Planning Commission - 01/14/1980 -,• °- i r , W'W Whh. -ow, A .4
AGENDA
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1979
7• sn PAt r7TY NAt.r.
PLANNING CMIMISSION M IBERS: Chairman William Bear^.an, Liz Ret terath, Oke
Martinson, Matthew Levitt, ►lirginnia Gartner,
Hakon lorjesen, George Bentley
STAFF MEMBERS: Chris Enger, Director of Planning
Jean Johnson, Assistant Planner
Jeanie Ohnsorg, Planning Secratary
PLEDGE OF ALI.EG1AHCE - ROLL CALL
I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10, 1979
III. MEMBERS REPORTS
IV. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS:
A. SUNSET TRAILS, by Countryside Investments Inc. Request to
rezone 22 acres from Rural to RM 6 .5 and preliminary plat
r 20 lots for 40 duplex units. Located west of Duck Lake
Road and north of Sunset Ridge and Valley Knolls Addition.
A continue public hearing.
B. NORSE`'.AN INDUSTRIAL PARK 4th, ADDITION, by Herleiv Helle.
Request to preliminary plat 1 lot and rezone 4.89 acres f: sm
Rural to I-2 Park. Located North of Nest 74th Street 945
feet west of Washington Avenue South. A public hearing.
C. OPUS PLAZA OFFICE BUILDING, by Rauenhorst Corporation. Re-
quest for PUD Development stage approval and rezoning from
lhwal to office. Located nest of 18 and north of Cross-
town 62. A vublic meeting.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VIl NEW BUSINESS
Discussion for items for the agenda for the joint Council/
Comission meeting on January 21 , 1979.
VIi. PLANNER'S REPORT
' VIII. ADJOURNMENT
.. a i�d.• y e.
MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
approved
Monday, January 14, 1980 7:30 PM City Hall
COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: - Chairman William Bearman, George Bentley, Matthew
Levitt, Oke Martinson, Virginia Gartner, Liz
Retterath
COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: NONE
STAFF 'EMBERS PRESENT: Chris Enger, Director of Planning
Jeanie Ohnsorg, Planning Secretary
I. APPROVAr., OF AGENDA
MOTION: Bentley moved, Retterath seconded to approve the agenda
P.s submitted. Notion carried 5 - 0.
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10, 1979
Gartt►er Corrections : Page 2, paragraph 3 should read "The Planner replied
arrived that Eden Prairie has an elderly housing goal of 166 units and that
at 7.4J the staff felt that this site also was a good site for elderly housing."
Page 4, paragraph 2 "BeT an" should be spelled "Bearman" . Same
page, paragraph 9 "heaaing" should be spelled "hearing" . Page 6,
paragraph 9, the word "year" Should be "yard" . Page 7, paragraph 2,
(Motion) should be omitted. Page 8, paragraph 2, the world "to"
should be omitted. Same page, paragraph 5, Motion should also
state "Motion carried 7 - 0. Page 10, paragraph 7, the word "meet"
should be "met".
MOTION: Retterath moved, Bentley seconded to approve the minutes
as corrected. Motion carried 6 - 0.
III. MEMBERS REPORT
NONE
IV. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
A. SUNSET TRAILS, by Countryside Investments Inc. Reuqest to
rezone 22 acres from Rural to RM 6.5 and preliminary plat
20 lots for 40 duplex units. Located west of Duck Lake
Road and north of Sunset Ridge and Valley Knolls Addition.
The Planner gave a brief summary of the development. He
stat4d that at the last meeting the residents had voiced
their concerns over the following three items : proposed
land use of non-owner occupied rental housing; encroach-
ment into an area designated in the Guide Plan as public
open space Flood Plain ind Park; loss of already designated
park land to accomodate a future access road (Durango Drive)
and two building lots: The Planner continued to say that
the developer has net with the residents, Bob Lambert from
the Parks and Recreation Department, and with the City
Y
Planning Commission Minutes -2- Janus 14 1980
� 8 Y'Y
Planner and has come up with an idea that takes in to con-
sideration the concerns of the residents. He stated that
the new plat has changed from non-owner occupied rental
housing to single family homes and there is no longer any
' type of road going through an already existing nark .
The Planner also stated that the D.N.R. has been out to look
at this site and w...s not sure if they should classify this area
as public waters or net. He stated that if the D.N. R. does
claim this site as public waters it does not mean that this
land is undevelopable but does require the developer to
obtain a permit from t.iem in order to develop.
Bearman inquired it this new plan was the developers final
request.
Cliff Swenson, Countryside Investments, stated that it was
'is feeling that single family homes was what the residents
wanted. He also stated that they (Countryside investments)
preferred having duplex or townhouse units.
Bentley inquired what the distance was between the Countryside
Road access onto Duck Lake Road and the proposed Duiango
Drive access onto Duck Lake Road.
The Planner replied that it is in excess of 125 feet
which is required by City o.dinance.
