Planning Commission - 01/22/1996 AGENDA
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
Monday, January 22, 1996 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Kenneth E. Clinton, Randy Foote, Ismail Ismail,
Katherine Kardell, Douglas Sandstad, Edward
Schlampp, Mary Jane Wissner
STAFF MEMBERS: Michael D. Franzen, City Planner
Scott Kipp,Planner
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE --ROLL CALL
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
III. MINUTES
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Continued Item:
A. BEARPATH 1996 PUD AMENDMENT by Bearpath Limited Partnership.
Request for PUD Amendment and Zoning District Amendment on 15 acres.
Location: Bearpath Trail and Dell Road.
B. SOUTHWEST METRO TRANSIT HUB by SMTC. Request for Comprehensive
Guide Plan Change from Public Open Space to Regional Commercial on 8.5 acres,
PUD Concept Review on 22 acres,PUD District Review and Zoning District Change
from Rural to C-Reg-Ser on 8.5 acres, Site Plan Review on 8.5 acres and
Preliminary Plat of 22 acres into one lot. Location: South of Highway 5, north of
Technology Drive and west of Prairie Center Drive.
C. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
V. MEMBERS' REPORTS
VI. CONTINUING BUSINESS
VII. NEW BUSINESS
VIII. PLANNERS' REPORTS
IX. ADJOURNMENT
APPROVED MINUTES
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
January 22, 1996
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Katherine Kardell, Kenneth E. Clinton,
Randy Foote, Ismail Ismail, Douglas
Sandstad, Edward Schlampp, Mary Jane
Wissner
STAFF MEMBERS: Scott Kipp, Planner,David Lindahl,HRA
Manager, and Barbara Anderson, City
Recorder
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE--ROLL CALL
Chair Kardell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Clinton moved, Foote seconded,to approve the agenda as published. Motion
carried 7-0.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Wissner noted an error on Page 2 regarding a "stop sign at the intersection of City West
Parkway and Chase Point", and requested that it be corrected.
MOTION: Schlampp moved,Wissner seconded,to approve the Minutes of the January 8,
1996 Planning Commission meeting as corrected. Motion carried 7-0.
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. BEARPATH 1996 PUD AMENDMENT by Bearpath Limited Partnership. Request
for PUD Amendment and Zoning District Amendment on 15 acres. Location:
Bearpath Trail and Dell Road.
Kipp stated that because the proponents had not had an opportunity to meet with all
the affected property owners in Bearpath,they were requesting this item be continued
until the February 12, 1996 Planning Commission meeting.
MOTION: Wissner moved, Clinton seconded, to continue action on the Bearpath
1996 PUD Amendment until February 12, 1996. Motion carried 7-0.
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January 22, 1996
Page 2
B. SOUTHWEST METRO TRANSIT HUB by SMTC. Request for Comprehensive
Guide Plan Change from Public Open Space to Regional Commercial on 8.5 acres,
PUD Concept Review on 22 acres,PUD District Review and Zoning District change
from Rural to C-Reg-Ser on 8.5 acres, Site Plan Review on 8.5 acres and Preliminary
Plat of 22 acres into one lot. Location: South of Highway 5, north of Technology
Drive and west of Prairie Center Drive.
Kate Garwood, SW Metro, gave a brief overview of the project and introduced
members from LSA Design.
Kyle Williams,LSA Design,reviewed the request for the Guide Plan change,the site
plans and noted that in this action they are requesting approval for the transit hub
itself,but not the surrounding commercial uses. Construction is scheduled to begin
in the spring of 1997 after the soil correction process has been completed. Utilities
will be installed along the new roadway which will serve the site. They anticipate
some retail uses will be constructed around the hub but nothing was being proposed
at this time.
Williams reviewed the signalization which will be installed around the Hub station and
the traffic flow patterns on the site. He discussed the site plans in detail and described
possible service uses which may be provided on the adjacent commercial sites. He
discussed access points to the site from Technology Drive and from Highway 5. He
described the building material colors and the transition from the surrounding area.
He showed sight lines and perspectives of the buildings.
Sandstad asked about the two-story height of the building as it was such a small
footprint. Williams responded that since the building is to be constructed on pilings,
the most economically feasible site plan was to keep the footprint of the building small
and go up as high as possible.
Clinton inquired what types of retail uses they were anticipating would go into the
commercial area on the transit hub portion of the site. Garwood stated they had
surveyed riders and businesses and some uses that were suggested included a post
office, coffee shop, bank with an ATM, video rental, fast food, and dry cleaning
establishments. Child care was not among the uses suggested. They have been
working with other property owners adjacent to the site to coordinate the uses that
will be put into this area. The parking areas will be available to users of the adjacent
parkland. She noted there has been discussion about a hotel and, or entertainment
type uses in this area,but nothing definite has been established.
