Planning Commission - 04/02/1974 AGENDA
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, APRIL 2 , 1974
7:3 0 P.M. CITY HALL
IMVOCATION _ _ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE __ ROLL CALL
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chairwoman Norma Schee, Wayne Brown, Don Sorensen,
Richard Lynch, Joan Meyers, MzE. Lane, Herb Fosnocht.
STAFF, PRESENT: Richard Putnam, City Planner.
7:30 PM I. Minutes of March 19, 1974.
7:35 PM II. REPORTS & RECOMMENDATIONS.
A. Shady Oak PUD 71-2 , Development stage application and rezoning from Rural
to RM 2 .5 for construction of 154 semi-luxury apartments on 11 acres about
800 feet east of Shady Oak Road and north of new 212/169. Presentation by
D.H. Gustafson & Associates Inc.
Action: Approve, reject , or continue to April 16, 1974 Meeting.
8:00 PM B. Smetana Lake Sector Plan, presentation of revised consultant report and discussion
of planner's recommendations. Resident and land owner suggestions would
be welcome to aid the Commission in considerations of alternatives .
Action: Continue to April 16, 1974 Meeting.
9:00 PM C. Amendment to Set-Back Requirements of Zoning Ordinance # 135 .
The Council referred the proposed amendment to the Commission for study and
recommendations. Suggested modifications by Planning & Building Departments
concerning administrative procedures and standards.
Action: Recommend to Council continuation, approval, or denial.
PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED FROM MARCH 19, 1974.
9:25 PM D. Suncrest Townhouse Development, by Suncrest Homes of Minnesota. Requesting
approval for the construction of 134 cluster townhouses on the 30 .7 acre, site.
The project, is located in Edenvale's Northwest area south of the C.M. ST. P &P
railroad and north of the 8 acre public park. Outlots E & F of Edenvale 3 rd Add.
Action: Approve, rej ect i, or continue to the April 16, 1974 Meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS CONTINUED FROM MARCH 5, 1974.
10:00 PM E. Hidden Ponds 2nd Addition, request rezoning to RI -13.5 and development stage
approval for about 200 sing]e family lots located southeast of Duck Lake Trail
and east of T.H. 101 . Approval will require variance from ordinance # 135
regarding minimum lot size and set-back requirements .
Action: Approve :, reject, or continue to April 16, 1974 Meeting.
10:30 PM F. Chairwoman's Report-Norma Schee.
1 . Next Commission Meeting:
2 . Additional Work Sessions With Other Commissions and Council.
10:45 PM G. Planner's Report.
1 . Managed Growth.
2 . Up-coming Projects.
11:00 PM III. ADJOURNMENT.
iv.,INUTEE
LLEN PR _IRIS PUNNING CG1n-&.ISE_`.ION
0-
TUEE Ll Y , PRIL 2 , i 974 7:30 Pnv., CITY H=
1%..E1V;BERE PRE`ENT: CHA IR' 01'vi_�1N Norma &chee, Richard Lynch, ivi. L. Lane,
Lonald Sorensen, Herb Fosnocht.
i._Eiv BLR� %BE ENT: Joan Meyers, -. ayne Brown.
EWFr PREP ENT: Richard Putnam, City Planner
M.INUTEE' -OF- RCH i 9, 1974:
The following changes were made to the Planning Commission !V,inutes of Iv1 arch L9,
1974: Page i , 3rd Paragraph, should read-- iv_r. Scorensen responded that the
populous should not have to bear the cost .
Page 3, 6th Paragraph,--Delete the sixth paragraph.
Lane moved, Lynch seconded, to make these changes to the !\,.arch L9, :974,
Planning Commission >i.,inutes. The motion carried.
REPORTS C RECOibiMENLPTIONE:
4hady Oak PULi 71-2, Development stage application and rezoning from Rural to
Ri'vi 2 .5 for construction of 154 semi-luxury apartments on 11 acres about 800 feet
east of Shady Oak Road and north of new 212/169 .
The Planner informed the Commission that he had received calls from some residents
•n the Golden Ridge area and that they did not object to the proposal. . He then out-
lined the 1Viarch 29, 1974, staff report noting differences in the Council and Planning
Commission 1vAnutes as to the number of access routes, (the May . $73 approval was
for 2 access routes) , and that the original land use concept was for a 3 story
building not a five-story building. The proposal does meet the PU.;:,-7.L approval,
City ordinances, and the Guide plan, with the exception of the building height which
will be over the 45' maximum allowed. The Public safety and Building Department has
expressed some concern about inadequate visitor parking, but the Planner,felt that
since the proposal is majoritably studio and L bedroom units that it is reasonable to
assume that there will not be too many 2-car families if necessary more parking space:
can be made available to the south. Another suggestion from the Public &'afety Lepart-
ment is to provide inside crime preventive design and inside/outside lighting. Putnam
basically recommended approval of the project adding that it fits well on the site and
should be marketable.
111nr. Lyn ch askedwhy a sprinkler system was dealt with in the report but was not
contained in the recommendations. ivir. Putnam responded that the Building Lepartment
will be interpreting what the developer must install according to the State Building
Code.