Bentley inquired if it is possible for these two roads to
be connected.
The Planner replied that this would not be possible because
there is a substantial grade and that the developer used the
distance to come transversely across the slope to stretch
the grade out. He stated that City ordinances do allow
streets be offset ii tray are separated by 125 feet.
Levitt inquired if the flood plain ordinance subsidizes an
absolute ban of either filling or construction with in a
flood plain
The Planner replied that it is possible for a developer to
.obtain a permit to allow filling in of the Flood plain and
.placement of a home above the flood plain elevation.
Bearman inquired what was the last project in which the City
allowed encroachment into the flood plain.
The Planner replied that the City allowed encroachment of
four lots in the Cardinal Creek First Addition . He alsol,
state.! tliaL the developer is not .proposing any filling in.
of the flood plain
Planning Commission Minutes -3- January 14, 1980
Levitt stated that what the developer is dealing with is a
low marsh area.
The Planner stated that the developer is not Proposing any
.i;A Ue.L the normal high water mark.
George Kissinger, 6601 barberry Lane, went over the resi-
dents Letter dated January 13, 1980 summarizing their con-
cerns. (letter attached)
Pat Smith. 17366 West 66th Street circle, stated that he
felt that the issue of the D.N. R. was very critical to the
residents decision as to how the City should approach the
development. He stated that he inspected the type of vege-
tation on the site and found cattails . C.N.R. classity this
area as a type three wet land, because according to the
J.i1. R. cattails is the determining factor in classifying
wet land.
Bearman stated that the D.N.R. can gi.e the developer a
permit which would allow him to fill in part of this area.
The Planner stated that the cattails alone do not determine
what type of wet land an area is but that the D.N.R looks
at the cattails and their density to determine the type of
wet land.
Levitt inquired what was to the west of this site and if there
were any other town houses near this site or if it was sur-
r3unded by single family homes.
The Planner replied that there are no other town houses near
and that this site is surrounded by single family homes.
Bearman stated that he would prefer to see no type of develop-
meri� on the western half of this site and townhouses on the
other half. He stated that if in order for this to take
place a density transfer had to be allowed, then this is
what the City should. do.
Bentley stated that because this area is surrounded by
single family homes, he would prefer to see si.ugle family
units on this site.
Levitt inquired if it pays to bring utilities such a long
distance onto this site for only a few lots.
Cliff Swenson stated that these lots are very nice lots and
that it would be profitable to bring utilities to them.
Martinson inquired if there is a possiblit y of a road coming
down from the north to the knoll of this proposed develop-
ment site.
Planning Commission Mintues -4- January 14, 1980
The Planner replied that the staff was reviewing a single family
plan by Ecklund to the north and it was possible.
Jim Bass, 17704 West 66th Street Circle, stated that according
to his figuring 13 single family homes would fit on this site
and would be according to the current zoning. He stated that
he feels this is' what should be put on this site.
Retterath stated that she 9understands t':e .riew point of the
residents because she, herself, was in the same situation. She
continued to say that there are now townhouses near her home
and it has worked out beautifully and that it has been proven
that townhouses can work in very well with single family
homes.
Bearman stated that he felt that the developer should look
into the possiblity of townhouses on this site and present
their findings at the next meeting.
NU TION: Retterath moved, Bentley seconded to continue the
public hearing of Sunset Trails to the January 29, 1980
meeting. Notion carried 6 - 0.
B. NORSEMAN INDUSTRIAL PARK 4th ADDITION, by Herloiv Helle .
Request to rrelininary plat 1 let and rezone 4. 89 acres
from Rural to I-2 Park. Located North of Nest 74th Street
and 945 feet west of Washington Avenue South.
MOTION: Levitt moved, Retterath seconded to continue the
public hearing of Noreseman Industrial Park 4th Addition to
the JanuaTf 28, 1980 meeting. Notion carried 6 - 0.
C. OPUS PLAZA C .*FIGE BUILDING, by kauenhorst Corporation.
Request for P. U. Q. Development stage approval and rezoning
from Rural to office. Located west of 18 and north of
Crosstown 62.
Bob WorthinRton, Rauenhorst Corporation, gave a brief
summary ,, the project explaining that they are planning
constru:tion of a ten-story (120' ) high office building _
(eight stories from the ramp side) overlookin; the pond
tbat is and wi l 1 remain a prominent feature of the site.
The building will contain 1S0,tXNI gross swore feet of space.
On-site parking for the building w;ll be accomodated by a -
twc-level ramp wid underground executive-type parking spaces.
The t--tal smaunt of parking will be 696 spaces. This repre-
_ sentc A d:6 rptin of "rhing to iwra-as 4quAre fnrttige in the
building.
John Albers; Rauenhorst Corporation, gave a brief presents -
0 00 explaining *h:. architectural aspects of the proposed
xrbarI:, ?Rsurs�rst Co: rax:as:, gay-t . brief �,resenta-
ticm explaining the . elevation of the propbsed building in
cooparison to thw surrounding buildings.
