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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 10/18/2005 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES JOINT MEETING OF THE EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 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: Chair Ray Stoelting, Vice Chair Kathy Nelson, Commission Members John Kirk, Vicki Koenig, Peter Rocheford, Fred Seymour, Jon Stoltz, and Bill Sutherland 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 Heritage Room H Planning Commission Chair Ray Stoelting and Commission Members Bill Sutherland, Peter Rocheford, and Jon Stoltz were absent. Mayor Tyra-Lukens was absent and staff members Bob Lambert and Gene Dietz were absent. Councilmember Ron Case served as Acting Mayor. I. MCA STUDY Presentation Janet Jeremiah introduced study consultants Barry Warner, Richard Lang, Marie Cote, Greg Ingraham. The MCA study kicked off in the fall of 2004 with appointment of a 14- member task force with resident and business representatives, as well as representatives from the Planning Commission and the Chamber of Commerce. The task force met five times and a technical advisory committee of representatives from key public organizations met several times. Open houses were held in April and September for residents and businesses. Staff and the consultants met with the City Council; Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission; and the Planning Commission at key junctures to apprise them of progress on the study and to obtain their input. In addition, staff has begun to meet with individual business owners to inform them of the direction of the study. Jeremiah said change will occur in the area over the next 25 years whether we plan for it or not. Two primary questions to consider are: City Council Workshop October 18, 2005—page 2 • How much the does the City want to influence change in the Major Center Area? • What types of amenities and development do we want to see in the future? Jeremiah reviewed the results from the September 27 survey, which show strong support for a compact, walkable mixed use town center, improving area traffic flow, adding sidewalks/trails, and incorporating LRT. Barry Warner presented key planning elements resulting from input from the task force, the business community and residents are: • Dynamic and walkable town center—This is the suburban equivalent of a downtown, and would include mixed retail/residential/office/commercial uses, private/public open space, and a simplified street grid system. • Improved way-finding - The area would be made easier to navigate through use of distinctive signage identifying specific sub-areas. • Safe and pleasant places to walk—This involves striking a balance of vehicle accommodation with bike and pedestrian facilities. It would include construction of missing segments of pedestrianibike ways and modification of signal timing, building of medians, etc. • Green system of urban parks, civic areas and green streets —Streets would be designed according to function and would include appropriate streetscaping. Trails, sidewalks and parks would be connected. • Development balanced with transportation capacity—Factors such as parcel size, visibility, and location would be considered in connection with proposed development. • Transportation and transit improvements —Improvements could include major east- west and north-south roadway connections, modifications to the mall interior ring road, and bus and LRT service improvements Marie Cote presented the transportation findings. Barry Warner explained several transportation-related near-term initiatives are also recommended, including: • Pedestrianibicycle trail segments and intersection improvements • Outer ring road streetscaping • Streetscaping on TH 212 • Intersection geometric and signal improvements Some near-term recommendations involve public-private partnerships, including: • Initial wayfinding signage • Improvements to the mall ring road • A new street network within the town center City Council Workshop October 18, 2005—page 3 Long-term initiatives include: • Realignment of Singletree Lane/West 78 h Street • Parking improvements, including ramps and surface and on-street management • Grade-separated pedestrian crossings • Improved regional access via 494 and 212 • LRT development and infrastructure Jeremiah said the final study report will be presented to the City Council and Planning Commission for formal consideration before the end of the year. Jeremiah outlined near- term and long-term initiatives for implementation once the Planning Commission and Council have formally accepted the report. A market study, detailed physical redevelopment study, and financial feasibility analysis are recommended within the next six months. Regulatory changes include adoption of concept plans and principles into the new Comprehensive Plan redevelopment chapter and changes to land use and zoning designations within the Town Center area contingent on the outcome of the feasibility analyses. Discussion Jeremiah said staff envisions more flexibility in regulatory enforcement on the periphery of the MCA as opposed to the town center area. She recommends putting off implementation of zoning changes until after market and financial feasibility studies are completed. In the meantime, staff will work with any property owners who are