05-28-2019 PC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Planning Commission May 28, 2019 Page 6 Chair Johnson asked if adding a salvage yard along the railway adheres to the Comprehensive Plan and the goals of beautification of the city. He stated an 8' fence isn't going to cover what would be seen from a commuter railcar. He would like to see more serious screening by adding mature trees along the entire fence line along the railway. He didn't agree with Applicable Regulation #2 - Consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, knowing that some of what's in the plan calls for beautification along the main corridors. Mr. Carlton stated this property is zoned I-3, guided for industrial use in the Comprehensive Plan, and from a beautification perspective, asked if the suggested landscaping condition would be sufficient to satisfy regulation #2. Chair Johnson stated at the bare minimum it would. Commissioner Feinstein asked about Condition #6 and wondered if there was any recourse when dealing with the approval of the type of screen fencing. Mr. Carlton explained the condition and requirements of the screening for approval of the CUP. Commissioner Larson -Vito asked if there were any other mature trees already along the rail corridor. She stated she could see the need for that for this type of use, but there were many other uses in the I-3 that wouldn't require screening with trees. Commissioner Rydberg asked because they've had many discussions about traffic routes along Highway 10 and aesthetics, was the Commission reaching a little bit with adding a condition of having mature trees and making ourselves untenable to developers by extending that thinking to the rail line. He gave the example of neighboring communities, towards Minneapolis, that are unattractive from the railway. Chair Johnson stated those areas exist because someone allowed that type of use, noting there are other types of industrial uses that would fit this zone and wouldn't require this level of screening. Chair Johnson stated he would like to see the condition added to this approval of adding mature tree screening along the rail corridor. Commissioner Feinstein wondered if increasing the height of fence screening would be helpful. After discussion, it was decided that it would not. Chair Johnson also discussed adding a condition that no cars be parted out on the property because the applicant stated that was not an intended activity. After discussion, the Planning Commission determined that per the city's definition of salvage yard, adding that condition would go against the definition of salvage yard, and the area is zoned I-3 with salvage yards allowed. 1IWIIII 11 NATURE