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Planning Commission - 04/25/2022APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2022 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Frank Sherwood, Andrew Pieper, Ed Farr, Rachel Markos, Carole Mette, William Gooding, Robert Taylor, Dan Grote 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 Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. SWEARING IN OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBERS A. DANIEL GROTE B. FRANK SHERWOOD III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL All commission members were present. IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Taylor moved, seconded by Mette to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 9-0. V. MINUTES MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Kirk to approve the minutes of February 14, 2022. MOTION CARRIED 6-0 with three abstentions (Sherwood, Grote and Gooding). VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. SUITE LIVING OF EDEN PRAIRIE Request for: • Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 2.85 acres PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 25, 2022 Page 2 • Planned Unit Development Amendment with waivers on 2.85 acres • Site Plan Review on 2.85 acres • Preliminary Plat of one parcel into one lot and two outlots on 2.85 acres Jeremy Larson, of Suite Living, presented a PowerPoint and detailed the application. He gave the background on Suite Living, which was an Assisted Living and Memory Care facility with seven communities open throughout the Twin Cities and another six under construction. Larson displayed the site layout, which was divided between assisted living and memory units. The building would have 32 units, 20 of which would be assisted living units and 12 which would be memory care units. The building would be secure, as would the patio area, and the Memory Care facility would have 24-hour supervision. He displayed the rendering and explained the SmartSide and stone material choices. The development incorporated dormers for a more residential look. Trees did have to be removed; trees would also be planted and screening incorporated. He displayed a photograph of the Little Canada development showing the same type of elevation and interior renderings of the units, nursing station, and amenities. Residents would be allowed to bring in their own furniture. He played a video that further explained life in the proposed development. Farr asked if the required move of the underground stormwater chamber had been addressed. Larson replied this was a condition of approval. Mette asked for a sense of the facility’s place along the expense spectrum, and Larson replied this would be a more affordable facility. Due to the high care nature of care, there would not be the amenities provided, such as a workout room or a cinema, that other, more expensive facilities would offer. Larson replied residents stayed in the assisted living facility an average of two to four years, then moved over to the Memory Care. Mette asked if he foresaw transportation issues with emergency or larger vehicles. Larson replied he did not foresee the use of firetrucks or ambulances at this building. Pieper asked if there was neighborhood input, and Larson replied a neighborhood meeting was held, and there were no major concerns. He pointed out there were at least two neighbors present at this hearing. Taylor asked if there could be more skilled nursing at the facility. Larson replied that was a possibility and could be accommodated if needed, although their facilities did not provide the level of care up to the nursing home care level. Klima presented the staff report. The applicant was proposing to construct a 32- unit assisted living and memory care facility. The parking conformed to the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 25, 2022 Page 3 zoning requirements. The waiver requested additional density on the site of 11.2 units per acre which was in the range of density allowed by the Comprehensive Plan. The landscaping proposed exceeded the City requirements and the tree replacement complied with City Code requirements. Staff recommended approval. Mette asked why the property was not being rezoned. Klima replied the density relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance was a complicated equation. The current application requested a PUD waiver to allow the density that is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. This was the mechanism and the process the City had utilized for medium and high density for some time. Kirk added the prospective population was equivalent to the density allowed in the zoning district , as this would be one resident per unit and would never increase, so it fit into the current zoning district. Mike Amundson, resident at 9565 Garrison Way, spoke in favor of the development. He did not foresee traffic problems and found the development attractive. He did have a concern as to where the building was located; he proposed it be more centered in the property. MOTION: Markos moved, seconded by Gooding to close the public hearing. Motion carried 9-0. Mette asked if the developer could address the location of the building onsite. Larson replied the engineer was not in attendance but to his understanding the grading of the site drove the building’s location. Kirk stated this was the third proposal seen on this property and to his thinking this seemed to be a good fit. Gooding noted there was a number of existing ash trees that would stay that needed treatment, and he asked staff if this was a requirement. Bourne replied this was a new requirement. For those trees to be counted as having been saved they would have to be treated in the future. Taylor asked if the mature trees at the rear would be kept as a buffer for the neighbors. Larson replied the goal was to cut as few trees as possible. Pieper echoed Kirk’s comments regarding the merits of this project. Klima added to the south of the property there was an open space outlot maintained by an HOA so there would not be backyards abutting this project to the south. MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Markos to recommend approval of the Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 2.85 acres; Planned Unit Development Amendment with waivers on 2.85 acres; Site Plan Review on 2.85 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 25, 2022 Page 4 acres; and Preliminary Plat of one parcel into one lot and two outlots on 2.85 acres based on plans stamp dated March 26, 2022 and the staff report dated April 21, 2022. Motion carried 9-0. PLANNERS’ REPORT MEMBERS’ REPORTS VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Sherwood moved, seconded by Taylor to adjourn. Motion carried 9- 0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.