2004-07-13 PC Minutes
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City of Albertville
Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes
July 13,2004
Albertville City Hall
7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL - ADOPT AGENDA
PRESENT: Chair Sharon Leintz, Commission members Dan Wagner, Frank Kocon, and
Council Liaison LeRoy Berning, Assistant City Planner Mike Darrow, and City Clerk!
Secretary Bridget Miller.
ABSENT: Tiffany Meza
Chair Leintz called the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of the City of Albertville to
order at 7:00 p.m.
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MOTION BY Commission member Wagner, seconded by Commission member Dorenbush to
approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
MINUTES:
MOTION BY Commission Member Wagner, seconded by Commission Member Kocon to
approve the June 8, 2004, Planning & Zoning Commission Minutes as submitted. Motion
carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
STMA ICE ARENA
VARIANCE
Chair Leintz opened the public hearing for a variance for the STMA Ice Arena at 7:02
p.m.
The St. Michael! Albertville Hockey Association in conjunction with the St. Michael and
Albertville School District and City of Albertville is requesting a variance to allow for the
expansion oflocker rooms within the existing ice arena. The site is located on Lachman A venue
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Northeast in the City of Albertville. The lot is approximately 106,330 square feet or 2.44 acres.
The site is zoned B-3, Highway Commercial. The area to the north, south, and west is zoned for
business uses. The area to the east is a City park. The request involves a variance from the 80%
impervious surface coverage requirement.
The purpose of the B-3, Highway Commercial District is to provide for the establishment of
motor vehicle oriented or dependent high intensity commercial and service activities. The
proposal involves the expansion of the building to allow for locker rooms within the facility.
The building expansion will utilize similar building materials and design as the existing building.
The expansion calls for approximately 7,360 square feet oflocker rooms on the southern portion
of the existing building. The existing building of record is a nonconforming structure in that it
does not meet the side yard setback requirements. The required side yard setback requirement
for the B-3 district is 20 feet. The building is setback 10 feet from the northern (side yard)
property line. The proposed expansion will not further encroach into this nonconformity. The
locker room facility will occur on the southern portion of the site, which is well within the
southern side yard setback.
The proposed locker room facility will decrease the green space of the site by 7,360 square feet
or 7% of the total site. The remaining site is covered by the building itself or by parking, with a
small percentage under 2 % being open space.
In review of the application, staff finds that the request to expand the ice arena facility will not
cause undue hardship on City's services or negatively impact the surrounding area. Furthermore,
because the site provides parking for the park to the east, a hardship exists in that future
expansion would be prohibited due to conditions imposed by the City for the use of the adjoining
park.
In review of the application for variance, the Planning Commission and Council should provide a
finding for granting the variance and impose any conditions they find appropriate. If the
Planning Commission and Council approve the variance, staff has prepared the following finding
of fact:
1. Motion to approve the variance to expand the locker room facility and allow impervious
surface coverage over the 80% surface requirement with the finding that a hardship exists
in that the site is used as parking for the adjoining park to the east and therefore would
prohibit a reduction in impervious surface coverage.
Chair Leintz asked if there were any questions or concerns from the audience. There were no
comments.
There was concern with the future ofthe parking lot. Does the parking lot hold enough now and
will there be sufficient room after the expansion? How will it affect the future parking spaces?
Chair Leintz closed the public hearing 7:13 p.m.
MOTION BY Commission member Dorenbush, seconded by Commission member Wagner to
approve the STMA Ice Arena Variance request. Motion carried unanimously.
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SIGN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
Chair Leintz continued the public hearing from the June 8, 2004 meeting at 7:14 p.m.
Assistant City Planner Darrow went over the history of the public hearing before the
Commission.
Over the past months, the City Council has expressed frustration with proliferation of off-
premise real estate signs. The issue became even more prevalent with the onset of the Parade of
Homes displays. Concerns exist as far as the location of these signs, the appearance of these
signs, and the number of these signs located within the Albertville rights-of-way. The City
Council has asked NAC and the Planning Commission to review the Albertville Sign Ordinance
to determine what if any changes in the ordinance are necessary to limit the issues related to off-
premise real estate signs and garage sale signs.
The purpose of the Albertville Sign Ordinance is to protect and promote the health, safety and
welfare and order within the City of Albertville through the establishment of a comprehensive
and content neutral series of standards, regulations and procedures. The Sign Ordinance
provisions are also intended to reduce confusion, sign clutter, and hazards that result from
unnecessary or indiscriminate use of sign devices.
Currently, the Albertville Sign Ordinance does not allow for off-premise signs with the exception
of advertising devices regulated by Section 8 of the ordinance. These pertain to billboards
located along the freeway corridor. Subd. 16 also allows off premise signs in ball fields. All
other signs are required to be placed on the property identifying or advertising the event
occurring on the premises.
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Chair Leintz asked if there were any questions or concerns from the audience. There were no
comments.
Chair Leintz asked why the change to charging was a concern?
Council liaison Berning would like to enforce the current Ordinance limiting it to 6 sign per year
before changing it to 3 signs per year.
Chair Leintz continued the public hearing to the August 10, 2004 meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
TOWNE LAKES 5TH ADDITION
FINAL PLAT
Chair Leintz asked the city planner to review the Final plat for Towne Lakes 5th Addition.
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Contractor Property Developers Company (CPDC) is requesting final plat approval for Towne
Lakes 5th Addition. The expressed intention of this application is for the development of 60
residential lots as part of the overall Towne Lakes development. The area is legally described as
Outlots F and G, Towne Lakes 3rd Addition. Towne Lakes 3rd Addition was granted Preliminary
Plat and PUD approval in December 2002 and March 2003. The following is a review of the
proposed final plat based on plans dated June 11, 2004.
After review of the applicant's submittal, staff recommends approval of the final plat for Towne
Lakes 5th Addition. This recommendation is based on the findings made in this report, subject to
the conditions herein, and to the comments made by the City Engineer
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION BY Commission member Wagner, seconded by Commission member Kocon to
adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
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