Mr. Fosnocht asked how soon after the issuance of the building permit that construction
must begin. lv� r. Putnam said the life of the building permit is 6 months, after which
must
extensions can be applied for under certain conditions.
Mr. Gustafson felt that the Planner brought up excellent points in the report, such
as; the drive width need only be 24' , the need for security lighting and crime preventive
Planning Commission hiiinutes -2- April 2, 1974 ,
design, adding that the security features are important to the building's future renters.
thr. Gustafson said that they will be working with the Building Lepartmenf in devising
he necessary sprinkler system in the already fire-proof structure. In answering
Mr. Lynch's question concerning the type of tree plantings, he said that 3 -5"size
trees of approximately 18' in height will be planted.
tiir. Sorensen asked for some idea of the future develrapments in the PUD. lair. Gustafsor.
sees no deviation from the original plan. It is possible he said that their office will
be built up on the- Crosstown, and that highway commercial and shopping will probably
be the last areas developed. Mr. S-orensen asked if the highway commercial would
include a service station. I .:r. Gustafson said a service station is proposed in the
southwest corner of the L0 acre shopping center site. Questions as to the amount of
scenic easement and the adjacent southern property were asked by Mr. Sorensen and
Mr. Gustafson replied that there are approximately 2-2 i acres of open land scenic
easement and that the adjacent 10-12 acre southern site would probably be developed
as multi-residential.
On behalf of Mrs. Meyers concern for the Golden Ridge residents, Mr. Sorensen asked
how the roof of the apartment would be treated. It was reported by Gustafson,that the
roof equipment would be screened, perhaps by metal shields. Another concern of Mrs.
Meyers brought up by Sorensen was what would be the developers policy of renting
studios to single occupants. Nir. Gustafson said that the building will have excellent
management and that the rule of thumb would be 2 occupants would have to rent a
bedroom unit.
Action: Lynch moved, Fosnocht seconded, to recommend rezoning of PUD 71-2 from
Rural to RM 2 .5 for the construction of a 5 story, 154 unit apartment on the
11 acre site per the recommendations of the staff report dated 3-29-74. The
motion carried by a vote of 4 ayes, (Schee, Lynch, Lane, Fosnocht), and
1 nay, ( Sorensen) .
Mr. Sorensen opposed the proposal in view of the Councils discussion to set guidelines
as to variances which have not yet been received and wished to defer it until instruc-
tions on variances ae made by the Council. And that the total PUD authorized indicated
that densities in fact were trade-offs for scenic easements and public lands , and by
the inclusion of the scenic easement something different was recommended to the
Council as to Mr. LaGrow's Comments.
Smetana Lake Sector Plan, presentation of revised consultant report and discussion of
the planner's recommendations.
The Planner said that the 1 ,000 acre Smetana Lake Study Report by Ray MacCulans is
basically the same as before. It differs in the proposals recommendations such as:
1) Valley View Road would remain in the same location. 2 .) The industrial area would
be south of Valley View Road, 3.) The multi-family would be proposed along the
rest of the hill to the creek, and along 494 on the Condon Naegele property, which
snot in conformance with the MCA.
A traffic Projection by Bather,Ringrose, Y olsfeld, gives 40,000 trips north of the
creek in the Golden Triangle area and the present 3 access points would be inadequate,
Planning Commission Minutes -3- I,pril 2 , 1974
Wiscussion of other possible accesses followed; and the Planner will explore their
possibilities with the County and State Lepartments.
Residents and landowners in the audience complained of rising assessments and
desired to have input in the study. i\/ir. Sorensen assured them that the Commission
welcomed their input and informed them that the Public Hearing would be on April 15,
1974.
The Commission -then dealt with the report page by page and asked the Planner to
investigate their questions concerning the report. The following items were discussed:
Page 8 The impact of gravel mining.
Page 11 Plate 3 is without a legend.
Page 14 It will be necessary to include the residences which were excluded from
Plate 5 .
Page 20 The environmental restraints should include tree and terrain damage.
Page 22 Gther criteria other than lot size should be explored for industrial parks.
Page 23 The Guide Plan should not be referred to, as a legal document --it is too
rigid of an impression.
Page 25 Correct the spelling of Larry Laukka's name ,. basis of the overzoning comments,
&Check the current status of the Fiscal Disparities Bill.
Page 27 Explore the tax base passible from single family in contrast to
industrial/commercial. .
*age 29 V.'hat benefit is it to the City to bear a disportionate load in the supply
of sand and gravel.
Page 28 V hat is the interpretation of land use-after gravel extraction.
Page 34 TA should suggest staggered work hours 'because they would be impossible to
enforce , -also ;-:suggestions on implementation should be given. .
4,-2 The word "immediately' is' used too strongly.
Page 36 Feeder buses must be convenient and inexpensive to encourage use. &
Under Community Facilities it should read --so that the expense benefit
ratio is low.
Page 43 7 5 should include preservation of land forms.
