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Planning Commission - 07/18/1983 AGENDA Eden Prairie Planning Commission Monday, July 18, 1983 7:30 p.m., Room C, Community Center COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chairman William Bearman, Virginia Gartner, Robert Hallett, Stan Johannes, Dennis Marhula, Ed Schuck, Hakon Torjesen STAFF MEMBERS: Chris Enger, Director of Planning Kate Karnas, Planning Secretary Pledge of Allegiance--Roll Call I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA II. MEMBERS,REPORTS III. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. CITY WEST BUSINESS CENTER, by Ryan Construction. Planned Unit Development District Review, Zoning from Rural to I-2, Preliminary Plat of 14.05 acres into two lots for office/service/storage uses, and Petition for Environmental Assessment Worksheet. Location: Northeast of Shady Oak Road, west of I-494. B. TARGET. Request for Site Plan Review for Retail Service Use. Location: East of Highway #169, North of Prairie Center Drive. A continued public meeting. C. MN-TX. Request for Site Plan Review and Developer's Agreement amendment for 18.9 acres for office/warehouse use. Location: 10301-10379 W. 70th Street. A public meeting. IV. OLD BUSINESS V. NEW BUSINESS VI. PLANNER'S REPORT VII. ADJOURNMENT MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING Monday, July 18, 1983 Community Center, Room C 7:30 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Bearman, Stan Johannes, Dennis Marhula, Ed Schuck, Hakon Torjesen MEMBERS ABSENT: Virginia Gartner, Robert Hallett STAFF PRESENT: Chris Enger, Director of Planning Kate Karnas, Planning Secretary Pledge of Allegiance--Roll Call I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Motion was made by Marhula, seconded by Johannes, to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried--5-0-0 II. MEMBERS REPORTS III. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS A. CITY WEST BUSINESS CENTER, by Ryan Construction. Planned Unit Development District Review, Zoning from Rural to I-2, Preliminary Plat of 14.05 acres into two lots for office/service/storage uses, and Petition for Environmental Assessment Worksheet. Location: Northeast of Shady Oak Road, west of I-494. Planner Enger reviewed the direction given by the City Council at its meeting of July 19, 1983, regarding return of this item to the Planning Commission. Concerns of the Council included the following: 1 . Exterior building material to be burnished block. 2. The pedestrian access plans. 3. The amount of impervious cover. 4. Design ideas which would reduce the view of the building size and mass. Planning Commission Meeting 2 July 18, 1983 • 5. Review petition for need of an additional Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for the site. Al Schackman, Ryan Construction, presented slides of the building plans as amended responsive to the Council concerns. The plans reflected a change in the alignment of the intersection with Rowland Road, responsive to Commission recommendation at a previous meeting, and showed the pedestrian pathways. Mr. Schackman asked for flexibility to allow for relocation of the pathway upon determination of the final location for bus stops in the area. Sight lines were shown from City West Parkway and Shady Oak Road. Mr. Schackman showed a floor plan of the buildings in Phase I, which indicated the square footages of each of the units within the building, ranging from 1,500 sq. ft. to 4,275 sq. ft. He pointed out that the largest workable combination of units for one user would be approximately 11,000 sq. ft., which was below the requirements for the average manufacturer or warehousing operation in the industrial districts. In addition, the ceiling height planned for the structures was less than that required for warehousing. Mr. Schackman stated that it was their intention to "design out" the types of features which would attract the warehousing and manufacturing users, and to "design in" those • features which would attract "high-tech" users. Also, drive-in doors were designed into the building, instead of overhead loading doors. Mr. Schackman stated that this feature of the buildings would also not attract the average warehousing or manufacturing users. Mr. Schackman discussed the signage plan for the buildings, stating that the individual signs would be required to be uniform, stating only the name of the company, not listing or showing any products. Sight lines from the Golden Ridge neighborhood were also presented for Commission review. Mr. Schackman explained the effect of the recessed areas added to the building to create a courtyard effect and to break up the elongated mass of the buildings. He pointed out that, if the buildings were actually broken up, there would be clear vision into the interior loading areas. Therefore, it was their decision to design the recesses instead. Chairman Bearman asked if proponent considered the plans to be better than those originally submitted. Mr. Schackman responded that he felt the changes incorporated were good ones. Chairman Bearman noted that some of the trees on the plans appeared to be 15 ft. in height. He asked proponent if this would be the height at the time of planting. Mr. Schackman stated that some of the trees would be 15 ft. at the time of planting. Chairman