anxious to move forward with plans. Jeremiah said Council has the option of approving the report subject to findings of the recommended studies and analyses. She noted that staff is seeing a lot of excitement among the development community around the town center recommendations. Councilmember Young asked what plans staff has for working with businesses in the Market Center Area. He said he is sensitive to the fact that some business owners perceive the City's actions as having negative impacts to their properties. Jeremiah said property owners most likely to be impacted were contacted first. Most have reacted positively to the study recommendations, although some have expressed reservations about how the plan will move forward. Jeremiah said David Lindahl is continuing to contact and set up meetings with business owners. Staff is now expanding beyond the Town Center area to other areas that will likely be impacted by proposed roadway changes. Young asked what happens if an owner proposes development that may not fit with the recommendations of the Guide Plan redevelopment chapter. Jeremiah said the purpose of the redevelopment chapter is to provide a glimpse of where the City expects to go; however, other uses will be considered as they are presented. Young asked if staff has heard from any property owners who feel the City's consideration is holding up their plans. Young also asked how long it will take for the process to be completed. Jeremiah said the quicker the recommendations are approved, the better. She would like to see the City Council Workshop October 18, 2005—page 4 market and feasibility studies completed within six months, although that may be optimistic. She said some property owners can not wait for the plan to be approved, since they feel it will add value to their properties. She conceded she has heard some concerns from businesses that have no immediate plans to change or leave. She said the City's response has been that we do not anticipate being particularly aggressive in forcing change,but when it begins to happen we envision it happening in a certain way. Letters from two property owners and the City's responses have been provided for Council review. Councilmember Butcher said it is exciting to be on a Council that has the opportunity to create a plan that impacts an entire area. She is impressed with the work done to date. She is now looking forward to addressing possibilities for financing the plan. Butcher noted that she has talked about creating a sense of identity, geography and place—a sort of gateway that announces you have entered the area. She asked if this will be included in this plan. Jeremiah said that as one approaches from any of the major highways, there will be a major obelisk or entry feature that signals entry to the area. These features will use the same materials, colors and graphics used for wayfinding throughout the area to create a sense of identity. Jeremiah said wayfinding consultant Richard Lang has worked up more detailed recommendations for wayfinding throughout the area, including major signage, banners, etc. Councilmember Case said there are some recommendations that can be implemented relatively quickly, such as improvements to the mall's inner ring road, that will improve the area while the vision for the area is still evolving. He said the plan is a legacy this Council will pass on to future Councils. Butcher said it is exciting that the business community and residents have been included in the process, and she asked how the City will continue to keep people posted on progress. Jeremiah distributed business-sized cards with information on how to access the City's website and learn more about the MCA plans. She said she is open to any other suggestions on how to keep the public informed. Planning Commission Member Vicki Koenig said that the City's new logo might work well as part of signage for wayfinding and gateway features. She also likes the style of signage used by Eden Prairie Center. Jeremiah said she is not sure mall management would be willing to have it used outside of the mall itself. Councilmember Aho said it is great to have this type of plan for a downtown area; however, he stressed it is important to design things that are achievable from a marketing perspective. Business owners need to buy in to the plans and agree they are feasible. He said the initiative needs to be market driven,because "if the market won't bear it, it won't happen." Neal said the City will be depending on the market to help finance some of the elements, and this cannot simply be a government mandated plan. Aho also expressed concern about holding up property owners who may have plans. Neal said the City's response has always been to advise property owners of the status of the study and City Council Workshop October 18, 2005—page 5 possible recommendations;however, staff does not instruct anyone not to bring forward proposals for consideration. Council Chamber II. OPEN FORUM A. Thomas Briant addressed Council on concerns regarding the City's 2006 budget. B. Renae Jacobus addressed Council on concerns she and several neighbors have about a bike trail that is to be constructed behind her home on French Curve as part of the Scenic Heights reroute for the Highway 312 project. III. OPEN PODIUM A. Al Kraus addressed Council on concerns regarding the City's 2006 budget. IV. ADJOURNMENT