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02-16-21 Planning Commission MinutesOTSEGO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OTSEGO CITY HALL February 16, 2021 7:00 PM Call to Order. Chair Offerman called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Roll Call: Chair Alan Offerman; Commissioners: Charles Foster, David Thompson, Vern Heidner, Aaron Stritesky*, Jim Kolles, Richard Nichols*, and Pam Black*; Absent: None; Present: City Council: CM Tom Darkenwald, CM Tina Goede*, CM Jeff Dahl*. City Staff: City Planner Daniel Licht and Deputy Clerk Bethany Benting. (*present via teleconference) 1. Announcements: City Planner Licht stated that some Commissioners are participating via teleconference in accordance with Minnesota Statute 13D.015. City Planner Licht noted that copies of correspondence received regarding Item 3.1 had been emailed to Commissioners and paper copies provided to those in attendance at the meeting location. City Planner Licht noted that the Engineering Review for Item 3.2 had been had been emailed to Commissioners and paper copies provided to those in attendance at the meeting location. 2. Consider the following minutes: 2.1 Planning Commission February 1, 2021. Commissioner Heidner motioned to approve the minutes as written. Seconded by Commissioner Black. Roll Call: Those for; Offerman, Kolles, Heidner, Thompson, Stritesky, Black, Nichols. Those opposed; None. Motion carried. 7-0 3. Public Hearina Items: 3.1 NorthStar East House: A. PUD Development Stage Plan amendment to allow use of the East House as part of the room and board facility licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health and a 245 G residential and outpatient treatment facility. City Planner Licht presented the Planning Report. Applicants Dr. Hal Baumchen and Jason Vanderscoff were present via zoom and agreed to the staff report. Dr. Baumchen added they would use the patio for recreation and Minutes of the Otsego Planning Commission February 16, 2021 Page 2 relaxation purposes only with supervision and they are not adding any additional beds, but actually reducing the number of beds within other buildings. City Planner Licht said NorthStar submitted plans for the East Side House in October and the Department of Building Safety issued a permit in December without zoning approvals, which must be approved by City Council. City Planner Licht said that construction on the building has been proceeding at the applicant's risk. Chair Offerman opened the Public Hearing at 7:16 PM. Stewart Turnquist, 11029 95th Street NE, Otsego, described the photographs provided by NorthStar and provided his own photos of the area between the properties. Mr. Turnquist explained all of his family activity is really close to the property line and said that all the windows that have been put in will allow anyone to look onto his property. Mr. Turnquist stated he is in favor of the NorthStar program, but is not in favor of this building being used to house people. Sally Gardner, 500 4th Street W, Monticello, gardens and farms on Mr. Turnquist land. Ms. Gardner said that she is in support of NorthStar's program, but not supportive of the intake building right on the border of this property. Ms. Gardner said that she is concerned about her safety and that of others when working on Mr. Turnquist property. Ms. Gardner asked if the cameras are monitored 24/7, if the fire doors are opened and the alarms are going off what happens, how many staff will be located in the proposed East Side House, and how many clients at NorthStar are court ordered? Chair Offerman closed the Public Hearing at 7:42 PM. Chair Offerman asked Mr. Vanderscoff to answer the questions the public had. Mr. Vanderscoff commented that the staff in this building would be in addition to staff operating from the other buildings on the campus and that the video cameras would be observed by a dedicated staff person each shift. Mr. Vanderscoff said that there would be at least two staff persons in the building during evening and overnight shifts, with more during the day. Mr. Vanderscoff said that fire alarm doors would be an internal system. Chair Offerman also asked what percent of people are court ordered. Mr. Vanderscoff explained approximately 50 percent of the clients may be there due to court involvement, such as probation, but that a court order is unusual. Commissioner Thompson asked about the enclosed patio. Dr. Baumchen explained their proposal that on the north side of the house, a sidewalk would be put in place from the north door to the west end of the building with the area to be enclosed by a fence with a secured gate. Commissioner Thompson said that limits on the views from adjacent properties cannot be expected when the activity is in the open. Minutes of the Otsego Planning Commission February 16, 2021 Page 3 Chair Offerman asked about a privacy fence. Dr. Baumchen stated a 6 -foot fence was in the original plan that would stretch about 100 feet. Commissioner Thompson asked if an 8 -foot -tall fence would be allowed. City Planner Licht responded yes. Commissioner Heidner said he would be in favor of an 8 -foot fence. Commissioner Stritesky agreed. Dr. Baumchen suggested they could frost the windows on the second story of the building to obscure the view of the Turnquist property. Commissioner Stritesky asked why they started to build before getting approval. Dr. Baumchen said he thought they were going through the correct process. Commissioner Stritesky said he would be okay with an 8 -foot fence for privacy outside, but is concerned about the windows on the second floor. Commissioner Heidner is also concerned why this building is already so far along. He said the original plan stated it was going to be a storage building. He also questioned would they have to revisit another PUD amendment for other buildings. City Planner Licht said that the new maintenance building is an accessory structure that does not increase the capacity of the facility and thus does