8. CUP to Allow Multiple Buildins on the same lot and Site Plan Review for Sprint/United Telephonei
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
P.C. DATE: 6 -15 -94
C.C. DATE: 7 -11 -94
CASE: 94 -3 Site Plan 94 -3 CUP
BY: Al -Jaff
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STAFF REPORT
PROPOSAL: 1) Site Plan Review for a 288 square foot Central Switch Annex for
Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
2) Conditional Use Permit to Allow multiple buildings on the same lot
LOCATION: Lot 1, Block 2, Chanhassen Business Center. North of the National
Weather Forecast Office Building, West of Audubon Road and Lake Susan
Hills Subdivision and north of Bluff Creek Estates Subdivision.
APPLICANT: Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota Chanhassen Venture LTD
343 82nd Street 400 East Randolph #500B
Chaska, MN 55318 Chicago, IL 60601
PRESENT ZONING: PUD/IOP Planned Unit Development/Industrial Office Park
ACREAGE: A 3,539 Square Foot Easement over 9.92 Acres IMft by M Bator
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ADJACENT ZONING DeL
AND LAND USE: N - PUD -IOP Vacant !tote Submitted to C
S - RSF Bluff Creek Estates Subdivision
E - PUD - Residential Lake Susan Hills Date submitted to
W PUD -IOP Office 2 5
WATER AND SEWER: Available to the site
PHYSICAL CHARACTER: The site is located in the Chanhassen Business Center. This
site contains the National Weather Forecast Office which is
currently under construction. The site drops in elevation
to the southwest.
2000 LAND USE: Office/Industrial
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Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 2
PROPOSAL /SUMMARY
The applicant is proposing to construct a Central Switch Annex for Sprint/United Telephone of
Minnesota. The telephone station is an instrumental component for the functions of the National
Weather Forecast Service Station and is required to be within close proximity of it. The site is
located north of the National Weather Forecast Office Building, west of Audubon Road and Lake
Susan Hills West subdivision and north of Bluff Creek Estates subdivision. The lot area of the
National Weather Forecast Service site is 9.92 acres. Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota has
obtained a 3,539 square foot easement over the 9.92 acre site for the construction of the Central
Switch Annex building. The site is located in a Planned Unit Development Industrial Office Park
District. Access to the site is obtained via Lake Drive West.
The site plan is very simple and a straight forward request. The proposed Central Switch Annex
building will utilize nutmeg colored brick, an identical material to that approved to be used on
the National Weather Forecast Office building. All rooftop equipment will be screened by a
typical flashing metal parapet wall similar to the one approved on the National Weather Forecast
Office Building.
Two parking spaces for
Switch Annex building.
are being performed.
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vehicles are proposed to be located to the southwest of the Central '
Vehicles will only be parked there while repair /maintenance functions
The site landscaping is of a high quality. The applicant has been very cooperative. He
revised the plans since the Planning Commission meeting which was held on June 15, 1994.
Berming, bushes, deciduous, and conifer trees have been added to provide screening of the
HVAC units and transformers.
Staff regards the project as a reasonable use of the land. Based upon the foregoing, staff is
recommending approval of the site plan, without variances, and a conditional use permit request
for this proposal with conditions outlined in the staff report.
BACKGROUND
In February of 1993, Ryan Construction Company gained final approval for 94 acres for an
office /industrial park. Approvals also included development standards for the Chanhassen
Business Park, as well as the final plat. Two lots were approved with the final plat; one lot for
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Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 3
the National Weather Service and the other lot for the Chanhassen Congregation for the Jehovah
' Witness Church.
This building proposal will share the National Weather Service site to build on.
GENERAL SITE PLAN/ARCHITECTURE
' The under construction National Weather Service Office site is situated on Lot 1, Block 2,
Chanhassen Business Center. The proposed Central Switching Annex will be located on the
same lot as the National Weather Service Office, north of the National Weather Forecast Office
' Building, west of Audubon Road and Lake Susan Hills Subdivision and north of Bluff Creek
Estates Subdivision. Access to the site is gained off of Lake Drive West. The National Weather
Forecast Office Building and the Central Switching Annex buildings will be sharing a common
driveway. An easement is being granted in favor of the Central Switching Annex to allow the
National Weather Service and Central Switching Annex buildings to share a common site and
a driveway access. The proposed Central Switching Annex building of 288 square feet will be
' located to the northwest of the under construction National Weather Service building. Two
parking spaces will be located to the southwest of the proposed Central Switching Annex. There
is not a full time employee for this facility. The two spaces are provided for individuals
' performing maintenance work on the facility. There are two HVAC units and transformers
that will be visible ffem Lake D&e West. Staff is feeewaneading a meande4ag befm %4th a
screened by berms, bushes, deciduous, and conifer trees. These landscaping elements were
added after the Planning Commission meeting, which took place on June 15, 1994.
