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Planning Commission - 03/26/2007 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 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 Seymour called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent: Rocheford and Stoelting. Koenig arrived at 7:12 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Stoltz, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MARCH 12, 2007 Pitzrick had one change on page 4, paragraph 10. The paragraph should read, "Pitzrick asked the project proponent who built the 2 car detached garage. Mr. Sitzman stated it was the previous owner who built the garage. MOTION by Powell, seconded by Kirk, to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried 5-0. IV. PUBLIC MEETING V. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 2 VII. PLANNERS' REPORT A. GUIDE PLAN UPDATE 1. Chapter 4—Housing Franzen presented this Guide Plan Update. He pointed out on page 4-7 of the handout there are eight items from the Senior Issues Task Force addressing the issue of senior housing and posed two questions to the Commission. 1. Do the goals identify what should be accomplished and do we need other goals? 2. Do the policies identify the method of action for implementation and do we need other policies? Seymour stated in referring to the Senior Housing Task Force, it does not appear they addressed the goals or implementation strategy. Franzen said chapter two addresses these items and added the staff could also put housing goals and policies in the housing chapter as well. Pitzrick asked, in regard to page 4-12, paragraph L, is The Livable Communities Demonstration Account(LCDA) something the City has used before. Franzen stated that is something the City would have to apply for in order to use it. He said the City applied for it in regards to Southwest Station to help pay for structured parking or affordable housing on the project. Pitzrick asked in regard to page 4-13, paragraph 4, Planned Unit Development Process, it states, "talking about case by case basis, the City will consider the granting of bonuses and incentives to allow for higher density developments with a greater percentage of affordable units", is that something the City has done before and what kind of incentives have we used. Franzen stated the City Ordinance allows 17 units per acre. By allowing 38 or 40 units per acre, the greater number of total units you have in the project above the base point, the greater percentage of affordable units would follow. Powell stated after reading these chapter updates presented tonight,he feels the redevelopment seemed to be in the whole City, and not just in the two defined areas. He does not feel there is a plan or incentive in place to help manage the redevelopment of housing. Franzen said a city wide redevelopment is a good long term goal for the city but would be difficult to accomplish in a short period of time with in the context of the currant guide plan process. Since the guide plan is not static and should be reviewed periodically, a city strategy for redevelopment could be looked at in the future. Powell stated he would like to know what the plans are for the next decade and what the Commission can do to help with these PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 3 plans. Kirk concurred with Powell and said it would be an excellent topic to have a workshop with the City Council. 2. Chapter 2—Vision, Goals, and Policies Monique Mackenzie presented the Chapter 2 Update. Proposed Housinz Policies: Fit into Goals 1. Work to ensure there is physical and economic diversity in the type of housing available to seniors of all ages. 2. Promote the continued development of low- and no-maintenance housing in appropriate locations in Eden Prairie. Definitions 1. Goal - A general statement of community aspirations and desired objectives indicating a broad social, economic or physical state of conditions that the community officially agrees to achieve. 2. Policy—A course of action or method intended to be pursued to implement the community goals. Chapter 2 —Goals and Policies 1. Focus on goals and policies in the following areas: - Planning and Development - Housing 2. Topics Addressed: - Additional growth City Wide (more jobs,people and housing) - A redevelopment plan for the MCA - A redevelopment plan for the GTA - Affordable housing - Senior housing Additional Goals 1. Planning, Development and Growth Goal 4: Focus on creating a more efficient and dynamic mix of land uses in the core areas of the Major Center Area (MCA) and the Golden Triangle Area (GTA). 2. Planning, Development and Growth Goal 5: Encourage redevelopment in the Major Center Area and Golden Triangle Area that is compatible with the MCA Study and the GTA Study. 3. Housing Goal 2: Promote and support the development of new affordable housing units to meet the community's share of the regional affordable housing needs as well as the community's affordable housing goals. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 4 4. Housing Goal 5: Promote and support reinvestment in older housing stock and neighborhoods that are approaching the life spans for some utilities, equipment and structural elements. 5. Housing Goal 6: Promote and work to locate new housing with convenient access to basic services, including stores, restaurants, services, transit and parks. Key Questions for the Planning Commission 1. Do these goals identify what the City wants to accomplish? Are there any goals missing? 