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Pursuant to due
call and notice there of a meeting of the Planning Commission in
and for the City of Albany, Stearns County, Minnesota, was
called to order by Chairman John Harlander at 6:30 o’clock in
the evening on Monday, August 18, 2008 in the Council Room at
400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
Other Planning
Commission members present for the meeting were: Will Seiler,
Joseph Gilk, and Todd Horton. Joseph Wedel was absent.
Councilor John Greer, Planning Commission Liaison, was present
for the meeting.
Chairman John
Harlander called for any additions or corrections to the minutes
of July 10th and hearing none declared the said minutes
approved.
Stan Hanson, City
Engineer, Bonestroo, St. Cloud, MN, Cheryl Toenyan, Albany Post
Master, Jamie Thelen, Sand Companies, Inc., James Sand, Sand
Companies, Inc., and Todd Saterbak, Adkins Association
Architects, St. Paul, MN, were present for the
meeting.
Mr. Saterbak
appeared before the Commission to present information relating
to a proposed site plan for the construction of a new Post
Office building at 141 Railroad Avenue. Mr. Saterbak noted that
if the City is requesting a new sidewalk along 2nd
Street and Railroad Avenue, would there be an assessment on the
property or how would this be handled for payment and bidding
process. Mr. Greer questioned if an underground sprinkling
system will be installed for the landscaped areas to assure
adequate water for the shrubs, trees, and grass. Mr. Saterbak
noted that no sprinkling system is planned and that it’s been
his experience that these systems require future maintenance
which is an additional expense for the Postal Service. Mr.
Horton noted that he did not see any gutters on the east side of
the building to prevent storm water from entering the adjacent
property and recommended that all exterior lighting on the
building and parking lot be directed downward. Ms. Toenyan
informed the Commission that the lobby will be open 24 hours per
day and the parking lot lights will be illuminated throughout
the evening hours. Mr. Hanson informed the Commission that the
plans should show a lighting layout to meet “dark sky
equivalency” and that hydrology calculations need to be
submitted for existing and post developed conditions for further
review. Mr. Saterbak noted that the Postal Service is on a very
short time frame and he must get the final approved plan
specifications for the building to Denver by the end of the week
if the project is going to proceed or not.
After due discussion, a motion was made
by Will Seiler and seconded by Todd Horton to recommend to the
Council that the aforesaid site plan for a new Post Office
building at 141 Railroad Avenue be
approved with the additional conditions:
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An underground sprinkling
system shall be installed to provide adequate water for all
landscaping items such as trees, shrubs, grass, etc.
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Applicant shall submit
detailed lighting plan.
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Installation of new curb in alley along southern
right-of-way (north side of property) to be confirmed whether
needed or not by Stan Hanson upon review of plans.
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Installation of gutters on
east and west side (full length) of building.
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Include language in plans
that new sidewalk will be installed on 2nd Street and
Railroad Avenue which includes a new handicap ramp; whereby 50%
of the costs for the improvements will be paid by the property
owner at the time the Building Permit is paid.
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The new sidewalk on
Railroad Avenue should be installed back of curb to a width that
is in-line or match with the existing properties to the east.
The sidewalk and boulevard on 2nd Street should be the same
width and location with the sidewalk and boulevard down 2nd
Street.
All voted for the motion and it
carried.
Chairman John Harlander adjourned
the meeting at 7:45PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
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