Planning Commission Minutes

CITY OF VICTORIA
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
NOVEMBER 13, 2007

MEETING

Pursuant to due posted and mailed notice thereof, the Victoria Planning Commission met on November 13, 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, Bud Hiivala, William Mead VI, and Tom Vogt.

Members Absent: None.

Others Present: Holly Kreft, City Planner; City Councilmember Jim Paulsen; and Tanya Schmieg, Recording Secretary.

A. Adopt Agenda

A motion was made by Hiivala, seconded by Vogt, to adopt the agenda as presented. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion Carried.
 

#2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

A. Minutes of the October 16, 2007, Planning Commission Meeting.

The minutes will be approved at the next meeting.

B. Review Minutes from the October 25, 2007, City Council Meeting.

The above minutes were reviewed.
 

Chair Simanton reviewed the process that would be followed tonight during the public hearings.

A. Request by Victoria Auto Werks (Formerly CW Auto) for a Conditional Use Permit to Allow Auto Repair, Service and Outdoor Sales for the Property Located at 1885 80^th Street within the Central Business District of the City of Victoria

1. Agenda Statement No. 07-51
2. Exhibits: Application

Ms. Kreft said the request if for a conditional use permit to allow for outdoor sales on the southern portion of the building. She noted there was not a conditional use permit for the previous auto repair. On the western side of the building the applicant is proposing to have a detailing area.

Ms. Kreft said staff is recommending approval of the conditional use permit with the five conditions noted in the staff report.

Commissioner Hiivala asked what the coverage is on the ground of the proposed sales lot. Ms. Kreft said it is currently gravel. She noted the applicant is proposing to asphalt that in the future.

Commissioner Vogt asked about the 25 vehicles. Ms. Kreft said that number was at the request of the applicant. Commissioner Mead asked how wide the drive is. Ms. Kreft said approximately 12 feet.

Commissioner Donadio asked if the building has a sprinkler system. Ms. Kreft said no, because the use has not changed.

Commissioner Donadio asked about the long-term traffic plans are with regards to Highway 5. Ms. Kreft said the corridor study will be starting this month. She noted they anticipate there would be some right-of-way impacts.

Chair Simanton asked what types of rental vehicles they have. Mr. Collins responded that they are u-hauls. He noted they are mostly trucks and they are included in the 25 vehicles.

Commissioner Donadio asked if there was a timeframe for the hard surfacing. Mr. Collins said that it takes revenue. He noted he has been the owner for about four years and they want to re-put sidewalks in along with re-tarring the street. He stated they do plan on tarring the lot.

Chair Simanton opened the Public Hearing at 6:36 p.m.

Chair Simanton closed the Public Hearing at 6:36 p.m.

Commissioner Hiivala commented on possibly having the blacktopping being attached as a condition. Chair Simanton stated that based on past performance he didn’t see a need to put a stipulation in there.

A motion was made by Vogt, seconded by Mead, to approve the Request by Victoria Auto Werks for a Conditional Use Permit to Allow Auto Repair, Service and Detailing and Outdoor Sales for the Property Located at 1885 80^th Street within the Central Business District of the City of Victoria subject to the five conditions recommended by staff. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
 

A. Request by Lennar for future Laketown Development and Annexation.

1. Agenda Statement No. 07-52
2. Exhibits: Request Letter, Map of proposed expansion

Ms. Kreft explained that the RECs allocated for the Chevalle development are in a conservation easement. She said those 79 RECs were reallocated. She noted this was a Deer Run sewer line capacity issue.

Ms. Kreft stated that the City Engineer is recommending that a permanent lift station not be constructed at this time.

Ms. Kreft showed the plan of additional single-family homes and said they are also requesting to expand to the south. There is also a part of a lot split for an existing homestead that needs to be done. She pointed out the area outlined in red for annexation. She explained that in order to do the lot split a variance would be needed and the County has indicated they would not approve that variance because it doesn’t meet the minimum lot size.

