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Planning Commission - 02/26/2007 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2007 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: 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: Kirk 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 FEBRUARY 12, 2007 Koenig had a change on page 7, paragraph 5, sentence 5. She would like to change Conservation Community to Conservation Commission. MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried 5-0. Pitzrick abstained. IV. PUBLIC MEETING V. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. VARIANCE#2007-04 Request: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 2 To permit a front yard setback of 23.l' for a garage addition from the front lot line along Riverview Road. City code requires a 30' front yard setback. Location: 10431 Riverview Drive East. Debra Everson, architect for the homeowners, presented the variance request. She stated the homeowners would like to add an 8 foot addition on the garage side of the house to add more room for the mother-in-law moving in. Stoelting asked Ms. Everson to explain the hardship issue associated with this variance request. Ms. Everson said the hardship would be the house is skewed on the lot, so any addition would ultimately go into the setback. She also said the house has two front yards and is on a corner lot;hence the odd position of the house on the lot. Stoelting asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen said there are four possible actions that can be taken by the Commission. They are listed on page two of the staff report. Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. Kathy Maslyn, of 11656 Landing Road, stated her home lines up with the property owner. She said last evening they had 17 neighbors get together to discuss this situation. The neighbors are concerned the plans and materials to be used have not been approved by the Association prior to this potential variance request. Ms. Maslyn pointed out the homeowners are planning to place a green house on the property and the neighbors do not feel it is a good fit for the neighborhood. They feel it is a much larger structure than needed. Ms. Maslyn stated she felt this could potentially decrease her property value. She requests the variance be deferred or rejected until a plan for the green house is established. She also pointed out her disapproval is not with the mother-in-law moving in but with the green house. Steve Sather, owns,but does not live in 11590 Riverview Road, which is across the street, and one house east from this property. He said extending the garage toward the street would affect the site lines down the street if this variance request was granted. He felt the garage could be added to the east of the property and the reason the homeowners are asking for this variance request would be to build the green house on the property. He said he also felt this addition would affect the property value of the house he owns. Duane Bloem, of 11567 Landing Road, said in looking at the plans, he questioned if the homeowners were putting in a hallway in the garage for wheel chair access to the green house. He pointed out if the addition was closer to the street if would cut down on the line of sight for people driving down that street, and felt that safely was an issue associated with this variance request. Stoelting summarized the comments made by the public. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 3 1. Has the Homeowner's Association approved this project and will the correct materials be used. 2. Concern over size of green house and addition. 3. Impacted property values. 4. Site lines —need for consistency and safety concerns. 5. Is this a four car garage or a hallway for wheel chair access. Stoelting asked Ms. Everson to address some of these issues. Ms. Everson said she would focus on the garage variance and not the green house. She stated the materials used would be exactly the same as what is on the garage now. There will not be a hallway put in the garage and it will remain a four car garage. The granting of this variance should not affect property values. This addition would not affect the site lines because none of the corner triangles are cut off. Franzen said the association requirements are separate from City rules and is enforced by the association board. The Commission has to determine if there is a hardship issue associated with this variance request. Franzen pointed out the proposed green house meets setbacks. Steve Sather, owner of 11590 Riverview Road,reiterated again the hardship issue has not been met because the homeowners could build onto the east side of the building. Ms. Everson pointed out there is no place to put an addition to the east side of the building. She said they are not trying to make a bigger garage but want to expand the living space. Pitzrick said if the homeowner were able to relocate the functions to the east side of the property it would not encroach on the setback. Franzen pointed out the homeowners want to improve on the interior functions of the house and that is the reason for expanding the garage to the north. To eliminate the variance, the interior floor plan would have to change and relocate the kitchen, bath and pantry. Koenig suggested possibly making the green house smaller. Ms. Everson said she is not here to discuss the green house and it should have no impact on the variance request. Pitzrick said the issue of the green house does have to be looked at and suggested it should possibly be redesigned. Stoelting asked Franzen if the Commission can dictate on the green house issue. Franzen stated the entire change to the house can be reviewed by the commission, including the interior, garage expansion and the green house. The commission can ask for a different design if it is determined that a hardship has not been established. If the applicant wanted to build the greenhouse only or expand the garage to the west, the setbacks would conform and no variance would be required PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 4 Koenig said the issue of the green house is important because of the concern of the neighborhood, and the variance request should be continued. Pitzrick said the home owners should meet with the town home association and come back with a different plan. Stoelting