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City Council - 10/18/2022 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY, October 18, 2022 CITY CENTER 5:00 – 6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30 – 7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Ron Case, Council Members Kathy Nelson, Mark Freiberg, and Lisa Toomey CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Matthew Sackett, Fire Chief Scott Gerber, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Julie Klima, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Administrative Services/HR Director Alecia Rose, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, and City Attorney Maggie Neuville Workshop - Heritage Rooms I and II (5:30) I. EP MULTI FAMILY PROJECT Mayor Ron Case introduced the workshop meeting and noted that historically, the Council does not take action on a project at the Council workshop. . Mayor Case explained project concerns were stated to the developer during the regular City Council when this project was presented. The three big concerns at the time were building height, traffic, and parking. The developer reworked aspects of the project. Mayor Case suggested the developer come to the workshop to present the changes. Mayor Case stated the purpose of workshop would be for the developers to get a sense of the Council’s reception of the project and if it has the possibility to move forward. Mayor Case outlined the possible next steps including neighborhood meetings. Councilmember Kathy Nelson added that runoff was a fourth essential issue with the project. City Manager Rick Getschow stated when this item was addressed, a public hearing was held and closed, and no action was taken on the development proposal. Having the developer attend the workshop to discuss project viability was a logical step in the process. Getschow noted it would be acceptable for the developer to receive feedback on the revised proposal, but the City made assurances to affected neighborhoods regarding another neighborhood meeting, an additional public hearing, and related notices. Nelson added if something happened with the project, a larger radius of the population would need to be notified. Councilmember Lisa Toomey agreed and asked for two meetings to be held to discuss the project moving forward. Mayor Case stated the first meeting could be a neighborhood meeting with the second being a public hearing. City Council Workshop Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 2 Tony Barranco from Ryan Companies thanked the group for setting the stage for the project up to its current point. Barranco stated that a neighborhood engagement meeting could be held in mid-November with a submittal in early to mid-December. A public hearing could then be scheduled for January. Barranco noted the project is past any seasonal risk and dialogue with the landowner is good. Barranco noted there is still risk with the broad nature of the project. Barranco reiterated specific items about the project through a PowerPoint presentation. Barranco originally presented the five-story building with a pitched roof, the design style of the roof is intended to fit with the residential character of the neighborhood. Feedback on the building being too tall was received, and the developer has made adjustments they will show. Also, they evaluated a four-story building as opposed to a five-story building, and the smaller building isn’t feasible. On-site parking and sustainability features were other feedback items received. Barranco noted reduced building height, an increased parking stall ratio, and sustainability features such as solar panels, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and high efficiency building materials as items of focus. Barranco addressed building height being reduced by approximately 11 feet. He noted the small subsection of solar panels on the roof would only add inches to the building height. He described various views from surrounding areas and presented a slide comparing the pitched roof versus a new flat roof design. Mayor Case asked how many houses would have impacted views. Community Development Director Julie Klima responded 12-15 homes from an aerial view. Barranco noted as you move up the hill, visual impact would be reduced. One to two dozen homes closest to the intersection would have the most visual impact. Nelson asked if residents on upper floors of the building would be able to see into backyards and windows of homes in the surrounding neighborhoods. Nelson also asked if tree cover would remain. Barranco addressed sightlines and answered the tall existing tree canopy would remain. Mayor Case expressed care for neighbors of developments while identifying the need for development. Mayor Case added Council should consider rational distance and sight lines of projects in terms of their approval. Nelson noted residents in neighborhoods should be informed. Nelson added this is a well- established area, and reiterated building height has been reduced and sightlines are improved. Toomey inquired how many apartments the building will house Barranco answered 210. City Council Workshop Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 3 Barranco displayed winter and summer views of the building from the South, across Roberts Drive. In the summer there is no visual impact. In the winter, neighbors could see the building through the trees. Barranco talked about parking and noted a lobby area expansion resulting in one less unit. Barranco explained an addition of 49 parking stalls, primarily located in the southeast corner. Barranco noted an attempt to preserve more green area on the site, but parking concerns and City Code led to a stormwater management system being included instead. The 49-stall addition puts the project close to the parking ratio of previously approved projects. Nelson asked if there would be other plantings on the site. Joe Peris from Ryan Construction stated there would be appropriate plantings of trees and shrubs to give a year-round aesthetic appeal. Nelson asked if there would be floral additions to give a look comparable to other buildings in the City. Nelson noted the associated cost would be small. Barranco noted they would work with the City on a landscape plan proposal. Nelson said it would be important to have additional on-site parking for holidays and gatherings. Toomey asked if the developer needed to talk to the adjacent strip mall owner about additional parking. Barranco said they have a strong relationship with the owners of the strip mall and would have conversations with them in the event emergency parking was needed. Barranco presented on sustainable building features, including the addition of the 58-kilowatt array of solar panels. Barranco explained panels would be low profile and southern facing for reflection purposes. The solar panels would provide a savings of 102,000 pounds of carbon per year, the equivalent of the carbon production of 800 trees. Barranco noted the solar panels would fund a significant amount of common area electricity. Toomey asked if, and when, EV capable parking stalls would be installed. Barranco answered that four high powered chargers would be installed in the exterior parking area, and basement parking would be wired so more stations could be added as demand dictates. Mayor Case clarified