2013-02-12 PC Agenda Packet
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSIONMEETING
Tuesday, February 12,2013
7:00 PM
1.CALL TO ORDER -ROLL CALL –ADOPT AGENDA
2.MINUTES
December 11, 2012Planning andZoning Meeting (pages 1-4)
3.PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
4.OTHER BUSINESS
Fraser Precision Tubular Parts Site and Building Plan Review for a 24,500 square foot
rd
Industrial building expansion at 11915 53Street NE (pages 5-19)
5.ADJOURNMENT
UNAPPROVED
PLANNINGand ZONINGCOMMISSION
MINUTES
December 11,2012
CALL TO ORDER
1.
Chair Kocon called the meeting to order at 7:00p.m.
2.ROLL CALL
CommissionersKocon,Lindberg, Olson, Totman,werepresent.Council representative Dan
Wagner was present. Commissioner Edgren was absent.
Staff memberpresent: City Planner AlanBrixius.
3.APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
The agenda was approved as submitted.
4.APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
September 11, 2011
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting minutes were reviewed. Chair Kocon noted that the
minutes note Commissioner Lindberg was absent, while she attended the meeting. He asked that
the minutes be corrected to represent that Commission Lindberg was present for the September
11, 2012 meeting.
Olson moved, secondedby TotmantoapprovetheSeptember11, 2011minutes.Motion
carried unanimously.
5.PUBLIC HEARINGS:
AMENDMENT TO THE ASHLEY FURNITURE PUD/COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN
Chair Kocon opened the public hearing to consider the Ashley Furniture PUD/Comprehensive
Sign Plan. City Planner Brixius presented the December 5, 2012 planning report that analyzed
the Comprehensive Sign Plan amendment request as follows:
Ashley Furniture was constructed in 2001 on Outlots B and C of the Outlets of Albertville, and is
part of the larger Albertville Premium Outlet Mallplanned unit development (PUD) that was
established in 1999. The lot is unique in that it is visible from I-94 and County Road 19, though
it is accessed via a private road and has not public street frontage. In 2002, the City approved a
PUD Comprehensive Sign Plan for Ashley Furniture, including a north façade wall sign (114
square feet) and name plat sign (1 square foot), a south façade wall sign (319 square feet), and a
1
City of Albertville
Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
December 11,2012
ground sign (64 square feet); all of these wall signs fell below the 15% of wall façade sign area
limit.
With the opening of the I-94 C-D road and the exit ramp at County Road 19, Ashley Furniture
decided to pursue an amendment to their PUD Comprehensive Sign Plan permit to request
additional signage to give the site exposure to the traffic at the exit ramp. They would like an
expanded wall sign for the north façade (238.6 square feet or 3% of the north wall façade), to
move the existing north façade wall sign to the east building façade (114 square feet or 4.1% of
the east wall façade), and to add a new manual changeable copy sign on the east wall (200 square
feet).
The Ashley Furniture store is a single occupancy building and under standard regulations, it
would be allowed two wall signs per street frontage, not to exceed 15% of the building walls
fronting on the public right-of-ways. As described, the store doesn’t front on a public right-of-
way, but as described in the planning report dated December 5, 2012, planning staff believes that
the number and location of the requested signs are reasonable based on the property’s unique
circumstances, the size of the building, and the limited sign areas being requested. Planning staff
recommended approval of all requested signs for the updated PUD Comprehensive Sign Plan
permit. Once approved, the sign permit will allow:
South Wall –Wall Sign (Existing)319.0 square feet
North Wall –Wall Sign (New)238.6 square feet
East Wall –Wall Signs (New)114.0 square feet
East Wall –Changeable Copy Sign (New)200.0 square feet
Staff recommended approval of the Comprehensive Sign Plan amendment based on the findings
and conditions of the December 5, 2012 planning report.
Chair Kocon opened the public hearing to public comment.
Joe Fisher of Ashley Furniture explained that the new signs on the east sign of the building were
intended to provide a business identity to traffic at the new I-94/County Road 19 ramp and to
provide a changeable copy sign to advertise sale events.
Olson moved to close the public hearing, seconded by Totman.Motioncarried
unanimously.
Lindberg moved, seconded by Olson to recommend approval of the Ashley Furniture
PUD/Comprehensive Sign Plan based on the materials and conditions of approval outlined
inthe December 5, 2012 planning report. Motion carried unanimously.