The Central Switching Annex building, is proposed to be located 18.87 feet from the north, 500
feet from the east, 370 from the south, and 55 feet from the west property line.
Materials used on the Central Switching Annex building will be identical to the National Weather
Forecast Office building's nutmeg brick, and a typical flashing metal parapet. Any roof top
' equipment should be screened with the parapet wall.
PARKINGANTERIOR CIRCULATION
The city's parking ordinance does not address parking requirements for a utility building. As
indicated earlier in the report, there will not be any full time employees at the Central Switching
Annex building. The spaces are there for those who need to perform maintenance work on the
building. This facility will be sharing a driveway access with the National Weather Service
Office which will limit the number of any additional curbcuts.
Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 4
LANDSCAPING
The landscaping plan has been revised since this application appeared before the Planning
Commission. It is of a high quality. The applicant is providing a combination of berms,
hedges, coniferous and deciduous trees. The landscaping plan will provide adequate
screening to the HVAC units and transformers on the site.
LIGHTING
Lighting locations have not been illustrated on the plans. Only shielded fixtures are allowed and
the applicant shall demonstrate that there is no more than 1 h foot candles of light at the property
line as required by ordinance. A detailed lighting plan should be submitted when building
permits are requested.
SIGNAGE
The applicant has not submitted a signage plan. Staff believes that signage is not necessary.
GRADING AND DRAINAGE
Grading for the structure appears consistent with the overall National Weather Station grading
plan.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
No sanitary sewer or water is required for this improvement.
EROSION CONTROL
All disturbed areas shall be sodded within two weeks after receipt of the Certificate of
Occupancy.
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Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 5
COMPLIANCE TABLE - IOP DISTRICT
Ordinance Central Switching Annex
Building Height
2 stories
1 story
Building Setback
N -10' E -30'
N -19' E -500'
S -30' W -30'
S -370' W -55'
Parking stalls
NA
2 stalls
Parking Setback
N -0' E -25'
N -40' E -500'
S -25' W -25'
S -350' W -55'
Hard surface
70%
27.15%
Coverage
Lot Area
1 acre
9.92 acres
PARK AND TRAIL DEDICATION FEES
Fees were paid when the National Weather Service Office applied for a building permit No
additional fees are required.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
Multiple principal buildings on a single lot are permitted as a conditional use. The following
constitutes our review of this proposal against conditional use permit standards.
GENERAL ISSUANCE STANDARDS
1. Will not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, comfort,
convenience or general welfare of the neighborhood or city.
FINDING - The site is zoned PUD -IOP. The proposed use will not create any
significant or unexpected impacts from this use. The telephone station is
an instrumental component for the functions of the National Weather
Forecast Service Station.
2. Will be consistent with the objectives of the city's comprehensive plan and this
chapter.
Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 6
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FINDING - The proposed use would be consistent with the City Comprehensive Plan.
The use is also in compliance with the PUD -IOP standards as discussed in
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the site plan/architecture section.
3.
Will be designed, constructed, operated and maintained so to be compatible in
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appearance with the existing or intended character of the general vicinity and will
not change the essential character of that area.
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FINDING - The proposed Central Switching Annex will utilize the same type and color
of brick used on the National Weather Service Office building. All
equipment will be screened by either landscaping or a parapet wall. It will
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be located in the industrial district and as such, is fully consistent with this
site.
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4.
Will not be hazardous or disturbing to existing or planned neighboring uses.
FINDING - There will be no measurable impacts to the existing or planned
,
neighboring uses.
5.
Will be served adequately by essential public facilities and services, including streets,
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police and fire protection, drainage structures, refuse disposal, water and sewer
systems and schools; or will be served adequately by such facilities and services
provided by the persons or agencies responsible for the establishment of the
,
proposed use.
FINDING - Full city services are available to this site. No sanitary sewer or water is
required for this improvement.
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6.
Will not create excessive requirements for public facilities and services and will not
be detrimental to the economic welfare of the community.
,
FINDING - There are no projected needs for public facilities and services that staff is
aware of
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7.
