Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission - 10/25/2021APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2021 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Ann Higgins, Andrew Pieper, Ed Farr, Michael DeSanctis, Rachel Markos, Carole Mette, William Gooding, Robert Taylor CITY STAFF: Julie Klima, Community Development Director; Matt Bourne, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources; Rod Rue, City Engineer; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Vice Chair Farr called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL Absent were commission members Pieper, DeSanctis, and Taylor. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Mette to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. MINUTES MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Gooding to approve the minutes of September 27, 2021. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. ONE SOUTHWEST CROSSING WALL SIGN (BOA2021-04)) Request for: • A variance to allow two (2) wall signs of up to 50 square feet each on the south building wall. Commissioner Markos recused herself from the discussion. Max Minea, of Eagle Ridge Partners, presented a PowerPoint and detailed the application. Eagle Ridge Partners was a local owner and developer founded in PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 25, 2021 Page 2 1996 with over 20 years of experience and 975,000 square feet of holdings in Eden Prairie. The site was an 8.3-acre site north of I-494 and south of Lake Smetana. The property was purchased in December of 2020 and had an occupancy rate of 25 percent. Eagle Ridge Partners began a $3.5 million restoration and at present 50 percent of the building was renovated. Minea displayed images of the improvements. The proposed signage would replace the existing monument signage and display new signage on the west, south, and east facades. The variance sought tonight would relocate the north building identification sign to the south façade (along I- 494) for increased visibility. The building was split into east and west wings and the south side was highly visible facing commercial properties. Minea explained the neighboring properties (Lifetouch Building to the east and Fairfield Marriot and Pizza Luce to the west). Klima presented the staff report. The variance request was to relocate a sign from the north wall to the south wall. Staff recommended approval of the application. MOTION: Gooding moved, seconded by Higgins to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Mette commended the reinvestment in this property. She found the request to be appropriate and supported the application. Higgins stated she thought the applicant had described the site and signage need accurately and supported the application. Kirk agreed, and Gooding concurred. Farr commended the signage application as appropriate and in proportion to what is allowed for the building. MOTION: Gooding moved, seconded by Kirk to approve the Variance Request #2021-04 based on information outlined in the staff report dated October 25, 2021 and the findings in the Final Order #2021-04. Motion carried 5-0 with one abstention (Markos). PLANNERS’ REPORT MEMBERS’ REPORTS VI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Markos moved, seconded by Gooding to adjourn. Motion carried 6- 0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.