III. 1. Minutes of the November 24, 2020 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
DRAFT Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, November 24, 2020 – Page 1
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
November 24, 2020
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on November 24,
2020, at 6:30 p.m. by video conference call through Zoom in response to the COVID-19
emergency. Present were Commission Members Gerard Balan, Sam Stiele, Nathan White, Douglas
Dyrland, Maggie Sedoff, Emily Fiamova and Jason Miller. 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 Sedoff moved, Commissioner Dyrland seconded, to adopt the agenda. The motion
was approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA – PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Fiamova moved, Commissioner Stiele seconded, to approve the minutes of the
October 27, 2020 Planning & Zoning Commission regular meeting. The motion was approved
unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING –
1. Planning Application 2020-24 715 Minnetonka Mills Road CUP (Gethsemane Lutheran Church)
City Planner Lindahl gave an overview of this item stating the applicant, Pastor John Nelson of
Gethsemane Lutheran Church, requests approval of a conditional use permit (CUP) for the property
located at 715 Minnetonka Mills Road to allow placement of a new dynamic (electronic) sign. The
applicant plans to replace their existing ground sign located along Highway 7 with a new dynamic
message center. The property is zoned R-4, Medium High Density Residential. In September of this
year, the City amended the Zoning Code to allow dynamic signs on public or institutional uses in
residential zones subject to the approval of a conditional use permit. Mr. Lindahl reviewed the
zoning standards related to dynamic signs. Based on these standards, staff recommends approval of
the request.
Pastor John Nelson of Gethsemane Lutheran Church was present during the meeting to address any
questions from the Commission.
Commissioner Sedoff questioned the timeline for installation of the sign. Pastor Nelson responded
that the sign would be ready for installation in December should the City approve the request.
DRAFT Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, November 24, 2020 – Page 2
Chairperson Balan opened the public hearing. Mr. Lindahl noted that there was one comment
received prior to the meeting from Robert Diamond (555 Oak Ridge Place) who stated concern with
the possible distraction and traffic problems with a dynamic sign. With no additional public
comment, Commissioner Fiamova moved and Commissioner White seconded to close the public
hearing. The motion was approved unanimously.
After some general discussion, Commissioner Sedoff moved and Commissioner Fiamova seconded
to approve Planning & Zoning Commission Resolution 2020-09, recommending the City Council
approve a conditional use permit for 715 Minnetonka Mills Road allowing a dynamic sign at an
institutional use in a residential zone. The motion was approved unanimously.
Mr. Lindahl stated this item will be presented to the City Council at their December 1, 2020 regular
meeting with the Planning Commission’s recommendation of approval.
2. Planning Application 2020-25 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (R-2 District & Chickens)
Mr. Lindahl gave an overview of this item stating this zoning code text amendment was initiated by
staff to make a minor revisions to the backyard chickens regulations approved by the City in August
of this year. Shortly after adoption, it was discovered that the original ordinance did not include
single-family dwellings in the R-2 zone. The proposed changes would revise the regulations to allow
sing-family dwellings in the R-2 zone to have chickens subject to the same standards as those in the
R-1-A and R-1-B districts.
Chairperson Balan opened the public hearing. Mr. Lindahl stated there were no comments received
prior to the meeting.
Roy Foley and Lindsay Warner (1402 Oxford Street) addressed the Commission during the meeting.
These residents contacted the City shortly after the original ordinance was approved to note that
they live in a single family home in the R-2 district and would like the option to have backyard
chickens subject to the same restrictions and regulations as in the R-1-A and R-1-B districts. The R-
2 district is primarily made up of 2-family, 2-4 family and townhouse dwellings; however, there are a
limited number of single-family dwellings. Staff is intending to correct this oversight with the
proposed ordinance amendment.
With no further comments from the public, Commissioner Fiamova moved and Commissioner
Sedoff seconded to close the public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously.
After general discussion, Commissioner Dyrland moved and Commissioner Fiamova seconded to
approve Planning & Zoning Resolution 2020-10, recommending the City Council approve an
ordinance amending the Hopkins City Code regarding backyard chickens and Single Family
Dwellings in the R-2 Zoning District. The motion was approved unanimously.
DRAFT Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, November 24, 2020 – Page 3
Mr. Lindahl stated that as a zoning ordinance amendment, this requires two readings from the City
Council. The first reading of the ordinance is scheduled for December 1, 2020 with a second reading
on December 15, 2020.
OLD BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS –
City Planner Lindahl updated the Commission on the following items.
• The City Council gave final approval to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan – Cultivate Hopkins
at their regular meeting on November 17, 2020. The latest version of the plan is available on
the City’s website here: https://www.hopkinsmn.com/730/Draft-Comprehensive-Plan
ADJOURN
Commissioner Fiamova moved, Commissioner Sedoff seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The
motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Courtney Pearsall
Administrative Assistant