02-26-2019 Minutes of the Planning &Zoning Commission, February 26, 2019—Page 1
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
February 26, 2019
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning& Zoning Commission was held on February 26, 2019,
at 6:30 p.m. in the 'I'raining Room at Hopkins Fire Station. 1'resent were Commission MembeYs
James Warden, Emily Wallace Jackson, Kristin Hanneman, Samuel Sriele, Elizabeth CUoeman and
Gerard Balan. Commissioner I.aura Daly was absent. �11so present was Cit�� Planner 1ason Lindahl.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Warden called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ADOPT AGENDA
Commissioner Balan moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adopt the agenda. The motion
was approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA—PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS—None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Hanneman moved, Commissioner Wallace Jackson seconded, to approve the
minutes of the )anuary 22, 201), regular meeting. The motion was approved unanunously.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Planning Applicarion 2019-02-CUP 1320 1�lainstreet (St. )oseph Church & Chesterton r,cademy)
Mr. Lindahl gave an overview of this item stating the applicant, St. Gabriel Church, requests
approval of a conditional use permit to allow operarion of the Chesterton Academy in the existing
school portion of their St. Joseph church campus located at 1310 Mainstreet. The property is zoned
R-5, High Density Residential and public or private schools are conditional uses in this district. r�
search of city records did not find an existing conditional use permit for the previous school.
Therefore, the City�vas asking the church to go through the conditional use permit process as part
of re-establishing the school use with Chesterton rlcademy. Chesterton Academy plans to work
within the existing building and number of classrooms with nvniinal interiar renovation. Staff
recommends the CitS� approve this request subject to the conditions listed in the resolution. After
Mr. Lindahl presented the overview and brief background of the propert��, Chairperson Warden
opened the public hearing at G:39 p.m.
Dave Baskar, Headmaster of Chesterton Academy, came forward to address the Commission. Mr.
Baskar shared with the Commission that Chesterton Academy is a Catholic high school that has
been operaring for 11 ��ears. Students learn e�-er��thing from math and science to the fine arts and
humanities. "1'hey enroll about 1 GO students,�vell within the capacit�� of the school. Mr. Baskar
confirmed that the school is separate from the parish. With no one else coming forward to speak,
Commissioner Wallace Jackson moved and Commissioner Hanneman seconded to close the public
hearing at 6:42 p.m. The motion was carried unanimously.
Minutes of the Planning&Zoning Commission, February 26, 2019—Page 2
l�fter no further discussion, Commissioner Wallace Jackson moved and Coininissioner Balan
seconded, to adopt Planning Resolution 2019-02, recommending the City Council approve a
conditional use permit for St. Gabriel Church to operate a private school (I'he Chesterton r'�cademy)
within a residential zone. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Lindahl stated that this item would be presented to the City Council at the'I"uesday, March 5,
2019 meeting.
2. Planning Application 2018-03-Tr� Auto Related Uses "Loning Code Text Amendment
Mr. Lindahl gave an ovenriew of this item stating staff initiated this application in response to code
enforcement complaints and a study of auto related uses in Hopkins. In 2018, the City considered
revisions to the zoning standards for auto related uses (auto sales, auto repair, outdoor storage and
junk vehicles). The proposed zoning changes�vould eliminate inconsistencies in the existing zoning
regulations,implement the Comprehensive Plan and the City Council's Goals & Strategic Plan,and
help mitigate the impact of auto related uses on adjacent properties and surrounding neighborhoods.
�lfter Mr. Lindahl presented to the Commission a history of the applicauon and a summary of the
proposed changes to the zoning standards for auto related uses, Chairperson Warden opened the
public hearing at 7:02 p.m.
Coming forward to address the Commission was Linda McUinty and Kate Uding of I,uther
Automotive Group. Ms. McGinty and Ms. Uding expressed their appreciation of the changes that
have already been made, but also reiterated that Luther still has concerns with some of the proposed
ordinance changes. These included building to parking/display ratio, defining ancillary in relarion to
auto sales and auto repair, and categories of permitted and conditional uses.
Nand Mehra, of Walser Automouve, also came forward to address the Commission. Mr. Mehra
reflected the same concerns as Luther and was also seeking clarification on the proposed ordinance
requirements for ancillary automobile repair, specifically Walser's location near a residential use. Mr.
Lindahl assured Mr. Mehra that the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority right of way is
between Walser's property and the apartment building to the south and therefore Walser's property
is not, by defuution, abutting a residential use.
