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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.