April 12, 2017 Planning Minutes

CITY OF SPRING PARK
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
APRIL 12, 2017 – 7:00 PM
SPRING PARK CITY HALL

1. CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order by Chair Hoffman at 7:01 p.m.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Chair Hoffman led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. ROLL CALL - Chair Hoffman introduced new Planning Commissioner Bruce Homan.

Planning Commissioners Present: Jeff Hoffman, Chair; Michael Mason; Pete Kaczanowski; Max Avalos; and Bruce Homan.

Staff Present: Dan Tolsma, City Administrator; Al Brixius, City Planner; and Theresa Schyma, City Clerk.

Others Present: Pam Horton, City Council Member/Planning Commission Ex-Officio Alternate

4. ADOPT AGENDA – Commissioner Avalos requested to amend Item #8 on the agenda to include a discussion regarding tax-forfeited properties in the City.

M/Mason, S/ Kaczanowski to approve the agenda as amended.

Motion carried 5-0.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes from February 8, 2017

M/Kaczanowski, S/Avalos to approve the minutes.

Motion carried 5-0.

6. CONSIDERATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Food Truck Discussion
i. New Hope Ordinance
ii. Delano Ordinance

City Planner Brixius presented examples of ordinances relating to food trucks from two other communities. He stated that Back Channel Brewery has made a request for allowing food trucks in Spring Park.
City Planner Brixius requested guidance from the Planning Commission on whether they would like a draft food truck ordinance prepared for Spring Park to be considered at a future Planning Commission Meeting. He discussed:
• Proximity to brick-and-mortar restaurants
• Health Department licensing
• Food truck parking being restricted to private property, not County or City roads
• Hours of operation
• Restricting storage of food trucks
• Number of days allowed per permit
• Number of permits allowed per year

Josh Leddy and Melissa Langseth, Back Channel Brewery representatives, were available for questions.

Commissioner Avalos questioned the distance between the brewery and Minnetonka Drive-In.

City Planner Brixius responded that it was approximately 100 feet of separation.

Mr. Leddy discussed the reasoning behind wanting food trucks to be an option in Spring Park. He stated that the brewery is partnering with the Minnetonka Drive-In and creating a special menu so that their businesses can work with each other. However, on Thursday nights the Minnetonka Drive-In is too busy to be able to accommodate food requests from the brewery. Therefore, the owners of the Minnetonka Drive-In suggested the idea of having food trucks as an option; especially when for times when the Minnetonka Drive-In is closed for the season or too busy to handle the food requests from brewery customers. He added that both business owners have also been researching a way to upgrade the crosswalk to make it more pedestrian-friendly to help that partnership between the two businesses.

Ms. Langseth stated that the brewery has reached out to most local food establishments so that brick-and-mortar restaurants know about the brewery and hopefully can help add to their business. They will have take-out menus available for brewery customers and post restaurant information on the brewery website.

M/Homan, S/Avalos to approve the City Planner moving forward with developing an ordinance regarding food trucks for the Planning Commission to consider at a future meeting.

Motion carried 5-0.

7. COMMUNICATIONS
a. March 6, 2017 Council Minutes
b. March 20, 2017 Work Session Minutes
c. March 20, 2017 Council Minutes

8. MISCELLANEOUS (amended)
• Discussion regarding tax-forfeited properties in the City

Commissioner Avalos stated that it has been more than a year since the last discussion regarding tax-forfeited property within Spring Park. He requested that staff gather details regarding these properties. Some of these properties are not being maintained so he would like to know all options that are available to the City.

Commissioner Kaczanowksi stated that at the very minimum it would be nice to have some of these sites cleaned up.

City Administrator Tolsma responded that he will look for surveys on file for all properties, contact Hennepin County for information, and discuss the history of the lots with the City Attorney and City Planner so that he can report back to the Planning Commission.

9. ADJOURNMENT

M/Mason, S/Kaczanowski to adjourn the Planning Commission Meeting at 7:52 p.m.

Motion carried 5-0.


Date Approved: May 10, 2017


___________________________
Theresa Schyma, City Clerk


____________________________
Dan Tolsma, City Administrator