Loading...
City Council - 06/07/2005 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JUNE 7, 2005 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Councilmembers Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Ron Case, and Philip Young PLANNING COMMISSION: Ray Stoelting, Chair; Kathy Nelson, Vice Chair; Larry Kacher; John Kirk; Vicki Koenig; Peter Rocheford; Fred Seymour; Jon Stoltz; Bill Sutherland Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz, Fred Seymour, Larry Kacher, and Bill Sutherland were absent CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Dan Carlson, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Communications Manager Pat Brink, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters Fire Chief Esbensen and Police Chief Carlson were absent. CONSULTANTS: Greg Ingraham, Joni Giese, Marie Cotes, Barry Warner Heritage Room H I. MCA STUDY Scott Neal and Janet Jeremiah provided a brief introduction. Barry Warner and Greg Ingraham presented a Powerpoint on the MCA study. The study looked at existing conditions, and trends within the Major Center Area. Survey results from the task force and open house were reviewed. Warner and Ingraham then provided a brief overview of each the three Vision 2030 Concepts developed for the area. Concept A HisMis!hts Includes a new spine road from 494, improved 212 access, and east-west connections Portions of 212 would be depressed Includes two LRT stations - A walk-to transition station and drive-to station (Southwest Station) The City Center would be the area surrounding the "walk-to" transit station Council Workshop Minutes June 7, 2005—page 2 Concept B His!hlis!hts Includes one LRT station (Southwest Station) 494 access not improved,but 212 would be Stronger reliance on the outer ring road with minor realignment to remove hard turn Technology Dr. would be extended and Singletree Lane would connect with West 78h The Town Center would be south of Singletree Lane Concept C His!hlis!hts 494 access improved by series of one-way tiers Outer ring road is envisioned as a boulevard with a strong identification component but no realignment Includes more multi-family residential and a strong medical campus component, as well as a strong mixed-use core north and south of Singletree and mall property Does not include LRT Marie Cote reviewed long term visions and alternatives for transportation. Open House Results Warner said about 65 people attended the public open house in April. A survey instrument was used to determine how people feel about the concepts. The results show good support for ring road development and walkable greenways. There was also support for improved regional access from 212 and 494. Some support exists for roadway changes to strengthen east-west and north-south travel and people generally supported mixed uses. Density was an issue for which the consultants did not see a strong direction. They noted that many people are wary of high-rise buildings. Wayfindins! Richard Lang from Visual Communications described a hierarchical, sign-based wayfinding system that would help drivers, bikers and pedestrians navigate through the area. Feedback on Ma_ior Elements Warner asked for input from Councilmembers and Planning Commission members on the basic building blocks of the alternatives, including LRT; regional access; ring road and wayfinding improvements; local roadway connections; open space, trails and greenways; and a compact, walkable central district. LRT Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked why there is not a second station in Alternative B. Warner said this decision was based on showing alternatives for the area. A central station location would encourage Center Area development. The Mayor asked if we would need another transit station if the demand for LRT grows as much as expected. Warner said he does not believe capacity should be an issue. He said LRT can be used as a way to ignite other types of uses if the City wishes. However, Warner noted,bringing LRT into the central area could result in some transportation issues. A transit circulator could also be Council Workshop Minutes June 7, 2005—page 3 used. Jeremiah said high density would be needed to develop a workable circulator system. Most people do not want to make a transfer, and there is the question of who we are aiming to serve. A walkable station would serve the immediate area and could bring employees from the Golden Triangle Area to use the restaurants at noon. Councilmember Aho asked which of these plans most closely mirrors current land uses. Ingraham said Concept B matches more closely than the others. Warner believes more mixed uses will enter the picture than the single uses currently reflected in the Major Center Area. Case said he would like Council to consider going on record as supporting LRT into the area. Tyra-Lukens said she feels Council needs to acknowledge that LRT may come out to Eden Prairie,but a larger issue is whether or not the City should focus on it or treat it as a peripheral issue. If we believe it is coming, we need to figure out how to have it come right through the Market Center Area and coordinate development with that in mind. Regional His!hway Access Warner asked for feedback on the recommendations for addressing the difficulty in finding the Major Center Area from 212 and 494. He posed the question of whether or not these problems are meaningful enough to undertake major changes, acknowledging the County and MnDOT would be involved in any decisions and changes. Aho thinks a wayfinding system will go a long way toward improving the situation. He doesn't think it will be possible to completely eliminate confusing transitions, although creating an exit from 494 might be helpful. Warner agreed that ring road wayfinding may go a long way in helping resolve some of the navigation issues. Case said he feels getting an exit from 494 into the mall is fairly important. He