Planning Commission - 06/25/2018 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY,JUNE 25, 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
Vice Chair Farr called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Absent was commission member DeSanctis. Pieper arrived at 7:05 p.m.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Weber, to accept the agenda. Motion carried
7-0.
IV. MINUTES
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Weber to accept the minutes of Monday, June 11,
2018 with the correction of the 5-1 vote on approval the Culvers project. Motion carried
7-0.
V. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
VI. PUBLIC MEETINGS
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. LINCOLN PARC APARTMENTS/CASCADE AT TOWN CENTER
Location: 8090 Eden Road
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Request for:
• Planned Unite Development Concept Review on 4.83 acres
• Planning Unit Development District Review with waivers on 4.83
acres
• Zoning District Change from C-COM to TC-MU on 4.83 acres
Klima presented the staff report. The project was a five-story mixed use building
with underground parking, ground floor office/retail, and multi-family housing on
the upper floors. The approvals included establishing a PUD for the site including
waivers to allow flexibility within the Community Commercial zoning district and
site plan approval for the construction of the project. Waivers for the project
included increased density and building height, as well as, building and floor area
ratio. The approval of the project furthered the Town Center vision of pedestrian
oriented ground floor retail space with multi-family housing on upper floors but
pre-dated the Town Center zoning districts.
The property was recently acquired by the applicant. As a part of this acquisition,
the owners were rebranding the property to Cascade at Town Center. The
applicant was requesting that the property be rezoned to Town Center—Mixed Use
(TC-MU). This rezoning request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. The
TC-MU district allows as permitted uses neighborhood commercial, offices as
accessory uses, and multiple family attached dwelling units with ground floor
retail/restaurant/services. The ground floor office/retail space currently offers
approximately 14,000 square feet of space. These spaces front the exterior south
and east facing facades. The applicant was proposing an amendment to the PUD
to allow the conversion of these areas behind the corridor to create 16 additional
residential units. The office/retail spaces that have direct access to the exterior
fagade are proposed to remain with the exception of the southwest corner of the
building. This portion of the building is proposed to be converted to residential
units due to the lack of direct grade level exterior access and limited visibility.
The proposed 16 units are studio apartments ranging from 518 to 796 square feet
in size. Waivers to the TC-MU performance standards are being requested due to
the property being originally developed under the Community Commercial
zoning district. Staff is recommending that affordability consistent with the
approved TIF for the property and inclusionary housing previously approved with
recent multi-family projects be provided in this project. Generally, this
affordability is 10 percent of the units being maintained as affordable. Half of
those units would be at 50 percent AMI and half at 80 percent AML Staff
recommended approval.
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Farr asked if the application encompassed exterior as well as interior
improvements, including the driveway and landscape improvement, as it was near
the light rail and Town Center station. Klima replied there would be painting and
cosmetic upgrades, along with a landscaping bed with native and pollinator
species, and new signage. No trees would be removed but they would be trimmed
and maintained. The City applied for and received a regional solicitation grant for
the Town Center Station for it to be constructed at the same time as the rest of the
light rail project. This would be a separate process.
Mette asked for the affordability housing requirement under Tax Increment
Financing (TIF) as opposed to under general zoning requirements. Klima replied
the requirement for this TIF district required 20 percent due to the public
financing included. More recently the City practice included requiring
multifamily structures not receiving TIF or public subsidies to have 10 percent of
the units be set aside as affordable housing, and half of those as 50 Average
Median Income (AMI) and the rest at 80 AMI, all in perpetuity. A TIF district
required 50 percent AMI.
Marc Swerdlow, Principal and Chief Operations Officer of Magellan Investment
Partners, displayed a PowerPoint and explained the application.
Weber asked how the use of studio apartments would assist in fulfilling the need
for affordable housing in Eden Prairie. Swerdlow replied of the 38 units 22 are
three-bedroom affordable apartments, with a diversity of the remaining units
being one- and two-bedroom, and a small amount of studio apartments would be
affordable; the applicant did find a need for small, affordable studio apartments.