asked the project proponent for any additional comments. Ms. Everson said she would have to speak with the homeowners to see if they want to come back or not. She said she is surprised the green house was taken into account when it was not even on the variance request. MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Pitzrick, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to reopen the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Seymour, to recommend a continuance to the March 12, 2007 meeting and to revise the development plans according to the staff report and other requirements as identified by the Commission. Motion carried 6-0. VII. PLANNERS' REPORT A. GUIDE PLAN UPDATE Greg Ingraham, of Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. (HKGI), presented the Guide Plan Update for Land Use. 1. Chapter 3 Land Use The intent of the Land Use Chapter is to guide public and private decision and investment regarding land use, development, and redevelopment. Areas studied and what was addressed in each of the areas are listed below. Major Center Area Land Use 1. Redevelopment Policy Area 2. Town Center Land Use Designation 3. Town Center Guidelines and Mixed-Use Ordinance Golden Trianzle Area Land Use 1. Redevelopment Policy Area 2. Market-based Approach Airport and Golf Course Land Use Major change is from public land use to a specific golf course land use. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 5 Airport is not an industrial use so it would need to be guided as airport land use. SW Neighborhood Commercial Study Sites of Study: 1. Riley Lake Road 2. Dell Road 3. Marshall's Farmers Market 4. Mitchell Road Mr. Ingraham pointed out the focus group is requesting the Commission's input on this category as to what sites should be included in the study; should more be added or some of these taken out. Growth Forecasts Change from 2006 to 2030 • Population +13,885 • Households + 8,603 • Employment +16,362 Questions for the Planniniz Commission 1. Should any of the potential southwest Eden Prairie neighborhood commercial sites be brought forward in the draft plan or at subsequent community meetings? 2. Are there other specific land use changes that should be shown on the plan map or discussed in the text? Pitzrick said in regard to the Town Center Area, there is a huge power line which goes through the area that will need to be addressed. Mr. Ingraham said they are aware of the power line and it should not be much of a problem, they will position the new road around it. Powell made the comment that the issue of the power lines need to be dealt with. Mr. Ingraham said they could do a study on power lines but they would have to see if it would be economically feasible. Seymour asked if at a future meeting examples of other sites with power lines could be displayed. Mr. Ingraham said they will bring examples to a future meeting. 2. Housing Jeff Miller, of HKGI,presented the Guide Plan Update for Housing. The intent of the Housing Chapter is to assess the City's current housing stock/options, estimate future housing demand, and identify implementation strategies and programs to achieve the City's future housing goals and needs. Community Guidance for 2030 Plans PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 6 1. Current 2020 Comprehensive Plan 2. 2010 Livable Communities Action Plan 3. Senior Issues Task Force 4. Metropolitan Council Report; 2011-2020 Regional Affordable Housing Needs 5. Redevelopment Area Plan Studies - Major Center Area(MCA) Plan - Golden Triangle Area(GTA) Land Use Study 6. 2030 Comprehensive Plan Housing Focus Group 7. Planning Commission Input Existing Housing Stock/Options Biggest change is greater growth in multi-family housing versus single family housing. 1. Percent of Renters vs. Owners, 2006 Owners - 73% Renters - 27% 2. Housing Unit by Affordability - Subsidized rental units - 756 (12% of rental units) - Subsidized owner units —775 (4.3% of owned units) Future Housinz Demand Eden Prairie recognized the need for 685 housing units. Strategies for Meetinz Future Housinz Needs 1. Development of Land Guided for Residential (primarily SW EP) 2. New housing near employment centers 3. Mixed-Use Redevelopment(MCA, GTA) 4. Planned Unit Development(PUD) Tool 5. Neo-Traditional Neighborhoods 6. Land Acquisition 7. Existing Land Use Regulations 8. Reinvestment in Existing Housing Stoelting said he did not see a lot of clarity in regards to senior housing. He pointed out there was a substantial amount of work in breaking down affordability of housing, but he did not see options for seniors addressed in this chapter. Mr. Miller stated it was in the affordability section of housing. The question was brought up if the group should continue with the SW Area Commercial Site Evaluation. The Commission said no, they should not continue PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 7 with the evaluation but to leave them open and let the market dictate what happens. The Commission said they would like more detail on senior housing and power lines in the MCA and Golden Triangle Area. B. TOWN CENTER DESIGN GUIDELINES Greg Ingraham, of HKGI, presented the Town Center Design Guidelines. He passed out a hand out to the Commission Members with multiple designs pertaining to the Town Center for the following categories: 1. Site Development 2. Streetscapes and Plazas 3. Parking and Transit 4. Buildings 5. Signage 6. Lighting He asked the Commission Members to mark if they liked or disliked each design and when they were completely finished he asked them to pick five favorite images and five least favorite images. Mr. Ingraham said they will have the results for the next Planning Commission meeting. C. REVISED GUIDE PLAN UPDATE SCHEDULE Franzen said due to the Memorial Day holiday on May 28, there will need to be a change to another date for the Planning Commission meeting. The other possible dates are May 21, 22 or 29. D. JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP- GUIDE PLAN UPDATE Franzen stated the meeting is March 6h at 5:00 pm. Franzen stated the next meeting, on March 12, will have 9 items on the agenda. VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS X. NEW BUSINESS XI. ADJOURNMENT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2007 Page 8 MOTION by Koenig, seconded by Rocheford, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:17 p.m.