Planning Commission - 01/09/2006 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY,JANUARY 9, 2006 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS: Larry Kacher, John Kirk, Vicki Koenig,
Kathy Nelson, Peter Rocheford, Fred Seymour,
Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz,William Sutherland
STAFF MEMBERS: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Al Gray, City Engineer
Mike Franzen, City Planner
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Vice-Chair Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent: Kacher, Kirk,
Rocheford, and Stoelting.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to approve the agenda. Motion carried
5-0.
III. MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 12, 2005
A quorum was not met to approve the minutes.
IV. PUBLIC MEETING
V. INFORMATIONAL MEETING
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. VARIANCE#2005-17 at 6385 Beach Road. Request to:
Permit a 33.75 square foot wall sign in the Public Zoning District. City Code
permits one wall sign per building not to exceed 24 square feet.
Planning Commission Minutes
January 9, 2006
Page 2
John Harriss, of Harriss Architects,presented the proposal. Mr. Harriss stated
that he has been the architect at the International School of Minnesota since 1988.
He pointed out that this wall sign is the last part of a 3,500 sq. foot administrative
addition. He also stated that there are very few signs on campus and this would
be the only large campus sign. Mr. Harriss used the overhead projector to
illustrate the location of the school and the position of the sign. He stated that
they are purposing a new entrance sequence and that would be the location of the
new sign. He also showed what the sign would be facing and that would be a
parking lot and a wooden hillside. Mr. Harriss said that the sign would not have
any impact on the public or any other buildings in the area.
Nelson asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen pointed out that there
are three options that should be addressed and they are on page 2 and 3 of the
staff report. The first option is a Wall Sign Transfer. This is the concept of
taking the total allowable sign area and redistributing square footage to meet
individual needs. There are five buildings on this property which allows them
120 sq. feet of signage. Using 33.75 square feet for one building leaves 86.25 feet
that could be used on the other 4 buildings, if needed. The second option is to
reduce the size of the sign. And the third option is to revise the content of the
sign. Franzen stated that the Commission should choose one of the four actions
that are listed in the staff report. They would be:
1. Approve Variance Request 2005-17 as submitted identifying a specific
hardship or unique circumstance related to the property under variance
consideration, length of school name, setback from the parking lot,readability of
the sign, and wall sign transfer.
2. Approve Variance Request#2005-17 with modifications as outlining a unique
circumstance or hardship related to the property.
3. Continue Variance Request#2005-17 if additional information is needed.
4. Deny Variance Request#2005-17 finding no unique hardship or circumstance
has been identified.
Stoltz asked Mr. Harriss what color the stucco sign would be. Mr. Harriss said
that the back wall would be white and the letters would be grey.
Stoltz asked Mr. Harriss if his firm has considered the option of Wall Sign
Transfer. Mr. Harriss said that he was unaware of that concept. Mr. Franzen
stated the concept of Wall Sign Transfer. Mr. Harriss stated that this would be the
only major sign on campus.
Seymour stated that he would like to see the concept of the Wall Sign Transfer
adopted in the variance request; Stoltz agreed with Seymour, as did the other
Commission Members.
Nelson opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
Planning Commission Minutes
January 9, 2006
Page 3
MOTION by Stoltz, seconded by Koenig, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 5-0.
MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to approve the variance request to
permit a 33.75 square foot wall sign in the Public Zoning District,based on plans
stamped dated December 2, 2005, and the staff report dated January 6, 2006, and
to include a Wall Sign Transfer option. Motion carried 5-0.
VII. MEMBERS' REPORTS
VIII. CONTINUING BUSINESS
IX. NEW BUSINESS
X. PLANNERS' REPORTS
Franzen stated that there will be three items on the agenda for the January 23, 2006,
meeting. There will be two retail projects and a side yard setback for a deck plan. The
first retail project is Horizon Place, to be located where Birdies Sport Park is currently.
This park will be torn down and in its place will be put a strip retail building. The second
retail project is located on Lone Oak Road where the former Eden Prairie Police
Department was located. The developer would like to add a retail building, drug store,
and a bank to this property.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
5-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m.