Will not involve uses activities, processes, materials, equipment and conditions of
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operation that will be detrimental to any persons, property or the general welfare
because of excessive production of traffic, noise, smoke, fumes, glare, odors, rodents,
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or trash.
FINDING - This site will not create adverse impacts to persons, property or the general
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welfare of the area.
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Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 7
8. Will have vehicular approaches to the property which do not create traffic
congestion or interfere with traffic or surrounding public thoroughfares.
FINDING - There will be no traffic impacts to any area. There will be occasional trips
by an employee or two to perform maintenance work.
9. Will not result in the destruction, loss or damage of solar access, natural, scenic or
historic features of major significance.
FINDING - The development of this site will not result in the loss of any features.
10. Will be aesthetically compatible with the area.
FINDING - The site plan is well designed to provide adequate landscaping and
buffering from adjoining properties. The building is to be built of brick
that will match the National Weather Service Office building.
11. Will not depreciate surrounding property values.
FINDING - The site is being used for a utility type of operation which is consistent
with its designation. It will not depreciate surrounding property values.
12. Will meet standards prescribed for certain uses as provided in this article.
FINDING - There are no standards for two principle buildings located on a single lot.
Based upon the foregoing findings, staff is recommending that the conditional use permit be
approved with appropriate conditions.
PLANKING COMMISSION UPDATE:
On June 15, 1994, the Planning Commission reviewed and approved this application. One of the
issues that was raised was if the equipment within this building could be incorporated into the
National Weather Service Building. The applicant stated that they need their own structure.
Sprint/United Telephone of Minnesota
June 15, 1994
Page 8
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the following motion:
I. SITE PLAN REVIEW
"The Planning Commission recommends approval of Site Plan Review #94 -3 as shown on the
site plan dated June 28, subject to the following conditions:
1.
. The applicant shall also provide staff with a detailed cost estimate of
landscaping to be used in calculating the required financial guarantees. These guarantees
must be posted prior to building permit issuance.
2. The applicant shall enter into a site plan development contract with the city and provide
the necessary financial securities as required for landscaping.
3. Concurrent with the building permit, a detailed lighting plan meeting city standards shall
be submitted."
II. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
1. Compliance with conditions of site plan and plat approval.."
ATTACHMENTS
1. Planning Commission minutes dated June 15, 1994.
2. Revised Plans dated June 28, 1994.
Planning Commission Meeting - June 15, 1994
Scott: Can I have a motion please?
Ledvina: I would move that the Planning Commission recommend approval of zoning
ordinance amendment to Section 20- 904(c) as shown in Amendment #L
Scott: Is there a second?
Mancino: Second.
Ledvina moved, Mancino seconded that the Planning Commission recommend approval
' of Zoning Ordinance Amendment to Section 20- 904(c) as shown in Attachment #1. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING:
A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW MULTIPLE BUILDINGS ON THE
SAME LOT (SECTION 20 -902) IN A PUD DISTRICT AND SITE PLAN REVIEW
' FOR A 280 SQUARE FOOT TELEPHONE SWITCHING BUILDING LOCATED ON
LOT 1, BLOCK 2, CHANHASSEN BUSINESS CENTER, SPRINT/UNITED
' TELEPHONE OF MINNESOTA.
Public Present:
' Name Address
I Philip Briggs
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1000 W. Franklin #305, Mpls.
Sharmin Al -Jaff presented the staff report on this item.
Scott: Any questions or comments for staff?
Harberts: How many employees?
Al -Jaff: None.
Harberts: Come on. They're not just going to build a building and have it empty.
Al -Jaff: For maintenance possibly they will come in.
Planning Commission Meeting - June 15, 1994
Harberts: There won't be any staff there during the day at all? It's just a matter for storage?
Scott: Well it's a telephone. I think it's a telephone switch, data switch for the NWS station.
Any other comments or questions?
Harberts: I'll believe you.
Scott: Would the applicant like to, or their representative like to make a presentation at this
time? A brief presentation.
Philip Briggs: My name's Philip Briggs. I represent... and this building is quite simply being
built in order to facilitate the National Weather facility that's being built there. And as
shown on the drawings, it's a very small building. It exists just off of what would be the
entrance drive to the facility. As Sharmin stated, it's our intention to use matching material,
matching color bricks and whatever kind of metal detailing... And at the request of the city
in discussions with Ms. Al -Jaff, we agreed to enhance the landscaping in order to match the
parking spaces of those buildings so.
