1984 10 24
Chanhassen Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
Regular Meeting
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Chairman Conrad called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Jim Thompson, Tom Merz, Susan Albee, Ladd Conrad, Bill Ryan and
Mike Thompson.
MEMBERS ABSENT
Howard Noziska
STAFF PRESENT
Barbara Dacy, City Planner and Vicki Churchill, Secretary.
Public Hearing: Conditional Use Permit Request #84-14 to allow
contractor's yard activities on property zoned R-la and located
at 8470 Galpin Blvd., Merle Volk, applicant.
Public Present
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Merle Volk
Diane/Buck Beuch
Earl Holasek
Roger Schmidt
135 Mound Ave., Tonka Bay
1180 pioneer Trail
8610 Galpin Blvd.
8301 Galpin Blvd.
Dacy briefly explained that by City Council direction, staff con-
tacted all the contractor's yard owners in the R-la district to
try and accommodate as many illegal and non-conforming uses as
possible based on the scale and intensity and the location of the
contractor's yard. She stated that Mr. Volk stores approximately
16 vehicles on site which may increase during the winter months,
and the operation hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. He
has four employees. She stated that he has installed berms
around the vehicle storage area and there is a pole barn on site
which is used for repair and servicing of the vehicles. She also
added that on site there are unlicensed junk vehicles and the
applicant has stated that it was his hobby to restore them.
Merle Volk stated that he had planned to plant evergreens along
the top of the berm but was unsure how they would survive
because of the shade. He had no objections to planting them,
however.
Earl Holasek stated that there have been no noise or traffic
problems with Mr. Volk's operation.
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Albee moved, seconded by Ryan to close the public hearing. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
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Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
Page 2
Conrad asked Dacy what type of concerns the commission should be
considering in these applications.
Dacy stated that in each of the cases the Commission should look
at its location and the impact on the surrounding properties.
She stated that this particular yard is located at the intersec-
tion of two major collectors and has adequate vehicle access.
The commissioners were concerned that if there were specific
complaints on this contractor's yard what would staff be able to
do about it if the permit was already issued.
Dacy stated that it would cause a review by staff, and if the
operation had expanded or intensified this would trigger another
conditional use permit process. She stated that a specific time
limit could be a condition of the conditional use permit.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Albee, to recommend approval of
Conditional Use Permit Request #84-14 for contractor's yard acti-
vities at 8470 Galpin Blvd. with the following conditions:
1. The submission of a landscaping plan indicating the
installation of evergreens along and on top of the berm
on the south side of the yard.
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2. All equipment must be stored within the confines of the yard
area as identified on the submitted site plan and must be
kept out of site from adjacent properties.
3. Any enlargement of the operation such as construction of
additional buildings or an increase in the number of
vehicles beyond what has been submitted in this application
must be approved by a conditional use permit.
4. Unlicensed, junk vehicles must be removed from the premises
or enclosed in barn/shed.
J. Thompson, Merz, Albee, Conrad and Ryan voted in favor. M.
Thompson opposed. The motion carried.
M. Thompson stated that he felt the ordinance does not provide
any criteria on which to make this decision. Because it is non-
specific he is not in the position to establish criteria in which
to render a decision on the conditional use.
Public Hearing: Conditional Use Permit Request #84-13 to allow
contractor's yard activities on property zoned R-la and located
at 8470 Galpin Blvd., R & W Sanitation, applicant.
4It Public Present
Russ & Wendy Leistiko
Merle Volk
8470 Galpin Blvd.
8470 Galpin Blvd.
Planning Commission Minutes
october 24, 1984
Page 3
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Dacy stated that this contractor's yard request is on the same
property as Mr. Volk's. Because it is a separate
operation/business, the applicant has filed a separate applica-
tion. She stated that this request is to allow the storage and
repair of garbage trucks. She stated that 7 vehicles are used for
the garbage operation and 19 vehicles are used for farming the
property. She stated that the applicant has three employees, and
the trucks leave the operation about 6:00 a.m. and return about
3:00 p.m. on a daily basis.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Ryan to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Albee moved, seconded by J. Thompson to recommend approval of
Conditional Use Permit Request #84-13 for the storage and repair
of garbage vehicles as part of a contractor's yard located at
8470 Galpin Boulevard subject to the following:
1. Any expansion of the operation such as construction of additional
buildings or an increase in the number of vehicles beyond what is
represented in Request #84-13 must be approved by a conditional
use permit."
