--------- All right, welcome to the special meeting of the Briner Planning Commission on for July 15th. Um, looking for a roll call. >> Duval >> present. >> Kramer >> here. >> Grasula >> here. >> Peterson >> here. >> Ericson and Gorum
>> here. All right, let's do our our first pledge of allegiance tonight. To the flag of the United States of America to the stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> All right. As a matter of procedure, when we get into the meeting today, I think we should do it workshop style. So, no asking for permission. If you have a question, let's ask questions. We'll just kind of do it informally and we'll all get educated. Um, with that, um, do
you want to start us, James, or? >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, so I don't have much of an introduction here. Um, Bolton and Mink will be providing, um, kind of their progress so far in the comprehensive plan, making sure that they're on the right track. Um, so with that, I will turn it over to Bolton Mink.
>> There we go. Come on up. >> Easy enough. Great. Well, planning commission, thanks for having us tonight. Um, as James said, we're here to provide an update on all the work we've been doing on the comprehensive plan since we were here with you last time. Um, and really the intention of
doing this is to make sure, um, that we're on the right track as we work on finishing a first draft of the document. So, um, you will see that in a a few short weeks after we get that done, we want to make sure staff's had some time to review it before we send it to you
for also your comments. Um and then we'll be back with with that document in the near future. Oh, perfect. It works just like that. All right. Um as just a a friendly reminder, you guys all know this at this point. Um but the comprehensive plan
helps guide and support um the city's growth, new development, strengthening infrastructure planning. Um I've got a colleague with me tonight to talk a little bit more about uh some of the infrastructure work and how that's coordinated with this effort of updating this plan. Um, and the purpose of this
particular update is to refresh some of the community data, um, work on some strategic updates to increase that EAW threshold for housing development, um, and refresh the implementation plan. At our last meeting, uh, we talked
pretty comprehensively about the existing goals and policies and the purpose of that was to provide input to us as we were thinking about that implementation plan. um and what you know celebrating what we've [snorts] accomplished so far as a community um
and think about ways that we can strengthen those goals and policies to align with with the current uh environment. So um with that feedback we reorganized and consolidated some of the goals and policies. It's still a pretty
substantial list. Um, but we did do some kind of switching around of things to make sure that um, goals and policies all really aligned with their chapters. Make sure there was less repetition um, of particular goals and policies. Um, and then we also added in a policy
related to child care and industrial development, which was something both flagged by staff and planning commission as as a particular gap uh, in those goals and policies. We definitely worked on maintaining goals around pedestrian and bicycle uh facilities really making
sure that that mobility chapter is multimodal in its scope. We also um with the encouragement from planning commission added in a public survey to get feedback from the public about the goals. We didn't give the
public the whole long list of 100 plus goals and policies. we focused on those highle goals for them to tell us what are their priorities um and make sure that that aligns. So what I've done uh is I pulled what the top public priorities were by chapter and then
identified places. For the most part there was a lot of alignment um actually between what you guys said were your top priorities based on those goals um and what the public was saying which was really great to see. Um but we'll talk about where there might be just a little bit of of difference. So, uh, in the
natural resources chapter, top priority is about protecting and preserving our waterways, our wetlands, our wooded areas, those natural resources, um, and identifying threats to native species within and around the city. In land use,
um, if there's no notes of planning commission's priority, that means that there's alignment there between public and and planning commission. um land use supporting and investing in incremental enhancements of quality of life um and in community character enlivening
the community through intentional community design. There's a slight difference in pri in top priority um for the public ensuring quality living conditions for all residents was their top priority goal. Um, and for planning commission, your
top priority goal uh was about providing a diverse mix of housing choices. I think you could have quite a bit of conversation of the overlap there. And the way I read into a lot of the public priorities that we're hearing lately, we're doing some comprehensive planning
work in St. Peter and in some other communities throughout the state right now. Um, I think because of our current kind of larger environment that we're in, a lot of our public priorities that we're seeing are really focused on like quality of life and that individual experience as we're experiencing higher
cost of living and some of those things. Um, that you know this particular item doesn't surprise me too much in economic development. Um, we also saw I think this is actually there there was only two discrepancies. Um public
priority is a again supporting our workforce and helping them thrive. Again that that really individual experience and perspective. Um for planning commission supporting infill and redevelopment um that goal was higher for this group. Again I think you could
talk about how there's a lot of connection between supporting those projects and supporting the workforce right um for mobility. Um, similar to our great robust conversation we had at planning commission last month or last
time. Um, the public is their top priority was creating remarkable bike and pedestrian connections from neighborhoods to the downtown. And in parks and wreck, maintaining a quality park system that meets the wreck needs of a variety of users was also the
public's top priority. And just a few last ones. um providing quality water water power and wastewater systems that support new and existing development and redevelopment um while being adaptive to change. Same goal
there. Um and same for public safety, protecting and providing safe uh for the safety of residents and visitors was everybody's top priority there too. So really cool snapshot to see just how much alignment how in tune planning commission is with the public's priorities and that we're still that
we're really marching on the kind of down the same path here. Oh, I didn't switch that slide. Um, so what we really want to do knowing that there's great alignment and that we're on the right path, um, based off
of that feedback, um, we want to just share some of those updates that we've been sharing. Yeah. >> Quick question. What was the level of public participation? How many people responded? >> Yes, my apologies. I have that data for you. Let me pull up my notes here.
Um there were 67 responses, so it wasn't terribly high, but still still pretty robust. Okay. Um 51% female, 56% were between 25 and 44 years old. Um 38%
between 30 to $75,000 for household income. Um the great thing I always like to note too, for income, we had all income brackets represented in that 67. So we felt really good about that. um and 30% reported a disability. >> So, >> thank you.
>> Yeah, absolutely. >> So, we have updated um community data. That was one of our first tasks as part of this update. I won't spend a whole lot of time um on these things, but they're in your slide so you can see some of them. It's this is not comprehensive of all the different
updates we've done. Um, but just noting that we've primarily used the 2024 American Community Survey to help inform this data. So, updating things like age distribution, race, household income. Um, we've also updated things like
education. Um, I think we previously talked about some of that population projection. A lot of this work, I will also point out these data points align with some of the um plans that Brainer Public Utilities has recently been
working on related to their water treatment plant and their wastewater treatment plant. So, good good moment of alignment um in the community as we think about that data. Yeah. >> Could you back up to the previous slide for a minute here just to
>> add to um Chair Gorm's point here? If we also look at the age distribution, the household incomes, >> the response is that we got really well aligned with the medians there of age and on income. >> Good. Yeah. >> So, you know, if you want to think about representativeness, it seems like we
found >> Yeah. >> the core, it seems to be a good hit on our on our population. >> Was that primarily through social media outreach? How were the surveys? Uh >> city staff worked quite a bit on that. I think social media was primary the primary driver.
>> Yeah. So, um, we put it on our city Facebook page. We also, I think, worked with Bladec. We worked with Visit Brainer, try to get the message out as much as possible. And then, um, we sent out kind of another round before it closed and we got, uh, a number of more
survey results after that. So, >> great. Thanks. >> Yeah, great [snorts] questions. Yeah, absolutely. Keep stopping me as you have questions. Um so a lot of the rest of the framing I want to focus on talking a little bit about land use but mostly about um
transportation uh some of in some of our infrastructure chapters that we've been updating. Um you can find the full rule here. It's it's linked or you can search it pretty easily on the internet. Um it's a bit lengthy so we didn't want to overwhelm you too much with all of that
language and we'll kind of dive into more of the specifics but again Minnesota rule 4410.4300 subp part 19 um describes the standards that the comprehensive plan needs to meet in order to elevate what that environmental assessment worksheet
threshold is for residential development. The key thing and kind of the theme you're going to see is that a lot of what the environmental quality board is looking for in that comprehensive plan survey is describing what are our existing conditions and based off of our
expected growth, what is our what do we project or where do we anticipate investing in those systems over time. So we've got that snapshot of the future as well. Um we'll talk a little bit about it more um but the certification
of that comprehensive plan is actually a selfcertification. Um the entity that has the certification power for this process is the city themselves. Um, so I think something that we're certainly helping um, staff kind of prepare for is that I think the
best way when adopting this comprehensive plan and that resolution, we would actually recommend just building the fi like some findings right into that resolution to say that yep, we've checked these boxes and we think that this work and this comprehensive plan meets those state requirements. Um,
we pressed EQB to ask, is there additional detail we can get in terms of what you're looking for? um in those particular requirements of that rule and they said nope that's it. So we'll do the best with what we have um and make sure that there's some good robust
analysis that backs up um these updates as well. So with that um the first kind of section of updates is happening in our land use chapter. We're not changing a whole lot in terms of what our current
and future land use plan actually is. We're just making sure um that those things are designated and and clear um throughout the comprehensive plan. And this is the actual EQB language there.
There um and so they talk about residential, industrial, agriculture, um and other public and private purposes. All things that you already have in that land use plan. I have a moment of input for us. Um, as
we were diving into the land use chapter, um, we have a number of different ways of thinking about land use as the comprehensive plan is currently written. And I'm curious truly both from staff and planning commission's perspective. Um, what's
most usable for you in this chapter? Um, so what you currently have, these are snapshots, and I know this the chart is a little hard to read, but you don't need to read it directly to answer the question. Um, we have both a snapshot of the land use categories in chart form
and then directly following that we have the same land use categories with photos and in similar language but not quite the same language. And I'm thinking for myself at least as I started reviewing it, I wanted there to
be a little bit more ease of reading and navigating those two things. So, I'm curious, is a chart that summarizes uh those land use categories helpful? Um, do you prefer just the chart, just
the longer descriptions or do you like the mix of both? >> We want pictures. Is that the question? >> Well, I think we want pictures. Certainly, the pictures will remain, right? I think it's more >> probably more about the the length of descriptions that we want. I think if we
want shorter descriptions of those land use categories and we and we really find it helpful for those to be described one time, we would build the photos into that shorter description and chart form
or we would remove the chart and rely on those slightly longer descriptions with the photos or we can leave them the same. And then I just want to make sure that the language is consistent across both. >> Yeah. So, you did kind of clarify a little bit
there. I think having both of them are helpful. Uh, you know, typically what I use um from a staff perspective is the the chart um when I'm going through things. It's just a lot shorter and it's more concise. Yep. >> Um but it is nice having the pictures because it kind of gives you an idea or
or an image of, you know, what that type of land use category is meant for for density and and such. So, um, >> you know, if we were to remove, um, you know, that expanded category in there, I
think that I'd be open, you know, to that. You'd have to then put, you know, kind of the expanded part in the in the actual chart itself. Yep. >> So, if we just wanted to keep it to um, you know, low to medium density residential and then put the dwelling use per acre under the picture, I think
that would would probably be okay. Um, I I'll defer to planning commission on their thoughts as well, but I think having pictures and a chart are helpful. >> Yeah. >> Group, any opinions? >> As a uh as a former latch key kid, I'm in favor of cartoons a lot. So, I I like
the imaging to to visualize for me what the words are telling me. It's quick and and these perfect examples >> hit it for me. So, yes, the detail in the table. staff. I think we would probably after having been through the comp plan refer to the table, but it is
a broader document than just staff and and and the commission. That would be my thoughts. >> Okay. >> I would agree with those thoughts. I think having the table for those of us that look at it often is very helpful, >> but also for those that don't look at it
often, having the pictures and larger description would be helpful for them as they look at it and try and navigate through the document. >> Totally. Okay. I think we have a consensus. >> Yeah, that makes sense to me. Perfect. Awesome.
