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Planning Commission - 03/24/2008 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2008 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Vicki Koenig, Jerry Pitzrick, Frank Powell, Peter Rocheford, Kevin Schultz, Fred Seymour, Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz STAFF MEMBERS: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources Rodney Rue, Assistant City Engineer 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. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Seymour, seconded by Stoltz, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 9-0. III. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MARCH 10, 2008 Koenig had two changes to the minutes. The first change was on page 2, paragraph four, third sentence. She would like it to read, "One of the requirements of the sale was that the camp would be used for disabled individuals." The second change was on the same page and paragraph, sentence 13. She would like it to read, "They also would like to replant some of the native species in the area with non-native species, as some of the native species have gotten too thick. MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Koenig, to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried 7-0. Rocheford and Seymour abstained. IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 24, 2008 Page 2 V. PUBLIC MEETINGS VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. EDEN PRAIRIE MARKETPLACE Request for: Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 1.25 acres; Planned Unit Development District Review on 1.25 acres; Zoning District Change from Rural to Commercial Regional Service on 1.25 acres; Site Plan Review on 1.25 acres. Steve Oliver, representing Positive Companies, presented the proposal. He pointed out the project is located on the corner of Valley View Drive and Prairie Center Drive. He illustrated the shared access of the site utilizing the overhead projector. He also pointed out because of the large power lines on the south side of the property, they are requesting an easement. Also,because of the larger sidewalks,it has created smaller setbacks in the area. Mr. Oliver pointed out the fencing on the property would be a black rod iron type of fencing and there would be four rain gardens on site. He stated the building layout would be very simple; and showed illustrations of the building. For the exterior, they are trying to use very traditional methods to create a nice detail on the building. They will be using two different sizes of bricks to create variations in size and color. Effuse will be employed on the east face of the building. They will be using black fabric awnings and an accent light on the building. Stoelting asked Herron to review the staff report. Herron said there are two items in the staff report for Staff recommendation, prior to City Council Review. They are for the project proponent to revise plans to meet the 75% face brick, natural stone, and glass exterior building requirement on the east elevation, and revise plans to meet the 15 foot required setback for the freestanding sign. Staff recommendation is for approval. Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. Nancy Arieta, of 10785 Valley View Road, #207, Eden Prairie, stated when she first read about this project she had some concerns. She asked what type of business would be going into the area and if this area is going to have a large traffic flow, she would like to make sure parking is made easy in the area. She pointed out angle parking is easier to get in and out of the area than going straight in and out. In regards to the building design, she would like to see it be more unique. She feels like all of the buildings in Eden Prairie look similar in regards to architectural design. In regards to the bike path, she wanted to know if it was a bike path or a sidewalk. She also wanted to know how long the rain gardens would be kept up for. EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 24, 2008 Page 3 Stoelting asked Mr. Oliver to address what type of business would be going into the area, what type of parking would there be, and if the rain gardens would be maintained and if the bike path is considered the sidewalk. Mr. Oliver stated he was unsure what types of businesses would be going in,but said it would most likely be small service retail businesses. He pointed out there are a lot of constraints with parking; and because of that they will be missing a lot of site access. He said the two-way circulation with straight-in parking is very typical. There will also be three handi-capped parking stalls set up; which is what Code dictates. In regards to the bike path,he pointed out it is not the scope of their project because it is City owned. Bob Wiegert, architect on the project, addressed the issue of the rain gardens. He said rain gardens are consistent with landscaping and that there will be a substantial amount of maintenance initially to take care of them. Mr. Oliver stated it is a requirement of the owner to take care of the property, which can also be enforced by the City. Stoelting asked Herron to address the architectural design of the building. Ms. Herron said when the project initially came in they had worked with the project proponent to vary the roof lines and adjust the architectural plans in regards to City recommendations. Stoelting asked Fox to address the issue of the sidewalk. Fox said it was City owned and they would be responsible for taking care of it. Stoelting asked the project proponent if he had any problems conforming to the request by Staff in regards to signage and exterior building materials. Mr. Oliver stated he would like to see the plan approved as is,but would be willing to take back the plan and do revisions. He stated in regards to signage, they could use a lower level sign, wrapping it around the building. In regards to the east elevation, they initially had it as a full concrete block, but recently changed it, adding effuse and brick. Herron pointed out that currently they only have 69% of the City's 75% requirement for this. Oliver stated they have reworked the plan and considered the 75% to be the whole building and not just one side. He also said he would be willing to adjust this if necessary. Kirk said he would like to see where the monument sign would be located and what the lower sign would look like. Mr. Oliver utilized the overhead projector to show the placement of the sign. Pitzrick asked if the rain garden could be reconfigured to accommodate the sign. Mr. Wiegert said it would be difficult to reconfigure the rain garden because of the easement in the area. EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 24, 2008 Page 4 Pitzrick said he was concerned with cars