PLAN COMMISSION

May 5, 2005

                                                                                               

Members present:  Breault, Mailloux, Gilbert and Caruso

 

Others present:  Mike Ganz, Gordon Conard, David Robson, Jim Meffert, Dan Bauer, Paul Hoffman, Tim Hoehn, John Wold, Brian Hinz, Marc Zappa, David Robson, Brian Zeller, Alan Catchpool, Eric Rolland, Lars Glockzin, Pat Hopkins, Jim Zeller, Mark Paschke, Kevin Vance, Greg Chaffin, Jim DeBenedet, Del Erickson, Randy Hanson, Denny Darnold and others

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Breault at 7:05 p.m.

 

Moved by Mailloux, seconded by Caruso to approve the 4-21-05 meeting minutes.  Motion carried.

 

Final development plans, 10,945 sq. ft. church facility, 1901 Vine Street, north of Vine Street and west of Grandview Drive – First Presbyterian Church.  Darnold noted that the plans had not been amended per the city engineer’s comments for the final development plans because the comments were forwarded to the developer at a late date.  Darnold and Mike Ganz, Naturescape Landscape reviewed the landscape plan with Ganz noting that care would be taken to save the mature trees where possible.  Moved by Breault, seconded by Mailloux to recommend approval of the final development plans for the 10,945 sq. ft. church facility as proposed by the First Presbyterian Church at 1901 Vine Street with the plans to be revised per the city engineer’s recommendations and submitted for final review by staff prior to issuance of a building permit.  Motion carried.

 

Grading plans for 20+ acre commercial parcel, east of STH 35 and north of Stageline Road – DaMe Properties.  Darnold explained that the plan commission and Common Council had reviewed and approved a grading permit for this area previously; but when the plans were resubmitted showing the erosion control and restoration plan, the grading extended beyond the limits presented to and approved by the Common Council.  Darnold stated that in issuing the grading permit he limited the grading to the area approved by the Council and advised Hoffman Construction accordingly.  DaMe Properties are requesting that they be able to grade the 20 acres that is within the city limits after the fill for the STH 35/Hanley Road interchange project is removed from the site and the area is restored.

 

Paul Hoffman, Hoffman Construction explained that the intent originally was to borrow the fill for the interchange project and to restore the site to a condition that will prepare the site for future development.

 

Darnold commented that the revised grading plan is limited to the 20 acres within the city.  Darnold asked Hoffman if it is their intent to have the site seeded and re-established with ground cover by mid-September.  Hoffman stated yes.

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Moved by Caruso, seconded by Gilbert to recommend approval of the grading plans for the DaMe Properties 20 acre parcel located east of STH 35 and north of Stageline Road contingent on review and comment of the proposed grading plans by the city engineer.  Motion carried.

 

Preliminary plat, Ban Tara commercial development, ten commercial lots, south of Stageline Rd. and east of Carmichael Road – Ban Tara, LLC.  Darnold noted that at the last meeting the plan commission had requested that the city attorney review the easement issue between Ban Tara, LLC and John Kremer.  Darnold advised the commission that the issue has been resolved through an agreement.  Darnold stated that he has visited with SBC regarding the telephone and fiber optic easements and that SBC and Ban Tara, LLC has reached an agreement on the location of the fiber optic running east / west through the site.  The plan commission asked that a copy of the agreement be provided to the city. 

 

Moved by Breault, seconded by Gilbert to recommend approval of the preliminary plat of the ten lot commercial subdivision as proposed by Ban Tara, LLC with the condition that the grading and street and utility plans be approved by the city engineer and water utility director and that a copy of the SBC / Ban Tara, LLC fiber optic and telephone relocation agreement be provided to the city.  Motion carried.

