Planning Commission Minutes

April 5, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.

City Hall Council Chambers

 

1.         Call to Order and Flag Pledge.

Commission Chair Vince Johnson called the meeting to order.              

 

2.          Roll Call.

Chair Vince Johnson and Commissioners Randy Dahlheimer, Steve Fowler, and Kevin Faulds were present as was City Council Liaison Scott Hoke, City Planner Erin Stwora, and Assistant City Planner Mike Elhard.  Commissioner Bob O’Brien was absent.

 

3.         Approval of the Agenda.

The agenda was amended to allow City Administrator Samantha Orduno to speak prior to Open Forum.

 

4.         Brockton Lane/I-94 Interchange Update.

City Administrator Samantha Orduno and Mayor Douglas Anderson updated the Planning Commission on activities pertaining to the Brockton Lane/I-94 Interchange Project.  City Administrator Orduno and Mayor Anderson attend weekly meetings involving the City of Dayton and Rogers, Hassan Township, the Beard Group, and the Tinklenberg Group to discuss recent work. 

 

Phase I of the sub-area transportation study has been completed.  Phase II will be conducted by SRF to determine transportation alternatives along the corridor.  SRF, Administrator Orduno and engineer Hanson met with MnDOT to frame issues MnDOT wanted to see along the corridor between CSAH 30 in Maple Grove and Trunk Highway 101 in Rogers.  Phase II will commence following agreements between cities and the cities adopt the agreements.     Phase III is the environmental work for the Brockton Interchange will be funded by the Beard Group.  Work, including the environmental and design, will be done simultaneously with the systems plan of Phase II to advance the project. 

 

The legislature is working through a process that would allow the city of Dayton and Hassan Township the authority to create a special transportation improvement TIF district.  The increment generated in the district would go to build the interchange.  Legislation was introduced and has been included in Senate Omnibus Tax Bill.  Mayor Anderson and Joe Scherber, chair of the town board in Hassan Township, along with Elwyn Tinklenberg and community and business leaders testified before the House Tax Committee.

 

5.         Open Forum.

Chair Johnson opened the open forum.

No one came forward for open forum.

Chair Johnson closed the open forum.                       

 

6.         City Council Update.

Council Liaison Hoke provided the update.

 

7.        Consent Agenda.

A.  Approval of the March 8, 2007 Planning Commission meeting minutes.

 

Motion to approve by Fowler, second by Chair Johnson, All ayes.

 

8.        Public Hearing – King Solutions Final Site and Building Plan Review

City Planner Erin Stwora presented an overview of the King Solutions application for Lots 4 and 5, Block 2, Wicht Industrial Park including lot arrangement, project summary, existing lot conditions, surrounding land use, zoning, guidelines regarding the PUD, comprehensive plan, general environment, transportation, utilities and services.

 

The public hearing was opened, no one spoke, the public hearing was closed. 

 

Michael Patterson, co-owner, Reg Plowman, the general contractor with RJ Marco, Gary Johnson of Anderson Engineering were present. 

 

Michael Patterson presented a detailed overview of the company. 

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned if King Solutions would be accessing the rail spur.  Mr. Patterson stated they were not intending to use the rail spur in the near future.

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned how many trailers King Solutions would store on their property.  Mr. Patterson stated they would store 60 to 100 trailers.  120 trailers would be rare to have on site at one time.

 

Reg Plowman questioned how long do trailers stay on the lot.  Mr. Patterson stated trailers would move every 24-48 hours.

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned how many trailers King Solutions owns.  Mr. Patterson stated they own 160 trailers.  Maintenance is performed on-site in the yard by mobile unit about 3 times a week.  Mr. Patterson stated King Solutions owns 1 yard tractor. 

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned if the area is visible from the freeway.  Planner Stwora stated that once buildings are constructed on freeway lots it will be difficult to see the area.  It would be likely to see some of the building, but unlikely to see the yard.

 

Council Liaison Hoke questioned if the parking requirements were based on a formula.  Planner Stwora stated the parking requirements were based on a formula using King Solutions office and warehouse space as required by city code.

 

Council Liaison Hoke questioned if 208 parking stalls is more than King Solutions needs.  Mr. Patterson stated that it is more stalls than currently needed.  Council Liaison Hoke stated his dislike for the formula technique and would rather see green space.  The Planning Commission agreed with Council Liaison Hoke’s suggestion.  Planner Stwora suggested eliminating the single loaded stalls near the north end of the property.

 

Commissioner Faulds questioned the number of spaces to be reduced.  Planner Stwora stated staff would work with the developer on the number.

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned the number of accesses to the property.  Mr. Patterson stated their will be two employee/visitor entrances near the west of the property and a 24 hour guarded truck entrance.

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned if there would be 24 hour activity on site.  Mr. Patterson stated occasionally activity is as early as 3:00 a.m.  Most activity will occur between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned the area reserved for expansion and the use of the land.  Mr. Patterson stated the warehouse would be expanded and the staging area would be extended.

 

Commissioner Faulds questioned the process taking place in the warehouse and the flow of traffic.  Mr. Patterson stated the warehouse will hold pallets of various materials for a variety of clients.  City Planner Erin Stwora questioned if King Solutions packages up materials and wait for a driver to pick up materials.  Mr. Patterson stated King Solutions will send requested pallets to clients when the package is requested.

 

Commissioner Fowler questioned if it is a formality to combine two lots.  Planner Stwora stated it is an easy process for the property owner to do.

 

Commissioner Dahlheimer questioned why King Solutions did not locate on the south side of Holly Lane.  Mr. Patterson stated zoning would not have allowed them to have the amount of outdoor storage needed.

 

Council Liaison Hoke questioned the status of the site.  Gary Johnson stated the grading is complete.  Planner Stwora stated Maple Grove will need to complete work to meet the connection for sewer. 

 

Council Liaison Hoke questioned the anticipated occupancy date.  Reg Plowman stated they are hoping to open in late June 2008.

 

Mr. Patterson stated the facility being created is an expression of who King Solutions is.  Building has to look good and be well maintained.  Mr. Patterson stated King Solutions wants to be a good community citizen.

 

Commissioner Dahlheimer questioned if everything will move from Rogers.  Mr. Patterson stated everything would move from Rogers. 

 

Commissioner Dahlheimer questioned if the number of trucks per hour average was over 24 hours or 12 hours.  Mr. Patterson explained 6-7 trucks per hour during peak hours between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

 

Commissioner Fowler stated that if being able to see inside the warehouse was a problem, smoked glass could be used.  Commissioner Fowler stated his support for current proposal with architectural detail.  Planner Stwora explained that going by the book is not always the best option.  Reg Plowman stated the building is located near a corner in Holly Lane and explained the building was designed to create a focus point near the corner providing a transition from the I-1 district.  City Planner Erin Stwora explained the Wicht Industrial Park lots have a creative configuration presenting a challenge to designing buildings.

 

Commissioner Faulds questioned the impact on existing infrastructure and the traffic created by the project.  Planner Stwora stated King Solutions is likely to use options available in Maple Grove and there may be initial congestion until projects are completed in Dayton including 113th Avenue and stop lights.  Chair Johnson stated major traffic would occur after rush hour.  Planner Stwora explained Territorial Road and Brockton would be used until 113th Avenue became available.  Reg Plowman explained the truck entrance was moved to prevent traffic congestion on Holly Lane.

 

Planner Stwora questioned if a consensus was reached on design.  Commissioners were supportive.

 

Reg Plowman explained King Solutions had met with the Fire Department and planned for more hydrants and included a fire lane.

 

Planner Stwora stated her support for the project and stated the project meets the intentions of P.U.D. design standards.  The application will be forwarded to the City Council on April 24, 2007.

 

Motion to approve by Chair Johnson, second by Fowler, All Ayes.

 

9.       Low Impact Development (LID) Ordinance.

            Discussion of status of LID ordinance.

 

10.       New Business.

Future and Continued Planning Commission Agenda Items.

 

11.       Staff Notices and Announcements.

A.     The City Council meetings at which the above items may be considered will be held on April 24, 2007.

B.     The next Planning Commission meeting will be held on May 3, 2007.

 

12.       Adjourn.

 

Motion to adjourn was made by Dahlheimer, seconded by Faulds.  Ayes:  All.