Loading...
Planning Commission - 07/24/2000 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MONDAY,JULY 24, 2000 7:00 p.m., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road BOARD MEMBERS: Ken Brooks, Kenneth E. Clinton, Frantz Corneille, Randy Foote, Vicki Koenig, Kathy Nelson, Susan Stock, Ray Stoelting STAFF MEMBERS: Krista Flemming, Planner I 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 7:00 p.m. Present: Board Members Corneille, Brooks, Clinton, Foote, Koenig, Nelson, and Stoelting; Staff: Franzen, Gray, Flemming. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Clinton moved, second by Koenig, to approve the agenda for the July 24, 2000 Community Planning Board meeting. Motion carried 7-0. III. MINUTES A. Minutes of the July 10, 2000 Community Planning Board Workshop Koenig said that on page 3 the sentence regarding development of Lake Idlewild should address development of Lake Idlewild so close to the shoreline; and page five, least susceptible to construction damage should read most susceptible to construction damage. MOTION: Nelson moved, seconded by Koenig, to approve the minutes of the July 10, 2000 Community Planning Board Workshop. Motion carried, 7-0. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES JULY 24, 2000 PAGE 2 B. Minutes of the July 10, 2000 Community Planning Board Meeting MOTION: Brooks moved, second by Koenig, to approve the minutes of the July 10, 2000 Community Planning Board Meeting. Motion carried, 7-0. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. SCHLOTZSKY'S DELI (OFFICE DEPOT) by Midwest Expansion Ltd. Request for Planned Unit Development(PUD) Concept Amendment on 4.19 acres of the Town Place Center PUD, PUD District Review with waivers on 4.19 acres, Zoning District Amendment within the C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 4.19 acres, Site Plan Review on 4.19 acres, and Preliminary Plat of 4.19 acres into 2 lots. Location: 11609 Leona Road. Scott Mower of Progressive Architecture, presented the PUD Concept Amendment to the Board. Schlotzsky's is a gourmet sandwich shop. He reviewed the aesthetics of the building; the store will match Office Depot with the stone, brick, and some stucco. He said they concur with the staff report with the exception of the cross-access. He would like it approved as shown with the cross access included. He said Phillips 66 is not willing to lose their access to Highway 212. The cross-access would be very visible from Highway 212. Caribou Coffee business is finished at 11:00; Schlotzsky's picks up at 11:00; the small amount of traffic that would be added would not add to peak p.m. rush hours. Caribou may add some to a.m. rush hour. Current access from Phillips 66 onto the site is a right-in, right out; bringing that traffic down to the stop light at Leona Road would create the same circulation as generated at Phillips 66 access. He said they requested an accident report; all of the accidents were at Leona near Phillips 66 and not at the right-in, right out. The police department said the traffic count on Highway 212 has been greatly reduced since Highway 169 access is open. The amount of traffic being added is negligible. Krista Flemming, Planner I, presented the staff report to the Board. The site is guided for a Regional Commercial use and zoned Regional Commercial Service. Surrounding land uses include Office Depot, Super 8, Phillips 66 station, Town Place Suites, and Net Perceptions Office Building. The existing structure, Office Depot, was approved as part of the Town Place Center PUD in 1997. This approval included a future restaurant addition to the west side of the existing Office Depot. The 4.19 acre site is proposed to be subdivided into two lots; Lot 1, Office Depot, will be 3.57 acres and Lot 2, Schlotzsky's, will be .91 acres. Both lots meet maximum base area ratio of .20. City Code requires 6 parking stalls per 1000 COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES JULY 24, 2000 PAGE 3 square feet of retail for Office Depot, or 186 stalls, and 1 parking stall per three seats for Schlotzsky's, or 120 stalls. The plan meets the code. The original PUD approval included additional building square footage that met the codes for the Regional Commercial Service zoning district. This proposed project is similar in size and location to the original PUD with the exception of property ownership. The original PUD anticipated leasing the additional area while the current project proposes to subdivide the lot, creating a second property and owner. Although many aspects of the original approval are also part of this plan, the proposed separate ownership requires the following waivers to the zoning ordinance: • Lot Frontage from 85' to 0' for Lot 2. • Sideyard accessory structure setback from 10' to 0' on Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's) • Parking setback from 10' to 0' on Lot 1 for property lines adjacent to Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's) and along the west and north property lines of Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's). • Side yard building setback from 20' to 17' for the east property line of Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's) and from 20' to 0' for the west property line of Lot 1 (Office Depot). • Offsite signage for Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's) The requested waivers are created due to lot division for mortgage purposes and do not result in a loss of green space or more development than allowed by code or the approved PUD concept plan. It is common to have reduced setbacks in retail centers to provide better internal traffic circulation and site efficiency. The City has granted similar waivers. The original PUD approval provided shared monument signage on the site. This would eliminate additional, individual monument signs on Lot 2. The existing NURP pond will be enlarged to accommodate the site's additional stormwater. Sanitary sewer and city water currently exists. A cross access is proposed between Schlotzsky's and Office Depot as well as with the Phillips 66 convenience station south of the property. The cross access to Phillips 66 creates a traffic impact on an existing access onto Highway 212 from the Phillips 66 site. The increased traffic using the driveway to Highway 212 changes Mn/DOT's classification for this intersection to a different level. Both city staff and Mn/DOT will support the cross access between Schlotzsky's and Phillips 66 if the access onto Highway 212 is closed. This would limit the Phillips 66 site to one access onto West 78h Street, which intersects with Highway 212. If COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES JULY 24, 2000 PAGE 4 Phillips 66 does not support closing its access to Highway 212, staff recommends eliminating cross access between Phillips 66 and Schlotzsky's. The total site landscaping and tree replacement was planted as part of original