Planning Commission - 10/27/1997 AGENDA
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
Wonday, October 27, 1997 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Beverly Alexander,Kenneth E. Clinton,Randy Foote,Bill Habicht,
Ismail Ismail,Douglas Sandstad, Mary Jane Wissner
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE: Jessica Lind
STAFF MEMBER: Scott A.Kipp, Senior Planner
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE --ROLL CALL
H. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. MINUTES
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. 197 BFI REZONING-SPRINT TOWER by BFI/Sprint. Request for Zoning District Change from
Rural to I-2 on 9.5 acres and Site Plan Review on 9.5 acres. Location: 9813 Flying Cloud Drive.
. B. OK SPA AND SALON by Sherri Oelt enbruns. Request for Comprehensive Guide Plan Change
from Office to Regional Commercial on 1.82 acres,Zoning District Change from Rural to C-Reg-Ser
on 1.82 acres, and Site Plan Review on 1.82 acres. Location: Southwest corner of Valley View
Road and Prairie Center Drive.
V. PUBLIC MEETING
VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS
VH. CONTINUING BUSINESS
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS
X. ADJOURNMENT
APPROVED MINUTES
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1997 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Beverly Alexander, Kenneth E. Clinton, Randy
Foote, Bill Habicht, Ismail Ismail, Douglas
Sandstad,Mary Jane Wissner
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Kyle Halvorson,Adam Hupp
STAFF LIAISON: Scott Kipp,Senior Planner;Jean Johnson,Zoning
Adminstration; Elinda Bahley, Recording
Secretary
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ismail Ismail
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-ROLL CALL
Chair Clinton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Foote moved,seconded by Wissner,to approve the agenda as published.
Motion carried 6-0.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Alexander moved, seconded by Habicht,to approve the minutes of the
September 22, 1997 Eden Prairie Planning Commission meeting as published.
Motion carried 5-0-1 with one abstention by Sandstad.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. '97 BFI REZONING - SPRINT TOWER by BFI/Sprint. Request for
Zoning District Change from Rural to I-2 on 9.5 acres and Site Plan Review
on 9.5 acres. Location: 9813 Flying Cloud Drive.
Paul Harrington,2900 Lone Oak Parkway,representing Sprint,reviewed his
request for zoning district change for a single 80-foot-high monopole
. proposed at this site. The reason for the rezoning request is to accommodate
the setback requirements. He gave background information and noted the
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October 27, 1997
monopole location is approximately 1,000 feet from the garbage filled landfill
area. The landfill has been closed since 1987. The Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency is responsible for monitoring the closed landfill and BFI will
continue to operate the methane gas extraction system.
A temporary monopole was constructed on the site three months ago for
testing purposes. This pole still exists. If the rezoning is approved, a
permanent installation will be made. If the zoning is not approved, the
temporary pole will be removed. Across TH212 from the site is the Flying
Cloud Airport. The tower height and location has received approval from the
Federal Aviation Administration. Eighty feet is the maximum height allowed
at this proximity and location to the airport.
The reason for the temporary permit was because the City was in the process
of reviewing a code change which would address the issue of
telecommunication towers. The ordinance is now complete and the proposal
is to put the temporary site into a permanent status. The code requires they
have a 4:1 setback for tower height from rural residential rezoned property.
• The BFI property consists of two zoning types, one industrial and the other
rural. The portion of the rural zoned property outside of the closed landfill is
the property which the request for rezoning is.
Sandstad asked if the City has any tower separation requirements from tower
to tower. Johnson said they do not.
Sandstad was concerned about a map of the existing towers. Johnson said the
Planning Commission had inquired about that at one of the previous meetings.
Staff does have the base information completed and the Engineering staff will
be working on that in two weeks. The information will also include the type
of tower,the number of antennas on it, and also the maximum height. The
Planning Commission will receive it when it's complete.
Johnson reviewed the staff report noting that the monopole installation should
not cause any change in the drainage patterns around the site. It is relatively
a flat, sandy, gravel area. There will be ground equipment which would be
similar to the other utility type boxes seen at the other monopoles. There will
be no sewer and water required for this type of construction. The 80 foot
monopole is in an area that meets the requirements of the FAA. According
to their review,this will work with the aviation traffic around the airport.
• The 80 foot tower does require a 320 foot setback from all the rural land and
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October 27, 1997
that is what creates the large size of the rezoning that they have for the 9.5
acres. Staff has also taken into consideration how this will work for future
developments, and with the size of the site and the fact that BFI owns
adjoining property, staff feels there is enough flexibility on this site that they
can plan buildings and parking in the future.
