Planning Commission - 04/10/2000 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY,APRIL 10, 2000 7:00 p.m., CITY CENTER
Council Chamber
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS: Ken Brooks, Kenneth E. Clinton, Frantz
Corneille, Randy Foote, Vicki Koenig,
Kathy Nelson, Susan Stock, Ray Stoelting
STAFF: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural
Resources,
Mike Franzen, City Planner,
Alan Gray, City Engineer,
Donald Uram, Community
Development/Financial Services Director
Kirsten Oden, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -- ROLL CALL
Chair Corneille called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Kathy Nelson and Susan Stock
were absent.
II. SWEARING IN OF NEW COMMUNITY BOARD MEMBERS
Ken Brooks was sworn in as an officer of the Community Planning Board.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Stoelting moved, seconded by Foote, to approve the Agenda as published.
Motion carried 6-0.
IV. MINUTES
MOTION: Stoelting moved, seconded by Koenig, to approve the Minutes of the March
27, 2000 Community Planning Board Meeting as published. Motion carried 6-0.
V. NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS
A. COSTCO INFORMATIONAL MEETING Location: East of Prairie Center
Drive between Rolling Hills Road and Prairie Lakes Drive.
Corneille introduced the agenda item. The purpose of the meeting is:
COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
April 10, 2000
Page 2
1. Presentation of the concept plan by Costco for a 148,000 square foot building
with tire center and gasoline.
2. To hear comments from residents on the proposed plan.
3. To identify development issues for Costco to address before returning to the
Community Planning Board for a public hearing on the development project.
Michael Stratus of Costco introduced the company as a cash and carry wholesale
corporation and the 7 h largest retailer in the U.S.. Costco currently holds primarily
coastal stores but began Midwest expansion in Detroit three years ago. They began
looking in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area 1 1/2 years ago to identify potential sites.
Foote asked about other communities under consideration. Stratus said a store is
scheduled to open in St. Louis Park in November.
Jack Frank outlined the store's profile. Costco's typical customer has an above
average to median income. 40% of its sales are to other retailers such as office
campuses /retail parks. The store sells 3,500-3,700 products; it markets fewer
products but of higher quality at lower prices. Ted Johnson, Thompson Duke
Associates,reviewed the approved site plan and proposed site plan, as well as two
additional concept plans from a March 23rd neighborhood meeting. The approved
plan is slightly under 18 acres with 165,500 square feet of space for retail and
parking for 816 cars. Access would be on Prairie Center and Prairie Lakes Drive.
Two outlots on Prairie Center/Prairie Lakes Drive and Prairie Center/Rolling Hills
would provide space.
In the proposed plan, the building would provide 148,400 square feet of retail
space, one building in the southeast part of the site. There would be one entry at the
corner of the site. One side of the building would offer tire sales and installation.
This could be accessed from outside of the main warehouse facility. The northeast
corner of store would be receiving and loading. 5:30 a.m.-10 a.m. are receiving/
loading hours. Store hours are 8-8:30 weekdays, Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sundays 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.. A gas canopy would be in the far corner of the
property. Main access would be on Prairie Lakes Drive opposite Petsmart, on
Rolling Hills, with Right-In/Right-Out off Prairie Center Drive. Costco agreed to a
proposed area set aside for a weekend farmers market. A berm on south end of the
property with landscaping will block the sight line from the residential area. Costco
has created a wider/higher berm than in the original plan. Johnson showed a cross-
section of the south end of the property that conformed with the approved PUD site
plan. Year round landscaping will be provided. Because of comments from the
neighborhood meeting, Costco created a concept plan pushing the building as far
COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
April 10, 2000
Page 3
north and west as possible. Patrons would enter and exit from the same location.
Andy Merchant described the architectural design, materials, and concept of
blending with the existing environment.
Michael Franzen, City Planner, said the staff report in this case is not a
recommendation, but a historical comparison reviewing how plans were modified to
meet code requirements and the issues affecting the proposed project. The original
PUD for the property was approved for an office park in 1979 and 70,000 square
feet of retail for the Costco site. The 1994 approved plan is 165,000 square feet of
retail.
Allan Perry of 10894 Leaping Deer Lane, Weston Woods, stated his opposition to
warehouse development on that particular site. Residents are willing to work with
city and developer for a more compatible, harmonious transition. Everyone who
moved into the residential area knew that this site would be developed when they
moved in. This is the 4 h time something has been proposed and has been put down
by the neighborhood. Mr. Perry would like to recommend rezoning to a "new
urbanism" apt/condo retail concept that could serve the needs of commerce, tax
base, and residents. Residents are concerned about noise from trucks, the HVAC,
gas station, tires. He asked that the board recommend against a large retailer on this
site.
Terry Pearson of 10827 Leaping Deer Lane, Weston Woods, said she attended the
informational meeting with Costco, a neighborhood meeting, and a walk the
neighborhood effort. Major concerns of residents are: desire for compatible and
harmonious site, problematic traffic, this will negatively impact the planning
process. Big box warehouse will worsen traffic and compromise safety. Weston
Woods and Hartford could be landlocked and without enough access. There are 240
homes; 200 signatures opposing the development were obtained.
