Loading...
Planning Commission - 03/27/2000 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2000 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chamber 8080 Mitchell Road BOARD MEMBERS: Kenneth E. Clinton, Marvin Cofer, Frantz Corneille, Randy Foote, Vicki Koenig, Rebecca Lewis, Ray Stoelting STAFF: Scott A. Kipp, Senior Planner Stu Fox, Manager of Parks & Natural Resources Alan Gray, City Engineer Donald Uram, Community Development/ Financial Services Director Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL Chair Foote called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Rebecca Lewis was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Stoelting, to approve the Agenda as published. Motion carried 6-0. III. MINUTES MOTION: Corneille moved, seconded by Cofer, to approve the Minutes of the March 13, 2000 Community Planning Board Meeting as published. Motion carried 6-0. IV. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS A. GRACE CHURCH INFORMATIONAL MEETING Location: South of Pioneer Trail, West of Spring Road, East of Eden Prairie Kipp said this is an informational meeting to discuss a future proposal of Grace Church of a 600,000-square-foot church complex. A Guide Plan change to Church was approved for the majority of the site in 1998. Bob Solfelt, 10508 Bluff Road, represented the church. He said the church needs a new facility and purchased 62 acres in Eden Prairie. A neighborhood meeting was held on March 9, 2000, and attended by 30 people. Invitations were sent to 320 homes. Ed Terhaar, a transportation engineer with Benshoof and Associates, was hired by Eden Prairie to do a traffic study. The report on the traffic study has been received and he was present to address any concerns relating to the report. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 2 Solfelt said the church has been working with HGA architects to design a building that takes advantage of the natural topography. The building will be constructed on the flattest portion of the land. From Pioneer Trail it will appear to be a two-story building. The exterior will be 75 percent brick and glass. Phase I will be a 275,000 square foot building that includes a worship center with 4,500 seats, student ministries space and a small chapel. There will be 2000 parking stalls. Foote asked how many parking spaces would there be once all phases are built. Soflelt said the master plan calls for a ramp to be built, which will hold an additional 1,000 cars for a total of 3,000 parking spaces. The City recommended access from two sides of the property. The property would be heavily landscaped. In Phase I, 440 trees, both deciduous and coniferous, would be planted. There are approximately 114 significant trees on the site. About 60 of those would have to be removed. Stoelting inquired about the airport noise contour lines on the plan. John Justus, an architect from HGA, said one line is the 60 dBA line and the other one is 65 dBA. The buildings on the property fall outside the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ). Kipp explained further that, as part of the proposal, the City asked the church to provide information regarding the present and future layout for the Flying Cloud Airport. The City needs to evaluate how the airport relates to the property and the Metropolitan Council's Land Use Compatibility Guidelines for Aircraft Noise for both the existing airport condition, as well as with the proposed expansion of the airport. Based on this information, a small portion of the building is within Noise Zone D, which shows a church as a provisional land use requiring noise reduction techniques in building design. The Metropolitan Council is currently amending its Compatibility Guidelines. This change will remove the provisional designation for the church. Stoelting asked if there is any problem putting the ball field in the RPZ. Kipp said the church has been asked to work with MAC as to whether or not a ball field would be permitted within RPZ. Solfelt said they are meeting with MAC, which indicated the ball field could be located there as long as no structure is built in conjunction with it. Cofer inquired where the parking ramp would be located in the event it is needed in the future. Solfelt said it would be located on the westerly side of the property. The church building is outside any FAA height restrictions. Solfelt showed cross-sections to indicate that the parking lot is substantially below the road grades of Pioneer Trail and Eden Prairie Road and showed the berms that would be built. Natural prairie grasses would be planted around the perimeter of the lot. Foote asked to see a cross section showing the parking ramp. Solfelt said he would have one made to show the board members. The ramp would lie below the berm elevation for most of the distance along Pioneer Trail. Solfelt said they have reviewed the report of the City's planning staff and agree with the findings. Regarding timing of construction, they would be submitting the current for the May 22 Community Planning Board public hearing on the development COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 3 proposal. If approved, they hope to have a public hearing at the June 20 City Council meeting. Upon approval, they plan to break ground in August, and the building process would take 18-20 months. They plan to move into the facility in April 2002. Foote asked if it would be their intention to start the future phases immediately after that time. Solfelt said they don't have the timing figured out yet for the other phases. Clinton asked about the drainage. The NURP pond is shown at the south end of the property at an elevation of 845 feet. He asked what the plan was to get drainage from the parking lot to the pond. John Justus replied he believed there were two watersheds on this site. Drainage from the parking lot will run down to the south property line. It will be picked up in drainpipes and sent to the NURP