Foote inquired if the Park and Ride sites throughout Eden Prairie would be retained
and Garwood responded yes. Residents have requested that they remain open.
•
Discussion ensued regarding the numbers of express busses that would be running and
the time frames for the various routes. Access to the Hub site from Highway 5 was
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
January 22, 1996
Page 3
discussed. Williams emphasized that there will be a"bus only" access from the off-
ramp as shown in Figure L-1 on the plans.
Kipp reviewed the staff report and recommended approval of the requests subject to
the requirements contained in the staff report. Revision to the site plan to meet the
17.5 foot parking setback along the Highway 5 frontage was recommended in the
staff report, and the proponents have agreed to this requirement.
The Public Hearing was opened.
Pastor Rod Anderson, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, stated they were in favor of the
project and were very interested in how the neighborhood was taking shape. The
transit Hub was unique and because the Church generates a lot of traffic, he was
somewhat concerned about the width of Technology Drive and if it was capable of
handling the traffic or if perhaps it should be widened near the Church access. He
discussed the day care center which is located at St. Andrews, and commented they
have been considering doing an off-site day care center as well. He hoped the size of
the park would not be reduced further by the revisions to the entrance. He expressed
appreciation to SW Metro for sharing the plans and spending time with them
regarding this proposal.
• Sandstad inquired about the width of Technology Drive and whether it would be
adequate when the Hub was active. Kipp responded that the City had done an earlier
traffic study which identified the hub and church site for commercial use, and
indicated that the roadway would be adequate to handle traffic for those uses as well
as the current uses of a Church and transit hub. He did not know if the roadway
would be widened in the future.
MOTION: Wissner moved, Sandstad seconded,to close the Public Hearing. Motion
carried 7-0.
MOTION: Wissner moved, Sandstad seconded, to recommend approval of the
request for Comprehensive Guide Plan Change from Public Open Space to Regional
Commercial on 8.5 acres, PUD Concept Review on 22 acres,PUD District Review
and Zoning District change from Rural to C-Reg-Ser on 8.5 acres, Site Plan Review
on 8.5 acres and Preliminary Plat of 22 acres into one lot for SMTC as per the Staff
report dated January 19, 1996 and plans dated January 12, 1996. Motion carried 7-
0.
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January 22, 1996
Page 4
C. TAX INCREMENT FINANCING
Heather Boyer from Springsted, Inc. reviewed the Project Plan for Redevelopment
Area No. 4 and discussed Section D, #3, which is relevant to the project. She
reviewed the tax increment financing plan for Columbine Townhomes,which has been
approved by the City. She discussed Section J which sets forth the findings and need
for tax increment financing.
Kardell commented the purpose behind tax increment financing was to promote
development at a cost which would permit rental rates to be lower than would be
possible if the project were developed without tax increment financing and CDBG
funds.
Sandstad felt the project was eligible for tax increment financing as it was difficult to
get low income housing into Eden Prairie because of the high costs of real estate.
Foote inquired about the eligibility criteria for low rental rates and Lindahl responded
that it was based on the median income for the entire metro area, not just Eden
Prairie. Boyer commented that the City would receive back some of the equity they
had invested into the project.
• Schlampp inquired what would happen if the project failed. Boyer responded that
Cornerstone would be financially liable because they were the developer. Lindahl
commented that City would secure repayment through a second mortgage and if the
project failed, the City would recover only those funds remaining after the first
mortgage was paid.
Kardell commented that often in this type of arrangement the dollars are not returned
to the City but the property is restored to full tax value at the end of the tax increment
financing period.
Sandstad commented he felt the trail connected with the established trails nicely.
MOTION: Clinton moved, Wissner seconded, that the Planning Commission had
determined that the Project Plan for Redevelopment Project Area Number 4 and the
Tax Increment Financing Plan for Tax Increment Financing District Number 12 was
in conformance with the City's Comprehensive Plan for the City as a whole. Motion
carried 7-0.
V. MEMBERS' REPORTS
None.
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January 22, 1996
Page 5
VI. CONTINUING BUSINESS
None.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
None.
VIII. PLANNERS' REPORTS
Kipp stated there were two items scheduled for the next agenda,in addition to the Bearpath
proposal.
Sandstad inquired about the Flying Cloud Airport expansion and Kipp responded that the land
value estimates were provided to the Metropolitan Airports Commission which recommended
acquisition of Safety Zones A and B for an expanded Flying Cloud Airport. The Metropolitan
Council has not yet approved the Long-Term Comprehensive Plan.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Clinton moved,Foote seconded,to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.