ADOPTION OF CENTRAL PARK MASTER PLAN
Chair Kocon opened the public hearing to consider the adoption of the Central Park Master Plan
report dated November 21, 2012.
2
City of Albertville
Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
December 11,2012
Planner Brixius presented the Central Park Master Plan emphasizing the following elements:
1.The plan includes the expansion of the Albertville Ice Arena with a variety of options to
provide required parking.
2.The east end of the park, off of Main Avenue, emphasized the following features:
a.The park design is intended to be attractive and flexible in accommodating
community events such as Friendly city Days, Music in the Park, and Lion’s
Farmers Market. The plan intends to maintain and enhance the events at this
location.
b.Establish a pronounced and attractive park entrance from Main Avenue. This
entrance is intended to improve the appearance of both the park and Main Avenue
streetscape.
c.Soften the appearance of the Burlington Northern railway.
d.Provide attractive and functional parking for park events.
3.Entrances/Trails. The master plan intends to establish recognizable park entrances at
th
Main Avenue, Lander Avenue, 57Street, and the Ice Arena parking lot. The entrance
will be connected by a trail system to provide both access and recreational walking.
4.Playground area has a nice location on the east side of the park, shaded by mature trees.
The area is intended to be maintained. Annual assessment will be conducted to
determine if equipment is inneed of repair or replacement. A splash park is identified as
a future improvement at the north side of the playground area.
5.Sliding Hill. The plan identifies a location at the west side of Central Park for the
creation of a sliding hill.
PlannerBrixius also presented the concept plan for the north community playfields. He
indicated that the concept provided a spatial analysis that is intended to illustrate how the site
may be used for alternative sports facilities(i.e., baseball, softball, or soccer/lacrosse). The
design flexibility is critical in light of the City not decided if this site will be used as a playfield
or has alternative land uses in the future. The north community playfield emphasizes the
following components:
Design Flexibility
BaseballFacility with Bleachers and Concessions
Proper Park Access and Parking
Integration with City Trail System
Provision of a Playground Area
Retention of the Compost Site
3
City of Albertville
Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
December 11,2012
In summary, Planner Brixius explained that the Central Park Master Plan provides a design
concept for futureimprovements. This document is intended to give the Park Committee and
City Council a tool for evaluating future parks improvements, budgeting, and capital
improvements.
At the conclusion of the presentation, Chair Kocon asked for public comment. There was no
public comment.
Totman moved, seconded by Olson to approve the Central Park Master Plan study dated
November 21, 2012 as part of the City’s Parks and Trails Plan. Motion carried
unanimously.
6.OTHER BUSINESS
There was no further business.
7.ADJOURN
Olson moved, seconded by Totmanto adjourn the meeting at 8:15p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
_______________________________________
Alan Brixius, Acting Recording Secretary
4
PLANNING REPORT
TO:Adam Nafstad
FROM:Alan Brixius
DATE:February 7, 2013
RE:Albertville –Fraser Steel Expansion
FILE NO:163.06 –13.05
BACKGROUND
Fraser Building Limited Partnershipis proposing a 24,500 square foot expansion of their
rd
industrial building at 11915 53Street NE. The existing building is 47,000 square feet
in area. With the addition, the total new building size will be 71,500 square feet. The
site is zoned I-1, Limited Industrial. Any construction expansion of an industrial building
requires a site and building plan review of the Planning Commission and City Council.
Attached for reference:
Exhibit A:Plat
Exhibit B:Site Plan
Exhibit C:Grading/Utility Plan
Exhibit D:Floor Plan
Exhibit E:Elevations
Exhibit F:Lighting
Exhibit G:Landscape Plan
Exhibit H:City Engineer Comments
ISSUES ANALYSIS
Comprehensive Plan.
Albertville’s Comprehensive Plan identifies this area as
industrial. The policies of the industrial land use areas of the Comprehensive Plan
include, but are not limited to, the following:
Promote the infill of development in the existing industrially zoned areas of the
City; and
Continue to maintain and expand the City’s industrial and commercial tax base to
assist in paying for needed services and in reducing tax impact on housing costs.
5
The Albertville 2012 Vision Study goals and policies reaffirmed the industrial land use
recommendations for this site. The Vision Study emphasized economic development
as a community priority.
rd
Zoning.
The subject site at 11915 53Street NE is zoned I-1, Limited Industrial and
shall remain zoned I-1. The applicant has stated that the existing use of the property is
for a manufacturing plant and office for steel parts, which is an allowed use in the I-1
Zoning District.
rd
The lotcurrently has access onto 53Street NE. As a part of the approval of Barthel’s
ndnd
Industrial Park, 2Addition, access on 52Street was also approved.
