- DRAFT -
SUNFISH LAKE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING – MARCH 21, 2012

7:00 P.M. - ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Attendants:

Chair:  JoAnne Wahlstrom

Commissioners:   Andrea McCue, Gordon Peters, and Arnulf Svendsen

City Planner:  Alan Brixius
City Clerk: Absent
Commissioner Tom Schlehuber arrived at 7:10 p.m.

1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair JoAnne Wahlstrom opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

2.         ADOPT AGENDA: Chair Wahlstrom asked if there were any additions or corrections to the agenda.   Planner Brixius requested that the Planning Commission amend the agenda to allow for the discussion of the potential expansion of an existing home at 345 Salem Church Road under Item 5, Other Business.

Commissioner Peters moved to adopt the amended agenda, seconded by Commissioner Svendsen and carried.   (5-0)

3.  APPROVE MINUTES FEBRUARY 15, 2012: Chair Wahlstrom asked if there were any additions or corrections to the February 15, 2012 Planning Commission minutes and there was no response.

Commissioner Peters moved to approve the February 15, 2015 Planning Commission minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner McCue and carried. (5-0)

4.  PUBLIC HEARING:    Code Amendment to Sunfish Lake City Code, Section 805, City Public Streets, Easements, or Rights-of-Way, Open Space, Parks and Trails:

Chair Wahlstrom opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m.  Planner Brixius explained that the City Code amendment was to regulate the use and activities within City properties including street easements and rights-of-way, public open spaces, City parks and City trails.  The proposed City Code amendment addresses the following activities in City-owned properties:

· Private activities that would deface, degrade, or alter City-owned properties will be prohibited.

· No person may deposit or leave litter, garbage, refuse, or personal property within publicly-owned street rights-of-way, parks, or open spaces.

· No person shall possess alcoholic beverages, start fires, or geocache in City-owned street rights-of-way, parks or open spaces.

· The new regulations regulate the use and parking of motorized vehicles in City-owned public lands.

· The new regulations prohibit the private use of public properties for commercial sales, advertising, or signage.

· The new regulations prohibit loud, rude or disorderly behavior; consumption of drugs or alcohol; or reckless dangerous behavior in City-controlled public lands.

· The new regulations establish park hours of operation and prohibits private camping and hunting within the City parks and open spaces.

The City Code amendment has been previously discussed by the Planning Commission in January and February 2012.  The City Council reviewed an initial draft code amendment in February 2012.   The City Code amendment has been amended to reflect the previous Planning Commission and City Council edits and directives.

Chair Wahlstrom asked for public comment.  No comments were offered.

Commissioner Schlehuber moved to recommend approval of the amendment to Section 805 of the City Code to the City Council, seconded by Commissioner Gordon and carried. (5-0) 

5.   OTHER BUSINESS – 345 Salem Church Road: Planner Brixius explained that he has had numerous inquiries regarding the home at 345 Salem Church Road.  This property has a unique configuration and the house is a legal non-conforming building in that it does not meet the 200 foot shoreland setback.  The house is 89 feet from the OHWL.  The application of the 200 foot required shoreland setback would place the building pad back in the narrow neck of the lot where the required side yard setbacks would not allow development.  Planner Brixius explained that as non-conforming, the building could be razed and rebuilt in the same size and volume through a major site and building plan review.

Planner Brixius explained that he received a recent inquiry if the home could be enlarged and if the home may be changed from its flat roof to a taller hipped roof.  He had indicated to the potential applicants that any building expansion will require a variance from the shoreland setback and a major site plan review.  Any expansion of the building footprint shall not extend closer to the lake and must meet the other R-1 setbacks.  The hipped roof must not exceed the R-1 building height requirements.  Planner Brixius inquired if the Planning Commission concurred with the direction he offered the potential applicants.  In general, the Planning Commission discussion offered the following comments:

Commissioner Peters noted that the existing home was in poor condition and without the opportunity for renovation it will continue to decline in condition.

Commissioner Svendsen expressed concern for increasing the height of the building and its impact on the view shed of the adjoining neighbors.  Any vertical expansion request will have to be sensitive to the neighboring properties.

The Planning Commission directed Planner Brixius to advise the prospective applicants that any variance and major site plan review will be evaluated on its merits and compliance with the City’s variance criteria.  They do however support reinvestment in the City’s housing stock as a means of maintaining City-wide housing values.

6. ADJOURN: Commissioner Svendsen moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m., seconded by Commissioner Peters and carried. (5-0)

Respectfully submitted,

______________________

Alan Brixius, City Planner