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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 Page 2 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 Page 3 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 Page 4 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 Page 5 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 Page 6 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.