Lot Area and Setbacks.
The following table illustrates that the existing and proposed
building meets the lot area, setback and height standards of the I-1 Zoning District:
RequiredProposedCompliance
Lot AreaNA4.64 acresYes
Lot Width100 feet280 feetYes
Setbacks:
rd
Front Yard (53Street)35 feet45 feetYes
Rear Yard –East20 feet62 feetYes
Side Yard –North10 feet168 feetYes
Side Yard -South10 feet10 feetYes
Maximum Site Coverage85%83%Yes
Maximum Building Height35 feet24.5 feetYes
Parking.
Section 1200.9 of the Albertville Zoning Ordinanceidentifies the required
amount of parking for this industrial site using the following parking ratio:
Office –One parking stall per 200 feet of floor area
Manufacturing –One parking stall per 350 feet of floor area
Warehousing –One parking stall per 1,000 feet of floor area
The applicant has provided the following floor space breakdown of the building,
resulting in the following parking calculation:
Total Floor Space= 76,100 X .9 = 68,450 square feet for parking count purposes
Office5,850 SF ÷ 200 = 29
Manufacturing*32,580 SF X 30% = 9,774 SF ÷ 350 =28
Warehousing30,060 SF ÷ 1,000 = 30
---
TOTAL REQUIRED87
* Section 1200.9.A, Other Uses, allows the City to grant an exception to the parking standards
where it can be demonstrated the site is unique in operation where parking demand is below the
required parking. Fraser Precision Tubular Parts is unique in that its manufacturing area is
6
highly mechanized with production machines occupying 70 percent ofthe manufacturing area.
The number and size of the machines greatly reduces the floor area that generates employee
parking demand. Staff toured the building and has confirmed this circumstance.
Based on City standards, the site is required to provide87 parking stalls. While all the
site parking and loading area will be paved, the applicant is proposing to stripe 49 stalls
and leave area for 40 additional stalls (unstriped) as proof of available parking. This
parking arrangement is acceptable provided the applicant is agreeable to striping the
proof of parking stalls at the direction of the City if it is determined that the on-site
demand for parking is greater than the supply of painted parking stalls.
Stall, Aisle, and Driveway Design Standards.
1.Each parking space shall not be less than nine feet wide and 20 feet in length,
and each space shall be served adequately by access aisles.
Comment:The parking along the building only offers an 18 foot depth. This is
an existing legal non-conforming condition that may continue to exist. All other
stalls and proof of parking areas are properly dimensioned.
2.All parking stalls shall be marked with white or yellow painted lines, not less than
four inches wide.
Comment:All proposed parking must be striped to proper dimensions.
3.No curb cut shall exceed 24 feet in width unless approved by the City Engineer.
rd
Comment:The curb cut onto 53Street is 65 feet wide. This is an existing
nd
condition that will not change. The new curb cut onto 52Streetwill be 40 feet
in width and has been reviewed and approved by the City Engineer. The wider
curb cut is necessary to accommodate the semi-truck traffic that must access
and circulate throughout the site.
4.Surfacing and Perimeter Curbing.
Comment:The existing parking lot has a bituminous surface. The new parking
and driveway will match the bituminous surfacing. Concrete curb and gutter is
illustrated on the site plan along the driveway and parking lot of the new
construction. The curbing ends prior to the existing parking. Curbing must be
extended around all new paved areas.
5.Plans for surfacing and drainage of the driveway and stalls for the parking lot are
subject to the review of the City Engineer.
7
6.Adequate space for snow storage shall be provided on the site so as not to
reduce the required minimum number of parking spaces.
Comment:The submitted site plan illustrates snow storage along the north edge
of the parking lot.
7.All parking associated with any building,structure, or use shall be required to
conform to the disability accessible parking standards pursuant to Minnesota
State Building.
Comment:The applicant must provide one disability stall per 25 total stalls.
Two disability parking stalls are provided near the building entrance. This is
adequate for the 49 parking stalls proposed in this stage of development. If
additional stalls are required in the future, additional disability stalls will also be
required. The disability parking stalls are properly dimensions and must be
signed.
Lighting.
