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090109 pl mn CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2009 7:00 P.M. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Acting Chair Gagne called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Geng (arrived at 7:05 P.M.); Commissioners Arnst, Gagne, Hasek, Hutchins and Vilett (arrived at 7:18 P.M.); Planning Director Nielsen; and Council Liaison Turgeon Absent: Commissioner Ruoff APPROVAL OF MINUTES  18 August 2009 Hutchins moved, Hasek seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 18 August 2009 as amended in Item 1 on Page 2 in Paragraphs 5 and 7 and on Page 4 in Paragraph 5 change “Commissioner Geng” to “Commissioner Gagne”, and in Item 1 on Page 3 in Paragraph 7 delete “She then stated that on one side of Smithtown Road there is a sidewalk; the shoulder was used for the sidewalk.” Motion passed 4/0. Discussion moved to Item 3 on the agenda. 1. PREPARE FOR COMP PLAN NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS This was discussed after Item 3 on the agenda. Director Nielsen reviewed the schedule for the neighborhood meetings scheduled to discuss the Comprehensive Plan (the Comp Plan) update. The meetings are scheduled for 15 September 2009, 29 September 2009, and 6 October 2009. They will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. The meetings will be an open house style meeting. There will be five stations set up. Four of them are for the four different chapters in the Comp Plan. The fifth station will be for the Area Plans being reviewed that particular evening. There will be at least one pertinent map or graphic at each chapter’s station. Nielsen distributed a copy of talking points for the Natural Resources Chapter. He stated he would prepare talking points for the other three chapters for the Commissioners, and he would provide each Commissioner a copy of them no later than 8 September 2009. He stated he wanted to have some type of printed material about the chapters available for attendees to take home. For example, it could be the chapter summary for each chapter. He stated there will be a sign-in sheet at the entry into the Council Chambers for attendees to sign in and provide their address and email account name. He asked the Commissioners to encourage residents to contact the City should they have additional questions about the Comp Plan after leaving the meetings. He noted Staff can email residents pertinent maps if they want CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 1 September 2009 Page 2 of 4 them. He asked the Commissioners to ask residents to point out where they lived on the maps of the Planning Districts. Nielsen stated the Commissioners should review the changes that were made to the Planning District Area Plans with attendees. They should ask the attendees if they have any questions or if they would like additional information. The attendees will be provided with a card which they can use to request a loan copy of some portion of the Comp Plan or Area Plan, or they can review the information online on the City’s website. The Commissioners should encourage attendees to fill out the comment card that evening. Commissioner Hasek asked if the comment sheet can be completed online, to which Nielsen responded yes. Commissioner Arnst asked what types of questions residents may ask about the Community Facilities/Services chapter. Director Nielsen stated they may ask about the City-owned parks, they may ask about City water and so forth. He highlighted the current policy of extending City water which is in part based on property owners’ demand. In response to a question from Commissioner Hasek, Nielsen explained the potential failure of wells has not been used as a way to justify the extension of City water nor has well water quality. Commissioner Arnst asked if the Commissioners should anticipate being asked questions about the Southshore Community Center. Director Nielsen explained that Shorewood has taken over the management of the Center and has hired a consultant to provide management services. The Center is marketed as a community center for all ages to use. He noted the City has made some improvements to the interior look of the Center. Director Nielsen stated if residents ask the Commissioners questions they cannot not answer during the meetings they should ask him to do so. Commissioner Vilett arrived at 7:18 P.M. Director Nielsen recapped the discussion for Commissioner Vilett. Commissioner Arnst asked if there will be any photographs to view during the meetings. Director Nielsen explained he hoped to have a photo slide show running in a continuous loop displaying on the projector. He commented that he hoped the final update to the Comp Plan would have enhanced graphics. Director Nielsen stated per the Commission’s direction he has assigned Commissioners to the various stations for the meetings. Nielsen again asked the Commissioners to encourage their neighbors to attend the meetings. Discussion moved to Item 4, Sensible Land Use Coalition report. 2. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were no matters from the floor presented this evening. 3. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA This was discussed after the approval of the minutes. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 1 September 2009 Page 3 of 4 Director Nielsen stated the first neighborhood meeting on the updated Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for 15 September 2009 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. There is a public hearing scheduled for conditional use permit request for a park shelter at Silverwood Park slated for the Planning Commission meeting that will follow the neighborhood meeting. He noted that the Park Commission held a neighborhood meeting about the shelter and only two residents attended that meeting. Chair Geng arrived at 7:05 P.M. Discussion returned to Item 1 on the agenda. 4. REPORTS This was discussed after Item 1 on the agenda. • Liaison to Council Director Nielsen reported on matters considered and actions taken during the 24 August 2009 Council meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting). He elaborated on the discussion about South Tonka Little League’s request to allow sponsorship signage on some of the ball field fences in Freemen Park. He noted Council approved the text amendment to the City Code allowing signage. Council directed him to prepare a resolution approving STLL’s request for Council to adopt during its 14 September meeting and to prepare a finalized copy of the license agreement between the City and STLL for Council’s approval. Discussion returned to Item 1 on the agenda. • SLUC Director Nielsen stated he and Commissioner Hasek attended the Sensible Land Use Coalition program th titled “Unlock the Mystery! Special Service Districts and Housing Improvement” on August 26. He thought the Commission should discuss whether or not the City could possibly benefit from using Special Service Districts and/or Housing Improvement Districts as a tool in development projects. He explained Special Service Districts were more oriented toward commercial development, and Housing Improvement Districts were oriented toward residential housing. He stated the City of Minneapolis has successfully used the tools. Commissioner Arnst explained the use can benefit homeowners associations to large cities. Arnst suggested Director Nielsen craft a general overview of what each of the tools is and what the benefits of them are. There was consensus to discuss these after the neighborhood meetings are done. • Other There was discussion about the dangers of the LRT Trail crossing at County Road 19 and other trail crossings. Some bikers stop at the crossing and others don’t, and some drivers stop and others don’t. The State law for a trail crossing is not the same as for a pedestrian crossing. Commissioner Arnst suggested the Planning Commission pass a motion asking Council to adopt a resolution requesting Hennepin County clarify the signage at the trail crossings. She further suggested the council circulate the resolution to neighboring cities along the trail corridor asking for their support. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 1 September 2009 Page 4 of 4 Arnst moved, Hasek seconded, recommending Council adopt a resolution asking Hennepin County to clarify the signage at the trail crossings and that the resolution be passed on to neighboring cities for their support. Motion passed 6/0. 5.ADJOURNMENT Vilett moved, Geng seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of 1 September 2009 at 7:41 P.M. Motion passed 6/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder