Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF VICTORIA
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 16, 2007

MEETING

Pursuant to due posted and mailed notice thereof, the Victoria Planning Commission met on October 16, 2007, 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, William Mead VI, and Tom Vogt.

Members Absent: Commissioner Bud Hiivala.

Others Present: Holly Kreft, City Planner; Mayor Hershberger Thun, City Councilmember Jim Paulsen; Cara Geheren, City Engineer and Tanya Schmieg, Recording Secretary.

A. Adopt Agenda

Ms. Kreft stated that Lennar would like to remove item 5A from the agenda.

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 October 2, 2007, Planning Commission Meeting.

A motion was made by Simanton, seconded by Donadio, to approve the Minutes. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.

B. Review Minutes from the September 27, 2007, City Council Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.
 

None.
 

A. Request by Metropolitan Council for a Conditional Use Permit to Allow for the Construction of a Publicly Owned Building (Odor Control Facility) at South Lake Virginia Shores Park.

1) Agenda Statement No. 07-49
2) Exhibits: Application, Site Drawing

Ms. Kreft reviewed the six issues requested by the Planning Commission for additional information.

Ms. Geheren talked about her experience with the lift station in Burnsville and commented on the noise. She said it was no louder than an air condition unit. Chair Simanton asked if that lift station was in a residential area. Ms. Geheren responded no.

Ms. Geheren said she also visited a metered facility located in Bloomington. She stated it is in neighbor’s backyards. Chair Simanton asked if this was similar to unit being proposed here. Ms. Geheren said the discharge of the odor control facility is similar. She said she didn’t notice any smell. Mr. Amstutz explained that facility is 15 feet below the ground and is a walk in facility. Commissioner Donadio asked about the effect of the distance below ground. Mr. Amstutz said here it is a manhole and has very restricted access. He explained the facility in Bloomington and said the odors could escape from opening the door. Commissioner Donadio referred to the 73 feet. Mr. Amstutz noted the odor control facility pipe is below ground pulling material up. Commissioner Donadio noted the distance it travels is irrelevant.

Mr. Amstutz noted the flow in Bloomington is twice of what it would be here.

Chair Simanton talked about the odor complaint reports and noted that the complaints were from the same address. He noted that this facility would improve what currently exists.

Chair Simanton commented on the recommendation of what type of carbon filters to use. Mr. Amstutz said he would recommend not restricting it at this point and to work cooperatively to determine what would work best here.

Commissioner Donadio asked what the lifetime expectancy of this is. Mr. Amstutz said it would be 20 years at the very most. Commissioner Donadio commented on technology changes and the possibility of having an upgrade policy. Mr. Amstutz said they will always look at new things.

Chair Simanton asked about the landscape plan. Mr. Amstutz said it is too early and they would recommend working with staff to determine what is appropriate.

Chair Simanton asked when the first odor control facility went in to use similar to what is being proposed here. Mr. Amstutz said probably 20 years. Chair Simanton asked how many of those units are in the metro area. Mr. Amstutz said at least 100.

Kevin Arnal, 6739 Iris Road, said he lives close to this project and uses the park. He referred to the email included in the packet. He stated the structure is insufficient and should be modified. He said he is concerned with his children playing at the park. Mr. Arnal said he would like to recommend that the structure be placed in the southeast corner of the area which would be down wind of the play structures. Mr. Arnal said there is technology available to have a sensor to continuously monitor the output and is proposing to have that available. He also commented on having a different location other than a park.

Randy Herges, 6755 Iris Road, said he concurred with Mr. Arnal’s comments. He reiterated that it makes more sense to place it in the southeast corner and commented on the additional pipe cost. Mr. Amstutz pointed out the existing pipe on Smithtown Road and said they need to connect to that with the sewer line coming from Highway 7 and Rolling Acres Road. He noted they felt it was best to have a straight site because of easement rights and they would need to leave the junction structure the way it is.

Mr. Amstutz explained that they are taking the two forcemains out of service and putting in two gravity lines. Chair Simanton pointed out that staff was working in conjunction because of the restrooms in that facility. Ms. Geheren said they need access to that building and they would have to extend the driveway all the way down to the berm if the location was changed and it would start to impede on space.

Mr. Herges asked about the different types of filter mechanisms. Mr. Amstutz said he doesn’t know the most appropriate type at this point.

Mr. Arnal asked if the exhaust gas could be considered unsafe for children. Mr. Amstutz responded that the concentration is so low and it wouldn’t be considered unsafe. He noted that they anticipate the concentration to be 15 parts per million.

Chair Simanton asked about the testing mechanism. Mr. Amstutz said when a facility is built there is an operator to the location and they have a daily visit to make sure the fan is running and to check on the activated carbon unit. The next task is the odor control unit will come out during the months of May thru October a minimum of once per month to do a sample test. He noted that if the facilities have complaints they increase that up to two per month. They also have the odor complaint hotline.

Commissioner Donadio asked if they work with electronic sensors. Mr. Amstutz responded that there is a gage on the unit.

Chair Simanton asked if there is anything done after the facility is put up that is more intensive. Mr. Amstutz said they usually have start ups and performance specifications that the contractor is required to do.

Commissioner Vogt clarified the reason this facility is proposed at the park is that it has to be near the intersection of the three pipes. Mr. Amstutz said it would also be to minimize turbulence and increase the pipe due to growth in the area.

Suzy Herges, 6755 Iris Road, clarified that the restrooms are not being put in the facility. Ms. Geheren said the current draft plans have the space available for the restrooms and the plumbing shows for future installation. She noted they are waiting for more feedback from the park and recreation committee. Ms. Herges said she really didn’t think putting restrooms in the facility was a safe idea because of the exposure to Highway 7. She said it is also a health and safety risk for children. She noted she was told they will not be planning for a facility at this time. Ms. Kreft said the park and recreation committee has not taken a vote on the restrooms. Ms. Kreft noted this CUP is only for the odor control facility.

Mr. Arnal asked again for the southeast corner. He talked about trees and the landscaping which would cut down on the odor.

Chair Simanton reviewed the issues and said the noise issue is not a problem. He noted a lot of these are in residential areas. Chair Simanton commented on the complaints and the use of activated carbon. He noted the restrooms are still up for discussion.

A motion was made by Simanton, seconded by Donadio, to approve the Request by Metropolitan Council for a Conditional Use Permit to Allow for the Construction of a Publicly Owned Building (Odor Control Facility) at South Lake Virginia Shores Park with the two conditions recommended by staff. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
 

This item was removed from the agenda.
 

Councilmember Paulsen talked about the comp plan meeting and referred to plan A and plan B. Commissioner Donadio updated the Planning Commission on the meeting. They talked about the area south of Marsh Lake Road.

Ms. Kreft stated as long as the plan is not being changed they are not going to be required to have the 3 units per acre net. She noted the Marsh Lake Road land is guided as Ag and will need to be changed.

The Planning Commission discussed transportation.

Councilmember Paulsen talked about the Marsh Lake Road land owners.

The Planning Commission discussed preservation.

Councilmember Paulsen talked about reaching out to others such as clubs.

Mayor Hershberger Thun thanked the Planning Commission.
 

A. Communications.

None.
 

A motion was made by Vogt, seconded by Mead, to adjourn the meeting at 7:46 p.m. Vote: 4 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
 

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.