Planning Commission - 06/25/2001 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY,JUNE 25, 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 Stoelting, second by Nelson to approve the Monday, May 14 Community Planning
Board Agenda. Motion carried, 8-0.
III. MINUTES
IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. WATER SURFACE USE ORDINANCE FOR SMETANA LAKE by the City of
Eden Prairie. Request to Amend Section 9.68 of the City Code to establish Regulation
of Use of Smetana Lake.
The public hearing opened at 7:32 p.m.
Fox stated the City will be developing a public access on the north shore of Smetana
Lake as part of the Smetana Lake Park development project. Staff is recommending
passing an ordinance approved by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that
would restrict use to boats powered by electric motors. The lake is shallow and too
small to accommodate high speed boats or personal watercraft. During a 2000
neighborhood meeting, residents expressed their desire to restrict the lake to electric
trolling motors only due to the lake's size. The process for approving a Surface
Community Planning Board Minutes
June 25, 2001
Page 2
Management Ordinance requires the City hold a public hearing prior to submitting a
proposed ordinance to the Department of Natural Resources. The DNR takes
approximately 90 days to review and recommend an ordinance to the Commissioner of
the DNR. Following approval, the City can hold the first and second readings of the
ordinance. Round Lake has an electric motor only ordinance, Anderson Lake does not
allow any motors. Red Rock and Mitchell have designations of 10 horsepower or less.
Staff recommends approval of the Smetana Lake Surface Management Ordinance.
Motionby Stock, second by Foote to close the hearing. Motion carried, 8-0.
Motion by Stock, second by Stoelting to approve the Water Surface Use Ordinance for
Smetana Lake by the City of Eden Prairie and Amend Section 9.68 of the City Code to
establish Regulation of Use of Smetana Lake. Motion carried, 8-0.
B. BLUFFS EAST 17TH ADDITION AMENDMENT by Hustad Land Company.
Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Amendment on 5.78 acres, Planned
Unit Development District Review on 5.78 acres, Planned Unit Development district
Review on 5.78 acres, Zoning District Amendment within the RM-6.5 Zoning District
on 5.78 acres, Site Plan Review on 5.78 acres, and Preliminary Plat of 5.78 acres into
23 lots. Location: South of Pioneer Trail at Franlo Road.
Paul Korberg, Hustad Companies, introduced Beth Simonstead to present plan
revisions.Wooddale Builder is requesting an amendment to the plan including 22 on-
story townhouses at 3.81 units per acre. They are requesting a reduction in density from
5.5 to 3.2 units per acre, and from 32 to 22 units. More green space and more guest
parking will be available, and parking will be more evenly spaced. There will be five
four-unit and one two-unit building. Units will be priced at $250,000-$275,000.
Exterior materials will consist of brick/stone and stucco, aluminum siding, and fascia.
Setbacks are reduced from 40 to 35 feet. There are two water quality treatment ponds
that will discharge into Hennepin County system. Tree replacement is proposed at 272
caliper inches. There are two retaining walls, a monument entrance and fencing along
Pioneer Trail is planned. These are similar to Settler's Ridge development.
Franzen stated staff recommends approval based on recommendations of the staff
report.
Foote said he has never seen a project return with such reduced density and inquired as
to the reason.
Simonstead stated it is a matter of product and what the builder wanted.
Koenig asked what daylight basements were.
Simonstead stated windows were above grade but not a full basement.
Motion by Stoelting, second by Foote to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 8-0.
Community Planning Board Minutes
June 25, 2001
Page 3
Motion by Stoelting, second by Foote to approve the Bluffs East 17th Addition
Amendment by Hustad Land Company. Request for Planned Unit Development
Concept Amendment on 5.78 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review on 5.78
acres, Planned Unit Development district Review on 5.78 acres, Zoning District
Amendment within the RM-6.5 Zoning District on 5.78 acres, Site Plan Review on 5.78
acres, and Preliminary Plat of 5.78 acres into 23 lots. Location: South of Pioneer Trail at
Franlo Road request by Hustad Land Company. Motion carried, 8-0.
C. RIDGEVIEW TECH BUILDING by Mount Properties, Inc. Request for Planned Unit
Development Concept Amendment on 1.6 acres, Planned Unit Development District
Review with waivers on 1.6 acres. Zoning District Amendment within the Office
Zoning District on 1.6 acres, and Site Plan Review on 11.6 acres. Location: 7544
Market Place Drive.
Chair Corneille opened the public hearing at 7:46 p.m.
Steve Michals of Mount Properties stated the site is north of 212, and east of the
Extended Stay Hotel. It is a 1.6 acre site, the last within the business park. It was
conceptually approved for a 28,000 square foot building. In 1999, Council approved a
28,650 three story office building and final plat. It is guided regional commercial and
zoned office. The site plan shows an 18,820 single story office building on 1.6 acres.
The exterior is brick and glass of 75%. This is similar to the building on 69th and Shady
Oak Road. 94 parking stalls are on the west and north side of building. The access is off
Market Place Drive. Existing parking is on the north lot line. Parapet height is 2" over
the roof surface. The roof is sloped. Four foot tall rooftop units would be on the center
line. HVAC units would be fully screened.
