MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NORTH BRANCH IN THE COUNTY OF CHISAGO AND IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
REGULAR SESSION
September 15, 2014
CALL TO ORDER: The North Branch Planning Commission met in regular session and was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Commissioners present were John Von Lange, Mark Ramaley, Tom Borchardt, Don Swanson (absent), and Brian Belfield. Also present City Planner Ken Roberts.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
July 8, 2014 Motion by Ramaley, seconded by Borchardt to approve the Minutes of July 8, 2014. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
August 18 Motion by Ramaley, seconded by Belfield, to approve the Minutes of August 18, 2014. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: NONE
STAFF REPORTS: 5.1 City Council Update No Updates.
5.2 Activity Report Roberts reviewed building activity report information with the Commission.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: 6.1 Conditional Use Permit for Verizon Wireless Roberts explained the request from Verizon Wireless to add 12 antennas to the existing water tower. The only staff concern is the questions and discrepancies between the legal work and the surveyors for the access easements to get to the property so that Planning Commission Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 2
needs to be cleaned up. Roberts recommended approval after conducting the public hearing. Von Lange opened the public hearing.
Randy representing Verizon Wireless explained that the antennas will increase the strength of the service in the area.
Von Lange closed the public hearing.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Ramaley to approve.
Borchardt noted there were issues with the easements and he is wondering how that affects the current renter or if this is something that was sitting out there that needs to be addressed. Borchardt asked how flexible the October 1 deadline is. Roberts indicated that at least one side says it is all worked out so he thinks it is really close.
Von Lange asked how the City is accessing this property. Roberts noted there are different legal documents recorded.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Bellfield, to approve as recommended by staff. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
6.2 Comp Plan Amendment for Happy Acres Second Addition Roberts explained the request to amend the Comprehensive Plan, Comprehensive Sewer Plan and the three-lot subdivision.
Von Lange opened the public hearing.
Gary Shafer 40160 Hemingway Avenue addressed the Commission asked what the capacity of the wastewater plant off hand. Shafer said design capacity was 810,000 gallons per day. He then asked where the City is with the flow. Shafer said that it is between 400 and 500,000 gallons per day. The question he has is there is capacity for 3,000 more people and the Commission has suggested to the Council to throw out the 20-year sewer comp plan and that prevents the system from developing outward. The people on the system will be saddled with paying for the plant if the plan is thrown out the door. Mr. Shafer said that there would be 16 acres left and he wonders if that would be included in septic if the two lots are approved. Planning Commission Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 3
Fred Schmitt of 1855 Summit Avenue, St. Paul told the Commission they have been in the 20-year growth plan for 45 years.
Von Lange closed the public hearing.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Ramaley, to approve the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and a Comprehensive Sewer Plan Amendment for the entire 20 acres.
Ramaley said that in response to the size of the sewer system, back in 2007 when the City was growing, the size of the plant was discussed, and the capacity was set for the future. There was an opportunity to have Michael’s Foods to come into the industrial park but the issue was the capacity of the processing plant to take on a food processor.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Belfield to approve Item 1 with change to use Alternative 3, taking the whole 20-acre site out of the 20-year growth. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Belfield, to approve Item 2 on Page 9 for the whole 20 acres. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Ramaley, to approve the three- lot subdivision for Happy Acres Second Addition (Item 3) on Page 9 of the staff report. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
6.3 Ordinance Amendment R1 Zoning District Conditional Uses Planner Roberts provided an overview of the proposed Ordinance Amendment.
Von Lange opened the public hearing.
Mr. Rich Smith of Family Pathways indicated they are supportive of this language and would appreciate the recommendation of approval.
Von Lange closed the public hearing.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Ramaley to approve the proposed ordinance amendment as written. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
6.4 Driveway and Driveway Standards Planning Commission Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 4
Roberts explained the driveway discussion regarding commercial district driveways.
Von Lange opened the public hearing. No one wished to speak and Von Lange closed the public hearing.
Motion by Ramaley, seconded by Borchardt, to approve. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
6.5 Maximum Building Height in Industrial Districts Roberts outlined the proposed changes to maximum building height in the industrial zoning districts.
Von Lange opened the public hearing. No one wished to speak and Von Lange closed the public hearing.
Motion by Borchardt, seconded by Ramaley to discuss. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
Borchardt asked if this will change the antenna thing for the water tower. Roberts indicated it would not.
Von Lange explained that he did some research and found that at 100 feet silos at tiller site at 100 feet with augers that carry the product to the top. He then asked if those are considered part of the building height or how that works. Roberts said it would be the primary structure and the other equipment does not usually count.
Belfield said that there was a concern from the fire department and whether this needs to be discussed with them. Von Lange said that the fire department is there to protect people in structures and this is not a human habitation structure. There should be built in fire suppression systems in these types of buildings.
Motion by Belfield, seconded by Ramaley, to approve the proposed ordinance amendment. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS: NONE
Ramaley said he would like to answer those questions personally that were raised this evening. Roberts recommended a call to Public Works Director Williams.
Borchardt said that he does not think that anyone on this Commission has taken the changing of the Comprehensive Plan lightly. It has been a long time since the Planning Commission Minutes September 15, 2014 Page 5
Comprehensive Plan has been looked at. With the changes that the City has made in the last couple of years, growth has been moving finally.
NEW BUSINESS: None
Motion by Ramaley, seconded by Borchardt to adjourn. All voted AYE. Motion carried.
ADJOURNED: at 7:57 p.m. by Chair Von Lange.
APPROVED ______ATTEST ______
Respectfully submitted,
Planner Roberts
TOSS/jrl