driving through the Hound Dog facility and the day care parking lot and felt motorists might feel this was a frontage road. Rue said he does not anticipate any issues with speeding in the area because it is not that long of an area. Pitzrick asked if speed bumps could be put in. Rue said since it is on private property, the owners would have to put them in. Koenig wanted to thank the project proponent for using rain gardens. She asked how many feet the easement in the back of the building was. Mr. Oliver said it was 53 feet. Koenig asked if the poplars on this site would be saved. Mr. Oliver said some would be saved, along with some of the evergreens. Kirk said he sees some dilemma with the sign and asked the Commission Members what their thoughts were on this issue. Koenig said she has some concerns because she does not want to see the rain garden disturbed. Herron pointed out that normally the City does not allow for variances on a 0 foot setback. Rue said in regards to projects, a lot of things have to be balanced. If there is a sign on the corner, you need to make sure the people can see when approaching this, and if it would mean moving the rain garden, that is something that would have to be done. Seymour said the signage does not seem to be in a logical location and asked if it could be put in a different location. He also said he does not think the monument sign is needed. Rocheford concurred with Seymour. Stoelting asked the project proponent if the monument sign was necessary. Mr. Oliver said he would have to ask the owner that question. Seymour said he does not want to allow the variance request for the sign. Nancy Arieta, of 10785 Valley View Drive, asked what type of businesses would be in the area. Stoelting said initially there was supposed to be a bank in the area, but they withdrew and currently they do not have a tenant. Herron said it will most likely be small retail type shops. Ms. Arieta said three handi-capped stalls do not seem efficient. Mr. Oliver said the three stalls for retail use is what is required of them. Schultz said the parking issue has come up numerous times and asked Herron to address this issue. Herron stated they meet the parking code requirements, per City Code. MOTION by Rocheford, seconded by Koenig, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 9-0. MOTION by Rocheford, seconded by Seymour, to recommend approval of the Planned Unit Development concept Review on 1.25 acres; Planned Unit Development District Review on 1.25 acres; Zoning District Change from Rural to Commercial Regional Service on 1.25 acres and Site Plan Review on 1.25 EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 24, 2008 Page 5 acres based on plans stamped dated March 5, 2008, and the staff report dated March 21, 2008. Stoelting asked if there was any discussion on the motion. Koenig asked the Commission Members if they considered a continuance of this project before it goes to the City Council. Commission Members said they were fine with approving the project. Motion carried 9-0. B. SIGN CODE CHANGE IN GENERAL PROVISION APPLICABLE TO ALL DISTRICTS — TEMPORARY SINGLE PROPERTY SIGNS Herron presented the proposal; it is as follows. The existing code permits two temporary off-site directional signs to be located on the private property with the permission of the property owner from 10:00 pm. Friday to 6:00 a.m. on Monday. The proposed change would also allow two temporary off-site directional signs to be located on private property with permission from the property owner between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday. At the February 12, 2008 City Council meeting, realtors made a request during open podium that the City consider changing the code. They would like Tuesday added to the existing code because that is the day they present their open houses to other realtors. Herron said Staff recommendation is for approval. Stoelting asked Herron to utilize the overhead projector to illustrate some of the signs that might be seen out on the street corners. Herron showed what the sign would look like that would be displayed. Stoelting asked if the size of the sign was part of the code. Herron said it was not the size of the sign in question,but just the time it is displayed. Stoelting opened the meeting up for public input. Lyndon Moquist, of 18696 Overland Trail, stated he is a real estate broker and has had signs removed from different areas by the Eden Prairie Police Department. He pointed out Tuesdays are the time when they have open houses of their homes for viewing by other realtors, and the signage is needed for additional direction. Nancy Arieta, of 10785 Valley View Road, said she became aware of this signage request from reading the local newspaper and pointed out she is not in favor of adding a Tuesday to this Code because she feels other businesses might want to do the same thing. She feels the weekend is sufficient for signage and also views these signs as a distraction. EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES March 24, 2008 Page 6 Brian Duoos, of 7160 Willow Creek Road, stated it is not that they wanted additional signage,but just to add one more day to the Signage Code. Lyndon Moquist wanted to add that these signs serve a purpose and Tuesdays would benefit the realtors, who in turn could sell the homes. Bill Gerst, of the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors and a resident of White Bear Lake,pointed out there is a lot of real estate transactions taking place in Eden Prairie and the Tuesday piece would allow realtors coming in from other areas to be able to locate and view properties. Pam Bamben, of 8241 Hiawatha Circle, is the realtor who initially started this request because she had signs confiscated. When she went to City Hall to retrieve these signs she said she was made aware that she could not have signs up on Tuesdays. She was unaware of that portion of the code. MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Powell, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 9-0. MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Powell, to recommend approval of the code change for temporary single property signs. Motion carried 8-0, with 1 abstention. VII. PLANNERS' REPORT Herron stated there will be two variance requests for the April 14, 2008, meeting. VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS X. NEW BUSINESS Stoelting said he would like to recognize Vicki Koenig and Frank Powell for their service on the Planning Commission. Stoeltz thanked Ray Stoelting for all the work he has done as Chair person for the Planning Commission. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Seymour, seconded by Stoltz, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 9-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.