Annette Miller of 8435 Annapolis Way, Hartford Place townhomes, said she can
see the development clearly from her residence. She opposes the development
based upon lack of transition. She expressed concerns about hours of operation,
membership exclusivity, gas station and its hours of operation, loading dock traffic
entering and leaving, berm and site lines, parking, and duplication of services. She
said she would like to see sight lines from all directions. Sidewalks are needed in
this development.
Don McGlynn, 10836 Leaping Deer Lane, stated his opposition to Costco based
upon its lack of integration in to the community.
COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
April 10, 2000
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Joel Forslein of 17349 Bainbridge Drive said he has lived in three communities
where there were Costcos. He said they had lower gas prices, lower grocery prices,
and made good neighbors.
Don Klingle of 10940 Kalewood Drive said he had nothing against Costco, but has
there been a Costco in Minnesota in the past? The agenda calls for no additional
signal lights.
Doug Tamaski of 10556 Prairie Lakes Drive said he had a home in Palm Desert
where there was a Costco and the traffic jams caused by stack-ups for gas were
horrendous.
Corneille recapped the concerns of the residents which included transition and
integration, noise issues, environmental and traffic impacts, membership questions,
sidewalks, aesthetics, and duplication of services.
Mike Stratus said Costco was attempted in St. Louis Park in 1988. It opened too far
from distributors and ended up closing. He said membership is no longer exclusive.
Memberships range from $35-$100 per year and are directed mainly toward small
to midsize business owners; the $100 membership is for very high volume users.
Clinton stated that according to Costco its merchandising philosophy is non-
threatening to other retail operations,but products it offers are sold within a mile or
half mile by other businesses.
Stratus responded that Costco sells in any product category, with a very limited
selection, but high quality. People who want a greater product selection will still
shop at Target, Best Buy, etc. The gas station will offer no products or services
beyond gas. Filling time averages under 3 minutes. Gas station hours have changed
to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The average customer realizes a savings of$200-$300 per year
in gas, paying for their membership.
Koenig asked whether Costco addressed lighting issues since the parking lot and
building are shown situated adjacent to a residential area?
Andrew responded that Costco has provided adequate lighting of 2.5 footcandles
per fixture with screening to keep lighting on the site. A lens in the fixture directs
the light directly down. Lights will shut down at 11 p.m. except small fixtures on
the outside of building.
Koenig asked if the landscaping would be mature enough to provide a screen right
away?
COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
April 10, 2000
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Andrew stated that the height of the berm and maturity of trees should provide
adequate screening.
Stoelting requested a further explanation of the proposed Farmers Market.
Status stated that this was a concept idea from a community outreach meeting.
Stoelting asked about the flow of traffic through gas islands, the number of cars that
could be stacked and the types of trucks that will be unloading.
Johnson responded that the entrance point is off Prairie Lakes Road, with a stack
area, and a right hand turn onto Prairie Center Drive, or Southwest onto Rolling
Hills. There should be adequate access to and from the fueling facility. He also
stated that a traffic study will be performed as part of the application submittal.
He showed an alternate plan with a truck entrance from Prairie Center Drive to
Rolling Hills into the site, backing into the loading docks. These trucks would
include 18 wheelers and other vendors' single unit trucks. He said that there will be
four docks in the loading area. Trucks would approach the site, back in and unload
which would take 41/z -5 hours. They would approach from 494 to Prairie Center
Drive and would exit out to Prairie Lakes onto Prairie Center via a right-in right-out
access. Johnson stated that at this time, a detailed study has not been completed.
Clinton asked for more detail regarding the alternate plan. He also inquired as to
the staging of the trucks and for more information regarding the traffic study.
Clinton said, considering the delivery hours, Costco should look at traffic counts
during peak hours to see existing conditions on these roads between 6:30— 8:00
a.m.
Stratus stated that all trucks come from a distribution center in Chicago; they are on
site in a narrow window of time. If a truck arrives outside this time period, this is
grounds for dismissal.
Foote stated that alternate sites and other concept plan show buildings close to
Prairie Center Drive.
Koenig asked about the truck traffic and potential noise problems.
Corneille said the issues should be prioritized as follows: land use, traffic, noise,
sight lights and screening.
COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES
April 10, 2000
Page 6
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
VII. PUBLIC MEETING
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORTS
Foote said traffic in Eden Prairie needs to be resolved. He expressed concern that
Minneapolis/St. Paul may end up with gridlock close to that of Atlanta's.
Uram said traffic in Atlanta and Eden Prairie is due to funding. There are plans to
improve traffic but it requires County, State and Federal dollars.
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. PLANNERS' REPORTS
The next meeting had two public hearings scheduled; the school has submitted a letter to
withdraw. If the school proceeds, the process will start over. Foote asked if Southwest
Christian was looking at other sites and Franzen responded that they were. The second
item is a small addition to a mini-storage south of Burger King. At the next meeting staff
would like to have a short orientation on site plan review and show a League of
Minnesota Cities video.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Stoelting moved, seconded by Foote to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0.
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.