Minutes - Planning Commission - 12/04/2003

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Chairperson N[xt asked if the tenant would move forward if the City Council turns down the exception to th~ moratorium. Mr. Touchette !ndicated they would not. He added they went to 26% coverage to keep the back of the building even, rather than have several areas that jut out. Associate Plarmer Wald noted that 26% includes three buildings on this property, and one is a floating slab s~tUat~on that could be moved, so the 26% does not concern staff. Mr. Touchette Stated their goal is to bring the property to a higher standard than what it is. He indicated there [is so much development going on, and they want to keep up with it, realizing that in a few years $ highway could be going through the property. He stated that doing these minor changes improves the property but does not necessarily increase the value of the property. Motion by Ch0irperson Nixt, seconded by Commissioner Van Scoy to recommend that City Council grant ~ite plan approval to MGM Wines and Spirits contingent upon compliance with the City Staff ~: Review Letter dated November 26, 2003 and receiving an exception to the Highway 10 moratorium. Motion carriedi Voting Yes: Chairperson Nixt, Commissioners Van Scoy, Brauer, Jeffrey, Shepherd and Watson. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Johnson. Case #4 Proposed H-1 Highway 10 Business District; Case of City of Ramsey Presentation Associate Planner Wald called attention to a letter from Furniture and Things distributed to the Commission, a!a~d noted they also have a letter from an attorney representing several Highway 10 businesses which Staff just received this evening. She indicated the letter says they have several concerns with ~is proposal, specifically the 25% coverage, and would like more time to review the proposal. She stated the letter requests nothing is done until the AUAR has been received. Associate Planner Wald stated that Mn/Dot has identified 2,930 miles of key transportation corridors that account for 1/3 of the vehicle miles traveled in the State. Highway 10 has been identified as orte of these key transportation corridors. She stated the City Council adopted a resolution supporting Mn/Dot's vision and corridor management plan for Highway 10 and pledged the City's commitment to work in partnership with Mn/Dot to implement the recommendatiOns outlined in the Highway 10 Corridor Management Plan. Associate Planner Wald further advised that on May 13, 2003 the City engaged the services of the Tinklenberl~ Group to perform an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) to examine the proposed trtansportation alternatives and the subsequent impacts to properties needed for the improvements Of Highway 10. She explained that on July 22, 2003 the City Council adopted an ordinance establishing a moratorium on the development of certain parcels located north of Highway 10. The purpose of the moratorium is to restrict any new development or expansions of Planning Commission/December 4, 2003 Page llof 20