Planning Commission - 10/22/2007 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 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,
Kevin Schultz
STAFF MEMBERS: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Al Gray, City Engineer
Michael 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: Koenig, Pitzrick,
Rocheford and Seymour.
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 OCTOBER 8, 2007
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Powell, to approve the minutes. Motion carried
4-0. Kirk abstained.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. WAYFINDING UPDATE
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 22, 2007
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David Lindahl presented this update. He stated the Wayfinding Committee has
been working for the past couple years to find better routes around the Eden
Prairie Center Area. The first committee was organized in March of 2006.
Although there was support for part of the Wayfinding Plan, concerns remained
for some of the Committee members about several of its key recommendations.
The Chamber of Commerce suggested to Scott Neal that another committee be
organized, comprised mainly of area business representatives and retailers. This
committee began in March of 2007. The 1St phase recommendations they came
up with are as follows:
1. Outbound highway directional signs at major business exits.
2. "Missing Link" signs throughout the Major Center Area.
3. Create Ring Road Wayfinding/ldentification.
The Phase II recommendations include:
1. Business locator sign plan to direct motorists to key destination points.
2. Expand highway directional signs into the Golden Triangle and other areas of
the City.
3. Address the naming of certain sections of Flying Cloud Drive and Hwy 61 in
preparation for the conversion to take place from the State to the County on
July 1, 2008.
Mr. Lindahl said part of the problem the City has is some of these signs would be
placed on County or State highways and they would need their approval before
that could happen. Randy Newton, representing Eden Prairie Public Works, said
he is working with MNDot to put up signs around the Mall.
Kirk said he was on the original Committee and feels this is a good project to put
identifying signs up. He said what he was concerned about was the putting up of
signs that identify specific businesses. He feels the City should not be putting up
these signs because the City should not be sponsoring businesses. If this moves
forward he thinks it would be a good idea to get public input from the residents.
He also said when changing the name to "loop", the public should have an
opportunity to air their comments. Mr. Lindahl said Business locator signs in
public right-of-ways would require an ordinance change, which would require a
hearing before the Commission and City Council.
Stoelting asked if the two groups were meeting independently or together. Mr.
Lindahl said they are no longer working together. The first group ran its course
and that is when the second group came into being.
Stoelting said it appeared around the inner loop of the Mall there were inner
business wayfinding signs and asked if is was necessary to have these signs on the
"loop" and inner ring road. Franzen pointed out they were not wayfinding signs,
but directional signs.
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 22, 2007
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B. ACTIVE COMMUNITY PLANNING
Monique MacKenzie, of SRF Consulting Group, Inc., presented a PowerPoint
presentation on this topic, with the assistance of colleague, Anton Derby.
Nizenda
1. Town Center Vision
2. Planning Tools and Techniques
3. Discussion of Homework Assignment
4. Site Plan Worksheet
5. Preliminary Checklist
6. Key Findings, Next Steps
1. Town Center Vision
Compact, walkable, mixed use environment
2. Planning and Implementation Tools
Design Guidelines
Zoning Ordinance
Comprehensive Plan
Implementation Tools
3. Discussion of Homework Assignment self guided tour discussion
Stop 1 —Parkinz Lot at Brunswick Zone
Franzen had a letter from Pitzrick in which he stated he would like to
minimize the large parking lot in the area. He added that we will also need to
deal with the grade separation between parcels.
Stop 2 —Water Tower and Emerson Technology Parcel
Stoelting said it was a very pleasant walk. He did not feel the water tower
was imposing. Looking at the Emerson property there is a lot of open space
which would be a good spot for a park. Kirk said it was a pleasant walk and
he was surprised this area was even there. Stoltz concurred with Kirk.
Schultz said he was also unaware of this walking area.
Stop 3 —Parkinz Lot at Red Stone Grill
Kirk commented it was not very pleasant to get there, walking through the
parking lot and down to the trail. Stoelting said he did not see this as being a
continuous trail around the lake. Ms. MacKenzie confirmed it was not a
continuous trail. Franzen said Pitzrick said you could see where you want to
go but it was not obvious to get there.
Stop 4 —Singletree Lane Streetscape
Schultz said in looking down Singletree Lane, with the apartments to the right,
it was a very nice view and had a nice feel to it. He said he could envision the
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 22, 2007
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Town Center in this area. Stoelting said the treescape in this area was nice
and there were also nice, broad sidewalks. Schultz said the tree line and green
space was comforting. Franzen commented in regards to health issues, he
sees this area as having relaxed spaces with green areas and believes it is a
stress reliever; especially when smelling the trees and flowers.
