SUNFISH LAKE PLANNING COMMISSIONMEETING – February 20, 2019

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


Attendants:

Acting Chair: Ginny Beckett

Commissioners: Shannon Nelson, Jeannine Nayes and Dominick Driano
City Planner: Ryan Grittman

City Clerk: Cathy Iago

Chair Tom Hendrickson was absent.

1. CALL TO ORDER: Acting Chair Beckett called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2. ADOPT AGENDA: Acting Chair Beckett asked if there were any additions to the agenda and there was no response.

Commissioner Nelson moved to adopt the agenda, seconded by Commissioner Nayes and carried. (3-0)

3. APPROVE MINUTES OCTOBER 17, 2018: Acting Chair Beckett asked if there were any additions or corrections to the October 17, 2018 minutes and there was no response.

Commissioner Nelson moved to approve the October 17, 2018 minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Nayes and carried. (3-0)

4. PUBLIC HEARING: A. Consider Adoption of the 2040 Sunfish Lake Comprehensive Plan: Acting Chair Beckett opened the public hearing for the purpose of discussing the proposed updates to the 2040 Sunfish Lake Comprehensive Plan. She explained that there would be discussion of the document by the Commission and then the group would receive comments from the audience. She asked the Planner to provide an overview of the document.

Planner Grittman referred to his memorandum dated February 13, 2019 and stated that the Metropolitan Council requires the City hold a public hearing prior to adopting of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update to receive commission and resident input prior to its formal adoption by Council. He advised that as part of the review process he sent the document to “affected jurisdictions” for their review and comments. The “affected jurisdictions” included neighboring cities, and other entities such as Dakota County and MnDOT. He explained that the suggestions and recommendations from Dakota County and MnDOT were updated in the report. He commented that the TAZ table data was not included when he sent the report to MnDOT, however, he received the data and the report is now up-to-date.

The Planner stated that staff has included information to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Council and to meet the needs and concerns of affected jurisdictions and is recommending approval of the updated plan for distribution to the Metropolitan Council for their approval. He offered to respond to questions.

Acting Chair Beckett asked if there were any questions from the Commission.

Commissioner Nayes explained that she had sent an email to the Planner and Chair Hendrickson with some questions and comments and asked if she should review these items.

Planner Grittman stated he had made copies of the email and distributed them to the Commissioners.

Commissioner Nayes referred to her email dated February 20, 2019 and explained that she found some minor grammatical and typing errors that she documented in the email. She referred to the graph on page 10 of the document that shows “Forecasted Employment” of 8-10 people and questioned if this represents how many persons the City employees as contractors.

Planer Grittman explained that the number reflects persons who work within the City limits such as employees of the churches within the City or persons that work from home within the City boundaries.

Commissioner Nayes asked if it includes city contractors.

Planner Grittman advised it would include one contractor, the City Forester, since his business is located within the City limits.

He further advised that the other graph represents the number of residents in the City that are employed anywhere.

Commissioner Nayes referred to the paragraph under bullet point No. 2 on page 23 which states that the lake depths of Horseshoe and Hornbeam Lakes are 4 and 5 feet. She explained that her husband does the water testing on Horseshoe Lake and that she knows that at its deepest point the lake is 12 feet deep. She pointed out that if the comment relates to the average depth of the lake, the 4 ft. reference would be more correct.

Planner Grittman explained that he did not find data on the DNR website regarding the depth of the lakes and he offered to contact the DNR to confirm the information.

Commissioner Nayes referred to the paragraph on page 27 referring to “Wildlife” and pointed out that City does not do aerial deer surveys annually and it may be appropriate to change the language to read “regularly as needed”. She also noted that it states you can hunt “on parcels of land ten acres or greater with written permission of all adjoining owners.” She explained that she was not aware the City conducted aerial surveys for the deer annually and it may be appropriate to change the language to read “aerial surveys are conducted as needed”. She further stated that she was aware that deer hunting occurs on properties that are 2-acres and that residents had received permission from the police liaison to hunt on 2-acre sites that they deemed would not pose a safety hazard.

Planner Grittman explained that this may refer to the DNR doing the aerial surveys every year or two, not the City. He noted it would be extremely expensive for the City to conduct the survey annually.

Clerk Iago explained that she recalled the Deer Management Plan requires hunting be done on 10-acre contiguous parcels of land with permission of all the property owners.

Commissioner Nayes referred to paragraph 2 on page 102 and noted that it is not consistent with earlier language on page 74 relating to the fact that there should be no lighting on trails unless it is for safety purposes.

Planner Grittman stated he would review both items and add language to make sure they are consistent.

