Planning Commission - 04/23/2018 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY,APRIL 23, 2018 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Charles Weber, Ann Higgins, Andrew
Pieper, Ed Farr, Mark Freiberg, Michael DeSanctis,
Christopher Villarreal, Carole Mette
CITY STAFF: Julie Klima, City Planner
Rod Rue, City Engineer
Matt Bourne, Manager of Parks and Natural Resources
Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary
I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Absent was commission members Villarreal and Higgins.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Kirk, to accept the agenda. Motion carried
7-0.
IV. MINUTES
MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Kirk to accept the minutes of April 9, 2018.
Motion carried 7-0.
V. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. HAMPTON INN
Request for
0 Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 1.7 acres
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 23, 2018
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• Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 1.7 acres
• Site Plan Review on 10.06 acres
Chris Flagg, Chief Investment Officer for TPI Hospitality, presented his revised
application: the subterranean 25 parking stalls initially proposed became
prohibitively expensive between the time of initial application and approval in
2016. With the assistance of planning staff the applicant reevaluated the site plan,
with the result being the building footprint was reduced by 1200 square feet, the
hotel made taller(to six stories), and all parking was redesigned to be on-grade.
The current plan was more economically feasible. He displayed maps of the site
as well as elevation drawings and site renderings of the building, and explained its
integration with the surrounding community. Flagg explained the decorative
elements that distinguished this project from the "Hampton Inn prototype" as well
as the original design, and offered to answer any questions about the deviations
being requested.
Klima presented the staff report. The applicant worked with staff to modify the
original design. The current site plan showed the development of a six-story, 105-
room hotel on the former I-Hop site with an approximate building footprint size
of 11,500 square feet. This footprint would be about 1,200 square feet less in size
than the 2016 proposal to allow for the additional surface parking and elimination
of the below ground parking. The current plan provided for 98 surface parking
stalls. Trash and recycling storage would be contained within the primary
structure. The existing trail along the lakeside of the property would be
reconstructed as needed due to the construction of a retaining wall.
The site plan included parking lot design elements such as pedestrian connections
and landscape islands. The pedestrian connections within the site were to direct
pedestrians out of the parking area and create a connection to the trail on
Technology Drive. Pedestrian connections located within the parking lot would be
constructed of a differing surface material in order to provide for clear
identification of the pedestrian connection. The plan exceeded the landscape
parking island requirements (five percent) of City Code to break up the parking
area and provide additional impervious surface areas. The landscaping plan for
the site exceeded City Code requirements.
The applicant was also requesting several PUD waivers related to setbacks,
parking lot design, shoreland requirements, and building design elements. They
were similar to what had been approved in 2016. Sustainability features included
native plantings and pollinator habitat, LED lighting, a bike rack, and an electric
vehicle charging station. Staff recommended approval of the proposal with the
waivers and subject to the conditions and sustainability features outlined in the
staff report.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 23, 2018
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DeSanctis asked if this development, which wraps around northeast side of
Idlewild Lake, would allow for public access to the lake for fishing. Bourne
replied there would not necessarily be access to the lake itself from this property
but the existing trail would be shifted to allow for access via an easement. Kirk
asked for and received confirmation the setback waivers were roughly the same as
before with the exception of the front having been increased slightly. Kirk asked
if the parking was approximately the same and Klima replied the current parking
waiver decreased number of stalls initially approved in 2016. Staff worked with
the applicant to accommodate as much parking as possible and the applicant also
analyzed other Hampton Inn sites to determine business needs.
Mette asked where the light rail line would be in relation to the development.
Klima displayed a map and explained the location of the hotel in relation to the
LRT line. Kirk asked the height of the elevation of the light rail line, and Rue
replied the light rail elevation was quite a bit higher than the site; there is a
retaining wall along Technology Drive but there was sufficient distance to
accommodate the slope. Farr asked which shared access easements were on site
between the proposed hotel and the curb cuts. Klima displayed the shared
driveway and the cross-traffic easement on the map for the Commission. Farr
asked if there was a shared parking agreement with the adjacent property owner
and this development, and Klima replied there was not.
DeSanctis asked if this development would result in the reengineering of the
intersection at Technology Drive. Rue replied it would not, but a temporary
easement was needed for the light rail line. All would be contained within the
public right-of-way with the exception of a small perimeter easement. Farr
commented this was a positive enhancement from the 2016 application and
expressed appreciation of TPI's efforts. He asked what design guidelines they
could expect from Metro Transit for the acoustical glazing. Klima replied she was
in contact with the Southwest Light Rail project office to get that specific
guidance, and added she expected the language would be included in the
development agreement. Freiberg asked for the grade difference at the entrance to
the beginning of the footprint, and Rue replied it was relatively flat there, as
Technology Drive drops in grade.
Weber echoed Farr's appreciation of the architectural improvement over the 2016
application. DeSanctis asked if any structures, such as a ventilation system, would
extend above the horizontal profile of the roof. Flagg replied it was possible some
equipment would extend but not to a great degree, and it would be screened. He
offered to have the architect follow up with City. Klima replied subject to the
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 23, 2018
Page 4
proposal's approval City staff would be reviewing the mechanical equipment to
ensure it remained code-compliant and screened which would also be a condition
of the development agreement.
MOTION: Weber moved, seconded by Farr to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 7-0.
MOTION: Weber moved, seconded by DeSanctis to recommend approval of the
proposal based on staff recommendations and the information contained in the
staff reported dated April 19, 2018 and the plans stamp-dated April 17, 2018.
Motion carried 7-0.
VIII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. COUNCIL WORKSESSION—MAY 1, 2018—ASPIRE 2040
Klima reminded the commission members they were invited to the City Council
work session Tuesday, May 1, 2018 to discuss the Aspire plan draft update.
IX. MEMBERS' REPORTS
X. CONTINUING BUSINESS
XI. NEW BUSINESS
XII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Weber to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. Chair
Pieper adjourned the meeting at 7:23 p.m.