HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-29-08 work session Meeting Notes
Planning Commission Work Session
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Marion Conference Room
The Planning Commission work session commenced at 5:30 p.m. in the Marion Conference
Room at City HaIL
Commissioners Present: Chair Drotning, Davis, Glad, Grenz, Lillehei, Pattee, and ex-officio
Bussler.
Staff Present: Planning Director Daryl Morey, Associate Planner Kris Jenson, and Planning
Consultant- Daniel Licht.
Also Present: Sunny Bhakta, owner of Comfort Inn and Todd Bornhauser, Executive Director of
the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Zoning Ordinance Amendment Concerning Fences
Mr. Morey handed out revised wording to the draft amendment to Chapter 11-21-5 of the Zoning
Ordinance concerning fences as recommended and directed by the Planning Commission at their
May 22, 2008 meeting. The revised wording specifically relates to proposed Paragraph B.2 of the
• draft ordinance amendment. The revised wording would require property owners installing any
boundary fence to locate their lot irons. If the property owner cannot locate their lot irons, then
they would have the option of preparing a survey or entering into a fence location agreement with
the adjoining property owner/s, which would be recorded against the properties through an
administrative permit. Mr. Morey emphasized to the Planning Commission that the revised
ordinance requirements will apply to any fence -wood, vinyl or chain link.
The Commissioners concurred .that the revised wording was consistent with the recommendation
from their May 22nd meeting.
Freeway Corridor Commercial Sian Regulations
Mr. Morey stated that this issue was originally discussed at the May 1, 2008 Planning
Commission work session as directed by the City Council in conjunction with the- Comfort Inn sign
height variance request. Planning Department staff has researched the sign regulations of 13
metro area communities and two outstate communities as requested by the Planning
Commission. In addition, staff has obtained the specific MNDOT regulations concerning the blue
freeway informational (logo) signs as well as information concerning driver reaction distances for
changing lanes. Also, at the Planning Commission's request, planning staff attended the
Economic Development Commission (EDC) meeting on May 27, 2008 and obtained their input on
the freeway corridor commercial sign regulations. Mr. Bornhauser is an ex-officio member of the
EDC and was in attendance at the May 27t" meeting. Mr. Morey handed out the draft minutes
from the May 27th EDC meeting. Finally, Mr. Morey stated that the Planning Commission must
• forward a recommendation to the City Council for their June 16, meeting. If needed, there can be
additional discussion on this issue at the June 5, 2008 Planning Commission work session.
Planning Commission Work Session
May 29, 2008
Ms. Jenson summarized the findings of her research of other communities' sign regulations. She
pointed out that in almost every city researched, their freeway and/or business sign regulations
were the same or less intensive than Lakeville's. She also described the existing zoning and
draft 2030 land use maps she prepared for tonight's work session showing the existing freeway
corridor sign area, measured 1,500 feet from the centerline of I-35, along with possible 1,000 and
.500 foot freeway corridor sign areas.
Chair Drotning clarified that the Planning Commission's direction from the City Council and the
focus of the discussion at tonight's work session is to look at the entire freeway corridor area, not
just the Comfort Inn situation. The Planning Commission has already made their
recommendation on Comfort Inn's 60 foot freestanding sign height variance request. Chair
Drotning stated that he would like to bring forth a recommendation to the. City Council from
tonight's work session.
The Planning Commission discussion centered on the following points:
• What is the maximum sign height that should be allowed in the freeway corridor area?
• Should- commercial uses that sit lower in elevation than the freeway be allowed taller signs
and if so by how much?
• What types of transient uses should be considered, if appropriate, for taller signs?
After considerable discussion, the Planning Commission determined that while a full review of the
above points should be completed as quickly as possible, doing so prior to their June 5th meeting
could not be accomplished in an effective manner. In addition, they felt that other factors, such
• as the sign. clustering recommendation raised by the EDC, as well as the size and purpose of the
freeway corridor going forward, would need a greater degree of focus and detailed consideration
than could be reasonably accomplished prior to their June 5th meeting.
A majority of the Planning Commission concurred that they could support a narrowly defined
ordinance amendment processed in advance of the 2009 Zoning Ordinance update. This
amendment would allow an increased sign height for hotels on properties located below the
elevation of I-35 to a height 25-30 feet above the centerline of the adjacent freeway, with a
maximum freestanding sign height of 50 feet measured at the hotel property. The Planning
Commission also felt that the. allowance of a sign taller than 30 feet in the freeway corridor area
for a hotel or other transient oriented business should be provided through the interim use permit
process to allow the City a mechanism for the taller sign to be removed if the use of the property
changed. It was noted by the Planning Commission that approval of a variance for a taller sign
than allowed by the Zoning Ordinance, as has occurred in the past and as is currently proposed
by Comfort Inn, would. run with the property and not necessarily be tied to the use. of the property.
The work session was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
R spe tfully submitted,
• Daryl rey, Pla 'ng Director
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