1978 04 12
REGUL~R PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 12, 1978
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Roman Roos called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with the following
members present: Dick Matthews, Hud Hollenback, Walter Thompson, and
Mal MacAlpine. Les Bridger and Jerry Neher were absent.
MINUTES: Members were reminded of the joint meeting with the Council
on April 17 at 9:45 p.m.
Hud Hollenback moved to approve the March 22, 1978, Planning Commission
minutes. Motion seconded by Walter Thompson. The following voted in
favor: Roman Roos, Walter Thompson, Hud Hollenback, and Mal MacAlpine.
Dick Matthews abstained. Motion carried.
COUNCIL MINUTES:
CHANHASSEN LAKES BUSINESS PARK: The reason for the Planning Commission
recommending the 935 foot elevation instead of 945 is that this elevation
will shorten the height of buildings as fas as viewing from the south
shore and will not encroach on the treed area.
Hud Hollenback moved to note the April 3, 1978, Council minutes. Motion
seconded by Walter Thompson and unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARING
PRIVATE BEACH LOT - CONDITIONAL USE
ALLEN GRAY
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Roman Rooscalled the hearing to order at 7:45 p.m. The following
interested persons were present:
Joy and Jim Setzer, 13730 Kinsel Road, Minnetonka
Bill Brezinsky, Schoell and Madson
David Luse, 8056 Rose St., Victoria
Adele Colich, 9217 Lake Riley Blvd., Chaska
Francine Haille, 9249 Lake Riley Blvd.
Mary Orman, 9211 Lake Riley Blvd.
Ray and Jo King, 9391 Kiowa Trail
Don and Betty Heath, 4942 Drew Ave. So., Minheapolis
Eunice Kottke, 4441, Washburn Ave. So., Minneapolis
Mr. and Mrs. John Skranka, 9021 Lake Riley Blvd.
Mr. and Mrs. ,Eugene Susemihl, 9245 Lake Riley Blvd.
Richard Olin, 9125 Lake Riley Blvd.
Roger Groth, 8429 Little Road, Bloomington
John Kosmas, 6112 Excelsior Blvd., Minneapolis
Allen Gray, 5220 W. 102nd, #324, Bloomington
Judy Hungelmann, 9117 Lake Riley Blvd.
Marlyn Goulett, 9119 Lake Riley Blvd.
Ben and Pat Swenson, 74 JudithcDrive. Chaska
Lillian Hague, 9247 Lake Riley Blvd.
Donna Tottenham, 9223 Lake Riley Blvd.
Barry Bershow, 9271 Kiowa Trail
Bob McCart, 9360 Kiowa Trail
The Assistant City Planner read the official notice as published in
the Carver County Herald.
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Mr. Gray is proposing to create a private beach lot and construct a
beach house on Lot 37, Shore Acres, for use by residents of Sunny
Slope Addition~ The Planner recommended the Planning Commission look
with favor upon this proposal and that a building permit be issued
contingent to the following grounds and conditions:
Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
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1. That the applicant is bound to the shelter plans as submitted.
2. That all plans meet the approval of the city engineer.
3. That the applicant post a $5,000 landscape bond with a written
statement or plan delineating the planting scheme, i.e. placement and 4It
species.of plants.
Betty Heath - I'm Lots 34 and 35 of Shore Acres. I want to present to
the Planning Commission a resolution,voted on and adopted
by the Lake Riley Homeowners Association at their annual
meeting last night. "More than fifty members of the Lake
Riley Homeowners Association at their annual meeting,
April 11, 1978, adopted the following resolution: The
Lake Riley Homeowners Association opposes the conditional
use permit for Lot 37, Shore Acres, due to the fact that
a conditional use permit will be injurious to the use
and enjoyment of other property in the immediate area
and diminish property value." Of the over 50 people that
were there, there was one negative vote and that man came
up to me afterwards and said that he did approve the
homes being built in the development but he had decided
that he didn't want the shore lot being used for the
recreational facility.
Roman Roos - What factors brought it about? What are some of the
elements that caused the resolution?
Betty Heath - This lot is contained in a little bay area that is not
safe, not adequate for the single family dwelling. If
you got 12 canoes, 12 motorboats with their ten horsepower
it would be a mess. It would be dangerous. If they
built a dock out, any length at all, we build a dock
from the point, we would intersect. We are opposed to
the usage, not the building. We just feel it is not
adequate, not even for the uses it is put to right now.
Joyce Setzer - We are purchasers of Lots 38 and 39 and went through a
lot to get a variance to build a home on two lots which
are twice as big as Mr. Gray's one lot. We were told
by both the Planning Commission and myself by Mr. Gray
that the burned down cabin would not be built because
50 feet is to small to build a home on. It's zoned for
homes. How can a variance be given when it's all R-l
and he is building not a home but a recreational facility
on a 50 foot lot?
Craig Mertz - This is not a variance. It's a conditional use and the
ordinance recognizes that this type of activity is permitted
in the area upon the issuance of a conditional use permit
by the City.
Bruce pankonin - The Setzer variance pertained to encroachment upon the
front yard setback requirements.
Roman Roos - I think it's in order, Bruce, that we reiterate exactly
what a conditional use permit is.
Bruce Pankonin - Conditional uses are really permitted uses provided
the following conditions be met:
1. That the establishment, maintenance or operation
of the conditional use will not be detrimental to
or endanger the public health, safety, morals, comfort~
or general welfare. ,.,
2. That the conditional use will not be injurious
to the use and enjoyment of other property in the
immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted
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nor substantially diminish and impair property values
within the neighborhood.