not require a PUD Development Stage Plan amendment. Commissioner Black said she is surprised as to why an intake building would be that far back into the property. Dr. Baumchen said this was to a repurpose an existing building versus new construction. Commissioner Foster asked about the sign visible from CSAH 39. Mr. Vanderscoff said there are several bids coming out this week and they will have the sign updated by the time they open. Commissioner Foster said he was disappointed that this has been 10 months and nothing has been done with the sign. Commissioner Heidner asked if there are residents on the property. Mr. Vanderscoff said there are not residents yet as they are working on the property and well as State permitting, and it's been a slower process than expected. CM Darkenwald wanted clarification on when the building construction started and what two companies own it. Mr. Vanderscoff said that NorthStar leases the property from a company owned by Dr. Baumchen, who is also an owner in NorthStar. Dr. Baumchen said he thinks in October they started on the building and City Planner Licht stated the building permit for East Side House was issued in December. Minutes of the Otsego Planning Commission February 16, 2021 Page 4 Chair Offerman said he was in favor of the use of the property as it was proposed notwithstanding the buildings used for the program. Commissioner Thompson suggested the commissioners conduct a future site inspection of the Riverwood Campus. Commissioner Foster agreed and also stated he is in favor of NorthStar using the property to help people. Commissioner Heidner said that the existing buildings approved for the program was about 100 feet or more to the property line and the East Side House is within 8 feet. Commissioner Heidner said he feels it's the Planning Commission's responsibility to make sure there is privacy for the other property owner. City Planner Licht stated language for the Planning Commission to consider additional conditions based on their discussion. Commissioner Thompson asked if all four windows on the second floor would be frosted. City Planner Licht said yes. Commissioner Heidner asked if the fence would be 8 feet tall. City Planner Licht said yes. Commissioner Thompson motioned to recommend approval of a PUD Development Stage Plan amendment subject to the conditions as stated in the planning report with the following amended and additional conditions: 5. Exterior access: a. Primary building ingress/egress shall be via the secured vestibule through the door on the west elevation. b. The exterior door on the south and second door on the west elevation shall have fire exit alarm equipment installed and be used only for emergency exit. c. The exterior door on the north shall be used only for access to an outdoor patio to be shown on a revised site plan, which shall be enclosed by an 8ft. privacy fence, subject to review and approval of the Zoning Administrator. 9. Windows within the second story sleeping rooms shall be frosted so as to be opaque, subject to review and approval of the Zoning Administrator. 10. An 8 -foot privacy fence shall be installed along the east property line from the existing privacy fence north to connect to the new maintenance building subject to review and approval of the Zoning Administrator. 11. A plan for security camera coverage of the East Side House shall be submitted and is subject to review and approval of the Zoning Administrator. Minutes of the Otsego Planning Commission February 16, 2021 Page 5 Seconded by Commissioner Stritesky. Roll Call: Those for; Offerman, Kolles, Heidner, Thompson, Stritesky, Black, Nichols. Those opposed; None. Motion carried. 7-0 3.2 Villas at KC: A. PUD Development Stage Plan for 82 twin homes and single-family villa homes. B. Preliminary Plat. City Planner Licht presented the Planning Report. Applicant, Steve Kroiss, was present and agreed to the staff report. Mr. Kroiss explained the proposed building plans that both twin home plans will fit on each lot. Mr. Kroiss also asked for clarification regarding the location of the trail along 70th Street. City Planner Licht said the trail is to be constructed within the right-of-way. Commissioner Thompson asked about the driveways and how many would be 20 feet. City Planner said that 20 feet driveway aprons were the original plan, but the new plans provide a 25 -foot driveway apron for all units. Commissioner Thompson said he liked the three options for the buildings. Chair Offerman wanted to clarify that the trees along Kittredge Parkway would be preserved. Mr. Kroiss said the trees would be preserved but may need to be trimmed. Chair Offerman also asked about the parking on Kittredge Parkway as it is currently posted no parking. City Planner Licht said that Kittredge Parking is a minor collector street and on -street parking is allowed for this street classification. Chair Offerman opened the Public Hearing at 8:42 PM. No comments were made. Chair Offerman closed the Public Hearing at 8:43 PM. Commissioner Black motioned to recommend approval of a PUD Development Stage Plan, preliminary plat, and final plat for Outlot H, Kittredge Crossings, subject to the conditions as stated in the planning report. Seconded by Commissioner Stritesky. Roll Call: Those for; Offerman, Kolles, Heidner, Thompson, Stritesky, Black, Nichols. Those opposed; None. Motion carried. 7-0 Minutes of the Otsego Planning Commission February 16, 2021 Page 6 4. Update on City Council actions. CM Darkenwald updated the Planning Commission on recent City Council actions. 5 Update on future Planning Commission Agenda items. City Planner Licht updated the commissioners on possible future agenda items. 6. Adjourn. Commissioner Stritesky motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Heidner. Roll Call: Those for; Offerman, Kolles, Heidner, Thompson, Stritesky, Black, Nichols. Those opposed; None. Motion carried. 7-0 Adjourned at 8:52 PM. NI Alan Offerman, Chair ATTEST: 5t�.' o . sx'� Bethany B ng, Depu Jerk