Bearman asked for comments and questions from members of, the audience. There were none. Planning Commission Meeting 3 July 18, 1983 Marhula asked Staff if the Council wanted the Commission to make a recommendation on the appropriateness of the land use for the site. Staff responded that the Council direction was to act upon the site plan only, assuming the land use was correct. At the meeting of May 23, 1983, the Commission had acted upon the question of land use. The Council was concerned, at this time, with the Commission recommendation regarding the site plan. Torjesen asked if the Council had taken final action on the land use. Staff responded that they had not, but that the Council did want a complete review done of the site plan for the proposal prior to any action on their part. Chairman Bearman asked, again, for questions and comments from members of the audience, in particular with respect to the Environmental Assessment Worksheet which was proposed for the site. There were none. MOTION 1 : Motion was made by Marhula, seconded by Johannes, to recommend to the City Council denial of the request for an additional Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the Ryan Construction • proposal for City West Business Center, based on the findings of the July 15, 1983 Staff Report. Motion carried--5-0-0 MOTION 2: Motion was made by Marhula, . seconded by Johannes, that, subject to the land use being acceptable, to recommend to the City Council approval of the site plans of City West Business Center by Ryan Construction, based on plans dated July 14, 1983, and subject to the recommendations of the May 6 and May 20, 1983, Staff Reports that pertain to the site plan. Motion carried--5-0-0 B. TARGET. Request for Site Plan Review for Retail Service Use. Location: East of Highway #169, North of Prairie Center Drive. A continued public meeting. At its meeting of June 27, 1983, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed Target store, subject to the proponent returning to the Commission with a revised landscape/screening plan responsive to several of their concerns. • Dale Hamilton, Suburban Engineering, representing proponent, reviewed the revisions with the Commission. They were as follows: 1) The previous plan indicated 180 trees, revisions showed 277; 2) Plantings were shown in the planters, which was not previously indicated; and 3) A wall four feet in height would be installed for Planning Commission Meeting 4 July 18, 1983 • screening purposes around the truck docking area. Michael Mormon, Target, presented sight lines from various angles. The sight lines indicated that the rooftop mechanical equipment would not be visible from the locations of concern. Staff reviewed concerns regarding the landscaping and screening of the site. In particular the truck docking area was a matter of concern. Planner Enger pointed out that the size of location of the trees proposed along the south side of the building would not be adequate at the time of planting to screen the vision of the truck docking area. Mr. Mormon stated that the trees shown, in two rows, would be staggered so that direct vision would eventually be screened upon maturity of the trees. He added that it would take approximately two to three years before the trees would be mature enough to screen the truck docking area. Johannes asked why the four foot wall on the west side of the project could not be extended to the south side of the project in the vicinity of the truck docking area. Mr. Mormon responded that the addition of the wall would not be effective in screening of the truck docking area. It would not be high enough. Chairman Bearman asked Staff if the planting plan would be • sufficient in this area. Staff responded that experience with other projects in the community showed that the 2/1 slope was not always the best, rather a 3/1 slope seemed better for the survival of the plant materials. It was also pointed out that it would take approximately two to three years for the plants to recover from the shock of transplanting. Staff suggested that perhaps larger plant material could be planted initially in this area. Torjesen stated that, after consideration of the plan since the last meeting, he had determined that he was uncomfortable with several aspects of its design. He stated that he now felt that the building should be connected to the Eden Prairie Center, rather than detached and connected by a skywalk. Torjesen listed additional concerns as follows: 1) Difficulty of access to the mall created by blocking off an existing entrance; 2) A fourth wall would be created by connecting in the manner proposed as opposed to connecting directly to the Center; and, 3) The amount of fill needed to make the building fit in with the mall was 19 ft., which seemed, to him, rather large. Torjesen stated that he felt it would be a horrendous expense to incur to make a difficult proposal work. Torjesen asked the proponents if they felt this was a good plan. Dick Brooks, Target, stated that his firm did believe it was a good plan, and that they would not have proposed the expenditure of the amount of money involved in such an endeavor if they did not feel it • was a good plan. Joe Linnae, Homart Development, stated that they, as owners of the Center, felt the same, and they felt