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MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008, PLANNING COMMISSION 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 Monday, January 14, 2008 in the Council Room at
400 Railroad Avenue for the said City.
Planning
Commission members present for the meeting were: Chairman John
Harlander, Joseph Gilk, Will Seiler, and Joseph Wedel. Todd
Horton 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 December 18th and hearing none declared the said minutes
approved.
Roger Dowell,
owner of Rocky Ridge Outlet/Rainbow Restoration and the Albany
Business and Industrial Park, and Bryan Schiffler, owner of the
Albany Chrysler Center/Tani Division, were present for the
meeting.
Mr. Harlander
noted that the meeting is not a public hearing, but for
discussion of Stearns County signs that have been erected by the
Stearns County Highway Department within the road right-of-way
at the County Road #41 and #10 intersection including that
section of roadway along County Road #41 adjacent to the City
Public Works building or Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mr.
Schneider noted as per the direction of the Planning Commission
and City Council in the year 2007 he informed the Stearns County
Highway Engineer that no additional County business directional
signs may be erected within the City along all County Roads
being the said signs were determined to be off-premise signs and
prohibited as per the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Schneider informed
the Commission that the Minnesota Department of Transportation
(MN DOT) has also erected business directional signage for food
and gas within State right-of-way on Interstate 94 and State HWY
#238. Mr. Dowell presented to the Commission pictures of
business directional signs erected by the County in the cities
of Sartell, Waite Park, and St. Joseph. Mr. Dowell
noted that when he began marketing the Albany Business and
Industrial Park, the County signs were not an issue and he had
not been told by the City that no additional County signs would
be permitted at the aforementioned intersection and along County
Road 41. Mr. Dowell informed the Commission that the location
of the said Park is difficult to access once exiting Interstate
94 due to the fact that there is no frontage road which is
present in larger cities and that signage is extremely important
in directing customers to his business and others south of
Interstate 94. Mr. Dowell also noted that he submitted an
application with Stearns County for the installation of a Rocky
Ridge and Rainbow Restoration sign at two locations south of the
Interstate and he recently was informed by the County that the
City prohibited any additional signs. Mr. Schiffler informed the
Commission that he continues to be told by customers that they
find it difficult to locate his business and agreed with Mr.
Dowell that the County signs at the
County Road #41 and #10 intersections are extremely important to retail businesses.
Mr. Schiffler noted that Albany Area Industries may consider
coordinating the construction of one large free standing or
monument sign at this intersection which would be located on
private property that could provide direction to the Albany
Business and Industrial Park including business directional
signage that is uniform. Mr. Wedel informed the Commission that
the existing County signs are uniform and consistent with
directional traffic signage, but would object to a cluster of
new signs that have multiple colors, businesses, and sizes
erected at the said intersection. Mr. Schneider noted that
off-premise signs or billboards are permitted within 100 feet of
the County right-of-way and set backs are required. Mr. Greer
noted that at this point in time he would not be opposed to the
addition of County business directional signs at the said
intersection or along County Road 41, but an Ordinance amendment
should be considered in the near future to allow the signs in
specific locations along County roads to assure the uniformity
and number of signs which would be permitted. Mr. Schiffler
questioned if the City has any jurisdiction for the area along
County Road 41 being much of the area is not in the City limits.
Mr. Schiffler recommended that the City allow the County to
continue to review sign applications and as a member of Albany
Area Industries, he will begin to work towards a design for a
sign that would conform to the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Wedel noted
that the City should allow the County to erect additional
business signs within their right-of-way and they can determine
when too many are a nuisance or traffic hazard at the said
intersection or in other locations in the City or Township. Mr.
Dowell informed the Commission that the definition of Government
sign in the Zoning Ordinance includes County signs for business
direction and it’s of his opinion that the said signs are not to
be considered an off-premise sign. After due discussion, a
motion was made by Will Seiler and seconded by Joseph Wedel to
recommend to the Council to allow the County and MN DOT to
continue to erect their uniform business directional sign and
the existing signs are not determined to be an off-premise sign.
All voted for the motion and it carried.
Mr. Schneider
informed the Commission that there will be a public hearing on
January 17th before the Stearns County Planning
Commission on a request by Ken and Kathleen Eickhoff, 21204
Pioneer Road, Albany, to rezone approximately 39.2 acres from an
Agricultural 40 (A-40) zoning district to a Residential 10
(R-10) zoning district. Chairman John Harlander, with the
consensus of the Commission, had no objection to the
aforementioned request and noted that no comments have been made
in the past for R-10 zoning along Pioneer Road in Albany Township.
Mr. Schneider also informed the Commission that there will be a
public hearing on January 22nd by the Stearns County
Planning Commission to consider the enactment of an Ordinance
for the adoption of the Stearns County Comprehensive Plan. Mr.
Gilk questioned if a second interchange on Interstate 94 would
ever be considered between Albany and Avon being both
communities have experienced increased residential growth the
past few years. Mr. Greer noted that typically an interchange
are paid for by the benefiting project(s) and/or community and
can be quite expensive based on knowledge of the new interchange
at “Opportunity Drive” on Intestate 94 for the St. Cloud
Industrial Park. No action was taken by the Commission.
Chairman John Harlander adjourned
the meeting at 7:50 PM.
Tom Schneider
Clerk/Adm. |
