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Planning Commission - 02/09/2009 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Katie Lechelt, Jerry Pitzrick, Peter Rocheford, Kevin Schultz, Fred Seymour, Ray Stoelting, Jon Stoltz STAFF MEMBERS: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources Michael Franzen, City Planner Regina Herron, Planner II Rod Rue, City Engineer Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL Chair Stoltz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Kirk and Rocheford were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Pitzrick, seconded by Stoelting, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. III. MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 26, 2009 MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Pitzrick, to approve the minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Lechelt abstained. IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS V. PUBLIC MEETINGS VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS VIII. PLANNERS' REPORT A. Corner Lot Setback Revisions EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 9, 2009 Page 2 Herron presented the Corner Lot Setback Revisions. She stated after a few requests by the Planning Commission, City Staff looked at the R1-13.5 corner lot setbacks. They did a comparison of corner lots and interior lots. There is a table in the staff report comparing Eden Prairie to five other cities in the metropolitan area in regards to corner lots. There is also a diagram in the packet that compares a corner lot to an interior lot. She stated corner lots have two front yard setbacks; which are 30 feet. The other two lot lines are considered side lot lines with a 10 and 15 foot minimum setback requirement. Corner lots in the R1-13.5 zoning district are required to be 15 feet wider to take into account both 30 foot front yard setbacks. The typical house footprint is around 2,500 square feet, which leaves enough room for a deck and/or pool within the setbacks. Variances are often due to either too large a deck or pool, the house was built deeper into the lot, or the lot shape is irregular. Based on the comparison with the interior lot, the difference in buildable square feet is 6540 for the inner lot, and 6545 for the corner lot. In the past 31 yeas, Eden Prairie has had 17 requests for front yard setback variances on corner lots in the R1-13.5 zoning district. Because Staff did not see a difference in buildable space they recommend keeping the code as is and reviewing requests on a case to case basis. Stoltz asked if the buildable area includes such things as decks. Herron stated the buildable areas do include such things as decks. Stoltz asked what kind of utilities would be on the east side of a corner lot. Herron stated it would be such things as a sidewalk,but that would be in the public right-of-way and would not go into the 30 foot setback area. She stated there may also be standard cable or electric in that area. Stoelting commented in 1984 the City changed the regulation to make the corner lot 15 feet wider and stated that is what gives the corner lot a total of 100 feet today, whereas before it was just 85 feet wide. Herron concurred that was correct. Stoelting commented that the variance requests we typically see for corner lots are for accessory structures. Herron stated that was correct. Stoltz asked the Commission Members their thoughts on the ordinance. All Members concurred to keep the ordinance as it is. MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Stoelting, to keep the code the same and review variances on a case by case basis. Motion carried 6-0. B. Variances Court Cases Franzen stated the City Attorney's Office sent him two outcomes to recent court cases. These are included in the packet. He said upon reviewing these court cases it appears the City and Commission are doing things correctly. EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 9, 2009 Page 3 Franzen stated at the next meeting there will be discussion items on base standards for garage sales and a code amendment that pavers be acceptable for driveways. Pitzrick wanted to know if materials for the driveways would be discussed. Franzen said materials would not be discussed;just the use of pavers. Stoelting asked Franzen if the recession was affecting the lack of projects being brought before the Commission. Franzen said this is normally a slow time but the economy is affecting projects being brought forward. IX. MEMBERS' REPORT X. CONTINUING BUSINESS XI. NEW BUSINESS XII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Seymour, seconded by Stoelting, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.