Planning Commission Minutes -5- January 14, 1980
Levitt inquired if the developers would be grading or topping
off the hill.
Ron Auerbach replied that the building would be placed into the
hill and went on to illustrate the construction. limits.
Bearman inquired if the developer had taken into consideration
the possiblity of van pooling wher. planning space for thier
parking lot. •
Worthington replied this was a possibility being looked into
as part of the entire Opus lI development.
Bearman inquired if MTC provided any services in this develop-
ment site area.
Worthington replied affirmative.
Levitt inquired approximately how m-&.y people work for Rauen-
horst.
Ron Auerbach replied that at their present facility there are
approximately 150, and that the building is being built with
consideration of growth by the Rauenhorst company.
Ron Auerbach then gave a brier' presentation on Rauenhorst ' s
energy conservation ideas.
Bearman inquired if the Rauenhorst corporation has looked more
them just passively into the possibility of solar heating.
Ron Auerbach replied that they have not looked into this idea
for the overall hea-ing and cooling but have looked into the
possibility of -asing some type of solar system for hot water
. heating.
John Albers stated that the Rauenhorst engineers have looked
into other possible energy conservation methods such as solar
collectors and heat recovery from office lights.
lion Auerbach the: gave a brief presentation exrlsining how this
building relates to the surrounding properties solar access.
The Planner stated that he still has concerns over the number of
-parking spaces required and the idea of compact car stalls.
He Statei that he a:st► haS concerns oven the infringement on
solar access of surrounding proparty owners.
The Planner then stated that they have received a letter from
the City of Minnetonka and that he feels that Minnetonka should
be consulted in regards tb public safety as Well as consulting
the Eden Pri.arie Public Satety Department.
I� r
r p�SAZIITI� C~issian 4inutes -6-
Planner inquired if the seems_ r connection would be served
eit.tirely through a gravity flow only to the main line.
Bob Worthington replied affirmative.
Levitt inquired if the developer had looked at any other way
of constructing this building so that it would avoid encroach-
ment into the hill ..
John Albers replied that the building is being integrated into
the hillside as a design feature. They felt that the site plan
as proposed was the best method of accomplishing this.
Levitt inquired about the construction limitations.
The Planner replied that maximum preservation of the site would
have to be obtained through shoring and more vertical construc-
tion during excavation.
Levitt inquired why if this building is agai.nit the height
ordinance should it be granted approval.
The Planner replied that it is not in close relation to residen-
tial, the original PUD provided for the square footage, building
aall ws preservation og,the &it and the City has recently
uired an aerial laden fire truck.
Retterath inquire how the developer is planning to prevent
compact cars from parking in mid size car parking spaces.
She stated that if compact cars are parked in the larger
parking spaces, there will be no place for the aid size cars
- _ to park.
The Planner suggested that the developer build a three level
parking ramp cover 2/3 as such area as a two level ramp but
providing the same amount of parking. Thep, if this variance from
stall sizes at the number provided becomes a problem in the future,
additional at grade parking could be provided,
Mr. Worthington agreed, to look into this prior to Council
rev iev.
WHON: Bentley mowsJ, Levitt seconded that the Commission
re.COMend to the City Councia approval of the P.U.D. Do%velop-
vent Stage consisting of rezoning from Rural to OFC-District
for a IS0,000 sq. :t. office building, according to the plans
dated November 19, 1979 and per the staff report dated 1-10-80
with special emphasis prior to City Council review on com-
plaince with the parking ordinance on the number of parh.i-ng
spaces needed and it pi4 widing special size spaces for CG"ct
cars is acceptable. We also strongly encourage minimum site dis-
location during building pad excavation and construction. Additi;:,:9I
site plans should incoi7orate fire marshal recowmwWptions from
both Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. Vso 1ncluded In this recoarmn-
dotions to the City Council should .be the Memo to Bob Worthington
from Bob Auerbach dated Unu* r;r 10, 19909 the MnWA Iettar dated
1-8-80," and the Minnetonka letter dated 1.11 .8D. Notion carried F-n.
Y. ALD BUSINESS
NONE -
Planning Commission Minutes -7- January 14, 1980
VI. NEM BUSINESS
j Discussion of items for the agenda for the joint Council/Cod-
mission meeting on January 21, 19W
The Commission selected the following items for discussion
for the joint ideting:
1. Are penalties in our ordinances and development agreements
strong enough to assure compliance.
2. Planning Commission recommendations based on changes to a
developer's plan.
3. Er_ergy conservation in Planning. Development of remaining
parccls accordir p to the Guide Plan goals.
4. Evaluation of a development promise based upon a past
track record.
VII. PLANNER'S REPORT
NONE
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Martinson moved, Retterath seconded to adjourn the meeting at
11:15. Motion carried F - 0.