approval. Schlotzsky's will be planting some additional trees and shrubs. Lighting will consist of 30-foot tall, downcast, cut off fixtures. The building meets the 75% face brick, glass, or natural stone exterior materials requirements and incorporates architecture similar to other buildings in the PUD. Brick will also be placed on the west side of Office Depot to complete this elevation. Schlotzsky's is a permitted use within the Regional Commercial Service zoning district. The requested waivers are created due to the lot division for mortgage purposes and do not result in a loss of green space or more development than allowed by code or the approved PUD concept plan. Staff supports the cross access to Phillips 66 if the access to Highway 212 is eliminated. Staff recommends approval of the project based on the staff report recommendations. The following waivers to the City Code are granted as part of the PUD: Parking setback from 10' to 0' on Lot 1 for property lines adjacent to Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's) along the west and north property lines of Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's), Lot Frontage from 85' to 0' for Lot 2, Side yard building setback from 20' to 17' for the east property line of Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's) and from 20' to 0' for the west property line of Lot 1 (Office Depot), side yard accessory structure setback from 10' to 0' on Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's), and offsite signage for Lot 2 (Schlotzsky's). Foote asked whether there was an option to have both the cross access and the opening to 212. Gray said the city would have the authority to approve it but would not recommend it. He said when driving 78 h street and entering northbound Highway 212, there is a yield condition, but it is used as a merge condition. The short lane is used as an acceleration lane. A driver on the left attempting to slow down and turn would be unexpected. Highway 212 traffic will increase and not lessen in the future. The signals on the corridor need to be reduced. The city should not provide more business utilization for such right of way; there is a potential for having to buy out in the future; it would not be financially sound. Highway 212 should have less local access and a better system of frontage roads. Foote said his concern was the similarity to the cut through from Middleset Road; it is a bad situation where traffic utilizes the parking lot to cut through to the COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES JULY 24, 2000 PAGE 5 signal. Eliminating the access to Highway 212 could cause the same situation. If there is no access to Highway 212,he would suggest eliminating the cross-access. Gray said the choices are cross-access, with closure to Highway 212 or no cross- access as a practical matter. Staff recommendation is not to have a cross-access. Nelson asked about the side of Office Depot where it is cement block and whether that would be changed to meet standards. Flemming said the existing materials on Office Depot will be continued to the west side, so it will not be just block. Mower said if a cross-access is not in place, Caribou Coffee, may not be interested in moving into the property. He suggested a permit for the cross-access and a review in 2-3 years. Corneille said that would be very difficult since it is never easy to remove a condition that has been existing for awhile. Koenig asked about the cash park fees and whether they were applicable. Flemming said they were paid when Office Depot was built. Nelson asked whether it was possible to have a one way access coming in from Phillips 66 into the Schlotzsky's lot; gas station traffic would come in and then go out onto Leona. Gray said that could be considered, but the right-in and deceleration area moves the vehicle from the turn lane onto the main road. A regular commuter on Highway 212 buying gas would stop once or twice a week; a Caribou customer would utilize it every day. Getting off the highway would create a conflict. Foote asked whether the right turn could be eliminated by reconfiguring it so there was no turn, but an angle. Gray said it would have to be studied. Foote said it would eliminate a right-in but a right-out would be possible from Phillips 66. Gray said that could be modified, but it would probably change their current access and they would want compensation for that change. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES JULY 24, 2000 PAGE 6 Tony Strauss with Welsh Companies addressed the Board. He said the proposed uses do not conflict with each other. He asked whether a stop sign could be put in at the cross access. Corneille said the reason for elimination of the cross access was more fundamental and had to do with traffic flow on Highway 212. Mower said Schlotzsky's was still very interested even if the Board determined the access could not be part of the project and asked that the Board vote in favor of the project with a plan amendment to eliminate the cross access. Foote said he thought the cross access should be eliminated. Clinton said he heard the comment about losing Caribou Coffee; he said he would prefer no cross-access. There is about 250 feet between right out of the gas station and Leona Drive. It would only take an extra three seconds to drive up to the Leona Drive exit to get into the proposed site. He is disappointed that the elimination of the access could cause Caribou Coffee to possibly leave. Motion by Clinton, second by Foote to close the public hearing. Motion carried, 7-0. The hearing closed at 7:35 p.m. MOTION: Clinton moved, seconded by Foote to approve Schlotzsky's Deli (Office Depot) by Midwest Expansion Ltd. Request for Planned Unit Development (PUD) Concept Amendment on 4.19 acres of the Town Place Center PUD, PUD District Review with waivers on 4.19 acres, Zoning District Amendment within the C-Reg-Ser Zoning District on 4.19 acres, Site Plan Review on 4.19 acres, and Preliminary Plat of 4.19 acres into 2 lots at location: 11609 Leona Road. Recommend "Option 2" plan with no cross access. Motion carried 7-0. IV. PUBLIC MEETING V. MEMBERS' REPORTS VI. CONTINUING BUSINESS VII. NEW BUSINESS COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD MINUTES JULY 24, 2000 PAGE 7 VIII. PLANNERS' REPORTS The August 14f meeting has Costco and a full agenda and will take time. We should postpone the special meeting for traffic discussion to the first meeting in October. This change will be posted on the door and amended to the schedule. Nelson has conflict of interest in Costco and wanted to know how it should be handled. Corneille said that when the Costco project is ready for discussion, Nelson should excuse herself and leave the Council Chambers. Franzen conservative estimate. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Corneille moved, seconded by Koenig, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.