3. That the establishment of the conditional use
will not impede the normal and orderly development
and improvement of the surrounding property for uses
permitted in the district.
4. That the conditional use, shall, in all other
respects, conform to the applicable regulations of
the district in which it is located.
For the Planning commission to recommend and the Council
to issue a conditional use permit it has to stand the
test ~f these four points.
Roman Roos - That's the purpose of the public hearing so that we have
the views issued from the residents in that vicinity.
Don Heath - I believe two of the items just mentioned by Mr. Pankonin
would apply in our case. The value of the property would
not be enhanced by the recreational facility being built
there and also the enjoyment of our property.
Betty Heath - Could I ask how a homeowners association in a development
like 'Sunny Slope that is servedcby one homeowners assn.
can build in a development like Shore Acres that is
served by another homeowners assn. when our priorities
are opposed. We think it is unsafe. We think it will
spoil our privacy. We think it will interfere with the
enjoyment of our properties and this is not only us
adjoining, it's on many directions. Why don't they
build their recreation facility in their addition as
long as they want it instead of down in Shore Acres
under our association who does not want it.
Craig Mertz - Does this Lake Riley Homeowners Association include
owners in subdivisions other than Shore Acres?
Betty Heath - It certainly does.
craig Mertz - It is my understanding that the Lake Riley Homeowners
Association is just an informal association of persons
who happen to own property on Lake Riley. The homeowners
association that Mr. Gray is proposing would be a
corporation that would be the record owner of this
particular lot and the, Lake Riley Homeowners Assn.
has no monoply over the lake. Mr. Gray is free to
convey his land to a corporation if he so chooses.
Jo King - The Lake Riley Homeowners Association has been organized
since 1969 and we are very active. We not only work to try
and protect our property a little bit but also to keep the
lake safe and clean and we have done some other things.
Eden prairie with their park on the other side have also
benefitted from what the organization has done. We are
very concerned because of the bay is congested at this time
and there are many 50 foot lots. ,There are also 100 foot
lots. If Mr. Gray put out a, dock which we were told would
be 75 feet, we,feel that would extend out into the bay a
great deal and cause problems with the traffic pattern
of boats. Since Eden prairie has taken over that side the
boat traffic has increased on the lake.
Judy Hungelmann - I am opposed to Mr. Gray's usage of that small 50
foot lot because we have on our lake an apartment
building complex (Lake View Hills) which has lake
access, then Eden Prairie has bought up the old Dutchs
and they allow any number of boats, they have no
Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
-4-
control whatsoever, plus all the people that own
on the lake have boats and then to add this which
would be usage for these twelve owners and their '_
friends. The lake is too small. We had a terrible
accident there last summer. There is no control.
Mrs. DeWitt - I am quite concerned about this and I have written my
thoughts down and I wondered if I could read what I have
written. My husband and I live within the footage
necessary for the notification of a conditional use permit
so we are concerned. We are concerned because of our
nearness to this particular lot and also we are concerned
about the precedent that it may serve for future requests
of this nature. Our words tonight are only about Lot 37.
In no way do we wish to detract from what I understand
is a fine project that's in the making by Mr. Gray and
actually Mr. Gray and/or the people to whom he sells
are going to be our neighbors so we certainly want to
maintain a spirit of neighborliness, but good neighbors
should have the right to be frank and speak qut about
what they feel if their interests are threatened. Shore
Acres is in an R-l zoning. Of all the zoning
classifications that there are, this is the sacred
classification. It's the classification for the single
family dwelling. It's an area where if you buy or you
rent you can expect to live in the midst of other single
family dwellings without the threat of a different type
of intrusion. Concern for ones home and property ..
probably comes second only to the concern for the member~
of your own family ,so when you change anything that
threatens the enjoyment of ones home or property, it's
not a trivial thing. Zoning departments recognize this
and Chanhassen's department says it this way; conditional
uses are those generally not suit~ble in a particular
zoning district but which may under some certain
circumstances be acceptable and it then lists the
number of procedures, all of which are being followed,
and then some of the standards which should be met and
it's on these points that as a resident of Shore Acres
we differ. We feel that the issuance of a permit does
affect the safety, the comfort, and the general welfare
of those in the vicinity. We feel that it will be
injurious to the enjoyment of other property in the
immediate vicinity and we feel that it will diminish
property values in the vicinity. There are persons here
tonight who are speaking on the specifics of these things;
the noise, the traffic, the safety, the affects on the
land value, so I will not go into detail on those things
but the overall affect is that someone who thought he was
living next to a single family lot is now living next to
a recreational thoroughfare. You can landscape it
beautifully. You can place the most sturdy docks and
racks on it. You can build the most aesthetic building ~
but it's still will be used by many people, not just one..,
family. Our sympathies go out to those who live in
very close proximity to this lot and each of us can say,
but for the grace of God there sit I. If a conditional
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use permit is granted here I don't see why it couldn't
happen at future time to anyone of us. The last point
I would like to make is that this conditional use request
does not come from within the community in which this
lot is located but it comes from an outside community.
The surrounding neighbors have no control. Now, I am
not bringing that up to suggest that if we shared in
this control this would make it acceptable. I'm bringing
it up merely to say that, conditional use permits should
be carefully handed out and that they should come perhaps
as a request from those in the area. Not impose upon
them from without.
