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Planning Commission - 05/22/2000 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MONDAY, MAY 22, 2000 6:00 p.m., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road BOARD MEMBERS: Kathy Nelson, Ken Brooks, Randy Foote, Kenneth E. Clinton, Franz Corneille, Ray Stoelting, Vicki Koenig, Susan Stock STAFF MEMBERS: Krista Flemming, Planner I; 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. Present: Chair Corneille, Commissioners Nelson, Brooks, Foote, Clinton, Koenig, Stock; absent Stoelting; Staff: Fox, Franzen, Gray. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: by Nelson second by Foote to approve the May 22, 2000 agenda. Motion carried, 7-0. III. MINUTES MOTION: by Nelson, second by Koenig to approve the minutes of the May 8, 2000 workshop. Motion carried, 7-0. Nelson said the motion on page 5 regarding the shoreline setback of 148 feet should refer specifically to the restroom building. MOTION: by Brooks, second by Foote to approve the May 8, 2000 board minutes as amended. Motion carried, 7-0. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES May 22, 2000 Page 2 IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETING A. ROTTLUND/HENDRICKSON CONCEPT PLAN INFORMATIONAL MEETING by Rottlund Homes. Location: South of Pioneer Trail next to Dell Road. The purpose of the meeting is: 1. Presentation of the concept plan by Rottlund Homes 2. To hear comments from residents on the proposed plan. 3. To identify development issues and give general direction on the proposed use of the property for Rottlund Homes to address before returning to the Community Planning Board for a public hearing on the development project. Richard Palmater of Rottlund Homes introduced Tim Whitten, Senior Architect of Rottlund Homes. Whitten introduced the project, which will include 10,000 square feet of retail; to the east, 52 one-level townhome units marketed to empty nesters; to the west 72 units aimed toward professional singles and couples, with a transition to commercial. The Garden Townhomes will be one floor with walkout basement, 1250-1500 sf on main floor and a price beginning at $180-$200,000. The design includes maintenance free siding and brick detailing. The Gables will be higher density, private entrance. Foote asked whether all units would have the same exterior and suggested different colors for variety. Palmater said varying colors could be an option. Foote asked whether it was possible to do primarily 2-unit structures with the Garden homes. Palmater said it would be difficult but could be considered. Koenig asked whether there would be an association. Palmater said yes, one for each development, and the associations would maintain the streets. Clinton questioned the Garden homes having walkouts, when much of the land is flat. Palmater said there would be walkouts where there is sloping on the site and there will also be lookouts with elevated decks. Clinton asked about the developer's plans for two existing sites. Palmater said they might move instead of demolishing the homes. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES May 22, 2000 Page 3 Nelson asked about the distance and green space for the Garden homes. Palmater said there was around 70 feet of space between the homes. Nelson expressed concern over the lack of green space and parking in the gable units. Palmater said the townhomes designed to be across from each other would have shared driveways, with green space between drives, and spreading out buildings would not gain any green space. This product has worked well in several Twin City areas. Nelson asked about the number of bedrooms. Palmater said there would be two bedrooms in the Gables, and two on the main floor and other possible combinations for the Garden units. Nelson asked about the size of the decks. Palmater said the decks are approximately 10-12 feet. Clinton asked about the timing of the commercial piece of development. Palmater said it would be concurrent with the residential development. Clinton asked if the convenience center would be high traffic such as SA or lower volume such as Amoco. Palmater said it would be lower volume, with stores such as a dry cleaner or video store in the mall area. Foote asked about density numbers for each area and pricing for the Gables. Palmater said 16 units per acre is proposed. The Gables start at$140-180,000, with 1,470-1,520 square feet per unit. Stock asked about a tree inventory and a noise study. Palmater said they could do a tree inventory. There is a heavily wooded slope, trees in the center of the development, and some existing trees would be transplanted. A noise study could be completed if the City were to request one. Koenig inquired as to how many sides the Gable homes would be connected. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES May 22, 2000 Page 4 Palmater said end units would have neighbors on two sides, the middle units would have neighbors on 3 sides. Staff report: Flemming presented the staff report, noting that the change from the guide plan was from low density residential to medium density and commercial. Because Eden Prairie approved other such plans this area may warrant medium density. There are three options based on the concept provided. The outcome should include discussion specific to the guide plan change to medium density with commercial,just medium density, or keeping it low density. Staff recommends medium density and commercial Koenig asked why there are nine existing commercial, two approved, and this commercial area, making twelve when the master plan was for ten. Franzen said that the 1982 Comprehensive Plan recommended 10 neighbor- hood sites of up to 50,000 square feet based on a population of 80,000 to 100,000 people. The current projection population of 65,000 people may suggest that there is adequate