Nelson asked why the change from 3 story to 1 story and 1/2 square footage.
Michals stated Mount likes the economics and efficiency of single levels. Surrounding
buildings are single level.
Sodt asked about the berm to the south and regrading by MnDOT.
Michals stated the berm would stay in place. There is 50 feet of slope. They will put a
swale on the property line and have it continue onto the state's property.
Sodt stated the parking area appears to carry over to adjacent property.
Michals stated AF-1 showed parking on the property line. There are easements
throughout the park with cross-access.
Franzen said staff recommends approval. The center location is critical for HVAC for
screening with a 2 foot parapet. At the sole discretion of staff, if the units are visible,
additional screening will be required.
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June 25, 2001
Page 4
Stoelting noted in the staff report it appeared there may be a problem with the
monument sign location.
Franzen stated the sign setback must be relocated to meet the 10 foot setback from
Marketplace Drive.
Koenig asked staff to address cash park fees.
Franzen said he believed cash park fees have been paid. He will report to the Board at
the next meeting regarding the status of cash park fees.
Corneille said he saw two waivers, one for a building setback of 20-35 feet and a
parking setback of zero. He said there were good reasons to support the waivers.
Stoelting said the waivers were approved in 1999.
Franzen said the waivers are consistent to the original development plan and they are
carrying it forward. The waiver does not result in more development than envisioned in
1983.
Nelson said it is 20 feet to the general easement; it is not to close to the edge.
Motion by Stoelting, second by Nelson to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 8-
0.
Motion by Stoelting, second by Stock to approve the Ridgeview Tech Building by
Mount Properties, Inc. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Amendment on
1.6 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 1.6 acres. Zoning
District Amendment within the Office Zoning District on 1.6 acres, and Site Plan
Review on 11.6 acres. Location: 7544 Market Place Drive based on plans dated June
18'h and recommendations in the June 22nd staff report with the exception of the
recommendation on the 2' parapet acceptable mechanical units must be located in the
center of the building. Motion carried, 8-0.
Koenig asked whether cash park fees needed to go in there.
Franzen said that was a directive independent from the motion.
D. GIRARROSTO TOSCANO RESTAURANT by Girrarosto Toscano Inc. Request for
Planned Unit Development Concept Amendment on 1.66 acres, Planned Unit
Development District Review on 1.66 acres, Zoning District Amendment within the C-
Reg-Ser Zoning District on 1.66 acres, and Site Plan Review on 1.66 acres. Location:
12365 Singletree Lane.
Community Planning Board Minutes
June 25, 2001
Page 5
Sodt stated there may be potential for a conflict of interest because he previously
worked for Ellerbe Beckett. He would not participate in the discussion or vote for this
item.
Len Ghilani, President of Girarrosto Toscano, said the restaurant concept would be of a
40's - 50's supper club specializing in steaks and pastas.
Joe Hamilton, Ellerbee Beckett, said the existing restaurant is Doolittle's at 6400 square
feet. The addition will be 3000 square feet. There is a new concept opportunity with the
existing exterior. Some materials they are proposing will look mid-century. The roof is
blue; it will change to a dark grey. The existing kitchen which is brick will stay intact.
Fagade will be stucco. An addition is the brick and along the front, a glass panel system.
Vitrolite, backpainted glass system will be used to create entry. The site does not
change a lot from a landscaping standpoint.
Franzen stated staff recommended approval according to the recommendations on page
3 and added that cash park fees were paid at the time Doolittle's was built several years
ago.
Nelson asked staff whether the restaurant had a liquor license.
Franzen stated yes.
Nelson asked what the bar to restaurant ratio would be and whether parking would be
adequate.
Ghilani said there is not a dancing floor. The liquor to food would be 20-25%. The
location has an agreement with the neighboring facility for overflow parking.
Hamilton said the lounge area has 30 seats. There are around 280 seats in the entire
restaurant.
Corneille asked when they planned to open.
Ghilani stated they hoped to be open by Christmas this year.
Nelson asked whether staff thought this could present a potential parking problem with
Walmart during the holidays.
Franzen said there is more than adequate parking to provide for both uses. Walmart
indicated the lst 250 feet of their building was primary parking. They did not care about
the remainder of it. Walmart provides 6 per 1000. No problems or conflicts have been
observed.
Koenig said it looks like a nice addition to Eden Prairie.
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June 25, 2001
Page 6
Seymour said he likes the look and would like to move forward. He asked whether the
existing trash enclosure was attached.
Franzen said they need room for waste products and recycling. It must be sized
accordingly.
Seymour asked about safety concerns and lighting for employees with a detached trash
enclosure.
Stock said the elevations were attractive.
Motion by Stock, second by Stoelting to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 7-0-
1, abstention Sodt. The public hearing closed at 8:16 p.m.
Motion by Stock, second by Stoelting to approve Girarrosto Toscano Restaurant by
Girrarosto Toscano Inc. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept Amendment
on 1.66 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review on 1.66 acres, Zoning
District Amendment within the C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 1.66 acres, and Site Plan
Review on 1.66 acres. Location: 12365 Singletree Lane. Motion carried, 7-0-1,
abstention Sodt.
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.