Barry Bershow - Bandimere Heights. Chanhassen and Eden prairie
governments have always thrown up their hands in regard
to lake safety saying, well, it's not all in our
boundaries and it's not all in our boundaries and no
one has really taken any steps to protect people who
live on and who use that lake and for this Planning
Commission to take a stand to open up the lake to
further use and more motors in an area that is already
very heavily congested with children and swimming
children and other residents that I think would be
ridiculous prior to certainly,th.is body and/or the
Chanhassen City Council taking some steps to protect
the people that are there already and the use of the
lake which is already occurring.
John Kosmas - We are doing the development work for Sunny Slope
Addition. I understand the concerns that I have been
hearing from people because it was the same thing we
raised in the office; hay, what are we doing to the
properties around? Are we doing a service, a disservice?
Through our evaluation of the property we tried to
determine what it's potential use oould be. Maybe a
vacant lot collecting weeds, dirt, such like that.
Could it be something that could be beneficial to the
total area from a beautification standpoint and also
from a functioning standpoint for Sunny Slope. Weighing
the pros and cons, we did feel that we could properly
handle the lot from an aesthetic standpoint. From
a structural standpoint as far as referring to it being
used for single family or for a shelter,as we are
suggesting, we thought that we were decreasing the
size; in other words ,the land coverage was considerably
less than what a single family would be on there and
probably considerably less than what a lot of the single
family homes are on the lots down there now. By itsi
use being on a limited use, not necessarily a full day
time activity as if it would be used for residential
function. There are kids that will be living in the
homes in Sunny Slope which will during the day in the
summer want to be going down to the lake. That's going
to happen no matter what happens. With the lot or without
the lot the kids are going to be at the lake. Boat
access is going to be on the lake through public access
areas on the lake or through the facilities that we are
recommending here. The type of boat access is
considerably different than what I hear people asking.
We have discussed at length with Allen (Gray) as far
Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
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as, are we talking about runabouts, speed boats, things
like that, as far as being an acceptable thing that is A
going to be used off of this lot area, that is not ..,
acceptable. That is written in 'the association agreement
that the type of boats we are talking about, we are
talking about canoes and we are talking about sailboats.
Weare not recommending a boat landing here. We are
talking about no access from the road for any vehicles
whatsoever. We do not want cars backing down in there.
We do not want trailers parked out there. We are just
not looking for that type ofa situation from the people
that are buying the property and Allen (Gray) is going
to be one of the people living in that property and he
does not want that around him either. We are not trying
to promote it asa docksetting,'as a yacht clpb type
of thing and we are not trying to promote the type of
boats, the speed boats. We can't stop speed boats on
that lake. If one of 'the homeowners owns a boat and
wants to dock it at a public landing, we can't stop
that nor could we stop you people from doing the same
thing. What we can control is where that boat comes
in. This lot is not going to be allowable for that
purpose.
What we are trying'to xecemmend as far as the type of
facility, we are not looking for it to be used as a
long term type facility. We are not looking for it
to be sleeping area, things like that, for lots of ..
people as a guest house. We are basically talking about'"
a shelter. If it's being used in the winter for skating
or cross country skiing or whatever, the facility will
be capable of, if we go ahead with the idea of as
far as fireplace heating and such, so it is a shelter.
It is someplace to get out of the cold. It's someplace
to get out of the rain. We' are not ::looking for it to
be the swank beach house, the party house. There would
be regulations as. far as how ~he' facilities can be
used in considering party use. No different than an
apartment association does or a condominium association
does with the use of their party room. The same type
of regulations that govern those rooms will govern this
type of facility. There will be hours of regulation
and I understand for the noise level and such like that.
That is possible in anyone of the houses down the line
and I see that it is controlled the same way down the
line. In this particular case not only is there the
control factor of the people that are living on either
side or along the area here but also the association
that is behind this area. I heard the comment about
working together and I think that is important. There
has to be some sort of a combination of all the people
that are going to be living there no matter what the
use of that lot is and no matter who is living in here. ...
A lot of the conditions no matter what happens on the ..,
lot could very easily be happening in the houses
themselves. The use of,that particular piece of property
to me does not see that change at all. They have to
work to~ether. Nei~hbors have to work together.
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There is lots of times people would love to build a
ten foot solid fence between their neighbor and that
does sometimes happen because we are human beings. It
is not the intention of what we are trying to do. What
we are looking at as far as ,the landscaping and such as
that, we do want to make it fairly self contained. We
do not want to be an eyesore. We want the parcel to be
a very aesthetically pleasing piece of property.
Bruce pankonin - Is it your intent or Alley Gray's intent to allow
an owner of one of the lots in Sunny Slope to moor
a speed boat on this beach lot.
John Kosmas - The only types of boats that could be moored would be
sailboats. As far as canoes, we have considered the
application of a canoe rack for maybe four to five
canoes. We are not talking about a heavy use type
facility.
Bruce Pankonin - As anon-resident of Sunny Slope could I buy a
membership and use this piece Of property?
John Kosmas - The facility is not open. It is open only to these
twelve families or their guests.
Mary Orman - Do you intend to build up the beach area? The beach
area as we know it is not in good shape.
John Kosmas - We are not looking at it being a swimming beach type
of thing.
Bruce Pankonin, - Alteration of the lakeshore is not in the hands of
the Chanhassen City Council it's'vested in the hands
of the DNR. Any filling that goes on there has to
be with the approval of the DNR.