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J. Thompson, Merz, Albee, Conrad, and Ryan all voted in favor.
M. Thompson opposed. The motion carried.
M. Thompson stated that he felt the ordinance does not provide
any criteria on which to make this decision. Because it is non-
specific, he is not in the position to establish criteria in which
to render a decision on the conditional use.
Public Hearin~: Conditional Use Permit Request #84-15 to allow
contractor's yard activities on property zoned R-Ia and located
at 6420 Powers Blvd., Larry Kerber, applicant.
Public Present
Diane & Buck Beuch
Larry Kerber
1180 pioneer Trail
6420 Powers Blvd.
Dacy stated that this operation consisted of two bobcats, a two-
ton truck, a trailer and a small farm tractor. She stated that
the applicant has indicated that these vehicles are normally
stored in a garage or kept behind a solid fence behind the pro-
perty.
Mr. Kerber stated that he is planning to add onto the existing
garage and wondered if he would have to go through the process
aga1n. He stated that he wants to add on a 26' x 30' addition
onto the present garage sometime in the future.
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Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
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Dacy stated another application would have to be processed if it
would be used as part of his contractor's yard operation. She
added that the Commission could consider the garage addition now
in the motion if they have no concerns with it.
Albee moved, seconded by Merz to close the public hearing. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
Albee moved, seconded by Merz, to recommend approval of
Conditional Use Permit Request #84-15 for a contractor's yard at
6420 Powers Blvd. subject to the following conditions:
1. Expansion of the existing operation must be approved by a con-
ditional use permit.
2. All equipment must be stored within a building or behind the
existing fence.
3. That City Council be aware that Mr. Kerber may be adding a
26' x 30' addition onto the existing garage to store his
existing vehicles."
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Ryan asked if the zoning changed on this piece of property would
that mean this would be a non-conforming use.
Dacy stated yes it would if contractor's yards are not permitted
in that district.
Ryan stated the applicant woult not be allowed to expand his
garage.
M. Thompson asked if in a future subdivision, to the south, for
example, complaints occurred about the contractor's yard, would
Mr. Kerber still have a conditional use permit.
Dacy stated that as long as it is under the R-la classification,
and he has approval of the conditional use permit, he has the
right to continue that use. She stated that if there is a
complaint by a future subdivision, that will trigger another con-
ditional use permit process, if there are adverse impacts on
that subdivision.
J. Thompson, Merz, Albee, Conrad and Ryan voted in favor. M.
Thompson opposed. The motion carried.
M. Thompson stated that the parcel is 3! acres in size and is con-
tiguous to R-l zone. He stated that the request is not consistent
with the intent of the ordinance, and there is no criteria listed
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Planning Commmision Minutes
October 24, 1984
Page 5
Public Hearing: Subdivision Request #84-23 to subdivide a 2.13
acre tract into a 1.23 acre parcel and a .87 acre parcel on prop-
erty zoned R-l and located at 6740 Powers Blvd., Lewis woitalla,
applicant.
Public Present
Paul Larson (representing applicant)
James & Norma Ravis
1969 Shorewood Lane
6660 Powers Blvd.
Dacy stated that the applicant is proposing to subdivide his 2.1
acre parcel into two lots and intends to sell the 1.23 acre lot
to Mr. Ravis whose parcel abuts the northern boundary of the
applicant's parcel. She stated that the lot sizes meet the
requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance but the 1.23 acre par-
cel should not exist as a separate lot of record and should be
described and recorded as part of the prospective property owner's
lot. She stated that a 50 foot roadway and utility easement tra-
verses the .87 acre parcel from Powers Blvd. west to the proposed
1.23 acre parcel and added that this access easement would not be
needed because there would not be a landlocked parcel.
