CC MinutesChanhassen City Council – January 23, 2017
Councilman McDonald: I’ll second.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, thank you Mr. McDonald. So Mr. Knutson is that a valid
motion?
Roger Knutson: Mayor it is.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you. Alright. So what we have here is a motion to accept the
recommendation as presented with one exception and that is use surmountable curbs versus the
B-618. Mr. Oehme. Is there anywhere in this project site where surmountable curbs could
present a danger to the public safety? A significant danger to the public safety and it would
make more sense to use a stretch of B-618.
Paul Oehme: I can’t think of one right now so I feel comfortable moving forward with council’s
direction to replace the, with surmountable curb.
Mayor Laufenburger: Okay. Any further discussion?
Resolution #2017-10: Councilwoman Ryan moved, Councilman McDonald seconded that
the City Council adopts the attached resolution accepting the bids and awards the contract
for the Minnewashta Manor Street and Utility Improvement Project No. 16-01to GMH
Asphalt Corporation in the amount of $2,809,118.75 with direction to staff to use
surmountable curb instead of the B-618 curb. All voted in favor and the motion carried
unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Resolution #2017-11: Councilwoman Ryan moved, Councilman McDonald seconded that
the City Council adopts the assessment roll and resolution for the Minnewashta Manor
Street and Utility Improvement Project No. 16-01. All voted in favor and the motion
carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Mayor Laufenburger: Ladies and gentlemen thank you for your participation tonight. You’ve
seen local government process in action. Thank you.
YOUNGSTEDT’S SIGN VARIANCE – 50 LAKE DRIVE EAST: APPROVE REQUEST
TO INSTALL AN 80 SQUARE FOOT MONUMENT SIGN LOCATED AT 50 LAKE
DRIVE EAST FOR YOUNGSTEDT’S CAR WASH, COLLISION CENTER, AND TIRE
& AUTO SERVICE.
Mayor Laufenburger: Whose is this?
Kate Aanenson: It’s mine.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright, thank you very much.
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Chanhassen City Council – January 23, 2017
Kate Aanenson: Thank you. This item appeared before the Planning Commission on January
rd
3. The Planning Commission voted 4-0 to approve the variance for a sign at 50 Lake Drive
East. The applicant, Matthew Duffy, owner Steve Youngstedt. I have quite a few slides here but
in the interest of time I’m going to kind of breeze to the main issue. MacKenzie Walters on our
staff did a great job explaining the nuances of this. There was a variance granted before. That
being that there’s 3 properties involved in the existing sign that’s off premise. 30, 40 and 50
Lake Drive East so they currently have an off premise sign. A highway sign. Each of those, two
of those parcels that have frontage on are allowed those so they were given a variance in order to
accommodate them all on one post. And I’m not going to go through all the zoning. So there
has been other variances in the area. Okay, goodness sakes. Okay so these are the 3 properties
that are included at 30, 40 and 50 Lake Drive East and there was some other variances which I’m
not going to spend a lot of time going through those but they were granted a variance and that
sign sits out on Highway 5 right now and it’s got all 3 users of Youngstedt’s. Different
businesses on that sign and that sign, I’ll go to this one. Looks like this. This is the existing sign
so the main issue there is that the sign, the proposed sign would have a 4 foot height variance
which was granted before and a 16 foot area so by putting in the message center, which is
allowed as part of this package, in filling this in it adds about an additional 20 square feet. The
staff felt comfortable with that recommendation of giving the variance. We had already given a
variance to the existing sign. We think it’s appropriate to keep all the signs at one location as
opposed to the two separate which could be taller so, and in looking at this and the fact of giving
them the message center they had some visuals that were included in the packet that show
looking at it from a distance. Very hard to read that small script so and this way you’re getting
the opportunity, the message center for all 3 businesses so the staff did support that as did the
Planning Commission. So again we are supporting the variance. The applicant, a representative
is here so we are recommending that you allow the 12 foot high ground low profile sign with the
80 foot square foot display area with the conditions in the staff report which would require
getting a permit. So existing posts would stay in place. We’re just changing the internal
formation on that so with that I’d be happy to answer any questions that you have.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Ms. Aanenson. Council members any questions for staff?