Allen Gray - IdQ really, honestly appreciate your concern and I have
the same concerns that you do. I have lived on a lake
myself and I have youngsters on the lake and I would
in no way be interestednow<or:was I ever in a lot of
speed' boatactivi ty orrwaterc:sk!1ng or anything that would
be hazardous either as far as Tam concerned or anybody
else is concerned. We have written articles of incorporation
and by~laws and covenants and rules and regulations that
are specifically intended to curtail ~ny activity of
any kind that is going to be obnoxious to anybody within
the association or anybody outside the association. We
don't want any kind of activity going on that would
embarrass .'us or the neighbors # ,.There are to be no
motorbikesotsrioWIlWbi-lgs on the property. That, is on
the entire property. We will take whatever other steps
are necessary to invoke rules as far as the beach property
is concerned to at least leave the impression that the
neighbors, their piece of mind their good will is treasured
is valued and must be kept. We want to be good neighbors
with everybody and I think in the long run you will find
we will find that we will increase the value of the
property out there substantially rather than detract
from it. You are all welcome to look at the covenants
and restrictions. They have been available out of the
Planner's office. I would w.elcome your looking at them
and making comments about them. If you find something
that you think has not been covered we would certainly
welcome your comments. I would be very receptive_ to
Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
-8-
any, legal advice which would say that the rules that
we are talking abou,t with regard to boats and snowmobiles A
and motor bikes, those rules cannot be changed. If this ..,
is possible to do legally I would subscribe to that. I
do not want to attract people out there. We are placing
some fairly stringent regulations in the contract so that
whoever buys knows they can't run a snowmobile. They
can't have a motor bike. They can't launch a boat from
the beach property. They canLt tie up a boat except
during the daytime and it can only be ten horses and
that's all that can ever be tied up to the dock. We
are doing these things so as not to be attractive to
the people that you are worried, about beinging in there.
I look to the time in the not to distant future when
Lake Riley will very likely belike Lake Calhoun and
Lake Harriet, restricted to non-motorized boats. I
am anticipating that and I am quite willing to live
with that.
Joy Setzer - Could the use of this property by your residents be
accomplished without erecting the shelter? That's
the part that disturbs me more than the people using
it for canoes.
Allen Gray - I think the shelter gives us some discipline over the
property that we might not otherwise have. If the
land just lies fallow and it is a place for people to
run back and forth to get to'and from the water I A
don't really think it will be very attractive. I think ..,
with an attractive shelter there, there will be more
discipline as to how that property is maintained.
Dick Matthews moved to close the public hearing. Motion seconded by
Walter Thompson and unanimously approved. Hearing closed at 8:45 p.m.
PRELIMINARY DEVELOPHENT PLAN - ROBERT RITTER: Mr. Ritter was present
seeking approval to subdivide 23.8 acres into 36 residential lots
on property located in the southeast quadrant of County Road 15 and
State Highway 7. He is proposing duplexes on six of these lots.
The Park and Recreation Connnission at,its April 4th meeting voted
that park dedication requirements be fulfilled in accordance with
Section 2.03 of ,Ordinance l4A, whereby the park charge is remitted
when a building permit is issued.
The Planner reconnnended the Planning Connnission order a public hearing
to consider the 'rezoning from R-l to P-l and subdivision contingent
to the following grounds and conditions:
1. That the applicant change the berm so that both rear yard
availability and highway noise abatement are acconnnodated.
2. That the lot lines of Lots 30 through 36 be extended across the
marsh to the northeast boundary of the property.
3. That the applicant submit a plan for the public hearing that is ...
in accordance with Sections 7 - 9 of Ordinance 33. ..,
Mal MacAlpine moved to hold a public hearing on May 10, 1978, at 7:45
p.m. contingent upon the Planner's reconnnendation to consider
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the preliminary development plan for Minnewashta Creek First
Addition. Motion seconded byHud Hollenback and unanimously approved.
PRELIMINARY PLAT - JAMES MC CLEARY: Mr . McCleary is proposing to
subdivide 4. 7 acres <,' into seven single family lots and one outlot.
Mr. McCleary stated it.is his intention to sell 1/3 undivided interest
in Outlot A to each of the off-lake lots. He does not proposed to
construct a dock. The outlot has a good swimming beach.
Dick Matthews moved to hold a public hearing on May 10, 1978, at
8:30 p;m. to consider subdivision and, a conditional use permit for
Outlot A for James McCleary.' Motion' seconded by' Hud Hollenback and
unanimously approved.
SKETCH PLAN - COLONIAL GROVE SECOND ADDITION: Mr. Bloomberg was
present to discuss his;~proposed subdivision. of 16.4 acres into 30
single family lots and one common lot on property located on the
west side of Chanhassen Road adjacent to Colonial Grove.
The Planner recommended that the Planning Commission encourage the
applicant to prepare a preliminary development plan in accordance
with Sections 7 through 9 of Ordinance 33 and the Zoning Ordinance.
Said plan should include a narrative statement and drawings that
describe the proposed use of the conrrnon lot and detailed dimensions
of the sedimentation pond and the lots adjoining the pond.
Frank Kurvers was present and expressed concern about the drainage.
The Engineer explained that the existing culvert under Cheyenne
has been blocked and the water from this"proposed subdivision will
gather in the sedimentation pond and flow through a storm sewer to
the north.
Mr. Bloomberg was told to proceed with preliminary development plans.
SCHNEIDER AGENCY, ING. - VARIANCE REQUEST: Charles Schneider was
present requesting a variance to Section. 13.01 of Ordinance 33
to convey by metes and bounds, 48,993 square feet of land to the
State Bank of Chanhassen to be used for additional parking and to
provide for additional drive-up lanes' when the-need arises.
