IV. 1. Minutes of the August 27, 2019 Planning & Zoning Commission
DRAFT Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, August 27, 2019 – Page 1
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION DRAFT MINUTES
August 27, 2019
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on August 27, 2019, at
6:30 p.m. in the Training Room at Hopkins Fire Station. Present were Commission Members
Gerard Balan, Samuel Stiele, Nathan White, Emily Fiamova, Laura Daly and Kristen Hanneman.
Commissioner Goeman was absent. Also present was City Planner Jason Lindahl.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Balan called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ADOPT AGENDA
Commissioner Hanneman moved, Commissioner Stiele seconded, to adopt the agenda. The motion
was approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA – PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS – None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Stiele moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to approve the minutes of the
July 23, 2019 regular meeting with an attendance correction. Commissioners Daly and Goeman were
not present. The motion was approved unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Planning Application 2019-12-CUP St. Gabriel Church Conditional Use Permit Amendment
(1320 Mainstreet)
Mr. Lindahl gave an overview of this item stating the applicant, Mohegen Hanson Architecture &
Interiors on behalf of St. Gabriel Church, requests approval of an amendment to the existing
conditional use permit for St. Joseph’s Church (and its school) to re-establish the associated convent
use. The convent is considered incidental or accessory to the principal church use and therefore
requires an amendment to the existing conditional use permit. The applicant plans to rehabilitate the
convent building to house up to 10 sisters from the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus. The applicant
hosted a neighborhood meeting on August 20, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. No members of the
community attended the meeting.
Chairperson Balan opened the public hearing. The applicant, Paul Carr with Mohegen Hansen
Architecture & Interiors, was present to answer questions. After some general discussion from the
Commission and with no one from the public in attendance, Commissioner Daly moved and
Commissioner Fiamova seconded to close the public hearing. The motion was approved
unanimously.
With no further discussion, Commissioner Hanneman moved and Commissioner Daly seconded, to
adopt Resolution 2019-10 recommending the City Council approve an amendment to the
DRAFT Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, August 27, 2019 – Page 2
conditional use permit for St. Gabriel Church to re-establish the accessory convent use. The motion
was approved unanimously. Mr. Lindahl stated that this item would be presented to the City Council
at their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 3 with the Planning Commission’s recommendation
for approval.
OLD BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
During the announcements, City Planner Jason Lindahl updated the Planning & Zoning
Commission on the following items:
• Chesterton Academy has moved students into their facility.
• The improvements to Harley Hopkins Resource Center have been mostly
completed.
• The final draft of the Comprehensive Plan has been submitted to the Metropolitan
Council and staff is awaiting any recommendations for changes necessary before the
City Council can give their final approval.
• Staff put out an RFQ for consultants for the zoning ordinance update. Six firms
responded and staff is in the process of scoring and reviewing the proposals. Work
on the zoning code will likely start in the coming months and the Planning
Commission will be included in the process.
• The September Planning Commission meeting will include the annual legal training.
• City Staff will start moving back to City Hall the first week of September. The
Planning Commission will continue to have meetings at the fire station until October
or November.
• City Hall Open House will be before the City Council meeting on October 1 from
5:00 to 6:30 p.m.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Hanneman moved, Commissioner Daly seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The
motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Courtney Pearsall
Administrative Assistant