With no one else coming forward to speak, Commissioner Hanneman moved and Commissioner
Balan seconded to close the public hearing at 7:32 p.m. Chairperson Warden suggested staff include
a new definition for the term "Ancillary" to the proposed ordinance before presenting to the City
Council. With no further discussion, Commissioner Hanneman moved and Commissioner Stiele
seconded to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2019-03, recommending the City Council
approve an ordinance amending the City Code related to auto related uses. The motion was
approved unanimously.
Mr. Lindahl stated that this item would be presented to the City Council at the"1'uesday, March 5,
2019 meeting with a second reading of the ordinance during the March 19, 2019 meeting.
Minutes of the Planning &Zoning Commission, February 26, 2019—Page 3
3. Planning Applicauon 2019-03-R! llownto�vn Overla}� District Rezoning
Mr. Lindahl gave an overview of this item stating this application was initiated by staff and would
rezone selected properties within the Downtown Overlay District. In reviewing the standards for
auto related uses (I'lanning Applicauon 2018-03=1'A), staff discovered inconsistent zoning
classifications within the Downtown Overlay District. 'To resolve these inconsistencies, staff
recommended rezoning all properties within the Downtown Overlay llistrict currendy zoned B-3,
Ueneral Commercial to B-2, Central Business District. These properties are generally located on
either side of Mainstreet between G`�' and 8`�' Avenues and between 11`h and 13`h Avenues.
Mr. Lindahl stated the City received five comments ahead of the Planning& "Loning Commission
mecting and these comments were generally supportive of the rezoning. Bill Beard, owner of
Hopkins Entertainment Center (between 10`h and 11`" r�venues along Mainstreet), supports the
rer.oning conditioned on adding certain uses as permitted in the B-2 district including: 1�ledical
Supplies, Pet Grooming, Restaurant—Carry-out&Deli�rery, Fast Food. Staff believes some small
changes can be made to the definitions for these uses that will fit�vithin the proposed rezoning.
Chairperson Warden asked if the Draft Comprehensive Plan would extend the Downtown Overlay
District to 5`h Street I�1r. Lindahl replied that the Draft Comprehensive Plan would extend the
Downtown Activity CenteY to include Mainstreet from 17'� �1�=enue to its terminus at Highway 169.
Chairperson Warden opened the public hearing at 7:48 p.m. Coming forward to address the
Commission was Jim Shirley. Mr. Shirley questioned if the Planning Commission holds public
hearings on new commercial developments. I�Tr. I.indahl replied that the zoning ordinance requires
ne�v buildings go through a site-plan review process and a public hearing is included in that process.
Mr. Lindahl added that there are standards within the ordinance that allow for some improvements
or changes to be made to e�sting buildings that do not require a public hearing,but any new
building would. With no one else coming forward to speak, Commissioner Wallace)ackson moved
and Commissioner Hanneman seconded to close the public hearing. The motion was approved
unanunously.
l�fter some general discussion that included sign standards for restaurants within the Downtown
Overlay District, the Coininission directed staff to revise the definitions and associated uses as
requested in the comment letters from Bill Beard and Roz Peterson. Commissioner Wallace Jackson
moved and Commissioner Stiele seconded to adopt Planning& Zoning Resolution 2019-04,
recommending the City Council appro��e rezoning all properties within the Downtown Oeerlay
District currently zoned B-3, General Commercial District to B-2, Central Business District. The
motion was approved unanunously.
Mr. Lindahl stated that this item would be presented to the Cit�� Council at the Tuesday, March 5,
2019 meeting with a second reading of the ordinance during the March 19, 2019 meeting.
OLD BUSINESS—None.
Minutes of the Planning&Zoning Commission, February 26, 2019—Page 4
NEW BUSINESS —None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
During the announcements, City Planner Jason Lindahl updated the Planning& "Loning
Commission on the following items:
1. Previous items before the Planning& Zoning Commission:
• Planning Applicarion 2019-01-CUP (HaYley Hopkins Famil�� CenteY) was appYoved by the
City Council at their February 5 meeting. 1� variance application has been submitted to allow
construction of a shed within the 35' east yard setback and will be presented at the March 26
Planning& "Loning Commission meeting.
2. 2040 Comprehensive Plan tTpdate: The six-month review period for the plan will close on
March 12. The final draft of the plan will likely be presented to the Commission during the April
Planning& 7.oning Commission meering.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Hanneman moved, Commissioner Balan seconded, to adjourn the meeting. '1'he
motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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✓l1'�'1�1�1�� �GGf/l'� i ,
.
Courtney Pearsall
Administrative Assistant