Planning Commission - 07/13/2015 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015 7:00 P.M., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Jon Stoltz, John Kirk, Travis Wuttke, Ann Higgins,
Charles Weber, Andrew Pieper, Ed Farr
STAFF MEMBERS: Regina Dean, Senior Planner
Rod Rue, City Engineer
Janet Jeremiah, Community Development Director
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE —ROLL CALL
Chair Stoltz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Pieper and Weber were absent.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Farr, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0.
III. MINUTES
A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON JUNE 22, 2015
Farr had a change on page 5, Hearing C, paragraph 4. Farr would like to change the
word transformer to connection cabinet. MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Kirk,
to approve the minutes. Motion carried 4-0. Stoltz abstained.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. COMFORT INN Eden Prairie by Michael Monn Architects
Location: 7740 Flying Cloud Drive
Request for:
• Site Plan Review on 3.20 acres
Michael Monn, architect for the project, presented the proposal. He said they
would like to rebrand this hotel as the Comfort Inn. They are looking at four
areas which would be; removal of the existing mansard panel around the building,
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July 13, 2015
Page 2
update the color scheme to the current brand standard, the addition of cornices at
the roof line and lastly to update the Porte Cochere to match the revised building
finishes. The only concern may be taking off the mansard and what could be
behind it. Most of the updates will be inside.
Chair Stoltz asked Dean to review the staff report. Dean said staff
recommendation is for approval based on the stipulations on page 2 of the staff
report.
Chair Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
Mr. Monn commented that they do not have any issues with putting in the bike
rack, but would like to know the intent of this and what would work best. Dean
said it would be for employee use.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Wuttke, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 5-0.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Wuttke, to recommend approval of the Site Plan
Review on 3.20 acres with conditions based on plans stamp dated June 5, 2015
and the information included in the staff report dated July 13, 2015. Motion
carried 5-0.
B. CITY CODE AMENDMENT—ESTABLISH A TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT (TOD)ZONING DISTRICT by City of Eden Prairie
Request to:
• Amend City Code Chapter 11, including establishment of a Transit
Oriented Development Zoning District and regulation for the zoning
district.
Dean presented the City Code Amendment. She stated in December of 2012, the
City received a grant of$60,000 from the Metropolitan Council Livable
Communities Act Transit Oriented Development Pre-Development grant fund.
Tonight we have a draft ordinance for discussion of language only. The draft
ordinance includes the following:
1. Purpose
2. Applicability
3. Development Standards
4. Building Standards
5. Off-street vehicle standards
6. On-site bike facility standards
7. Landscaping
8. Supplemental Analysis
Based on staff and stakeholder input, staff has proposed changes within the
following general themes:
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July 13, 2015
Page 3
1. Town Center and TOD Ordinance
2. Infrastructure Impacts (including height and stories)
3. Applicability of the Ordinance
4. Building Standards
5. Vehicle Parking Standards
6. Bike Parking Standards
7. Landscaping
8. Transportation Demand Management(TDM)Requirements
Based upon previous Commission input, staff recommends retaining the Town
Center Ordinance with some minor changes. The TOD Ordinance is intended for
the other four LRT station areas including Mitchell Road, which we recommend
keeping in our Comp Plan as a future station area.
Density limits would be established in the Comprehensive Plan based upon
infrastructure capacity determined by traffic and utility studies.
Future applicability of the ordinance would generally be the 10-minute walkshed
from the station. However, it would be specifically designated by the
Comprehensive Plan and would exclude certain properties such as single-family
homes. Property owner requests could also be considered outside the 10-minute
walkshed. The Applicability section of the proposed ordinance is being refined
based upon a recent discussion with the City Attorney. It will reference the non-
conforming use of State law and PUD Code for process.
The proposed timeline for Ordinance Adoption is contingent on what happens this
evening.
If approved by City Council, the next steps would be:
1. Review of the Comprehensive Guide Plan Language
2. Evaluation of the Comprehensive Guide Plan Land Use Map
3. Planning Commission and City Council Review of the proposed
Comprehensive Guide Plan Changes
4. Metropolitan Council Review of Comprehensive Guide Plan Changes
5. Implement zoning of properties for TOD and Town Center
Staff recommendation is for approval.
Kirk asked Dean why we are using comprehensive plan language instead of
regular language. Dean said it gives us greater flexibility. Jeremiah said this is
not a one size fits all, so the comprehensive plan can give us that flexibility and
clarity.
Wuttke asked how specific we need to be with the language. Dean said to just
look at it as a placeholder until the comprehensive plan is adopted.
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July 13, 2015
Page 4
Kirk commented he felt we are ahead of ourselves, but for a good reason in
regards to funding. It will not go into place realistically until more actions are
taken place. Dean said they are going to build into this a planned unit
development to work with the transition.
Chair Stoltz opened the meeting up for public input.
