Planning Commission - 02/09/2015 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 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
Randy Newton, Assistant City Engineer
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Kirk called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Egan, Frank and Stoltz were
absent.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Weber, seconded by Pieper, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
III. MINUTES
A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 26, 2015
MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Pieper, to approve the minutes. Motion
carried 3-0; Kirk and Weber abstained.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. TOD ORDINANCE
Regina Rojas, Senior Planner, presented the proposal. She stated the final
working draft is in front of the Commission this evening. As Staff came to a
conclusion with the grant, they can see additional changes can be made. Tonight
City Staff is looking for feedback. The next steps are the Stakeholder Meeting on
Wednesday, February 11 from 4 to 5:30 pm at the City Center in which they will
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February 9, 2015
Page 2
be discussing the ordinance and getting additional feedback. The next step after
that is to reach out to Urban Land Institute for their input. The comprehensive
guide plan needs to be put in place to adopt language. The process will be to get
it approved by the Planning Commission then to the City Council and then on to
the Metropolitan Council for review and commentary. At that time, adjacent
communities can make comments; this process can take up to six months. The
final step then is the formal adoption of the TOD language. The questions for
tonight are as follows:
1. Should the TOD Ordinance limit height requirements. Currently there are
no height limits. The concern could be that sewer and water cannot
support this and there also may be an issue with traffic. Rojas asked the
Commission if there should be a limit on height or is the Commission
comfortable with not having a limit on height.
Pieper asked what the process would be for approving a ten story building.
Rojas said they would want the developer to supply reasons for this and
also have plans for sewer and water. It would be a process to submit an
application,have Staff review it and see if it would meet the rules and
policies and then it would get forwarded on to the Planning Commission.
Klima said it would be the same process as a PUD, where it gets approval
here and then moves on to the City Council for approval. Wuttke
commented it would be a good idea to see similarities on a national level.
Higgins said on page 2 of the staff report there is a section where it talks
about sustainability and said the ordinance should be both economically
and environmentally sustainable.
Klima said when this was presented initially, it was suggested as a no
height limit. At the staff level they are identifying challenges with this
this and are working on it as they modify the ordinance.
Wuttke asked what the current infrastructure allows. Newton said the City
will always be looking at how much density can be allowed; there are
limits to adhere to.
Vice Chair Kirk said in the past height has been a sensitive issue with
residents but he would like to see if there was some way the Commission
could look at the height guidelines but would be open to higher height
along with review. He also stated we could consider development ideas
from builders.
Weber asked what height limit are we talking about and how does it relate
to density. Klima said the TOD Ordinance is to serve areas in need by
transit areas. This will be a very small and compact area so that is why
there is a discussion on higher densities. Vice Chair Kirk said he can
relate to what Weber is stating and asked City Staff how we can put
something in there to balance height and density. Rojas said one
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February 9, 2015
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suggestion from a previous Planning Commission would be to go out and
see what other cities are doing to get a feel for what things may look like.
Rojas suggested looking at stations on the blue and green lines.
2. Rojas said the next question is should the TOD Ordinance support higher
design standards. In the TOD Ordinance there is a section discussing
building setbacks, adding windows or breaks. She stated this is where a
special place would be created.
Wuttke said a few years back, the Commission talked about code changes
to the exterior design of the Golden Triangle Area and the Town Center
Area. He asked the Commission if they want to do this again. Klima said
the City Staff, Planning Commission and the City Council have talked
about design features for the past few months and stated they are all
asking if the standards should be improved or stay the same. Staff is
looking at all of the issues and would welcome feedback.
Weber said he would like to see higher architectural and landscaping
standards. Vice Chair Kirk said he would like the highest standards
possible to be a consistent look with the Eden Prairie look and would like
people to know they are coming into Eden Prairie, especially since most of
this would take place in a pedestrian area.
Pieper said he agrees with applying higher standards, but to break them up
within the districts. Klima said there are three sub districts in the TOD.
They are mixed use, residential and employment. They will look at the
intent of the sub district and determine standards within.
Rojas showed a map of where the 5 stations would be located. She
pointed out the areas around each station are quite different. The stations
are the Southwest Station, City West, Mitchell, Golden Triangle and the
Town Center Station. There is a 10 minute walk shed outlined in these
maps that shows in any given 10 minutes where you could walk. This
area can always be stretched to include additional properties.
3. Rojas asked if the TOD Ordinance should apply to the general areas
described in the draft ordinance.
Wuttke asked, when we stretch and contract these areas, do we look at
streets or other indicators for boundaries and barriers. Rojas stated they
have taken that into account.
Vice Chair Kirk said we should use the 10 minute walk as a guideline and
be flexible as to what is around these stations. He would encourage staff
to look at this and make recommendations. Wuttke said it would be
beneficial to get the input from the business community. Klima stated
these are just ideas we are getting tonight and not deciding on anything
specific.
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February 9, 2015
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4. Rojas asked if the TOD Ordinance is needed in the Town Center area.
Klima said there is a discussion at an internal level if we should have one
or both in this area.
Pieper said he would just like to see one ordinance in the area. Vice Chair
Kirk said the Town Center Area is the dominant area and would be open
to expanding that area. He said it would be nice to make the TOD and
Town Center area more compatible to each other. Wuttke said this
concept goes back to the second question about incorporating higher
standards. If we want to do this in the TOD area, we would need to look
at what we did in the Town Center area. Wuttke said he is in favor to
make all 5 stations consistent rather than have them all different.
Wuttke asked if there was a height maximum in the Town Center area.
Klima said she was not aware of a height maximum. Vice Chair Kirk said
previously when the Commission was discussing the Town Center area,
there was sensitivity by the public on the issue of height.
Janet Jeremiah, Community Development Director, wanted to point out in
regards to height and density, the City Staff came up with base
requirements for the Town Center areas. She said the height in the Town
Center area is limited to 8 stories. She did point out they had developers
come in for variances on this issue, so the City needed to be flexible but
have a base.
5. Rojas said the final question would be what the impact would be for
existing property owners and businesses. She stated the City Staff has
talked about this but wanted the Commissioners feedback. Staff has
always been able to work with businesses and property owners and does
not see this changing. Vice Chair Kirk said he feels we should have a
reasonable amount of flexibility.
Wuttke asked when the Commission would see this again. Rojas said she
would be able to get feedback from residents and developers and bring it
back to the Commission by the end of March or April.
VI11. MEMBERS' REPORT
No Members' report.
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
No continuing business.
X. NEW BUSINESS
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February 9, 2015
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No new business.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Pieper, seconded by Higgins, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
5-0.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.