Stillwater Planning Commission 02/06/2024

Summary

The Stillwater Planning Commission's February 6, 2024 meeting covered two major items. First, a map amendment request for rezoning property near the high school was approved after discussions about traffic and infrastructure concerns. Next, a short-term rental application for 1116 North Sunnybrook Drive was reviewed and approved, with the applicant outlining policies for the property. The meeting also included approvals for previous meeting minutes and a reminder about the Comprehensive 2040 Plan Open House. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn after addressing all items on the agenda.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Stillwater Planning Commission held a meeting on February 6th, 2024, discussing various agenda items, starting with a map amendment request (MA 23-7).
• 😀 The proposed map amendment involves rezoning properties at 1515 North Boomer Road and 1120 North Husband Street from CS and CG to Public for a new high school project.
• 😀 The school district’s representative clarified that the rezoning request aims to clean up land use issues for the school’s expansion, specifically for a portion of land previously gifted to the district.
• 😀 A public hearing was held, where one local resident expressed concerns about the potential increase in traffic and existing infrastructure issues, including sewage problems and littering in the area.
• 😀 The school district has been working with the city and utilities to address infrastructure concerns, including relocating sewer and water lines, and a traffic impact analysis is in progress to assess the high school’s effect on local traffic.
• 😀 The Planning Commission recommended approval of the map amendment, citing the consistency with the surrounding public zoning and comprehensive plan.
• 😀 The next agenda item was a short-term rental (STR) application for a property at 1116 North Sunnybrook Drive, which was previously discussed in a similar application for a neighboring property.
• 😀 The applicants, Kevin and Amy Carwell, provided details about their STR management policies, including a minimum 2-night rental, 21+ age restriction, no party policy, and a screening process for potential renters.
• 😀 The applicants confirmed that the house can accommodate up to 6 people, and the parking situation includes a 4-car driveway and a 2-car garage, with additional street parking.
• 😀 No public opposition was raised during the STR public hearing, and the Planning Commission approved the STR application with a vote of 4-1.
• 😀 The meeting also included approval of meeting summaries from previous sessions, discussion of an upcoming comprehensive plan open house, and a note that the review of city plans is still ongoing in other departments.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the February 6th meeting of the Stillwater Planning Commission?

The purpose of the meeting is to review and discuss various agenda items, including a map amendment for a school project and a request for a short-term rental license. The process involves hearing from staff, the applicant or their representative, and the public, followed by deliberation and recommendations by the commission.

What is the proposed map amendment for the property at 1515 North Boomer Road and 1120 North Husband Street?

The map amendment proposes a rezoning of the property from CS (Commercial Shopping) and CG (Commercial General) to Public, to facilitate the expansion of a school project near the intersection of Franklin and Boomer.

What were some concerns raised by the public regarding the school project?

A public speaker expressed concerns about potential increased traffic congestion on Boomer Street and existing infrastructure issues, such as sewage problems and debris in Stillwater Creek. They also raised concerns about general cleanup in the area.

How did the applicant respond to the concerns about traffic and infrastructure?

The applicant explained that the primary access to the new high school will be off Franklin and that the current drive from Boomer will be removed. They also mentioned that a traffic impact analysis is being conducted. Regarding infrastructure, they stated that there has been collaboration with the city and utility companies, and they anticipate improvements in stormwater management due to more green space.

What were the alternatives presented by the staff for the map amendment?

The alternatives were to accept the findings and recommend that the city council approve the proposed map amendment, to reject the amendment based on its potential impact on the surrounding area, or to table the request for further discussion.

What is the proposed short-term rental application for the property at 1116 North Sunny Brook Drive?

The application is for a short-term rental license for the property at 1116 North Sunny Brook Drive. The applicant, Kevin and Amy Carwell, had previously applied for a rental license for a nearby property and now seek approval for this new property.

What policies and procedures did the applicants outline for their short-term rental?

The applicants outlined several policies, including a two-night minimum stay, an age restriction of 21 or older, and a maximum occupancy of six people. They also stated that they would screen guests, prohibit parties and events, and ensure family-friendly stays. The driveway can accommodate up to four cars, and they have cameras on site for security.

How did the applicants plan to handle parking and maximum occupancy for their short-term rental?

The applicants mentioned that the driveway can hold up to four cars, but comfortably accommodates three. The house has a two-car garage, and additional parking is available in front of the property. The maximum occupancy for the rental is six people, with exceptions for young children.

What was the Planning Commission's decision regarding the short-term rental application?

The Planning Commission approved the short-term rental application after a brief discussion, with no objections raised from the public.

What were the action items at the end of the meeting regarding meeting summaries and city plans?

The commission reviewed and approved meeting summaries from previous meetings, including those from July 11, 2023, October 3, 2023, and October 17, 2023. They also discussed the upcoming comprehensive 2040 open house, which will involve public participation in the development of a long-term city plan.