neighborhood commercial to serve the City. There are more sites that are smaller and farther apart. Currently, the retail area at County Roads 4 and 5 serves an area several miles away. The general rule is 1 — 1 1/2 miles. Kathy Horsfal of 17621 Pioneer Trail owns property on the west side of the concept plan. She said the nearly 2 acre property is bordered on the east and south by 140 twwnhomes. This development would landlock the property. She is concerned with the density, the landlock, and the future use and value of the property.. She would like an access onto Dell Road, a recommendation for proposed future use. An access route should be planned in accordance with use. Mr. Holmann of 17275 Pioneer Trail said he holds Hendrickson in high regard for his contributions to the city. With the growth of Eden Prairie, the commercial site is desirable for the community as a whole. Shirley Bank of 17568 Frondell Court, is a resident of the US Homes twinhomes. She said the commercial site would be adjacent to her home and expressed concern over the noise level, which is currently a problem. Chair Corneille recapped the residents' concerns, which were density, access, and noise/traffic level and requested that the board's discussion focus on appropriate uses. Foote asked staff to comment on the access to the Horsfal property. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES May 22, 2000 Page 5 Franzen said the owner now has direct driveway access to Pioneer Trail, but in the long run, there should be access east if this were a commercial site or south through Orrin Thompson if it were residential. Foote asked about the density addressed in the staff report, of three story buildings showing at 18.1 units per acre. Franzen said that figure did not include the public road right of way. Foote said he supported the neighborhood commercial if it were a lower-use; it would service several neighborhoods. He would prefer the Gables to have lower density, and more two than four units in the Garden development. Clinton said there is a need for some transition from the commercial; he gave the example of the Amoco at Anderson Lakes and 212 with berming. Franzen said a berm would provide a little screening but if it were higher than four feet it may compromise the commercial visibility. He said he would have to visit the Amoco to make a judgement. Brooks said he would prefer as much berming and trees as possible. Foote asked about the difference in density with alternative 2 and master plan. Franzen said a mixed plan would mean 10 less units. Koenig asked about future development of Lot 1 and the 50-foot buffers mentioned in the staff report Franzen said it was low density; three acres with an unusual shape. A public road will go through the site to the east. The decision will impact parcels to east. Density could be similar to garden homes at 5 units per acre,but needs a transition. He said developers would have to move the buildings closer to the center of the property; the 50 foot buffer is based on what has been required in similar situations. Nelson said she liked the idea of limiting gas pumps for the commercial site. She said the gable higher density homes had far less green than similar homes adjacent. These homes are just over the affordable category, and some units should be in the affordable category or if not, then the density should be less. She would like to see more two than four unit townhomes. Clinton asked the developer about access from the Horsfal property based on type of use. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES May 22, 2000 Page 6 Palmater said the access could work with either residential or commercial; it would be placed differently. Koenig asked about the nearest daycare. Franzen said a daycare was located at Dell and Cascade. Nelson said that parcel should not stay single family and should have appropriate access. Franzen said if it were appropriate for commercial, the access could go through Hendrickson site to the east. If residential were appropriate, the access could go through the Hendrickson property and Gables or south through Orrin Thompson. Clinton said he would propose Horsfal as residential multi-family. Stock asked about design of the Gables. She asked about the location of existing similar developments Palmater said there was 1,470-1,520 sf in each building, with 12 units. He said there were others by Ridgedale, in Plymouth near Highways 55 and 169, and in Fridley. Franzen said he would not recommend commercial for proposed lot one, since there would be no room for transition. Medium density would be consistent with the surrounding project type. Staff did not indicate a recommendation for density because product type and architectural style is more important. Since the number of units per product type is small, the plan is consistent with the growth strategy. Too many units of one product type would suggest the density is not appropriate. Traffic impacts would be another reason to consider less density. This is completely different than anything in the community or area. Color can be addressed when rezoning and exterior elevation rather than color achieves variety. Corneille summarized the board's concerns: small commercial with a transition is appropriate, a traffic/noise study should be conducted; there is concern with mix and density; medium density would be good for the Horsfal property; the density of the Gables is a concern and two versus four units in the Garden homes is preferred. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES May 22, 2000 Page 7 V. PUBLIC MEETING VI. MEMBERS' REPORTS VII. CONTINUING BUSINESS VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. PLANNERS' REPORTS X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: by Koenig second by Clinton to adjourn. Motion carried, 7-0, the meeting adjourned at 8:15.