pond. He has met with the City and the watershed district and they are looking at the architect's calculations. Solfelt said setbacks to comply with City codes have been followed to fit in with the realignment of Eden Prairie Road and the plan for expansion of Pioneer Trail. Koenig asked if there would be any adjustment to the loss of trees. Fox replied tree loss is calculated at 48 percent. If additional phases of the project are not built, the tree loss would be less. Clinton asked is there a need for a signal on Spring Road at the church's main entrance to the property on the east and on Eden Prairie Road at the main entrance on the west side. Gray replied there is not because most neighborhood traffic is Monday through Friday and the church's main use is on Sunday. Signals would not meet signal warrants. Clinton asked if the development of the property would coordinate with the upgrading of Pioneer Trail. Gray replied he received information from Hennepin County's Transportation Department outlining the latest CIP. It shows the County plans to make improvements to Pioneer Trail, between TH 212 and Dell Road, in 2002. The City has also looked at traffic projections for the first phase of the church construction, at the time they anticipate moving to the site, and where traffic will be coming from. Most traffic to the church will be traveling down County Road 4 and some will be using Pioneer Trail. Eden Prairie Road will be realigned to connect to Spring Road. The biggest problem will be when it is under construction, with the main problem being Monday through Friday. Cofer said, given the consistency of the church development with the building of the roads, it appears that will work out well. However, it looks as if two-thirds of the parking is more accessible from the entrance on Spring Road; so it appears that this would encourage traffic to take a shortcut down Mitchell Road. Gray replied the main factor that will influence which route people will take is that the speed limit on Mitchell is 30 mph, with a number of traffic signals, compared with TH 212, which has a speed limit of 60 mph, and then coming down Eden Prairie Road. The church likely would handle their internal parking-lot traffic. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 4 Frantz asked how the height of the church's tower compares to other high structures in Eden Prairie. Justus said they checked the Wooddale Church, and the top of its cross is 199 feet. The Grace Church tower is between 140- to 160-feet high. He is working with MAC and the FAA to make sure it is within their requirements. Kipp said the majority of the property is guided Church as part of the Charlson guide plan change approved in 1998. The north 10 acres of the site, which was not part of the original Charlson property, will require a guide plan change from Public Open Space to Church. The church can be a compatible use next to existing residential neighborhoods, provided the plan includes large setbacks, berming, landscaping. City Code requires building setbacks of 50 feet for the front, rear, and one side, with a total of 150 feet for both side. The church plan shows building setbacks of 75 feet along Eden Prairie Road, 600 feet along Pioneer Trail, and 400 feet along Spring Road. The Staff is recommending a reduction of tree loss to 40 percent. The topography works well for the site. There are no existing cultural resources on the site; the farmstead was photo-documented before it was torn down. There is a need for a park in the area; however, there is no need on this site because it is within the service radius of existing Pioneer Park. An Environmental Assessment Worksheet will be required for the project. A 30-day review period for the EAW will be completed by the time the development project goes to the Community Planning Board. Chair Foote asked if anyone present wished to speak about this project. Leon Kruse, 9250 Eden Prairie Road, said he lives directly across the street from the church property. The plan shows three entrances out to Eden Prairie Road. He is concerned about being able to get out of his driveway on Sundays. John Justus replied the main entrance would be at Hilltop Road. Kruse said that is only 50 feet from his driveway. Gray talked about the realignment of Eden Prairie Road. Spring Road and Eden Prairie Road will be realigned to connect south of the church property. The traffic estimates are consistent with the traffic estimated when the Charlson guide plan was done. Hilltop has a poor intersection with Eden Prairie Road, and when improvements are completed Hilltop will line up with the church's main entrance. The church's most northerly entrance will be right-in, right-out only. Eden Prairie Road at Valley Road will have turn lanes, and there will be a median for channelization, which would impact some of the property owners who will have right-in, right-out turns from their driveways because of the median. Bob Broich, 9105 Mitchell Road, expressed concern that the new alignment would eliminate one of the main entrances from TH 212 to County Road 4. It would encourage church traffic to come down Mitchell Road. There is a long distance to the parking lot from the second entrance into the property. Gray said the church needs to provide enough distance for stacking cars entering the church property. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 5 Leon Kruse asked where City sewer and water will be coming into the church property. Gray answered the City plans to have a liftstation at Eden Prairie Road and Riley Creek. The sewer and water lines would come down Mitchell Road and Eden Prairie Road to the church property. Jeff Square, 9103 Palmetto Drive, was concerned about the parking lot. It would be lit 24 hours a day. He would like to see coniferous trees planted to block the light and noise of the traffic in the lot. He also expressed concern about the parking deck access onto Pioneer Trail, as there is so much traffic on Pioneer now. The architect confirmed that the master plan shows a right turn in and out on Pioneer to the parking deck. Bob Wright, an area resident, said he would like to urge the Planning Board to help limit the traffic on these roads until the improvements are completed. Perhaps the City could ask the church to provide busing service for their members until the roads are ready to handle more traffic. Foote inquired how many members Grace Church has. Solfelt replied it currently has 1,800 members, with 3,700 attending Sunday morning services. A comparison was made between Pax Christi Church and Grace Church. Pax Christi Church has about 100,000 square feet and 700 parking spaces on 25 acres. They have 10,000 members, and a 1,400-seat sanctuary. Clinton said he would like to see detailed information about the traffic conditions on Pioneer Trail and Homeward Hills Road. It would be helpful for both the board members and the neighbors. Uram said Staff could gather that information and do a quick analysis to see what Pax Christi is doing. Bob Schulte, 930 Palmetto Drive, said it is very hard for them to get onto Palmetto Drive already; and traffic projections for Sunday should be done. The soccer fields to the east are used Sunday morning, and cars are stacked up in both directions on Pioneer Trail. His concern is that Pioneer Trail will not handle the extra traffic and he would like to see some traffic planning done. He is also concerned that the height of the church steeple may require a strobe light because of the proximity to the airport. Foote replied that the church is working with MAC on the height of the steeple. Justus said the need to have a light is subject to MAC's review; however, the answer he received from MAC is they will make a determination soon. If the church tower needs to be reduced in height, the architect said he will do that. Dave Anderson, 15510 Crocus Lane, said he was representing himself and the townhome association. His main concern was traffic. With the traffic that Flying Cloud Fields generates in the evening from springtime through fall, he believed the traffic connected with the new church needed to be coordinated with the improvements to County Road 1 (Pioneer Trail). Gray replied the plan for County Road 1 is to widen it to four lanes, which would include a median and left-turn lanes. This section of the roadway is slated for COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 6 construction in 2002. Regarding the soccer fields, one improvement to the traffic will be the installation of a traffic signal at Pioneer Trail and Staring Lake Parkway. The main entrance to the Flying Cloud Fields will be there. This will create some gaps in the traffic. The Level of Service should be "D" or better for both weekdays and Sunday conditions. Clinton asked to make this information part of the submittal. Floyd Hagen, 15721 Cedar Ridge Road, said he was concerned about the compatibility of Grace church with the airport expansion being proposed. The noise level spikes right over the property. He believed Grace Church would have significant noise problems and would be impacted by the airport. He wondered if there would be enough concern that Grace Church would be willing to tell the Airport Commission about it, and that might be enough reason to keep the runway expansion from happening. Foote said the Board members should try to summarize their comments and let the church know what they would like them to do. Cofer requested that Gray look at the proposed timetable for construction of the church as it relates to the road construction timetable. He should include the expansion of TH 212, and various components of road construction, measured against the proposed construction timetable of the church. Then nobody will get any surprises in terms of road construction. The transportation issue is one of the major issues facing the City. Uram said the proposed time schedule can be put together. Koenig said she would like the proponent to try to reduce the tree loss to 40 percent rather than 48 percent. She assumed most of the trees would be taken out for parking. Solfelt replied that the primary tree loss is around the old homestead in the middle of the property, where the church building will go. They plan to maintain the trees in the northeast and northwest corners. Koenig asked if the majority of landscaping could be put into screening the neighbors. Solfelt replied they would be planting a lot of material, 435 trees, and would put them wherever the City would like them. Clinton said the overall plan is good. Traffic is an issue in the metro area. The traffic plans presented by Gray seemed to be consistent. He would support having a construction timetable. He would like to have the location of the safety zone highlighted in the amended guide plan, relative to parking and the buildings. Foote said he would like to comment on the parking ramp. The church currently has 1,800 members and is building a 4,500-seat church. He wondered why they need 2,000 parking spaces and a ramp with 1,000 additional parking spaces. Foote said he does not favor exiting onto Pioneer Trail from the ramp. He would like to see the ramp eliminated, if possible. He prefers to have the road realignments done prior to the construction of the church or, at least, concurrently. More berming and trees along Eden Prairie Road would be desirable. Koenig said her understanding is that the ramp will not necessarily be built. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 7 Solfelt asked if they could have a brief discussion about how they operate at the church when they make their presentation at the next meeting. He said there are immense differences in the way they use their facility and the way Pax Christi uses theirs. This affects the parking. Christian education takes place among the adults as well as the children. Uram asked Solfelt make that description part of their narrative at that meeting and Solfelt agreed. This was the end of the informational meeting on the church. Chair Foote called a recess at 8:45 p.m. The meeting resumed at 8:55 p.m. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. WINGATE HOTEL by Eden Prairie Hotel Group, LLC. Request for Comprehensive Guide Plan Change from City Service to Regional Commercial 5.25 acres, Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 5.25 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 2.89 acres, Zoning District Change from I-5 to C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 2.89 acres. Site Plan Review on 2.89 acres and Preliminary Plat on 5.25 acres into 2 lots. Location: 7900 and 8000 Mitchell Road. Foote said concept approval is requested on Lot 1 and site plan review on Lot 2, which are located at 7900 and 8000 Mitchell Road. Neil Weber, Neil Weber Architects, represented the applicant. A hotel would be built on Lot 2. They have worked with City Staff, and the applicant does not disagree with anything in their report. The hotel would have 108 rooms, and the exterior would be 76 percent brick, glass and natural stone, with horizontal banding in two-color brick. The vertical and horizontal "jogs"recommended by Staff will be added. Foote inquired if the architect would have a new elevation created for City Council review. Weber said yes. Clinton asked about the background of the Wingate Hotels and was told they are primarily for business persons, and there will be about 100 of them built by the end of the year. The restaurant to be built on Lot 1 is not proposed for Phase 1 of the project. It does not have a developer at this time, but most likely will go to a national chain restaurant. The parking area will be shared between the restaurant and the hotel. Uram said, regarding the restaurant, one issue is the removal of the radio tower from that site. The City is currently working with the FAA to get approval to move it, and this has held up the development of that property. Part of the purchase agreement for the property, the City required that the restaurant stand alone as far as parking is concerned. In this way, the site can be developed separately, if a restaurant is not built. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 8 Conor inquired about the type of restaurant being planned and was told it would be an upscale restaurant. It would most likely have a license to sell liquor. Uram said the City expects any new restaurant being built in the City would request a liquor license. Foote said the City Code would require 68 parking spaces for the restaurant. Weber said the plan provides 120 parking spaces. Kipp pointed out a guide plan change and concept approval has been requested. The guide plan would be changed to Regional Commercial. City Staff supports the guide plan change. Waivers have been requested for floor area ratio, and parking and structure setbacks. Staff recommends approval of the project based on recommendations in the Staff report. Koenig inquired if the architect is satisfied with placing the excess landscaping on either the water treatment facility site or within the Market Center medians, as mentioned in the Staff report. Because of environmental constraints on the site, Weber said they are being required to do that and they are in agreement. The tree loss replacement is 662 caliper inches for the whole property. Fox said he could look into putting the replacement trees closer to the site. Chair Foote asked if anyone wished to address the Board on this project. No one did. Koenig asked if Staff sees any traffic problems in adding a hotel and restaurant to this area without road improvements. Gray said no, this fits in well with what the City anticipated for Mitchell Road after the interchange at TH 212 is constructed. MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Stoelting, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Stoelting, to recommend to the City Council approval of the Eden Prairie Hotel Group, LLC request for Comprehensive Guide Plan Change from City Service to Regional Commercial 5.25 acres, Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 5.25 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 2.89 acres, Zoning District Change from I-5 to C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 2.89 acres, Site Plan Review on 2.89 acres, and Preliminary Plat on 5.25 acres into 2 lots, based on plans dated March 23, 2000, and subject to the recommendations of the Staff Report dated March 24, 2000. Motion carried 6-0. B. WELTER'S TRAILHEAD By Ray and Carole Welter, Jr. Request for Planned Unit Development Concept review on 5.22 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 5.22 acres, Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 5.22 acres, and Preliminary Plat on 5.22 acres into 4 single-family lots, and 1 outlot. Location: 9630 Crestwood Terrace. Foote said this is a request for Planned Unit Development Concept Review. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 9 Dennis Marhula of Westwood Engineering, representing the developer, said the Welters are proposing to subdivide this property into 4 single-family lots. Also proposing to add an outlot which the Welters intend to gift to the City. The City will provide a trail along the east side of the property connecting to the trail approved for the Settlers Ridge development. They have read the Staff report and are in agreement with it. One item came up regarding the storm-sewer drainage. He has discussed that with Al Gray and will work out the issues prior to the City Council meeting. Foote said you are asking for waivers for Lots 3 and 4 for lot frontage and side yard setbacks. For the side yard, these setbacks would be 5 feet minimum on one side, with a total of 15 feet both sides. Stoelting said the surface drainage results in filtration of water over the surface and need for a storm-sewer system. He asked if there are plans for installation