HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 06/07/2005 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP
OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,JUNE 7, 2005 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher,
Ron Case, and Philip Young
PLANNING COMMISSION: Ray Stoelting, Chair; Kathy Nelson, Vice Chair; Larry Kacher;
John Kirk; Vicki Koenig; Peter Rocheford; Fred Seymour; Jon Stoltz; Bill Sutherland
Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz, Fred Seymour, Larry Kacher, and Bill Sutherland were absent
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Dan Carlson, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert,
Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Communications Manager Pat Brink,
Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene
McWaters
Fire Chief Esbensen and Police Chief Carlson were absent.
CONSULTANTS: Greg Ingraham, Joni Giese, Marie Cotes, Barry Warner
Heritage Room H
I. MCA STUDY
Scott Neal and Janet Jeremiah provided a brief introduction. Barry Warner and Greg
Ingraham presented a Powerpoint on the MCA study. The study looked at existing
conditions, and trends within the Major Center Area. Survey results from the task force
and open house were reviewed. Warner and Ingraham then provided a brief overview of
each the three Vision 2030 Concepts developed for the area.
Concept A HisMis!hts
Includes a new spine road from 494, improved 212 access, and east-west connections
Portions of 212 would be depressed
Includes two LRT stations - A walk-to transition station and drive-to station
(Southwest Station)
The City Center would be the area surrounding the "walk-to" transit station
Council Workshop Minutes
June 7, 2005—page 2
Concept B His!hlis!hts
Includes one LRT station (Southwest Station)
494 access not improved,but 212 would be
Stronger reliance on the outer ring road with minor realignment to remove hard turn
Technology Dr. would be extended and Singletree Lane would connect with West
78h
The Town Center would be south of Singletree Lane
Concept C His!hlis!hts
494 access improved by series of one-way tiers
Outer ring road is envisioned as a boulevard with a strong identification component
but no realignment
Includes more multi-family residential and a strong medical campus component, as
well as a strong mixed-use core north and south of Singletree and mall property
Does not include LRT
Marie Cote reviewed long term visions and alternatives for transportation.
Open House Results
Warner said about 65 people attended the public open house in April. A survey
instrument was used to determine how people feel about the concepts. The results show
good support for ring road development and walkable greenways. There was also
support for improved regional access from 212 and 494. Some support exists for
roadway changes to strengthen east-west and north-south travel and people generally
supported mixed uses. Density was an issue for which the consultants did not see a
strong direction. They noted that many people are wary of high-rise buildings.
Wayfindins!
Richard Lang from Visual Communications described a hierarchical, sign-based
wayfinding system that would help drivers, bikers and pedestrians navigate through the
area.
Feedback on Ma_ior Elements
Warner asked for input from Councilmembers and Planning Commission members on the
basic building blocks of the alternatives, including LRT; regional access; ring road and
wayfinding improvements; local roadway connections; open space, trails and greenways;
and a compact, walkable central district.
LRT
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked why there is not a second station in Alternative B. Warner
said this decision was based on showing alternatives for the area. A central station
location would encourage Center Area development. The Mayor asked if we would need
another transit station if the demand for LRT grows as much as expected. Warner said he
does not believe capacity should be an issue. He said LRT can be used as a way to ignite
other types of uses if the City wishes. However, Warner noted,bringing LRT into the
central area could result in some transportation issues. A transit circulator could also be
Council Workshop Minutes
June 7, 2005—page 3
used. Jeremiah said high density would be needed to develop a workable circulator
system. Most people do not want to make a transfer, and there is the question of who we
are aiming to serve. A walkable station would serve the immediate area and could bring
employees from the Golden Triangle Area to use the restaurants at noon.
Councilmember Aho asked which of these plans most closely mirrors current land uses.
Ingraham said Concept B matches more closely than the others. Warner believes more
mixed uses will enter the picture than the single uses currently reflected in the Major
Center Area.
Case said he would like Council to consider going on record as supporting LRT into the
area. Tyra-Lukens said she feels Council needs to acknowledge that LRT may come out
to Eden Prairie,but a larger issue is whether or not the City should focus on it or treat it
as a peripheral issue. If we believe it is coming, we need to figure out how to have it
come right through the Market Center Area and coordinate development with that in
mind.
Regional His!hway Access
Warner asked for feedback on the recommendations for addressing the difficulty in
finding the Major Center Area from 212 and 494. He posed the question of whether or
not these problems are meaningful enough to undertake major changes, acknowledging
the County and MnDOT would be involved in any decisions and changes. Aho thinks a
wayfinding system will go a long way toward improving the situation. He doesn't think
it will be possible to completely eliminate confusing transitions, although creating an exit
from 494 might be helpful. Warner agreed that ring road wayfinding may go a long way
in helping resolve some of the navigation issues. Case said he feels getting an exit from
494 into the mall is fairly important. He said we have always known we need regional
access off 494.
