Planning Commission - 01/28/2008 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2008 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
Regina Herron, Planner II
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Chair Stoelting called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent: Koenig and Powell.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Seymour, seconded by Stoltz, to approve the agenda. Motion carried
7-0.
III. MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 14, 2008
MOTION by Seymour, seconded by Stoltz, to approve the minutes. Motion carried
6-0. Kirk abstained.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. SIGN CODE CHANGE—PUBLIC AND AIRPORT SIGNS
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January 28, 2007
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Franzen presented the Sign Code Change. He pointed out this topic was
continued from the last meeting. He pointed out there are four minor changes
proposed.
1. Allow buildings in the public district to have an 80 square foot sign on one
street frontage and 36 square feet for other frontages. The code currently
allows one 80 square foot sign per property.
2. Allow buildings in the public district to have a 50 square foot sign per wall
per street frontage. The code currently allows a 24 square foot and an 18
square foot.
3. The code currently exempts religious symbols from being included in the
calculation of sign area for wall signs and free standing signs. The exemption
is stated in two different paragraphs. The editing change is to combine the
requirements into one paragraph.
4. Change "Airport District" to "Airport". The code does not have an Airport
zoning district and there is no airport zoning designation on the map.
Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
MOTION by Stoltz, seconded by Seymour, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 7-0.
MOTION by Stoltz, seconded by Rocheford, to recommend approval of the Sign
Code Change for Public and Airport. Motion carried 7-0.
B. SIGN CODE CHANGE—DYNAMIC DISPLAY ORDINANCE
Regina Herron used a PowerPoint presentation to explain the changes to the City
Code relating to dynamic display signs. She stated the Code needs to be changed
because the City's current ordinance was developed at a time when Dynamic
Display signs were not envisioned. Herron added that the proposed ordinance
would create a definition, define brightness levels, include maintenance standards,
set a time limit for changing signs, and regulate where the signs would be
permitted.
Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
Schultz said he agrees with the Staff on everything but the time issue. He felt
every 24 hours for sign changing is too long of a time period.
Kirk asked if the City sign was a dynamic sign. Franzen said it is a dynamic sign
and was built before the code was changed to prohibit moving signs. Kirk stated
that the 24 hour change time is too limiting, especially for gas stations. He does
believe signs changing every 8 seconds are a hazard. A time frame more
consistent with the neighboring cities should be looked at. Franzen staed
Minnetonka and Bloomington have a 20 minute interval for sign change. The sign
on 494 changes every 8 seconds.
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January 28, 2007
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Pitzrick concurred with Kirk and said he would like to go with a 20 minute time
change.
Rocheford concurred with Pitzrick, as does Powell and Stoltz; to go with the 20
minute time change.
Kirk said in regards to the brightness level, there needs to be some way to
measure it because some colors may be distracting.
In regards to Kirk's question, Stoelting asked Franzen if the NIT testing takes in
color and background. Franzen said NIT is light coming from the sign so color is
taken into consideration. The common industry standard is 500—5,000 nits
measured from the brightness color which is white. Franzen added that the signs
need a mechanism in place that if the sign is brighter than what it should be, the
sign should automatically turn off.
Stoelting agrees that shorter than 24 hours would be appropriate and he said he is
also comfortable with the other recommendations. He asked Franzen for
guidance on the time change. Franzen stated once every 20 minutes is reasonable
and consistent with neighboring cities. The Commission Members concurred 20
minutes would be appropriate.
Stoelting asked if billboards could be placed on Highway 312. Franzen said the
code does not permit billboards anywhere in the city.
Stoltz asked how the City would establish sign maintenance regulations. Herron
said Staff recommends when a sign is malfunctioning, the image will freeze or the
sign will shut off automatically until it can be repaired. Stoltz asked if dynamic
display signs are programmed remotely. Herron said she believes they are
programmed remotely. Franzen commented that signed permit application would
have to show that the sign can be shut off if it is malfunctioning.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Schultz, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 7-0.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Schultz, to recommend approval for the Sign
Code Change for Dynamic Display Signs, with the stipulation signs change no
more often than 20 minutes. Motion carried 7-0.
