Planning Commission - 05/22/2007 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Vicki Koenig, Jerry Pitzrick,
Frank Powell, Pete Rocheford,
Fred Seymour, Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz,
Kevin Schultz
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, Koenig,
Rocheford, and Powell.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Seymour, seconded by Schultz, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-
0.
III. MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MAY 14, 2007
Minutes for the May 14, 2007 meeting were not available for review.
IV. PUBLIC MEETINGS
V. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. WILSON RIDGE OFFICE BUILDING
Request for:
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 6.89 acres; Planned Unit
Development District Review on 6.89 acres; Zoning District Amendment in the
Office Zoning District on 6.89 acres; Site Plan Review on 6.89 acres.
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Gary Dreher, of Told Development Company, gave a summary of the proposal
and also showed a site plan of the project. This is a 6.89 acre site which Told
Development Company owns. They would like to propose a three story office
building with a basement to be included on this site. He showed the building
footprint and the different accesses into the site and pointed out there would be a
large storm water retention pond on the property. There would also be surface
parking which will include 120 stalls. This would also be a heavily landscaped
site. Mr. Dreher showed the various elevations of the building. He pointed out
the north elevation will face the parking lot. The outside material will be high
quality pre-cast with granite chips in it, which they will be asking for a waiver.
He showed a sample of the base chip and said the amount and quality of the
aggregate is very high. Mr. Dreher briefly identified the proposed waivers for the
project which included building materials, shoreland code, building height and
signs. Stoelting asked Mr. Dreher if he had any graphics of the sign. Franzen
pointed out the graphics are included in the staff report. Stoelting asked Mr.
Dreher to discuss tree replacement. Mr. Dreher said they are working with Staff
and the owners next to them to accommodate tree replacement.
Stoelting asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen said there are five
items on the staff report the project proponent should complete prior to review by
the City Council. He said in regards to the waivers, they comply with the material
waiver. In regards to the height of the building, the one next to it is taller, so this
should not be a problem in granting this waiver. In regards to signage, Franzen
pointed out this is a shared access property and because of that it is better to have
bigger signage.
Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
Pitzrick asked if they are pursuing LEED Certification. Mr. Dreher said some of
the things on the site should be LEED friendly and said the tree replacement
would be an example of this. Pitzrick asked why they are using pre-cast on top of
the building. Mr. Dreher said they like the architectural feature that comes from
using this material.
Seymour asked Franzen if there would be a tenant sign on the building. Franzen
pointed out that he was unsure but said they are entitled to two-50 sq. ft. signs on
either side of the building.
MOTION by Pitzrick, seconded by Seymour, to close the public hearing.
Motion carried 5-0.
MOTION by Pitzrick, seconded by Seymour, to recommend approval of the
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 6.89 acres; Planned Unit
Development District Review on 6.89 acres; Zoning District Amendment in the
Office Zoning District on 6.89 acres and Site Plan Review on 6.89 acres based on
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plans stamped dated May 17, 2007, and the staff report dated May 18, 2007.
Motion carried 5-0.
B. LARIAT CENTER-APPLEBEE'S
Request for:
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 5.85 acres; Planned Unit
Development District Review on 5.85 acres; Zoning District Amendment in the
Commercial Regional Service Zoning district on 5.85 acres; Site Plan Review on
5.85 acres.
Brian Cluts, architect for the project,presented the proposal. He stated this
project involves two existing buildings and they are doing this project to update
these two buildings. He pointed out the site plan they are proposing would
change the roof line and materials of the building. This project would also
eliminate eight parking spaces. They would also be taking signage and moving it
above the canopy and adding flags. Stoelting asked Mr. Cluts to show the
changes to the buildings. Mr. Cluts utilized the overhead projector to show these
changes.
Stoelting asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen stated the Staff
recommends approval. The only issue the Staff would is with the flags on top of
the buildings. He said the project proponent would have to make a choice as to
what flags he would like to display. In conforming to City Code, if there are three
standing flags by the Auto Mall there cannot be any flags on the Applebee's roof.
The project proponent must decide if he wants flags on the roof, which he can
have two on Applebee's and three on the Auto Mall or just three free-standing
flags.
Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
Pitzrick asked the project proponent if by removing the eight parking spaces
would more greenery be added to the area. Franzen said the waivers are only on
the setbacks and not the green space and pointed out the Commission could
request more green space be added to the area. Pitzrick said maybe something
more could be done to the face of the building to add more green space. Mr.
Cluts said he thinks the owner would have no problem with the request.
Stoltz said he appreciated the updates and changes to this property.
Stoelting asked what the project proponent wanted to do about the flags. Mr.
Cluts said he will meet with the owner to make sure they comply with the City
Ordinance.
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Stoltz, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 5-0.
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MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Stoltz, to recommend approval of the Planned
Unit Development Concept Review on 5.85 acres; Planned Unit District Review
on 5.85 acres; Zoning District Amendment in the Commercial Regional Service
Zoning District on 5.85 acres and Site Plan Review on 5.85 acres based on plans
stamped dated May 16, 2007, and the staff report dated May 18, 2007. Motion
carried 5-0.
