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090407 planning commission CITY OF NEW HOPE 4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH NEW HOPE, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA 55428 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES September 4, 2007 City Hall, 7 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The New Hope Planning Commission met in regular session pursuant to due call and notice thereof; Chair Hemken called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Jim Brinkman, Pat Crough, Kathi Hemken, Roger Landy, Ranjan Nirgudé, Bill Oelkers Absent: Paul Anderson, Jeff Houle, Tom Schmidt, Steve Svendsen Also Present: Curtis Jacobsen, Community Development Specialist, Eric Weiss, Community Development Intern, Pamela Sylvester, Recording Secretary CONSENT BUSINESS There was no Consent Business on the agenda. PUBLIC HEARING PC06-15 Chair Hemken introduced for discussion Item 4.1, request for zoning code changes and comprehensive plan amendment related to the implementation of the Design Guidelines, city of New Hope, petitioner. Mr. Curtis Jacobsen stated that the Commission would be conducting the public hearing for zoning code changes and comprehensive plan amendment related to the implementation of the Design Guidelines. The goal was to implement the ordinance as soon as possible so the design guidelines could be applied to all new developments and building expansions. Mr. Jacobsen reviewed the progression of the design guidelines from when the City Council requested the Planning Commission and Codes and Standards Committee proceed with examining design guidelines to the present ordinance. On July 10 the Planning Commission reviewed the document and the public hearing was advertised to be held at the September 4 meeting. Proposed changes include expanding the requirements related to outdoor lighting and glare; standards for landscaping parking areas; providing additional screening requirements for mechanical and rooftop equipment; increasing screening requirements for trash enclosures; providing guidelines for projecting signs; changing minimum building setbacks from 20 to 10 feet in the CB district; changes to the administrative review process for site plan approval which would include three levels of review with appropriate fees; and a new compliance checklist. Mr. Jacobsen explained that upon Planning Commission approval, staff would recommend that on September 24 the City Council would review a request to adopt the design guidelines into the comprehensive plan. Commissioner Nirgudé expressed support to adopt and implement the design guidelines as soon as possible so they can be applied to all future projects in the city. Commissioner Oelkers commented that he felt the fees were too low. Mr. Jacobsen responded that the fees could be adjusted in the future. No one in the audience wished to address the Commission. Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Brinkman, to close the public hearing on Planning Case 06-15. All voted in favor. Motion carried. Motion Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Oelkers, to Item 4.1 approve Planning Case 06-15, request for zoning code changes and comprehensive plan amendment related to the implementation of the Design Guidelines, city of New Hope, petitioner. Voting in favor: Brinkman, Crough, Hemken, Landy, Nirgudé, Oelkers, Voting against: None Absent: Anderson, Schmidt, Svendsen Motion carried. Chair Hemken stated that this planning case would be considered by the City Council on September 24 and asked the petitioner to attend. Design and Review Commissioner Oelkers reported that the Design and Review Committee did not meet in August. Jacobsen added that staff was expecting one Committee residential application and would contact the committee if a meeting was Item 5.1 necessary on September 13. Codes and Standards Chair Hemken stated that the Codes and Standards Committee did not meet in August. Another committee meeting would be scheduled in Committee September to review the sign code changes. Item 5.2 Comprehensive Plan Commissioner Landy reported that the committee would be meeting on September 20 to continue reviewing the planning districts of the Update Subcommittee comprehensive plan. The full plan would be reviewed at the following Item 5.3 meeting, and then it would proceed to the City Council. Open houses are planned for January or February. The completed plan would then be sent to adjacent cities for their review prior to submission to the Metropolitan Council. Comprehensive Plans are reviewed every 10 years. OLD BUSINESS Commissioner Brinkman inquired who was managing the property for Village on Quebec and how interested parties could contact them. Miscellaneous Issues Commissioner Brinkman initiated discussion on the city sign that was located at the intersection of Xylon and 42nd avenues for many years. He commented he felt it was important to inform the public about events 2 Planning Commission Meeting September 4, 2007 happening in New Hope and 42nd Avenue was a good location for a sign due to the high volume of daily traffic. Mr. Jacobsen stated that city news and events were posted on the city’s website and published in city newsletters and the local newspaper. Commissioner Nirgudé stated he remembered that the Council had looked at an electronic sign previously and the cost was somewhat prohibitive. He agreed that a sign advertising city events was important. It was mentioned that the sign was previously located on cemetery property. Mr. Jacobsen stated that city would look into the matter and report back to the Commission. The Commission recommended city staff look into reusing the old sign or provide information on new signage. Commissioner Crough wondered about the status of the Prairie Ridge development and Mr. Jacobsen stated that an update would be presented at the September 24 City Council meeting. Commissioner Oelkers stated he felt that with the proposed sales price of $350,000, any investor would need to collect $2,500 in rent to break even, which would not be practical in New Hope. He stated many rental properties are in very good condition, and he thought the Council was being discriminatory by restricting sales to owner-occupied only. There may be a fair housing issue at stake. NEW BUSINESS Motion to Approve Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Brinkman, Minutes to approve the Planning Commission minutes of August 8, 2007. All voted in favor. Motion carried. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Hemken informed the commission that Commissioner Buggy had resigned due to other commitments. Commissioner Landy would fill the vacant seat on the Codes and Standards Committee. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Pamela Sylvester, Recording Secretary 3 Planning Commission Meeting September 4, 2007