Stop 5 —Eden Drive and Singletree Lane
Schultz said on the southwest corner of Eden Drive and Singletree Lane there
was no sidewalk; there was a chain link fence around the daycare and no
sidewalk. He did not feel as safe as he did on the other side of Singletree.
Kirk agreed with Schultz. He also said when a person is driving, the chain
link fence around the daycare makes it hard to see around the corner. And
also there was no pedestrian lighting. Stoltz stated the traffic flow on
Singletree Lane moves very quickly and pointed out he needed the center
island to get across the street.
Stop 6 —Flying Cloud Drive and Singletree Lane (east side of Old 212)
Franzen pointed out this was a very unsafe intersection. Schultz agreed with
Franzen . He said in walking on the newer sidewalk towards Eden Prairie
Center, the sidewalk ended. He was forced to take a smaller sidewalk because
of that. At that point,he felt isolated and vulnerable. Franzen said Pitzrick
would like a pedestrian friendly overpass. Kirk agreed with Pitzrick. Pitzrick
also was concerned about the air quality at the intersection. Schultz said he
felt if he was on the older sidewalk and tripped,he would land onto Hwy 212,
because the sidewalk is so close to the road. Newton commented there is no
other inviting connection from Hwy 212 into the Mall. Stoelting said it would
be a good thought to separate pedestrian traffic away from this intersection.
Stop 7 —Flying Cloud Drive and Regional Center Drive (west side of Old
212)
Powell said he thinks the comments about this area are generally regarding
aesthetics or safety, and rather than initially focusing on aesthetics, he feels
we should focus on a logical place to cross Hwy 212. Newton said the other
option would be design enhancements to 212; they could do street scaping or
make it a narrower road. Franzen commented the short term improvement to
Singletree would be improvements and the long term improvement would be a
realignment of this street. Schultz asked what would be the estimated traffic
flow from the Senior Center over to Eden Prairie Center. Franzen said you
would have to consider the driving force to get to Eden Prairie Center. And
said there does not seem to be a critical mass to get from one area to the other.
He said he does not anticipate major pedestrian traffic in the area. Stoelting
concurred he does not feel this area would have a lot of pedestrian traffic.
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 22, 2007
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Stop 8 —Regional Center Drive and the sidewalk to WalMart
Franzen said the small sidewalk is due to the lack of space and pointed out
there is not a lot of pedestrian traffic using the walkways.
Recurring Themes from homework study
1. Trails and open spaces available to pedestrians.
2. Air quality in the area.
3. Safety issues for pedestrians walking in the area; mainly the issue of
crossing Old 212 to get to Eden Prairie Center.
4. Site Plan Worksheet
Ms. MacKenzie had the Commission Members complete a checklist focusing
on existing conditions of open space and pathways in the area. The most
valuable piece of this exercise is the collection and analization of data
collected and to use it for future plans and projects in the Town Center Area.
Public Realm Checklist—Future Conditions
Future Plans and Projects
• Land Use Type
• Density
• Parking Facilities
• Site Design and Pedestrian Features
5. Preliminary Checklist Assessment
This checklist includes the following 8 categories of evaluation.
1. Access to bus stops/types of service
2. LRT access
3. Proximity to parks and trails
4. Air quality buffer
5. Air quality improvement
6. Pedestrian and cyclist safety
7. Quality of street lighting
8. Destinations and land use mix
6. Next Steps
1. Revisions to Comp Plan document, Design Guidelines as needed
(November meeting)
2. Implementation Library (how to achieve incremental success)
3. Wrap up guide plan update in January.
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 22, 2007
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Case Studies: Site Planning for Pedestrians and Development
1. Crystal City, Arlington County, VA
- 30 year Master Plan vision for suburban redevelopment
- Illustrates incremental approach to a pedestrian friendly environment
Features:
- Block by block examples of opportunities for infill
- Locations for new sidewalks and open space
2. Upper Rock District, Rockville, MD
- Office park near proposed transit stations has flexible zoning to spur
pedestrian oriented redevelopment
- Proposals go through site plan review
Schultz commented in regard to the air quality buffer, he did not see anything in
regard to a noise quality buffer. Also in regards to the walkway by Bobbie and
Steve's, he would like to know if there could be some kind of tree line buffer in
this area.
C. PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 13, 2007
Franzen stated on November 13, he would like the Chair or Vice Chair to attend
the City Council meeting with him and make a presentation regarding current
activities of the Planning Commission, the 2008 Guide Plan Update, Town Center
Design Guidelines, Active Community Planning Study and New Projects. Vice
Chair Stoltz said he would be able to attend with Franzen.
Franzen pointed out there will be two variance requests at the November 14, 2007,
meeting.
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Kirk, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.