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Planning Commission - 03/13/2023APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2023 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: Jeremy Barnhart, City Planner; Rod Rue, City Engineer; Matt Bourne, Parks & Natural Resources Manager; Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ROLL CALL Absent were commission members Mette, Taylor, and Gooding. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Markos moved, seconded by Grote to approve the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. IV. MINUTES MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Farr to approve the minutes of February 13, 2022. MOTION CARRIED 6-0. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. 6245 DUCK LAKE ROAD BUILDING MOVE (2022-20) Request for: • Building Move to relocate an existing detached garage from 17117 62nd Street West to 6245 Duck Lake Road Josh Hohn, Eden Prairie resident for 14 years, presented a PowerPoint and detailed the application. He had previously appeared before the commission in 2021. The purchase of the next door property allowed him to expand his property, and move the building 75 feet so that it would comply with the current setback PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2023 Page 2 requirements and be closer to the house. The building was structurally sound for the move. The remaining space would allow for two complete low-density lots in the future, and also for a one-stall garage. He stated he had had the property professionally surveyed to comply with grading, draining, and easement requirements as well. Owen commended staff’s efforts to work with him. Barnhart presented the staff report. At the time of the previous review in 2021 four criteria had been outlined: structural integrity of the building, building use, consistency with the zoning ordinance and that the development remain in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. The application complied with all of these. A single-stall garage would be built on the existing lot. Staff recommended approval subject to the conditions outlined. MOTION: Sherwood moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Farr stated he recalled the previous application and supported this move. MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Grote to approve the request to relocate the existing detached garage from 17117 62nd Street West to 6245 Duck Lake Road as represented in the March 13, 2023 staff report. Motion carried 6-0. HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS (2022-16) Request for: • Site Plan Review on 2.99 acres Michael Monn, of Michael Monn Architects and the architect working with Holiday Inn, presented a PowerPoint and detailed the application. Most of the work would be interior—rebranding, remodeling the lobby and guest rooms. Also, there would be an 1,800-square foot single-story addition to the building, for a new indoor pool. This addition would have an outdoor patio for guest use. The application would be removing all parking along the south property line (along Flying Cloud Drive and the light rail) within the setback for landscaping, reducing the number of parking stalls. Also, the number of guest rooms would be reduced from 119 rooms to 99 suites. The main entrance would stay where it was, and the lobby would be remodeled. The existing brown brick would remain, and the EIFS would be recolored to match the Holiday Inn specs. The new addition will be clad in brick to match the existing building. The idea is to have this seamlessly blend in. He displayed the higher and lower parapets on the addition. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2023 Page 3 Barnhart presented the staff report. The building materials comply with the design standards. .The site improvements, including the addition of parking islands comply with city code. Staff recommended approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report. MOTION: Grote moved, seconded by Markos to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Markos stated she thought this a nice upgrade, and it was a bonus to encounter parking reduced, which the commission often did not see. Farr concurred and added his support. Kirk agreed, and Pieper concurred. MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Markos to recommend approval for a Site Plan Review on 2.99 acres as represented in the March 13, 2023 staff report and on plans stamp-dated February 21, 2023. Motion carried 6-0. CODE AMENDMENT FOR A MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT Barnhart stated the area around Eden Prairie Center and Fountain Place, along with two more areas north and south was guided mixed use in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan The mixed use district was developed to further the goals of the Comprehensive Plan, including: Flexibility for a differing but compatible use, including attached multi-family developments; cohesive, unified development character; and reinvestment and economic vitality in the district. This Code Amendment would retain existing rights and opportunities for businesses and property owners. Rezoning would occur at the request of the property owner. It is anticipated that development will occur in vertical (multiple uses in a single building) or horizontal (multiple uses in separate buildings, on one or more lots) configurations. Differences from the existing Code were: Addition of multi-family residential up to 75 units/acre; reduced parking for retail and shopping centers; additional parking reduction if certain standards were met; cohesive design within development; pedestrian mobility, bicycle parking (codifying recent practice) in which bicycle parking would be half TOD and TC requirements; and signage as part of a master plan. Staff recommended approval as drafted. Markos asked if the Eden Prairie Mall had additional needs considering their request last autumn for a review period. Barnhard replied staff met with the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2023 Page 4 Chamber of Commerce in October, drafted the ordinance over the winter, and then reached out to the Mall for comments and feedback earlier this spring. We responded to verbal comments received. Grote suggested incorporating EVs into this district. Barnhart replied there was no specific requirement in this ordinance; should the City pursue this route, it would likely come under a parking requirement. MOTION: Grote moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. Farr asked if the conformity to the City’s the design guidelines set a precedent with this zoning district or if this was already consistent with other districts. Barnhart replied the intention was neither to be more or less prescriptive than other districts, and he believed the language had been copied from other sections of the Code, but he offered to confirm than before the City Council meeting. Farr asked Rue if these areas had sufficient utility and sewer support for extra density in these areas. Rue replied this area was designed with a full build out and they would be sufficient according to his department’s projections. Traffic could require some improvements. Farr asked if short-term visitor outdoor bicycle racks versus occupant interior bicycle storage by a resident should be differentiated. Barnhart replied this was possible, but most zoning district language used a broad language as a guide, rather than specific prescriptions. Staff would examine item-level concerns on a case-by-case basis but he could also take another look at the language. Kirk commended the City, staff, and the Comprehensive Plan for examining these issues and added he found this Ordinance change allowing for more flexibility to be a positive one. Pieper asked if bars and restaurants fell under “permitted commercial uses.” Barnhart replied they did; items three and four were listed in other zoning districts, so the same language was specifically used to ensure allowance and consistency between zoning language. Items three and four could also offer food and no existing services were being changed or reduced. MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Kirk to recommend approval of the Code Amendment to allow the creation of a mixed-use zoning district represented in the March 13, 2023 staff report. Motion carried 6-0. PLANNERS’ REPORT MEMBERS’ REPORTS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2023 Page 5 Pieper announced this was Markos last meeting and thanked her for her service. Pieper also thanked Gooding (not present). VI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Grote moved, seconded by Markos to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 p.m.