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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission - 10/12/1998 APPROVED MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMIVIISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1998 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Beverly Alexander, Kenneth E. Clinton, Laurence Dorn,Jr.,Randy Foote,Bill Habicht,Rebecca Lewis,Douglas Sandstad STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE: Kyle Halvorson STAFF LIAISON: Mike Franzen, City Planner, and Barbara Anderson, City Recorder I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-ROLL CALL Chair Foote called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Lewis and Sandstad, and Student Representative Halvorson were absent. H. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Alexander moved, seconded by Clinton, to approve the Agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Alexander to approve the Minutes of the September 28, 1998 Planning Commission as submitted. Motion carried 4-0-1. Commissioner Dorn abstained. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. HILTON GARDEN INN by Dakota Hospitality Company. Request for Comprehensive guide Plan Change from Neighborhood Commercial to Regional Commercial on 4.83 acres,Rezoning from Rural and Neighborhood Commercial to Commercial Regional Service on 4.83 acres, Site Plan Review on 4.83 acres, and Preliminary Plat of 4.83 acres into one lot. Location: Shady Oak Road and Highway 62. Kelly Wold-Herzog,Dakota Hospitality Company,Fargo,ND,reviewed the project and explained the services they will be providing with the construction of this hotel. She described the site which consists of 4.83 acres and stated they intend to construct a 98 room hotel. She discussed the zoning and guide plan changes and the visual impacts of the proposed hotel on the adjacent homes to the west. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 1998 Page 2 Clinton asked what the capacity of the hotel would be for banquet facilities, and Herzog responded they will have four rooms which can be combined into one large, open room, and there are several other rooms for smaller groups. Foote asked if they had given any thought to moving the location of the hotel farther to the east and Herzog responded they have looked at several alternatives to locating the building on the site, and felt this plan was the best one for the site. There is also extensive site work which needs to be done, and this was the best location and the most cost effective location for the building. Dorn asked when the survey determining the need for additional hotel rooms in this area was done, and Herzog responded it was done in June or July of this year. They participate in an alliance which assembles reports for certain markets in specific areas and this enables them to determine if there is a market for their hotels. Their research has indicated that there is a very strong market in this location. Franzen reviewed the staff report and discussed the guide plan changes that have occurred in this area in the past. The plans the proponent has submitted are acceptable to staff with the addition of more trees to make the access to the Loosen site more appealing and provide more screening and buffering from Shady Oak Road. Staff recommended, approval of Alternative#1. Habicht asked if the proponents considered moving the building to the east would they retain the same site plan and Franzen responded that it would essentially be the same. Habicht stated he was assuming they would be granted a waiver from setback requirements and keep the site plan the same if they moved the building 17.5 feet to the east. Clinton asked if there were any historic trees on this site and Franzen responded the City Forester did not indicate any trees that were of historic significance on the site. Foote asked how far the building would have to be moved to save more trees and Franzen responded it would have to be moved about 15-20 feet east. Alexander asked if the proponent would be placing fill in the drainage ditch along Shady Oak Road. Herzog responded they would have to do some filling but that was less expensive than constructing retaining walls. Herzog noted that they were anxious to begin construction and if the City required them to move the building they would be willing to do that if it was within their budget. The Public Hearing was opened. No one present wished to speak. Habicht commented he liked the project but felt there were enough reasons to at least look at moving the project to the east with waivers. If it cannot be done for engineering reasons, then he would support it,but he thought it should be reviewed. Dorn PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 1998 Page 3 commented he felt the further the building was located to the east the more it would be visible from the adjacent properties, and this was the best design for the site. Herzog showed sight lines from the adjacent homes and noted that they would overlook the hotel building roof, and illustrated how the trees would be planted to provide additional screening for the hotel. She noted that more of the roof would be visible to the overlooking homes if it was moved more towards the east. Discussion ensued regarding the views from the hill and the homes situated there. Mike Loosen, 6300 Pine Shakes Road, stated he had been talking with a contractor who thought they would lose more trees the closer the building was located to the hill because of the excavation work and retaining wall construction. He would prefer the building be moved to the east to save as many trees as possible. Clinton stated he felt perhaps the building should be moved to the east to reduce the need for so many retaining walls and to improve the project. He noted he supported continuing the project for two weeks to allow the proponent to redesign the plans. Dorn concurred with Clinton. Herzog asked what a continuance would to the time frame for approval of the project. Franzen commented it would probably push it out two to four weeks. However,because they are only moving the building, and keeping everything else the same,he asked if the Planning Commission was comfortable letting staff resolve the details prior to City Council review. Dorn responded he felt the Planning Commission should see the revised plans in two weeks. Habicht stated he was willing to let staff handle it. Franzen commented the Planning Commission could direct Staff to publish the project for the November 3rd Council Meeting, and still review it again at their October 26th meeting. MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Dorn,to Continue the Public Hearing until the October 26, 1998 Planning Commission Meeting at 7:00 p.m. for Hilton Garden Inn for Dakota Hospitality Company, and direct staff to publish the notice for the City Council meeting on November 3, 1998. Motion carried 5-0. V. PUBLIC MEETING VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS Foote stated he had the opportunity to attend a meeting on building inclusive communities and he had a book which had some good ideas in it, including various housing types which could be blended into one community. VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 12, 1998 Page 4 X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Habicht moved, seconded by Clinton to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.