This transcript is for a **Farmington Planning Commission** meeting. Based on the context provided and the dialogue, here are the speaker identifications. **Note on Personnel:** While the prompt provided City Council members, Planning Commission meetings are typically chaired by a Planning Commission Chair (in this case, **Chair Rody**) and staffed by City Planners (identified in the transcript as **Tony** and **Jared**). *** [0:00] **[Music]** [0:49] **Chair Rody:** All right, we'll call the meeting to order. On behalf of the Planning Commission, I'd like to welcome our residents and viewers to this regular meeting. Uh, it's Wednesday, August 14th, 2024. On tonight's agenda, we have three public hearings and one discussion item. Uh, before we get into the public hearings, um, we got one housekeeping item to take care of—that would be the minutes from our July 9th regular meeting. Are there any additions or corrections to those minutes? If not, is there a motion? [1:18] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** Motion to approve. [1:20] **Chair Rody:** We have a motion [for] approval. Is there a second? [1:22] **Commissioner Leato:** I'll second. [1:24] **Chair Rody:** Motion and a second. All in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). Minutes are officially approved. With that, then, we'll open up all three public hearings at this time. We will take them as shown on the agenda. Um, the first public hearing is a conditional use permit to allow the expansion of a truck terminal within the I-1 zoning district. The applicant is R&L Carriers. The location is 5260 208th Street West. And Tony, you're going to take this? [1:57] **Tony (Staff Planner):** I am. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Commission members. Uh, yes, as Chair Rody had mentioned, uh, before you tonight is a request for a conditional use permit, um, from R&L Carriers for the expansion of a truck terminal within our I, or industrial, zoning district. And as Chair Rody had mentioned, the subject property is 5260 208th Street West. [Tony continues with technical details regarding lot size, zoning, and site plans through 7:30]. [7:30] **Chair Rody:** All right, thank you, Tony. With us tonight, a representative from R&L Carriers. Mr. Richards, do you have anything to add to the staff report? [7:38] **Stan Richards (Applicant):** I do not. [7:40] **Chair Rody:** Okay, this is a public hearing. If there are any comments or questions regarding this uh, CUP (conditional use permit), please raise your hand. Ms. Ackerman, you want to... can you? [8:04] **Barb Ackerman (Neighbor):** Hi, my name is Barb Ackerman and I own one of the parcels directly south of this expansion. And I don't have really any problems with the expansion as long as... um, I'm concerned about runoff, which I've talked to Tony a couple times about. I looked at the roof line and you just want to make sure we don't... that's a long roof line, we don't end up with a lot of water on our lot. That's one concern. The other concern is noise. So if there's anything we can do about screening or things to cut down the truck noise. [8:41] **Chair Rody:** All right, thank you. We ask Mr. Richards: how will R&L respond to your neighbors to the south? [8:50] **Stan Richards:** Thank you, uh, Chairman and Commission members and staff. Stan Richards, 600 Gillum Road, Wilmington, Ohio. Uh, first of all, I want to talk about the runoff. [Mr. Richards explains the detention pond and noise mitigation through 11:08]. [11:08] **Chair Rody:** Mr. Richards, could you have your engineer just for five minutes explain... as long as you brought them with, I mean, put them to use. [11:18] **Austin Watts (Engineer):** And Austin Watts with Kimley-Horn, 200 South Tryon Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. Um, is there a pointer that I can...? [Mr. Watts uses the screen to explain the drainage system]. [12:17] **Chair Rody:** Any other questions that we could help with? Mr. Ackerman, do you have anything? You're out in that area, too. [13:17] **Mr. Ackerman (Neighbor):** No, I don't have any questions. We have not experienced any drainage problems over to the bus terminal property... [Mr. Ackerman discusses the gas pipeline easement]. [14:03] **Barb Ackerman:** Ms. Ackerman, did it answer your questions? I mean, um, I'm more comfortable with telling me about that runoff. That works. I didn't understand the noise situation... [Discussion continues between Barb Ackerman and Stan Richards regarding yard trucks and noise]. [16:40] **Stan Richards:** Because we truly pride ourselves on being good neighbors. In the event that the noise does increase, I would like for you to contact us and then I'll look at either landscape planning that we can increase or screening of the fences. [17:00] **Chair Rody:** Barb, for your sake, rather than trying to contact him, you could go through the City Planner if you have any issues. Okay, fair enough. All right, any other comments or questions regarding this conditional use permit? If not, we'll