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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 EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23, 2011 Page 2 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. EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23, 2011 Page 3 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 EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 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.