Koenig asked how LRT would affect through traffic. Cote said there would have to have
some grade separated intersections. Jeremiah said the proposed planning principles
indicate that any LRT through this area would have to be designed to minimize impacts
to pedestrians,road traffic, etc.
Case suggested developing two priority lists, one for what we would like and one for
what can actually be done. Councilmember Butcher agreed.
Butcher noted that Alternative A is the only scenario with grade-separated 212. She asked
how that would work. Warner said it could involve a partial depression with other
roadways going up slightly. He said it would be necessary to balance the cost vs. benefit,
and impact to properties vs. changes in access. Jeremiah said there are intermediary
solutions available, such as bridging in some areas. Councilmember Young asked if
Council will be getting cost projections for these options. Jeremiah said LRT cost
projections will be included in the Southwest Corridor Analysis Study. At the end of the
MCA study, staff will be identifying costs and gaps, possible funding sources, etc. There
Council Workshop Minutes
June 7, 2005—page 4
will have to be discussion of which tools the City is comfortable using, such as TIF and
tax abatement.
Koenig said in 25 years it is possible people will be more accepting of mass transit, and
show increased interest in biking and walking. She suggested looking at LRT as a main
transportation device, which would mean that, theoretically, we would not have to do as
much with the regional access issues, etc. Warner said that is a good point, and the LRT
regional study will be looking at this issue. Nelson said she prefers Concept A,but
would like to see Technology Road and Singletree Lane go all the way across the area, as
in Concept B. Case agreed. He said it seems the ring road improvements could and
should be accomplished soon. Cote also noted that signal timing improvements are very
"doable"and will help make the area more navigable.
Parks, Open Space and Greenways
Case said green space along the roads is desirable; however, he is hesitant to recommend
setting aside more land if it detracts from the taxable base. Jeremiah said some open
space could be privately owned but accessible to the public. Staff will be bringing
recommendations from the MCA Study to the Parks and Recreation Commission again
for additional feedback. She said it will be important to provide amenities if residential is
included in this area. Lambert said one should not assume that the City cannot afford
parks in this area. There is land on Lake Idlewild that could serve as high-density
residential and provide open space,resulting in ample return on the investment.
Compact, Walkable Town Center
Warner said this area would include a strong combination of streets and pedestrian
access. It would be of moderate to high density, with mixed uses and a possible housing
element. Butcher noted there are already a lot of dwellings within that area. Warner said
the future trend will be toward senior housing,but not necessarily assisted living, as well
as housing for young professionals and empty nesters.
Density
Warner said Council will need to decide whether or not it would consider a 10-story
building in the Major Center Area. Tyra-Lukens said any high-rise should probably be
on the outskirts of the area,because of traffic concerns and to providing ample parking.
Jeremiah noted that some outer areas may have sensitive adjacent uses, so we will look
closely at where height may be appropriate.
The consultants recommended the following near term initiatives:
Changes to official controls and development incentive policies
Implementation signal control changes
Institution of a hierarchical wayfinding system
Development of critical pedestrian and bicycle links
Implementation of certain TH 212 improvements, such as lighting, landscaping and
pedestrianibicycle improvements
Council Workshop Minutes
June 7, 2005—page 5
Next Steps
The consultants presented the following as next steps in the process:
Develop a preferred alternative
Hold a"Developers' Roundtable"
Meet with the business community, including the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary
Club
Receive task force feedback
Hold a second open house
Tyra-Lukens asked if staff and the consultants had received enough input from Council to
proceed with the work. Warner said the input has been very helpful. He encouraged
Council to continue to provide any input they might have as the project proceeds.
Jeremiah recapped the highlights of the input as follows:
Keep LRT in the mix, and continue to consider including a second MCA station
Wayfinding is a high priority
Consider improvements to regional access, with the knowledge that it is a high cost
item and may not prove feasible
Improvements to local roadway connections make a lot of sense
Additional open space and/or plazas should be looked at. Incent private sector as
much as possible. Costs are a consideration
Consider where it is appropriate to have height, possibly on the area perimeter, and
possibly in the central district. Tyra-Lukens said she feels 3-6 story buildings are
okay in the central area, and the other Councilmembers agreed in principle
Council Chamber
II. OPEN FORUM
A. John Mallo—Veterans Park
Mr. Mallo addressed two issues. The first was in relation to the proper flying of
the flag. Mallo believes the City did not follow proper procedure on Memorial
Day. City Manager Scott Neal said staff continues to evaluate flag protocol and
procedures and is considering developing a more formal policy.
Mr. Mallo said his second issue is his desire to see a veterans' memorial in Eden
Prairie. Mayor Tyra-Lukens thanked Mallo for his suggestion and referred the
matter to Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert
III. OPEN PODIUM
No one requested to speak at Open Podium.
IV. ADJOURNMENT