During the discussion on setback requirements it was discovered that
the City Hall property is incorrectly zoned. This will be taken care
of at a later time.
Hud Hollenback moved to hold a public hearing on May 10, 1978, at
9:15 p.m. to consider the variance requested by the Schneider Agency,
Inc. Motion seconded by Walter Thompson and unanimously. approved.
SUBDIVISION RE UEST FOR LOTS 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 54, 55, AND 56
PLEASANT VIEW ADDITION: Jo n Sc even~us was present request~ng to
subdivide the above listed lots into four lots proposed as Tracts A,
B, C, and D. The_proposal is to essentially sell the easterly most
45 feet of Lots 17, 12, and 55 excepting the northern 140 feet of Lot 12,
to the owner of Lots 18 ando 56. Lots' 55, 54, 17 and 16 have two water
and sewer laterals and two water and sewer trunk units assessed.
Lots 56 and 18 presently have one sewer and water lateral and one
sewer and water trunk unit assessed. The geometry of the existing
property split in Lots 12 and 13 has created a substandard lot
deficient in lot area. The Planner recommended the Planning Conrrnission
Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
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order a public hearing cond~tioned that all assess~ents on Lot 17
be remitted before subdivision approval would be granted.
Mal MacAlpine moved,to hold a public hearing on May 10, 1978, at e
9:30 p.m. to consider the subdivision request. Motion seconded
by Dick Matthews and unanimously approved.
Mr. Schevenius was informed that an escrow deposit would have to
be made to the city prior to the public hearing.
SITE PLAN - THE PRESS, INC. Warren Beck, Roger Drewing. and Jerry
Korsunsky were present requesting approval to erect a 51'760 square
foot building on the north side of Highway 5 in Hennepi County.
The land is zoned p-4. The land is not presently serve with sewer
and water. Access to the property should be via a deta hed frontage
road along Highway 5. This printing company will emplo approximately
65 people. The use as proposed is permitted ,in the p-4luse district.
Staff recommended the Planning Commission look with fav~r on the
proposal and order a ,public hearing to test neighborhoo sentiment.
The frontage road was not included in the BRW study. T e study
should be expanded to include this area.
Mal MacAlpine moved to hold a public-hearing on May 10, 1978, at
10:00 p.m. to consider a preliminary development plan f r The Press,
Inc. Motion seconded by Dick Matthews and unanimously pproved.
SUBDIVISION REQUEST - CLIFF JACOBSON- CARVER BEACH: M. Jacobson
is requesting approval to subdivide Lots 1622 through 1 48 into ..
four lots. The property is bounded by Nez Perce on the west, Ivy ..,
Road on the north and Hawthorne Road to the south. Fou lateral
and trunk water and sewer units have been assessed. Th s proposed
subdivision requires variances to the lot area requirem nts and
the corner lot frontage requirements. tl
The applicant was encouraged to proceed 'to preliminary;lat., - '
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - NATURAL GREEN: David Luse was present
to request a conditional use permit for his landscape c ntracting
business located on seven acres of land on the north si e of Highway
5 just west of its intersection with Audubon Road. Mem ers discussed
amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow these kinds of u es (wholesale
landscape contractors with growing fields) in, an R-lA u e district
as conditional uses.
Mal MacAlpine moved to hold a public hearing on May 10, 1978, at
10:30 p.m. to consider amending the Zoning Ordinance a1 a public
hearing at 10:45 p.m. to consider a conditional use pe it for
Natural Green. Motion seconded by Walter Thompson and nanimously
approved.
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SUBDIVISION RE DES!, LOT C, BARDWELL ACRES - ROBERT SO I R: Mr.
ommer was present request ng approva to v~ e 0 a , 30 square
foot lot from the remainder of LotC. The property is 10cated on ...
Chaska Road approximately 400 feet north'of the interse~tion of ..,
Chaska R, oad and Melody Hill Road,." Sanitary s ewe',r is aVtilable.
The Planner commented on the proposed subdivision. _
1. A determination by city staff must be made concerni g the
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placement of streets to service the rear of the parcels abutting
Chaska Road.
2. The applicant should be advised that any proposed preliminary
development plan submitted for review, must meet the requirements of
Sections 7 through 9 of Ordinance 33.
3. By request of the City Council, the applicant was told to submit a
subdivision plan for the whole parcel before any more subdivision
of the parcel takes place. In light of this request, the applicant
should reconsider his currently proposed plan for the rear of the
parcel with respect to more economical and integral use of the land,
i.e. the 24,000 square foot lots to the rear of the parcel, the
probable creation of a land locked remnant on the rear property lines
of the lot abutting Chaska Road.
4. The nearest municipal water services are located at the
intersection of Melody Hill andChaska Road approximately 400 feet
from the property. It would be optimal at this time for the applicant
to investigate the possibility of extension of municipal water along
Chaska Road.
The Planner recommended that the Planning Commission advise the applicant
to work closely with the City Planner and City Engineer and start
preparation of a proposed preliminary development plan. Said proposed
preliminary development plan should include the entire parcel,
referencing the surrounding area and also include the recommendations
of the staff.
