100218 Planning CommissionCITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 2, 2018
City Hall, 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER The New Hope Planning Commission met in regular session pursuant to
due call and notice thereof; Chair Schmidt called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Jim Brinkman, Matt Mannix, Chris Hanson, Tom Schmidt,
Roger Landy, Bill Smith
Absent: Scott Clark, Michael Redden
Also Present: Jeff Sargent, Director of Community Development; Aaron
Chirpich, Community Development Specialist; Stacy
Woods, Assistant City Attorney; Al Brixius, Planning
Consultant; Jessi Weber, Recording Secretary
CONSENT BUSINESS None
PUBLIC HEARING
Planning Case 18-23
Item 4.1
Chair Schmidt introduced Item 4.1, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for
expansion of church building to accommodate space needed for
education wing located at 4240 Gettysburg Avenue N, Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church, petitioner.
Mr. Aaron Chirpich, Community Development Specialist, gave
background on the case. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church currently
operates a kindergarten through 8th grade private school and daycare
center. The church desires to expand their current facility in order to
meet the needs of their growing school. The submitted plan would
expand the school by approximately 11,123 square feet through a second
floor addition and 1,140 square feet from an expansion of the main floor
entryway. The expansion would provide just over 12,000 additional
square feet to the building.
Chirpich went through the zoning analysis. All building setbacks are
compliant with city requirements. The applicant has submitted an
estimated maximum enrollment capacity of 214 students and 27 staff.
Using the city’s parking standards, based on the number of students and
staff, the required parking count is 62 parking stalls. The site plan
provides 65 parking stalls. All stall lengths must meet the city’s
minimum dimensions requirements. The site plan also shows a proof -
of-parking lot south of the building, which is compliant with city
requirements. This lot will only be required if the current on-site parking
is insufficient to meet future parking demands.
There are two existing curb cuts and one new proposed curb cut for
access to the site. The southern-most curb cut would serve as a one-way
drive aisle for dropping off at the church. The middle curb cut is existing
and would be used in conjunction with the proposed new curb cut to
the north to allow for busses and delivery trucks to navigate the parking
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Planning Commission Meeting September 4, 2018
lot. Portions of bituminous parking areas will be removed to
accommodate construction activities, which will not trigger a review of
plans by the watershed district. There will be new concrete curbing
installed where pavement is disrupted.
Mechanical equipment has not been identified and must be shown on
plans to meet city code. Plans show the building elevations to meet the
maximum height in the R-1 District of 32 feet. The proposed building
design and materials meet the city’s guidelines. The submitted
photometric lighting plan for outdoor lighting is acceptable with city
zoning standards. Staff has recommended enclosing the play area with
a fence, which is shown to be a 4-foot tall chain link fence. The site plan
must show the location of existing and proposed new fences.
Chirpich concluded that proper legal notice, land use signs, and mailing
notice were given. Staff did not receive any questions on the proposal .
Staff recommends approval of the site plan review with the conditions
outlined in the report.
When Chair Schmidt questioned whether any of the Commissioners had
any questions for staff, no one did.
The applicant approached the podium and introduced himself as Ryan
Rush, principal for Holy Trinity School. Mr. Rush introduced Melissa
Hansen, Director of Childcare; Tom Wors, Architect; Tom Risolski, Pastor.
Rush thanked the Commission for hearing the case and gave background
on why they are expanding.
Commissioner Brinkman asked Mr. Rush if there would be two staircases
to access the second floor. The applicant replied the first is located by the
new entranceway and the second is on the other side of building.
Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Mannix,
to open the Public Hearing. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
No one from the audience wanted to address the commission.
Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Mannix, to
close the public hearing. All present voted in favor. Motion carried.
Commissioner Brinkman asked what the completion date was for the
project. Mr. Rush verified the anticipated completion was by September
2019. The school years would not be adjusted to accommodate this
timeline.
Motion
Item 4.1
Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Brinkman,
to approve Planning Case 18-23, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for
expansion of church building to accommodate space needed for
education wing located at 4240 Gettysburg Avenue N, Holy Trinity
Lutheran Church, petitioner, with the following conditions:
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Planning Commission Meeting September 4, 2018
1. The church will construct the proof-of-parking area at the
directive of the city if the on-site parking proves to be
insufficient to accommodate the site’s demand. The proof -of-
parking area shall be constructed in accordance with the city
performance standards that are in place at the time of parking
lot construction.
2. The site plan shall be amended to illustrate the locations of
existing and proposed fences. The new fence shall enclose the
play area from surrounding streets and properties.
3. Any new rooftop or ground mounted mechanical equipment
shall be identified and meet all applicable screening
requirements.
Voting in favor: Brinkman, Mannix, Hanson, Schmidt, Landy, Smith
Voting against: None
Absent: Clark, Redden
Motion approved 6-0
Chair Schmidt stated the case will move forward to the October 22, 2018
City Council meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Design and Review
Committee
Item 5.1
At this time, a meeting is not anticipated. If there should be a meeting, it
would be scheduled for October 18, 2018. Staff will update committee.
Codes and Standards
Committee
Item 5.2
There is a meeting scheduled for October 17, 2018 at 5:30 pm.
Commissioner Landy will be filling in for the vacant spot.
NEW BUSINESS None
OLD BUSINESS
Approval of Minutes
Item 7.1
Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Mannix, to
approve the Planning Commission minutes of September 4, 2018,
Motion carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Sargent explained there is a vacancy on the Planning Commission and
applications are being accepted. City Council will review applications and
appoint the new commissioner.
ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:18
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessi Weber, Recording Secretary