Councilmember Ryan.
Councilwoman Ryan: Ms. Aanenson just for clarification, I know it was in the report but, and I
believe the Planning Commission asked this about safety on Highway 5.
Kate Aanenson: Yes.
Councilwoman Ryan: If you could just touch on that please.
Kate Aanenson: Sure. That’s been an issue. A lot of it comes up with the lums. How bright it
is so that’s something that the applicant will have to show and is a condition on there that they
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Chanhassen City Council – January 23, 2017
show how bright the intensity is. And then how often it changes and those sort of things so those
are regulated by the sign ordinance.
Councilwoman Ryan: Okay perfect, thank you. Nothing further.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright thank you. Anybody else have any questions? Could you flash
the action that you’re looking for? There we go. Anybody wishing to make that motion?
Councilman McDonald: I’ll make the motion Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Councilman McDonald yes.
Councilman McDonald: I make a motion that the Chanhassen City Council approves a variance
request to allow a 12 foot high ground low profile sign with 80 square feet of display area subject
to the conditions of approval and adopts the attached Findings of Fact and Decision.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you. We have a valid motion. Is there a second?
Councilman Campion: Second.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you Mr. Campion. Any further discussion?
Councilman McDonald moved, Councilman Campion seconded that the City Council
approve the variance request to allow a 12 foot high monument sign with 80 square feet of
sign display area, and adopts the attached Findings of Fact and Decision, subject to the
following conditions:
1. The applicant must apply for and receive a sign permit from the City.
2. The existing landscaping around the sign must be either maintained or replaced in kind.
3. The Electronic Message Center must comply with the City’s Electronic Message Center
Standards.
4. The ground low profile sign must meet the City’s design standards.
5. The ground low profile sign shall be located in the same position as the existing
monument sign or at least 10 feet south of Lots 1 and 2’s common north property line.
6. The materials and color of the brick used in the supports shall be consistent with the brick
and colors used on the buildings on Lots 1 and 2.
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Chanhassen City Council – January 23, 2017
7. All businesses built on Lots 1, 2 and 3 shall share the monument sign facing Highway 5
and may not construct separate detached business signage.
8. Directional signage must comply with Sec. 20-1265. General location restrictions, and
Sec. 20-1255(2). Directional signs.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Mayor Laufenburger: Thank you very much. Congratulations on your sign.
Matt Duffy: Thank you. I would just like to thank the council for placing me on the agenda in
such a place that I was able to get an education on high back and low back curbs.
Mayor Laufenburger: Duly noted and by the way, council meetings are open to the public
second and fourth Mondays every month. Nice to have you here Mr. Duffy.
APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 10 OF THE CHANHASSEN CITY CODE
REGARDING ON-SALE INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSE FOOD TO LIQUOR
SALES RATIO REQUIREMENT.
Mayor Laufenburger: Who’s got this one?
Todd Gerhardt: I’ve got this one Mayor.
Mayor Laufenburger: Mr. Gerhardt.
Todd Gerhardt: Staff is asking that the council remove the requirement that on-sale wine and
beer and on-sale intoxicating liquor licenses serve a 50 percent food to liquor ratios. Right now
our restaurants have to have a 50/50 ratio of at least 50 percent food to liquor and staff has done
numerous surveys and have found that this trend is going away with the micro breweries and
things like that popping up. That more establishments, restaurants are serving more liquor than
food because of the price of the liquor and so staff is recommending that change and eliminating
the 50 percent attributed to the sale of food. And open it up for any questions the council may
have.
Mayor Laufenburger: Alright thank you Mr. Gerhardt. Do you have something on the screen or
should we refer to the?
Todd Gerhardt: You can refer to the staff report. The proposed motion.
Mayor Laufenburger: Item I-2, okay. Any questions or comments for Mr. Gerhardt?
Councilman McDonald: I have a question Mr. Mayor.
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