07-25-2000 •--�
ZONING AND PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
July 25, 2000
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Zoning and Planning Commission was held on Tuesday,
July 25, 2000, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Commission Members John Szuba, Maura Swanson, Eric Rudolph, Ross
Bartz, Maureen Allen, Bruce Rowan, and Jay Thompson.
Also present were City Planner Nancy Anderson, Director of Planning and Economic
Development Jim Kerrigan, Public Works Director Steve Stadler, Police Chief Craig Reid,
Fire Chief Don Beckering and City Attorney Jerre Miller.
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Swanson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Mr. Bartz nominated Ms. Swanson for chair. Mr. Szuba seconded the motion. There were
^ no other nominations for chair. Ms. Swanson was unanimously elected for chair.
Ms. Allen nominated Mr. Szuba for vice chair. Mr. Bartz seconded the motion. There
were no other nominations for vice chair. Mr. Szuba was unanimously elected for vice
chair.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Szuba moved and Mr. Bartz seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the June
25, 2000, regular meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
Ms. Swanson gave a brief statement on the meeting order for the evening.
CASE NO: VAC00-1 VACATION—SIXTH AVENUE
Ms. Anderson gave a brief overview of the four items requested by SuperValu. Mr.
Kerrigan reviewed the reason for the vacation of Sixth Avenue. Mary McGlinch and Sher
Azizi of SuperValu appeared before the Commission. Ms. McGlinch and Mr. Azizi
reviewed the reason for the vacation of Sixth Avenue.
Jim Benshoof of Benshoof and Associates reviewed the results of the traffic report
regarding the vacation of Sixth Avenue.
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MINiJTES OF THE ZONING AND PLANNING MEETING
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Craig Reid, Police Chief, and Don Beckering, Fire Chief, appeared before the
Commission. Mr. Reid stated that it was hard to estimate the impacts of the vacation
because the police do not have a fixed location and the railroad tracks present more of a
problem. Mr. Beckering stated that the fire station is a fixed location and everything goes
down 11�'Avenue. The vacation of Si�h Avenue will not affect the fire response time.
The public hearing was opened at 7:10 p.m.
The following individuals appeared before the Commission:
Pam Tanaka of 606 East Park Valley Drive
Paul Joppa
Robert Oakes of 533 Si�h Avenue South
Don White of Seventh Avenue South
Duffy Bren of 627 West Park Valley Drive
Ordell Olson of 625 Fifth Avenue South
Melvin Wolter of 605 Fifth Avenue South
Virginia Moll of 604 Fifth Avenue South
Terry Kelly of 514 West Park Va11ey Drive
Tom Waldack of 600 10�'Avenue South
The following comments were made at the public hearing:
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• Other measures of reducing cut-through tr�c have not been tried
• Get rid of the trucks
• Have major tr�c issues in the neighborhood
• People coming from Opus cutting through neighborhood
• Shady Oak single lane - does not help
• Need four-way stop at Washington
• Overall transportation problem-closing Sixth Avenue will not solve problem
• Only reason to close Sixth Avenue is for SuperValu
• Sixth Avenue serves the neighborhood
• Sign neighborhood for local traffic only
• Survey completed and 30 people responded; 25 for keeping sixth open; four for
closing Sixth Avenue; and one undecided
• Any increase in emergency vehicle response is a problem
• Staff has put Commission and City Council in a box
• Do not care about south Hopkins
• In favor of closing Sixth Avenue
• Trend in City is to isolate neighborhoods
• Has SuperValu ever considered a tunnel?
Mr. Bartz moved and Mr. Szuba seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 7:50 p.m.
-� The motion carried unanimously.
NIlNUTES OF THE ZOI�TING AND PLANNING MEETING
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Steve Stadler stated that Shady Oak Road will be upgraded and Excelsior Boulevard is in
the process of being upgraded.
The Commission discussed the following:
• Has the cut-through tr�c been discussed before?
• There are not enough signs to tell truck drivers how to get to SuperValu
• Vacating Sixth seems to be an overall benefit
• There seems to be more disadvantages in the study for the vacation of Sixth
Avenue
• Second Avenue will become the new road to use
• Reduction of truck traffic a benefit to neighborhood
• No one has said that the vacation of Sixth will be an inconvenience for
pedestrians and bikers
• Must consider public as a whole
• Traffic pattern is an issue
• Need comprehensive tr�c plan
• Not great inconvenience for neighborhood
At approximately 8:40 p.m., Police Chief Reid stated there was a tornado watch and
everyone would have to move to the lower level. At approximately 9:14 p.m. the meeting
reconvened in the Raspberry Room in the lower level of the City Hall.
Mr. Bartz moved and Mr. Thompson seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-6,
recommending approval Ordinance 2000-842. The motion was approved on a 5-2 vote,
Mr. Szuba and Mr. Rudolf voting nay.
CASE NO: CUP00-2 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT- SUPERVALU
Ms. Anderson reviewed the staff recommendation and the conditions for approval in the
Resolution.
Sher Azizi of SuperValu appeared before the Commission. Mr. Azizi reviewed the
proposed development.
Steve Stadler reviewed the various options for improving the intersection at Fifth/Sixth
Street and 10�'Avenue South. The staff is recommending option D.
Chief Reid, notified the Commission that it was safe to move the meeting to the Council
Chambers. The meeting reconvened in the Council Chambers.
Ms. Swanson opened the public hearing at 10:00 p.m.
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Tom Peterson of SuperValu appeared before the Commission. Mr. Peterson reviewed the
noise study with the Commission. Mr. Peterson stated that the site would comply with the
ordinance requirements.