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. REVIEW DRAFT 2008 GUIDE PLAN UPDATE
Franzen said Monique MacKenzie had a PowerPoint presentation He said it was
a summary of what was discussed at the Planning Commission over the last 18
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January 28, 2007
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months. Since there was no public audience and the cameras were not working,
he left it up to the Commission Members to decide if they wanted to view it.
Stoltz asked if anything had changed in the Guide Plan. Franzen said there were
no additional changes. The Commission Members did not feel they needed to
view the presentation.
Pitzrick said he wanted to address the issue of power lines and asked what
easement the power companies have. Franzen said it would be 160 feet wide.
Pitzrick asked what cannot be in the easement. Franzen said they cannot have
structures in the corridor. Pitzrick commented he felt the power lines were a big
deal and felt the new north/south road should not be next to these power lines. He
commented if the power line is left where it is and the road would have to be
shifted, it would have a huge impact to the area and the Town Center could not be
built and felt approval of the guide plan should be based on a solution to the
power lines. He asked Franzen if he had talked to Xcel Energy. Franzen said he
did talk to Exel Energy and the cost to bury the power lines would be
approximately 9 million dollars.
Franzen stated that the Comprehensive Plan is a document to guide land use with
goals and policies and is not meant to be development specific. Roads and utilities
are more appropriately dealt with as development occurs. The City Council has
approved the Town Center Plan with the power lines remaining where there are
currently located and development is planned to have the back sides of buildings
face the corridor. Pitzrick commented this is probably then not the best location
for the Town Center Area.
Pitzrick asked the Commission Members if he was making too big of an issue in
regards to the power lines.
Rocheford commented the power lines should not be of concern. Schultz said he
does not feel it would affect businesses in the area and does not feel it is
economically feasible to bury the power lines.
Kirk said the power lines are important and should not be overlooked. He felt
there are a lot of questions that can be brought up about the Guide Plan but felt it
would be difficult to change that now and we should just move forward with it
and address changes as they come up.
Pitzrick said he feels we may lose sight of this issue. He wants to be extremely
prepared when the first developer comes before the Commission.
Stoelting commented Franzen has been very clear about the Guide Plan and asked
him how we should deal with this issue of the power line.
Franzen stated that the Town Center Plan is approved and staff cannot make any
amendments to the plan or do a study of the power lines without Council
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
January 28, 2007
Page 5
authorization. At this point the staff role is to implement the plan. He added that if
the Commission feels strongly that a study should be done, then a message should
be sent to the Council for their deliberation. Stoelting asked how this could be
communicated to the City Council. Franzen said this could be done in a separate
motion.
Pitzrick said he believes the Town Center is the right spot and as long as we can
clearly define the corridors for power lines.
Seymour said he is supportive of a motion to ask the City Council to address the
issue of the power lines.
Stoltz agrees with Seymour in that he would like the City Council to address this
issue.
Stoelting asked Pitzrick if he was comfortable with a second motion. Pitzrick said
he was comfortable with a second motion. Kirk said he was unsure if a second
motion was necessary at this point. He said issues will come up in the
development of the Town Center Area and they should be addressed then.
Schultz said he is fine with a second motion.
Rocheford said he is fine with the a 2nd motion and with the Guide Plan.
MOTION by Rocheford, seconded by Schultz, to recommend to the City Council
that the Planning Commission has completed its review and is comfortable with
the general direction of the draft 2008 Guide Plan Update, dated December 21,
2007. Motion carried 7-0.
MOTION by Rocheford, seconded by Seymour, to recommend to the City
Council that additional consideration be given to the relocation and development
of the power lines in the Town Center Area, including recommendation of further
studies in regards to burying the power lines, or other options. Motion carried 7-
0.
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Stoltz, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.