Planning Commission - 02/09/2004 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2004 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chamber
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS: Ken Brooks, Randy Foote, Vicki Koenig, Fred
Seymour, Kathy Nelson, Dave Steppat, Ray
Stoelting, Bill Sutherland
STAFF MEMBERS: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Al Gray, City Engineer, Mike Franzen, City Planner
Jane Hovind, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Chair Stoelting called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Chair Stoelting,
Commissioners Brooks, Foote, Koenig, Nelson, Seymour, Steppat, and Sutherland.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Steppat, second by Nelson, to approve the agenda. Motion carried, 8-0
III. MINUTES
A. Minutes of the January 26, 2004 Community Planning Board Meeting
Koenig stated on page two, third paragraph to add the word "hearing" to complete the
first sentence. She said on page nine, last paragraph, all references to he or his should
be she or her and also the fifth sentence should be eliminated.
MOTION by Brooks, second by Seymour, to approve the minutes. Motion carried
7-0, Sutherland abstained
IV. PUBLIC MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. VARIANCE#2004-01 for Highwood Investments, L.L.C. Location 7585
Equitable Drive. A front yard parking setback variance from 50 feet to 25 feet on
Equitable Drive.
Planning Board Minutes
February 9, 2004
Page 2
Gene Haugland presented the variance request. He stated the building has not leased
because there's not enough parking. The request is for a variance of 25 feet on
Equitable Drive with the frontage on Valley View Road to remain as it is currently.
He stated there will be 1,000 square feet more green space than is required by code.
The goal is to get from 110 to 150 parking spaces to accommodate the more densely
populated users in the market place.
Haugland showed the existing parking spaces and where they would be adding them.
Stoelting stated when he visited the site he noticed a berm. Mr. Haugland stated
there is a very large berm and they intend to put up a retaining wall along the berm.
Franzen stated the issue is what is the best way to provide additional parking on the
property. He said if there is enough green space, the variance could be allowed. He
stated there is also the possibility of modifying the loading area on the south side of
the building and convert the area to parking spaces which would possibly eliminate
the need for a variance. Franzen said staff is comfortable with either option.
Sutherland stated there is no grading plan and asked the proponent if they were
planning on reducing the height of the berm. Haugland responded they would keep
the height.
Seymour asked the proponent since he doesn't have a tenant, if a new tenant didn't
need the parking whether they would modify the parking. Haugland responded they
have a tenant in mind and are competing for them; this tenant wants the additional
parking spaces. Seymour asked Haugland about the berm since he sounded tentative
about keeping it. Haugland responded they intend to keep it.
Koenig asked whether the prospective tenant will need the loading dock area as it
exists. Haugland responded they do need it and they may want to convert a loading
door into a loading dock area also.
Foote asked about the retaining wall and how high it would be. Haugland responded
it is as high as twelve feet and will need a railing across the top.
Stoelting asked what the hardship is for the variance request. Haugland responded
the current market in Eden Prairie is more high tech manufacturing oriented. In
order to compete, they need additional parking. Because of the limited parking,
clients don't want to lease the property. The hardship is that the proponent can't
satisfy a large segment of the market place without the additional parking.
Steppat stated that the additional parking will make it a much more desirable
building.
Planning Board Minutes
February 9, 2004
Page 3
Koenig asked about the Traffic Demand Management plan. Haugland responded they
submitted a plan that commits to working with the tenant to come up with a
satisfactory plan based on that tenant's needs. Koenig questioned the possibility of
future variance requests from other businesses if this is granted. Nelson stated given
the fact that they have more green space than they need and they are retaining green
space makes this request different. She said if the berm is retained and the looks of
the property aren't changed significantly, this would be a good reason for the
variance. She said variances are considered on a site by site basis. She stated the
Board should require the berm to remain and the retaining wall be built with a railing
on the top.
Koenig asked how the berm and retaining wall will look from Valley View Road.
Haugland responded he's not sure as to where the wall height would be in relation to
the berm or its relation to the level of Valley View Road. Franzen stated whatever
the Uniform Building Code requires for the railing, that's what would be used; it
would be done in green or black and would not be intrusive. Koenig asked if there is
a possibility of transplanting some of the trees that are being removed. Haugland
responded most of them are too large and would not survive.
MOTION by Nelson, second by Foote,to close the public hearing.Motion carried,8-0
MOTION by Nelson, second by Brooks, to approve of the following variance:
A front yard parking setback variance from 50 feet to 25 feet along Equitable Drive,
subject to the variance request, as submitted, including a Traffic Demand
Management plan and a tree replacement plan. The proponent is directed to retain
the existing berm and build a retaining wall topped with a safety railing along the
length of the berm. Motion carried, 8-0
VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS
VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Koenig, second by Steppat, to adjourn. Motion passed, 8-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.