The submitted plans indicate that 10 wall pack light fixtures are proposed on
the exterior elevations, which will match the existing light fixtures. No parking lot lighting
has been illustrated on the submitted plans. Section 1000.10 of the Albertville Zoning
Ordinance establishes the followingstandards applicable to the current site plan:
1.Light Cutoff: The luminaire shall contain a cutoff which directs and cuts off the
light at an angle of 90 degrees or less.
The applicant has provided a lighting cut sheet from Cooper Lighting Lumark that
offers three models, one of which offers full cutoff lighting. The full cut off lighting
model will meet City Code standards.
2.Lighting Adjacent Property: No light source of combination thereofwhich casts
light on a public street shall exceed one foot candle, as measured from the right-
of-way line of said street.
The submitted photometric plan illustrates that light levels at the property line
complywithCity standards.
Loading.
The building addition includes five loading docks and a metal recycle bin
located at the northeast corner of the building. Review of the loading area reveals that
each bay is properly dimensioned. The site plan illustrates sufficient area for truck
movements. The loading bays and recycling bin are recessed into the building and
screened to the east using a curtain wall extending 20 feet off the building.
Landscaping.
Exhibit G illustrates the landscape plan. In review of this plan, we offer
the following comments:
1.All disturbed areas after grading and construction must be restored with grass or
ground cover approved by the City.
8
2.With completion of the east retaining wall, wetland buffers must be established
betweenthe wall and edge of the wetlands. The applicant shall identify the
wetland restoration seed mix for City approval.
3.The ornamental trees located near the loading docks are well placed to screen
nd
loading activities from 52Street.
nd
4.The landscape plan identifies six new deciduous trees along 52Street. These
proposed trees are located on City property. This may be acceptable with the
permission of the City Council. The City Engineer should comment as to whether
these trees may interfere with pond operations and maintenance. If these trees
are seen as acceptable, they should be set back 10 feet from the property line,
outside the utility and drainage easement.
The applicant has indicated that with this building, no outdoor storage, stage, or
operation will occur on site. The loading areas are located and designed in a manner
that they are screened from street view.
Trash Receptacle.
The site plan does not illustrate the location of trash receptacles,
with the exception of the metal recyclingbin located near the loading dock. The
applicant must store dumpsterswithin the building or identify where an exterior trash
enclosure may be located. An exterior trash enclosure must be designed to screen the
dumpster from adjoining properties. Trashenclosures must be designed to match the
building.
Wetland.
The wetland located on Outlot A to the east of the subject lot is not to be
disturbed and shall be protected during site construction. A minimum buffer width
between five and 10 feet shall be maintained between the wetland and the proposed
retaining wall. Everything to the east of the retaining wall shall be restored to or left in
its natural state.
Signage.
No information regarding any proposed signs has been included with the
application materials. The installation of signage requires a permit.
City Engineer Comments.
See Exhibit H attached to this report.
RECOMMENDATION
The application to construct an addition onto the existing industrial facility located at
rd
11915 53Street NE generally appears to the meet the setback requirements and
typical constructionof the industrial area. Therefore, our office recommends approval of
the site and building plans for the addition on the property owned by Fraser Building
Partnership, based on the findings made in this report, but subject to the following
conditions prior to issuance of a building permit:
9
1.Proof of Parking.
a.If the existing supply of striped parking stalls is deficient in meeting on site
demand, the applicant shall stripe additional stalls in accordance with the
proof of parking plan at the directive of the City.
b.The proof of parking stalls shall be striped in accordance with the proof of
parking plan ifthere is a change in building occupancy.
c.All parking stalls shall be properly re-striped.
2.Perimeter curbingshall be extended along all the new construction up to the
existing parking lot.
3.Exteriorlights must be full cut off lighting.
4.Landscape Plan.
a.The applicant shall restore all non-paved areaswith grass or ground cover
approved by the City.
b.The applicant shall restore the wetland buffers and must provide a wetland
seed mix and planting program for approval by the City Engineer.
c.The City must determine if the trees on City property are acceptable. If
so, the trees must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the right-of-way
line.
5.The applicant shall provide a location for trash receptacles. Any exterior storage
of trash receptacles shall be located within a trash enclosure designed to match
the building.
6.The applicant shall address the recommendationsof the City Engineer outlined in
his memo of February 6, 2013.
cc:Sue Schwalbe
Kim Olson
Mike Couri
Paul Heins
rd
Fraser Building Limited Partnership, 11915 53Street NE, Albertville, MN 55301
Dennis Cornelius, Amcon CM LLC, 5565 Blaine Avenue, Suite 250,
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
10