PLAN COMMISSION

February 11, 2009

Members present: Knudson, Burchill, Yoerg, Olson, Selissen and Vance

Others present: Bill Prudhomme, Dave Holt, Nick Hackworthy, Denny Darnold and others

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Knudson at 7:00 p.m.

Motion by Yoerg, seconded by Selissen to approve the meeting minutes of 1-21-09 and 1-26-09. Motion carried.

Olson asked about the possible implementation of traffic lighting changes in the downtown area. Darnold noted that is a pending recommendation of the planning consultant and the recommendation will need to be approved within the final draft of the plan and then implemented by the public works department.

Chairman Knudson explained that agenda item #4, the review of development plans for water treatment plant #10, has been removed from the agenda and would not be discussed or considered this evening.

Knudson introduced Kevin Vance, recently appointed to the water utility commission and the plan commission.

Certificate of Compliance for small engine / motor repair in a B-2, General Business District, 310 Second Street – Rivertown Motorsports and Marine / Bill Prudhomme.

Darnold noted that the application for a certificate of compliance is for a small engine and motor repair shop at 310 Second Street which is the building recently occupied by Seasons on the St. Croix. Darnold provided a site sketch illustrating the streets, sidewalks, parking and building areas at 310 Second Street to assist in facilitating the discussion.

Bill Prudhomme, owner of Rivertown Motorsports and Marine stated he has had his business in Bayport, MN; but the building he is currently occupying is being sold, and he needs to relocate. The building and grounds at 310 Second Street has a larger sales floor area available to display their retail sales products and has ample shop area for the repair part of the business. The business repairs small boat motors, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, etc. and last year had about 400 customers. There should not be a need to have product outside of the building except when a trailer with a boat or snowmobile may be delivered, Prudhomme noted.

Knudson asked if there was a driveway access from Commercial Street (north side of the lot). Darnold responded no, because of the slope of the street and that a retaining wall exists along the north property line.

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Yoerg asked if there will be sufficient room for a recreational vehicle and trailer on-site or if there was a way a vehicle could drive through the building and access the southern driveway access. Holt answered that there was not a way a vehicle could drive through the building. Prudhomme noted that vehicles with trailers stop at the Bayport site and have not been a concern.

Olson expressed concern that Second Street is a heavily trafficked roadway and asked if access to and from the site may be a concern. Prudhomme commented that the site in Bayport also experiences heavy traffic (Hwy 95), particularly when Andersen Windows' employees leave work in the afternoon and that it has not been a problem.

Yoerg asked about the status of the retaining wall. Prudhomme and Holt commented that it is their intent to repair the retaining wall.

Olson asked if a refuse container would be provided to store waste so that it does not accumulate outside of the building. Prudhomme indicated that he would provide a receptacle which can be locked at night for that purpose.

Motion by Yoerg, seconded by Burchill to recommend approval of the certificate of compliance for a small engine / motor repair service at 310 Second Street with the condition that the certificate of compliance be re-reviewed in one year. Motion carried.

Signage plan, Heritage Market / Heritage Greens planned residential development, west of STH 35 and north of Hanley Road – TV&H Properties. Darnold commented that the revisions for the proposed sign plan provide more detail in regard to the electronic reader board / digital message boards proposed and now include the type of sign to be incorporated into the Highway Neighborhood Sign abutting STH 35. Darnold recommended approval of the interior signs, directional / neighborhood signs at Market Green and Harmony Green and the Hanley Road Neighborhood Sign at the southern entrance to Heritage Greens on Hanley Road. Another issue that the plan commission discussed was the requirement for signage to be reviewed as part of the development plans for individual parcel development within Heritage Greens / Heritage Market. Darnold opined that more discussion needed to take place in regard to the electronic / digital reader boards, the Highway Neighborhood Sign and the Perimeter Signs as these were expressed as concerns of the plan commission during the initial review.

Burchill inquired if the number of reader boards in the city is limited. Darnold stated no, but the reader boards are allowed generally in the B-2, General Business District or B-3, Central Business District. Yoerg asked where else in the city is there reader boards other than at the Associated Bank site in downtown Hudson. Darnold stated the Kwik Trip, former Citizens Bank, Eagle Valley Bank and WESTconsin Credit Union have reader boards. Knudson noted that T&T Collision also has a reader board.

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Hackworthy commented that the Royal Credit Union (RCU) is to be located on lot 1 / parcel P12 located just east of the Hanley Road entrance, and they have expressed the need for a digital reader board. The need for the electronic / digital reader boards for the other lots abutting STH 35 is unknown, Hackworthy commented.

Knudson reviewed the history of the Heritage Greens planned residential development and the review and approval of the commercial neighborhood in 2008 noting this is the only development which provides a mix of residential and commercial development; that the development standards are negotiated; and that the city can vary from zoning or sign regulations, such as signage.

