Planning Commission - 05/23/2011 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Matt Fyten, John Kirk, Katie Lechelt, Jacob Lee,
Jerry Pitzrick, Kevin Schultz, Jon Stoltz, Travis
Wuttke
STAFF MEMBERS: Michael Franzen, City Planner
Rod Rue, City Engineer
Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Chair Stoltz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Lechelt and Schultz were absent.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Pitzrick, seconded by Kirk, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0.
III. MINUTES
A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON APRIL 25, 2011
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Pitzrick, to approve the minutes. Motion
carried 5-0. Wuttke abstained.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
A. GE CAPITAL by GE Capital. Location: 3 Capital Drive
Request for:
■ An informational meeting about GE Capital Fleet Services' proposed use of
the property for an Eco Experience Center. The Plan includes a 2 story 3,000
square foot building with a ground level garage for 12 vehicles, 6 charging
stations for electric vehicles, a fan style wind turbine and a .44 mile driving
course for electric vehicles.
Franzen stated in 1997, GE Capital brought in a revision to their master plan that
was developed in 1978. The plan included a future development of 360,000
square feet in 3 buildings and 3 multi-level parking decks. The approved revision
contains the same square footage but in a different arrangement for the building
and parking. Tonight they are here for an informational meeting regarding
proposed use of the property for an Eco Experience Center. If GE Capital would
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May 23, 2011
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decide to go through with this plan they would come back before the Planning
Commission and City Council for approval. Notices were sent to surrounding
property owners and GE Capital has meet with the Conservation Commission to
discuss their plan.
Stoltz asked the representatives from GE Capital to introduce themselves.
Deb Frodl, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, GE Capital Fleet Services
Jeron Kemper, Marketing Manager, GE Capital Fleet Services
Nick Fatibene, Real Estate Manager, GE Capital
Carl Dorn, Regional Facility Manager, GE Capital of America
Charles Howley, HTPO, Civil Engineer
Deb Frodl gave an overview of the project. She stated GE Capital supplies fleet
services to their customers. The key suppliers are General Motors, Ford and
Chrysler and they are an out source solution for these customers. GE Capital
would like to commit to supplying 25,000 electric vehicles, along with an Eco
Experience Center by 2015. She stated they want to eliminate the carbon
footprint by supplying these vehicles.
Jeron Kemper gave an overview of what the property currently looks like and
what it would look like with the Eco Experience Center. This center would be a
garage for 12 vehicles; it would also contain a 3,000 square foot meeting space, a
viewing deck and an indoor/outdoor vehicle showcase. It would be a two story
building containing GE solar panels, GE Smart Energy Management System, GE
LED lighting (indoor/outdoor), and GE Watt stations (vehicle charging). They
would like this center to be a showcase for eco products. Another component of
the Eco Center would be the road course, which would be located north of the
building. There would also be a wind turbine on site. Mr. Kemper also pointed
out they met with the Conservation Commission to discuss green options.
Lee asked if they had to wait for the Hwy 169/494 project to be done and also
asked if there was a special permit needed for the road course. Mr. Kemper said
they do not have to wait until the Hwy 169/494 project is done. Mr. Howley
stated they do not need a special permit for this road course.
Pitzrick stated he liked the project and asked if it would be open to the public.
Mr. Kemper said it would not be open to the public on a daily basis but on special
occasions and they would be inviting schools to visit the facility because they
want people to learn what they are doing. Pitzrick asked if they would consider
geothermal throughout the building and also asked if they would be pursuing LED
certification. Mr. Kemper stated as they build the structure they would definitely
be looking into geothermal and also exploring the options of being LED certified.
Stoltz asked if they had a proposed timeline for this project. Mr. Kemper stated
they would like to come back to the Commission on July 11 and by mid
September break ground. Kirk commented this was a very exciting project.
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May 23, 2011
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Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input.
Phillip Smith, of 10670 Kiawah Drive, which is located across from the GE
property, is also president of their condo association. Mr. Smith stated his
concerns about the hours of operation and questioned what impact the wind
turbine would have regarding noise. He also stated they would like to see rain
gardens and more filtering in the area. Mr. Kemper commented they would like
to incorporate native vegetation into the area. They are taking out a significant
amount of hard surface and replacing it with a soft surface, which would help
with infiltration. He stated the hours would be normal business hours, Monday
through Friday, 8:00 am—5:00 pm. In regards to the wind turbine, they do not
have specific noise levels on this and it will not be in this phase of the project.
Mr. Smith asked if they would be working with the DNR and Three Rivers Park
District in regards to runoff.
Stoltz asked Franzen to address some of these issues. Franzen said in regards to
wind turbines, they would have to comply with the day and evening noise
ordinances and the same with the height of the wind turbines; they would have to
comply with height and setback ordinances. Franzen stated the Three Rivers Park
District would have to respond to the water runoff issues.
Mr. Kemper commented that he looks forward to going through with this project.
V. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. T-MOBILE by T-Mobile. Location: 7595 Anagram Drive.
Request for:
• Site Plan Review on 2.93 acres for a co-location of a telecommunication
antenna on an existing Xcel Energy tower. The proposed antenna and existing
tower will total 110 feet.
Kari Brown, representing T-Mobile, presented the request. She utilized the
overhead projector to show the proposed coverage area. She stated if they are
able to build this antenna, they would be able to supply more coverage in the area;
more people would be able to use their cell phones in their homes. hi speaking
with Xcel, they agreed to place the antenna at the top of the tower with the
equipment placed on the bottom. She said they will match the existing fencing
that is already in place.
Stoltz asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen stated that it would be
better to locate the antenna on an existing structure rather than having another
tower built in the area. Staff recommends approval of this project.
Stoltz asked Franzen to review the options listed in the staff report. Franzen
stated there were two additional options to consider. One would be to integrate
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May 23, 2011
Page 4
the cellular antennas on another of Xcel's towers to the east. This would meet the
setback requirement, but may reduce the coverage for the residential
neighborhood area. The other was to locate a new cellular tower somewhere in
the area that meets their needs and the code. Since there are co-location
opportunities, this option should not be considered.
Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Wuttke, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 6-0.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Wuttke, to recommend approval of the Site Plan
Review on 2.93 acres based on plans stamped dated April 15, 2011 and the staff
report dated May 20, 2011. Motion carried 6-0.
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. New Variance Legislation
Franzen stated with this new legislation the statute refers to practical difficulties
rather than hardship. Practical difficulties means: The property owner proposes
to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by official controls. The
plight of the landowner is due to circumstances unique to the property not created
by the landowner. The variance, if granted, will not alter the essential character
of the locality. With this change, it will be easier to grant variances,but the City
will still need to document that the variance meets the practical difficulty test.
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Pitzrick, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
6-0.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m.