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J. Thompson moved, seconded by Ryan to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Albee that the Planning Commission
recommends approval of Subdivision Request #84-23 subject to the
consolidation and recording of the 1.23 acre parcel with the prop-
erty owned by Mr. Ravis. All voted in favor and the motion
carried.
Public Hearing: subdivision Request #84-22 to replat Lots 3 and
4, Bandimere Heights 2nd Addition into 4 lots to be known as
Eickholt Addition on property zoned R-l and located at 9370 and
9380 Kiowa Trail, Bob Eickholt, applicant.
Public Present
Robert & Mary Jane Eickholt
9380 Kiowa Trail
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Dacy stated that the applicant is proposing to replat two lots of
the Bandimere Heights 2nd Addition into 4 single family residen-
tial lots. She stated that each lot meets the lot area require-
ments of the Shoreland Management Regulations and complies with
the subdivision ordinance requirement of 90 feet of lot frontage
at the building setback line. She stated that the lot created
for the existing residence (Lot 3) dictates that the existing
home be located 9.85 feet from the north lot line and the required
amount ten feet. She stated that the encroachment is negligible
and realigning the lot line would mean reducing the required lot
width for the proposed Lot 2.
Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
Page 6
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Dacy also stated that she had just received a letter from Mr.
Bell, a neighbor, who felt that the proposed subdivision into
smaller lot sizes would result in a deterioration of the property
values in the neighborhood. The letter stated that most of the
lots are larger in the area and the resulting homes would most
likely not be up to the standards of the homes presently in the
neighborhood.
Mr. Eickholt stated that he has read the letter and states that
he has 450 feet of frontage on that street. He stated that Mr.
Bell states that there are larger lots, but they have steep
incline and not usable land.
M. Thompson asked how big the lots were in the area.
Dacy stated that when Bandimere 2nd Addition was platted the lots
were approximately 30,000 square feet, but added that across the
street they were platted around 20,000 to 25,000 square feet.
Merz asked if Bandimere Heights has any deed restrictions.
Mr. Eickholt stated that there were convenants but they were out-
dated. He stated that it does state a minimum size for a home.
He added that the size of lots were dictated by the fact that
~ there was no sewer available at that time (1969).
Mr. Eickholt stated that when he built his house, the land was at
a decline and he filled the land up and felt that it would make
up for the discreptancy of the required 10 foot setback.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Albee to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Albee that the Planning commission
recommends approval of Subdivision Request #84-22 to replat Lots
3 and 4, Block 2 of the Bandimere Heights 2nd Addition into four
single family lots to be known as the Eickholt Addition. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
Public Hearing: Subdivision Request #84-7 to subdivide 56.85
acres into 20 single family residential lots on property zoned
R-la and located north of and adjacent to pioneer Trail, one-half
mile west of T.H. 101, J.C.B. Partnership, applicant.
Public Present
Diane/Buck Beuch
Mr. & Mrs. DeJoode
Tom Bergquist
1180 pioneer Trail
811 pioneer Trail
12411 Bent Tree Lane, Minnetonka
~ Dacy stated that the applicant orginally proposed a sketch plan
for four large tracts to be resubdivided into eighteen lots and
Planning commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
e Page 7
the preliminary plat now proposes twenty lots, each totalling at
least 2.5 acres. She stated that Carver County recommended a 75
foot wide strip be reserved on the western boundary of the plat
to allow for the future extension of Powers Boulevard to pioneer
Trail. She noted that this would reduce the lot area of three
lots below the 2.5 acre minimum and staff has recommended that a
lot in this area be eliminated. She stated that Lots 5 and 6,
Block 2 need to be widened to allow for more area for a second
septic system should the first one fail. She also added that the
street names should be revised so as to not duplicate the name
Pioneer.
Ronald Landin asked if any of the houses would use West 96th
Street?
Dacy stated that they would use pioneer Trail, and the street
alignments are such that they would allow for extension into the
properties to the north.
