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PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING, JANUARY 25, 2007
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 Thursday, January
25, 2007 in the Council Room at 400 Railroad Avenue for the said
City.
Planning Commission members present for the meeting were:
John Harlander, Todd Horton, Joseph Wedel, Joseph Gilk, and Will
Seiler. Councilor
John Greer
, Planning Commission Liaison, was
absent for the meeting.
Chairman John Harlander called for any additions or
corrections to the minutes of December 4th and hearing none
declared the said minutes approved.
Mr. Schneider called for a motion to appoint a Chair for
2007. After due
discussion, a motion was made by Joseph Gilk and seconded by
Todd Horton to appoint John Harlander as Chair for 2007.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
A motion was made by John Harlander and seconded by Joseph
Gilk to appoint Todd Horton as Vice Chair for 2007.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Ron Utsch, Manager of the Shamrock Mobile Home Park, and
Rich MacGillivray, Area Manager for Asset Development Group,
Inc., owners of the Shamrock Mobile Home Park, were present for
the meeting.
Pursuant to due notice, at 6:32 PM, Chairman John Harlander
called the public hearing into session on a request by the
Planning Commission to consider an amendment to Ordinance 80.11
(Signs) relating to violations and penalties.
Mr. Schneider noted that a proper notice was published in
the Stearns Morrison Enterprise on January 9th and no written
comments were received. Mr. Schneider noted that over the past
year, notices of violation have been mailed to a few businesses
that have continued to erect off premise advertising signs at
the 4-way stop (
Railroad Avenue
and
8th Street
intersection) and south of this
intersection which are not permitted.
Mr. Schneider noted that the current Ordinance 80.11, Subd.
24 does not state a time period for removal of an illegal sign
and recommended that an amendment be approved which would
require the land owner to remove the illegal sign within two
days after receiving written notice. Mr. Horton noted that there
may be times when the owner of the property is unaware of
someone erecting a sign being they may not reside in the
community and recommends that the individual erecting the sign
be mailed a notice too.
Mr. Schneider noted that off premises signs are only
located along Interstate 94 and business owners may not erect
off premises signage in any other location. Chairman John
Harlander closed the public hearing at 6:38
PM
. After due discussion, a motion
was made by Will Seiler and seconded by Joseph Gilk to recommend
to the Council that the amendment to Ordinance 80.11, Subd. 24
be approved with the addition that the sign owner and/or
property owner be guilty of a violation and mailed notice.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
The full text of the aforesaid amendment is on file at the
office of the City Clerk/Administrator for public inspection
during regular office hours.
Pursuant to due notice, at 6:39 PM
, Chairman John Harlander called
the public hearing into session on a request by the Planning
Commission to consider an amendment to Ordinance 65, Housing,
Maintenance and Occupancy.
Mr. Schneider noted that a proper notice was published in the
Stearns Morrison Enterprise on January 9th and no written
comments were received.
Mr. Schneider noted that the previous text of Section 65.08,
Subd. 1 was not descriptive enough to determine how many
individuals were permitted within each habitable room.
Chairman John Harlander closed the public hearing at
6:43
PM
.
After due discussion, a motion was made by Will Seiler and
seconded by Todd Horton to recommend to the Council that the
said amendment to Ordinance 65 be approved.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
The full text of the aforesaid amendment is on file at the
office of the City Clerk/Administrator for public inspection
during regular office hours.
Pursuant to due notice, at 6:44 PM
, Chairman John Harlander called
the public hearing into session on a request by the Planning
Commission to consider Ordinance 66, the regulation of Building
Moves in and out of the City limits.
Mr. Schneider noted that a proper notice was published in
the Stearns Morrison Enterprise on January 9th and no written
comments were received.
Mr. Schneider informed the Commission that the purpose of
this proposed Ordinance is to protect the health, safety, and
wellness of the public and property within in the City.
Mr. Schneider noted that this Ordinance will prevent
dilapidated buildings or structures from being moved into
residential, commercial, or industrial areas and will require
the mover to be licensed by the State, bonded, and insured.
Mr. MacGillivray appeared before the Commission to note
that all movers hired by their firm are licensed by the State,
travel route approved by the State, and appropriate insurance
provided before any manufactured homes are moved into the
Shamrock Mobile Home Park which is heavily regulated by the
State.