Knudson reviewed the signage proposed on the perimeter lots that abut Hanley Road and STH 35 noting that three lots were approved with the intent to subdivide the third lot (lot 3) into three lots, therefore there is a potential of five lots total abutting Hanley Road and STH 35.

How high would the Highway Neighborhood Sign be above the existing grade of STH 35, Vance asked. Hackworthy commented that he did not have specific information but that the sign would be located on the existing grades.

Yoerg expressed concern that the city of Hudson should not approve the reader boards carte blanche. Yoerg inquired why the electronic / digital reader boards are needed on both the proposed Highway Neighborhood Sign and the Perimeter Signs. Hackworthy responded that the reader boards should not be that intrusive noting that the digital boards are LED technology and are not the typical red or amber electronic reader board that is similar to the one at the Associated Bank in downtown Hudson. Yoerg asked if the hours of operation for that type of sign may be limited. Hackworthy noted that that could be detailed in the sign criteria.

Olson questioned if the plan commission can recommend approval of part of the sign plan for the entrance, interior and Harmony and Market Greens signage. Darnold stated that a partial approval can be done, but urged the plan commission to forward a recommendation that addresses the signage as one plan.

Knudson questioned if a reader board on lot 1 / Parcel P12 is oriented, so that traffic can view it from both directions on Hanley Road, if it would be visible from residences in Red Cedar Canyon. Hackworthy noted that it is designated as a perimeter sign and is limited to a maximum of 15 feet high and should be blocked from view from the residential areas by the buildings between Hanley Road and Heritage Boulevard.

Darnold commented that he was concerned about the visibility of a reader board from the Hudson Meadows residential subdivision on the east side of STH 35, not so much from the visibility from the street elevation, but from second story areas of the residences.

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Knudson commented that the plan commission may consider recommending approval of the plan as it has been presented, approve a part as previously discussed or amend the plan. Knudson reviewed alternative considerations for the perimeter signs on lot 1/parcel P12, lot 2/parcel P11 and lot 3/ parcels 8, 9 and 10.

Yoerg stated that the signage should come back to the plan commission for approval.

Darnold noted that TV&H wants to get the criteria established so they can explain to prospective businesses what is permitted. The plans for all signage would need to come back to the plan commission and Common Council for approval as part of the development plan review. At that time the city can review the signage for compliance with the approved plan.

Vance asked if the perimeter signs would be in the form of a monument sign or on a single post. Hackworthy noted that the perimeter signs would be monument signs. Vance noted in that instance the signs may be less than 15 feet in height. Hackworthy commented that could be addressed in the signage criteria.

Motion by Burchill, seconded by Yoerg to approve the perimeter sign including an electronic reader board for lot 1 / parcel P12 with approval of final plans by the Common Council, the Highway Neighborhood Sign (35 feet high and 135 sq. ft. in area) including an electronic reader board, the interior signs, the Hanley Road Neighborhood Sign and the directional signage at Market Green and Harmony Green. Yoerg withdrew his second because of his concerns about the reader board and height of the Highway Neighborhood Sign. The motion died due to the lack of a second.

Hackworthy suggested that the plan commission may want to have a workshop to review the digital sign technology that is available. Darnold commented that should be conducted before consideration of the proposed plan.

Knudson opined that the reader boards defeated the intent of the approval of the neighborhood commercial area in that the signage proposed with the reader boards takes on a highway commercial appearance.

Selissen expressed concern about the reader boards due to the proximity to the residential neighborhoods and that type of signage is designed to bring prospective customers from the highway traffic on STH 35.

Vance asked where on the Highway Neighborhood Sign the electronic reader board will be incorporated. Hackworthy stated near the top. Vance commented that due to the elevation of the sign relative to STH35 that the reader board could be incorporated into the lower part of the sign instead of the top making it less visible from the residential areas. Vance opined that the Highway Neighborhood Sign, that if there is a reader board, seems the most logical to place it within.

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Yoerg urged the plan commission to be careful in consideration of the potential impact on the residential areas.

Knudson asked Hackworthy about the need for approval from a timetable perspective. Hackworthy indicated that they would like to have approval as soon as possible, particularly for lot 1/parcel P12 for the Royal Credit Union development; no other developments are pending.

Motion by Olson, seconded by Yoerg to postpone consideration of the proposed Heritage Market sign plan. Motion carried. Darnold asked what information the plan commission would like to see before further considering this issue. The plan commission requested that graphics demonstrating the visibility of the signage as seen from the residential areas, particularly the reader boards, and plans of the Highway Neighborhood Sign demonstrating low and high alternative reader board locations to be provided.

Other business for discussion only or placement on future agendas. Darnold reminded the commissioners of the plan commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 19 to continue discussions in regard to the update of the comprehensive plan. The subject of discussion will be land use. Preliminary information, prepared by SEH, for the meeting on the 19^th was distributed; and Darnold noted that additional information will be forwarded late this week or early next week.

Motion by Burchill, seconded by Yoerg to adjourn. Motion carried. 8:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis Darnold, Secretary