they had a workable plan. Mr. Hamilton stated that the cost of making Target a two-story Planning Commission Meeting 5 July 18, 1983 structure would be at least an additional one-million dollars, on top of the proposed construction costs. Torjesen stated that he felt the City had rushed to judgment on this project, and he felt it needed to be reconsidered. Marhula asked if it was necessary that the pedestrian access planned to the west across Highway #169 cross two lanes of traffic within the parking lot. Marhula suggested that the pathway be directed across the berm, thereby requiring only one crossing of a traffic lane within the parking lot. Chairman Bearman stated that he felt the plans showed a marked improvement from the previous submission, however, he was still concerned with the screening of the truck docking area. Johannes stated that he was concerned with this area as well . He pointed out that other items, such as dumpsters, would likely be visible at this time in the vicinity of the truck dock area if adequate screening was not provided. Mr. Brooks stated that Target could have a policy for this store which would prohibit parking of trucks around the manuevering area, which would provide for less likelihood of visibility of any of the trucks from the surrounding area. Trucks would then only be seen entering or leaving the area. The trucks would not, of course, be visible while unloading. Torjesen reiterated concern for acting too quickly on this project. He stated that, in his judgment, it would be appropriate to reconsider the project if the Commission felt it could act more effectively with more time. He stated also that, after discussion of the screening of the truck docking area, he felt there had been no effective means of screening found for the area, which was important to the overall site and the surrounding area. The Commission discussed the front entrance to the building with the proponents. Commissioners expressed concern for the compatibility of the treatment of the front of this structure with the remainder of the Center. Suggestions were made regarding possible methods for equalizing the treatment of the front of the Target building with those existing in the Center. Extension of the planters in front of the store, with breaks only at the entrances, was proposed. Also, trees of a columnar type could be used as landscape materials for the front of the structure. Mr. Brooks stated that they would be amenable to the changes suggested. MOTION: • Motion was made by Johannes, seconded by Schuck, to recommend to the City Council approval of the request of TargetJHomart for Site Plan Review, based on plans dated July 14, 1983, and subject to the recommendations of the Staff Reports of June 24, and July 15, 1983, with the following additions: 1) Taller or larger landscape stock Planning Commission Meeting 6 July 18, 1983 be implemented in the vicinity of the truck docking/manuevering area for better screening; 2) No parking of trucks be allowed in the truck manuevering area; 3) Landscaping of the front of the store shall indicate extension of the proposed planters with breaks at the entrance and plant material of a columnar nature for the trees to be included at the west and east ends of the front entrance, compatible' with that existing in the remainder of the Center. Motion carried--4-1-0 (Torjesen against) C. MN-TX. Request for Site Plan Review and Developer's Agreement amendment for 18.9 acres for office/warehouse use. Location: 10301-10379 W. 70th Street. A public meeting. Bill Sikora, architect for proponent, presented the request for three buildings in Phase I and two additional phases for the subject project. Mr. Sikora reviewed the site details with the Commission. He pointed out that, depending upon the access determined for the Lee Data site at W. 70th Street, it would be possible that a variance would be necessary from that point for structure setback, due to the MN-TX project's proximity to W. 70th Street. Johannes expressed concern regarding the access to proposed Phase II • of the project. Staff stated that this would be handled by the fact that the property would not be allowed to be divided, it would be under one ownership, thereby not presenting access problems for the second phase. It was pointed out that property would be under a condominium association arrangement for maintenance, etc., in the future. MOTION: Motion was made by Torjesen, seconded by Schuck, to recommend to the City Council approval of the request of MN-TX, based on plans submitted June, 1983, and subject to the recommendations of the Staff Report of July 15, 1983, subject to amendment of the contours represented on the plans. Motion carried--5-0-0 IV. OLD BUSINESS None. V. NEW BUSINESS Staff reported that there would be a special meeting of the Council, Parks, Natural Resources, and Recreation Commission, and the • Planning Commission to discuss the Purgatory Creek Floodplain design competition in the Major Center Area on August 1, 1983. Planning Commission Meeting 7 July 18, 1983 • VI. PLANNER'S REPORT None. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION TO ADJOURN was made by Torjesen, seconded by Johannes. Chairman Bearman adjourned the meeting at 10:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kate Karnas Planning Secretary