All right. Um, the next updates we've done is updated quite a few of the maps in the plan. Um, so the existing zoning, future land use, again, those things aren't changing. We are recreating them as is based on the data we already have
just so that all the maps look the same. Um, and there's the same field throughout the document, but we're not changing anything in those. Um, future growth areas. There's no new update. Um, on that particular slide, I should maybe just go in the order that
these are in on the So, this is the the map on the your left is the zoning map and then the map on the right is the uh environmental constraints map. We also are adding quite a few
infrastructure related maps. So, we've got sanitary sewer, uh, storm sewer that's getting added in, waste water and water. [snorts] Um, we also have a transportation map that's getting added in there. Um, these are all things that are going to help us
really document where are we at and where are we going. Um, in these maps, we're also indicating and doing some of that work to say based off of that future growth area, here's where our systems need to grow and improve over time. Not just as a as a holistic
system, what upgrades might be needed, but then specific to some of that those expand key expansion areas. These are a couple more of our infrastructure maps. again um in congruence with what public um
Brainer Public Utilities is doing at this time. And then this is the map, the future [clears throat] growth areas map that there are no changes to. Um we found this map really helpful, I think, in also just making these updates and
helping again visualize some of this work and and where we're headed as a community. So things like the parks and trails map, which was not depicted here, that's still in progress. Um the shoreland and flood planes map, which is our constraints map, that's new.
Transportation and those infrastructure maps are all new maps that are getting added to the plan. >> Does, excuse me, does the shoreland show up very well on a map? Maybe for the lakes, but the streams, does it really >> Yeah, it really depends. I mean, it's
kind it's a hard setting here because I've shrunk those maps way down, right? Those maps will all be full pages in the in the comprehensive plan. And in a digital form, if you're accessing it on something like the website, um you'll be able to zoom in and out, which will make
it much easier to navigate the detail that's on some of these maps. Um all of this data the city has in GIS form. So certainly can provide more detail in that way [clears throat] too, right? It's always finding that balance especially with detailed mapping that
makes a difference. Um that scale really makes a difference, right? So um having those in 8 and 1 half by 11 form can be a little bit of a challenge but gets us kind of the the broad idea. There'll be some narrative that uh goes alongside each of those maps um on pages before
after describing um some of the key highlights that folks might pay attention to in those maps as well. The other thing I'll add, um, we're making sure because we know that the ADA compliance requirements are, um, coming down from the state for all public
entities, um, we'll do a comprehensive ADA compliance audit before we provide the final document to the city to make sure things like, um, alt text for screen readers, color contrast, all of those kind of things are covered um, in
this final document so that it meets those guidelines and requirements. Any other questions before we move on to mobility? Awesome. Okay. Um so again similar to what you saw in land use and like we'll talk about for the infrastructure updates the EQB certification
requirements ask us to talk about the existing and the proposed um local public and private transportation facilities uh as they relate to this plan. Our transport team oh boy our
transportation team has been working hard at working on this analysis. um they were able to join us for the staff update earlier this month um to describe some of this work in a bit more detail. So if there's detailed questions about some of this work, I'm more than happy
to go back to them uh to get answers on anything that I might not be able to answer tonight. Um but our critical path of course is focusing on those EQB certification requirements. So, we're thinking about the basic relationship
between growth um and our infrastructure needs, which might mean some sort of localized need to where that growth is immediately happening or a broader system update based off of some of those trip uh analysis work that they've been
doing to identify where those future system gaps might be. Both from a safety perspective um as well as just from a general capacity perspective. So what the general methodology has been to complete this um is we estimated
future travel impacts and needs um based off of that future land use map. So identifying where some of that growth and some of those key growth areas are going to be um and thinking about some of those land use categories right in their densities. How how much
growth are we anticipating in some of those key areas? Then they broke those down kind of by segment, which is that middle picture you're seeing there where there's 10 different segments. We can get really really detailed and in the weeds about some of that trip
analysis. So they tried to simplify it for our purposes of what we need in this comprehensive plan. Um and then based off of that analysis, they're working on prioritizing the need um and the investment areas. So, what you'll see in
the map on your far right um is a bunch of red lines, some larger than others, indicating where there might be more need to support that segment or future segment of road. >> Quick question. >> Yeah.
>> Have you made a has there been a um a list of the gaps in the transportation? That's one of the big things I see is the gaps in certain places of town where you simply can't do it by foot or can't do it by bike. certain corridors that are represented by that have cars but really don't have it. So, are you
looking at gaps? >> Yeah, that's a good question. Let's talk about we've mostly talked about this derived from let's talk about this list next. They've been pretty focused so far um on the now this is draft so this is not
final um big disclaimer there but they've been pretty focused on the automobile transportation piece and what we're working on with that parks and trails map um getting complete is making sure we've got the accurate trail system
in place so we can identify where some of those gaps are that we might align with these core segments Especially in places where there might be segments of high priority or where we expect the most growth, we want to think about that
relationship between automobile and pedestrian and bike facilities, especially if we anticipate an increase in trips, right? Those trip increases might be a mode other than automobiles. And so making sure that we're thinking about those gaps is going to be really
important as we finalize what this actual list is going to be. >> Well, and I I think the form will function will follow the form if you if you make these streets more uh um uh safe safer for non-motorized vehicles, you'll see increased uh transportation. Again, I'm a little concerned. You talk
about trails. I think when we use the term trails, we take non-motorized transportation, we kind of stick it off in recreation. It needs to be part of moving through the city every day. >> No. Yeah, that's what I mean. I when we're working on um that trails map, I mean, it's going to be the parks and trails map and live in a specific place,
but we're going to need that data, right, to add to this work. >> I still don't know why it has to live in another place. Why doesn't right alongside cars? >> We can add we can certainly add >> I'd like to see that. I mean, maybe maybe the the group feels differently, but I would I I tend to think again, we
keep pushing non-motorized stuff to the margin. We call it trails and recreation. Y and it's really getting to work safe and walking to the store without getting killed. >> And um so what we need there is to look again at um at integrating this right into just how we move people through the
city in a complete form. That'd be my two. >> Yeah. No, that's a great note. I'll make sure that we add that data um in some format honestly probably on that transportation app. Good. >> Yeah. >> So that we can also showcase that work.
Yeah, it'll probably still show up on the the parks map as well because it already lives there, but we'll make sure that that's pretty clear. It's been a part of this analysis. >> Um, I know with our when we had our staff meeting, we talked about some key projects that might already be happening
along these corridors. Um, and I want to make sure to note the the on this slide they're called secondary investment opportunities, but um, they're really those places where there might be kind of key intersections where we want to make sure we're paying attention to
those multimodal transportation uh, facility needs. Um and thinking about the other types of investments that might be needed in this corridor in along these key corridors where we anticipate just the increase in >> over a complete list of corridors or are
you open to other corridors being suggested? >> We're I think what we're trying to do is prioritize kind of the top 10 to help with that list. But I think we'll probably have a a full list of what that analysis has
shown. I think the list needs to be longer than 10. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> What do others think? >> I think in our implementation matrix um and when we talk about like key priority areas, right, we always want to call out like what are our top things, but then
we'll have all of the data in there too and all of the detail. >> Okay. for sure. And we have the notes from staff about um again, we see some alignment with where we're flagging some of these priority areas with projects
that are either actively underway or being pursued. So, we want to make sure we capture um that detail alongside this. And then really focusing if we go back to this map, you'll see
kind of in the middle along the the major kind of downtown corridor area that doesn't have a box um because we're there's just a a general assumption that trips have to have to go through that area. So, it's included but not called
out as its own particular kind of transportation network area um because of that purpose and also why um that 210 corridor is going to be called out as one of the key
kind of special focus areas in this. You'll see at the down that down those downtown priorities special focus areas and needs. There's there's just its own unique kind of attention that's needed when we think about all of the traffic that's going through those areas.
Anything else before I move on to infrastructure and pass the mic. All right. Next, we're going to talk about infrastructure, and I'm going to let Morgan take over from here. Um, again,
it's the same theme, right? Um, the state wants to hear what are the existing and the planned capacities of our public infrastructure systems. >> Finish that. >> Perfect. So, quick introduction. Uh, so my name is Morgan Salo. I am a principal
water wastewater project manager at Bolton Mink. Uh my focus at the company is is water and wastewater systems. Um [clears throat] and so tonight going to talk a little bit about some infrastructure updates as I've been working with Sarah and her team uh kind of going through stuff. Also to kind of
summarize some of the things we've done with Brainer to Brainer public utilities on the water and wastewater infrastructure side. There's a lot happening. There's a lot of different pieces to this puzzle. Um and and they're very important. They they drive a lot of what happens in the community, right? We need effective wastewater
treatment to continue to allow residents to function within the city and res tourists coming in all the different things that happen within the city, right? Same thing goes for drinking water treatment. We need to make sure we have safe, sustainable, stable, equitable, equitable water for today,
but also generations to come and looking out down the road 25, 30 plus years. So when we look at infrastructure for wastewater treatment, um Brainard has a wastewater treatment facility. The original one was constructed in 1982 um to kind of serve Baxter and Brainer. As
communities grew, the plant was uh there was a major improvement done in 2008 and 2009 that added uh biological treatment components, bioolids. So when we treat waste water, we have a liquids phase portion and a solids phase. When whenever we or treat waste water, we
generate solids. And so that large improvement in 2009 um included a significant investment in within the wastewater infrastructure components. Right in that time frame, we've also had the infrastructure underneath the streets, right? And so
businesses, residences, other places within the community that generate waste water and flows, we have to have a way to collect those, pump those to a treatment facility, right? And so as we've uh gone through with Brainer Public Utilities and staff um have
listened to me present this several times now um we went through last year and into the beginning of this year and we did what's a fac called a facility plan. Now state statute requires if you're going to do large wastewater improvements and you want to get funding for those improvements, you have to do a facility plan. that facility plan. Think
of it as a large comprehensive document of what are we doing? What is the plan and what do we look at over the next 25 plus years? You have to have a minimum of 20-year planning period for facility plans for wastewater. What are the flows and loadings going to look like? What is
the community development going to look like? What do we have? What are the alternatives for treating the waste? How do we fund this? And what the recommendations are. And so currently, just a quick snapshot of where we're at. facility is currently meeting uh permit limits. So when we have wastewater
treatment, we we have to meet what's uh called national pollutant uh discharge limits or NPDES. Those are set by EPA. Um and other requirements uh are in those permits. Today, we're meeting those permit limits. However, with the way wastewater treatment operates and
there's always more stringent limits coming, EPA is constantly changing things. MPCA implements new limits. Nitrogen, phosphorus, everybody's favorite term lately, PAS, the perllorinated compounds. um those are always changing in permits and municipalities constantly have to adjust
and make sure they're meeting these new requirements. And so when we look at the wastewater facility plan or the wastewater facility as it stands today, we're meeting those limits. However, the facility is not set up to meet those future more stringent nutrient and PAS limits that we likely are going to see
as time progresses. And so in addition to meeting those treatment requirements for liquids and solids treatment, there's other just building things, right? Things age. Waste water is a very harsh environment. A lot of sul uh hydrogen sulfide gases, other dissolved things that come out in in the
atmosphere that can just corrode and rust and cause a lot of problems at the treatment facility. So that facility plan goes through the entire uh treatment improvements necessary to help make sure we sustain treatment. We meet our goals and requirements within the
permit and we have a sustainable solution at the end of the day and we figure out how to fund those improvements. Right? There's a lot of debt service and capital improvements that go into that and it allows communities to build that rate structure to fund these improvements and figure out how to how to basically go do these
these uh necessary upgrades. They're significant investments, right? It's not we're not talking 1 to2 $3 million. These are tens and even higher dollar amounts when we start looking at major improvements. And so there's a large facility plan that is out there. Um, if
you're interested in asking questions on it, I'd be more than willing to talk a little bit more about that. That kind of details out the the wastewater uh improvements. When we look at Oh, yes. >> You said equitable water at one point. What does equitable water mean? >> So, we want to ensure that we have water
that's um for a community, it's not costing residents more than what they can afford. There's a there's a calculation that gets done, which I'm going to get into here in a second talking about drinking water. Um, I said equitable water. kind of goes both equitable water and wastewater rates so
that we're not paying too much. Right. There's a calculation with when we look at funding these improvements. >> Affordable. >> Yes. Affordable. >> Good. I'm with you now. >> Yep. Affordability. There's affordability criteria and an affordability threshold. >> Good. Thank you. [clears throat] >> So, drinking water, right? So, that was kind of the wastewater side of things.