Mr. MacGillivray noted that over the past fifteen years or
so, only three or four mobile homes have been moved in or out of
their Park.
Mr. MacGillivray also noted that the proposed language to limit
the movement of mobile homes that are seven years of age or
older is a violation of State Statute and Minnesota Chapter 1350
regulates these homes.
Mr. MacGillivray informed the Commission that they recently
re-paved the Park with new bituminous and is not opposed to the
proposed Ordinance other than the age of the mobile home should
be removed.
Mr. Schneider noted that
this Ordinance also requires a public hearing and mailed notice
to abutting property owners of such a move with a fee paid to
the City. Mr.
Schneider also noted that all utility companies, public works,
police and fire departments are given notice depicting the exact
route, number of days, mover, etc. to assure a “safe” move.
Mr. Schneider also noted that by adopting this ordinance,
it would discourage property owners from moving in buildings or
structures that are dilapidated in nature or less appealing than
existing buildings or structures and promotes new construction
for the integrity of the buildings in the City.
Chairman John Harlander noted that the permit fee would be
$225.00; the same as other special requests that are presented
before the Commission which does not hold regularly scheduled
meetings. Chairman
John Harlander closed the public hearing at
6:55
PM
.
After due discussion, a motion was made by Will Seiler and
seconded by Joseph Gilk to recommend to the Council that
Ordinance 66, the regulation of Building Moves in and out of the
City limits be approved with the text that required a moving
permit for manufactured homes seven years or older be deleted.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Schneider presented to the Commission the following building
permit information:
Year
New Homes
Value
# other Permits
Total value ALL Permits
2001
25
$2,552,000
80
$5,456,600
2002
33
$3,697,900
60
$6,929,297
2003
44
$4,790,000
86
$5,660,482
2004
49
$5,553,300
139
$7,343,995
2005
27
$4,017,300
95
$8,450,259
2006
28
$4,157,300
91
$9,414,608 *
*includes $4.2 million Water Treatment Plant
Mr. Schneider presented to the Commission pictures of a Grain
Bin that can be used for the purpose of storing corn for corn
burners which are becoming an alternative heating source for
property owners. Mr.
Schneider recommended that the Commission consider a Zoning
Ordinance amendment that would prohibit grain bins as an
accessory structure.
Mr. Schneider noted that currently, accessory structures 120
square feet or less only require a Zoning Permit and these grain
bins are only 16 square feet or so at the base which does
present a problem if erected in residential areas for neighbors.
Mr. Gilk noted that they would be permitted if enclosed and
enclosure attached to a garage and/or house.
Chairman John Harlander directed the City
Clerk/Administrator to set a public hearing to consider adoption
of a Zoning Ordinance amendment.
Mr. Schneider informed the Commission that the Zoning
Ordinance permits off premises signs (Billboards) within 100
feet of Interstate 94.
Mr. Schneider noted that the northeastern boundary of the
Industrial Park abuts Stearns County Highway No. 156 which in
turn abuts Interstate 94 and that the distance from the
Industrial Park property (
Lot
3, Block 5) and Interstate 94 is
greater than 100 feet.
Mr. Schneider informed the Commission that Roger Dowell, the
owner of the Industrial Park has questioned whether or not the
Billboards would be permitted on Lot 3, Block 5 being the area
is considered to be all right of way between the said lot and
Interstate 94.
Chairman John Harlander, with the consensus of the
Commission, directed the City Clerk/Administrator to inform Mr.
Dowell that he will need to complete a Special Request form for
a Zoning Ordinance amendment which said request would be
considered at a future Planning Commission meeting.
Mr. Schneider also informed the Commission that several
years ago, the Stearns County Highway Department erected several
off premises signs at the intersection of Stearns County Highway
No. 10 and No. 41 for various businesses.
Mr. Schneider noted that the businesses, whether City or
Township, pay an annual fee of $800 for the sign, but questioned
if the City should allow any further signs in this area or any
other areas within in the City where there are County Highway
designations which end up to be large clusters of signage.
Chairman John Harlander, with the consensus of the
Commission, directed the City Clerk/Administrator to meet with a
representative from the Stearns County Highway Department
informing them not to allow any additional off premises signs at
the intersection of Highway No. 10 and No. 41 including any
other County Highways located within the City.
Chairman John Harlander adjourned the meeting at
7:20 PM
.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
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