Planning Commission - 03/22/2010 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2010 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Katie Lechelt, Jacob Lee, Alexander
Martin, Jerry Pitzrick, Peter Rocheford, Kevin
Schultz, Jon Stoltz, Travis Wuttke
STAFF MEMBERS: Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Michael Franzen, City Planner
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. Absent: Rocheford Wuttke arrived
at 7:10 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Kirk, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0.
III. MINUTES
A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON MARCH 8, 2010
MOTION by Lee, seconded by Schultz, to approve the minutes. Motion carried
7-0.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Wetland Code Amendment
Franzen presented this proposal stating the State of Minnesota amended the
Wetland Conservation Act in 2009. As a result of this amendment, a number of
sections in the Act were reorganized and renumbered. Franzen pointed out the
City Code must be changed to match the new numbers in the Act.
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March 22, 2010
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Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Pitzrick, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 8-0.
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Martin, to recommend approval of the
Wetland Code Amendment based on the recommendations of the staff report
dated March 19, 2010. Motion carried 8-0.
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. Campaisn Sims
Franzen stated the primary election date was changed from the second Tuesday
after the second Monday in August, or August loth for this year. Because of this,
the City Code must replace the August 1st date with "46 days before the state
primary" as the starting day when signs can be placed on property.
MOTION by Martin, seconded by Lee, to recommend approval of the Code
change for campaign signs. Motion carried 8-0.
B. Exterior Materials Presentation
Franzen stated on page 13 of the staff report are 4 questions the Commission
Members should look at. They are:
1. Should cast stone, cultured stone,precast architectural panels, and precast
concrete panels with an exposed chip be included in the 75% category in the
commercial, office, high density residential, public and industrial zoning
districts.
2. Should brick, glass, natural stone, cast stone, cultured stone,precast
architectural panels, and precast concrete panels with an exposed chip be
included in the 75% category for the Town Center Commercial District?
3. Should brick, glass, natural stone, cast stone, cultured stone,precast
architectural panels, and precast concrete panels with an exposed chip be
included in the 75% category for the Town Center Residential District?
4. Should brick, glass, natural stone, cast stone, cultured stone,precast
architectural panels, and precast concrete panels with an exposed chip be
included in the 75% category for the Town Center Mixed Use Residential
District?
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March 22, 2010
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Franzen had samples of exterior materials displayed for the Planning Commission
Members. Table one had samples of brick, glass and stone. Table two had
samples of cast stone,precast, cultured stone and architectural stone. He stated
when doing the Town Center ordinance, it identified materials,but not the
percentages to be used and stated it is important to include that. He pointed out
he did have a reservation about using pre-cast material, as it can look industrial.
He suggested putting this in the 25 % category versus 75%. Franzen asked for
questions from the Commission.
Lechelt asked, after direction is given, would it come back to the Commission as a
public hearing. Franzen stated it would come back to the Commission as a public
hearing.
Stoltz asked the Commission Members their thoughts on question 1. Schultz
stated he would answer yes to this question because of the cost efficiency and
recyclability.
Pitzrick said he wanted to add the following statement to question 1. "The panel
must have an exposed aggregate chip and colored cement and architectural
detail." He stated these items will improve durability.
Lee asked if we should put a quality standard on this. Franzen said under brick
and stone they do not have anything to say what kind of brick to use. He stated it
would be very hard to say what kind to use because there are so many. When
contractors bring their plans before the Commission that is when they could bring
their samples in to see if they would fit into the project.
Schultz asked if there is a process to test materials. Pitzrick said there is testing
called ASTM Standard testing for durability.
Schultz asked Franzen if we should implement this testing. Kirk said it would be
difficult to do this because it would be getting too specific. He feels it is
sufficient if they follow building code. He also stated they should be looking at
this from a"look" stand point and feels testing would get too specific.
Lee asked Franzen's thoughts on stucco. Franzen said they plan on keeping this
material in the 25% category because it is hard to maintain.
Lechelt asked if wood was in the same category as stucco in regards to
maintenance. Franzen said it is in this category because in terms of long lasting,
this is not considered as such, as compared to stone.
Lee asked if other cities are this specific. Franzen said Eden Prairie is probably
more particular than other cities.
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Stoltz asked the Commission Members if they agreed with question 1 or
disagreed. All Members agreed with question 1.
Stoltz asked for discussion on question 2.
Pitzrick stated he likes what question 2 had to say and also for the last three
questions he would like to make it a 90% category versus 75%. This would make
them very durable and long-lasting.
Schultz asked if we change the percentage what the pros and cons would be.
Franzen said because we have taken a focused look and came up with a set of
specific guidelines, it could be raised. Franzen stated 75% is our base amount that
has been used for the last 20 years. Schultz asked if other cities do the 75% too.
Franzen said the 75% benchmark is higher than other communities.
Lechelt asked if metal was in the 25% category. Franzen said it was. Lechelt
asked if metal was used as panels. Franzen said it would be used for such things
as canopies.
Pitzrick stated, in regards to durability, the 25% is always less durable material.
Stoltz asked if any one would be opposed to going to 90% for the Town Center
area. Stoltz said in regards to this,he would hate to see developers tied to this
amount of 90%, and stated he do not want to be too restrictive for the developers.
Kirk said we have high standards right now and is concerned if we add higher
standards it may put too many constraints on developers.
Schultz suggested just keeping it at 75% and said more products are coming in
that are in the 25% category that are green friendly and we can then review these
projects case by case. Wuttke and Martin agreed with Schultz.
Pitzrick said his choice of 90% was not random. He said with 25% you can
develop more with a lesser amount of durable materials. When it is limited to
10%, it makes buildings more durable and can possibly limit potential law suits in
regards to these materials.
Stoltz asked what were past conversations about EFIS materials. Franzen stated
he would have to look at the past minutes and suggested bringing it up at another
meeting and discussing its potential use. Pitzrick said there are appropriate uses
for this material and that we would not want to get rid of it all together. Katie
asked what the main reason for the use of EFIS is. Pitzrick said people use it for
cost effective reasons. Martin concurred with Pitzrick. He stated it is not
necessarily a bad product; you just have to know how to use it.
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March 22, 2010
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Schultz asked Franzen if we are just approving this for aesthetic purposes or for
quality. Franzen said it is both. Schultz suggested if that was the case, we should
approve what we want it to look like and let the UBC handle everything else.
Franzen said they looked at 75% to keep the districts the same and to use the same
quality material.
Pitzrick said we were charged with durability and we should take it into account
and see what Bloomington, Edina and Minnetonka are doing. He would like to
see the exterior materials being used in these three cities and what town centers in
the metropolitan areas are using. Kirk also said he would like to see benchmarks
from other communities. Franzen stated he would get that information from other
communities and bring it back to the Commission at a later date.
Stoltz stated they would keep it at 75% for now until Franzen comes back with
more information. Schultz asked if they have to make a decision on the last three
items before Franzen comes back with more information Franzen said the
Commission just needs to be comfortable with the materials and that is all that
needs to be addressed this evening. The Commission agreed to the materials for
the questions but the percentage of materials will be up for discussion in a future
meeting.
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Schultz, seconded by Pitzrick, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
8-0.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.