The other flip of that coin is drinking water. And so, drinking water for the city of Brainard is produced from there's six different wells drilled. down by the river um kind of by boom lake down there. They vary in depth um from 150ish feet to about 200 feet deep
um varying water qualities with amongst the wells, right? You can see the age range of those wells 1938 to 1983. So those wells are what we would consider old, right? Most of your wells as soon as you start getting beyond 50 years, you start having a pretty old well.
There's a lot more risks that are involved with those wells. then casings corroding out uh contamination within the well just poor performance in the well in general uh limited water capacity in the aquifer. Um and so as we've been working with Brainer Public
Utilities and and Brainer staff, we've been talking about the big picture of drinking water. What does that look like long term? How do we support the growth within the community? How do we support the thousands of residents that come to Brainard every single year, you know, throughout the year? how do we support
that growth? And so, as we kind of go through and talk about water quality, the facility currently is uh built, it was built over four different phases. There's several reports that have been written for Brainer Public Utilities detailing and documenting the different stages of the the construction and the
asset that's there and what that looks like, the condition that it's in. The earliest part of that treatment facility was built in 1932, right? So, that facility is very, very old. Actually, the earliest part was built in 1918. There was a pump house that was still in operation right now
that was built in 1918. The next phase of that treatment plant was built in 1932. The next phase was built post World War II in 1946 to add another set of filters. And then the newest portion of that facility was built in 1964. And so when we look at water treatment in general, as again, as soon as we
start getting to that 40-year life cycle, that's an old facility. Most facilities are rehabbed at 20 years and then rebuilt brand new after 40. And so our newest part of the facility is 1964 here. And so that leads to different challenges within the facility itself
that leads to not just treatment capacity restrictions, um obsolete equipment, ineffective and inefficient pumps and different uh controls that are out there, additional staffing time requirements, right? So there's a lot
lot of pieces that go into that. And so um when [clears throat] we looked at uh with Brainer Public Utilities, what would be a good plan? How do we look if we could look down into the future and say, "Okay, what's what is the the future of drinking water treatment going to look like for
Brainard?" That's currently what we're doing, right? So we're working with them and citing a new water plant, what is a new water plant going to look like? How are we going to meet water quality goals? How are we going to do this in a manner that we have affordable water rates for the community, right? And so you don't go build a brand new plant and
have to jack up the rates for rateayers to cover the cost of that debt service, right? How do we structure this, build a rate structure that funds that debt service, meets the water quality goals? Because as we look at water quality goals, that's one of the important pieces in protecting human health,
right? disinfection, the other chemicals that go added get added to the water supply to maintain a stable, safe water supply um [clears throat] for again residents, schools, tourists coming to the community. And so the recommendation that we're working towards um and
working with BPU is that a new water plant is recommended um with that new sighting study, looking at the different technologies available, what's going to meet the goals and long-term objectives and to make it expandable for the future. Right. Again, I mentioned PAS per florinated compounds. It's kind of
the hot term when we talk about water and wastewater treatment. Um, PAS compounds, there's there's about 15,000 known compounds. We're concerned with a handful of them when we look at drinking water supplies um and wastewater treatments, right? Teflon is is a PA
fast compound. >> These are plastic. These are forever forever. >> Forever chemicals is the other term. >> And the source of them is us throwing things away. What's the source of it? There's a lot of it is manufacturing goods. So firefight fighting foams when they use to fight fires. Um manufacturing of goods, um teflon
products, anything that is dyes and clothes. When you wash your clothes, if you have specific dyes, um PAS gets out of the clothing. >> We're contaminating it through our consumer products. >> Yes. Okay. >> That's the bulk of where PAS comes from. >> Thank you. >> Um and so as we look at that, there's different compounds the EPA is looking
at regulating. As we look uh in the next several years, there's going to be more restrictions coming for PAS compounds and the the levels of which they need us to treat to are very we're talking one part per trillion nanogs per liter. So a very very small amount. And so as we
work with BPU and we're looking through all this and we think again safe, sustainable, affordable, long-term solutions for drinking water supply because again we're protecting human health with drinking water supply. We want to make sure we have that planned out and mapped out. So there's this guide that we can go to and say, "Okay,
when these limits are enacted, we have here's the plan. We can add granular activated carbon. We can add ion exchange to remove the PAS compounds if and when that becomes a a problem." And so that's kind of the direction we're looking at when we start talking about drinking water treatment. Um,
[clears throat] any questions on that? I kind of went through a lot. I can kind of get ahead of myself sometimes, but There's a lot of pieces to that puzzle. >> The other question. >> Yeah. So, I'll just mention um we obviously in our uh current comprehensive plan, we don't have a
whole lot on our utility infrastructure. Um so, I think this will be really helpful um kind of planning for facilities and infrastructure, which is an important piece of um what needs to be put into the comprehensive plan. Obviously um these are largecost projects and a lot of facilities um are
largecost product uh projects and right now um Brainer Public Utilities is working on um getting government grants and funding and and working on bills to to help fund these projects. So having this in our comprehensive plan will help support um anytime you know we're trying to get some of that government funding.
Uh also in the next couple years, um we've kind of already had one meeting so far. Um but kind of planning on these future growth areas, you know, knowing where our um infrastructure is, what size our um water supply lines are. Right now, I think we're a little
lacking on storm water, but that's something on um or not storm water, but uh on uh on the sewer side of things, I know we're working on potentially mapping that in the future. We just uh um I know contracted with a company to do a study in southeast Brainard or south south Brainer kind of near the
Graden Avenue area to map that area better. Um but the having this in the comprehensive plan is really going to help staff dictate where those future growth areas are. So, I imagine probably sometime in the next couple years, that's something we'll be looking at um in the planning commission side of
things to probably amend that future um growth map um once you know kind of staff looks at it and and starts recommending areas, you know, where can we support future growth based on um some of this infrastructure that's in the comprehensive plan. So, just kind of wanted to add that. Yeah. And and like I
said, these the water and wastewater portions of this when we do our planning phase uh components, facility planning or the water infrastructure, the water plant sighting and design demands, we're looking out 25 plus years, right? We're trying to project out what have we seen, what do we know is coming. So working
together with James and his staff and putting everything kind of in one in front of everybody, we can look at this holistic picture and have a really good understanding about what is what are the treatment needs going to be in 25 years from now, right? We don't want to overbuild something, right? Because
that's a lot of extra capital that you spend that you then you don't need. That used to happen a lot. A lot of treatment facilities that were built in the 60s and 70s were way overbuilt. They were all funded 100% by grant dollars, right? And so for a lot of communities it was pretty much free to do that. We don't have that luxury nowadays, right? We
have to fund these improvements. We have to figure out a way to pay for them. Um and it's usually combination of multiple different sources. So having this wrapped in there does help with that funding level effort, especially when you're looking at going after uh congressional spending dollars, whether that's state legislature, uh federal
government. Um it does show a community looking at this from a holistic view and that's very critical for funding. question for you. >> Yes. >> Are we testing right now for the PAFS? >> Yes. >> And are compared to other communities, how is it here? [snorts]
>> Um, it it it from the data that's available from the state's website, it's relatively low. Um, there is a lot of communities are in this kind of limbo range of we've detected it. There's no formal
limits yet that are are driving anything. Um, we're not like the east east metro groundwater, right? If you go Google east metro groundwater 3M, you're going to get a lot of articles and a lot of different reports that have been written about the elevated compounds down in the east metro from 3M. Um, that's in the news. You can go find that
information elsewhere. There's Cottage Grove is building treatment facilities because they've detected higher levels of there's kind of two that we consider in drinking water PFOA and PFOS. [clears throat] >> Follow up with that. I assume there's certain manufacturers or
uses I guess you should say that generate more of these issues >> there there can be within >> I mean is that something we look at curbing or I mean is it just coming [clears throat] generally from everywhere? >> So it it really good question. There's a
it's kind of a complicated one to unpack though because there's so many different sources of PAS compounds and it's really really hard to sometimes find where they're coming from. When we test sometimes we're testing and we're looking at at the wastewater plant because it's required at wastewater plants in certain scenarios. Bioolids is
one of them. That's why what the facility plan recommends doing a bioolids project first. Bioolids are a significant problem at the wastewater plant. That's a $45 million plus dollar project as a phase one. Phase two is pushing $100 million, right? And so add those two together, that's $145 million
in wastewater improvements that Brainer is looking at over the next 25 years. Um, and so as we start looking at these PAS compounds, tracking them and and and staff over at the wastewater plant have a really good grasp on understanding
what to do. They've worked with the University of Minnesota uh to have a better PAS management plan and a lot of facilities and a lot of municipalities have PAS management plans. Now, if they get a detection, they have to start searching and being like, okay, where do we find this? How do we go about that
plan? Basically details out, all right, we're going to go test these manholes. We're going to go to different manufacturers that historically have known manufacturing processes that have discharged high PAS before. Not saying that each specific one does, but knowing that metals manufacturers, codings
manufacturers, die manufacturers, ink printers, right? A lot of those different dyes, like I I mentioned, have historically tested higher in PAS. Um, and so there's a lot of stuff that goes that goes into searching for it. Um, but it's sometimes very very difficult to detect. When we look at drinking water
wells, we can go down to that well, pull a sample, we know, okay, it's either here or it's not. Another followup is any private sector looking to do to eliminate the PAS at source out of your drinking faucet for [clears throat] example where you don't have to go into
this major somebody's going to make billions of dollars but it doesn't cost cities hundreds of millions of dollars >> right and and so that's again unpacking this this uh this puzzle here a little bit when we start looking at PAS treatment on the wastewater side it's
very expensive to treat for PAS in the liquid stream. Bioolids, it is very expensive, but there's a lot of technologies out there that are very effective. There's a lot of research showing that it's very effective that we can start treating for PAS in the bioolids. Um, and bioolids, again, the solids generated at the wastewater
facility that typically go to a landfill or land applied on agricultural fields. Minnesota has a new bioolids, uh, PAS plan that limits, basically there's these different tiers that are out there of how much PAS can we apply to these egg fields. You have to test your bioolids. Now, if that's too high, you
can't apply. If it's in this kind of one range, it's like you notify the land owner. Land owner can say, "I don't want them anymore." Um, if it's low enough, it's spread them out there. They're not going to cause any any issues. Um, when we start looking at the treatment component, the liquids phase, that's
what gets very expensive, right? There's not a lot of technologies. There's a lot of unproven stuff. There's a lot of research being done to do that, but the best source is to go to the source and stop it at the source, right? If it's in the drinking water supply, we change we drill different wells. We seal the ones off that are bad.
