Planning Commission - 10/24/2016 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 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, Mark
Freiberg, Tom Poul
CITY STAFF: Julie Klima, City Planner
Rod Rue, City Engineer
Matt Bourne, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Wuttke was absent and Stoltz
and Poul arrived at 7:05 p.m.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Weber, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0.
III. MINUTES
A. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 10, 2016
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Weber, to approve the Planning
Commission Minutes. Motion carried 6-0.
IV. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
V. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. CODE AMENDMENT—BUILDING MATERIALS & ARCHITECTURE
Request to:
• Amend the City Code Chapter 11 relating to Building Materials and
Architecture.
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October 24, 2016
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Klima said the City Staff has had ongoing discussions with the Planning
Commission and the City Council regarding the Design Standards initiative. As
part of this effort, the City is reviewing various sections of the zoning chapter,
including but not limited to, the landscaping and building requirements. Staff has
contracted with Hay Dobbs & Associates to help create Design Guidelines to
communicate the City's intent and expectations for development requirements
associated with development objectives. The primary proposed changes include:
• Allows for the use proof of parking subject to conditions;
• Provides a purpose statement to the architectural standards section of the
Code;
• Provides clarifications regarding allowable building materials; and
• Establishes architectural requirements such as fagade articulation, roofline
variation, and fagade transparency;
Other housekeeping changes reflecting current practices and correcting grammatical
or typographical errors are also proposed as part of the update. Staff
recommendation is for approval.
Weber stated he had a few changes in regards to language on page 1, 6-(d) -i. He
stated the word "demonstrated" should be changed to"demonstrates". He asked if
there should be an"and" or an"or" after the requirements. Klima stated it is for all
and there should be an "and" after each statement.
Kirk asked in regard to proof of parking, on page 1, 6-(d) is the 15% automatic.
Klima stated the code right now does not provide provisions for Proof of Parking
and now this change would allow for flexibility and if the request is for more than
15%, the applicant could go through the PUD process.
Farr asked under Proof of Parking, subpart iii, Landscaping and structures
associated with landscaping, should we have landscaping that is above and beyond
the requirements. Klima said that clarification can be added to the code.
Farr asked on page 5, under Architectural Standards, is each fagade considered and
if so, how is further relief addressed if the fagade is not visible? Klima said staff
discussed how that would impact future development and for that reason that is why
it is worded the way it is. She pointed out, for example, there may not be a street
there now,but in the future there could be and the fagade would become visible.
Farr asked on page 6, item 4-(a), in regards to building fagade does it refer to a
portion of the building fagade or does it relate to the north, south, east or west side.
Klima said the intent is if the fagade is 40 feet in length, it would be expected to
have one recess or projection and with a longer building we would expect more.
Staff would work with the developer on this to address site specific conditions.
Weber said in regards to this paragraph, the word "shall" is used and asked if all
elements are considered. Klima stated"shall" should be replaced with"required".
Weber asked if the work"and" and a semicolon should be placed at the end of each
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
October 24, 2016
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requirement. Klima stated it should have the word "and" and a semicolon. Farr
said, in regards to this same paragraph, he would like relief from section A for rear
dock walls for industrial buildings.
Farr said on page 7, under(d) District Ground Level, he likes the effort to offer a
proportion to tall buildings but would not want to constrain the applicant to design
just a single level of articulation if it is disproportionate to the fagade in general and
giving them the option of one or two would be appropriate.
Farr said on page 7, (c) Fagade Transparency, he asked if staff had come up with a
definition for Transparency. Klima stated they would come up with a definition.
Weber said on page 5, K-1, he would like to propose a change to the language and
stated he would like it to read: By the adoption of Architectural Standards, the City
intends to promote high quality development through aesthetics and functionality.
This section applies to all building facades and exterior walls that are visible to
neighboring properties or the public. The standards are intended to encourage
creativity and diversity of design and construction so that structures a) endure over
time; b) provide visual enhancement to the City, and c) use environmentally
sustainable material and patterns. The City's Design Guidelines provide further
reference to the intent of the Architectural Standards. Klima stated what Weber is
proposing is worded differently but does mean the same as the proposed code
change. She advised to include (d) in the code as it is important. Weber agreed to
add (d) which is to incorporate design characteristics that improve the site at
human-scale.
Vice Chair Pieper opened the meeting up for public input. There was no input.
MOTION: Weber moved, seconded by Stoltz, to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 8-0.
MOTION: Weber moved, seconded by Kirk, to recommend approval to amend
City Code Chapter 11 relating to Building Materials and Architecture based on the
information included in the staff report dated October 20, 2016 as well as the
discussion from the Planning Commission. Motion carried 8-0.
VII. PLANNERS' REPORT
VIII. MEMBERS' REPORT
IX. CONTINUING BUSINESS
X. NEW BUSINESS
XI. ADJOURNMENT
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October 24, 2016
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MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Kirk, to adjourn the Planning Commission
meeting. Motion carried 8-0.
Vice Chair Pieper adjourned the meeting at 7:23 p.m.