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Home My WebLink About02-08 work session1 | Page CITY OF LAKEVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION MINUTES February 8, 2024 Chair Jenna Majorowicz called the work session to order at 6:00 pm. Members Present: Chair Jenna Majorowicz, Vice Chair Christine Zimmer, Scott Einck, Brooks Lillehei, Jason Swenson, Patty Zuzek Members Absent: Surya Ganesan, Pat Kaluza, Amanda Tinsley Staff Present: Community Development Director Tina Goodroad, Planning Manager Kris Jenson, Associate Planner Frank Dempsey Others Present: Jay Moore and Pete Carbonneau, Oppidan 2024 Ordinance Update – Subdivision and Zoning Ordinance summary Uses allowed in Mixed Use Districts Community Development Director Goodroad summarized the uses currently permitted in the M-2 District and introduced representatives from Oppidan who are working to develop at the southeast corner of 179th Street (CSAH 9) and Cedar Avenue (CSAH 31). Jay Moore and Pete Carbonneau were present to discuss property they are marketing, which is zoned M-2, Mixed Use Cedar Corridor District. They are working with a grocer, bank, and coffee shop user and have had interest from several automotive-related uses (car wash, oil change, automotive repair, motor vehicle fuel sales) which are not currently permitted in the M-2 District. Mr. Moore and Mr. Carbonneau requested that the Planning Commission consider allowing some or all of these uses, perhaps with restrictions to locate them away from Cedar Avenue. They also noted that Apple Valley is a regional draw, and this site is more of a neighborhood center. The Planning Commission made the following comments: • Commissioners discussed uses that are permitted in the M-2 District as well as desired uses they hear from friends and neighbors. • Expressed concern over auto-related uses and noise impacts to potential residential uses that are currently permitted within the M-2 District. • Expressed a desire for walkability/design that encourages pedestrian/bike access to the development, which differs from the auto-related uses proposed by Oppidan. • Consider permitting one or two of the uses to seed development on the site. • Confirmed that site was zoned C-3, General Commercial District, prior to the adoption of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Moore and Mr. Carbonneau thanked the Planning Commission for their time. 2 | Page Subdivision Ordinance Tree Preservation Community Development Director Goodroad indicated that the City Council is willing to consider changes to the tree preservation ordinance to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tree preservation efforts and to encourage reforestation. The City Forester agrees that improvements could be made and has offered to assist in developing revised language. The Planning Commission expressed support for the consideration of revised language. Zoning Ordinance Definitions Planning Manager Jenson reviewed proposed updates to several definitions related to commercial uses for clarity and organization. The Planning Commission supports the proposed modifications. Off Street Parking Regulations Associate Planner Dempsey stated that due to changes in commercial and industrial operations, parking requirements should be reconsidered to reflect current parking demands. The chapter has also undergone several updates and modifications and it would benefit from a review for clarity and conciseness. The Planning Commission expressed support for reviewing and updating the chapter. General Mandatory Landscaping and Maintenance Planning Manager Jenson noted that a new state law went into effect last summer that requires cities to permit managed natural landscapes on private property. Ordinance language will be updated to reflect this requirement. The Planning Commission supports the change. Required Screening and Landscaping Planning Manager Jenson explained that developers have had challenges in getting coniferous/evergreen trees for required landscaping that meets the minimum eight-foot height requirement. The City Forester supports the change as it should allow for greater variety of species that may be used in required plantings. The Planning Commission concurred with the proposed change. Outdoor Storage and Parking Areas in Industrial Districts Planning Manager Jenson explained that the proposed change would make the language between two sections in the Outdoor Storage chapter consistent and the change is supported by the City Engineer and Environmental Resources Manager. The Planning Commission concurred with the proposed change. Home Occupations Associate Planner Dempsey explained that Staff is considering a change to the Home Occupation regulations which would permit one non-resident employee to work at a home occupation provided that an off-street parking space is available. The Planning Commission concurred with the proposed change. 3 | Page Motor Vehicle Fuel Facilities Planning Manager Jenson explained that Planning Consultant Daniel Licht contacted Staff about updates that should be made to the Motor Vehicle Fuel Facilities to be consistent with changes made previously regarding signs on buildings and canopies. The Planning Commission supports the proposed change. Educational Uses within Residential and Commercial Districts Community preschool, latchkey (before and after school care), and adult education are conditional uses in commercial districts, yet they aren’t allowed in any manner in residential districts, though they often occur at existing school facilities. Staff suggested that the Planning Commission consider amending the language which allows educational facilities by CUP to also permit preschool, before and after school care, and adult education at educational facilities. In addition to that change, Planning Manager Jenson recommended that preschool and adult education activities be changed from a conditional to a permitted use in commercial districts, provided the facility is licensed. This is similar to a change made last year to allow daycares as a permitted use in commercial districts. The Planning Commission supported both changes. Residential Transition Requirements Developments proposed within medium density (RM) and multiple family residential (RH) districts that are adjacent to single family (RS) and single and two family (RST) residential districts require a transition (open space or buffer plantings) when the two areas aren’t separated by a street or water or within the same preliminary plat. The current RM-3 District language doesn’t require a transition. Planning Manager Jenson recommends reviewing this language to ensure that transitions are appropriate and for consistency. The Planning Commission concurred with this recommendation. Medium and High-Density Residential Districts Community Development Director Goodroad asked the Planning Commission to consider ways to provide additional flexibilities for developers of attainable/affordable housing within these districts. • The Planning Commission inquired about the feedback Staff has received from potential developers regarding attainable/affordable housing. • Planning Manager Jenson added that the City continues to hear from the business community/employers that one of the primarily challenges in finding employees is the lack of affordable housing in Lakeville. • The Planning Commission expressed support for Staff to look at potential options to provide density flexibility to accommodate attainable/affordable housing. Commercial Car Washes in Commercial Districts Planning Manager Jenson noted that the current style of commercial car washes includes a number of industrial vacuums, which have the potential for noise impacts were the car wash to be located near residential areas. The current ordinance language requires car washes within 500 feet of residential areas to keep the bay doors closed during the wash cycle and that vacuums may not bee in a yard abutting residentially zoned property. Due to the potential impacts from these vacuums, Staff would like to consider language to reduce these impacts. 4 | Page • The Planning Commission discussed the potential noise from vacuums. • The Planning Commission supports reviewing the current zoning ordinance language to address these potential impacts. Office Park Design and Performance Standards Planning Manager Jenson noted that this proposed change is to correct a missing reference regarding outdoor storage within the OP, Office Park District and doesn’t change the outdoor storage provisions within the OP, Office Park District. The Planning Commission expressed support for the change. Industrial Districts Overlay District Community Development Director Goodroad explained that there a number of older industrial buildings which were constructed with lower ceiling clearances than is typically desired for current warehouse and manufacturing uses. One tool to support the viability of these older buildings is to create an overlay district that would allow additional uses not currently permitted within the industrial districts, but which may be compatible for these areas. • The Planning Commission discussed the potential challenges for these buildings and for keeping tenants in these buildings. • The Planning Commission expressed support for an overlay district that would provide additional flexibility in uses for these buildings. The work session adjourned at 8:02 pm. Respectfully submitted, Kris Jenson, Planning Manager