#6 why should incompatible land uses be placed next to each other.
11 proof of need.or benefit for alterations should be given.
Page 44 r-7 determine the definition of appropriate.
Page 48 3rd paragraph, delete # 13 (Plate) .
Page 50 The road should also be graded under scheme (B).
Page 59 Explore other finances for V ashington Avenue underpass .
Mr. Fosnocht suggested that further professional studies should be done on
traffic.
No action was necessary and the Public Hearing will beheld on April 15, 1974.
Omendment to E et-Back Requirements of roning Ordinance n 135.
This matter was postponed until a future Planning Commission 1VIeeting.
Planning Commission tiiinutes -4- Ppril2, 1974
r�uncrest Townhouse Development.
Eden Land Corporation requested to have this item removed from the April 2,- 1974
Meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS COI\:TINUDD FROM MARCH 5 , 1974 .
E. Hidden Ponds 2nd Addition, request rezoning to RI 13.5 and development stage
approval for about 200 single family lots located southeast of T.H. 101 . Ppproval
will require variance from ordinance 14 135 regarding minimum lot size and set-back
requirements.
Mr. Fosnocht asked what the playground situation would be ; and Mr. Putnam replied
that playgrounds would perhaps be in the 18 acre area of blocks �.3 '& 14 if they were:
purchased by the school. Mr. Fosnocht, referring to recommendation # 12 of the staff
report, asked if 5' set-backs would be necessary and felt that a stipulation of 20'
between buildings should be added. Mr. Knutson said they could get along with the
2 0' stipulation.
Mrs. Schee asked if recommendation 12 would be a blanket variance. She felt that
the Park and Recreation Commis sion`s recommendations were no change in Ordinance 135 •
rather . granting variances on specific sites only. Mr. Sorensen felt the staff should
devise criteria f or granting variances . The Planner reported that as of yet there has
been no explicit direction of ordinance 135 revision from the Council.
4OMr. Fosnocht said that he has voted against every proposal requesting such variances,
but that the variance has been granted before and to be consistent he could see
granting such a variance.
Mr. Sorensen suggested that the lots in block 10 abutting the pond should be redrawn
back from the pond to allow for public or quasi-public land. Both the Planner and
Mr. Swedlund felt that it would be impractical since residents of such lots could
not be restricted from mowing down to the pond.
Mr. Knutson asked the Commission to recommend approval of block 10 as they have
submitted it since financially townhouses could not be built. Referring to item (1),
about the pedestrian crossing, he said that last summer it was agreed that the crossing
would be an on-grade crossing. The Planner suggested anunder pass between the pondL
and blocks 6 and 10. Mrs. '&E'chee expressed concern about children crossing the
street if in the future blocks L3 & 14 would be a school/park site, even presently
with the number of homes in the Hidden Ponds Development she felt that alot of
people will. be using that area. Mr. Swedlund said that the cost of an underpass would
have to be placed on the bu.�.ers and they are hesitant to do that.
It was agreed between the developer and the Commission that blocks i3 & t4 would
be left as an outlot for 3 years.
•Continuing on to item (2) Mr. Knutson said that 2 other trails are proposed, 1 along
the N-£ Parkway and another along the park. Gn item (9) the developer disagreed
saying that if the City wanted block 10 open or a park that is should be purchased by
the City. Mr. Schee pointed out that the intention of the recommendation was to
Planning Commission Minutes -5- April 2 1974
, preserve the knoll as much as possible not to prevent development.
Mr. Sorensen then suggested these amendments to the recommendations:
1 . Insert the word lighted between system and underpass, and insert-and/or
over pass , after underpass.
5 . Blocks 13 & 14 should be outlots on the final plat. Said outlots would be
retained 3 years from the date of approval, and it should read--if the City
or School District fail to acquire the property that the preliminary plat would
be affectuated.
Action: Lynch moved, Lane seconded, to approve the zoning district change from
Rural to RI 13.5 with lot size and set-back variances per the staff report
and recommendations dated March 14, 1974, with the suggested amendments
made by lair. Sorensen, and with the deletion of item (9) . The motion
carried by a vote of 4 ayes, (Lane, Lynch, Fosnocht, (Sorensen) , and
L nay, (Schee) .
Mr. Sorensen expressed concern for the preservation of the hill form on block 10
and would like to see consideration of other alternatives .
F. Chairwoman's Report- Norma S chee.
1 Next Commission lieeting.The next Planning Commission Meeting was rescheduled
from Tuesday, April 16, to_Mondaty, April 15 , 1974.
Additional York Sessions V ith Gther Commissions and Council.
.The Planning Commission and the City Planner will be visiting the Homart Develop-
ment in Maplewood on April 9, 1974.
The Commission Members are anxious to receive further information about the Reston
trip or presentation.
G. Planner's Report.
Lue to the late hour the Planner postponed his report.
1 DTGURNMENT.
Lynch moved, Lane seconded, to adjourn the fleeting at 1 A.M. . The motion
carried unanimously.
THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSIGN MEETING ILL BE MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1974.
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