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Planning Commission - 08/23/1999 APPROVED MINUTES CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY,AUGUST 23, 1999 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER Council Chamber 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Beverly Alexander,Kenneth Clinton,Randy Foote,Bill Habicht,Rebecca Lewis and Doug Sandstad STAFF: Scott A. Kipp Senior Planner, Carol Pelzel, City Recorder I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL Chair Foote called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Habicht arrived at 7:05 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Foote asked that the agenda be amended to include a brief summary of the Boards and Commissions reorganization under VI. Member's Reports. MOTION: Sandstad moved, seconded by Clinton,to approve the Agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Lewis moved, seconded by Alexander,to approve the minutes of the August 9, 1999,Planning Commission Meeting as submitted. Motion carried 4-0. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. BROWN ADDITION by Pemtom Land Company. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 23.87 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers 8.59 acres, Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 8.59 acres, Zoning District Amendment within the R1-13.5 Zoning District on 1.99 acres and Preliminary Plat on 23.67 acres into 13 lots and 2 outlots. Location: East of Overland Trail and Frontier Place,North of Flying Cloud Drive. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 23, 1999 PAGE 2 Kipp reported that after the proponent reviewed the proposal at the staff level and with additional input on the Comprehensive Plan, they decided to withdraw their application at this time and will resubmit at a later date a concept plan for the entire Brown land. The Commission did acknowledge the withdrawal of this item. B. EDEN PRAIRIE MALL—VON MAUR by General Growth Properties. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 80 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on ten acres, zoning District Amendment within the Regional Commercial District on ten acres and Site Plan Review on ten acres. Location: Eden Prairie Mall—East Side Bill Moston, representative of General Growth Properties, explained that they are requesting approval to add the Von Maur Department Store to Phase H of the Eden Prairie Mall redevelopment. The proposed store would be located on the east side of the center between Kohls and Mervyns and will be a two-level department store. Moston fiu-ther explained that in order to meet the parking requirements of the City, they would be adding a parking deck. Moston presented the elevations of the proposed project and presented the material samples for the building that they are proposing to use. The material selections will be compatible with the materials chosen for the rest of the redevelopment. Moston gave a brief overview of the building explaining that the exterior materials will be compliant with the City's code; 75%brick and glass. The City staff has requested additional landscaping and the proponent indicated that that would not be a problem. Foote asked what the time frame would be for completion of this store. Moston responded that they are looking to begin construction of the building as soon as possible and would like to open the store for business by March 1, 2001. They anticipate the opening of the theaters in November of next year. Kipp reported that the project does meet City Code as well as the parking ratios. Staff does recommend approval,however,prior to City Council review, they ask that the proponent revise the landscape plan to include an additional 51 caliper inches of trees to meet City Code. Sandstad said he was surprised that the work has been started on the project prior to any approvals. He questioned how the proponent received approval to start the project before coming to the Planing Commission and City Council. Moston explained that they are operating under the utility relocation permit. They had received previous zoning approval for the theater and a big box development. Since that time, they have moved the theater to the other side and staff did indicate they could go ahead and move the private utilities under that pervious approval at their own risk. Foote opened the public hearing. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 23, 1999 PAGE 3 Laurel Bluml, 10540 West Riverview Drive, spoke in favor of both the department store and parking ramp. She asked if the parking spaces would be reduced in size. Moston explained that they did have approval to reduce the size under the previous zoning,however, under this new plan they do not anticipate reducing them. There will be enough room with the parking deck so that they do not have to restrict the parking slots. Bluml said one issue she does have is that of pedestrian safety and she asked that the developer consider doing something to make this area safer for pedestrians. Moston said one of their big focuses is the addition of a pedestrian friendly streetscape and to increase space for customer drop-off areas adjacent to the entrances. It is challenging for them to determine where the sidewalks should go but they would be very happy to work with City staff to add sidewalks and to address the pedestrian issue. Alexander said she agrees with Bluml and feels that the issue of pedestrian safety needs to be addressed. Sandstad said he supports the project and likes Bluml's suggestion that the proponent look into the placement of sidewalks throughout the project. Sandstad said he would encourage staff to consider two or three locations where sidewalks can be placed perpendicular to the Mall. Clinton said he too agrees with the project and also the concept of additional sidewalks. MOTION: Lewis moved, seconded by Clinton, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION: Lewis moved, seconded by Clinton, to move to recommend to the City Council approval of the request of General Growth Properties for Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 80 acres,Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on ten acres,Zoning District Amendment within the Regional Commercial District on ten acres and Site Plan Review on ten acres based on plans dated July 16, 1999, and subject to the recommendations of the staff report dated august 20, 1999. Motion carried 6-0. V. PUBLIC MEETING VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS Foote reported that he attended the Council's Board and Commissions reorganization meeting for the various Boards and Commission chairpersons held on August 17. Foote explained that basically, two Boards would be added consisting of nine members each. The one board will be the Community Planning Board which will take the place of the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission as such will not exist. Only two members from this Commission will serve on that Board until their terms expire and those two members PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES AUGUST 23, 1999 PAGE 4 will be Lewis and Clinton. Any other members of the Planning Commission are invited to apply for a position on the Community Planning Board. The application process will begin in September or October and selections will be made in November with the new Board starting in January. The last meeting of the Planning Commission will be December 27. Foote explained that the other nine-member Board would be the Leisure and Communication Board. This Board will handle all of the items that are non-statutory or are program activities. The Council is looking for diversity in members. Foote indicated that the reason for the reorganization of the Boards and Commissions is to streamline the process and this will make it much easier for developers. Foote further explained that the only Commission to be eliminated would be the Housing, Transportation and Human Services Board. Their duties will be incorporated into other programs such as FamiLink. The Commission members expressed some concern about this reorganization of the Boards and Commissions. Clinton questioned the appointment of the Chair by the City Council. Sandstad questioned the appointment of five members from expert area. He indicated that there was no request for a property owner or generalist. Sandstad said he is in favor of the nine members and the combination of commissions. However,he would like to have additional time to review the recommended changes and to have the opportunity to discuss this further with the City Council. Sandstad said he feels it is important to have a residential property owner represented on these Commissions. Habicht asked if the Commission members would receive the same presentation that was given to the Commission Chairs. Kipp said he was not sure but would certainly pass this request on. Habicht pointed out that only two members of this Commission will be serving on the new Commission and they may lose some continuity especially on projects being carried over. Sandstad indicated that he would be out of town and unable to attend the September 13 meeting. VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS VIII.NEW BUSINESS IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Motion Alexander, second Lewis, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.