Ms. Kreft said she is recommending that the Planning Commission have discussion and then wait to get feedback from the Laketown Township meeting.

Commissioner Hiivala asked how many total RECs are going to be assigned to Lennar. Ms. Kreft responded 54. A total of 58 lots are in this proposal.

Commissioner Vogt talked about the City Council’s approval of the 54 RECs being reallocated. He asked how many of the RECs would be used without annexation. Ms. Kreft thought approximately 35.

Commissioner Donadio asked about the Simon property. Ms. Kreft said they are currently outside of City limits and part of the purchase agreement is that parcel would be split off. Commissioner Vogt asked how big the lot is. Ms. Kreft responded a little over 2 ½ acres.

Chair Simanton asked about the long-term intention with the Simon parcel. Ms. Toohey of Lennar Corporation said he would be able to keep his home when they develop the rest of the property. She noted that currently he does have access from his house to County Road 11. His access point would be incorporated in to the rest of the development. If they are able to plat that lot as homestead they will own everything except for his parcel.

Chair Simanton asked if the goal is having traffic go on to Marsh Lake Road. Ms. Toohey said not with what they are proposing to develop in the next phase.

Ms. Toohey stated they are asking to annex just down to the Simon parcel. Commissioner Mead questioned working up top and then going down below. Ms. Toohey said this is the last obligation with the Simon property and they don’t know how long it will take Met Council to complete the sewer. She noted there are deadlines on the agreement.

Chair Simanton asked how many building permits have been pulled this year. Ms. Kreft responded 106. There are 75 budgeted for 2008 right now. Commissioner Vogt asked about other RECs for different areas in Victoria. Ms. Kreft said that it is tied to the Deer Run sanitary sewer line.

Chair Simanton talked about the marketing and how the school is creating opportunities as far as people wanting to live in and around the school. Ms. Toohey said this community is doing well in getting a good amount of traffic. She noted they have been consistent with pulling a minimum of two building permits a month.

Mr. Easig said that in 2010 Chaska will annex all the area east of County Road 11, which will have a financial impact on the Township. He explained as more land gets annexed the tax revenue will go down. He noted they have about 627 taxpayers in the Township. He stated they are requesting $400 per acre and they are getting that fee from the developer. He asked for the City’s support in that. Mr. Easig talked about the analysis and said that Met Council is saying by 2030 the Township will go away and they thought it was more between 2015 and 2020. He said he doesn’t think there will be any opposition to this. He asked that they be given advanced warning with annexation.

Commissioner Hiivala asked what is available to the City in RECs today. Ms. Kreft said they would have had to average 174 permits a year and this year there are 70 extra. She noted that last year there were only 97 permits and said there are some excess, which go to the end of 2010. She noted the area to the south is outside of the growth management boundary. Commissioner Vogt asked about the developers to the west of Lennar. Ms. Kreft said the Enterprise Property is outside the growth management boundary.

Ms. Kreft reiterated this will go to the Township Board for discussion next Monday.
 

Councilmember Paulsen said the main issue is the conversations with Met Council.

Commissioner Donadio asked about the outcome of the odor control facility discussion and the sensor. Ms. Kreft said it is being continued to December 3^rd and Met Council is doing additional research for the equipment. Commissioner Donadio commented on the sensor and the proper placement of the sensor being outside.
 

A. Communications.

Ms. Kreft said that the Comp Plan Task Force will be meeting tomorrow night.

Ms. Kreft noted that they received correspondence from the Met Council, which did clarify that it is an overall density from 2020 to 2030 so the focus will be on the Marsh Lake Hunt Club. They will receive credit for any areas that density is increased on in the 2020 plan.

Commissioner Hiivala asked if there has been any activity on the 13 acres. Ms. Kreft said the City has two developers and the first showed a proposal to the Finance Committee last Wednesday and the next one will be meeting with them next Monday.
 

A motion was made by Donadio, seconded by Vogt, to adjourn the meeting at 7:21 p.m. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays. Motion carried.
 

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.