Staff has not received any calls or inquiries about this and notices have gone
out. There has been no response to the notices. Staff recommended approval
of the rezoning and the site plan review that would be conditioned upon no
building improvements,other then this single monopole to occur on the site
until a site plan approval and other needed review is applied for and approved.
Habicht asked what the rest of the BE site was guided. Johnson replied
besides industrial guiding on the land,there is also some open space. At one
time there was some high density residential.
Habicht said in the prospect that the high density residential will be built, is
there a period of abatement of the rest of the BFI facility taking place
• naturally. Johnson replied some of the information they heard last month is
that perhaps there is enough methane collections going on at the site that will
continue for the next 12 to 15 years. It's not a bridge we have to cross soon
and after we learn how well the closure has gone, that will help decide
whether or not residential is appropriate.
Habicht commented the monopole is approximately 2/3 of a mile from any
existing residential development. Assuming that high density residential
would be built at some point in the future,he asked how close it would come
to the tower at that point. Johnson said it would still be about 1000 feet away
from where it's shown now.
Habicht commented the 80 foot height restriction seems to indicate this site
is not going to be available for co-location. Harrington said there are carriers
out there who would locate at 60 feet if this site would work for them. It will
be designed for at least one additional carrier which may or may not happen.
Sandstad was concerned about access to the site for both construction and
routine service. Johnson said the access will be in through the main entrance
of BFI and then there's an easement agreement between them and Sprint
across the property to the pole site.
The public hearing was opened.
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Foote commented the plan looks good. It meets all the requirements that
were set forth in the ordinance. He supported the plan.
MOTION 1: Foote moved, seconded by Alexander, to close the public
hearing. Motion carried 6-0.
MOTION 2: Foote moved, seconded by Alexander, to recommend to the
City Council approval of the request of BFUSprint for Zoning District Change
from Rural to I-2 on 9.5 acres based on plans dated October 24, 1997 and
subject to the recommendations of the Staff Report dated October 24, 1997.
Motion carried 6-0.
MOTION 3: Foote moved, seconded by Alexander, to recommend to the
City Council approval of the request of BFUSprint for Site Plan Review on
9.5 acres based on plans dated October 24, 1997 and subject to the
recommendations of the Staff Report dated October 24, 1997. Motion
carried 6-0.
• B. OK SPA AND SALON by Sherri Oelt enbruns. Request for Comprehensive
Guide Plan Change from Office to Regional Commercial on 1.82 acres,
Zoning District Change from Rural to C-Reg-Ser on 1.82 acres and Site Plan
review on 1.82 acres. Location: Southwest comer of Valley View Road and
Prairie Center Drive.
Dave Clark, architect,reviewed the development proposal including the site
plan, grading plan, landscaping plan and elevation sketches. He noted they
are trying to keep as much of the natural character of the site as possible with
as little disruption as possible. A NURP pond will be created at the front of
the site along Prairie Center Drive. The low spot for the pond is about 16
feet lower than the building elevation.
There will be a shared driveway with Allstate Insurance next door. It's the
only location to enter the site but it works very well. The building will be
nestled into 25 to 30 feet high trees, which gives it wonderful character,
disrupting as few trees as possible. There will be no grading at all on the back
third of the site. It will be left natural and will be screened to the industrial
behind it.
Along the front edge is a ponding area. They will enlarge it and put back the
natural grasses. There will be some landscaping across the front with two
willow trees that will be large and be the focus statement on the front edge of
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October 27, 1997
the property. The other significant thing about the landscaping is they have
to screen the cars as much as possible from the city streets. This is a very
difficult site to do that because the site dips down eight feet and then goes
back up 14 feet to the edge of the parking lot. The plan is to take the land up
an extra foot or two above the parking lot and create a little retaining wall on
the parking lot side, and use a large amount of plant materials on that sloping
edge toward the corner to give the screening for the cars. The plan is to use
plant materials that are natural to the site. The only place where sod will be
used on this site is just a small amount around the entry.
This site will be a spa/salon and the idea is people will want to come in and
leave the rest of the world behind. For that reason,the front of the building
is quite subdued. There are no flashing lights on the front of the building.
From the street it's a simple looking structure with a few oddly shaped
openings for interest. There is a 12xl2 canopy at the front of the building
made out of wood with a wood roof. The windows at the front entry will be
10 feet tall, about 20 feet in width in an irregular pattern. The glass will be
done in two shades of blue.
