Planning Commission - 09/25/2006 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2006 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS: Jon Duckstad, John Kirk, Vicki Koenig,
Jerry Pitzrick, Frank Powell, Peter Rocheford,
Fred Seymour, Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz
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
Chair Stoelting called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent: Duckstad, Rocheford,
and Stoltz.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to approve the agenda. Motion carried
6-0.
III. MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2006
Koenig had 2 changes to the minutes. The first one was on page 5, second paragraph,
first sentence. It should read, "Kipp said he could look at adding green space to the lot,
but it would have to be designed to convert back to parking in the future." The second
change would be the last sentence in the same paragraph. And that should read, "I trust
staff to work with the developer to come up with a better project.
MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Kirk, to approve the minutes. Motion carried
6-0.
IV. PUBLIC MEETING
Planning Commission Minutes
September 25, 2006
Page 2
V. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. VARIANCE#2006-09 (A continued public bearing) by Paul Thomas
Vogstrom. Request:
To permit a shore land setback variance from 150 feet to 100 feet at the northeast
corner of the proposed structure.
Moiz Akhtar requested that this variance request be withdrawn.
Franzen verified that the project is being withdrawn by the property owner.
MOTION by Pitzrick, seconded by Koenig, to close the public hearing and return
the application to the proponent without prejudice. Motion carried 6-0.
VII. 2008 COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN UPDATE DISCUSSION
■ Housing
Jeff Miller, Molly Koivumaki and Monique Mackenzie presented the plan update.
Jeff Miller discussed the Processing- f�pdating the City's Housing He pointed
out a few of these processes. They would be:
1. To compile housing data and information review and existing conditions.
2. Conduct housing needs assessment.
Mr. Miller also addressed the issues of the Metro Housing requirements —Housinz
Element. He stated that the City's 2030 growth forecasts must align with the regional
forecasts and development. He also discussed the issues of Population Household and
Employment Growth Forecasts and Residential Densities for"Develop
Communities". Mr. Miller also addressed Affordable Housing Requirements and pointed
out that Eden Prairie's goal for affordable housing units for 2011-2020 is 685 units. He
said that the definition for"affordable housing"has been changed from households
earning 80% of metro median income to 60%. He also discussed Eden Prairie's current
housing goals, which would include some of the following items: promote and
encourage the provision of life cycle housing opportunities; support, development, and
maintenance of low to moderate income, elderly and special needs housing.
Molly Koivumaki presented the Housing Focus Group portion of the plan update. She
started out by presenting the members of the groups and their backgrounds and how that
would benefit the Housing Focus Group.
The initial Housing Focus Group concerns are as follows:
Planning Commission Minutes
September 25, 2006
Page 3
1. Challenges of preserving existable, affordable housing long-term.
2. Change in definition of affordable housing.
3. City's current shortfall in developing affordable ownership housing.
4. How will the Metropolitan Council address the City's current shortfall in
affordable ownership housing when setting 2011-2020 affordable housing goals.
5. New housing should be a mix of housing and not just rental units.
6. Identify appropriate housing types to meet future demographic trends.
7. Need for high-density housing to have adequate intra-city transit services.
8. Designing housing with walking access to services.
Discussed Housing and Demographic Trends.
Some examples of these include:
1. Major increase in retirement housing needs.
2. Growing share of future homebuyers who will be immigrant households.
3. Households with different needs, both larger and smaller size housing needs.
4. Generation Y will have different housing and lifestyle preferences.
Also discussed Analysis of Existinz Housinz Conditions. These include 3 major types:
1. AOns!Housing
Seniors staying in their homes but maybe financially challenged to
reinvest/maintain their homes.
2. New Housing Tunes
Planning for a mix of housing types in major development areas of MCA and
GTA.
Powell asked if the City has been looking at other cities that are comparable to
Eden Prairie's growth, that have already gone through this and what could we
learn from them. Mr. Miller said that was a good suggestion and will be brought
up to the Housing Focus Group.
3. Affordable Housing
City's challenge is with developing new affordable housing and the preservation
of housing that is affordable.
In regards to "affordable housing", Stoelting asked if the focus was on new
affordable housing. Mr. Miller confirmed that it was on new affordable housing.
Stoelting asked if a unit is considered affordable housing, will it always be
considered affordable. Mr. Miller stated that the City is trying to decide on how
to preserve affordable housing and will be discussing that in the future.
Planning Commission Minutes
September 25, 2006
Page 4
Jerry Pitzrick asked about the change from 80% to 60% in affordable housing and
said that he was somewhat confused with this concept. Mr. Miller said that 80%
means that housing is affordable to households making 80% of the medium
income and the same would be true with 60%. Koenig clarified this by pointing
out that this means that the lower income households will be able to have more
affordable housing. She also stated that she feels that Eden Prairie is very pro-
active with the issues of subsidized housing.
Monique Mackenzie discussed affordable housing in more detail to clarify the
issue. She also pointed out that Eden Prairie has good resources to accomplish
the goal of 685 units. Franzen stated, in regards to affordable housing, that what
first needs to be done is to find a site for it and have the density up high enough to
keep the cost down. Stoelting said that what Franzen was saying was to update
the Comprehensive Guide Plan on this issue. Franzen confirmed this statement.
Koenig asked if anyone has looked into the issue of clustering affordable housing.
Franzen stated that this has been done, as can be seen by the units on Pioneer
Trail and Dell Road.
Stoelting asked Mr. Miller exactly what the 685 units would be; if they were
single family units or some other type of units. Mr. Miller stated that the units
would not be single family homes and that no distinction is made between
ownership and rental.
Pitzrick asked about the issue of co-housing. Ms. Mackenzie explained that Eden
Prairie currently does not have co-housing, but it will definitely be brought before
the Housing Focus Group.
VIII. PLANNERS' REPORT
■ EAW Proposed Environmental Quality Board Rules
Franzen stated that the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board (EQB) is seeking public
comment on proposed amendments to several state rules governing the State's
environmental review process. He pointed out that the sheet given to staff is just a draft
and that Staff will prepare a formal response to the EQB stating the concerns identified in
the memo.
Stoelting asked if it is not so much the rule but the appendix. Franzen stated that the
appendix defines new thresholds.
MOTION by Powell, seconded by Kirk, stating that the Commission agrees with the
direction of the draft letter and they would like to pass it on to the City Council. Motion
carried 6-0.
IX. MEMBERS REPORTS
Planning Commission Minutes
September 25, 2006
Page 5
Koenig pointed out that the City of Minnetonka had a problem with someone cutting
down 80 trees and what the City ended up doing was to hire someone to monitor the
developments in the City. She asked if the City of Eden Prairie could also hire someone
to monitor the developments in the area.
X. CONTINUING BUSINESS
XI. NEW BUSINESS
XII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Kirk, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
6-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.