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Planning Commission - 01/26/2015 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY,JANUARY 26, 2015 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER Council Chambers 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Jon Stoltz, Travis Wuttke, Steven Frank, Ann Higgins, Mary Egan, Charles Weber, Andrew Pieper STAFF MEMBERS: Julie Klima, 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. Kirk and Weber were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Frank, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. III. MINUTES A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 12, 2015 MOTION by Pieper, seconded by Frank, to approve the minutes. Motion carried 5-0; Stoltz abstained. IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS V. PUBLIC MEETINGS VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. HIGH POINT AT RILEY CREEK 2ND by DR Horton Location: 16540 Beverly Drive Request for: • Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 5.35 acres • Preliminary Plat of 5.35 acres into 10 lots, 3 outlots and road right of way on 5.35 acres Planning Commission Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 2 Mike Suel, developer and builder for the property owner, presented the proposal. He said they would like to build 10 lots on 5 acres of land. This is a continuation of a proposal from last year. Mr. Suel stated they have been in agreement with the City Staff on everything except for the outlots and will work more with the City on that. Chair Stoltz asked Klima to review the staff report. Klima said on the golden rod annotated agenda there is a change. The motion has been modified and staff recommendation is for approval based on the conditions listed in the staff report. Egan asked if the motion should include some different language than what is listed. Klima said the golden rod annotated agenda includes the appropriate language. Frank asked what the pluses and minuses would be if the outlots are acquired by the City. Klima explained using the overhead projector. She showed the two outlots of concern; outlots B and C. The intent of outlot C to be deeded to the City would be to ensure that it is included with future adjacent development in the future. Outlot B would be utilized for a future connection to Prospect Road. Chair Stoltz asked Mr. Suel what his point of view was on this issue. Mr. Suel said with outlot B they have purchased this property and if it is not going to be needed for the connection to Prospect Road they would like to add it in to the adjacent lots. With outlot C it should stay with the land to the south. Mr. Suel said he wanted to make sure the Commission and City were aware of their concerns. Egan asked if the motion should include the issue that both of these outlots are still under consideration. Klima said they could be addressed in the motion. Chair Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input. MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Egan, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Frank, to recommend approval of the Zoning District Change from Rural to R1-13.5 on 5.35 acres; Preliminary Plat of 5.35 acres into 10 lots, 3 outlots and road right of way on 5.35 acres based on the preliminary grading alternate connection plan prepared November 14, 2014, plan set prepared December 2, 2014, and the information included in the staff report dated January 26, 2015; noting that condition number 2C may be revised as the project proponent and City Staff work at revising issues related to the outlots. Motion carried 6-0. (Vote added based on review of the tape of the meeting.) B. VARIANCE#2014-08 by Gary Aulik Location: 10625 Mount Curve Road Planning Commission Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 3 Request for: • Permit a front yard setback for the parking lot of 14.8 feet at its closest point, City Code requires a 35 foot front yard setback. • To permit 24 foot drive aisles for the parking lot, City Code requires 25 feet. • To permit 10 parking spaces to be 8 feet wide, City Code requires 9 feet. Gary Aulik, representing Olympic Hills Golf Course, presented the proposal. He started out by stating they have exhausted all possibilities in regards to parking. They have 172 spaces and there is no storm water run-off. He stated they would like narrow driver aisles than are required by City Code. They have been working closely with the City Staff and are coming here tonight with three requests. Chair Stoltz asked Klima to review the staff report. Klima said there are three variances requested tonight and staff recommends approval based on the staff report. Wuttke stated they are at the minimal allowable size,but need more parking. Egan said there was a private residence that may be impacted by the change and asked if they were in agreement with the request. Mr. Aulik said they had a meeting a few weeks ago, inviting all of the residents in the area. There were 25 residents in attendance but not the specific residence Egan referred to. Mr. Aulik said the view of the wall will be broken up from the street. There will be an abundance of planting that will take place. Pieper asked if more trees will be planted. Mr. Aulik said yes, there would be more trees planted, along with plantings and shrubs. He stated they have done their best to provide for rain water drainage and landscaping. Chair Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. Edward Getsch, who stated he lives directly across the street from the parking lot, said what bothers him the most is changing the landscaping. He stated they are going to be removing old evergreen trees to move the parking lot. The wall will be 8 feet high and will stick out like a sore thumb. Mr. Getsch said if the project proponent would remove the islands in the parking lot, there would be plenty of room and they would not have to do anything. Chair Stoltz asked Klima if the islands could be removed. Klima said removing the islands would require a different variance request. Staff