>> But I guess my point is you wouldn't have to if you could stop. Nobody's going Nobody typically drinks out of their toilet. So I mean if you put it on your bath faucet where you brush your teeth and your kitchen faucet where you get your drinking water may that not eliminate a lot of these
costs? I mean is is [clears throat] that a >> you're talking like point of use >> point of use >> systems? There are point of use systems out there. um the east metro ground or east metro communities. Lake Elmo uh they they did install those um systems
in residential homes point of use or point of entry are the two kind of systems that they talk about. Um they're mainly just carbon filters, right? Grand activated carbon is known to absorb the PAS compounds. There's maintenance required with those. There's other things that that go into that. So there are companies out there that do
manufacture those. Um testing for PAS is also very expensive. It's it's not $10 a test, it's it's hundreds of dollars per test. Um, [clears throat] as the the the technology advances, we're getting more and more um accurate with our testing,
we can test lower and lower concentrations, right? And so again, if we look at on a municipal scale, if we look at, hey, maybe one well has higher PAS compounds and Brainer tests, I don't remember if it's quarterly or every uh 6 months for the PAS, it's the state of
Minnesota has this data uh list on it. requirements for communities that we're going to test. Um, so there is data online available through the Minnesota Department of Health for PAS compounds. Um, once you hit trigger a threshold with the new EPA requirements, eventually there's going to be treatment
requirements that go with that. Um, again, that treatment could look like treatment infrastructure, but it also could look like moving a well, drilling a new well, and getting rid of the old one because if you find water that doesn't have PAS, that could be a lot cheaper than going and building a brand new facility. I guess that's kind of my point is what I'm getting to. It's like
let's buy everyone in Brainard a $100 filter to put on their faucets. That's going to be a heck of a lot cheaper than doing a new water treatment plan to hand handle these things where you don't have to. I I'm I'm not, you know, that smart. I don't know. But I mean, maybe you put the brakes a little bit and kind of see
what the world is changing so fast [clears throat] right now. >> And and again, we're talking about just the PAS compounds, right? There's a whole other water chemistry thing that we need to consider considerate of uh hardness, right? We want to make sure we have soft water. We don't want hard
water going out. Different other different metals, dissolved organic compounds that are within the water. We got to get rid of those. There are certain treatment processes lime lime softening, reverse osmosis that do remove those. They also add a benefit for stuff like reverse osmosis is it
removes PAS, right? So centralized treatment is one of the most more effective ways at treating and maintaining a safe, stable water supply in your distribution system out in people's homes. And that's part of why we're looking at this with Brainer Public Utilities is to ensure that hey long-term down the road this is going to
be the most cost effect. There's a large financial piece that goes into this on M return on investment all these different components that go into how do we fund these improvements um because there's a lot that goes into treating drinking water for a community. >> [clears throat]
>> Mr. Back >> if I might please. Excuse me. Please. >> Um, this is great discussion, good questions, but I it feels to me this is implementation stuff to come later. And in the interest of time here, >> we are wrapping up in a minute. >> Yeah, I I mean these are great great points and I think there's going to be
great discussion, but I wonder if we might want to allow the speakers to finish their presentation. >> Yeah, please. About another five minutes, five, six, seven minutes there. >> I'll turn it back over to Sarah. That's all I had for drinking water and waste water. So, thank you. Awesome. >> Great questions, great discussion. Um, I
think we're pretty pretty close to the end here. I'll I'll flip through our last few slides. Um, more to come on storm water. Of course, the highle points, right? Almost all of our storm water for the city of Brainard drains into the Mississippi River. When we
think about our um goals and priorities around natural resources, right, of course, the Mississippi River being one of those, this becomes um a really really key point for us. Um, we're working with staff and with our internal staff uh to build this chapter out more.
So far, we've got some of the mapping and things like that done. Um, we've talked about it quite a bit and talked about um what some of those uh workings are behind the scenes when we've updated goals and policies based
off of our last um workshop. But uh a little different than the conversation we've been having of course when it comes to implementation around existing and future. What the EQB is looking for in this case um is making sure that when we're thinking about our
implementation those goals and policies that we've identified the public programs and fiscal um fiscal opportunities, fiscal devices to to actually accomplish that work. Um think about what are the official controls of things that are going to help with that
implementation as well. things like zoning, subdivision ordinance, right? Stuff that you guys are working with on a daily basis. Um, and then a schedule, that prioritization of those implementations, which aligns really well um with how we like to create those implementation
plans. Um, we like those to be uh something that you can use over time. So, we'll provide it both in the document itself and then as a workable Excel. Um, and then in addition, your current comprehensive plan has a really great long list of strategies to
implement these goals. And in working with city staff, um, what our recommendation is is actually to take those strategies and make that a working uh working plan for planning commission outside of the comprehensive plan so that that can be updated really easily.
Um, and let your goals and policies really be the core of your implementation plan. So, we're going to take the input from the community, the input from you guys, um, make sure that we've prioritized, have that timeline component to the
goals and policies, make sure that we've identified above and beyond what the EQB requires. Um, but identify who might be the lead department or the lead committee of the city to really lead that work. There might be some external um, partners that need to come in and
support those goals and policies over time as well. Um, and then also add in resources, whether that's public programs, fiscal devices, um, a whole myriad of things that it might be to help think about opportunities to
support that work as well. Any questions on those things? In this chapter, we'll also describe, it won't feel very uh new or revolutionary to any of you who are familiar with zoning and subdivision, but we want to just make sure we're describing what those
controls are that we have um in implementing this this work. So, with that, we want to just touch base on next steps and then we'll we'll wrap it up here unless there's additional questions or other other pieces we want to add. Um we're about halfway through. We're right on track
with where we want to be. Um we anticipate coming back in September with that that full final draft to just receive comments um if there's any final edits or things that we've missed before we get into the adoption phase which will uh likely be later this fall. um
wrapping up those the CIP components, the implementation plan components, taking the conversation from tonight, making sure that our mobility chapter is well and robust and in its intentional form. Um we'll make sure that we're also
um are circulating that both with staff and planning commission well in advance of that September meeting so you've got time to sit with it and digest it a little bit more before we come and have more conversation. with that. >> Oh, questions on the um on the
implementation plan. Um if if you show that chart um there are interesting end columns there on this champions and resources and >> and [clears throat] how do you plan to populate those? Can you help us think
about that or see where our our opportunities are? >> Yeah, for sure. So, we'll we'll put together um a s a suggestion, a draft um based off of, you know, our knowledge of resources um from all of our comprehensive plan work. Um work with
staff to make sure we understand and have the complete list of committees, city staff, departments um that may or may not contribute to being those champions. Um and put that first draft together for you guys to consider. Um, we really think about like, you know, a
lot of our, for example, a lot of our goals and policies around land use, right? That's going to be a control of planning commission and the planning and zoning department, right? Um, things like public safety is probably going to depending on what that goal or policy is, right? It might involve um county
emergency management. It might include fire or um police department or our um ambulance services, right? like we want to think about who are those kind of key champions that are going to lead and and do that work um and integrate those goals and policies into how they think
about their their work. >> So will we have a chance to see that before midepptember or is it midepptember that you would be saying here's >> here's our draft on how >> Yeah. No, I consultants feel you should think about this. >> Yeah, for sure. We'll have all of that
work completed as part of that draft and our goal is to have that to you well in advance of that September meeting so that you can review it and provide feedback um on that before we're together. >> I still have some concerns about the mobility um aspect of it. It's possible
I don't want to get discuss tonight but um would you be open to uh um emails and discussion because I still think it's kind of incomplete. Well, yeah. And I think I mean I think the purpose of tonight and I'm I'm really glad we had this discussion tonight, right? To highlight where these gaps might still
exist. That's really the purpose of tonight is to to highlight and say here's what we've done so far. But if there's things we're missing or things that are, you know, overemphasized or whatever it might be, right? Like those are the type of comments that we want to make sure we can get. And we can also
what I'll do knowing that mobility is probably the place where we're going to see the most updates from what we have right now and and when you see that draft um I can make sure that we've got some more detail around um our integration of of the gap analysis
related to trails and how that's integrating so that you can get that feedback ahead of time. I mean certainly if you've got additional comments outside of this workshop today um you're more than welcome to send them to myself or to James. um to make sure that we have those that feedback as we're
working on finalizing that first draft. Um and then happy to, you know, if it also makes sense for us to jump on um or maybe record a video and kind of talk through some of that analysis, the mobility analysis, I will tell you, is
not finished yet. So, um, also part and purpose of having this conversation tonight is making sure that we've thought about all of those components that need to be included in that analysis before we finish that. So, >> any other questions before we uh before I look for a motion to adjourn. Any
other questions for for Sarah? >> Announcing any I I would look for a motion to adjourn this meeting. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Thank you, Sarah. >> All right. Thank you for having us tonight. Let's take about a minute off. Part: 2
Planning Commission to order. Looking for another roll call. >> Javal >> present. >> Kramer >> here. >> Priscula >> here. >> Peterson >> here. >> Ericson >> here. >> Gorum >> here. All right. Pledge of allegiance. >> You didn't feel so good the first time
of the one nation for all. All right, with that, um, looking for approval of the agenda. I do sort of suspect we may have more people here for, uh, 8B than we have for 8A. I'm
just putting making that suggestion that maybe somebody would want to uh, adjust the agenda. >> I would move to approve with um, 8B going ahead of um, 8A. >> All right. Do we have a second? >> Second. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> All right. I think we have an agenda. Uh looking for approval of the uh minutes from uh June 17th. >> So move. >> Second. All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All right. We have minutes. Um public
forum. Can open the public forum here at 604. This is the chance for the public to opine on matters that are not on tonight's agenda. Time limits might be imposed. All right. Would anybody like to address the commission on anything not on the agenda?
Max, we got anybody online? All right, I will close the public forum at 604. And with that, we are we have no unfinished business. I like that. I don't think that's true, but I like it. And that and that moves us up to uh to 8B. And we're considering the zoning
text amendment to allow food trucks in the traditional neighborhood to TN2. James, could you set us up? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh so Prammy Holdings LLC has applied for a zoning tax amendment to allow for food trucks to operate in the traditional neighborhood 2 district. In addition,
the commission should discuss if food trucks should be allowed to remain overnight on a property as that was a request of the applicant. Uh the applicant uh would like to operate a food truck on his property at 215 North Thirdrd Street. Uh so because he made
that specific request, we did mail out um notices to everybody within 350 ft. It's not typical um with a zone a zoning text amendment to a change to the ordinance, but do want to make the commission aware of that. Uh the TN2 district allows for a mix of commercial and residential uses that serve the
neighborhood. According to section 515-2, appendix A, table of uses, restaurants are allowed in the TN2 district as they serve the surrounding neighborhood. Uh food trucks operate similar to restaurants and can provide a service to the neighborhood within walking distance from residential homes.