 

Prairie vegetation plan and fire management plan, 10+ acre site, south of Hanley Rd. and west of O’Neil Road (west of the berm) at the entrance to the Mimbach Quarry – Milestone Materials and Mathy Construction.  Darnold noted the concern of open burning expressed by the Common Council when this matter was reviewed last fall.  Since that time the city reviewed and recommended an amendment to the municipal code to limit burning of vegetative management areas to commercial or industrial properties and to require a fire suppression plan to be approved by the fire department.  Darnold reported that the fire chief had not submitted final comments, but that the fire inspector did recommend that there should be traffic control on Hanley Rd. during any burning; that notification of the proposed burn be provided to surrounding properties; and the provision of a water supply for fire suppression be identified.  Darnold commented that Milestone Materials does have a water tank on-site which could be utilized, if necessary, and that the notification of the surrounding properties by the applicant of when the burn is scheduled is a requirement of the new ordinance and the city can provide the addresses to the applicant to make the notifications.  The traffic control issue would need to be discussed with the police department. 

 

Breault asked Marc Zappa, Environmental Landscape when the burn is scheduled.  Zappa stated fall of 2005 and then two to three times over the next five years.  After five years the area should be self sustaining.

 

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Moved by Breault, seconded by Caruso to recommend approval of the prairie vegetation plan as provided by Milestone Materials / Mathy Construction with the condition that the plan be revised to include the recommendations of the fire department regarding identification of water supply proposed for fire suppression; provision of traffic control on Hanley Road; and the requirement of notification to the surrounding owners of when the burn is scheduled.  Motion carried.

 

Concept development plans, St. Croix Business Center, 28,800 sq. ft. office / warehouse facility, 2001 O’Neil Road (Lot 1, St. Croix Business Park) – John Wold.

Brian Hinz, Elliot Architects reviewed the plans for the office / warehouse facility noting that it is proposed by St. Croix Business Center that the units will be owner occupied with each bay or unit being 2,400 sq. ft. in area.  The building will have a rock face block façade of traditional red limestone.  The units will be accessible by an entrance door and an overhead door.  Hinz commented that the building is being designed so that the overhead doors can be replaced with windows if the overhead doors are not needed.

 

Darnold commented that the engineering review has not been received and recommends approval of the concept development plans contingent on the revision of the plans per the city engineer’s review and recommendations.  Moved by Breault, seconded by Caruso to approve the concept development plans for the 28,800 sq. ft. office and warehouse facility as proposed by St. Croix Business Center, LLC on lot 1, St. Croix Business Park contingent on plans to be revised per the city engineer’s recommendations.

Motion carried.

 

Concept development plans and lot subdivision, 5,940 sq. ft. addition and parking facilities, 1830 Webster Street – A-1 Archery.  Darnold noted that the proposed addition will accommodate some additional office space, but will primarily be used for a new archery range.  Darnold commented that the proposed off-street parking is compliant based on the intended uses.  There may be concern for a shortage of parking if the archery range is abandoned and that area converted to office use.  Mailloux asked if the city would have an opportunity to review the plans at that time.  Darnold stated yes.

 

Mark Johnson reviewed the building plans noting the addition will match the existing architectural style and materials.  Johnson explained the addition will be accommodated by subdividing the existing lot to the west into two lots and creating a separate parcel of 100 feet by 200 feet to be attached to the existing A-1 Archery parcel and the second parcel would be of similar size to be used for future development.

 

Moved by Mailloux, seconded by Gilbert to approve the concept plans and proposed concept lot division for A-1 Archery with the condition that the development plans be revised to incorporate the recommendations of the city engineer.  Motion carried.

 

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Concept development plans, Cutter’s Alley, 2,960 sq. ft. office facility, 76 Coulee Road (west of Coulee Road at the Colonial Drive intersection) – Eric Rolland.

Darnold noted that the building has been reduced in area since the project was discussed during the review of the rezoning.  The building also has been moved further to the north to meet the required building setback standards.  Eric Rolland and Lars Glockzin reviewed the building plans.  Breault asked if the plans have changed since reviewed previously.  Glockzin stated yes because of the reduced size of the building some of the architectural features were modified to address the scale of the building.  Glockzin noted that the building will have a facade of limestone veneer. 

 

Pat Hopkins, adjacent property owner to the south noted that she has a concern regarding the storm water runoff from this project.  Rolland responded that he will be adding rain gutters on the south and east sides of the building so that the roof drainage will be routed away from the proposed sidewalk on the south side of the building.

 

Darnold commented that the city staff needs to meet with Mr. Rolland and the project engineer to discuss the city engineer’s comments and recommendations; and at that time, the drainage issue can be addressed.

