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
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March 13, 2023
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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.
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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
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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
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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.