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Planning commission backs 12-unit Oakdale Garage Lofts project with conditions
Summary
The commission recommended approval of rezoning, a conditional use permit, preliminary and final plats and a site plan for Oakdale Garage Lofts — 12 live-work units at 6138 Highway 36 Blvd N — adding conditions that limit retail, outdoor storage and require fire-department and MnDOT reviews.
The Oakdale Planning Commission recommended Nov. 6 that the City Council approve a package of land-use actions to allow Oakdale Garage Lofts, a 12-unit live-work development at 6138 Highway 36 Boulevard North.
Planning staff said the proposal would rezone the roughly 2.5-acre site from B1 (commercial) to MX (mixed-use) and create two lots (one containing nine units and one containing three units) plus an outlot reserved for a future frontage road along Highway 36. Staff described live-work units as dwelling units combined with an enclosed shop, office or studio where the resident both lives and works.
“Live-work units are conditionally permitted in the MX district and staff finds the request consistent with the recently amended comprehensive plan,” staff member Luke told the commission.
Staff recommended approval subject to numerous conditions and clarifications, including execution of a development agreement, submittal of civil construction plans, a tree-preservation plan, satisfaction of park-dedication requirements, confirmation of outside-agency approvals (including MnDOT and watershed-district review), and site-specific conditions that prohibit retail sales on-site, forbid outdoor storage of commercial vehicles or equipment, restrict customer visits to appointment-only, limit nonresident employees to two per unit, require a photometric (lighting) plan, and ensure at least 60% of facades use class-one materials such as brick or stone.
Applicant representative CJ Rando of Jack Capital said the product is aimed at tradespeople and owners who need indoor workshop and storage space: “Our view is people who live and work there will not be running retail storefronts; it’s more like hangar-homes for small contractors,” Rando said.
Staff also described site-circulation requirements: access from Upper 51st Street, a private drive where parking will be prohibited to ensure fire-truck and service-vehicle maneuvers, an enlarged trash-collection area with signage prohibiting parking in the hammerhead turnaround, and a required tree-preservation and landscaping plan to screen adjacent residential properties. MnDOT review of the site plan is pending because Highway 36 is a state route.
The commission moved and seconded motions to recommend approval of the rezoning, conditional use permit, preliminary and final plats and site plan; each motion passed. The recommendations will be forwarded to the City Council with the staff-recommended conditions for final action and any required approvals from outside agencies.
