20/20 Cold Spring Vision Team

Minutes of the Meeting
Design Standards Committee
December 20, 2004

Minutes of the Meeting
Design Standards Committee
December 20, 2004

Members Present: John Frischmann, Ann Harren, Brigetta Klemek, Heidi Howard, Steve Penick, Larry Lahr

Guests: Ashlee McClaird, Dave Nyberg, Joann Faust

1. Members discussed several options in how to proceed with the rezoning process. Joann Faust, the consultant hired by the city, preferred to review each zone’s draft, offer any changes or possible additions, and then return them to the committee for review. Joann will use these initial drafts to begin formulating a document ready for the planning commission. Two basic steps are needed for this timeline. Committee members hope to complete their drafts for each zone by the end of January. In the second step, the committee would incorporate Joann’s suggestions and return the copies for her preliminary approval by the end of February.
2. Seeking business/community support: The committee spent some time discussing this critical aspect of the plan. Conversation focused on the best method in providing information to business leaders while at the same time gaining their broad base support. Some business owners have already been contacted or been present at the design standards meetings. Others have heard about the plan through various networks about the rezoning/design standard proposal. In an effort to bring everyone together, committee members decided a completed package would provide the best discussion and lead to a more agreeable plan for everyone.
3. The committee determined a mid March target date to meet with members of the City Council and Planning Commission. This joint meeting would provide an opportunity for these officials to ask questions and suggest any possible changes. For committee members, it’s a forum to gather further input regarding the proposal and to identify common ground amongst the officials and the design standards.
4. The Chamber Luncheon has been postponed until April. Originally set for January, John, Brigetta, and Larry discussed this issue and determined a later date would better serve the community, business leaders, and public officials. In addition, a later date allows for more public input to the process. To briefly restate, committee members would present a powerpoint presentation to business leaders and answer any questions they may have regarding the plan.
5. The committee’s goal is to present a proposal to the Planning Commission by the end of April. If approved by the Planning Commission, the City Council would review the proposed rezoning/design standards sometime in May.
6. The committee also discussed the river front zone and its proposed criteria.
7. Next meeting: Thursday Jan. 6, 2005, 6:30 PM at city hall.

KAY COOK

Some people live in the same place their whole lives and never work to make it better. Others move into a new community and fall into their old patterns of life and never change a thing. Then there are people like Kay Cook. They move to a new area and adopt a town as their own putting their heart and soul into it…striving to make it an even better place to live. That is what Kay Cook has done with Cold Spring. .. CLICK LINK FOR MORE

Design Standards Committee
Minutes of the Meeting
December 2, 2004

Design Standards Committee
Minutes of the Meeting
December 2, 2004

Members present: John Frischmann, Ann Harren, Melissa Kolbjornsen, Nicole Matuska, and Steven Penick

Guest: Dave Nyberg

I. Review/Update for Dave Nyberg: John provided Dave with an overview of the process to date since our formation and mentioned the goals since committee’s inception from the Minnesota Design Team weekend and the HCP community meetings. John also reviewed the committee’s work since September, stating the goal of retaining a small town environment while promoting community assets. To obtain this objective, the group has been involved in outlying a plan for rezoning Cold Spring’s current commercial and industrial areas. This includes creating a document that states building standards and suggested uses for each zone upon review by a planning consultant hired by the city. This document at some time in the future will be forwarded to the planning commission for review and any necessary additions. After some public hearings, the city council will study the issue for possible adoption.

Dave had an opportunity to comment on his role in Cold Spring as a business owner and his general reaction to the rezoning/design standards process. His experience, familiarity with industrial/commercial uses, and support will provide an excellent resource for the process. He added how important this issue will be for Cold Spring’s future and for small business owners as commercial competition spreads into the area.

II. Committee members proceeded to review material gathered from the industrial and highway commercial work teams. Reviews included: materials, colors, location, height, footprint, glazing, exterior lighting, awnings, and additions. Due to complexity of the issue, a more detailed account of this process will be provided at a later date as changes and revisions were completed. Members also suggested the possibility of adding a commercial/industrial zone to the current rezoning plan.


III. Next meeting: December 16, 6:30 PM in either the Chain of Lakes or Cold Spring Office Building. This has since changed to December 20, 6:30 PM at the Cold Spring Office Building.