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Planning Commission - 06/11/2001 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MONDAY,JUNE 11, 2001 7:30 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road BOARD MEMBERS: Ken Brooks, Frantz Corneille, Randy Foote, Vicki Koenig, Kathy Nelson, Fred Seymour, Paul Sodt, Susan Stock, Ray Stoelting STAFF MEMBERS: Krista Flemming, Planner II Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources Mike Franzen, City Planner Alan Gray, City Engineer Scott Kipp, Senior Planner Leslie Stovring, Environmental Coordinator Donald Uram, Community Development/Financial Services Director I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -- ROLL CALL Chair Corneille called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present: Commissioners Corneille, Foote, Koenig, Nelson, Seymour, Sodt, Stock, Stoelting. Absent: Brooks II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Brooks, second by Koenig to approve the Monday, May 14 Community Planning Board Agenda. Motion carried, 8-0. III. MINUTES A. May 15, 2001 Foote asked that the record show why he abstained from voting on the Rottlund hearing. He felt Rottlund appeared with a preconceived notion that they would get Council approval, and they were not showing a willingness to work with the planning board. Koenig noted the following change to the minutes: page 12, 2nd paragraph should read "Koenig said it appeared she was the only one in favor of affordable housing." IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. AHMANN REZONING by Richard Ahmann. Request for Zoning District Change from Rural R1-22 on 1.03 acres. Location: 6604 Golden Ridge Drive Chair Corneille opened the public hearing at 7:33 p.m. Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 2 Franzen stated two-thirds of this site (1.03 acres) is zoned rural; the other one-third (14 acres) is zoned R1-22. The existing residence straddles both zoning districts. The owner requested an 80- square foot building addition to the home, which does not meet the 50 and 100 foot side yard setbacks for the Rural Zoning District. The proposed addition would meet the 15 and 30 foot setback requirements of the R1-22 Zoning District. Foote asked whether this type of rezoning had been done throughout City before. Franzen stated yes it had been. Motion by Stoelting, second by Foote to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 8- 0 The public hearing closed at 7:35 p.m. Motion by Stoelting, second by Nelson to approve the request for the Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-22 on 1.03 acres at 6604 Golden Ridge Drive. Motion carried, 8-0. B. ALM SUBDIVISION by Stephen and April Alm. Request for Preliminary Plat on 2.06 acres into 2 lots. Location: 16480 Hilltop Road Chair Corneille opened the public hearing at 7:36 p.m.. Franzen stated this property is guided low density residential at up to 2.5 units per acre. It is part of the Eden Heights neighborhood, which was platted into two-acre lots in 1948 and zoned R1-22 in 1969. Hennepin County recorded additional lot divisions within Eden Heights into 1-acre and 1/2 -acre parcels. Two plats were approved in 1988 for two lot subdivisions. The proposal is to subdivide the 2.06 acre site into two single-family lots of 29,399 square feet and 60,494 square feet. Code requires minimum lot size of 22,000 square feet with a minimum lot frontage of 90 feet. Existing and proposed homes meet setbacks. The neighborhood does not have sewer and water. Prior to Council review, the proponent would need to provide an analysis and soil testing report for determination of proper septic system location. No significant tree loss is proposed. The lot shape and frontage is inconsistent with the neighborhood; locating a new house behind another is inconsistent with the neighborhood, as is the setback and continuation of housing not being served by city sewer and water. This would also increase the impervious surfaces in an area experiencing erosion problems without adequate storm water handling. Staff recommends denial. Stephen Alm stated they had hoped for sewer and water for the past ten years. They would like to build a home on the property. Gray had told them they could tie into the development to the west for a septic system. During the past two years there was a Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 3 property at 16519 Pioneer Trail or kitty corner, which did the same thing —they had a long driveway going to the back of the lot. Nelson acknowledged these lots are deep. But this will make an odd looking neighborhood, building so homes are situated in —out or side-side. Two-tiered neighborhoods need a road although there is not room here. She sympathizes with those who want to stay in their neighborhood. She asked Franzen how many similar neighborhoods there were. Franzen said this was an isolated case. The zoning goes back into the 1950's when there was only R1-22. The subdivision was approved by the County; they did some administrative divisions in the 1960's that did not show up on City records. There are some lots with varying setbacks as a result. The problem with the property is its narrowness and where it sits in comparison with other houses. Nelson stated this decision would impact other neighbors in the area. Foote asked how the process could be expedited for long term planning for this particular neighborhood. Franzen stated a consultant could be hired. The City staff would also develop ideas for future roads. There is a logical spot for a road, but trees, slope, lot lines and existing houses would need to be considered. Foote said it should