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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 09/02/2014 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters I. DESIGN STANDARDS REVIEW Project manager Emily Othus was not able to attend the workshop, so Jeremiah made the presentation in her stead. Jeremiah said the topic of design standards was raised by the Council at their 2014 goal setting session. Jeremiah noted that this is the second workshop devoted to reviewing and updating the City's design standards. Four topics identified in the earlier workshop are covered in the presentation: • Architectural Standards —Particularly the challenges posed by rehab and renovation projects • Landscaping and Screening: - Issues posed by the loss of berms through road construction and other projects • Environmental Standards —Use of LEED standards vs. other industry standards • Public Art—How prescriptive/proactive does the City wish to be in encouraging public art? Architectural Standards Jeremiah noted there are currently no architects on the Planning Commission. She suggested the City may want to reach out to individuals with that expertise in future commission recruitments. She said the City has a history of having high standards; however, those standards have not been updated recently. Building design standards typically prescribe maximum building height, fagade articulation, materials and form/entry definition. The most common tools for regulation are the Comprehensive Guide Plan, zoning codes, design guidelines, master planning, and architectural/design review boards. Jeremiah said the Council has indicated they desire design standards that support the following defining characteristics of Eden Prairie: • Durable/sustainable • Timeless/classic • Heritage: settler, prairie, agriculture • Natural amenities: integrated architecture with landscaping • Pedestrian and age-friendly City Council Workshop Minutes September 9,2014 Page 2 Butcher Wickstrom said her concept of heritage includes more than 150-year-old buildings,but structures from 50 or 75 years ago. She said heritage is not just a snapshot in time. Jeremiah said it is tough to set standards and agree on what exactly is acceptable. She said perhaps it would help to focus on existing Eden Prairie buildings that include elements the Council would like to see more of. She noted that Eden Prairie Mall brought prairie elements into not only outside signage and landscaping,but to interior design elements. Best practices suggest the way to achieve the best architecture possible is to create standards that include exterior materials, fagade articulation, entrance articulation, transparency, and relationship to the street. Eden Prairie's current guidelines call for a minimum of 75 percent of materials to be of face brick, natural stone, glass, cast stone, cultured stone, architectural pre-cast or pre- cast concrete panel with exposed aggregate, and maximum of 25 percent of materials to be of wood, stucco, vinyl, metal and plastic (or a combination of these). Currently any material noted listed in the code falls into the 25 percent category. Jeremiah said staff has received a number of requests to use hardy plank, which can be manufactured to look like a lot of different materials. She said staff recommends updating the code to include hardy plank in the 75 percent category. Jeremiah asked the City Council to think about whether or not they want to keep vinyl and plastic in the 25 percent category, or create a new category for trim and edging that includes plastic and vinyl. She said architectural precast and precast concrete panel with exposed aggregate have a more industrial feel, and the City may want to consider removing it from the 75 percent category. Jeremiah noted that staff s current practice is to apply standards by facade rather than the totality of a building. Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked if these standards are applied to twin homes and multi-family dwellings with homeowner associations. She said it is very difficult for associations to finance replacement of materials when they go bad. Nelson said she would like to discourage construction of only single-level buildings. She would like to encourage development of some multi-level density in certain areas. Jeremiah said the City is likely to see that kind of development in TOD areas, and that it can be expanded beyond those areas if Council wishes. Nelson said when she was a Planning Commission member, they made sure new buildings were required to adhere to the same high standards as existing buildings. She would like to make sure this practice continues. Aho said he supports having standards, but wants to allow for flexibility in unique designs. He does not want to see creativity being stifled. Jeremiah said perhaps some language to that effect can be added to the ordinance, so that proponents know there are avenues to doing something unique. Developers might be given the opportunity to present a concept to Council for review before actually submitting plans. Jeremiah asked Council to think about who they want to be part of the review process. Tyra-Lukens asked staff to gather information on how other cities do this and bring it back to Council. City Council Workshop Minutes September 9,2014 Page 3 Jeremiah said the Council could also consider providing loans or some other incentives to encourage higher standards for buildings that are being renovated. Landscapin,iz Jeremiah said best practices dictates that landscaping should be multifunctional. Landscaping on private property can be used to manage stormwater and delineate pedestrian access. Landscaping can also be used as screening,provided that pedestrian breaks are provided. Eden Prairie's current landscaping standards include deciduous overstory trees, deciduous understory trees, sod, seeded areas where there is an approved area of future building expansion, and natural vegetation in undisturbed areas and areas designated as open space. Screening standards include earth mounds, walls/fences, hedges/shrubs and compact evergreen trees. Nelson said she would like to have planters with flowers and other site elements added to the landscape standards. Jeremiah asked Council to consider what other materials they would support incorporating in landscaping and screening requirements. Tyra-Lukens asked if proof of parking will be looked at in relation to landscaping standards. Janet said this was updated a few years ago, and it will also be looked at in relation to TOD. Tyra-Lukens said she is concerned with the loss of greenscape. Tavern 4 & 5 is the only location she knows of with parking issues. She asked if training will be offered on the standards. Jeremiah agreed that is a good idea. Environmental Standards Green mandates that apply to purely private development have been enacted by less than 200 out of 89,000 local governments across the United States. In Minneapolis, all new municipal projects utilitize LEED standards. In St. Paul, new construction projects that receive more than $200,000 in City or other government funding programs can choose between environmental rating systems. Jeremiah said staff is still gathering information on what environmental standards other cities are using. This information will be passed along to the City Council. II. OPEN PODIUM III. ADJOURNMENT