Uh food trucks are also allowed in city parks which are located within residential neighborhoods often. Uh so with that staff uh does recommend that food trucks uh shall be permitted only for commercial or mixeduse properties within the TN2 district. So that was noted um in the ordinance itself. Uh so
this would not permit a food truck to operate on a in at a single family home in TN in the TN2 district which single family homes are allowed. Uh the applicant as I had mentioned did request that the food truck to be permanently located at the property. Uh I want to mention Mr. Goran pointed out that line
14 of the transient food unit regulation states that a food truck cannot remain at its location outside of uh the hours of operation. Uh so staff does recommend the comm commission should consider one of three options and make a motion to either amend the ordinance or to
essentially still not allow that. Um so options would be to strike that line from the transient food unit section or um add units cannot be left unattended nor remain at an unauthorized operating location outside of allowed hours of operation unless the transient food unit
operator is parked on their own property. And then the third would be essentially to recommend denial of the request to allow um un unattended transient food units. So again, staff recommends that uh the planning commission should discuss this prior to holding um the public hearing. Staff can
certainly answer questions. I do think that uh you know, potentially allowing them to stay, especially you know, if it's their own property would be consistent with what other cities do. Um just to name one uh up in Baxter, you have Mores up there where the food truck stays there. Um certainly I've visited
many other um cities and locations where food trucks um remain in a permanent location. Um, so staff did kind of provide some options for planning commission to consider and and recommend that you discuss that and potentially amend the ordinance or keep it as is prior to holding that public hearing.
And with that, I can answer any questions. >> Questions for James? >> Any uh any thoughts? Because uh to put it simply, >> question. >> Yeah, please go ahead. James, can you describe to me how the the city defines whether a TNT property is commercial or
mixed use versus residential? If I have a home and I operate a Tupperware business out of it, is that commercial or mixed use? >> So that would be a home business. So that would not fall under commercial use. >> Okay. But it is in the TN2 district. >> It would be Yeah. So if you do have a
single family home um in the TN2 district, at that point it wouldn't be allowed. would be allowed for mixeduse buildings um which is what uh this current property is is a mixeduse building. >> So essentially in order to amend the um the text amendment we have to we have to
do more than just amend um uh what can happen in a TN2. So we have to actually amend uh some of the food truck rules. So that's what we're looking at here. And James made a few suggestions there too of how we could get to that.
So in other words, you could either say units can be left unattended. That's a okay. That would and if you included that in the text amendment, that would allow this to move forward. Um so there are different ways to look at it or the uh um so that's what we really need
actually is somebody to make a motion to come up with an idea of how we can um address this because like I say I don't think we can proceed right now because if we proceeded by just changing what can happen in a TN2 um the current proposal is not would not wouldn't fly
because it would be an unattended food truck. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yeah please. Um, did I hear on the agenda we're having a public hearing? Do you want that before or do that first? >> I would like the public hearing. I'd like to discuss this before the public hearing. >> So, so if you're going to amend the
ordinance, that should be done before the public hearing. Um, if you're going to deny that request, that probably should be done after the public hearing. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, please. I of the three options that
were presented um you know if we're to um if we're to of the of the feeling to allow um the overnight storage if you would of a food truck. I
would I would choose that option too which basically says it has the property has to be owned by the the operator of the food truck. Uh I I appreciate the example of the Morris to kind of give you something that you can maybe
visualize a little bit better. I don't think that changes anything then u for the existing commercial properties under the ordinance, right? The truck would still have to be overnight if it was owned. So if you had a Morris, it could stay. if you
[clears throat] if if you had a Moraurice truck on your your your commercial property and you're you don't own Morris, you don't get to keep the truck there. So, I I think that would have the least um overall change I think to to how the current ordinance is
behaving. >> Um if we are of the inclination to say that we think that it would be okay to have overnight storage. >> Other thoughts? We do know that um it would be it would be legal to or it would be allowed to have a restaurant in that location.
Correct. >> Correct. >> Okay. And what is the current use of the building? Maybe we can ask when the applicant comes up, but what is the current use of the building that they have? >> Current use, I believe, um it was used more of an office business on the first
floor. Um and then second floor was used for residential living. Um, I believe the the last conversation I had with the applicant, they'd be looking to essentially operate a restaurant type catering business. So, probably not people coming to it, but but uh commercial kitchen there, that would be
more of a catering business and then operating the food truck. >> All right. Would the food truck be on the again this um let's [clears throat] before we get into the specific questions the the question is um do we have an appetite to uh to make more changes um to the uh um uh to the uh to
the amendment here? Do we do we want to uh so Mike is saying number two um that would be to add units cannot be left at tended or remain at an unauthorized or at an authorized location outside of of allowed hours unless the transient food
unit is parked on their own property. So that's what's on the table right now. That's Mike's proposal. >> Mr. Chair, >> yes, please. >> I would actually concur with Mike for once. >> All right. >> Let the minutes reflect, please, Stephanie. [laughter] Well, would one of you I I'm think we need to make a motion here. I could be
wrong, but I think we need to make a motion on this. So, if somebody is prepared to make a motion, I'm I'm open for it, >> Mr. Chair. I would make the motion um um to adopt option two as as was read by you and and and prepared by staff.
>> All right, David, you going to second Mike? >> All right. Any discussion >> andor questions about that? >> I I guess I do have a question. >> Yeah, please. Um for Commissioner Duval in that scenario um what if is there's a
commercial property in TN2 that wasn't owned by the food truck operator but they had permission is that >> would that be permitted under or >> I think James is weighing in on that. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, so yeah. So, in in that instance,
because it's not the property owner that owns the food truck, they would have to remove that food truck um overnight. >> Okay. >> And that would be consistent with all other commercial properties in the city of Brainard. >> Okay. So that would that would look like
Franklin Arts Center there which is specifically exempted uh or or allows food trucks there in the TN2 but >> all right >> that would be an example there where you >> you know I suppose I'm complicating things
>> but I mean if you had a business in Franklin Arts Center that might change >> you could park your food truck at Franklin Art Center. Yeah, I think that might change the the mechanics, but that example would look like Franklin Arts Center right there. >> Any other uh questions or discussion on the motion?
>> Not seeing any. All in favor of the motion say I. >> I. >> I. Same sign. All right. With that being said, now we're ready to open a public hearing. And I will open the hearing at 6:14. If the applicant is present, I would sure like to hear from the
applicant. If you could just tell us a little bit about uh what your proposal is, we'd love to hear it. And if you have any questions, you can direct them towards me. We may have questions for you now and we may have questions later, but please go ahead. >> Okay. Um my name is Monty Jensen with Level Contracting. We uh
>> wrong one. >> We're talking about food trucks. >> All right. Sorry. I thought [laughter] you looking >> That's okay. No problem. We're going to get you later. We're going to get you later. All right. Unless you have opinions about food trucks. All right. Do we Is the applicant present? Do we have an applicant for
>> I don't believe the applicant's present. >> Okay. We don't. Well, with that being said, then we'll go ahead with the public hearing. It's uh and anybody would like to come on up and address this, please. Name and address and let us know what you think. My name's Carter Keane, 302 Juniper
Street, uh, basically on Third and Juniper. And can you show me on the map where this is being proposed? >> Uh, Max, can we pull up the map there? Essentially, your um I have inside information here. Your house is off the
map. Your house is is to the north off the map. >> Oh, >> so your house is not included in this map. Do we have a larger view available by any chance, Max? >> Yeah. So, so if if we brought that back out, um, essentially the corner, if you
look at the corner of the block up there on top on the on the northeast corner, that's about half a block from from where your house is. >> Apologize, Mr. Chair. >> Yeah. No, you just go right ahead. There you go. >> Oh, here we go. We got a we got a little
bit of a we got a bigger map there. That help you there, Carter a little bit? >> So, I know it's kind of changing and moving there, but essentially it is it would be basically one block um south of where you are. Does that help?
>> Where am I? >> Um you are Well, okay. [laughter] >> Maybe point over Washington. >> I wish I had a little pointer here. We could help out here. So, wait till the max stop zooming us here [laughter] and then we'll find us. And so, there's
Third Street. So, uh you are Let's see. We back. Go J. Go back a little bit, please. So, we can see. There we go. So, the property we're looking at on Third Street is Oh, here we are. We're right here. So
this is where the um the food truck would be parked here and in a portion you would be up here. That's where you are. Does that help? So you're up there and that's where the proposed food truck would be. >> That help?
>> Yes. >> Okay. Good. [clears throat] I do not approve of a food truck anywhere near my home and in my neighborhood and at this site. So I think uh
once one happens, many many more will happen. So I don't want that to happen on the north side. That's all I have to say. Anybody have any questions? >> No, we we don't. But thank you very much. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. Do we have anybody else that would like
to speak? >> Yeah. Hi, my name is My name is Steve Armstrong. I'm at 305 Juniper, >> right across the street from Carter. >> And our concern, my wife and myself, would be precedent. And what kind of precedent does this set for North
Brainard where uh you know we have a lot of traffic going down Third Street to the hospital there. There could be potentially it's a pretty good location for a business like that. And I I could imagine that other businesses might
notice that too. And uh once I believe anyway once you've approved this kind of um visible business, it would seem to me that uh you would have a hard time ever saying no to anybody. So I think that
should be taken into consideration. >> Thank you very much. >> You want to say anything? >> Thank you. Okay. [clears throat] >> All right. Anybody else wish to speak? Anybody online, Max?
Last call. All right, I'm going to close the public hearing then at 6:19 and I will open the floor to uh the discussion. >> Mr. Chair, >> all um so this is pretty much our first expansion of the use into residential
districts for this um for food trucks. Um, so there's probably needs to be we did one adjustment to the standards already. Um, so I might suggest more depending on the the mood of the
commission. Um, I looked at our TN2 districts within the city. You know, we have Kingwood. Um, we have, um, Jackson and James on Northwest. Um
we have uh some spots along South 6th Street and we have um um Oak Street 13th and Oak is one spot probably not likely. The Harrison School
that's already allowed by the by the ordinance and then there's the TCC. Um so I don't know that that's much of a likely going to happen. The spots along South 6th Street are going to be like the uh the gas station used to be Super
America, whatever it is now. Um the ice machine [laughter] on South Six, you know, not likely there either. Um when you look at the spots along James and Jackson, um
places where food trucks might show up will be maybe at the Civic Center and then otherwise James backs up to a bunch of fast food restaurants and things there. So I I don't think it's likely there. So I I think really the impact of
what's proposed here is is really going to affect Kingwood Street. You know, there's Hardies. Hardies. It's not likely they're going to put a food truck in their back back parking lot, but there's there's the Thrifty White the the new old Thrifty White spot. Um
that's a possibility. You know, Franklin Art Center. It's already allowed. There's the center. Um there's the St. Joseph's Medical Center annex that's sort of diagonal from the applicant site. There's the applicant site. That's sort of the ones
that I I saw that would possibly be able to do this unless there are additional changes in use to other residences there to to allow a commercial use. So, I think that's important to to really think about, you know, what folks are saying um about
their concerns relating to Kingwood Street. Um it seems like there's just going to be spots where that's going to happen. I feel that maybe you could address some of those concerns by modifying some of the hours of operation because we're now in a residence. Is firing, you know,
opening the opening the the the sliding door or the or or opening the food truck up at at 7:00 reasonable because there's setup time before that and the noise issues and things and then shutting it down at 11. Is that reasonable or
because there'll be noises after that? So I I think um you know we could modify some of the hours um to make it where it's not as disruptive to residential uses around those areas. So those are my observations
on uh on on this application. Thank you. Other u other questions or thoughts? I have a question for James. I think I know the answer, but TN2 cuts off on Kingwood, correct? That's the cut off for TN2 across the north side
>> pretty much. Yeah. Kingwood is predominantly TN2 and then above that um above that the the adjacent properties it's pretty much TN1. >> It is TN1. Okay. So that that that that's going to >> and it would not be allowed. >> Okay. Very good.