Robert Sommer - It shows in the minutes that the Planning Commission
agreed that the property along Chaska Road is not
related to the upper portions of the property due
to this sharp incline going from 1,000 feet to 1,060
feet. I sketch~d the road in to show that we can
reach the. upper portion of theo property through some
existing property that I own. I j'ust want to show
that I can get to,the property. That nothing will
be land locked. I. have. just bought Ralph Hutmaker's
place: so I will be able to gain access from Melody
Hill Road. We are dealing with one piece of property
and you folks agreed previously that this would
not in any way injure development of the upper
portion.
Bruce Pankonin - The context of that discussion was on. one lot. That
the single,lot that was created would not abort
futureredivision of that property. The Council,
in granting that, said "when you come again for
your next lot come in with a.plan for the whole
thing. That's what we would like to see.
Robert Sommer - lam ,not prepared to plan the whole thing. I have
just decided that perhaps about 1980 or 1981 I am
going to go for a PRD for the upper portion. What
I am proposing down there in the second lot is in
no way injures the upper portion. I would like to
sell off a lot or two a year and take a capital
gain on it rather than pay the full tilt.
Bruce Pankonin ..;, I would st,rongly' recommend that you not proceed any
farther until a to't'al plan' is: brought in encompassing
all the property that Mr~ Sommer has under his control.
Roman Roos - We like what you ar,e trying to do. We would like to see
what's going to'happen with the' remainder of the property.
Robert Sommer - I fail to undersfand how this affects any of it.
Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
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Robert Sommer - An Architect lives across the street fr~m me by the
name of Fran,k Reese w, ho is on the shorelood Planning
Commission, he suggests that we have en ugh acreage
here that we can go PRD which means tha. up here will
probably be single family with a cul-detsac and
maybe some side-by-side units. i
Hud Hollenback - That's the sort of information we want Ion paper.
As soon as you start doing this you ar~ going to
come out with an arrangement that's go~ng to make
you the best return. If it keeps going this
direction first of all you will find y~u will have
lots that you can't subdivide because ~hey don't
front on a public road and you are goi~g to have
to build a road through terraine that ~ay not even
be feasible. That's why they say, at this time,
what do you propose to do with that towography?
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Mr. Sommer was told to work with staff to prepare a pretiminary
development plan.
ALLEN GRAY - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT: Allen Gray, John ~osmas, Mr
and Mrs. Don Heath, and Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Susemihl were present.
Roman Roos - We had a lot of comments and the comments really boil
down to six or seven items that I jotted d~wn. Qne was
surface usage. Mr. Gray mentioned the ide~ that it's
strictly sailboats and canoes. The usage ~f the lake,
in my viewpoint, is not a critical intensification of
the usage of the surface of the lake. Theiother thing e
they talked about is the detriment to the $urrounding
area. That's a judgment call and I will leave that open
for discussion. Land value. That's a jud$m.ent call.
Covenants to try to govern encroaching on the beach,
in other words walking on other peoples pr~perty. Those
were basically the points raised. I
Hud Hollenback - We are considering whether or not to rtcommend to
the Council that they issue a conditio~al use permit
to develop this property. We can eithfr recommend
they do it, we can recommend they don't do it or
we can recommend they do it with conditional uses
which are restrictions or controls that we would
recommend the Council apply to the con<jlitional use.
r think that probably is what I would $tart considering
first to see, in our discussion, wheth$r if it
were permitted it would be controlled ~r developed
in such a way that everybody out thereicould live
with it comfortably. I am very sympat etic to the
people that were here at the hearing b cause we live
near a lake and we have a public acces and I know
what your concerns are. The only point I want to
make is, in our area we have an access I that is
about 50 feet wide that serves 70 land I locked homes.
I use it an awful lot but I doubt if o~ any week end
there is over five or six other people I down there. ...
I think that fear which is probably ge~uine, of ..,
hundreds of people using that access, ts probably
exaggerated a little bit. But by the $ame token
if we do get into a discussion of conttols we
would have to be very specific as to tfue fact that
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Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
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that house, if it were built, would be locked, that
only the neighborhood people would have the key to it,
that there would be maybe no alcohol there, that after
ten o'clock at night there would be no noise, whatever,
things that would have to be controlled probably in
a stricter sense than the people that live on the
lake would control their. own habits. I think your
point is well taken, Roman, in that we have t'O be
concerned with the water usage, the boats, the noise,
the amount 'Of people, all ,these things but I do think
if we decided to go this route a conditional use
could specify all these concerns.
Bruce Pankonin - In addition you are going t'O have to make a finding
. of fact that you believe those four points.
Roman Roos - If we enumerate those conditions:to the affect or let's
say to the satisfaction of the commission members in view
of what the public has stated so far, then those four
points are met. That's the thing we are going to try to
get to.
Mal MacAlpine - I am not even sure about those conditions because I
think the issue here is, should we really even be
considering a conditional use of.,this nature on this
property. I say that for a couple reasons. The
sentiment 'Of the association is such that they don't
feel it's going to enhance either their property value
or their lifestyle'or whatever. In fact they feel
it will be detrimental. Two, that property was
originally designed to have a residence on it as I
understand it.. L am assuming that is still a
buildable' lot~ ,-.
Bruce Pankonin - It is.a buildable lot. It had a seasonal dwelling
on it and it burned.
Mal MacAlpine - That anyone that~moved into that neighborhood I think
in that area, did not feel that they would have, if
you are living on either side of that particular lot,
a non-residence in there. They didn't expect to have
this type of-a shelter. In my judgment I have to
weigh in my own mind whether it's proper to even
consider this as '. a conditional' use on that piece of
property. I don't think we' should consider a shelter
there at all. If it's a conditional use as access
to the lake I think that's another consideration
because I think that limits some of the problems
the association sees possibly existing if this
shelter is built.