Scott: Do you know specifically what type of equipment is going to be in that?
Philip Briggs: It's a telephone switch facility basically.
Scott: Okay. And is the, do you happen to know what the number of lines? The reason
why I'm asking this question is that I was just kind of interested as to why this was not the
equipment that is in that particular building, why that wasn't proposed as being included in
the original structure. And also, if this switch is specifically for the use of that weather
station, handling data switching or if it is something that would also be used to serve other
United Telephone, Sprint customers in that area. So this is kind of a multi- purpose.
Philip Briggs: It's intended only for the National Weather Service facility, right. The reason
it's not part of the building is that, this is going to be owned and operated by Sprint and
United Telephone. And we're receiving a conditional use permit because we are getting an
easement by the owners of the property to build a structure on the site.
Harberts: How many lines will there be then?
Philip Briggs: Pardon me?
Harberts: How many lines will there be out of this building over to the Weather Station?
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Planning Commission Meeting - June 15, 1994
Philip Briggs: I'm not certain of the exact number. It's all going to be underground as far as
I have been made aware.
Harberts: It's interesting that they're putting up a different building like that for the
communications rather than what Joe said, incorporating it into the facility.
Scott: Well, I think it's probably a lot like what U.S. West does. Is that they put their
switches.
Harberts: Yeah, but for one client like that? Wait a minute, it's government isn't it?
Scott: Any other questions?
Mancino: I have a question for you. I see that on the west elevation, the HVAC units are on
the outside. Why couldn't those be placed on the top of the building so that the parapet walls
screen them so we don't need to have landscaping do it?
Philip Briggs: That's a good question. The building being used is a building by Sprint, UTS.
It's a ... exterior material. We assume that, and Sprint and UTS assumes that the use of
landscaping and berms would be...
' Mancino: I'd really like to recommend that they be placed on the roof of the building and
have the parapet wall screen it completely. Because I think one of the pitfalls that happens is
when you put a little utility building like this all your city, I mean they show up that way.
It's a box. It has nothing architecturally. It's usually not landscaped—so I would like to see
those units placed on the top. Sharmin, how compatible is this landscaping, from what I can
see, with the landscaping at the center? I mean I felt that there was a lot more landscaping
' done at the weather center. Around the building itself. Around the parking, interior, etc. It
doesn't seem to reflect that feel.
Al -Jaff: Well, with the recommendation that staff is making with additional landscaping, it
would be compatible.
Mancino: Okay. Are you recommending boulevard trees or lining of trees into the driveway
area or anything like that?
Al -Jaff: This is their site.
Mancino: And that's kind of the entrance to the National Weather Service, right?
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Planning Commission Meetin g - June 15, 1994
Al -Jaff: Correct. Well this would be the entrance into the National Weather Service. So
we're asking for additional trees around this ... That they have to have, and this will be green. '
We're also asking for a meandering... along the north elevation as well as additional
landscaping. Additional trees. What we recommended was, and when we spoke to the
applicant, we suggested a mix of evergreens as well as overstory and he would be able to '
pick out the species from the approved city landscaping trees.
Mancino: What are your thoughts on moving the HVAC up on top, on the roof versus on the '
side of the building?
Aanenson: That's sitting so low right now, the Weather Service is, you're not going to see it '
from any direction. Even coming off of Lake Drive, it's sitting high. The Weather Service is
sitting low. '
Mancino: But you have lots of people that work in the Weather Service too coming down
the road and I just wondered, if it's an easy, doable thing, why not. '
Al -Jaff: Are the units removed? I mean do they have to have them separate?
Philip Briggs: That's basically the design of the facility. It would require that we redesign '
the facility ... if we were to do that. I've been told that would be ... but I'm not certain.
Mancino: Maybe we can check that. '
Scott: Any other questions or comments for the applicant? No? Thank you. This is a I
public hearing and may I have a motion to open the public hearing please.
Harberts moved, Ledvina seconded to open the public hearing. All voted in favor and I
the motion carried. The public hearing was opened.
Scott: If anyone would like to address the Planning Commission on this particular issue, '
please step forward. Is there anyone here who would like to speak at this public hearing?
Seeing none, can I have a motion to close the public hearing?
Harberts moved Mancino seconded to close the ublic hearing. All voted in favor and '
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the motion carried. The public hearing was closed. '
Scott: Jeff.