NIINUTES OF THE ZOI�IING AND PLANNING MEETING
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The following individuals appeared before the Commission regarding the conditional use
permit:
Paul Joppa
Paul Hutchens of 605 10�'Avenue South
Pam Tanaka of 606 East Park Valley Drive
Steve Olson
Tom Waldack of 600 10�'Avenue South
Bob Dully of Coty Construction appeared before the Commission. Mr. Dully's building
would be removed with Option C. Mr. Dully is in favor of Option D. and does not want to
relocate.
Mr. Szuba moved and Mr. Rowan seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 11:00
p.m. The motion was approved unanimously.
The Commission discussed amending the resolution and changing the condition to Option
C.
Mr. Szuba moved and Mr. Thompson seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-4,
recommending approval of a conditional use permit to construct an addition to the existing
� perishable warehouse, with all the conditions and Option C.
After discussion Mr. Thompson withdrew his second and Mr. Szuba withdrew his motion.
Mr. Thompson moved and Mr. Bartz seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-4,
recommending approval of a conditional use permit to construct an addition to the existing
perishable warehouse. The motion was approved on a 3-2 vote. Mr. Szuba and Mr.
Rudolf voted nay, Ms. Swanson and Ms. Allen abstained.
CASE NO: VN00-2 HEIGHT VARIANCE—SUPERVALU
Ms. Anderson reviewed the applicant's request. Sher Azizi, representing SuperValu,
appeared before the Commission.
Mr. Rowan moved and Mr. Bartz seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-5,
recommending approval of a height variance. The motion was approved on a 5-0 vote.
Mr. Szuba and Mr. Rudolf abstained.
CASE NO: SUBD00-1 SUBDIVISION APPROVAL— SUPERVALU
Ms. Anderson reviewed the applicant's request. Sher Azizi and Mary McGlinch,
representing SuperValu, appeared before the Commission.
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The public hearing was opened at 11:45 p.m. Steve Olson appeared at the public hearing.
Mr. Olson asked why SuperValu wants to build on the property. Ms. McGlinch stated that
the proposed addition meets all the required setbacks and that logistically it makes sense to
have the facilities close.
Ms. Allen moved and Mr. Szuba seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 11:50
p.m. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Thompson moved and Ms. Allen seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-7,
recommending approval of a preliminary plat. The motion was approved on a 6-0 vote.
Mr. Szuba abstained.
CASE NO. VN00-4—VARIANCE 136 HOMEDALE ROAD
Ms. Anderson reviewed the proposed variance. Ms. Anderson stated that the neighbor had
called and was opposed to the variance. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, the applicants, appeared
before the Commission. They stated they are replacing the driveway where it was and it is
unique for that reason. They also stated that if they move the driveway further to the north,
they would have to remove a tree. The Commission discussed the hardship. No one in the
audience appeared before the Commission regarding this issue.
Mr. Bartz moved and Mr. Thompson seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-16,
� recommending approval of a two-foot variance. The motion carried unanimously.
CASE NO: VN00-3—VARIANCE IItREGULAR SHAPED LOT
Ms. Anderson reviewed the proposed variance. John Kohler, representing Semper
Development, appeared before the Commission.
Mr. Bartz moved and Mr. Thompson seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-15,
recommending approval of the irregular-shaped lot. The motion was approved
unanimously.
CASE NO: SUBD00-2—PRELIMINARY PLAT
Ms. Anderson reviewed the proposed preliminary plat. John Kohler, representing Semper
Development, appeared before the Commission.
The public hearing was opened at 12:15 a.m. There was no one at the public hearing
regarding this issue. Mr. Szuba moved and Mr. Rowan seconded a motion to close the
public hearing at 12:16 a.m. The motion was approved unanimously.
Ms. Allen moved and Mr. Thompson seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-13,
recommending approval of a preliminary plat. The motion carried unanimously.
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CASE NO: CUP00-3–WALGREENS
Ms. Anderson reviewed the proposed development. John Kohler, the applicant, appeared
before the Commission. Mr. Kohler reviewed the proposed development. The
Commission asked if there was a large enough market for two Walgreens. Mr. Kohler
stated that the market area was a one to one-and-one-half mile radius.
The public hearing was opened at 12:20 a.m. Ms. Allen discussed various issues with
about the Walgreens development and the Hopkins House redevelopment. The
Commission discussed the parallel parking on Fifth Street. It was decided to remove the
condition that the parallel parking be a condition of approval for both developments.
Ms. Allen moved and Mr. Szuba seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 12:35
a.m. The motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Szuba moved and Mr. Rowan seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-12,
recommending approval of a conditional use permit to construct a Walgreens with the
condition that the parallel parking on Fifth Street remain at this time. The motion was
approved unanimously.
CASE NO: CUP00-4 HOPKINS HOUSE
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Ms. Anderson reviewed the proposed redevelopment of the Hopkins House. Amy Roberts
of National Lodging appeared before the Commission. Ms. Roberts asked if the
landscaping could be changed and that National Lodging not give up land for the right turn
lane on Fifth Street. The Commission discussed these two items and determined that a
new landscape plan could be submitted, but the right turn lane would be required.
The public hearing was opened at 12:40 a.m. There was no one in the audience that
appeared for this item. Mr. Szuba moved and Mr. Bartz seconded a motion to close the
public hearing at 12:41 a.m. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Bartz moved and Mr. Szuba seconded a motion to approve Resolution RZ00-14,
recommending approval of a conditional use permit to remodel the Hopkins House with
the condition that the landscaping plan can be amended and the parallel parking on Fifth
Street will remain at this time. The motion was approved unanimously.
ADJOURN
Mr. Bartz moved and Ms. Allen seconded the motion to adjourn at 1:00 a.m. The
motion was approved unanimously.
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MFN�ER5
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aura Swanson, Chair
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