Rick Weiblen, with Liberty Properties, said they have numerous properties in the
area and have not had enough time to fully review it but have talked to Dean
today in regards to some of the things in the plan. He stated his big concern is
some of the current properties may not meet the code set up in this ordinance. In
regards to timing, we need to look at it as a work in progress. Chair Stoltz asked
if he feels comfortable if the Commission moves forward. Mr. Weiblen said he
feels comfortable.
Farr asked if we could go through subdivision by subdivision. Chair Stoltz said
he does not believe the City wants the Commission to get into that level of detail.
Dean said that was correct.
Kirk said we are approving a document that is a work in progress and could
change in the future.
Wuttke said he has reservations about approving this tonight.
Jeremiah said it is good for the Commission to make comments tonight related to
land use and design provisions in the ordinance, but do not worry too much about
word-smithing the specific language because it will get additional staff and legal
review before going to City Council.
Wuttke said he would like to go section by section.
Chair Stoltz said we will start out with Subdivision 1. Wuttke said he did not
have any issues. Higgins said in B, the word "complementary" raises a question
about things that are already uses when they become complementary. Farr said
the verbs ensure and incorporate have mandatory comments. In regards to
complementary, that just means, "greasing the wheels".
Subdivision X—Farr said in regards to O, Joint Use Parking, there are two
redundant statements. Wuttke said in regards to A, he asked if we had parking
garages. Since we are at the beginning of the LRT line, he would like to strike,
"eliminate the need to rely on a car for transportation", as we want people to drive
into the area.
Subdivision 2 -Farr said the second paragraph should go first.
Subdivision 3 —Farr said in A, under performance standards it talks about off
street parking and deliveries and we are encouraging on street parking. In regards
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July 13, 2015
Page 5
to this, we would have to get 2 to 3 loading docks. Wuttke said there should be
short term parking. Kirk said we need some language in regards to loading. In
regards to B, Wuttke said in regards to vertical articulation buildings and
buildings over 4 floors there has to be an 8 foot step back. Dean said waivers can
be requested for step backs. Farr said in regards to the three diagrams, he would
suggest the building entrances be attached. One size fits all should not apply to
60 feet entrances to stacked and attached buildings. He stated mixed messages
are being sent. The diagram is on page 8. In regards to the diagram on page 10,
we should be promoting accessible building entrances. Wuttke said on page 9,
under performance standards, he is concerned about noise. Dean said that is
addressed in the noise ordinance. In regards to C, Farr said in regards to the
diagram on page 12, the stacked and adjacent buildings are hard to have entrances
every 60 feet and would like to have visibility into the building. Higgins said in
regards to drive thru banks, she has seen it work well in a parking garage with
separation from the parking. Wuttke asked if bank holders were concerned with
standards. Dean said they were shareholders and she did not hear anything.
Subdivision 4 —Under A, Farr said he has a concern again about the entrances
every 60 feet. In regards to buildings being open to the public during all business
hours, he said we should not make them do this.
Subdivision 5 —Farr said on street parking is encouraged but the City does not say
anything about it. In regards to B, he said this is a cast and design burden. Dean
said they are open to looking at areas as a change.
Subdivision 6 —Farr said in regards to C, we are not allowing enough room for
this and there should be more than 50 feet.
Subdivision 7 —Wuttke asked what the new standards will look like in the area.
Dean said they are currently reviewing landscaping standards and there will be
further review on this. Farr asked if the intent of Subd. 7 were to require all open
spaces in all districts or could there be private areas. Dean said anything on
ground level would be public, but going up could be private. Wuttke said in
regards to a pocket park, he does not believe there should be public access to a
privately owned courtyard. Jeremiah said it is okay for people to have private
courtyards but they might not count as public open space. Dean said in regards to
this, when development comes in, you can speak with the applicant.
Subdivision 8 —Farr said he would like to see TDM's be applicable to residential
uses.
Wuttke said he had two questions. The first is in regards to the application of
permeable pavers and there was nothing referenced in the draft about this and
could it be applied somewhere. He asked if said we could have green space and
permeable space apply to the infiltration of permeable percent area requirements.
Rue said some of the green space can be infiltration or permeable space. Wuttke
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July 13, 2015
Page 6
asked if the Town Center study could be applied. Rue said we need to recognize
right of way needs for this purpose.
Farr said we should be providing more storm water management in this area.
This could be an opportunity for us for new developers.
Kirk said he is marginally comfortable with this draft; Chair Stoltz and Higgins
concurred. Wuttke said he is not comfortable with moving this along so fast.
Dean said this could come back at the next Planning Commission meeting.
Wuttke said he would like changes to be red-lined.
MOTION by Kirk, seconded by Wuttke, to recommend a continuance to the July
27, 2015 meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
VIL PLANNERS' REPORT
No Planners' Report
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
A. COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE—LIGHT RAIL
No Members' Report
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
No continuing business.
X. NEW BUSINESS
No new business.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Higgins, seconded by Kirk, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting.
Motion carried 5-0.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.