IV. 1. Minutes of the December 18, 2018, Planning & Zoning Commission
Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, December 18, 2018 – Page 1
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
December 18, 2018
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on August 28, 2018, at
6:30 p.m. in the Fire Station Training Room 101 – 17th Avenue South. Present were Commission
Members James Warden, Emily Wallace-Jackson, Kristin Hanneman, Samuel Stiele, Elizabeth
Goeman, Laura Daly and Gerard Balan. Also present was City Planner Jason Lindahl.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Warden called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ADOPT AGENDA
Commissioner Balan moved, Commissioner Daly seconded, to adopt the agenda. The motion was
approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA – PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS – None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Goeman moved, Commissioner Balan seconded, to approve the minutes of the
August 28, 2018, regular meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Planning Application 2018-14-VA Englebret Minimum Lot Size Variance
City Planner Jason Lindahl presented an overview of this item. The applicants, David and Karen
Engelbret, request a minimum lot size variance to subdivide their existing single family lot located at
137 Maple Hill Road. This property is located in the Interlachen Park neighborhood south of
Excelsior Boulevard, north of Hopkins’ border with Edina, west of the Meadowbrook Golf Course
and east of Blake Road.
The applicants request to subdivide their existing 160’ wide by 132’ deep 21,125 square feet single
family lot in two. This design would produce two single-family lots that meet the minimum 80’ lot
width standards but would be approximately 1,440 square feet smaller than the 12,000 square feet
minimum lot size required by the R-1-C zoning district.
The applicants initially brought this proposal to the City as a concept plan last summer. Both the
Planning & Zoning Commission and the City Council were generally supportive of the proposal and
suggested the applicant apply for a minimum lot size variance so the City could formally evaluate
their request. Based on the formal review of the applicant’s variance application as detailed in the
staff report, staff finds the applicant has demonstrated a practical difficulty with meeting the City
zoning requirements as required by Minnesota State Statute 462.357, Subdivision 6. As a result, staff
recommends the City approve the applicant’s request.
Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, December 18, 2018 – Page 2
Chairperson James Warden opened the public hearing on this item. Hearing no comments,
Commission Wallace-Jackson moved and Commissioner Hanneman seconded a motion to close the
public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously.
After some general discussion of the request, Commissioner Daly moved and Commissioner
Goeman seconded a motion to recommending the City Council approve the minimum lot size
variance requests from David and Karen Engelbret for the property located at 137 Maple Hill Road
(PID 20-117-21-33-0016). The motion was approved unanimously. City Planner Jason Lindahl
noted that this item will move on to the City Council on January 2, 2019.
2. Planning Application 2018-15-CUP. Conditional Use Permit for Jacob’s Trading, LLC (Dock 1
Bargains.
City Planner Jason Lindahl presented an overview of this item. The applicant, Jacob’s Trading,
LLC, requests a conditional use permit to allow the operation of a subordinate retail use in the I-2,
Industrial zoning district. Jacob’s Trading Company is a wholesale buyer/distributor of excess,
customer returns and/or closeout goods directly to retailers. They now wish to diversify their
business to include direct selling to the public at their warehouse location. According to the
applicant, use of a portion of their warehouse as a supportive retail space is needed to keep their
business viable in a rapidly changing competitive environment. The I-2, General Industrial district
allows a limited amount of retail or service use through a conditional use permit provided it is
secondary and directly related to the primary industrial use. Staff has reviewed this application
against the conditional use permit standards and recommends approval of this request.
Chairperson James Warden opened the public hearing on this item. Hearing no comments,
Commission Daley moved and Commissioner Balan seconded a motion to close the public hearing.
The motion was approved unanimously.
The Commissioners asked the applicant general questions about their operation, ADA access and
fire protection. Steve Mocol, representing Dock 1 Bargains said both he and the property owner are
committed to complying with all city requirements and will continue to work with staff.
After some general discussion, Commissioner Daly moved and Commissioner Goeman seconded a
motion recommending the City Council approve a conditional use permit to allow the operation of a
subordinate retail use in the I-2, Industrial zoning district. The motion was approved unanimously.
City Planner Jason Lindahl noted that this item will move on to the City Council on January 2, 2019.
OLD BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
During the announcements, City Planner Jason Lindahl updated the Planning & Zoning
Commission that the Federal Department of Transportation gave preliminary approval to the
Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, December 18, 2018 – Page 3
Southwest Light Rail Transit line essentially clearing the way for the project. Approval of the Full
Funding Grant Agreement is expected early in 2019. Mr. Lindahl also noted that the 8th Avenue
Reconstruction (the Artery) project was awarded project of the year by the Minnesota chapter of the
American Public Works Association.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Hanneman moved and Commissioner Goeman seconded, to adjourn the meeting.
The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jason Lindahl, AICP
City Planner