Loading...
Planning Commission - 02/24/2014 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRURAY 24, 2014 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Jon Stoltz, Katie Lechelt, Travis Wuttke, Steven Frank, Ann Higgins, Mary Egan STAFF MEMBERS: Mike Franzen, City Planner Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources 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. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Lechelt, seconded by Wuttke, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. III. MINUTES A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 10, 2014 MOTION by Frank, seconded by Kirk, to approve the minutes. Motion carried 5-0. Egan and Higgins abstained. IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS V. PUBLIC MEETINGS VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. VARIANCE#2013-10 by Allegis Group (CONTINUED ITEM) Location: 6640 Shady Oak Rd, Eden Prairie, MN Contact: Sean Coatney (651-307-1951) Request for: February 24, 2014 Page 2 • To permit a 176 square foot building identification wall sign on the north elevation. • To permit a 176 square foot building identification wall sign on the south elevation. • To permit a 50 square foot building identification wall sign on the east elevation City Code permits one building identification wall sign per wall per street frontage not to exceed 50 square feet. Section 11.70, Subd. 4, C, 12 (a) Franzen said that CORE, Commercial Real Estate Group would like to continue this to the Marchl0, 2014 meeting. MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Frank, to recommend a continuance to the March 10, 2014 meeting. Motion carried 7-0. B. COMMUNITY CENTER AQUATICS ADDITION By: City of Eden Prairie Location: 16700 Valley View Road • Site Plan Review on 103 acres. • Height variance from 30 ft. to 35 ft. • Side yard setback variance from 50 ft. to 30 ft. Jay Lotthammer, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented the proposal. He utilized the overhead to show the proposed aquatic center. He stated the expansion would consist of the following: • A 25 yard eight lane pool with spectator bleachers primarily used for swim practices, competitions, diving, and swim lessons. • A second 25 yard eight lane pool primarily used for swim lessons, lap swimming, swim practices, diving, deep water aerobics, climbing and water polo. • A zero-depth warm water pool primarily used for recreational swimming, swim lessons and water aerobics. • A small hot tub. • Wet locker rooms. • Two community meeting rooms. • A dry-land training fitness room. • An expanded group fitness area. • An expanded cardio workout area. Mr. Lotthammer stated there will be two phases to this project. Phase one would be construction of the lower level and phase two would be the area with the warm water pool with the water slides and hot tub. He stated building over the entry way would allow expansion of the fitness center. Mr. Lotthammer February 24, 2014 Page 3 said there will be a zero depth pool; which would be very warm. He also showed the exterior elevation of the building. He stated tonight we would be looking at the setback variance and the height variance. The waterslide structure would be the highest elevation and could also end up being an alternative plan if the cost of the project gets to be too high. Chair Stoltz asked Franzen to review the staff report. Franzen said staff recommendation is for approval. Chair Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input. Kirk asked if the existing parking lot was adequate based upon the use of the building. Mr. Lotthammer said behind the Community Center there is a lot with approximately 70 spots that is used by the high school during school hours. At night and on weekends the Community Center can utilize the lot. Currently the employees are parking there. There is also a hard surface area where the Lions tent is located for Schooner Days that can be utilized for parking. There is also parking by the football field and also parking by Round Lake. Frank asked, regarding the background, is it expanding because of more use to the aquatic center. Mr. Lotthammer said this is a 30 year old building and the aquatic center is the only part of the Community Center that has not been renovated. He pointed out they have had a lot of demand for general time in the pool and also lap swimming. This will be a better swimming situation for competitive swimming. He said there are over 7000 members, 1200 being Silver Sneakers. So there is a wide range of membership which will get spread out during the day. Margaret Gamble, a member from the audience, asked about parking and said that most of the parking at Round Lake is high school students. Mr. Lotthammer said that is correct; during the day they utilize the area closest to the school. This would just be during the day, and the Community Center could use it at night and on the weekends. Ms. Gamble said she is concerned about the safety factor about kids crossing the street. Chair Stoltz said there is a bridge they can walkover. Mr. Lotthammer said he would like to see the back lot utilized a little more. Wuttke said typically the Commission has been given very detailed information on parking and said they did not get that tonight. Franzen said with the last expansion there was a parking analysis and parking was provided meeting code based on building use. Expanding the swimming area did not trigger a need for more parking. Chair Stoltz asked if City Staff had any concerns with parking. Franzen said they did not. February 24, 2014 Page 4 Wuttke said he feels the expansion could create some parking issues. Mr. Lotthammer said tonight there are two things brought before the Commission and parking is not one of them because it meets the City Code. That is the reason parking maps or studies were not brought before the Commission. There are 100's of spots currently that are not being used. By expanding the pool it would give more room for competitive swimmers. Kirk commented he felt they received a good explanation of parking and is comfortable with it. Higgins said with the variety of new activity, sometimes there are a number or cars coming and going at certain times, and that is something that may need to be looked at. Mr. Lotthammer said when they have big games; there have been traffic control to assist. Wuttke said he had a pool at college that had an adjustable wall and asked if that is something the City is overlooking. Mr. Lotthammer said it would only be used a small amount of time at the Community Center and can be very expensive. It would not be the best use of the facility to have it as one large body of water. Frank asked Franzen what it means that we are approving the site plan review. Franzen said it site plan review is a qualitative look at the building architecture, site plan, and landscaping. Frank said we have a wonderful looking project but we have not been informed of some of the details as the Parks Commission has already done so, so this Commission is missing some background