be done in a logical planned effort. Seymour asked Franzen to comment on the property Alm referred to on Pioneer Trail. Franzen stated it was a subdivision approved some time ago with the county in the 1960's and the city honored the County's approval just recently. There is frontage on Pioneer and there is a public right of way. Sodt stated he empathized with the property owners but it was laid out a long time ago. The neighbors could organize and develop a plan because it is currently lacking a plan. Concurrence from the neighbors would be an important step. Stock asked Franzen to comment on the septic system and the type of development. Franzen said the city adopted state standards for septic systems. Consultants are hired to review existing and new systems. The existing house needs a better location. A primary and secondary septic system should be in place. There are septic tanks in varying conditions in this neighborhood. There are drainage problems, and continuing to subdivide will make long range planning difficult. Sewer to the west could be extended to this property. The property meets ordinances, but the board must look at the best long-term plan for the area. Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 4 Stoelting clarified Franzen wanted a long-term plan for the neighborhood. He asked how long would be required to accomplish this. Franzen said there were limited options so probably only 30 days. Closer to Hilltop and Eden Prairie Road, houses are too close together for a road. The pattern that may make the most sense would be a road along the rear property line. They could meet with the neighborhood. Stoelting asked if the staff could develop a plan for roads and utilities. Franzen said they could develop a general plan for locations and added that concurrence on road locations is not likely due to housing patterns. Nelson said this should be continued until staff meets with the neighborhood and provides some alternatives. Corneille summarized the board sympathized with the property owners but would like the staff to study the option further and meet with the neighborhood. Franzen said Mr. Gray met with the neighbors to discuss extension of utilities. Gray said there is interest from the neighbors to consider sanitary sewer and street improvements and from property owners to subdivide their properties. One concern with those along Pioneer Trail is that future improvements by Hennepin County should be considered. Subdivisions along Pioneer Trail have taken access to residential streets, not on Pioneer Trail. There would be some opportunity to provide a different access. Foote asked whether this would be something to continue or whether it should be done and brought back. Franzen stated this project could be published for the July 17'h Council meeting, and the board could review the project again on July 9th. Franzen added that sometimes new standards are applied to old neighborhoods, it won't exactly fit and the City may have to consider exceptions on lot sizes and setbacks so all of the neighbors should be given the same opportunity for reasonable use of the property. April Alm stated they did hold a neighborhood meeting last week and prior to the planning meeting. The neighbors are in agreement about subdividing. The pattern for the neighborhood was already set. She understands they need to plan for the road. Moving their house forward would not be a problem. She asked whether that was the main problem. Corneille stated further meetings would be for the purpose of creating general road plan for the area. Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 5 Alm said subdividing and building had been going on already in the past 4-5 years. It is not inconsistent with what was happening on Pioneer Trail. Leon Cruz, 9250 Eden Prairie Road, the last lot on Eden Prairie Road, said he had not received notice of a lot division. Franzen stated it is required by City Code to notify property owners within 500 feet from the boundary of the lot to be subdivided. It was also published in the paper. Motion by Sodt, second by Stoelting to continue the request for preliminary plat on 2.06 acres into 2 lots at 16480 Hilltop Road with the condition that the proponent meet with the neighborhood and city staff to attempt to fit the property into a long term plan for the area, to be prepared for the July 17 council meeting. Motion carried, 8-0. C. HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY by Hennepin County. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Amendment on 6.12 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review on 6.12 acres, Zoning District Amendment within C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 6.12 acres, and Site Plan Review on 6.12 acres. Location: 5.65 Prairie Center Drive. Chair Corneille opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m. Ben Hartberg of Damen Farber and Associates, consulting architect, stated a Lunds grocery store existed on this site until 1996 and the site was purchased by Hennepin County in 2000 for a new Eden Prairie Library. Ann Voda, project architect, stated there was good access and parking; the building utilizes an existing structure and turns it into a public use while adding character. Elements of the Lunds store will be left. It does not have a lot of existing natural light. Windows will be added. Lois Langer, Librarian from the existing library, stated the Eden Prairie library will be about 40,000 square feet. They will expand the collection to double and will triple the technology. There will be evening hours as well. Foote asked what would happen to the existing library. Langer stated it would go on the market. Stoelting asked about a start time for the project. Ann Voda said it would likely begin this fall and last ten months. Nelson asked about the tenant space. Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 6 Langer said RFP's will go out. It is not clear what the space will be. Nelson stated this may affect parking needs. Hartberg said the parking was actually based on restaurant seating and meets code for expected use. Franzen note all requirements for code were met. Foote stated parking was always a concern. He asked how much of the parking would be needed if the restaurant would be put in. Franzen explained a 6,250 square foot restaurant would have 180 seats and need 60 spaces. There is a cross-access agreement with the site to the east mall for additional parking. Long term, 340 spaces will work if it ever went back to all-retail. Corneille asked whether there would be more parking required than for a grocery store. Seymour stated he was concerned with the number of spaces for parking and the placement of handicapped spaces; this may make snow removal difficult in the winter. He asked whether the number of handicapped spaces would change with the use. Hartberg stated one handicapped stall for every 25 spaces and one van-accessible spot for every 50 parking spaces. ADA requirements with a slope of less than 2% necessitate placement of the spaces. Sodt asked whether access into the site and parking area was considered; the access appears too tight. Hartberg said there would be a reduction in traffic with it being a library instead of retail. Islands are aligned so cars can go straight across the lot. The flow of traffic will be improved and the volume will be less. Nelson stated the handicapped spots are too far from the door. The bulky thing in front of the doors would make it worse. Right now there is an easy drive-up. She is not sure they are gaining anything or if they had accounted for the needs of seniors, young families, and handicapped with the parking lot plan. It is not family or handicapped friendly. She likes the look of it inside and the fact that it is expanding. Hartberg said dealing with a building they are trying to reuse. Hennepin County took the initiative to buy a building and revamp it. The Fire Marshall will dictate fire lanes; this will take a significant portion of the building. They are trying to work with what is there. They could take 10 to 20 feet for sidewalks; the parking is perpendicular to the building face and is safer. This uses what is there. Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 7 Stoelting asked what the function of the drive through was. Hartberg said it is a 25 foot wide drive lane with an overhead roof. There is access from the front door. People can pull into the parking lot, drive up to the front door and drop it off. The handicapped parking is located in front. Corneille asked the librarian to comment. She said people complain about the way the parking is at the library now. This is a more logical plan. This is a clearer no parking zone. The handicapped parking is next to a sidewalk and going through the parking lot will not be necessary. Nelson asked how far it was from the front door to the closest parking stall. Hartberg stated 40 feet on the diagonal, up to 55 feet. Sodt asked about the traffic pattern and whether part of the road could be utilized for the handicapped spaces. Hartberg stated they tried to create a lot allowing for traffic flow. Reconfiguring the lot would create a dead-end. The loop is big enough to accommodate a bus. Putting the handicapped spots up to the front of the building would require regrading the entire parking lot. Nelson asked why it would be changed from the current parking lot structure. Hartberg said it is not a grocery store anymore. A new front needs to be presented that is pedestrian friendly and user friendly. They worked closely with the County to develop a functional site plan and specific count. Franzen stated with the change at the Eden Prairie Mall, the Target sidewalk was doubled to 30 feet because customers complained about a lack of separation between vehicles and pedestrians. Under a site plan review ordinance there is a provision for separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The Board should view this project as balance between reuse of an existing building, the need to separate people and cars, the need for a drop off and that this project is a library not a commercial use. This is a good design and parking meets code requirements. Stock stated she agreed with Franzen and was happy they used an existing building. Motion by Stock, second by Stoelting to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 8- 0. The public hearing closed at 8:48 p.m. Community Planning Board Minutes June 11, 2001 Page 8 Motion by Stock, second by Stoelting, to approve Hennepin County Library by Hennepin County Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Amendment on 6.12 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review on 6.12 acres, Zoning District Amendment within C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 6.12 acres, and Site Plan Review on 6.12 acres. Location: 5.65 Prairie Center Drive. Motion carried, 7-1. V. PUBLIC MEETING VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN UPDATE Franzen explained the modified schedule workshop. Motion by Stoelting, second by Foote to approve the modified schedule workshop as presented. Motion carried, 8-0. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Nelson, second by Stoelting to adjourn. Motion carried, 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.