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
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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.