about running regular outlets to parking spaces and how there should be adequate power supply. Nelson said it could be cheaper to install chargers at construction rather than later. Toomey asked if solar technology is often installed on their buildings. Barranco responded not a lot, but they are constructing a building in St. Paul with significant sustainable features, solar panels included. Barranco listed buildings on which they have installed solar panels. Barranco expects 110v to be the power supply come full utilization. City Council Workshop Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 4 Councilmember Mark Freiberg asked about the tilt of the solar panels in terms of height. Barranco said the solar panels would only add a few inches of height and the architectural drawing being referenced isn’t exact. Kieffaber detailed the proposed roofline and parapet including space below for the solar panels to be installed. There is a foot or more space below the parapet where the solar panels sit. Barranco addressed traffic concerns. Barranco noted moderate traffic density with this project and traffic would increase even more significantly if the site were zoned commercial. The developer is open to conversations regarding traffic, though the project can work based on current conditions. Barranco stated traffic increase is involved when moving from a non- developed site to a developed site. Mayor Case said when the project was presented to the Council, the full traffic study was not discussed at the Council meeting. He recommended the traffic study for this site be clearly presented at the next neighborhood meeting and at a subsequent Council meeting. Public Works Director Robert Ellis highlighted items from the traffic analysis. Ellis said both Hennepin County and the City reviewed the study, and no safety issues were found. 962 daily trips are predicted with this project. For comparison, an office would generate comparable daily trips, while a shopping center would generate 2,500 daily trips and a fast- food restaurant would generate 3,500 daily trips. Ellis explained with this development, level of service at intersections today versus in 2024 would be almost identical, with perhaps a few seconds added. U-turns are not predicted to be significant, but operational changes can be made to address that if need be. Hennepin County has made the U-turn area a protected only arrow in the afternoon, it could be made protected at all times. Ellis added an operational change could be made regarding Topview Road by adding a sign for right turns to yield to U-turns. From the perspective of the study, it works well today and would work well with the development in the future. Freiberg stated a concern regarding U-turns and Ellis confirmed a protected green arrow at that intersection would resolve the issue. Ellis detailed the accident history of the area. Nelson commented on the length of the green light at the Plaza Drive the intersection for pedestrians and recommended the green light be lengthened during peak times. Toomey asked who was in charge of the traffic light. Ellis responded Hennepin County is responsible and said there would be further evaluations. Ellis stated residents had concerns about the volume of cars on Roberts Drive. If 100% of forecasted traffic used Roberts Drive, it would amount to an additional 10 vehicles per hour. The volume of traffic increase is minimal. Ellis detailed comparable intersections in the City and stated no foreseen traffic or safety issues. City Council Workshop Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 5 Nelson inquired about run-off on the site and if the adjacent church has proper stormwater management. Ellis responded the church has a pond that drains down to another parcel and feeds the wetland. Chad Lockwood from Ryan Construction explained the lowest floor of building, the parking level, is 5 feet above the wetland and portions of the site are designated to take run-off. 80% of the site drains to a buried pond underneath the parking area which is hydrologically separate from the wetland. Lockwood noted the project would lower the high water level in the wetland area and in a major rain event, water would flow to the neighboring property as it does currently. The project will be designed to meet all rules and regulations from the Watershed District and City. Lockwood said an adverse condition would not be created by this project and confirmed the garage would not flood. The developer is treating the wetland as an asset and amenity. Lockwood clarified the building’s parking is considered underground from Valley View Road but from behind the building it is a walk out, higher than the wetland area. Freiberg asked if there is additional drainage in the garage if something went wrong. Lockwood answered there will be a series of emergency overflows to divert water and drain tile will be installed in the building. Mayor Case stated the land is private and has development potential. The site is zoned commercial and given its proximity Home Depot, it isn’t intended for private homes. Knowing that something will go onto this property, the Council will make the best decision for the community while mitigating impact to neighboring areas. Mayor Case asked if the Council if the major concerns were adequately addressed by the developer. Mayor Case said Ryan Companies needs to know if they have a way forward to involve neighbors and invest in the development of this property. Mayor Case asked each Councilmember to respond. Toomey responded that the developer did address several concerns and took suggestions seriously. Toomey noted her concern for the neighbors and would like to hear from them before she provides her opinion. Freiberg responded he liked the reduction in building height that his drainage questions were answered. Freiberg felt the project needed to sustain itself in terms of parking and he is not yet convinced on the traffic concerns. Freiberg said the developer needs to involve the neighbors- but what was done with the building seems to be enough. Nelson asked about walking path materials in terms of accessibility and noted she was hoping to see a place where children could gather and play. Nelson commented she liked the lower roof with solar panel addition and is reassured about drainage on-site. Nelson said a big step forward has been taken, but she wants a neighborhood meeting to be held. Nelson City Council Workshop Minutes October 18, 2022 Page 6 said she needs to see these items addressed to move forward. Nelson would like the development to be unique and friendly to the neighborhood. Mayor Case concluded he liked the addition of the solar component, is satisfied with on-site parking and is comfortable with water management on the site. Mayor Case emphasized the importance of neighborhood involvement and working together to make the right decision. Mayor Case noted the inevitable increase in traffic any development would bring and highlighted precedent and consistency when making decisions on property development. Mayor Case asked the developer if they had anything additional. Barranco said the developer can commit to a play area on the site and will revisit the path design and follow up. Open Podium - Council Chamber (6:30) II. OPEN PODIUM III. ADJOURNMENT Minutes submitted by Dana Swanson, Facilities Coordinator.