bring it back. Commissioner Teske? [17:21] **Commissioner Teske:** Just a question with regard to truck movement. Is it limited hours during the day, or are trucks moving in and out throughout the entire day and throughout the night? [17:31] **Stan Richards:** Good, good question. We are considered 24-hour operation, and I'll explain why. [Explains shift schedules and freight distribution]. [19:20] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** No, I think it looks good. I, you know, you've explained it to us before and it's a good explanation, a good presentation. And of course, I welcome and appreciate the expansion. It's good. [19:35] **Commissioner Leato:** It looks good. No questions. Thank you. [19:40] **Commissioner Snowback:** Just curiosity, any new jobs created? Besides construction, will there be additional jobs created? [19:48] **Stan Richards:** So with that additional dock, uh, we're hoping that there'll be somewhere between 25 or 30 jobs created to start off with. [20:00] **Chair Rody:** Anything else, Mitch? I'm good, thank you. Um, through Mr. Richards and Ms. Ackerman's questions and answers, you've answered all mine. [Chair Rody summarizes and calls for a motion to close]. [20:39] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** Motion to close the public hearing. [20:41] **Commissioner Teske:** I'll second. [20:43] **Chair Rody:** Motion and a second to close the public hearing. Call the roll, please. [20:46] **Tony (Staff):** Winshuttle? (Yes). Teske? (Yes). Rody? (Yes). Leato? (Yes). Snowback? (Yes). [21:03] **Chair Rody:** Mr. Richards, before we get into a motion on the CUP, do you accept the conditions that staff presented in the staff report? [21:10] **Stan Richards:** 100%. [21:12] **Chair Rody:** All right, thank you. With that, then, I'd look for a motion for the conditional use permit to allow the expansion of a truck terminal within the industrial zoning district at 5260 208th Street with the three conditions that the applicant agreed to. Is there a motion? [21:28] **Commissioner Snowback:** I'll make the motion. [21:30] **Commissioner Leato:** I'll second. [21:34] **Tony (Staff):** Teske? (Yes). Rody? (Yes). Leato? (Yes). Snowback? (Yes). Winshuttle? (Yes). [21:44] **Chair Rody:** All right, thank you for your time and thank you for coming to the hearing. You have a good night. Now with that, we'll move into our second public hearing. This is a conditional use permit to construct a salt storage shed within the R1 zoning district. The applicant is the City of Farmington. Tony, you get me again? [22:04] **Tony (Staff Planner):** All right. Uh, yes, the request is from the City. We are requesting approval of a conditional use permit for a salt storage shed within the R1 low-density residential zoning district. [Tony explains the need for the shed due to Dakota County relocating their current facility and details the structure]. [27:18] **Commissioner Leato:** Um, I just... forgive me, but um, when the salt's there, is it just kind of like a pile of salt? Is there some security? I'm just concerned if a lot of people still go there to try and recycle boxes and things like that. [27:35] **Tony (Staff Planner):** There hasn't been any expressed concern with that, specifically with its location by the maintenance facility, the fire station, and the police station right there. [28:04] **Commissioner Snowback:** Did you look at any other locations or sites, Tony, when you went into this process? [28:09] **Tony (Staff Planner):** I don't believe we did. I think this was a site that we had identified back when we originally constructed the campus up there back in 2001. [Explains logistical efficiency]. [29:37] **Commissioner Teske:** Um, can you just help answer a question for me? So long-term, this is permanent? And just wondering if they've reviewed—you've reviewed—the wind load that that building can support. [30:02] **Tony (Staff Planner):** The contractor that we're looking to utilize for this has submitted information that it does meet all wind and snow loads. [30:23] **Chair Rody:** Tony, this was noticed correctly? (Tony: It was). The reason I asked is, you know, there's no residents and it is in the middle. I have no issues with it. With that, I look for a motion to close the public hearing. [31:21] **Commissioner Leato:** Motion to close. [31:23] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** Second. [31:25] **Chair Rody:** Motion and a second to close the public hearing. Call the roll, please. (Tony: Rody-Yes, Leato-Yes, Snowback-Yes, Winshuttle-Yes, Teske-Yes). [31:36] **Chair Rody:** In front of the commission, then, a conditional use permit allowing the construction of a 65 by 112-foot salt storage shed... with one condition. Is there a motion? [31:49] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** Motion to approve. [31:51] **Commissioner Teske:** I'll second. [31:53] **Tony (Staff):** Leato-Yes, Snowback-Yes, Winshuttle-Yes, Teske-Yes, Rody-Yes. [31:56] **Chair Rody:** All right, we'll move into our third