HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-19-03 work session Planning Commission Work Session
)une 19, 2003
Lake Marion Conference Room
Members Present: Chair Miller-Stolte and Commissioners Detjen, Drotning, Grenz, Pattee,
Reuvers, Swecker.
Staff Present: Planning Director Daryl Morey, Community and Economic Development Director
David L. Olson, and Associate. Planner Ron Mullenbach.
Others Present: Bill Feiges and Paul Rehmke of Cloverleaf Cold Storage, Jim Geusebroek of
KC Engineering Co., and Todd Bornhauser, executive director of the Lakeville Area Chamber of
Commerce.
Mr. Olson opened the meeting by giving an overview of the project and the items on which City
staff is requesting direction, including: exterior materials; parking requirements; and a
screening wall for the Phase II loading docks.
Mr. Feiges then gave an overview of Cloverleaf Cold Storage and their operations. He explained
the type of building construction and materials typical in a freezer storage building. The
buildings are constructed with steel on either side of six-inch thick insulation, called a sandwich
panel.
• Chair Stolte indicated that the Planning Commission should address each of the three issues
separately to provide clear direction. to the applicant.
Exterior Building Materials:. Steel Panels
Planning Commission members discussed with the development team the goals of the .City
along the Cedar Avenue corridor,. comparable facilities in the metropolitan area, and USDA
requirements for building design in relation to the steel panels. Some discussed that they
would be more comfortable approving a large steel building if it were not located along Cedar
Avenue, which is a primary north-south corridor in the City, and were. located more internal to
the industrial park.
Other commissioners stated that the unique nature of the freezer storage use made the steel
panel more acceptable. All stated, however, that the steel panels should not be white as it is
too much of a stark contrast. In addition, significant landscaping and berming should be
installed along Cedar Avenue to break-up the mass of the building. Planning .Commission
members also discussed the color of the existing dry storage building. Overall, they indicated
that they could not guarantee support for the project if it did not include an .earth-tone steel
color.
Mr. Feiges stated that it is structurally very difFcult to face the building with masonry material,
and. Cloverleaf Cold Storage is willing to provide significant berming and landscaping along
Cedar Avenue and paint the existing dry storage building a complimentary earth tone color to
improve the look of the building. He stated that the company has some concerns about using
• the earth-tone (sandstone) color steel panel in Phase I if required by the Planning Commission.
Parking Requirements
Planning Commission members discussed issues related to reduced parking requirements for
freezer storage uses. Mr. Feiges described the typical staffing levels at similar facilities, which
usually does not exceed 30 employees. StafF confirmed that a change in use from freezer
storage to dry storage would require a new certificate of occupancy, at which time the new
occupant would need to provide parking in compliance .with zoning ordinance requirements.
Additional parking stalls could be added in paved areas if some of the loading docks were
removed. With that assurance, Planning Commission members agreed to support the reduced
parking requirement.
Screening Walt for Phase II
Planning Commissioners agreed that the screening wall for Phase II should not be required if
adequate berming and landscaping is provided to screen the loading docks from Cedar Avenue.
Mr. Feiges stated that Cloverleaf would like to install the required screening with Phase I
construction so that the trees. would have time to mature before they are needed to screen the
loading docks.
Chair Stolte summarized the general consensus of the Planning Commission that. they would
support the proposal fora earth-tone (sandstone) steel building with reduced parking
requirements for the fireezer warehouse provided significant landscaping along Cedar Avenue
and adjacent to the Phase II loading docks was included in the plans. The exterior elevation
sheet should include across-section showing the proposed berm and landscaping along Cedar
Avenue.
Chair Stolte reiterated that the Planning Commission serves only an advisory role to the City
Council The applicants were directed to revise their plans consistent with the Planning
Commission's discussion and-return for a formal public hearing.
RespectFully submitted:
Ron Mullenbach
Associate Planner