and better understanding in the future could facilitate better discussion. Chair Stoltz said in the future when other Commissions are meeting, could they be notified when the meeting is taking place. Franzen said he would notify them. Wuttke suggested a joint meeting like the ones they have done in the past. He said he felt the site plan review was very broad. Mr. Lotthammer said they have had a history of joint meetings and they are very broad with many projects discussed. In the case of this project, this project has been discussed thoroughly with the Parks Commission. He also pointed out this has been well over a year that this project has been discussed to get to this point and we are 95 percent there. Chair Stoltz said he does not want to move this project backward. MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Lechelt, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 7-0. February 24, 2014 Page 5 MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Kirk, to recommend approval of the Site Plan Review on 103 acres and Final Order#2014-02. Motion carried 7-0. VII. PLANNERS' REPORT A. TSAAP Presentation by HKGI Jeff McMinimum, consultant from HKGI, facilitated the presentation. He stated the TSAAP intends to promote opening day readiness for the LRT by bridging the gap between existing conditions and future needs by identifying and prioritizing infrastructure improvements such as sewer, water, sidewalks, roads, trails and parking that enhance the existing businesses, support mixed-income housing opportunities and encourage new development. Over the long term, the goal is to help create unique, transit oriented stations along the SW corridor. This has been a 14 month planning process, city by city, with numerous meetings between TSAAP, engineering designers and the public. The outcome was the manual, Southwest Corridor Investment Framework, which looked at planningl7 stations. In looking at Eden Prairie, the first station Mr. McMinimum addressed was the City West Station. This station is the most northerly station. It is located by the new United Health facility by Hwy 62 and 212. They would like to develop pedestrian and bike connections, Kiss and Ride, Park& Ride, station amenities, and possibly a plaza area with public art,bike facility and seating. The next station would be the Golden Triangle Station. The land use for this area is industrial and the recommendation is to put in better roadways; extending W. 70th Street to west of Flying Cloud Drive. They would also like to provide more walkable blocks, pedestrian and bike connections, bike parking at the station, Park & Ride at the station and a Kiss & Ride. The third station is the Eden Prairie Town Center Station. This area includes retail and housing. Recommendation is for new roads around the area. Eden Road would need to be extended west and Singletree Lane would need to be built up from Main Street to Technology Drive. They would also like to build new bike amenities. The Park & Ride would be necessary to reduce the hide and ride. The Kiss & Ride would be by the station. Key considerations would be a plaza near the station and making a sidewalk from the station to Singletree Lane. Southwest Station would be the fourth station and this is located by the current Southwest Station. They would like to build more multi-use trails, sidewalk enhancement, and bike facilities at the station. The Park & Ride may need a February 24, 2014 Page 6 new ramp. The key consideration would be to orientate the buildings towards the street. The next station would be the Mitchell Station which would be located by the City Center. The Park& Ride would be northwest of the City Center and more bike facilities would be constructed. Key considerations would be to increase light office and industrial, more food places by the station, and enhanced mobility. Chair Stoltz asked Franzen to address this presentation. Franzen said this analysis is a good idea because it helps us and the private sector to be aware of infrastructure needs and to incorporate them into future city and private sector development, and helps the city with the preparation of station plans as part of the next guide plan update.. Chair Stoltz asked if the Mitchell Station made the cut. The project proponent said it was still up in the air and would be dependent on funding. Frank said it was amazing how much detail was in the documents. He commented, in regards to funding, there are different levels listed in the book. The project proponent said there are cost estimates for opening day and long term improvements. Frank asked how Presbyterian Homes was taken into account. Franzen said they did look at having the LRT closer to Presbyterian Homes,but it increased the travel time and was more expensive.. Lechelt asked was it possible to construct the road on Singletree Lane without having to take the Brunswick building. Franzen said they have had numerous conversations with them so they can keep the building but replacing parking will be challenging. Chair Stoltz asked what the next step would be. Franzen said on March 4cn there will be a City Council workshop where this presentation with be shown. Then it will come back again to the Commission for approval. Chair Stoltz asked if anything should be in public record. Frank said in the strategic plans, you want a strong sense of where the City wants to go in the future. Franzen said for the next guide plan update, we are going to have a joint meeting with the City Council. We are doing that because we want to know if we are going in the right direction from the start. Wuttke asked how the re-routing out of Eden Road to Singletree happened and why wasn't Prairie Center Drive utilized. The project proponent said because Singletree Lane would be at the heart of the Town Center and a five minute walk from the shopping mall. Wuttke said he can see the rational,but asked February 24, 2014 Page 7 what is the direction we want to go in regards to the Town Center Station. The project proponent said this is a fixed station and we cannot move it at this point. Franzen said of the reasons for this location is due to the traffic impacts on Single Tree and concerns from area business and property owners. . Egan asked about the Mitchell Station and what would be the time frame for making a decision to keep it or drop it. Neither the project proponent nor Franzen knew the answer. Franzen said they would like to keep Mitchell Station to accommodate more parking and minimize traffic increase on Prairie Center Drive. Egan said she thought it would bring in more people from Chaska and Chanhassen. Chair Stoltz concurred. VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT A. CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE—LIGHT RAIL Lechelt said the next meeting will be this Thursday the 27 , at Hopkins. IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS X. NEW BUSINESS XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Lechelt, seconded by Higgins, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.