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Tom Bergquist stated that he is representing J.C.B. and the 75
foot right-of-way was the third choice of the County for the
relocation or improvement of this road, being that it dead ends
into the golf course to the south. He stated that if there is a
request from the County, that at that time they be given the 75
foot right-of-way.
Dacy stated that Carver County obviously feels this is necessary
for their long range planning. She stated that if it is reserved
and it is not used, then it can be returned to those properties.
Diane Beuch was concerned about the safety factors because of the
extremely long cul-de-sac. She thought there was a 500 foot
limit in the City and with only one access there might be a
problem.
Dacy stated that there is a requirement of 500 feet for cul-de-
sacs however, when the the City began allowing rural subdivisions,
a 500 foot length becomes impactical when the required lot width
is 180 feet and the orverall density is less than one unit per
acre.
Mrs. DeJoode asked if the topography would be changed along
pioneer Trail because water runs across their property and it is
bad enough without adding more changes to the land.
Dacy stated that much of the grade would remain the same and that
most of changes would occur in the area of the streets and the
drainage should flow to the west.
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Dacy stated that the City Engineer would be looking at the
grading plans and making recommendations to correct any problems
he sees.
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Planning commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
Page 8
Ryan moved, seconded by J. Thompson to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
J. Thompson was concerned about the percolation test data just
meeting the requirements. He also commented on the letter from
Paul Waldron. J. Thompson stated that he has alot of concern in
view of the large federal government grant to improve that area.
He stated that he has expressed this in the past and thinks it is
the homeowner's responsibility to put in a system that will not
fail and should it fail, it is the homeowner's responsibility to
fix it not the federal government.
The Commissioners were concerned about the drainage in the sub-
division.
Dacy stated that the City Engineer felt that the way it was pre-
sented was acceptable. She stated that he has reviewed the plat
and is aware of the existing and proposed drainage patterns.
Albee moved, seconded by Ryan to table this request until the
drainage questions can be answered and have the City Engineer pre-
pare an analysis on the water flow and because of the marginal
perc tests.
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J. Thompson, Albee and Ryan voted in favor. Merz, Conrad and M.
Thompson opposed. Motion failed.
M. Thompson moved, seconded by Merz to recommend approval of
Subdivision Request #84-7, "Pioneer Hills", subject to the
following conditions:
1. Before the case goes to the City Council staff and the appli-
cant arrive at a specific number of lots with a 2.5 acre
minimum (reduction of one lot in Block 2 to maintain the 2.5
acre lot area minimum).
2. That the City Engineer review and prepare a report on the
drainage situation and water problems.
3. Reservation of a 75 foot right-of-way along the western boun-
dary of the plat.
5. Widening of Lots 5 and 6, Block 2 at least twenty feet.
6. Revision of street names.
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Merz, Conrad, Ryan and M. Thompson voted in favor. J. Thompson
and Albee opposed. Motion carried.
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Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
page 9
Public Hearing: Land Use Plan Amendment #84-5 to amend the
Metropolitan Urban Service Area boundary on property zoned R-la
and located west of Lake Riley Blvd. and north of Lyman Blvd.,
Bob Eide, applicant
Public Present
Robert & Richard Eide
Craig Mertz
Lake Riley Blvd.
1900 1st Bank Place West, Mpls.
Dacy stated that the applicant is proposing to amend the MUS A
boundary to include 10 acres of his property. She stated that as
it exists now, the MUSA boundary cuts diagonally across the parcel
and was probably drawn based on existing topographic and sewer
information at that time. She stated the land should have been
included because it can be developed. She explained that the
owner of the parcel that lies west of the Eide parcel, Mr. Quinn,
has been contacted about a possible land swap.
Mr. Quinn stated that he is not willing to swap his ten acre
parcel to be excluded from the MUSA area.
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Mr. Eide stated that Richard Eide's parcel abuts the sewer lift
station on the corner of Lyman Blvd. and Lake Riley Blvd. He
stated that in talking with the City Engineer he was told that
all of the property could be served by gravity flow sewer ser-
vice. He stated that Mr. Quinn's property was not servicable by
logical sewer extension because the locations of the line would
require a minimum of over 1,600 feet of line easements and felt
that the development along Lyman Blvd. would have alot of opposi-
tion because those people would possibly have to hook up to that
extension.