did communicate to Mr. Aulik that a certain amount of parking space would have to include island areas. Chair Stoltz asked Mr. Aulik about removing the islands. Mr. Aulik said they wanted more green space so that is why the islands were included. He said they could remove them but it would require a lot of reconfiguration. Egan said if the Planning Commission Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 4 islands could not be removed then could construction be eliminated on the wall. Mr. Aulik said that would not be possible. He also stated the golf course does have a right to build a retaining wall. They will make sure it is beautiful because they do not want to create an eye sore for the golf course. Frank said the purpose of the parking islands is to bring green space to the parking lot. Mr. Aulik concurred that is correct. Frank said if he was a neighbor and his visual was to go from natural to artificial,he would not like that. Frank asked if there would be any way to keep it more natural. Mr. Aulik said they have worked with many alternatives with the City and this is what they came up with. He stated that a retaining wall is definitely needed. Mr. Aulik utilized the overhead projector to show what this area would look like. He showed the setback areas and said without the green spaces in the parking lot they could manipulate the corner and move the retaining wall back just a bit,but then they are dealing with the storm water issues. In order to raise the grade of the parking lot, they would have to include the retaining wall in the plan. Frank asked if they could do a better job of masking the retaining wall. David Patton, landscape architect for the project, said the existing trees taken out are Blue Spruce. The ones they would be planting would look more new and appealing. They are taking out 5 evergreens and putting much more in. Mr. Patton showed where the trees would be located and prefaced they would provide screening. Frank asked if there could be more screening by the neighbors' views. Mr. Patton said they could accommodate that request and plan to plant numerous plantings in the area. The retaining wall will be covered with vines. He reiterated that they will work with the neighbors' concerns. Chair Stoltz asked what percent of the retaining wall would be seen. Mr. Patton said it would be between 20-25% visible. Mr. Getsch said it makes him mad because they are talking about making the parking lot green,but then they are going to put up a retaining wall. He stated he was not concerned with the light,but is concerned with the wall and how close it is to the street. He asked why they cannot make more space for parking by going south into the golf course area. Mr. Aulik said there really are not any more alternatives for parking. He stated they have to make sure all spots are ADA accessible. He pointed out they are trying to make this project more visually pleasing. Pieper asked if the islands were taken out, would the retaining wall still need to be built. Mr. Aulik said the wall would still need to be constructed. Klima reiterated the requests to be considered tonight are the three variances. Pieper asked if the Planning Commission would ever review the request to build a retaining wall. Klima stated the retaining walls are reviewed administratively. Planning Commission Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 5 Chair Stoltz asked Rue if there was another alternative besides a retaining wall. Rue said because of the grade difference in the parking lot, he does not see another alternative. Wuttke said it looks like there had been considerable effort by the City and Mr. Aulik to adequately screen the area. The only question would be what type and amounts of plantings would be in the setback area. Mr. Aulik said it would be predominately grass. To break up the wall, it would be a lot of plantings around the area itself and stated there will be a lot of large plantings in the area. Wuttke said natural grasses would help with rain water. Mr. Patton showed a visual of the plantings that would go into the area. He stated the intent is to mask or balance the wall and plantings. MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Egan, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Egan, to recommend approval of the Final Order 2014-008 based on plans stamp dated January 20, 2015 and the information included in the staff report dated January 26, 2015. Motion carried 6-0. C. PUD AMENDMENT FOR THE APARTMENTS AT CITY WEST by City of Eden Prairie Location: City West Parkway Request for: • Planned Unit Development Amendment with waivers on 13.5 acres • Zoning District Amendment on 13.5 acres Julie Klima presented this proposal. She said the City West apartments received approval back in 1985. As a result of Shady Oak Trail, this may impact a loss of 5 stalls on the site. They are asking the City to amend the PUD. Wuttke asked in the future could we have another discussion about parking stalls. Klima said 7 stalls have been impacted and 2 have already been relocated. The property owner has not expressed concern with losing the 5 stalls; they want to make sure they have the proper City approvals. Chair Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input. MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Egan, to close the public hearing. Motion carried 6-0. MOTION by Wuttke, seconded by Frank, to recommend approval of the Planned Unit Development Amendment with waivers on 13.5 acres and Zoning District Amendment on 13.5 acres based on plans dated April 22, 2014, and the Planning Commission Minutes January 26, 2015 Page 6 information included in the staff report dated January 26, 2015. Motion carried 6-0. VII. PLANNERS' REPORT No Planners' Report VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT No Members' report. IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS No continuing business. X. NEW BUSINESS No new business. XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Frank, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.