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THURSDAY,
JUNE 12, 2008, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
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, June 12, 2008 in the Council Room at
400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
Other Planning
Commission members present for the meeting were: Joseph Gilk,
Todd Horton, Will Seiler, and Joseph Wedel. None were 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 May 29th and hearing none declared the said minutes approved.
Jamie Thelen,
Augusta Ventures, LLC, Todd Saterbak, Adkins Associates, Cheryl
Toenyan, Albany Post Master, were present for the meeting.
Other property owners present were: Jean
Pundsack, Earl Pundsack, Robert Kohorst, Rodney McNamar, Amy
McNamar, Jack Petermeier, Char Petermeier, Cory Wolf, Russ Wolf,
Joyce Wolf, Bernard Bueckers, Diane Bueckers, Jeff Blackmore,
Rob Hammel, Nancy Weiling, Dan Larkey, Kelly Hendrickson, Todd
Bunger, Heidi Bunger, Jon Siegle, Lori Siegle, and Ken Wambach.
Pursuant to due notice, at
6:35PM, chairman John Harlander called the public hearing into
session
on a request by Augusta Ventures, LLC, to rezone
properties at 141 Railroad Avenue and 121 Railroad Avenue from
Residential (R2) to Core Commercial (C1) for the purpose of
construction of a new Post Office building and other commercial
uses. Mr. Schneider noted that a proper
notice was published in the Stearns Morrison Enterprise on May
27th and a letter was received by Gerald Fenstad, General
Partner Albany Townsite Apartments, informing the City that he
is opposed to the proposed rezoning request. Jamie Thelen
appeared before the Commission to present pictures, interior and
exterior, of the existing condition of the home at 141 Railroad
Avenue, the site that was selected by the Postal Service for a
new Post Office in Albany. Mr. Thelen noted that the City’s
Comprehensive Plan shows the properties east of 2nd
Street or south of the alley between 1st and 2nd
Street as future commercial development. Mr. Pundsack appeared
before the Commission to question where individuals would park
and noted that the alley can’t accommodate additional traffic
and is opposed to the located selected by the Postal Service.
Mr. Siegle informed the Commission that intersection of 2nd
Street and Railroad Avenue is a very high traffic intersection
and is concerned for the safety of the children in the
neighborhood and pedestrians who use this intersection to go to
church and nursing home. Mr. McNamar noted that the public uses
the alley for alternate driving routes because mainstreet or
Railroad Avenue is too busy and is concerned about the safety of
the children by the increased traffic caused by a new post
office. Mr. Schneider informed the public that the Postal
Service followed their standard procedure in selecting a
proposed building site which began in January and that property
owners were encouraged to submit proposed sites for them to
review; whereby four sites were submitted. Mr. Schneider also
noted that the Postal Service has determined that the present
Post Office on 5th Street is inadequate to serve the
postal needs of the City and under the present condition, can’t
be expanded to meet future operations requirements. Mr.
Schneider noted that funding for a new post office has been
approved for Albany and if a site is not found, then the funding
will be lost and it may be another fifteen years before funding
would ever come available again. Mr. Saterbak informed the
public that the proposed layout of the new post office building
is only preliminary and can be altered, but he had reviewed
other options and it was of his opinion that the proposed layout
was the best fit for the property. Ms. Toenyan informed the
public regarding typical daily operations of the post office
relating to pedestrian and vehicle traffic, deliveries, and mail
carriers. Ms. Bunger noted that uncontrolled intersections
near the proposed post office are very dangerous and recommended
a 4-way stop at 2nd Street and Midland Avenue. Mr.
Greer explained to the public information in the Zoning
Ordinance relating to a Core Commercial District and procedures
that property owners can follow for re-zoning property.
Chairman John Harlander closed the public hearing at 7:43 PM.
Mr. Horton noted that measures to assure vehicle and pedestrian
safety should be considered. Mr. Wedel recommended that the
City consult with a traffic engineer or MN DOT to discuss the
traffic concerns of the neighborhood and consideration may be
given to eliminate the access to the alley, but noted that a new
post office would be a good neighbor. After due discussion, a
motion was made by Will Seiler and seconded by Todd Horton to
recommend to the Council that the request by Augusta Ventures,
LLC, to rezone properties at 141 Railroad Avenue and 121
Railroad Avenue from Residential (R2) to Core Commercial (C1)
for the purpose of construction of a new Post Office building
and other commercial uses be approved and consideration to
restrict access (pubic/delivery trucks) from the alley be
discussed including no parking in front of the post office on
Railroad Avenue. All voted for the motion and it carried.
Chairman John Harlander adjourned
the meeting at 8:05PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm.
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