C. LARIAT CENTER III ADDITION
Request for:
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 3.96 acres; Planned Unit
Development District Review on 3.96 acres; Zoning District Amendment in the
Commercial Regional Service Zoning District on 3.96 acres; Site Plan Review on
3.96 acres.
Brian Cluts, representing Lariat Companies, said the proposed addition is a mirror
image of the building that is already located on the property. Mr. Cluts pointed
out the site elevations would be the same as the existing building, as well as the
outside materials. There would also be a skyway between the two buildings.
Stoelting asked about the location of the trash receptacles and the accessibility of
these locations. Mr. Cluts pointed out the locations of the trash receptacles and
said the one for the new facility would be totally screened off. He did say when
they collect the trash, the receptacle would have to be rolled out of its location in
order to be emptied.
Stoelting asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen said the Staff
recommends approval based on pages 2 and 3 of the staff report.
Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
Seymour said he has some concerns about the placement of the trash receptacle
and said it would be difficult for them to roll it out in order to empty it. Mr. Cluts
said there is no other option than what they are doing because of the space
limitations.
Pitzrick asked if they could start to incorporate some of the Town Center features
in this area. Franzen said that first of all, these are two-story buildings, which are
a different appearance than the Town Center area, and also there is a lack of
outdoor seating space. Pitzrick suggested incorporating light poles like the
Town Center Area has. Franzen said the Town Center project is not far enough
along to ask this project to incorporate those changes. Stoelting asked the project
proponent to address the issue of outdoor seating. Mr. Cluts said the current
outdoor seating for the former restaurant would stay the same as it is now.
MOTION by Stoltz, seconded by Seymour to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 5-0.
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MOTION by Stoltz, seconded by Seymour, to recommend approval of the
Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 3.96 acres; Planned Unit
Development District Review on 3.96 acres; Zoning District Amendment in the
Commercial Regional Service Zoning District on 3.96 acres and Site Plan Review
based on plans stamped dated May 16, 2007, and the staff report dated May 18,
2007. Motion carried 5-0.
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. TOWN CENTER GUIDELINES AND ORDINANCE
Franzen stated the consultants will be showing a PowerPoint presentation of the
final product for the Town Center Area, based on Planning Commission feedback.
Stoelting clarified the Commission is just reviewing the presentation this evening
and not approving the ordinance. Franzen concurred.
Greg Ingraham and Bill Baxley, architects on the project, presented the Power
Point of the Town Center Area. This was a summary of the findings:
1. Design guidelines and zoning district ordinance will address three sub-
districts within the Town Center.
A. Vertical mixed-use core
B. Commercial
C. Residential
2. The extent of the guidelines is to guide the physical form and character of
the new development in the Town Center District. Outline of guidelines:
A. Introduction
B. Public systems
C. Mixed Use
D. Commercial
E. Residential
3. Components of sub-district guidelines
A. Site development
B. Buildings
C. Parking
D. Services
4. Buildings
A. Scales and mass
B. Form and fagade
C. Roof design
D. Materials
E. Signage
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*LEED principles integrated into design guidelines
5. Town Center Zoning District Place-Specific Zoning Regulations
A. Mixed-Uses
Commercial and Residential
B. Building Types
Building Bulk and Dimension Standards
C. Off-Street Parking Facilities
D. Standards
1. Building architecture and orientation standards
2. Landscaping standards
3. Signage standards
4. Lighting, mechanical equipment, trash, and loading facilities
standards
Stoelting stated he would like to see a plaza area in this project. Janet Jeremiah,
Community Development,pointed out this is just a plan and there is no specific
open space yet depicted in the plan. She suggested the Commission might want
to consider some language in the guide plan to have a plaza in this area.
6. Power Line Options
A. Bury
B. Relocate
C. Enhance aesthetics:
Monopole, maximum spacing
D. Mitigate/Buffer
7. Next Steps
A. Finalize and adopt design guidelines
B. Test out ordinance standards
C. Refine Town Center Ordinance
D. Staff Review
E. Commission Review
F. Council Review
G. Public Hearing
Pitzrick said he has some concerns with the power lines and would like to see this
issue addressed more thoroughly. He suggested the option of underground
transmission lines.
Jeremiah said they will be looking at all options and in the future they will be
making specific choices for the master plan,but for now they want to keep all
options open until more study can be completed. Pitzrick reiterated he wants a
thorough study done on this issue to discover what impact the power line has
either above or below ground. He stated the most important issue is impact to the
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area. Seymour agreed additional studies or information on the power line needs
to be completed.
Stoltz asked the consultant if he has had any challenges in dealing with the
changes or ideas the Planning Commission has presented to him. Mr. Ingraham
said at times it can be difficult because it is a guide plan and is subject to
numerous changes; so the unknown can be tough.
Pitzrick said he would like to minimize the use of E.F.I.S. on the buildings. He
stated 8 to 10 story buildings in the residential area were not addressed. Mr.
Baxley said they thought they had restricted E.F.LS.,but will check on it. He
pointed out height and density of buildings in residential areas can be addressed in
greater detail as they move along with this project.
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Stoltz, seconded by Seymour to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:23 p.m.