In a 40-minute meeting Tuesday night, the Becker City Council discussed a variance for the Kwik Trip store project, a policy to deal with public protests, T-Town parking lot improvements and 2017 meeting dates.

 

At last month’s meeting, council gave city staff direction to assemble a final design and plan for parking in the T-Town district of Becker.

 

The city owns a large portion of property along Central Avenue that they have been holding for future commercial development. However, with the dire needs for parking for current area businesses and the additional parking space needs expected when LaFloyd’s opens next year — staff decided to develop the city-owned property into 32 parking stalls to the north of Gruenes Dental, while retaining some space on the property for a future commercial building.

 

A concept plan was designed by SEH and presented to city staff identifying the parking lot and future commercial buildings and sidewalks. City Administrator Greg Pruszinske said if the design is approved by council, staff will proceed and reach out to contractors in an effort to be ready to perform the work as soon as the plan is complete. The hope is to have the lot completed yet this fall, but if not, have something in place (gravel parking lot) with completion of a blacktop parking lot in the spring.

 

The project is projected to come in under $100,000.

 

Council approved.

 

Kwik Trip Inc. has submitted an application to amend the original conditional use permit for the property located at 12950 Rolling Ridge Road SE (currently the SA Gas Station). 

 

The amendment request is to allow for the demolition of the car wash, a building remodel and addition and a new fueling canopy. 

 

The planning commission reviewed the request at their Aug. 29  meeting and the city council approved the conditional use permit amendment at their Sept.  6 meeting.

 

One of the conditions of the amendment required the applicant to submit an application for a variance regarding the required parking stalls.

 

With the building expansion and fuel stations, current ordinance would require 74 parking stalls. However, city staff proposed changes to the parking ordinance prior to this application, but the amended ordinance had not been finalized. Legal reviewed the CUP amendment request and the parking variance requirement and determined the necessary variance as a standard request and would fit state statute and city variance requirements.

 

In order to grant a variance, the city must consider several findings including  "practical difficulties" that apply to the property, the variance will not alter the essential character of the locality, the variance is in harmony and with the general purpose and intent of the ordinance and consistent with the comprehensive plan and granting the variance does not create a use not provided in the zoning district, amongst others.

 

Community Development Coordinator Marie Pflipsen  provided the information to council and they voted to approve the variance. Pflipsen said a purchase agreement is in place between SA and Kwik Trip and the next step will be the buyer to apply for permits and submit plans to the city.

 

Clerk Julie Blesi brought forth a calendar with dates for the upcoming city council meetings in 2017.

 

Per law, the city has to set the dates via a resolution. Council has had in depth conversations on whether to change the day of the week or the times for the meetings. Mayor Lefty Kleis opted for meetings to be switched to Mondays, but his proposal was voted down by council members.

 

Blesi noted all the meeting dates for 2017 are on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. with the exception of two dates. The first date is July 4 and since that day is a holiday, council will move the meeting to the following Wednesday of the same week.

 

The first Tuesday in August is the city’s annual Night to Unite event, so Blesi said the council meeting would again be moved to the next day, a Wednesday, for the meeting of council.

 

Council approved with Rick Hendrickson, Lori Keller, Tracy Bertram and Todd Hanrahan voting in favor of the meeting dates for 2017 while Mayor Kleis voted, “naye”.

 

City Administrator Greg Pruszinske said staff identified an area where the city doesn't currently have a broad reaching administrative policy to guide administrative staff when it comes to public protests. 

 

Pruszinske said the policy would be for  protests conducted  on city property — including leased or rented land. 

 

“We think it is an important policy to have in place as it will give us broad direction in the event of a group wanting to protest,” said Pruszinske.

 

The purpose of the policy is to provide direction to public safety officers and city staff during disturbances or demonstrations which may affect city owned buildings. This section is not intended to in any way infringe upon the rights of citizens to lawfully assemble or engage in free speech activities.

 

Council approved the policy.

 

The next council meeting is Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.