said we have always known we need regional access off 494. Koenig asked how LRT would affect through traffic. Cote said there would have to have some grade separated intersections. Jeremiah said the proposed planning principles indicate that any LRT through this area would have to be designed to minimize impacts to pedestrians,road traffic, etc. Case suggested developing two priority lists, one for what we would like and one for what can actually be done. Councilmember Butcher agreed. Butcher noted that Alternative A is the only scenario with grade-separated 212. She asked how that would work. Warner said it could involve a partial depression with other roadways going up slightly. He said it would be necessary to balance the cost vs. benefit, and impact to properties vs. changes in access. Jeremiah said there are intermediary solutions available, such as bridging in some areas. Councilmember Young asked if Council will be getting cost projections for these options. Jeremiah said LRT cost projections will be included in the Southwest Corridor Analysis Study. At the end of the MCA study, staff will be identifying costs and gaps, possible funding sources, etc. There Council Workshop Minutes June 7, 2005—page 4 will have to be discussion of which tools the City is comfortable using, such as TIF and tax abatement. Koenig said in 25 years it is possible people will be more accepting of mass transit, and show increased interest in biking and walking. She suggested looking at LRT as a main transportation device, which would mean that, theoretically, we would not have to do as much with the regional access issues, etc. Warner said that is a good point, and the LRT regional study will be looking at this issue. Nelson said she prefers Concept A,but would like to see Technology Road and Singletree Lane go all the way across the area, as in Concept B. Case agreed. He said it seems the ring road improvements could and should be accomplished soon. Cote also noted that signal timing improvements are very "doable"and will help make the area more navigable. Parks, Open Space and Greenways Case said green space along the roads is desirable; however, he is hesitant to recommend setting aside more land if it detracts from the taxable base. Jeremiah said some open space could be privately owned but accessible to the public. Staff will be bringing recommendations from the MCA Study to the Parks and Recreation Commission again for additional feedback. She said it will be important to provide amenities if residential is included in this area. Lambert said one should not assume that the City cannot afford parks in this area. There is land on Lake Idlewild that could serve as high-density residential and provide open space,resulting in ample return on the investment. Compact, Walkable Town Center Warner said this area would include a strong combination of streets and pedestrian access. It would be of moderate to high density, with mixed uses and a possible housing element. Butcher noted there are already a lot of dwellings within that area. Warner said the future trend will be toward senior housing,but not necessarily assisted living, as well as housing for young professionals and empty nesters. Density Warner said Council will need to decide whether or not it would consider a 10-story building in the Major Center Area. Tyra-Lukens said any high-rise should probably be on the outskirts of the area,because of traffic concerns and to providing ample parking. Jeremiah noted that some outer areas may have sensitive adjacent uses, so we will look closely at where height may be appropriate. The consultants recommended the following near term initiatives: Changes to official controls and development incentive policies Implementation signal control changes Institution of a hierarchical wayfinding system Development of critical pedestrian and bicycle links Implementation of certain TH 212 improvements, such as lighting, landscaping and pedestrianibicycle improvements Council Workshop Minutes June 7, 2005—page 5 Next Steps The consultants presented the following as next steps in the process: Develop a preferred alternative Hold a"Developers' Roundtable" Meet with the business community, including the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club Receive task force feedback Hold a second open house Tyra-Lukens asked if staff and the consultants had received enough input from Council to proceed with the work. Warner said the input has been very helpful. He encouraged Council to continue to provide any input they might have as the project proceeds. Jeremiah recapped the highlights of the input as follows: Keep LRT in the mix, and continue to consider including a second MCA station Wayfinding is a high priority Consider improvements to regional access, with the knowledge that it is a high cost item and may not prove feasible Improvements to local roadway connections make a lot of sense Additional open space and/or plazas should be looked at. Incent private sector as much as possible. Costs are a consideration Consider where it is appropriate to have height, possibly on the area perimeter, and possibly in the central district. Tyra-Lukens said she feels 3-6 story buildings are okay in the central area, and the other Councilmembers agreed in principle Council Chamber II. OPEN FORUM A. John Mallo—Veterans Park Mr. Mallo addressed two issues. The first was in relation to the proper flying of the flag. Mallo believes the City did not follow proper procedure on Memorial Day. City Manager Scott Neal said staff continues to evaluate flag protocol and procedures and is considering developing a more formal policy. Mr. Mallo said his second issue is his desire to see a veterans' memorial in Eden Prairie. Mayor Tyra-Lukens thanked Mallo for his suggestion and referred the matter to Parks and Recreation Director Bob Lambert III. OPEN PODIUM No one requested to speak at Open Podium. IV. ADJOURNMENT