Commissioner Nayes pointed out that there are multiple references to the “Property Owner Reference and Development Guide” manual and asked if copies are available of that document.

Planner Grittman explained that the document is available, however, it was prepared in 1990 and mailed to all property owners at that time. He stated the document explains the Zoning Code in “plain English” for residents and that it is mainly distributed and used for new construction.

Acting Chair Beckett asked if the document is available to residents for new construction or additions and the Planner responded yes.

Commissioner Nayes started those were the only questions or comments she had at this time.

Acting Chair Beckett opened the public hearing for comments or questions from the audience. She asked that anyone wishing to speak provide their name and address for the public record.

Julie Kunkel, 329 Salem Church Road, stated she could not find the document on the City website so she was unable to review it. She asked if there were any changes proposed to the City’s development plans, such as reduced lot sizes.

Planner Grittman explained that the document was posted on the website and may have only recently been removed. He advised that there are no changes proposed to the City’s development plans.

Steve Murphy, 4 Acorn Drive, expressed concern regarding the noise from the freeway in his neighborhood and stated that other residents also had expressed concern relating to the freeway noise. He asked if the City had considered any solutions to reduce the freeway noise.

Planner Grittman stated that the freeway noise issue was raised at the Open House to discuss the Comprehensive Plan updates and that there was language included in the document stating “the City would continue to plant trees adjacent to the freeway” to assist in noise reduction. He noted that there is also language which states that if MnDOT decides to install a sound barrier wall adjacent to Sunfish Lake, the City would support its installation.

Mr. Murphy asked if MnDOT has control over the sound barrier installation.

Planner Grittman responded yes and noted that the sound barrier walls are extremely expensive.

Commissioner Driano asked if a berm could be installed adjacent to the freeway.

Planner Grittman stated he was unsure since it would involve substantial engineering to do so.

Clerk Iago noted that the property adjacent to the freeway is owned by MnDOT and the City cannot do anything on the property without MnDOT’s permission.

Julie Kunkel asked if there was any reference to airport noise in the plan.

Planner Grittman stated that the plan references that the City is actively working with the Noise Oversight Committee (NOC) which includes several Dakota County cities that are negatively impacted by airport noise.

Clerk Iago advised that the NOC would be conducting a meeting on April 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mendota Heights City Hall to discuss and receive public comments on the airport noise.

Commissioner Nayes referred to page 56 of the proposed document and questioned if the language relating to Charlton Road should be modified since the road improvements would be done this year.

Planner Grittman explained that in his opinion it would be best to leave the language as is at this time since the project had not yet been completed. He commented that the document would be out-of-date once the project it completed, however, it is best to document what is current at this time.

Acting Chair Beckett agreed and explained that the document applies to what is now, not what might be in the future.

Tom Hall, 329 Salem Church Road, questioned if the City is monitoring the traffic patterns on Delaware Avenue since it may become an artery to the new Vikings facility in Eagan. He noted that most traffic for the facility would be directed to I-494 or Dodd Road, however, it may also affect Delaware Avenue.

Planner Grittman explained that Sunfish Lake and Mendota Heights are pushing for more traffic studies relating to the new Viking facility as it is their opinion the City of Eagan did not do so when the facility was initially proposed.

Commissioner Driano pointed out that there is a steep hill at the intersection of Salem Church Road and Delaware and asked if the City would support installation of a pressure pad at that location that would flash a warning signal when oncoming traffic comes over the hill.

Planner Grittman explained that language could be added that the City would support the installation of a project on Delaware if Dakota County would consider doing so as Delaware is a county road.

Tom Hall stated that he is sure residents would support its installation and also signage that monitors the speed in that area.

Julie Kunkel noted that there is a large pile of snow at the intersection that blocks visibility and that she had sent an email to the City’s snowplowing contractor.

Clerk Iago suggested that Ms. Kunkel also contact the City Engineer to determine if the snow pile is related to the City’s contractor or to Dakota County’s plowing trucks.

Acting Chair Beckett asked if there were any further questions or comments and, hearing no response, closed the public hearing.

Acting Chair Beckett asked if there were any further questions or comments from the Commission and there was no response.

Commissioner Nayes moved to recommend to Council approval of the 2040 Sunfish Lake Comprehensive Plan with the amendments as discussed this evening, seconded by Commissioner Nelson and carried. (3-0)

ADJOURN: Acting Chair Beckett asked if there was any further business and there was no response.

Acting Chair Beckett moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m., seconded by Commissioner Nelson and carried. (3-0)


Respectfully submitted,

________________________

Catherine Iago, City Clerk