of a storm- sewer system. Marhula said yes, they would be installing a storm-sewer system. They will be taking storm water runoff and piping it down to the creek. The storm-sewer system runs down and follows the gully. Currently that gully is eroded and they plan to correct that with the storm-sewer installation. During the construction of the storm- sewer system the gully will be restored. Kipp said the property right now is not served by municipal services. A feasibility study is underway now that would expand services to these properties. The development is dependent on sewer and water being available to the site. The waivers requested for lot frontage and side yard structure setbacks for a few of the lots. Staff recommends approval of the project. Stoelting asked if there is an existing trail. Kipp replied this trail will connect to the trail being built in Settlers Ridge. The City will then construct across the creek and up to Crestwood Terrace. Stoelting asked how the trail would be surfaced. Fox replied Staff is currently looking at a 5-foot wide, hard-surface trail. It may have to go to 8 feet,however. It could be a concrete or asphalt surface. Koenig said the Board appreciates the gift of the property to the City, and being able to put in a trail is an improvement for the City. Foote asked what are the implications to the City of costs resulting from the over- sizing of the storm sewer. Gray replied they expect to work those details out with the proponent. He expects over-sizing costs will be significant, in order for it to serve this property and also to be large enough to handle some future uses. A cost-sharing plan may be worked out, or the City may pass the costs along to future developments that may occur. Foote asked if anyone present wished to address this project. Coleen Cavara, 9617 Crestwood Terrace, said her property is directly across from the development. Her concern was that people wanting to use the trail would park their COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 10 cars in front of her property. Gray replied that the trail connects neighborhoods together. Most use of the trail would probably be by people like her who live in the neighborhood. Maureen Walker, 9650 Crestwood Terrace, asked who decides where the trail goes. She thought it would be a good idea to go through the wooded area. Fox replied the reason the location was selected is that it fit best with the contours of the land; and also they are trying to set aside the drainage erosion area. Coming along the side hills is the best location. It would be 20 feet easterly of the proposed development. Walker asked if Fox was the one walking the property the previous week. A person from the City told her the trail would be away from the gully area. Fox said he was not and didn't know who it was she talked to. Walker also asked about side yard setbacks, with a minimum of 5 feet. Foote replied one side can be 5 feet and the other side would have to be 10 feet. Uram said the decision to locate the trail is based on a decision by the Engineering Staff, working with the developer's engineer. Staff would be happy to talk to Ms. Walker about that decision. Grenaire Kauduth, 9601 Crestwood Terrace, wanted clarification about the sewer and water connection. She asked if the connection would be taken to the development through the orchard or if it would be coming down Crestwood Terrace. Gray replied that Staff is looking at this end of the neighborhood being able to connect through the existing development with the smaller lots over to the apple orchard. The sewer to Ms. Kauduth's property will be available some time in the future. MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Koenig, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Koenig, to recommend to the City Council approval of Ray and Carole Welter Jr's request for Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 5.22 acres, Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 5.22 acres, Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 5.22 acres, and Preliminary Plat on 5.22 acres into 4 single-family lots, based on plans dated March 17, 2000, and subject to the recommendations of the Staff Report dated March 24, 2000. Motion carried 6-0. Foote said he also wanted to thank the Welters for the outlot and for not developing the property to the fullest extent. V. PUBLIC MEETING VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES March 27, 2000 Page 11 Foote announced that this was Marvin Cofer's last meeting on the Community Planning Board. He thanked him for his work on the Board. Foote said Frantz Corneille would be taking over as Chair and Ray Stoelting as Vice Chair. VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS Clinton said about three years ago he brought up the need for sidewalks along TH 212 between Anderson Lakes and Prairie Center Drive. He didn't recall what the City Council's response to that was, but he has noticed increased pedestrian traffic along that road and there is no trail or sidewalk. Gray replied he believed the plan is to build a sidewalk along Columbine Road. The most likely scenario is to complete Columbine Road to Prairie Center Drive and include a sidewalk with that project. Sometime in the future there might be a trail along the TH 212 corridor, but it might be difficult to find right of way along there. Regarding Columbine, at the last legislative session the City received special permission to have the State transfer property to Eden Prairie. When the Columbine Road project is done, the City would obtain an agreement with the DNR for wetland. The goal would be to get the planning work finished this year and probably be able to begin construction of the roadway later this summer and finish it and the pedestrian portion in 2001. VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Koenig moved to adjourn the meeting. Chair Foote adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.