>> Other thoughts? Question for James. Are there any parking requirements for food trucks? >> Uh food trucks just have to be located off of the right ofway. So they have to be on private property. they have to get the property owners uh permission to do that and they cannot sell food into the
sidewalk or right of way. >> So, if they're sitting in a driveway and there's nowhere else to park cars except for on the street, that would still be allowed. >> It would be Thanks. Um, in general, I I I'm open to the idea personally of having food
trucks in TN2, but I want to echo Mike's thoughts that maybe we need to give it a little more thought in terms of the specifics. I would love to hear I wish the applicant was here tonight because I'd like to hear some more specifics about how the operation would work. So, that's that that's my main concern right now is I don't know enough about how the
operation could work unless you've got information. So, one option the planning commission could take if they want to kind of further review this and and make sure it's a fit for the TN2 is to to make a motion to recommend staff um extend the review period an additional
60 days. That is an option um under state statute. Typically, we have 60 days to provide an answer to the applicant, but a one-time 60-day extension could potentially be granted to kind of flesh this out and make sure um it's meeting the all the requirements and concerns of the planning commission.
Thank you. I I'm partial to that idea myself. >> Other thoughts, motions, etc. >> I have a question for James. Yeah, just to kind of piggyback on the previous question, but regarding the parking, um
you had said restaurants would be allowed in in this zoning. So, uh how would parking work with that? I mean, it's a public street, so people are allowed to park there just as they would at a regular restaurant. >> Similar differences?
>> No, pretty similar. Um, there really, uh, the planning commission, city council had wanted to kind of get rid of parking minimums. Um, we impose parking maximums. Um, you know, I think there has been concern about too many parking lots. Um, and trying to utilize street
parking. So, you know, kind of from the direction of the planning commission, city council, um we did we did away with most of the parking minimums in the city, um with the exception of residential. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions?
>> I can't make a motion. So, if anybody would like to make a motion, I >> have a another question for J. Question. Let's go. >> You referenced 60 days. Is it up to 60 days or does it have to be 60 days? I'm just thinking about if if do we need I don't know that we would need that much time. Um and then also in respect to the
applicant that would pretty much I don't know when they were planning to start operations but that would kind of take away their summer season if they were hoping to get started. Um but if do we have the option to go less than 60 days? >> You do have the option to go less but you cannot extend it more than one. So,
if you choose a certain number of days, saf safest option would be to extend it 60 days, which would then just push it to the next planning commission meeting. We couldn't push it to another one, I don't believe. Um, time-wise, um, so that'd be the safest option just without having to count exact days. It would
just be brought to the next planning commission meeting and then to city council after that. Could we uh perhaps at the August meeting have u maybe a couple different options, a menu of options if you will to kind of pick from in terms of additional regulations and different thoughts on how to do it? So, in other words, we don't have to go,
okay, we like this, come back the next meeting. We we really want to be able to act on this in August, I think. So, yeah, I think it would be good for planning commission members certainly. Um you talked about hours of operation. Um, you know, if you have an idea right now of, you know, what time you think it
should maybe start and end, I think that'd be helpful for staff bringing up any other concerns that you have right now. But if there's something you think about after the meeting, um, certainly reach out to me and and let me know what some other concerns may be. >> So, I I I think we should try to get the
ordinance or staff should try to get it um as complete as possible. Certainly, we can make probably some minor changes um before the public hearing, but uh when we notice something um you know, we should have a a pretty well set ordinance and then potentially make some minor changes.
>> Sure. If I I feel like I'm in a kind of difficult spot because I don't know what the applicant wants >> and um in terms of 7 o'clock in the morning, 10 o'clock in the morning, is this a lunch business? I'd like to if I think if we knew what the applicant was looking for and of course we have to uh design the ordinance for more than one
applicant in mind but otherwise we could go with broad things. We could go 10 to 10. We could go 10 to six whatever. Um but I do think we want to have um some provisions once we move these into neighborhoods. Yes, Mike, please. >> Mr. Chair, um James, if uh if we were to
modify ours um could we do that as a condition and not as a change to the ordinance? Oh, >> it's it's not a conditional use permit, so conditions can't be applied to it. >> Dang, I thought that was clever. [laughter] >> So, we're actually change we would have
to change the hours of the ordinance or make it specific to anchor it to the residential component. Is that kind of >> the direction we'd have to go? So yeah, I would envision that you'd make potentially specific hours for the TN2 district in the code um and not for the
rest of I will add that um for my experience with uh um licensing food trucks, typical hours of operations are are about 10 to 6. Um you know, it's maybe 10 to 7. Um you know, they're typically not staying open unless
there's a special event until 10:00. >> That's okay. Um, I would um if if somebody would like to make a motion to have staff develop this, maybe the hours 10 to 6 would be hours we want to start with.
>> That's operation and not setup. Correct. I mean, that's what we're >> I think that's what we're saying is operation. Open for >> get the grease hot by 10. >> Yeah. Get the grease. Exactly. Start cleaning at 6. >> What if they're specialties breakfast burritos though?
>> That's where they're again. It would be nice. It' be nice to know. >> I mean, that's where you got to look broader than that. I >> Yeah, I know. 8 to eight or something. >> And I think we're just speculating, but I'm I I I I I'm speculating that the audience are people going to and from the hospital. I I expect that's kind of
the audience they're looking at. That's where a lot of the traffic is, and it provides people with food again, but we're just speculating. >> So, if somebody would like to come up with a motion to direct staff, that would be great. >> Mr. Chair, I'll I'll make a stab at it.
I think what we're doing is we're asking um we're directing staff to to um extend this application for 60 days up to 60 days um um impending more information about
hours of operation relevant to the TN2 district. Um am I missing anything? I can I can take help from others. I'm going to make that my motion. >> I like it. >> Second. >> We have a second. Any discussion?
>> I think there's other concerns, but I I I think that there's if you look at the rules for food trucks, um there's so many other things that that's those are the rules for food trucks. There's a bunch of rule ru rules for the food trucks. So, a lot of things are uh are covered here like you can't have music and you can't be crying out and cry and
blowing a horn, ringing a bell, playing music, or using other noise discernable beyond the unit. So, we we we've got a bunch of rules already. >> That's just for ice cream trucks. >> Exactly. [laughter] They break that rule all the time. >> All right. So, any other discussion?
Otherwise, I'll be looking for a vote here. All right. All in favor of Mike's motions say I >> I post same sign. >> All right. staff has a motion and we'll be back in August on this. >> Mr. Chair, just um just to add to staff's um
list of things on there, I think an action to amend would require us to strike uh 515 342A reference to non-residential because this is going to be in a residential area as well. So, we just got to there's a little bit of homework
on just cleaning up the language itself. and and it and and also just for guidance in the table of uses, I think it's referencing uh 51534 41 and not 42. So it is a chance to pick
up a typo while we're doing y changes >> and and C14 that's the one. So C14 will have to be would have to be um struck and that's on the and the permitted uses for the transient food unit. >> Yep. >> And we've acted on that, right?
>> All right. Very good. All right. With that, we've sort of moved backwards to uh um to 8A. We're going to consider a preliminary plat and development stage planned uh for a planned unit development parcels for the Briner Oaks
outlot E and F. James. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh so Monty Jensen on behalf of Level Contracting has submitted applications for a preliminary plat and development stage planned unit development PUD for outlot ENF of Brainard Oaks. The proposed development will be fully constructed with 10
duplexes for a total of 20 dwelling units. Uh the developer will construct a new city street connecting outlot F to Holden Avenue to provide access to the proposed development. The development will connect to the city sewer, water, and electrical uh system. The public
works and electrical department have no concerns at this time regarding the utilities and will be able to sufficiently supply water, sewer, and electric to the proposed development. The developer intends to preserve as many trees as possible along the west and north side of the property, but due
to the constraints of the site, grading, and to maximize density of the development, trees may need to be removed. A screening plan will be provided with the final PUD application. The neighboring properties have similar uses, density, and setbacks. Uh the proposed development will not be
detrimental to the surrounding uses. Uh the developer will submit final elevations with the final PUB with an additional uh design element to meet the requirements of the zoning code for twotory structures. Right now in the elevation there's essentially two um elements that meet it. So one additional
one additional element is needed. Uh the applicant proposes a sidewalk on the east side of the new road and will connect to the sidewalk on Holton Avenue which then connects to Oak Street. Uh the approximate density for the development is 6.07 dwelling units per acre. The CN2 district allows for a
density range of 4 to 12 dwelling units per acre. Proposed development will not increase flood hazards. Storm water will be managed in accordance with city code which has been reviewed by the city engineer and has no concerns at this time. So with that, staff recommends the following. Motion to hold a public
hearing. Motion to recommend approval of the PUD development stage plan as presented. A motion to recommend approval of the preliminary plat as presented. and I can answer any questions. >> Questions for James. >> I'll start with one question. Um, were
outlaws ENF this is this been part of a master plan for the Brainer Oak development all along or is this a recent addition? Explain to me how we've uh how we came to ENF. >> So um sometimes when plats are created or a development's created um you know
this one has kind of a windy road through it. It was set up for density. Um, you'll have kind of leftover parcels at times. Um, you know, this one was kind of left open-ended. Um, not >> plan to be a park. >> Excuse me. Uh, um, not yet. Go ahead, James.
>> So, yeah, as as the person in the audience um, had talked about, there was um, some discussion about this area having some nature trails in it. Um, there was nothing in a development agreement that set that in stone. Um there was another outlot um I don't know if the planning commission remembers
from about three or four years ago um that had planned to be an actual more park with a playground equipment. Um within that one the parks department uh has kind of made it clear that they're not interested in creating any more parks as as uh the parks that we do have
um are already a lot to maintain for the uh parks department. Um so that one was re replatted to have a home on it. Um, so with that, does that answer your question? >> More or less. Okay, good enough. Other questions for James.