Craig Mertz stated that he was representing the Lakeview Hills
owners, who own property to the east, and would not be willing to
remove a portion of their property from the MUSA boundary.
Albee moved, seconded by Ryan to close the public hearing. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Merz to table this request until
staff can locate another parcel that could be swapped.
Public Hearing: Conditional Use Permit Request #83-3 to amend
the Conditional Use Permit for the adaptive reuse of Minnetonka
West Jr. High School to allow the placement of a 2' x 6' sign on
property zoned R-l and located at the Minnetonka West Jr. High
School, Farmhand, Inc., applicant.
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Public Present
James Hardy
Farmhand, Inc.
Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
P ag e 10
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Dacy stated the applicant is requesting an amendment to the
Minnetonka Jr. High School's Conditional Use Permit which stipu-
lates that signage be limited to one business directory sign. She
stated that because of extensive shrubbery and the fact that
Farmhand's portion of the building cannot be accessed from the
school's main entrance, they are requesting a 2' x 6' iden-
tification sign made of wood to be located outside their entrance.
She said that the proposed location of the sign is within the
school grounds and cannot be seen by adjacent properties.
Merz moved, seconded by Albee to close the public hearing. All
voted in favor and the motion carried.
The Commissioners were concerned that if they approved this, the
other tenants of the school might want a 2' x 6' foot iden-
tification signs as well.
Mr. Hardy stated that a survey was taken from the other tenants
in the building asking them if they would want a similiar sign or
if they would object to Farmhand having a sign for their opera-
tion. He stated that 17 letters were sent out, 13 of them did not
respond, 3 said no they didn't want a sign. He stated that Tom
Ortman was the only one who wanted to put up a sign.
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M. Thompson moved, seconded by Merz, that The Planning Commission
recommends approval of Conditional Use Permit Request #83-3 to
allow the placement of a 2' x 6' sign in the location proposed by
the applicant. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
The reason for approval is that it faces the internal driveway and
cannot be seen by adjacent properties. The Commissioners also
stated that they are tyring to help the school district lease the
school out. Also, Farmhand has a private entrance, and the appli-
cant occupies an excess of 18,000 square feet.
Public Hearing: Zoning Ordinance Amendment Request #84-5 to
Section 11.04 of the zoning Ordinance to allow 1) outdoor storage
and 2) warehousing and cold storage as conditional uses in the
C-3, commercial Service District, Mike Sorenson, applicant.
Public Present
Mike Sorenson
7606 Erie Avenue
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Dacy explained that the applicant is proposing to amend the C-3
Commercial Service District regulations to allow outdoor storage,
warehousing and cold storage as conditional uses. She stated
that there are two areas in the City zoned C-3: 1) the western
area of the Frontier Development park and 2) the area east of T.H.
101 and on the north side of Hwy. 212. She stated that the second
area is th0 m)~1 appropriate for the proposed type of use because
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Planning Commission Minutes
October 24, 1984
Page 11
it is a "dry" use (which doesn't require on site sewage
facilities), has natural screening features, and has access to a
major throughfare. She stated that the conditional use process
would enable the City to adequately control the proposed uses in
the C-3 district.
Mike Sorenson stated that the proposed site on Hwy. 212 is unique
for this type of use because there is no sewer.
Al Klingelhutz spoke in favor of the request stating that the pro-
posed location is an appropriate one.
J. Thompson moved, seconded by Ryan to close the public hearing.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
M. Thompson moved, seconded by Ryan that the Planning Commission
recommends approval of Zoning Ordinance Amendment #84-5 to amend
Section 11.04, Conditional Uses of the zoning Ordinance as
follows:
7) outdoor storage
8) warehousing and cold storage
~ All voted in favor and the motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
J. Thompson moved, seconded by M. Thompson to approve the minutes
of October 10, 1984 meeting as written. All voted in favor and
the motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
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