Farmakes: I only have ... one comment. In issues where we cannot see the building... overhead '
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I Planning Commission Meeting - June 15, 1994
view. When you're referring to the flashing and the metal flashing and parapet and the brick
' and so on are going to match, I'm assuming that the effort is to match the existing structure
of the other service building. I cannot remember the roofline or the parapet or the metal
flashing of that building. But this is a very small structure. It's ... 24 or something like that.
' think all of the work that's been done ... Even the drive in area where it's being landscaped is
pretty insignificant. We should make sure that the materials and the roo£..are an
enhancement rather than just a utility building, especially since it's out in front by the
' entrance. That's it.
Scott: Nancy?
' Mancino: I have nothing new to add.
' Scott: Okay, Matt.
Ledvina: I don't know. I understand what you're saying about the air conditioning units but
at the same time I'm reluctant to suggest that the applicant redesign the entire building for
that purpose. I guess I'm wondering, maybe I don't have a clear understanding as to where
the air conditioning units are. Are they on the ground or are they on the side of the building
' or?
' Al -Jaff: They are on the side of the building. The western wall. And these are the units
right here.
Ledvina: Okay. And which direction does that face? I mean relative to the site plan here?
So towards the street essentially, right?
' Al -Jaff: Correct. And with the berm right here that we are recommending, is an additional
screen. It should be screened completely from here.
Mancino: But my only question is, it's probably goes like 8 feet tall and it depends if you
have deciduous trees. If you have coniferous trees around it and I think that that will
probably work. I'm just asking that staff and the applicant go back and see if it can be done
' without a lot of.
Ledvina: Okay, okay. I would support that. Yeah maybe perhaps on the other side of the
building you know because if you're looking at Lake Drive West and there is a potential for
viewing that as you're driving by and I know those things can be unsightly if it's not done
right. I would agree with you 100% there but I don't know that I'd be.
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Planning ommission Meeting - June 15, 1994
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Mancino: Well you have this great looking, the weather building which is very good looking
and you're coming in and then you, you know you kind of have this box with HVAC on the '
outside of it as you drive by.
Ledvina: What would you think if it was on the other side of the building? '
Mancino: Much better. '
Ledvina: Okay. Is that doable? To do a mirror image of that building?
Philip Briggs: Possibly. You might have to change the wiring. '
Ledvina: Okay. Well I don't know. But if we can leave it a little bit, I don't want to, I'm '
nervous about if you have a condition like that, doing it in an absolute term because I know
that it appears that the applicant has been willing to look at the options with landscaping and
I think that will be fine. That's it, thank you. '
Scott: Ladd.
Conrad: Nothing more. 1
Scott: Diane.
Harberts: Nothing.
Scott: Thank you. Can I have a motion please? '
Mancino: I move that the Planning Commission approve Site Plan Review #94 -3 as shown '
on the site plan received May 5th subject to the following conditions. Number 1, number 2,
number 3, and number 4 is that the applicant work with staff to either flip flop the building
and move the HVAC units on top or make sure that they get year round screening. And that '
starts at year one. Not year 10. For year round screening. We don't want to wait for years.
Anybody want to second that?
' '
Ledvina: : I'll second that motion.
Scott: It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? '
Mancino moved, Ledvina seconded that the Planning Commission approve Site Plan '
Review #94 -3 as shown on the site plan received May 5, 1994 subject to the following
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Planning Commission Meeting - June 15, 1994
conditions:
' 1. The applicant shall a rovide meandering berm with landscaping to screen the HVAC and
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cross connect box. The applicant shall also provide staff with a detailed cost estimate of
' landscaping to be used in calculating the required financial guarantees. These guarantees
must be posted prior to building permit issuance.
' 2. The applicant shall enter into a site plan development contract with the city and provide
the necessary financial securities as required for landscaping.
' 3. Concurrent with the building permit, a detailed lighting plan meeting city standards shall
be submitted.
' 4. The applicant will work with staff to either flip flop the building and move the
HVAC units on top or make sure that they get year round screening immediately.
' All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
' Mancino: I recommend that the Planning Commission approve Conditional Use Permit #94 -3
subject to the following condition. Number 1. Compliance with the conditions of site plan
and plat approval.
' Scott: Is there a second?
Conrad: Sure.
Mancino moved, Conrad seconded that the Planning Commission recommend approval
' of Conditional Use Permit #94 -3 subject to the following conditions:
1. Compliance with conditions of site plan and plat approval.
' All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously.
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