 

Moved by Caruso, seconded by Breault to approve the concept development plans for the Cutter’s Alley 2,960 sq. ft. office facility as proposed by Eric Rolland with the condition that the developer meet with city staff to review and modify the plans per the city engineer’s recommendations.  Motion carried.

 

Concept development plans, 4,016 sq. ft. bank and office facility, 2417 Monetary Boulevard, lot 7 Hanley Office Park – Jim Zeller and M&I Bank.  Darnold introduced Mark Paschke, Frisbie Architects to discuss the proposed M&I Bank development plans.  Paschke reviewed an elevation of the proposed building and the site plan.  Paschke commented that there was an issue raised by the fire department about the proposed one-way access on the west side of the building.  The fire department would like to have a fire access lane, 20 feet wide to get access to vehicles that are under or near the drive-up window area.  Paschke noted that the building will be sprinklered, and there is public street on three sides of the proposed development.  Darnold noted that the city engineer’s review has not been received.

 

Moved by Breault, seconded by Caruso to approve the concept development plans for the proposed M&I Bank office and bank facility with the plans to be revised per the city engineer’s comments.  Motion carried.

 

Concept development plans, Hudson Ice Arena building addition (second ice sheet), 1820 Hanley Road – Hudson Ice Center / Hudson Hockey Association.  Darnold explained that the Hockey Association proposes to construct a second building that will,

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in the future, be connected to the existing facility.  Darnold commented that the fire department has recommended that a 20 foot wide fire access lane be provided around the building, particularly on the south side.  Darnold noted that the city staff needs to set up a meeting with Hockey Association representatives including the project architect and engineer to discuss the site improvement issues.  Darnold reviewed the proposed landscape plan indicating the Hockey Association proposes to install trees along the north, west and south perimeters of the site.

 

Breault asked about the Board of Appeals’ consideration of a variance for off-street parking.  Darnold stated that is his understanding that the variance was approved 5-4-05 with the condition that the activities would be scheduled so that only one of the ice sheets would be used for games at similar times or a limit on attendance would be implemented.

 

Moved by Breault, seconded by Mailloux to approve the concept development plans for the Hockey Association’s proposed building addition contingent on engineering and fire department recommendations being implemented.  Motion carried.   

 

Plant / development plan amendment, Heritage Greens and Heritage Greens First Addition to modify the type of residential unit and access – BrightKEYS Development.  Darnold indicated that the number of units will remain the same and the proposed amendment is in regards to the access to the units.  The two-family or “paired” homes that were originally proposed had direct access from the street and the multiple family units had access from an internal private driveway.  The two-family units are now proposed to have half of the units access from an alleyway located along the back property line between the two-family units and the multiple family units with eight of the multiple family units to also have access from the alleyway.

 

The plan commission expressed concern about the accessibility of fire equipment to the structures if the alleyway surface is less than 20 feet in width. 

 

Greg Chaffin, developer and Jim DeBenedet, project engineer reviewed the proposed buildings and site plans and noted that in the plans, approved initially, there was no direct access to the rear sides of the two-family homes for fire suppression.  DeBenedet suggested that they would review designating the alleyway as ‘one-way’ and will meet with the fire department staff to discuss width of the proposed alleyway surface and the accessibility of fire department vehicles.

 

Moved by Caruso, seconded by Gilbert to approve the proposed development plan and plat amendments to revise access and type of dwelling units as proposed in the Heritage Greens and Heritage Greens First Addition plat providing access easements contingent on the fire department reviewing and approving the proposed alley access and  review and recommendations by the city engineer.  Motion carried.

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Other business for discussion purposes only or placement on future agendas.  Darnold commented that the review of the alleyway (between 11th and 12th Streets north of Pitt Street) can be discussed in a special meeting with review of the alleyway by the plan commission as a group or review the area on their own.  The plan commission asked that the issue be placed on the next agenda and that they would review the area on an individual basis.  Mailloux asked that the plan commission review the issue of the construction of metal buildings and the issue to be placed on the next agenda.  The plan commission agreed to schedule the next meeting for Tuesday, May 24th.

 

Moved by Mailloux, seconded by Gilbert to adjourn.  Motion carried.  7:55 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis Darnold, Secretary