Planning Commission

MAPLE GROVE PLANNING COMMISSION January 11, 2021 CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Maple Grove Planning Commission was held at 7:00 p.m. on January 11, 2021 at the Maple Grove City Hall, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Planning Commission members present were Chris Ayika, Lorie Klein, Craig Lamothe, Susan Lindeman, Chuck Lenthe, and Joe Piket. Present also were Karen Jaeger, City Council Liaison; Joe Hogeboom, Community and Economic Development Director; Peter Vickerman, Planning Manager; Jesse Corrow, Associate Planner;; and Scott Landsman, City Attorney. OATH OF OFFICE City Council Liaison Jaeger administered the Oath of Office to Chris Ayika, Susan Lindeman, Joe Piket and Chuck Lenthe. ELECTION OF Mr. Hogeboom requested the Commission elect a chair and vice- CHAIR AND VICE- chair for 2021. CHAIR Motion by Commissioner Ayika, seconded by Commissioner Klein, to elect Craig Lamothe Chair of the Planning Commission for 2021. Upon call of the motion there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Lamothe, seconded by Commissioner Klein, to elect Chris Ayika Vice- Chair of the Planning Commission for 2021. Upon call of the motion there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. ITEMS TO BE None. REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA CONSENT ITEMS The following Consent Items were presented for the Commission’ s approval: MINUTES  Maple Grove Planning Commission January 11, 2021 Page 2 A. Regular Meeting – December 14, 2020 Motion by Commissioner Piket, seconded by Commissioner Lenthe, to approve the Consent Items as presented. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. CONSIDERATION None. OF ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA REVIEW OF THE Mr. Hogeboom reviewed with the Commission what items the City CITY COUNCIL Council approved that was given direction at the Planning Commission level. He reported Chair Colson would be recognized MINUTES FROM by the City Council at their Tuesday, January 19, 2021 meeting. THEIR REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 4, 2021 OLD BUSINESS No items to present. NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARING Mr. Corrow stated the applicant is requesting a conditional use permit for the purpose of a modification to the Rice Lake RICE LAKE Elementary School which will consist of a six-class room addition, ELEMENTARY a gymnasium addition and an additional parking lot. Staff SCHOOL commented further on the site plan and recommended the following. WOLD ARCHITECTS & STAFF RECOMMENDATION: ENGINEERS Motion to recommend that the City Council direct the City 13755 89TH Attorney to draft a Resolution approving the Rice Lake Elementary AVENUE NORTH School Conditional Use Permit, subject to: CONDITIONAL 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the city USE PERMIT FOR any remaining applicable comments contained in the THE PROPOSED memorandums from: ADDITION AND SITE WORK AT a. The Community & Economic Development THE EXISTING Department dated January 4, 2021 Maple Grove Planning Commission January 11, 2021 Page 3 SCHOOL b. The Engineering Department dated January 4, 2021 c. The Fire Department dated December 8, 2020 2. The new soft play area container will accommodate the existing playground equipment according to fall zone and ADA requirements. The applicant shall acknowledge that Park Dedication requirements are based on staff review and recommendation to the Park and Recreation Board and their subsequent board action. Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Discussion Commissioner Ayika questioned when construction would begin for this project. Mr. Corrow reported the school district would be breaking ground in the spring of 2021 with the addition being ready for use in September of 2021. Commissioner Piket requested further information regarding the outdoor classroom. Mr. Corrow deferred this question to the applicant. The applicant was at the meeting to answer questions. Dale Carlstrom, Director of Facilities Operations for Osseo Schools, discussed the outdoor classroom. He explained this space would allow teachers to meet outdoors with seating in a natural environment. Commissioner Piket questioned if the outdoor classroom would be used in the evening hours. Mr. Carlstrom stated the outdoor classroom would not be lit but could be used by the community in the evening hours. Jacob Cherry, Wold Architects, reviewed concept imagery of the outdoor classroom with the Commission. Chair Lamothe opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m. The public was asked by Chair Lamothe if they had any comments to make regarding this application. No one wished to address the Commission. Maple Grove Planning Commission January 11, 2021 Page 4 Motion by Commissioner Piket, seconded by Commissioner Ayika, to close the public hearing at 7:20 p.m. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Commissioner Lindeman asked if the resident question regarding buffering would be addressed by staff. Mr. Corrow reported he had addressed this concern with the resident and noted there was a quite a bit of space ( 250 feet) between the play areas and the residential homes. He did not anticipate there would be a great deal of additional noise. Commissioner Lenthe complimented the applicant, architect and City for their tremendous efforts on the stormwater ponding system. He explained this would be a great addition to the landscaping in the area. Chair Lamothe reported this school serves his neighborhood and he was very impressed by the proposed designs. He believed the outdoor classroom would be a unique amenity for these students. Motion by Commissioner Piket, seconded by Commissioner Ayika, to recommend that the City Council recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a Resolution approving the Rice Lake Elementary School conditional use permit, subject to: 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the City any remaining applicable comments contained in the memorandums from: a. The Community & Economic Development Department dated January 4, 2021 b. The Engineering Department dated January 4, 2021 c. The Fire Department dated December 8, 2020 2. The new soft play area container will accommodate the existing playground equipment according to fall zone and ADA requirements. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Maple Grove Planning Commission January 11, 2021 Page 5 DISCUSSION There were no discussion items. ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Ayika, seconded by Commissioner Lenthe, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Chair Lamothe adjourned the meeting at 7:24 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for January 25, 2021.