Planning Commission - 11/24/1997 i
Memorandum
To: Planning Commission Members
From: Michael D. Franzen, City Planner
Date: October 31, 1997
Subject: November 10 Planning Commission Meeting
No Planning Commission Meeting will be held on November 10, 1997. The next scheduled
meeting is November 24, 1997.
SI will be returning on November 24th to discuss United Healthcare's request for a guide plan
change from medium density to office on land near Shady Oak Road and the Crosstown. It
would be a corporate headquarters site.
In case your wondering what I have been doing, I just finished a book called"No Room For Cry
Baby's,But There Is Always Room For City Planning." In chapter 12, I reveal a plan to sue the
City if the City does not sell me all remaining undeveloped land and the City Hall.
AGENDA
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
41pnday,November 24, 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: Kyle Halvorson
Adam Hupp
STAFF MEMBER: Michael D. Franzen, City Planner
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -- ROLL CALL
H. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. MINUTES
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. UNITED HEALTHCARE INC -LAZARETTI PROPERTY by United Healthcare. Request
. for Comprehensive Guide Plan Change from Medium Density Residential to Office on 35 acres.
Location: Hwy. 62 west of 212.
V. PUBLIC MEETING
VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS
VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS
• Wetland, Floodplain,NURP Pond Setbacks
X. ADJOURNMENT
APPROVED MINUTES
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY,NOVEMBER 24, 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: Michael D. Franzen, City Planner; Al Gray, City
Engineer; Elinda Bahley,Recording Secretary
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-ROLL CALL
• Chair Clinton called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
H. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Wissner moved, seconded by Alexander, to approve the agenda as
published. Motion carried 7-0.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Foote moved, seconded by Habicht, to approve the minutes of the
October 27, 1997 Eden Prairie Planning Commission meeting as published. Motion
carried 6-0-1 with one abstention by Ismail.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. UNITED HEALTHCARE,INC:LAZARETTI PROPERTY by United
Healthcare. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Review for a
720,000 square foot corporate campus on 35 acres. Location: West 62nd
Street, South of Highway 62,West of Shady Oak Road.
Lynn Wallach, representing United Healthcare, presented background
information surrounding United Healthcare noting in 1990 there were 2,900
• employees and today there are 30,000 employees. It's the national leader in
managed care and related services operating in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 24, 1997
They currently occupy seven million square feet of space nationwide of which
1.1 million square feet is in the Twin Cities.
He reviewed the concept plan with the Commission noting the proposal is for
a 720,000 square foot building. The site is about 30.1 acres divided into three
uses;office space,medium density residential and public space. They are not
suggesting any change to the guide usage. The site has a heavily wooded
hillside and five wetlands which are the major features on the site. Two of the
wetlands are insignificant and will be mitigated. The proposed building site
will minimize the impact on the site overall,keeping and enhancing the three
major wetlands and leaving the wooded hillside undeveloped. The majority
of the site will be left as undeveloped natural space and will be enhanced by
the design. Some of the wetlands will be enhanced for storm water runoff and
the idea is to have minimum amount of site impact with the maximum amount
of green space.
Alexander expressed concern about the two insignificant wetlands. Wallach
said the two smaller wetlands are not existing ponds with supporting water
but rather vegetation. They are considered wetlands that can successfully be
• mitigated as has been done in the past in this area. The mitigation will take
place on site.
Ismail was concerned about the existing house on the property. Wallach
indicated the house will be demolished.
Foote commented there is only one entrance now at 62 Street and read in the
report there is a possibility of running a diagonal entrance in.He asked where
that would be. Wallach explained there are two possibilities and pointed them
out of the map. He noted their preference is to have a second entrance.
Foote recommended a second entrance.
Ismail was concerned about the variance requests regarding the building
height limit of 30 feet. Wallach indicated there is a 30 foot height limitation
and they are proposing their new building be a combination of five and six
story buildings rather than one 30 foot high building.
Clinton commented the plan calls for 3000 parking spaces and asked if that's
the number of anticipated employees. Wallach said they anticipate between
3000 and 3,500 employees. Clinton asked if there will be some other mass
form of transportation for the other 500 employees. Wallach replied yes.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 24, 1997
Franzen reviewed the staff report with the Commission. After discussions
among staff,the direction has been to build away from the larger wetlands and
away from the wooded hillside, and build taller buildings with structured
parking. This has been done most recently with the Liberty Trust building
which is a 180,000 square foot building. Staff also discussed doing a traffic
study to determine what capacity the roads and intersections have in the area.
As a result of that study, staff recommended United Healthcare pay for
anticipated costs for improvements at the intersection. The site plan is
consistent with the City's design philosophy for building taller buildings and
a taller parking deck to keep the site features. Staff recommended approval
subject to the recommendations on the last page of the staff report.
Sandstad asked what the likely traffic upgrades of the surrounding roadways
detailed in the report will be. Jim Benshoof,Benshoof and Associates,noted
he conducted the traffic study and gave an overview of the anticipated
roadway improvements needed to accommodate the growth and traffic
expected with both the development of this proposed use and long term traffic
growth as well.
. Ismail was concerned about United Healthcare's response to paying for some
of the roadway improvements. Franzen said United Healthcare indicated they
would work with the City any way possible to get the improvements done.
They also indicated they would do whatever is needed to do in terms of a
Traffic Demand Management plan to reduce-traffic down a level as indicated
in the staff report. They also indicated examples of things they have done
elsewhere around the country to reduce the traffic.
Sandstad asked how strongly the City feels about a second access into this
property. Gray said there would be some desirability to having a second
access. It's more likely to occur with the development on their own property.
Sandstad asked if there would still be a looped water main serving the
building. Gray replied yes.
The public hearing was opened.
Ismail commented he has no hesitation supporting the project as long as the
traffic problem is dealt with.
Alexander concurred with Ismail. She said it's a nice project and appreciated
all the work put into it.
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 24, 1997
Wissner commented she very much liked the fact that the project is being
phased. It's a wonderful concept review and will be a nice campus. She also
liked the idea of the natural landscaping remaining untouched. She approved
the concept plan.
Habicht commended United Healthcare on their work noting it's easy to
support a plan where the wetlands, trees and slopes are left virtually
untouched. He supported the concept plan.
Foote said he appreciated the 70 percent green space. United Healthcare
would be an asset to the community and he supported the project.
MOTION 1: Foote moved, seconded by Sandstad, to close the public
hearing. Motion carried 7-0.
MOTION 2: Foote moved,seconded by Sandstad,to recommend to the City
Council approval of the request of United Healthcare for Planned Unit
Development Concept Review for a 720,000 square foot corporate campus
on 35 acres. Motion carried 7-0.
V. PUBLIC MEETING
None.
VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS
None.
VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS
None.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
None.
IX. PLANNER'S REPORT
Franzen discussed the implementation of"project profiles",which will be provided to
the Commission on a biweekly basis,and will provide information about the projects
that are currently at the Planning Commission and the City Council. This will help
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Planning Commission Minutes
November 24, 1997
keep the Commission abreast of what's going on.
He explained why December, January and February will be very busy months and
reviewed the agenda for the next meeting.
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Habicht moved, seconded by Alexander, to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
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