Once inside the salon,there are two sides to it. The spa side is on the south
with private rooms for massages and facials. It's the very quiet side of the
building. The day room, which opens on the west side, is more public with
groups of people at a time having facials or manicures. It will have very large
windows facing out toward the deck and hopefully will have tables and chairs
on the deck area. The salon is on the north side of the building with very
large space. It's been designed after a courtyard with 18 feet tall walls.
Habicht was concerned about the right-in,right-out. Clark said there has been
concern about that. If this was a retail project,they could never use the site
like that. It would have to have a better access with a more immediate access.
This is a very designated situation where people make appointments to go.
They are there an hour or two a day and leave. It's quite a secluded kind of
operation. They don't believe it will effect the traffic.
Alexander was concerned about the proof of parking. Kipp said parking for
the commercial zoning district for a building of this size would require 63
parking stalls. With the salon use as proposed,63 stalls will not be necessary,
so the remaining 21 will be the proof of parking. The proponent provided
more proof of parking than was actually necessary for the site. Staff
recommended reducing the amount of proof of parking to meet the 63 spaces
required.
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Clinton was concerned about safety issues regarding the pond because it's
very close to Valley View and Prairie Center Drive. Clark said the pond is
about eight feet deep and it will be about that when it's finished. There is a
little bit of concern for public safety through there but they are trying to keep
that as a natural area. If the kids are running through it now, they will run
through it later. It generally will not have a lot of water in it.
Kipp reviewed the staff report noting the request is to change the guide plan
from office use to regional commercial use. The change in guide plan would
not have an affect on the balance of the land use because it's a small site.
Either office or commercial would be compatible with the surrounding uses.
The traffic impact would be similar with either use, especially the right-in,
right-out access to the site. The proposal is for a 7800 square foot
commercial building preserving 67 percent of the existing trees on site. The
site does meet all zoning codes. It has a small base area ratio and the floor
area ratio is approximately 10 percent which is about half of what the site
would permit.
There are 42 parking stalls provided with proof of parking to 63 to meet the
commercial zoning standards. The recommendation is the amount of proof
of parking be reduced to reflect 63 spaces. No access will be permitted along
Valley View Road due to the location of the right turn lane to Prairie Center
Drive. A pond is proposed with the project. The landscaping plan does meet
City code. The architecture does meet the percentage of the building
materials for the commercial zoning district. Staff recommended approval.
Foote was concerned about the limited access to the site and what type of
business could this turn into in the future. Kipp said with the limited access,
the types of commercial uses would be also limited. Most likely to a small
retail center. Restaurants would not be too successful with only a right-in,
right-out access.
The public hearing was opened.
Sandstad expressed concern about how the taller metal portion of the
building,was going to look. Clark described the details of the building and
noted they want to make a little bit of a statement on that site.
Wissner asked where the signage would be. Clark said the signage will be at
the entry road using a small pylon type sign and signage on the glass of the
door.
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October 27, 1997
Foote commented he drives by this site everyday and appreciated the effort
to save the trees.
MOTION 1: Sandstad moved, seconded by Foote, to close the public
hearing. Motion carried 6-0.
MOTION 2: Sandstad moved,seconded by Foote,to recommend to the City
Council approval of the request of Sherri Oelt enbruns for Comprehensive
Guide Plan Change from Office to Regional Commercial on 1.82 acres based
on plans dated October 24, 1997 and subject to the recommendations of the
staff report dated October 24, 1997. Motion carried 6-0.
MOTION 3: Sandstad moved,seconded by Foote,to recommend to the City
Council approval of the request of Sherri Oelt enbruns for Zoning District
Change from Rural to C-Reg-Ser on 1.82 acres based on plans dated October
24, 1997 and subject to the recommendations of the Staff Report dated
October 24, 1997. Motion carried 6-0.
MOTION 4: Sandstad moved,seconded by Foote,to recommend to the City
Council approval of the request of Sherri Oeltjenbruns for Site Plan Review
on 1.82 acres based on plans dated October 24, 1997 and subject to the
recommendations of the Staff Report dated October 24, 1997. Motion
carried 6-0.
V. PUBLIC MEETING
None.
VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS
Sandstad commented he and Wissner have been working on the Prairie Bluff
Management Plan with members of the community. They have had three meetings
with good productive discussions. This will result in a draft to recommend a
management plan for this area.
VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS
None.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
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None.
IX. PLANNER'S REPORT
The Commission discussed and completed the survey from the Human Rights and
Diversity Commission.
Kipp noted there are no items on the agenda for the next meeting.
X. ADJOURNMENT
Wissner moved, seconded by Habicht,to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
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