Dick Matthews - I fail to see the need. for this type of a structure
at that location. It was presented by the developer
as a place to get in out of the weather or whatever
when in fact another 100 or 200'feet then they ,would
be home. So I have a little trouble really understanding
why this kind of abuilding is. necessary. I can
understand his feeling where it is necessary to have
access to the': lake and I agree with Malon that, but
to put this in amongst residential people and I really
don't understand', the need for it,. I can't visualize
why' i tis necessary~
Hud Hollenback - I see.a little bit having somewhat familiar with
private 'easements to the lake, that I think some of
the-people are going to go down to the lake and swim or
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Planning Commission Meeting Apri1'12, '1978
-14-
sun or whatever and obv,ious1y to me it looks like
a restroom,fac:i1ity'; ~ I hope he wasn't thinking
'of building a party house. I A
Walter Thompson - I think I am sympathetic to the peop1~ living on WI'
"the beach as regard to a structure th4re but I
believe Mr. Gray ~s entitled to an ac1ess to the
lake." , I
Roman Roos - One of the viewpoints brought forth was th idea of a
gathering point, a ,multitude of p,eop1e. I my own mind
I have to weigh~ you are 10'oking'at twelve units and
you are looking in light of what Hud said bout the
usage of that piece of property, how many eop1e are
going to be using that piece of property. That's one
consideration; The other consideration is the building.
If the building is attractively decorated, let's say
if the landscaping is attractive!, I cannot see in my own
mind how this can be detrimental to either property
values 'on either side. The question I am rying to
weigh is the people problem. The building I don't
see any objection to expecial1yif it's on a conditional
use'sltuation. If there is a people prob1 m,how do we
control that people problem. I guess I wo 1d look for
some restrictive type covenants that would govern that
area. Now, tf the people are concerned abo t liquor, so
be'that. I can go along with that. I gue s I would
look for a restriction 'in' that area and ma be a
restriction on the timing at a certain pet' od of night
fall, say 10:00, that building is closed d wn. It's
no longer a usable'bui1ding; ,I am not to oncerned A
about the boating or swimming'or'waterskiig or whatever WI'
because it's nota boat ramp. 'It's not go ng to be used
for boats other than 10 horse or under. I am concerned
about snowmobiling. I know the pro1iferat on of
snowmobiles and what it can do. I guess I would tend to,
again the homeowner has the right to have snowmobile
and have access to the lake, as far as usig the
snowmobile down that trail, 'I guess one hai to give a
little there and I think that property own r has right
of access to the lake and that property ri htfu11y is
his, therefore he should be able to have c ntro1 or
getting to the lake through that property ut I think
you could somewhat control that even more estrictive
by putting a time element on that.
John Kosmas - I heard an inference that that is a build b1e lot. My
understanding is that it is not buildable for a single
family home. '
Bruce Pankonin -That's incorrect. If the Council asse ses that for
a sewer unit', you could get a building permit.
Roman Roos - Do you have any problems, with some of thes restrictions
in view of what I stated?
Allen Gray - No, I'have no quarrel with the restriction that you are
talking about. ! They are fine with me. Mr Hollenback
touched on a point which I do think is imp rtant of
having 'restroom facilities there because e'en though _
you are 300 feet or 200 feet from your hou e or 500 feet ..,
it is an advantage to have restroom faci1ifies for
anybody who is utilizing that property for sun bathing
Or whatever. That is important, I think. 'The other
thing about the building on there as oppos d to no
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Planning Commission Meeting Aprli.! 12, 1978
-15-
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building, we wouldohave the. same utilization essentially
wit1:lout a buildingti..'!n fact we might have more
utilization butthet'e is a discip;Line that's involved
when there is a building there that is maintained. You
don't have quite the acce$S, you ~se it a little more
intelligently, it's easier to landscape and to maintain
landscaping with a building there that 's at,tractive
than it is with-nothing there. It would be' altogether
far more attractive to the people on either side if it
had a well maintained,well landscaped building than it
would be justat'l open tract. of gro1-1ndthat is access to
the water.
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As far as snowmobiles are concerned 1 I happen to be
very anti. snowmobile. Iclon't wap.t snowmobiles on the
property period. This-would be my feeling about it
and as far as gci!l.iningcaccess to; the lot, I would be
in favor of:a barricade to keep them from coming from
the lake onto the property with-a snowmobile.
Mal MacAlpine - Is that lot acceptable now, as access to that lake
without a conditional-use? .
Craig Mertz ,- I would assume that if Mr." Gray wanted to own that
lot himself and he decided that the other 11 neighbors
could ,as his gUests use that lot'he could get around
this conditiona,lus,e 'pe:rmit-, If he' wants to setup
some sort of corporation and'givehis 11 neighbors
some, sort, oflega;I. rights tpuse', the property then
l:think we. could,: dem.and. he have', a conditional use
permit. . ,
Bruce ;Pankonin -\ Wha-t if 12 ind:i.vicluals, decided to,' buy a piece of
property like a 50 foot, lot on La:ke Riley and go
out there and launch' their cano~s, could they do
that. without a condi:tionaL.use permit? I don't
. know how, we couldprevent-12, people from buying a
50 foot-lot. We"could,preventthem from parking
on the road,' docks" or shelters', but buying a piece
,'of property, I. don't know. I don't know if we
. would have. that control to say you can't buy that.
