow expansion and if there is no industrial expansion it would be best to have standards that correlated to the central business district.

Chair Simanton commented on the two homes and asked if the use remains the same if they would be allowed to remain. Ms. Kreft said yes. Chair Simanton asked if the expansion in the light industrial would also apply to the two homes. Ms. Kreft said yes. Chair Simanton asked what happens if someone would buy the house, tear it down and put up a new house. Ms. Kreft said they would not be allowed to do that because single-family homes are not allowed in the central business district. She noted multi-family housing could be put up. She said if the resident wanted to add on rooms they would need a conditional use permit.

Chair Simanton asked if there were any notifications sent out. Ms. Kreft said they are not required to send out notices to specific property owners but they will when the zoning ordinance changes are made.

Chair Simanton stated the wording on the transitional district is key.

Commissioner Peterson asked what the differences are between the transitional language and design criteria in the central business district. Ms. Kreft said the central business district has higher building design criteria. She noted that the existing industrial language is already covered by other sections of the ordinance.

Commissioner Peterson what is the process for reviewing the design performance criteria. Ms. Kreft explained when the design standards were adopted those were adopted with a staff review. She said they have in the proposed language asked that the standards be subject to review by Planning Commission and City Council as determined by City Staff to add flexibility.

Ms. Kreft said article XVI is on the conditional uses and deals with the administration. She is recommending this be included as a section within Article II, which is administration and enforcement and includes the language for a variance process.

Ms. Kreft noted the conditions for each conditional use would be reviewed at the next meeting.

Chair Simanton commented on the Fresh Seasons parking lot and questioned the narrow parking spaces. He asked if they met the standards for the width. Ms. Kreft said they did meet the standards on the site plan but she will check. She noted they still have to put on the second lift of asphalt and restripe the parking spaces.

Mayor Hershberger Thun reported that the second and final reading on the shared parking ordinancewill be on Monday, September 14^th.

Mayor Hershberger Thun mentioned the public meetings with the Metropolitan Council regarding the tunnel project will be Thursday, September 3^rd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday, September 8^th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Ms. Kreft said the City Administrator asked the City Council to provide names for the existing committees for recommendations to fill the vacancy. She noted that position goes until March of next year. She stated the plan is to appoint someone at the September 14^th meeting.

Ms. Kreft commented on a conference with Blue Cross Blue Shield and a presentation she made with Carver County.

Commissioner Peterson asked about a memorial for Commissioner Bud Hiivala. Chair Simanton said they discussed his passion for trails and are waiting for the right project to come up to do something.
 

A motion was made by Vogt, seconded by Peterson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.