All right. Not hearing any. And we mentioned a motion to hold a hearing. We always hold a hearing. So, I'm just going to go ahead and hold the public hearing here at 6:36. And now, if the petitioner would like to come up and talk about the project, that'd be terrific. Thanks for the practice run there. Sorry
about that. Um >> and and I'll I'll just piggyback a little bit on what what James had said. Um so I I assume the project in 2018 2019 somewhere in there the Brainard Oaks, Serene Pines, and Delmare Estates uh in conjunction working with the HR. H
I I don't know the history of it, but they had they had taken down lot out lot F off the tax forfeit roles. And as we were completing the project, they approached us on, you know, what can be done with this. And I think they approached a lot of people. I think they tried to donate the church, all kinds of different things, you know, I've heard
over the years. Um, we've been working on this for probably over three years to try to make this feasible with city staff, H. So, we're coming up with concepts and stuff. So, this is about as good as it gets to get this concept. We've applied for state grants and and so forth. The challenge
with this and even a challenge um I I think this is why city staff has supported this and HA and and come together with this is because this is probably the best benefit to the taxpayers. It's going to get housing. It's that's going to be split up over
the levies. It's going to increase uh a rental housing that we do need in the community cuz I do rent some new homes and things like that already in the oaks and that brings in doctors and different people that are looking for that type of new housing before they find something more permanent in the community. Um so
they see a lot of different needs there. Um before my days of working in Briner Oaks, the H allowed mining of dirt in there that created a bunch of infrastructure problems. It's really not not feasible to go on and put parks. it's going to cost six figures to fix
these kind of things. So, I think that's why housing was a was a better idea and we got to the plan where we are because it more there's a little bit more cost there justified. So, that's kind of the history of the project. Um, we've done a lot in the city and we can get this done. This is very easy for us and that's why we're here as the applicant
today. >> All right. Questions for the applicant. >> Regarding your lot 21, how is that going to operate into the future? I mean, is there an association or maintenance mowing the grass? >> Okay. So, in our contract with the HA,
we're to I I don't know the exact years if it's three or five years where to rent these properties to start out. Um, one of the things we're doing that I'm working um with um city um planner and community development director is that we've done some of these projects where
some of them are HR HOAs and some of them are not and they're are joined units which can cause a lot of conflict and issues down the time down over time. So, what we we're going to do is draft covenants that puts a deed restriction on each one of these properties and we're going to plat it with common wall
property lines so they could be sold as single family homes to individuals down the road. There's going to be anniversary dates and restrictions and I've shared a draft with uh Mr. convict about how we've done that before in communities where we didn't have HOAs.
So that if there's a hail storm and one side of the building needs a roof replaced because an insurance company, the other side needs to do the same. If it hits an anniversary date to say like 25 years, then they need to um comply with city ordinance or mutually agree as
as a joint property owner to take care of those. So aesthetically and how the propertyy's maintained, it's going to have all of those anniversary dates in there. So the community is protected. The city doesn't have to deal with it. They have a legal document recorded with the county. Um and so the city staff is going to review that and and possibly
this commission if that's what you'd like to, however you want to go about it. >> A question about water. Um is this property been used as part of the storm water retention for other parts of the development? Is there a storm is there water retention already on this property that you're looking at?
>> Correct. So I can show you on the map if you'd like, but yes, part of the Marine Oaks um storm water management is there and we're expanding that pond and we're cleaning it all up and redoing all the grading. So this is also going to improve the infrastructure that's there now. That would be commonly either the
HR or the city's responsibility. It will be handed back over the cities, but again there this would be all we've met with Paul Handy on this and you know it's all going to be refreshed and and brought up to date and and essentially another benefit to the city. >> Thank you. Other questions to the
applicant? I think we're good for now. We might have a question later, but thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Would anybody else like to uh like to address the commission? >> Yeah. >> Stephanie, can you help? Yeah, perfect. Stephanie's going to help you there.
I can talk about trust me. >> We have people online that need to hear as well, ma'am. So that >> Okay. I'm trying to show you where I live >> is that top one, >> ma'am. There we go. You don't have to I'll pick you up pretty good right there.
>> Okay. Um I think it's right there. Not the where it says Bri Brainer, but down one. That's my house. Number four. And we've lived there for eight years.
And the curves in this road make it very dangerous, especially if there's people parked on the inside. And I've seen the people speeding through there when they were kids racing through um before all
the houses. But if you move it back up where the entrance is going to be for the outlot right there, the house on the north side or whatever the out, you know, of the
outlet, they have frequent parties, multiple parking on the street. The house on the other side consistently has at least one, sometimes three parked on the street. And then the next house has
a lot of people that come. You need to take that traffic flow into account because that's on an outside curve but with a lot of cars and that's very dangerous. The kids are forced to play either in the street or
in the the roundabout the courtyards the courts York quarter the other. We were trying to make it a community. We've done potlucks, a food truck. Uh they're doing the gardening to the Brainer Oaks and signs and did the painting to that.
Um but I think you just, you know, I was told I talked to James and I was told that would be a park and I have Paxmar built my house. I have a open floor plan
open to the ground. I had to pay $4,000. Yeah. to get it filled with because he allowed them to go ahead and add a room on that was never joined properly to the rest of the house
and disregarded ordinances left and right because you're supposed to according to the ordinance on your plan have where all the windows, the electrical outlets and all that on there. Nothing on there. It was even on
the wrong side. It's just a mess. But they sold out and the state won't do anything. But that's not the problem. This is the problem. I can understand the tax base. You want to increase your tax base, but this is a hazard. The kids
need a place to to park, you know, to play. There were eight of them out on the York court the other day playing ball, you know. It's dangerous. Take a drive down Holton Avenue.
>> I I appreciate your thoughts and I I I do uh I do appreciate your your viewpoint on things and I want to thank you for your comments tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Would anybody else like to uh um address the commission?
>> Come on up. It's easy. >> Come on up. You don't. >> I know you don't. >> We're good, folks. >> I'm a teacher. I can handle this. Um, I guess my question is just that the street that's going to >> your name >> Oh, I'm sorry. Is Katherine Nelson >> and you live in in in in this area?
>> 978 Holton Avenue. Yes, we live been there 5 [clears throat] years. >> My concern, one of my concerns is that the street that they're going to be building off of Holton to go to the duplexes, that seems like um it doesn't seem very wide. it doesn't seem like it
could accommodate um a bunch of cars and then that traffic is going to be a lot too. Holden Avenue gets used for a lot of um people like they'll go from 18 to 28th like they'll do like a shortcut. So we have that traffic going through there
but we also have um so with with this new traffic it'll be it'll be congested. I'm concerned about that. Um so >> all right thank you very much. I appreciate your thoughts. Anybody else like to speak tonight? >> No. All right. You tried. Do we have
anybody online? All right. Then I will close the public hearing at 6:46 and invite any discussion andor motions. >> No questions. >> Have questions for James. Mr. Chair, >> please. >> Uh, are there street lights in this
area? And if there are, is one proposed for that corner? >> Typically, intersections will have street lights. Um, I could find that answer out for you. That'd be more of a question for the city engineer whether there'd be a requirement on that intersection.
>> At this point, we've closed the public hearing. We're kind of we've closed the public hearing at this point. So, I'm sorry. >> All right. >> Any other uh discussion or thoughts, questions? >> Mr. Chair, >> please. Um, could we look at the um
the the elevation plan, please, Max? [clears throat] There we go. Um, so we had um we had the the conversation. We've seen this um in previous uh meetings as it's been maturing as a uh as a project concept.
Um and uh during the ordinance development process, some of us were um part of that. We had extensive develop discussion around um garage forward design like this. Um and and really not wanting to have
the garage be sort of the forward structure in a in a profile of a building. Um, and so at the previous time that the applicant is here, um, I had requested that a a
window be placed next to the, um, entry door there so that it conveys that it's it's it you're entering a home and not a garage. Um, so if you look at the floor plan, that entry door goes in and on the left
hand side or on the next to that is a bathroom. Um, so and and at the time the applicant said it wouldn't be a problem, and I would believe that's probably still the case. It won't be a problem to put a
window in in the bathroom and and and perhaps Mr. Jensen can clarify that. Um, but I, you know, it can be a high window, it could be an awning, it could be a stationary window, doesn't have to open. It could be an awning window, but
the idea that it's conveying that that there is living space so that you have something more than just a garage door and an entry door. So, you know, >> I hear you. >> Um, so at that time and during that meeting, um, that was something that the applicant had said was not a problem to
to be able to incorporate there. So we can check back with that. That would be something I would be adding as a condition to any approvals at tonight's uh meeting. So >> if you'd like to answer the question, come on up. >> Yeah, I um so just to clarify that that is 100% correct and um being that this
was we were more focused on the engineering and plat submitted update. We already have a full updated plans with all of that. >> So uh generally the floor plan and design, but we we do have it and we do have that mill window as we agreed upon. So we just didn't submit the updated plans. This was more about the platin
engineering. >> All right. Thank you. I >> So I can provide that to >> Thank you, Mr. Ch. >> Thank you. >> Other discussion, questions? Anybody is feeling a motion? Mr. Chair, I um move to recommend approval of the PUD development stage
plan as presented with the addition from that was made. It sounds like it was amendable. >> Is that enough for you there, James? All right, so we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second. Too slow, Justin. Uh
any discussion? All right. Hearing no discussion. >> So it's approved. >> Ma'am, the public hearing is over. Okay. >> And uh so now all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. Close. Same sign. >> We have made uh we have approved this. James will let us know what the next
steps are. >> So before that, would you like to make a motion on the plat or do you want me >> Oh, we have two. That's right. We got so uh tied up in our first. And so, um, uh, Tad, were you doing the >> I'm happy to. I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.
>> Yeah, we're going to need a PUD and a plat, and those are the two [clears throat] we need. >> So, then I would have a mot a motion to recommend approval of the preliminary plat as presented. >> Okay. >> Second. >> And we have a second. Any discussion? >> All right. All in favor of that say I.
>> I. >> All right. Post same sign. There we go. Now we can talk about next steps. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, so as the planning commission is a recommending body, this will go before the city council on July 20th for final
consideration of the preliminary plat as well as the general development PUD plan. Um, just to note, um, this is is a two-step process. So, this is kind of the first step with it. Um if it does pass city council, the applicant then would also um need to apply for the
final plan for the PUD um as well as the final plat and and the applicant would also be applying to reszone it to a PUD development um district as well. >> Very good. All right, that moves us on
to um HC. We're going to look at a CUP to operate an auto repair and reconditioning service at 715 Charles Street. James want to set us up on this one? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Josh Miles has applied to operate an auto repair and reconditioning service at 715 Charles
Street. The property at 715 Charles Street is in the makers and employment me zoning district and zoning zoning ordinance 515-3 allowed uses appendix A table of uses allows for auto repair and auto body shops as a conditional use permit. Uh, all outdoor storage of
vehicles shall be screened by at least a 6ft fence, but not in excess of 8 and 1/2 ft in height and shall be 90% opaque fence. Uh, the applicant does not plan on storing vehicles outside of the auto repair shop. So, this would not apply. Uh, the entire parcel is covered in a
biminous uh or concrete surface which is uh impermeable and would satisfy the minimum requirement standards for dust and drainage controls. uh proposed use will not create any external dangers or injurous conditions to the surrounding properties. Uh the use is consistent with the surrounding properties and the
applicant is proposing no exterior changes at this time. Uh so with that, staff recommends a motion uh to hold the public hearing and then recommend approval of the conditional use permit for an auto repair and reconditioning service at 715 Charles Street. And I can answer any questions.
