091509 pl mn
CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2009 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Geng called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Geng; Commissioners Arnst, Gagne, Hasek, Hutchins, Ruoff and Vilett; Planning
Director Nielsen; and Council Liaison Turgeon
Absent: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1 September 2009
Gagne moved, Hutchins seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 1
September 2009 as amended in Item 4, Other on Page 3 change “Commissioner Arnst suggested the
Planning Commission take a leadership role and pass a motion asking Council to contact Hennepin
County and request the County to clarify the signage at the crossings.” to “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.”, and
also change “Arnst moved, Hasek seconded, recommending Council contact Hennepin County and
request the County to clarify the signage at the crossings.” to “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 7/0.
1. 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING – C.U.P. – FOR SHELTER BUILDING IN SILVERWOOD
PARK
Applicant: City of Shorewood
Location: 5775 Covington Road
Chair Geng opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 P.M., noting the procedures utilized in a Public Hearing.
The items acted upon this evening would be placed on a 28 September Regular City Council meeting
agenda for further review and consideration.
Director Nielsen explained the City’s Park Master Plan for Silverwood Park has included a small, open
shelter for a number of years. The shelter was to be located on the west side of the pond in the Park. As
part of the effort to update Master Plan the Park Commission now proposes to locate the shelter between
the play area and the parking lot. The creation of the shelter is included in the Park Capital Improvement
Program. The Park Commission held a neighborhood meeting about the proposed shelter; the meeting
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING
15 September 2009
Page 2 of 3
was poorly attended. It is his understanding that the residents in the neighborhood near the Park have been
supportive of the proposed shelter. The shelter is very simple; there is a concrete slab with four steel
columns on it so support a metal roof. There will have to be a small amount of fill brought in because of
the grade at the new proposed location. The amount of fill will likely be less than 100 cubic yards.
Nielsen went on to explain the City’s Zoning Code requires public recreational buildings be handled by
the conditional use permit (C.U.P.) process. The C.U.P. process requires a public hearing be held; hence
this public hearing. The Park is approximately eight acres in size. The Park property is zoned R-1A,
Single-family Residential, and it’s surrounded by planned unit developments.
With regard to the analysis of the case, Nielsen stated the proposed shelter is consistent with the City’s
Comprehensive Plan and with the Park Master Plan. Parking is not an issue as it is already in place. The
shelter will far exceed the City’s setback requirements.
Nielsen stated Staff recommends approval of the shelter as proposed.
Commissioner Hutchins stated the area between the parking lot and the play area has a drop. Director
Nielsen explained he thought it would be possible to achieve a 3:1 slope; therefore, there would not be a
need for a retaining wall. If a 3:1 slope cannot be achieved some type of retaining wall will have to be
installed.
Commissioner Hutchins stated he thought the color scheme works well in that environment. Director
Nielsen stated it’s his understanding that the color scheme will be used throughout the parks.
Seeing no one present wishing to comment on this case, Chair Geng opened and closed the Public
Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at 7:10 P.M.
Council Liaison Turgeon stated based on the drawing submitted for the location of the shelter it appears
as if the parking lot is not entirely outside of the setback area. Director Nielsen clarified the drawing is not
a survey; it’s an aerial depiction. He stated he would have to look at a survey to determine if it satisfied
the setback requirement, and he is not sure the City has a survey. He thought the edge of the parking lot
was probably at the 50-foot setback requirement. He indicated he will verify that before the C.U.P.
request comes before the City Council.
Gagne moved, Vilett seconded, recommending approval of the conditional use permit for the City
of Shorewood for an open shelter structure in Silverwood Park, 5775 Covington Road. Motion
passed 7/0.
2. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no matters from the floor presented this evening.
3. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA
Director Nielsen stated the second neighborhood meeting on the updated Comprehensive Plan is
scheduled for 29 September 2009 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. There is no regular meeting following that
meeting. The third neighborhood meeting is scheduled for 6 October 2009 from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. As of
this date there are no planning applications for consideration for the regular 6 October 2009 Planning
Commission meeting. The 29 September meeting replaces the regular 20 October 2009 meeting. There
will not be a 3 November 2009 Planning Commission meeting because of elections.
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15 September 2009
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4. REPORTS
• Liaison to Council
Commissioner Hutchins reported on matters considered and actions taken at the 14 August 2009 Regular
City Council meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting). Council Liaison Turgeon elaborated on
the report. She stated Council has been invited to tour the Allied Waste recycling facility, and she
assumed the Planning Commissioners could participate in the tour. She explained Council has selected
Allied Waste to provide recycling services for the City when its current contract with Veolia expires. The
new service will be a single-sort system with bi-weekly pickup, and there will a rewards program for
residents.
• SLUC
Director Nielsen asked the Commissioners to let him know by 17 September 2009 if they wanted to
attend the 30 September 2009 Sensible Land Use Coalition program titled “Moving Minnesota into the
Future: A Transportation Update”, noting Commissioner Geng has indicated he wants to attend it.
• Other
None.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Geng moved, Arnst seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of 15 September 2009
at 7:25 P.M. Motion passed 7/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Christine Freeman, Recorder