HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-13 work sessionCITY OF LAKEVILLE
PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION MINUTES
January 17, 2013
Chair Lillehei called the work session to order at 6:45 p.m.
Members Present: Chair Brooks Lillehei, Vice Chair Bob Boerschel, Bart Davis, Karl
Drotning, Gerry Grenz, Linda Maguire, Joe Blee, and ex- officio Shawn Fitzhenry.
Members Absent: Paul Reuvers.
Staff Present: Planning Director Daryl Morey and planning consultant Daniel Licht,
TPC.
Others Present: Jeff Belzer, Jr. and Mike Belzer, Belzer Chevrolet /Dodge /Ram /Kia;
Todd Bornhauser, Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce; and Laura Adelmann, Sun
ThisWeek newspaper.
Belzer Auto Dealershia Sianaae
Jeff Belzer, Jr. presented their request to allow additional wall signs at the Belzer auto
dealership located at 21111 Cedar Avenue to meet the branding requirements for their
multiple dealerships. The request includes five signs on the east wall of the north
(Dodge /Ram /Kia) building facing Cedar Avenue — two Jeff Belzer's signs, one over each
of the two showroom entryways, and a Dodge, a Ram, and a Kia brand sign. He stated
that they are willing to eliminate the north facing wall sign and possibly the certified used
car pylon sign in order to be allowed the additional east facing wall signs.
Mr. Morey provided a brief history of the Belzer auto dealership PUD -CUP approved in
1990 that allowed an expansion of the dealership facility and included the allowance of
five freestanding signs along with a reduction in the number of site non - conformities. He
stated that because PUDCUPs are no longer allowed in the C -2 District, the existing
freestanding signs are considered legal, non - conforming. Mr. Morey reviewed options
the Planning Commission may consider in response to this request.
Planning Commissioners asked if the number of wall signs could be reduced or if the
Dodge and Ram wall signs can be placed near each other on the same side of the
showroom entry in order to meet Zoning Ordinance requirements for a commercial
building greater than 45,000 square feet. Mr. Belzer replied that neither of these
options would work due to the branding requirements they have to follow for each of the
three manufacturers they have at this location.
Planning Commission Work Session Minutes - January 17, 2013 Page 2
The Planning Commission agreed that car dealers are a unique commercial use that
have changed over time in terms of franchising /branding and should have specific sign
standards, especially in the case of multiple brand (or franchise) dealerships. The
Planning Commission selected amending the Zoning Ordinance specific to auto
dealerships as the preferred option of those listed in the January 11, 2013 planning
report. The suggested the Zoning Ordinance amendment include a maximum number
of wall signs as well as both individual wall sign size maximums and a cumulative wall
sign maximum.
Commercial /Industrial Park Dedication
Mr. Licht presented the findings of the appraiser hired by the City to determine the
average fair market value of undeveloped commercial, industrial and office land
included in the January 10, 2013 report from Jason Messner of Patchin Messner Dodd
& Brumm. While the appraiser's findings support an increase in the park dedication fee
for commercial and industrial subdivisions, City staff recommends continuation of the
past practice of requiring lower park dedication fees for commercial and industrial
subdivisions as an incentive to encourage such developments. Further, City staff
recommends an annual review of the commercial and industrial park dedication fees by
the City Council as part of the budget process.
Mr. Licht reminded the Planning Commission of the residential park dedication study
and subsequent Subdivision Ordinance amendment concerning residential park
dedication requirements that was completed in 2012. He also reminded the Planning
Commission that the methodology used for determining commercial, industrial and
residential park dedication must be consistent with State Statute.
Mr. Licht noted that on a 4 -3 vote at their January 16, 2013 meeting, the Parks,
Recreation and Natural Resources Committee recommended that the commercial and
industrial park dedication fees not be changed in 2013 and an increase in the
commercial and industrial park dedication fees be phased in over subsequent years
with an initial 5% increase in 2014 if justified based on the current market value
information and the recommended methodology for determining park dedication fees.
The Economic Development Commission will review the commercial and industrial park
dedication at their January 22, 2013 meeting. The City Council will consider all of the
advisory board recommendations concerning commercial and industrial park dedication
at their February 25, 2013 work session.
The Planning Commission concurred with staffs recommendation. They agreed that
decisions regarding funding for the development of the park and trail system should be
made by the City Council based upon annual budget considerations and should not be
an automatic annual increase.
Planning Commission Work Session Minutes - January 17, 2013
The work session adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Daryl M*ey, Plannir4 pirector
Page 3
Brooks Lillehei, Chair