>> Questions for James? >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, please. Um, uh, Dr. Crown, the property to the south, I believe technically is the Paul Bunan Trail, which is a recreational trail through
the area. My that's not railroad property there on that back back lot of that. >> The trail does pass right behind that. Yeah. So the point point being a point of relevancy there is that that u that's
different and and would have sort of a it'll relate back I guess to screening and those sorts of things. >> So we we can change that for the findings for city council um to indicate that to the south. Um, you know, certainly if the applicant would propose
um storing vehicles out there specifically, um, one of the big concerns is auto body repair shops that um, bring in severely damaged vehicles um, are screened uh, appropriately with that. Um, if the applicant did want to um, have vehicles outside, they'd have
to amend the conditional use permit. Correct. >> Correct. And I and that's the that's the point of emphasis I was getting at just to for the applicant to fully understand um that the inside storage is going to be a requirement. Otherwise um you know folks using the recreation
trail aren't going to want to look at damage to cars and other things there along that area. Although adjacent properties may not look different from that right now. So thank you Mr. Chair. Mr. Erikson, >> just to I guess piggyback on that comment. Um I think the description
there, I could be wrong, but I think that's accurate. The trail is is likely in our rightway and so I think it's technically correct that the southern property is BNSF given that the trail is in our city rightway. And maybe if James
could maybe clarify, but your I think your point is I would agree with the spirit of what you were saying, but I think the how it was presented is accurate. potentially we could add at the use um the use side of things. >> I have a question too. Is the building
just to the right uh is that the the old muddy bike uh uh the muddy uh bikes building just to the just to the east of there? I'm just trying I'm trying to locate that exactly in my mind which building that is. >> Correct. >> That okay. Oh, that's that. And that like used to be a glass place or
something. I I do believe. >> All right, that helps a little bit there. >> All right. And I I want to I would also jump on that. When you ride the trail through that area, one of the things you notice is a lot of um auto parts and things that are piled up against the uh
I'm not going to pick on any one business, but there's a lot of um junk piled up along the uh the property lines, the southern property lines. That's really not not a uh not siteworthy there. Um any other questions or discussion before we open a public hearing?
If not, I'm going to open a public hearing at 656 and I would invite the applicant to come on up to talk about the project. >> Certainly. >> Uh my name's Josh Miles. I'm the one applying for it. Do you want my home address? >> Sure. >> Uh 26746 County Road 4 in Nisa.
And yeah, so what I'm applying for is surrounding businesses are all quite similar to that as been discussed previously. Um I operate a business Lakes Area Auto Solutions a couple blocks away. So what I'm looking to do is just expand our capacity for um getting vehicles ready
to sell. Um so it's similar to what we do a few blocks away in Baxter. Intention is to um again just get cars essentially cleaned up um reconditioned in terms of automotive repair stuff like that. Get them ready for our lot. Um so we won't be conducting any sales.
there'll be no public traffic there. Um or there won't be a sales office or anything like that. Um as far as like surrounding properties, none of them have fences back there. I'm inclined to put up a fence just for privacy reasons a for the people going by the trail if I
were to go by there. I would prefer to have that as well. And then just to um or dissuade people from, you know, because there are some people that'll go by there. So come in and dig through your car. I'd rather have some kind of fencing anyway. So, I kind of intend to
do that regardless. Um, but yeah, that's kind of the overview. Do you guys have questions at all or >> I I have one question. Um, uh, will the public be invited to bring their cars to get them repaired there or will this be exclusively your own cars that you'll be repaired? >> Yeah. Uh, it would just be exclusively
our cars. Any public stuff would happen at our other location. >> Other questions for the applicant? >> Yes, Justin. >> So, if I'm understanding correct, I just want to make sure. Yeah. >> Um, the point of this is this is going to be your repair center. Any storage of vehicles is going to take place in
Baxter at your car lot. >> Um, well, I mean, we store cars in back in Baxter. And so, um, just to make sure I'm understanding clearly, there will be some cars that are waiting to be, you know, reconditioned and taken care of. So, it won't be completely void of any
cars. Okay. And then a second question. Um, you know, I looking at it from the maps, the building doesn't look horribly big. How many cars do you expect to have there being serviced? And how many do you think you'd be able to fit inside overnight?
>> Um, so I would say probably in the neighborhood of a total of eight or 10 cars could be there at any given time. Um, and then are you saying in addition to cars that were waiting to go inside or >> No, I'm just saying, you know, cars,
part of this is cars can't be stored overnight outside because they'd have to be screened. Um, so just making sure that the number of cars you have that are being repaired there are going to be able to fit inside at the end of the night. >> So just so I'm clear. So when you say screened and again the neighboring
business all have cars that are parked outside overnight. Um, so if I were to when you say screen, are you talking like a a fence that >> correct? >> So if I if I put a fence up that blocks that, am I able to store cars overnight outside? >> This would be a question for James.
>> Yeah, that'd be a question for James. >> Yeah. So the planning commission could add a condition um to the conditional use permit that the the applicant would have to add the the proper screening requirements on there that meet the the fence um regulations as well as the
regulations in this section. in order to store vehicles on site, >> which I'm certainly, you know, not opposed to. Again, in light of the fact that all the other surrounding, you know, if you look at Advanced Auto and Westside Auto, I'm >> not talking about the other businesses.
>> Okay. Um, yeah. So, no, I'm certainly not not uh not opposed to putting up a fence or a screen is whatever term or do I guess what I'm saying is my intention isn't to pull every car in overnight cuz that would just, you know, it'd be cumbersome and it would not really be
conducive to what I'm looking to do there. So, >> so you would be pulling all the vehicles in every night. >> No, I'm saying I would rather put up a fence, which I would do anyways. >> That seems to be the opposite of what was presented, but Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions for the applicant? >> I think that's all. We may have further
questions, but I think that'll suffice for now. >> Okay. Sounds good. Thank you, guys. >> All right. Would anybody else like to address the commission? Max, do we have anybody online? All right, I'm comfortable opening uh I'll close the public hearing then at 7:01 and uh open it up to discussion,
questions or motion. >> Well, the clarification, Mr. Chair, >> yes, please, >> is helpful. That was the sort of where I was trying to get to with my questions as staff is that if we're if we're intending to have
have outside storage um the the visual impacts and such are going to be important to manage. We have we have u language already in the ordinance to address that. So, um, if there's no
other discussion, I would, um, I would make the, u the motion to recommend approval of the conditional use permit for an auto repair reconditioning service with overnight storage outside storage of vehicles at
1715 or 7:15 Charles Street. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> And we have a second. Can I check uh may I check with staff to make sure that I got that right? >> I think you I think we should. >> So I would add the condition that it would have to meet the screening
requirements of the section. >> Thank you. And and and if and if I may add add that component to there just for clarification because the ordinance does state it, but we're clarifying that you need to meet the screening criteria of the ordinance.
>> All right, >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes, please. Could James or someone help clarify >> the whole thing? Yeah. >> Now, did help clarify the screening requirements? Yeah. >> And I guess where would the screening be or would that be dependent on where
they're stored? >> Uh because Well, go ahead. >> Yeah. So, that would be dependent uh on where the vehicles are stored. So, all vehicles stored overnight would have to be screened. >> So, if they store them in the back, we got to screen you got to put up a fence and screen them from the uh railroad.
>> Yeah. they be screened from the side or just the just the the basically. So you're looking at how many sides we're looking at our at our east or our west and our south. So if all three of those sides would require screening the building would be its own screen.
So I believe the building would would count for screen. Let me pull up our agenda here. I'll get the exact language. So, it doesn't indicate um that it has to be screened from neighboring properties um or from rightsway. It just says it does have to be screened by at
least a six a 6ft fence um and cannot exceed 8 and 1/2 ft in height. So the building would exceed um six feet in height. So you wouldn't have to put a fence along the building, but the surrounding property you would have to >> it would require three fences
essentially three three directions. >> Y does that help? >> It it does. I guess I just get every time we deal with a property in this neighborhood, I always bring up that, you know, BNSF is the most intrusive use we have in the community. And so to
require somebody to screen, you know, their use for the railroad, I I don't And so maybe if it's for the other property owners or the front, I understand that. But we're talking about the rear neighbor to the the railroad, I
I guess I don't understand that. >> The trail is the neighbor to the south. >> We have a motion on the floor. Any other discussion on it? are uh are we specific enough? >> I I believe we are because it's just got file code at this point.
>> All right. All right. Excellent. Well, with that, um if there isn't any other discussion, um I will say all in favor say I. >> I same sign. >> Next step for the applicant. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, this will be heard at the city council meeting on
July 20th at 7:30 for a final decision. Okay. Very good. Thank you. >> Very good. Thank you. All right, with that we are on to staff reports. Janice, what you got? >> Yeah. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. So, just one update for the commission. Um, the city council did pass the Shorland
ordinance. Um, it has been published in the paper. The only thing we are waiting for now is the final approval letter. Um, so the DNR uh gives a conditional approval letter to kind of move forward with the public hearing and the ordinance. Um, so staff is just waiting for the final approval letter um from
the DNR and then that ordinance goes into effect. Excellent. I like it. Um, we move on to uh 10 commission member reports. Tad, got anything? >> Uh, nothing further. Thanks. >> All right, Justin? >> I have nothing.
>> Nothing. Very good. Mr. Dval, it's very apparent that mother nature doesn't want anybody to go out. Lets up with the heat and smokes us out. [laughter] >> We'll just leave it at that. >> But yet, some of us have to. >> All right, Mr. Peterson,
>> I you know, I do want to just bring up something quick or whatever. It's not really a report, but I've been thinking a whole lot too much, and nobody will accuse me of being Einstein's relative, but um you know, I'm not a fan of design standards, but what I'm hearing on these
podcasts and everything anymore, we're going to be in an energy crisis coming up, the way it sounds. And solar is one of those things. I got a good friend that works at MIDOT, and we're always talking about why don't you put solar in the roads? Why don't you do along the, you know, the ditches or
whatever? Because I hear the stories of what they pay for easements to put up snow fence. Well, why don't you just put up solar units along there? >> And then you go down to the city and you see this farmland is gone and you got solar units everywhere, you know, and
and I've seen a couple things where they're putting them in parking lots now, elevating them. Makes sense to me. in parking lots, your your cars out of sun, all that good stuff. It's going to help the pavement, all those things. But what I to get back down to
is um we go to the Florida Keys a lot and they have design standards. You have to get so many points to be able to build a house. One is you have to buy another lot. You have to have solar, so much solar. You have to have not a big negative impact. I don't like that. That's not what we need to do here. But
there are some incentives I'm thinking that the city of Brainard could do to start is you know and and I don't know have the answers but it's just to start thinking is all right in in new construction like we've got the new one coming up with duplexes. Well maybe
there's no building permits if he's putting solar on it. There's no fees for that. I don't know. It's just something to look at. Or taxes are forgiven for one year to make it cost effective or push that a little bit to do that. I'm not saying they have to. I'm just saying
it's an option. It might spur some people a little bit more. That's my comment. >> I like it. >> All right. What you got, sir? >> I don't think nearly as much as member Peterson, Mr. Chair, so I'm [laughter] good. >> That's the first time in two years,
though. Ch. We'll give you another year. All right, question for James. Are solar arrays, isn't that on the agenda? Isn't that one of those things we keep pushing off? Is looking at solar? >> It is on the agenda. Um, and I think I may have moved it uh above one other item. I think it will be important. Uh,
hopefully we get to that this winter and there's no other emergency ordinances that we have to work on. Um, but yeah, perhaps uh what Commissioner Peterson was stating could be, you know, along with the ordinance a recommendation for council to consider. >> There you go. You'll have an opportunity. >> Yeah. God.
>> Unless something else comes up, [laughter] we push it back again. All right. With that, I'm looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. We don't care. All right. Thank you.