public hearing. This is an ordinance amendment to city code section 106-3 regarding election signs. Just the time of year for that, huh, Tony? [32:06] **Jared (Staff Planner):** I'll take that. [32:07] **Tony (Staff Planner):** Oh, he's taking that one. [32:09] **Jared (Staff Planner):** Thank you, Chair, Planning members. As you said, election season is in full swing here. And staff is proposing a minor ordinance amendment in relation to the allowable time to post and remove election signs. [Jared explains alignment with State Statute]. [33:28] **Chair Rody:** So you don't want them to put the sign up and then take it down and put it back up again after. Okay. All right, this is a public hearing again. If you have any comments...? (Group: No). Bring it back to the table. Commissioner Leato? [33:45] **Commissioner Leato:** No questions, it looks good. Thank you. [33:47] **Commissioner Snowback:** Is there a reason why you'd leave it seven days following the election for on non-general elections and 10 for general? Would it be just easier to keep them both at 10? [34:02] **Jared (Staff Planner):** There was no specific thought process on the relation between them. This was just more just to make sure we are following State Statute. [34:14] **Commissioner Snowback:** Lots of times they're frozen in the ground too. You have a heck of a time getting them out. I'm done, Mitch. [34:30] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** Nothing, looks good. [34:32] **Commissioner Teske:** Yeah, it looks good. I have no issues either. [34:45] **Chair Rody:** With that, I look for a motion to close the public hearing. [34:48] **Commissioner Snowback:** I'll make a motion. [34:50] **Commissioner Leato:** I'll second. [34:52] **Tony (Staff):** Snowback-Yes, Winshuttle-Yes, Teske-Yes, Rody-Yes, Leato-Yes. [35:00] **Chair Rody:** In front of the Commission, then, is a recommendation to our City Council modifying ordinance 106-3 regarding election signs. Is there a motion? [35:11] **Commissioner Leato:** I'll make a motion to approve. [35:14] **Commissioner Teske:** Second. [35:20] **Tony (Staff):** Winshuttle-Yes, Teske-Yes, Rody-Yes, Leato-Yes, Snowback-Yes. [35:45] **Chair Rody:** Finally, ladies, we're at your thing now. Discussion items. This is a potential beekeeping ordinance. Jared, you're going to take this? [35:53] **Jared (Staff Planner):** Yes, I am. Thank you, Chair, Planning members. Nick Gessel is here, resident of Farmington, requesting a discussion on a potential beekeeping ordinance. [Jared introduces the topic and Nick Gessel]. [36:28] **Nick Gessel (Resident):** My name is Nick Gessel. I'm a resident at 19881 Dearborn Path. I brought my oldest daughter Stella here with us, as well as a neighbor, Asa. [Nick gives a detailed presentation on urban beekeeping, safety, and benefits through 47:10]. [47:16] **Commissioner Snowback (Mitch):** Yeah, I'd be interesting in reaching out to the Egans and the Lakevilles to see if they've had any concerns. Your presentation was awesome. I learned so much. [47:55] **Nick Gessel:** I looked at Egan and Lakeville... [Nick explains that most systems are complaint-based]. [51:11] **Commissioner Winshuttle (Phil):** No, I think it looks good. I'm just curious to see what other cities have for the exact ordinances. I think it certainly has potential. [52:41] **Commissioner Teske (Christa):** I agree. I appreciate the presentation. I think it's really well done and I appreciate your passion around the bees. [53:15] **Commissioner Leato:** I think it looks really good. The only question I have is would there be any sort of education requirement? I know if you have an infant under the age of a year they can be subjected to botulism if they're exposed to [honey]. [53:35] **Jared (Staff Planner):** We can certainly look at that. I think all of that will probably be under some sort of consideration. [54:14] **Chair Rody:** Mr. Gessel, thank you for coming. You've lit the spark, I'll say that. Our process isn't going to be tonight, you probably know that. [Chair Rody discusses the timeline for research]. [57:12] **Nick Gessel:** Shameless plug—Aaron Brand and myself have worked out a deal. My bees are currently out at his farm. So I'm not in any immediate hurry or rush. [57:25] **Chair Rody:** Yeah, that's what I kind of anticipated. Anyway, we'll get on it. Thank you and thank you ladies for coming. [57:59] **Tony (Staff Planner):** And I will mention, we will let you know when we have those future discussions so you can be part of that process. [58:06] **Chair Rody:** All righty. That concludes our agenda. Was there anything else from staff? (Tony: Nothing, sir). Anything else from the Commission? If not, I'll remind our viewers our next meeting is September 10th. I look for a motion to adjourn. [58:20] **Commissioner Winshuttle:** Motion to adjourn. [58:22] **Commissioner Leato:** I'll second. [58:25] **Chair Rody:** Motion and a second. All in favor say aye. (Group: Aye). We are officially adjourned. Thank you, everyone. [59:05] **[Music]**