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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission - 02/14/2022APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2022 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 Acting Chair Farr called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL Absent were commission members Pieper, Markos, DeSanctis and Gooding. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Taylor to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. IV. MINUTES MOTION: Taylor moved, seconded by Mette to approve the minutes of January 10, 2022. MOTION CARRIED 5-0. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. SCHULMAN ADDITION Request for: • Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 2.47 acres • Preliminary Plat of 2 lots on 2.47 acres Tammy Schulman, resident at 12076 Riverview Road, thanked the commission and displayed a PowerPoint of the application. She proposed to divide the property into two lots, one approximately an acre and the other slightly under an acre on which the house stood. The driveway now encroached on neighboring PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2022 Page 2 land, and she wished to correct this. She proposed a rezoning in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood to preserve property sizes and repave the driveway. Mette asked if during the process there was consideration given to dividing it further. Schulman replied she had considered it, but as a thirty-year resident it was important to her to preserve the character of the neighborhood. In communication with her neighbors she had found they would also oppose greater density, and she also rejected it despite comments from others about the financial awards of subdividing into more lots. Farr asked for and received confirmation Schulman’s neighbors supported the change and would sign the encroachment agreement. Farr asked if there were significant grade changes to be made. Schulman replied the new driveway would actually remain on the same grade while being 100 feet shorter. Klima presented the staff report. This request was consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and with surrounding properties. Further subdivision would not have an opportunity given the easement encumbrances. This was not a PUD request, so no waivers were being requested. Staff recommended approval. MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Higgins to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Mette to recommend approval of the Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 1.99 acres and a Preliminary Plat of 2 lots on 2.47 acres based on plans stamp dated February 2, 2022 and the staff report dated February 14, 2022. Motion carried 5-0. B. CHICK-FIL-A Request for: • Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 1.27 acres • Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 1.27 acres • Site Plan Review on 1.27 acres Justin Lurk of Chick-Fil-A presented a PowerPoint and detailed the application. This would be a locally owned and operated family franchise. The applicant proposed to build a 5,000 square foot Chick- Fil-A fast food restaurant on the site. The Covid-19 pandemic had changed the customer service experience and consumer habits toward drive-throughs and mobile app pickup services. The drive-through would be expanded from two to four lanes, though the two lanes narrowed down to one after the order board and widened back out to two pick-up lanes. The dual-flex lane, as he termed it, would give the operator to use that lane either for mobile order sales during peak hours or for another drive-through delivery lane. The proposed structure met and exceeded City Code requirements PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2022 Page 3 for building materials and architectural standards. The building would be primarily brick with metal accents and had been approved previously, except for the addition of a column to match the canopy. A double-lane canopy would cover the pickup area. 32 cars were allowed in the drive-through before traffic could spill into the parking lot, making it one of the larger drive-throughs in the area. Three waivers were being requested: a less than the five-foot width requirement for two parking islands, a 7.3 foot instead of a 20- foot side setback, and dual order boards at 20 square feet each instead of the 32 square feet total restriction. The landscaping plan exceeded City Code requirements. Mette asked if the landscaping plantings would shield the drive-through car- stacking more than the site she had observed in Chanhassen. Jeff Westendorf, civil engineer and landscape architect, replied the variety of shrubs and trees would screen the car-stacking, though the developer was restricted by the easements. Farr noted some sedum and coneflowers among other desirable native plants and encouraged more non-deciduous shrub screening between the tree canopy and the ground plantings. Taylor asked for traffic number projections during the peak hours of Monday through Thursday. Lurk replied peak hours were on Friday and Saturday as well, and actual traffic counts could range from 150 to 250 cars per hour. Mette asked if there could be a possible traffic backup up to the new development at Castlemoor Drive. Lurk replied there were two directions in which to turn, rather than just one, and there was no potential backup between Castlemore and Flying Cloud Drive in the traffic study. Farr asked Lurk to explain the south driveway expanding into three lanes, and then having one lane entering and one lane exiting, as he did not see a merging opportunity in the extra drive-through/pickup lane for additional stacking. Lurk replied the first two lanes were for the drive-through should traffic back up that far. The third lane would be for circulation around the canoe island if the traffic was stacked up. The second lane would be used for cars entering and then turning left to arrive at the front of the store and clear signage would facilitate that, as well as “Do Not Enter” signs. Pavement painting would indicate which lanes were drive-throughs from the ring road. Jonathan Smith, resident at 11827 Harvest Lane, asked for information on the possible impacts on the area, especially regarding tree replacement and landscaping plantings. He asked if the two-lane canopy would encroach on the sidewalk and greenery and dining space. Farr replied the drive-through lanes were not changing from the previously approved plan. There was a public area north of the site with sidewalks and benches and shrugs, and this design would not pass the property line. Mette noted the three-dimensional rendering appeared to PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2022 Page 4 overhang an area that it in fact would not. Lurk added the edge of the canopy columns would be at the back of the curve of the drive-through, and there would be 7.3 feet between the tip of the canopy and the public area. Klima presented the staff report. This plan had come before the commission multiple times and was the final version. The canopy and modifications to the drive-throughs were new, along with the three waivers. The common property line included the gathering public area between this and the Bank of America site, so the side yard setback was not a concern since there was an excess of space. Staff recommended approval. Farr asked Rue to address the internal circulation with the private internal road. Rue replied when the other phases were approved in this area there was an overall traffic study done for all developments, and then an amended study done, looking at the connection points to the public system. There would be a lot of internal traffic at this site, so proper signage would be critical. Farr asked Bourne to weigh in on Farr’s suggestion of better screening between the tree canopy and native plantings. Bourne replied staff could consider this and see if it called for evergreen shrugs, et cetera. Mette added the public plaza could also use a landscape buffer to make it more pleasant. Farr agreed, noting there would be more cars stacking up in that area. Kirk stated he found Lurk’s comments regarding the changes in customer service due to Covid-19 to be interesting and something the commission and the City might take note of for future developments. Mette agreed and stated it raised the question of how to make drive-throughs more pleasant, as multiple drive-throughs like this were preferable to cars backing up to the entrance. Farr asked staff to address the nonrecessed illumination globe beneath the canopy. Klima replied staff had reviewed this design and had no concerns. MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Mette commended the proposal and its unobtrusive, minimalistic canopy that blended well with the building. Kirk agreed, calling this design a “snapshot of the future” and commending its implementation. Higgins raised her concern that walking, rather than driving, would be a trend in the future for both children and adults, particularly seniors. She agreed good signage would facilitate car and pedestrian traffic circulation. Taylor agreed with Higgins’ point but also commended the project, noting the franchise’s history of customer service and hospitality. He had visited Chick-Fil-A with his leadership team years ago which was instructive and could be brought to this franchise as well. Farr also commended the proposal. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2022 Page 5 MOTION: Mette moved, seconded by Taylor to recommend approval of the Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 1.27 acres; Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 1.27 acres; and a Site Plan Review on 1.27 acres based on plans stamp dated January 7 and Feb 3, 2022 and the staff report dated February 14, 2022. Motion carried 5-0. PLANNERS’ REPORT MEMBERS’ REPORTS Kirk announced the Engineering Association of Minnesota named Rod Rue as Engineer of the Year. Kirk added that among the many development applications that have come before the commission there was no need for major street or sewer redesign in Eden Prairie due to the foresight of Rue and his team. VI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Higgins to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.