PC-01-17-17
CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Davis; Commissioners Bean, Maddy and Riedel; Planning Director Nielsen; and,
Council Liaison Sundberg
Absent: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Bean moved, Maddy seconded, approving the agenda for January 17, 2017, as presented. Motion
passed 4/0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
November 1, 2016
Maddy moved, Riedel seconded, approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of
November 1, 2016, as presented. Motion passed 4/0.
1. PUBLIC HEARING – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT for ACCESSORY SPACE OVER
1200 SQUARE FEET
Applicant: Allen and Jennifer Larson
Location: 21125 Radisson Road
Chair Davis opened the Public Hearing at 7:02 P.M. noting the procedures used in a Public Hearing. She
explained the Planning Commission is comprised of residents of the City of Shorewood who are serving
as volunteers on the Commission. The Commissioners are appointed by the City Council. The
Commission’s role is to help the City Council in determining zoning and planning issues. One of the
Commission’s responsibilities is to hold public hearings and to help develop the factual record for an
application and to make a non-binding recommendation to the City Council. The recommendation is
advisory only. She stated this evening the Planning Commission is going to consider a conditional use
permit (C.U.P.) for accessory space over 1200 square feet for Allen and Jennifer Larson, 21125 Radisson
Road.
Director Nielsen explained Allen and Jennifer Larson own the property at 21125 Radisson Road. They
propose to expand their existing garage to the west and include a second level space above. The area of
the addition combined with the existing garage exceeds 1200 square feet. Therefore, the change requires a
C.U.P. pursuant to Section 1201.03 Subd. 2.d.(4) of the Shorewood Zoning Code.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
January 17, 2017
Page 2 of 4
The property is zoned R-lA/S, Single-Family Residential/Shoreland and contains approximately 45,231
square feet of area. The total amount of garage space, including the second floor area is 1780 square feet.
The house contains 2562 square feet on the first level, with another 2492 square feet in the lower level,
for a total of 5053 square feet.
With regard to the analysis of the case, Nielsen noted Section 1201.03 Subd. 2.d.(4) of the Zoning Code
prescribes criteria for granting a C.U.P. for accessory space over 1200 square feet. He reviewed how the
applicant’s plan complies with the criteria.
a. The total area of accessory buildings (1780 square feet) does not exceed the floor area (2562
square feet – main level) above grade of the proposed home.
b. The total area of accessory buildings does not exceed 10 percent of the minimum lot size for the
R-lA/S zoning district (.10 x 40,000 = 4000 square feet).
c. The proposed house and garage comply with R-lA/S setback requirements. Hardcover on the site
will be 18.7 percent; well under the 25 percent limit for the shoreland district.
d. Since the garage addition is an integral part of the proposed house, architectural compatibility is
not considered to be an issue. The proposed lap siding is considered to be compatible with the
existing stucco on the home.
Nielsen noted that based upon the analysis of the case staff recommends granting the C.U.P.
Commissioner Bean stated the property survey indicates that there currently is a tree in the landscape area
where the proposed garage would be built. Mr. Larson clarified that tree is gone; it was damaged during a
storm. Bean then stated because the applicant does not plan to construct a driveway to the garage addition
he asked if that meant no trees would be impacted. Mr. Larson confirmed that. In response to a question
from Bean about two other trees that are located north of the proposed garage, Mr. Larson clarified those
trees will remain and noted they are two big oak trees.
Bean then stated the proposed garage floor plan indicates there will be two floor drains. He asked what
the plan is for them. Mr. Larson stated he may eventually want to wash a car in the garage. Bean asked
Director Nielsen if staff has concerns about the amount of discharge that could flow into the drains.
Nielsen responded no and clarified that is handled as part of the building permit. Nielsen noted there was
a time when floor drains were not allowed in a garage but they are now. Commissioner Riedel asked if
they would drain into the sewer to which Nielsen responded he thought so. Mr. Larson stated if they were
to drain outside that would cause a problem because the discharge would flow into Christmas Lake. He
noted the plan is to tie the drain into the house system so it would flow into the sewer.
Chair Davis stated the opening would be large enough that a car could be driven through from the first
garage to the addition.
Seeing no one present to comment on the case, Chair Davis opened and closed the Public Testimony
portion of the Public Hearing at 7:11 P.M.
Commissioner Maddy stated he agrees with having lap siding on the addition because based on his
experience it is difficult to add a stucco addition to a stucco structure and end up with a good match.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
January 17, 2017
Page 3 of 4
Maddy moved, Riedel seconded, recommending approval of a conditional use permit for accessory
space over 1200 square feet for Allen and Jennifer Larson, 21125 Radisson Road. Motion passed
4/0.
Director Nielsen noted Council will consider this item during its January 23, 2017, meeting.
Chair Davis closed the Public Hearing at 7:13 P.M.
2. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no matters from the floor presented this evening.
3. OLD BUSINESS / NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Bean noted that he will be gone for the February 7, 2017, Planning Commission meeting.
Bean suggested liaisons to Council be selected for the next few months.
4. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA
Director Nielsen stated there is a conditional use permit request for accessory space over 1200 square
feet, the selection of chair and vice-chair, and a study session regarding food trucks slated for the
February 7, 2017, Planning Commission meeting.
5. REPORTS
• Liaison to Council
• SLUC
Director Nielsen noted the City pays the fee for Planning Commissioners attending Sensible Land Use
Coalition sessions.
• Other
Council Liaison Sundberg stated the Orono City Council recently decided to video record its Planning
Commission meetings. She asked if that has ever been considered by the Planning Commission. She
clarified that she was not advocating anything.
Commissioner Maddy asked if anyone has ever made a request listening to an audio recording from a
Planning Commission meeting. Director Nielsen stated an attorney has done so occasionally. Maddy
stated the cost to have someone run the video equipment may not be worth the benefit derived.
Liaisons to Council were selected as follows:
January 2017 Chair Davis
February 2017 Chair Davis (February 13) and Commissioner Riedel (February 27)
March 2017 Commissioner Maddy
April 2017 Commissioner Bean
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
January 17, 2017
Page 4 of 4
Chair Davis asked how many deer were harvested during the 2016 Deer Management Program. Director
Nielsen stated he thought there were eighteen. Davis then asked about the coyote situation. Nielsen stated
the City does not hear much about them. Commissioner Riedel commented he heard coyotes last fall. He
asked if they were coywolves (a hybrid of coyote and wolf). Nielsen stated he has heard coywolves are
not in Minnesota. Riedel stated he saw a documentary that said they are in Minnesota and that they
typically move along train tracks.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Bean moved, Riedel seconded, adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of January 17, 2017,
at 7:27 P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Christine Freeman, Recorder