2. Do the policies included in the draft text identify the right methods or course of action to direct implementation? Are other policies needed? Powell stated at times it does not make sense to reinvest in the older housing stock and would rather see the City reinvesting in the older neighborhoods. Ms. Mackenzie said it would be possible to change the language from housing to neighborhood. Pitzrick commented that on page 2-6,regarding safety issues, it specifically focuses on the GTA and MCA area and asked if we should not have this happen everywhere in the City. Franzen concurred with Pitzrick. Pitzrick stated in regards to Housing Goal 3, we should increase affordable housing in the City,but maybe not in the middle of the MCA. Powell concurred with Pitzrick. Koenig disagreed with Pitzrick and felt the MCA needs more diversity of housing since it is partially that already. Pitzrick agreed is should be a mix, but since there are apartments and affordable housing, there needs to be upper end housing. Kirk stated we need to encourage a diverse community and if we micro-manage this, it could create conflict in the future. Pitzrick agreed with Kirk. Koenig stated residents of affordable housing, low income housing, or senior housing most likely would want to be placed by amenities. Powell said we should let the market drive the development. Kirk said we should support affordable housing throughout the City and not just in the MCA or GTA. Koenig said on page 2-15, under Natural and Cultural Resources Goal 2, she would like to add the following statement as number 6: Maintain communication and education with citizens regarding City owned property and encroachment by private property owners and enforce ordinances in regards to maintaining public property. Powell said in regards to Koenig's comment we should define incentives for using permeable surfaces on driveway and sidewalks and have a goal for this. 3. Chapter 11 —Redevelopment PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 5 Monique Mackenzie presented this Guide Plan Update and gave a brief overview of the following four primary topics that were presented in the Chapter 11 handout. Four Primary Topics 1. Major Center Area 2. Golden Triangle Area 3. Transit Oriented Development 4. Citywide Economic Development Policy Kirk said that he is conflicted regarding Transit Oriented Development. He said the light rail would be a benefit for Eden Prairie,but it is far from being a done deal and there is a finite chance it may never be developed. He questioned how to support that in the plan if it may never happen. Powell said that we should assume it will come and plan accordingly. Pitzrick said the City should make mass transit a major goal. Kirk said it should be known that we support LRT but if it does not happen we will still continue on with the redevelopment of MCA and GTA. Powell also commented on page 11-4 and 11-5, there is nothing that addresses the power poles and it needs to be included in the Guide Plan stating who will remove these. City Wide National Development—3 key points 1. Quality of life (broadest definitions) 2. Jobs, tax base, and physical development. 3. Communications and relationships between investors and decision- makers. Ms. Mackenzie pointed out there are 14 points of Policy under the City Wide National Development section. Key Questions for Chapter 11 1. Does the chapter identify what we want to accomplish? Are there other topics that should be included? 2. Do the policies identify the method or course of action to be followed? Are other policies needed? Ms. Mackenzie asked if there were other things the Commission would want developed. Koenig stated there should be something in the Guide Plan to address the way-finding issues in Eden Prairie. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 6 Pitzrick said he would like a brief synopsis of how our redevelopment section separates us from other cities. B. TOWN CENTER DESIGN GUIDELINES Grey Ingraham, a consultant of HGKI,presented the results of the survey and status update on guidelines. Mr. Ingraham said in regards to the survey, out of 170 slides there were 30 consensus slides. He showed the Commission Members the 30 slides and asked what they liked about each slide. Slide 12: Winding street, parking, friendly and inviting, and material on buildings. Slide 13: Courtyard atmosphere, variation in buildings, architectural developments, and high quality of materials on buildings Slide 16: Wide sidewalks and brick look. Slide 23: Seating areas and water incorporated in the area. Slide 30: Material of sidewalk and seating area. Slide 33: Well defined outdoor space. Slide 37: Transit structures adjacent to rails and bricks around tracks. Slide 41: Rain gardens. Slide 42: Soothing area, and water area seems safe for kids. Slide 45: Sidewalk material. Slide 53: Water and bridge. Slide 54: Nice area where public can go and see performances. Slide 55: Same concept as slide 54. Slide 80: Concept of taller structures fitting in with smaller structures. Slide 96: Uniqueness of canopy and bridge over top of street. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 7 Slide 97: Multi-level aspect of building and bridge. Pitzrick commented he would like to see a monumental bridge over Hwy 212 to define Eden Prairie and the downtown area. Slide 109: Different levels of buildings. Slide 113: Bay area. Slide 114: Sculptures and architectural design. Slide 115: Materials of buildings. Slide 121: Curvature of building. Slide 124: Nice architecture and good use of windows. Slide 131: Variety of architectural design. Slide 140: Tall doors,roof design, and plants on trellis area. Slide 143: Unique sign, ornate and simple. Slide 146: Nice and inviting. Like the earth tones. Slide 150: Classy wood design. Slide 156: Canopy. Slide 167: Soft lighting and water. Slide 169: Uniqueness of the lamp posts. Conclusions 1. Strong desire for a green, highly landscaped area. 2. Liked larger sidewalks. 3. Liked indoor/outdoor seating areas. 4. Liked water features. 5. Liked California style of architecture. 6. Desire to hide parking structures. 7. Dislike concrete. 8. Dislike plain front buildings. He stated the guidelines and zoning ordinance will address three sub-districts for this area: 1. Vertical or mixed-use area 2. Commercial area PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 26, 2007 Page 8 3. Residential area Future Steps 1. Refine design guidelines 2. Prepare Town Center ordinance draft 3. Staff review 4. Commission review 5. Council review 6. Public hearing VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT Powell stated he would like the Commission to talk as a group about corner lots and how to handle them in the future. Franzen stated it could be put on a future agenda. Franzen asked the Commission Members to pick an alternative date for May 28, due to the Memorial Day holiday. The options are May 21, 22, or 29. IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS X. NEW BUSINESS XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Stoltz, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:59 p.m.