Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/05/2015

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Regular Planning Commission Meeting Date: 02/05/2015 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development 6. 1. Information Title: Staff Update • General Development Update • Update on City Council Action on Planning Commission Cases Purpose/Background: Staff will provide a verbal update on the various development projects occurring around the community and recent City Council actions of interest to the Planning Commission. Closed Landfill Plan The consensus of the City Council was to move forward with adopting the Closed Landfill Plan as presented by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Upon reviewing the guiding Statute in additional detail, the City Council determined that now was not the appropriate time to focus resources on a request for special legislation on the 40 acre parcel north of Sunwood Drive currently guided for future business park in light of more recent discussions of a future business park west of Armstrong Boulevard. MPCA Staff agreed to language in the City's Comprehensive Plan that would identify this as a goal for redevelopment at such time the area is no longer located in the groundwater area of concern and no longer needed for the operational purposes of the closed landfill operation. This would continue to be reviewed and discussed with each subsequent Comprehensive Plan Update (once every ten (10) years). Expanded Environmental Policy Board Role in Development Review and Comprehensive Planning As part of strategic planning for the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) and a subsequent joint meeting with the City Council, the core duties of the EPB are being expanded on a trial basis to include development review of select land use applications and a key proactive role in reviewing and developing the Natural Resources Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Update. The EPB will now take on a more collaborative and advisory role directly with the Planning Commission. To ensure that their expanded role does not increase timelines on development review, the EPB will also consider a date change of their regular meeting to the third Monday of the month to allow their comments to be included prior to Public Hearings held by the Planning Commission. Fire Station No. 2 The City Council approved the site plan, accepted final plans and specifications, and authorized Staff to advertise for bids for the new Fire Station No. 2 to be located at 5650 Alpine Drive. Staff will now complete the final plan set and advertise for competitive bids. The Project Team will then tabulate the bid responses and forward a case to the City Council to consider awarding a contract to commence construction this spring on the new Fire Station No. 2. Organizational Strategic Plan & Boards/Commission Survey The City Council authorized a contract with the Prouty Project to update the City's organizational Strategic Plan last completed in 2013. This process is scheduled with the City Council and Department Heads in February. In preparation for this process, Commissioners were asked to respond to a brief survey by Monday, February 2nd. Staff will update the Commission on the results of this survey once available. Small Area Planning Exercise: Area South of Highway 10 between Llama Street and Bowers Drive Consensus of the City Council was to proceed forward with the citizen engagement/stakeholder engagement for the area south of Highway 10. Staff will now schedule and advertise for this process for late -winter or early -spring.