Roman Roos - Whatiwe are sayip.g iness'ense is. that the lot is there
it can be used. The ,issue now is.. back to the house.
Craig Mertz - All ourlordinance says is' a neighborhood association.
Ther.e ts'no. definition of, wha't 'an association is. If
the city wanted to be technical about it and they wanted
to seek some. SQrt of injunction', from the court restraining
those 12 individuals from usi.ngthat lot and the city
points to this 'provision In the ordinance, I don't know
if, we wpuld get am order from the judge or not.
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Mal MacAlpi,ne moved to recommend the Council:i..ssue a conditional use
permit to use the property as a recreational: area owned by a
neighborhoo_d association ,wi:th the following: conditions:
1. No snowmobiles.,
2. No boat and trailercombinattOh launching.
3. No parking'.
4. No motorized.vehicle~. '.
Motion seconded by,Dick Matthews ~nd unanimously approved.
Planning Connnission Meeting April" 12, 1978
-16-
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Dick Matthews moved that no conditional use permit be relconnnended
for the construction of the shelter as proposed. Motion! seconded
by Hud Hollenback. ,The followingvot'ed in favor: Dick ~atthews, ...
Hud Hollenback, Walter Thompson't 'and Mal MacAlpine; Ro~an Roos ..
voted no. Motion 'carried.
UPGRADING OF TRUNK HIGHWAY 169: MnDOt, is proposing to ~ealign the
wye area at Highways 212' and' 169-- into, a "T", i~tersectio~.
ESTATE DEVELOP:MENTS : Mal MacAlpine1moved t~ table this litem until
the next meeting. Motion seconded by HudHollenback anq unanimously
approved. !
HANUS CONDITIONAL' USE PERMIT: ' ,~ '," .,.' I
Roman Roos ... one', of the'p ro" b,_ lems ,we, have got ",r" i,g);t now, ~I I t1;in~, is
a,lack of support between the coune~l and onnn~ss~on.
This is what we'were attempting tbconvey .n our previous
minutes. Wehave'a.:typical situation if w focus on the
Hanus property. The council apparently is Inot using their
position effectively if they have accepted lour
recbtmnendation', ,rules on-them: and' then notfenforced their
ruling. there are other examples'~, The Ha~us situation
is something that has already happened. Wtl have to live
with' ;i,t. We can review' it ': and makeadditiqnal
recommendations: in light of the problem ar as such as the
landscaping situation but if the council h d seen fit to
enforce the conelitibnal'usepe:tmit-this wo ld not be
necessary., Item No'. - 3 (Hanus C Conditional se Permit)
no open'storagewhatsoever. No open stora e of materials~
shall be allowed after closing hours excep for wrecked ~
vehicles that were "brought in at night. Iiem No. 4
(HanU,'sco",pditiona~ use,pe~~,.t) n,o, .outside york. Item
No. 7 (Hanus Cond~tional Use Perm~t) open jales - ten
truck maximum. Drive by the Hanus property right now.
Key ;ltems of 'the permit were totally ignored. All I'm
trying to do is make my point to the council saying we
have done our work you charged to us. To $ake a
recornm",' en,da, tion, , we, did - you,u sea it" ,acte;' upon it and
then' 'did: not enforce it. Therefore, it ap. ears from
the outside that we did hot db bur job. W Ire just
spinning our'wheels. This was the feelingjin the
March 22 minutes but the council interpret~ed it wrong.
Mal MacAlpine - I, thin,k 0, ur "poin, t,s, : were' valid. ", Maybe tiey weren't
expressed as diplomatically;a.sthey mig t but I think
the'points were valid. Things are happ ning now in
Chanhassen;MTS, Animal Fair, Printing tress, it's
here' now. ,If we don',' t' get ou:!:' house inl order, we have
good people' coming to town~ They agreel to what we
propose and then, you", have someone, and I~"m jU,st using
Hanus as an example, I think his intent.ons may be
honorable but he doesn1t probably see i his own mind
the need to' have a good looking site. ~omehow we
have to change that. - I "
'Roman Roos - Along the same lineyoneof the things that!s going to
promote that change is the comprehensive guide plan. We e
have a major problem there. Bruce has res~gned effective
the 30th of April. " As Planning Connnission~rs, charged
with developing it, we are probably 50% ho~e. Now that
this occurs and it will hurt it's timely cpmpletion.
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Planning Commission Meeting April 12, 1978
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Mal MacAlpine - If this meeting does nothing more but clarify the air
of communicationst have them understand there is a
problem because itts their problem just as much as it
is our problem and probably more so. It is technically
from an enforcement standpoint and they have to accept
that. I welcome an opportunity to discuss it. Not
in the critical sense, but hopefully in an enlightened
sense.
Roman Roos - Just so they understand what our feelings are and that
we need their support.
Mal MacAlpine - We have got to work together, only we can't enforce.
We can only recommend.
Hud Hollenback moved the adoption of the following resolution:
WHEREASt The Planning Commission has reviewed the terms of the
Hanus Auto and Truck Body conditional use permit, the commission finds
no need to make amendments to such permit.
Resolution seconded by Walter Thompson and unanimously approved.
RESIGNATION - CITY PLANNER: Bruce Pankonin has resigned his position
as City Planner effective April 30, 1978. Members discussed the
possibility of hiring Bruce as a consultant to continue work on the
comprehensive plan.
Mal MacAlpine moved to adjourn. Motion seconded by Dick Matthews
and unanimously approved. Meeting adjourned at 1:00 a.m.
Don Ashworth
City Manager