Loading...
09-17-2019 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 7:00 P.M. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Maddy called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Maddy; Commissioners Eggenberger, Gorham, Gault and Riedel; and Planning Director Darling Absent: None 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Riedel moved, Gorham seconded, approving the agenda for September 17, 2019, as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  August 6, 2019 Chair Maddy noted that he found one error under Other Business that listed Planning Director Darling as Planning Commissioner Darling. Riedel moved, Gault seconded, approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2019, as amended. Motion passed 4/1/0. (Gorham abstained) 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE 4. OTHER BUSINESS A.Variance to Front Yard and Bluff Setbacks Applicant: Refined Remodeling, Inc. Location: 5875 Ridge Road Commissioner Riedel noted that he is a friend and neighbor of the applicant, so he will abstain from both the discussion and voting on this item. Planning Director Darling stated that this item is a request to allow variances for the front and bluff setbacks to improve the functionality for the property owner’s changing medical needs. She explained that they would like to have a garage addition, a new front entry, and expand the master bedroom into the existing covered porch. She stated the entire lot is essentially a bluff and the applicant has indicated that they will reduce the impervious surface to no greater than their current level. She stated that staff has reviewed the request and found that the applicant has shown practical difficulty and recommends approval of the request. She gave a brief overview of the suggested conditions if the Planning Commission CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING September 17, 2019 Page 2 of 4 recommends approval. She stated that the City had received two letters of support from neighbors in the immediate vicinity of this property. Commissioner Eggenberger asked why staff was recommending removing the existing staircase and sidewalk. Planning Director Darling stated that they have not shown it would be continued up the side of the garage, so at this point it would be appropriate to remove them. Chair Maddy explained that this is a public meeting and anybody who would like to speak should come up to the microphone and state their name and address. Duane Kozitka, Refined Remodeling, stated that their whole design focused on minimizing impact to the existing site. He explained that technically there is not any area on the property that is not considered a bluff. Commissioner Gault asked if there would be a retaining wall along the driveway and asked how the north entrance will be accessed. Mr. Kozitka stated that there is an existing boulder retaining wall in that location and noted that the retaining wall and the garage bump out will have to be pushed slightly to the left. He noted that their plans are for a net zero increase in impervious surface. Planning Director Darling stated that because some of these plans push further into the bluff, she believes there will need to be a revised survey before this can be sent to City Council. Commissioner Eggenberger asked Mr. Kozitka to explain about removing the staircase and sidewalk. Mr. Kozitka stated that this is currently a wood framed staircase that is in disrepair and it will be removed as a way to reduce the impact to the bluff zone. He stated that they support this recommendation from the staff. Commissioner Gorham asked about the existing design relating to accessibility. Mr. Kozitka stated that currently the garage has no direct access between it and the home, so part of the design was to provide an interior access to the home through the garage. Commissioner Gorham asked if there were stairs or if there was a grade change from the garage to the remainder of the first floor. Mr. Kozitka stated that there are no stairs, nor is there a grade change between the garage and the house. Commissioner Gorham asked if the plans could have simply knocked out the closet in the entryway and created the access that way. Mr. Kozitka stated that there could be numerous interpretations of what is considered “necessary”. He stated that their proposal provides what is considered a typical accessible design that provides for a mudroom space and allows for mobility, if true single level living is needed. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING September 17, 2019 Page 3 of 4 Commissioner Gault asked about the reason for the extra depth of the proposed garage at almost 29 feet. Mr. Kozitka stated that the plan was trying to take advantage of capturing planned square footage in the house within the existing garage. He explained that under current standards a typical garage is between 28 and 30 feet in depth. Chair Maddy opened the meeting for public input at 7:23 p.m. William Utz, 5890 Ridge Road, stated that he lives in closest proximity to this property and formerly owned 5875 Ridge Road. He stated that the properties along the ridge have specific challenges because of the topography. He stated that he and his wife support this project and have no opposition to the variance. Maureen Utz, 5890 Ridge Road, explained that to address the question about the existing sidewalk access from the garage to the home, it gets a lot of north wind which makes it very difficult to traverse the sidewalk into the home. She reiterated that they are in support of allowing the variance. Brian Carpenter, 5875 Ridge Road, stated that he owns the home and purchased it from the Utzs in 2016. He stated that he suffered a full crush foot injury in 2014 and the long-term prognosis is that he may eventually lose his foot. He explained that the design plans are to accommodate one-level living to help with that potential future outcome. He stated that the sidewalk from the garage to the home gets a lot of ice build up during the winter months. He explained that the added depth for the garage was to allow space for mobility. Red Smith, stated that he lives kitty-corner from the Carpenter’s and also owns the vacant lot near 5875 Ridge Road. He stated that the Carpenter’s have been great neighbors and have taken pride in their property. He stated that he is in favor of granting the variance for the addition. Laura Anderton, 5890 Ridge Road, stated that she is an ICU nurse at St. Paul United. She stated that she lived in the house at 5875 Ridge Road when her parents owned it and if Mr. Carpenter would need any further surgeries or would need to be in a wheelchair at any point in time, the idea brought up earlier to just turn the entryway closet into a doorway would not be able to accommodate maneuvering a wheelchair. Chair Maddy closed the public input portion of the meeting at 7:30 p.m. Eggenberger moved, Gorham seconded to recommend approval of the request for a Variance to the Front Yard and Bluff setbacks by Refined Remodeling for the property at 5875 Ridge Road, with the conditions as recommended by staff and adding an additional condition that there is a new survey before it is presented to the Council. Commissioner Gorham stated that he believes that the applicant did enough to try to confine the expansion of the house as much as possible. He stated that it is a very tough site and expected more of a focus on the ADA accessibility issues. Commissioner Gault stated that because so much of the supporting documentation mentioned ADA compliance, he was surprised to see the two right angle turns to get from the garage into the home. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING September 17, 2019 Page 4 of 4 Chair Maddy noted that the bluff delineation is almost humorous on this lot which shows practical difficulty. Motion passed 4/0/1 . (Riedel abstained) Planning Director Darling noted that this item will go before the City Council on October 15, 2019 in order to give time for the new survey. B.Reschedule November 5, 2019 Meeting Planning Director Darling stated that November 5, 2019 is an election day so a meeting cannot be held that evening. She suggested that this meeting be moved to October 22, 2019 or November 19, 2019 Commissioner Gault stated that he would be able to attend if it was moved to October 22, 2019 but may not be able to make the November 19, 2019. Commissioner Riedel stated that he will be out of town on October 22, 2019. There was a Consensus of the Commission to reschedule the November 5, 2019 Planning Commission meeting to October 22, 2019 . 5. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR 6. REPORTS • Liaison to Council Planning Director Darling gave a brief overview of the Council meetings from September 5, 2019 and the Special Meeting on September 16, 2019 (as detailed in the minutes for those meetings). Commissioner Riedel and Chair Maddy swapped meeting dates to present to the Council. Chair Maddy will present in October and Commissioner Riedel will present in November. • Draft Next Meeting Agenda Planning Director Darling stated that for the next meeting there is a minor P.U.D. amendment and a two-lot subdivision. 7. ADJOURNMENT Riedel moved, Gorham seconded, adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of September 17, 2019, at 7:51 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.