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07-18-2017 PCM MINUTES HUTCHINSON PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, July 18, 2017 5:30 p.m. 1. CALL TO ORDER 5:30 P.M. The July 18, 2017 Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Commissioner Lofdahl at 5:30 p.m. Members in bold were present Chair Fahey, Vice Chair Wick, Commissioner Garberg, Commissioner Wirt, Commissioner Lofdahl, and Commissioner Forcier. Also present were Dan Jochum, City Planner, John Olson, City Public Works, Marc Sebora, City Attorney, John Paulson, City Environmental Specialist and Andrea Schwartz, City of Hutchinson Permit Technician 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. CONSENT AGENDA A. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES DATED May 16, 2017. Motion by Commissioner Garberg, Second by Commissioner Wirt. Motion approved. Motion to Approve—Motion to Reject 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CONSIDERATION OF A VARIANCE TO REDUCE SIDE AND REAR SETBACK FROM 6 FEET TO 3 FEET TO CONSTRUCT NEW DETACHED GARAGE ON EXISTING SITE LOCATED AT 436 HASSAN ST SE. Dan Jochum, City Planner addressed the Commission. Mr. Jochum reviewed the application as outlined in the Commission's packets. Mr. Jochum reviewed the definitions of practical difficulties to some of the newer members of the Planning Commission. Planning Staff has already reviewed this as follows -Reasonableness,yes;Uniqueness,no, garage would fit but is preferred to be moved back; Essential character, yes, there are other "non-conforming" garages in the area. Commissioner Lofdahl asked if other garages are built prior to zoning ordinance? Yes. Minutes Hutchinson Planning Commission July 18, 2017 Page 2 Commissioner Wirt questioned if the alley could get paved in the future and need to be widened? Alley is currently 16 ft wide and can get tight with plowing and drainage. It does not look like the alley will be paved any time soon. Victoria Langen (applicant)—would like to raise the foundation of the new garage to help with drainage from the ally and hoping this will help to have the garage set back farther from the house not having the grade too high next to the house. She would also like the new garage to look in proportion to the setback of other garages in the area. Mr. Jochum questioned if the garage would be able to be built smaller? Homeowner stated the request is for the use they need(2 cars and motorcycles). Commissioner Lofdahl questioned if the garage could be moved a bit and could be made a bit smaller. He does agree with Planning Staff that the request does not meet the hardship of 42. Commissioner Garberg would like to see the 6 ft setback on the ally but would allow the 3 ft on the interior side. Mr. Sebora gave information on the legal aspect of the variance and changing to allow the variance on the side setback only. He stated that the Commission needs to be able to justify their decision of hardship. We also need to watch the precedent the Commission could be setting for other properties in the future. Motion by Commissioner Wirt, second by Commissioner Forcier to close hearing at 6:13 p.m. Motion by Commissioner Forcier to reject the application and require the 6 foot setbacks. Second by Commissioner Garberg. Motion rejected. Item will be on City Council consent agenda on 7/25/2017. B. CONSIDERATION OF A VARIANCE TO REDUCE THE CORNER SIDE SETBACK FROM 25 FEET TO 11.4 FEET TO REBUILD A DETACHED GARAGE LOCATED AT 605 LYNN RD SW. Mr. Jochum reviewed the application as outlined in the Commission's packets. Mr. Jochum noted there are large mature trees on the lot that will be effected if the garage is built to the setbacks of the ordinance. Reasonable, yes; Uniqueness, yes, large mature trees in the way; Essential character, yes, other garages in this area are at the same setback and do not hinder drainage. Also noted that the size of the garage is not changing. Motion by Commissioner Garberg, second by Commissioner Forcier to close hearing at 6:21 p.m. Minutes Hutchinson Planning Commission July 18, 2017 Page 3 Motion by Commissioner Garberg to approve with staff recommendations. Second by Commissioner Forcier. Motion approved. Item will be on City Council consent agenda on 7/25/2017. C. CONSIDERATION OF A PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAT AND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A NEW BUILDING AND AN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING BUILDING LOCATED AT 579 2"'D AVE SE. Mr. Jochum reviewed the application as outlined in the Commission's packets. Mr. Murphy is looking at installing concrete to the south of the addition of the existing building to the meet up with the current street apron. Parking would be made available to the East side of the existing building. 4 parking spots required 1 of them being handicap. Staff has 10 recommendations: 1. Four paved parking spaces are required on site, of which one must be a handicap space. 2. The zoning ordinance requires the parking area and access drives be paved with an all-weather surface such as, concrete or bituminous. The access drives from the street to the front of each building must be a minimum of 24 feet wide and be paved with an all-weather surface. The parking area will also require an adequate drive aisle/turnaround that are paved. 3. The City shall approve a final site layout plan that clearly shows the parking areas and access drives that will be improved with an all-weather surface. 4. The area located between the two existing curb cuts within the right-of-way along 2nd Ave. SE shall be planted with grass. 5. Any outdoor storage on the site will be required to be screened with a fence. 6. If the appearance of the lot is not neat and tidy or is unsightly, as determined by the City, the conditional use permit may be revised and may be amended accordingly to address these issues. 7. The standards for granting a conditional use permit would be met, subject to the conditions stated. 8. The proposed building and site improvements shall comply with the standards of the UC district and the Zoning Ordinance, as well as all other City regulations. 9. The conditional use permit shall remain in effect as long as the conditions required by the permit are observed. Any expansion or intensification of a conditional use or change to another conditional use requires approval of a new conditional use permit. 10. If the proposed use fails to start operation within one year of the conditional use permit being granted, the conditional use permit shall be deemed null and void and a new conditional use permit must be applied for. Motion by Commissioner Wirt, second by Commissioner Lofdahl to close hearing at 6:37 p.m. Minutes Hutchinson Planning Commission July 18, 2017 Page 4 Motion by Commissioner Forcier to approve with 10 staff recommendations. Second by Commissioner Wirt. Motion approved. Item will be on City Council consent agenda on 7/25/2017. Motion to close hearing—Motion to approve with staff recommendations—Motion to reject 1. NEW BUSINESS 2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 3. COMMUNICATION FROM STAFF A. Wick and Garberg attended Commissioner Training. B. Upcoming Meetings Dan Jochum noted that we have no applications for the August Planning Commission meeting at this time but the Hotel Project should be on the agenda. Sign ordinance revision may also be on this agenda. 4. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Forcier, Second by Commissioner Garberg to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.