Villarreal asked if the grill units would be propane or direct line, and Swerdlow
replied they would be direct line. Villarreal asked if the nest thermostat
installation was part of the Xcel conservation program. Swerdlow replied it was
not connected but these installations were well received from residents, who
would have control of the nest thermostat. Villarreal asked how many EV units
were planned in the parking area. Swerdlow replied there was no plan for them
but would consider installing some, either interior or exterior or both, if there was
demand for it. Villarreal emphasized the importance of sufficient EV units being
so close to a light rail station.
Farr noted he could see half of the floor plan with regarding to parking and asked
if there were corridors connecting to the elevators and allowing access to
underground parking. Swerdlow replied there were; there was access via two
elevators but also direct access to the garage. Farr asked for and received
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clarification the improvement on Eden Road would be deferred and was not part
of this application. Farr then suggested a T-turnaround on the north end which
would become a dead end once the improvement was completed. Swerdlow
replied that idea was part of the plan.
Kirk asked why the area needed rezoning. Klima replied there had been an
evolution on this site since the Town Center plan and guidelines were adopted
(2006-2007). The Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2008 with some properties
not in compliance with the understanding that rezoning would occur in the future.
The project needed to be brought into compliance with the Comprehensive Plan
while fulfilling at least some of the goals of the Town Center guidelines. Also, if
the area needed to be redeveloped in the future as it ages, the zoning would then
be in place to facilitate this.
Farr spoke in favor of the project. Freiberg stated he consistently hears there is a
shortage of three-bedroom units in Eden Prairie, and found the number of them
offered by this project impressive. Higgins asked what security was being
proposed for the proposed new units. Swerdlow replied the development would
have electronic-fob access, and the residential corridor would be locked on both
ends, preventing commercial tenants from accessing the residential areas. The
existing main lobby would be converted to a residents'-only space, and access
from the parking garage would be tightened. Kirk spoke in favor of the project as
it represented a transition in the right direction.
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Weber to close the public hearing. Motion
carried 8-0.
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Weber to recommend approval of the
Lincoln Parc/Cascade at Town Center based on the staff recommendation dated
June 21, 2018 and the plans dated June 1, 2018. Motion carried 8-0.
VIII. PLANNERS' REPORT
A. ASPIRE 2040 UPDATE
Klima presented a PowerPoint and summarized the Eden Prairie Today and Eden
Prairie Tomorrow chapters of the Aspire 2040 Plan.
Kirk asked if the future population estimate of 66,101 was the City's estimate or
the Met Council's estimate. Klima replied this was the City's estimate. The
Aspire 2040 Plan was a working document and will continue to be refined based
on staff review and public process.
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Villarreal asked how many workshops City staff held as part of its community
outreach. Klima replied roughly 60 different events, including focus group
meetings, work sessions, community events, and presentations were held,
including eight focus groups (on eight different topics) in which the public was
invited to give its feedback. In addition, a DIY meeting was created so residents
could also hold meetings. An average of between 16 and 20 people participated in
each of the focus groups. Several individuals participated in two or three different
focus groups. Villarreal asked for and received confirmation these attendees
seemed representative of the larger community. Klima expressed confidence the
City had reached a broad audience.
Kirk emphasized the importance of goals and objectives, and expressed approval
that first principles were outlined in the plan. Mette asked if the following
chapters would have specific goals that tied in to these broader goals. Klima
replied the goals Kirk mentioned were specific to three topics: social equity,
community health, and sustainability. Subsequent chapters would have their own
goals and objectives to be reviewed during each chapter summary.
Villarreal asked the meaning of regulate in relation to the solar energy goals.
Klima replied the word likely meant"specifically addressing them" and did not
imply any regulatory authority. Villarreal emphasized the need to be certain no
authority was implied where it was not intended, and Kirk agreed. Klima replied
staff was in the process of reviewing the chapters one by one.
Farr asked for a schedule of upcoming chapters, and Klima displayed a timeline
slide. The July 9, 2018 meeting would include a review of the parks chapter and
the community facilities chapter. She had emailed a timeline to the commission.
Farr when the final draft would be available. Klima replied the current document
was available for viewing on the City's website, and chapters for public comment
would be available on City Connect. Farr thanked Klima for her presentation and
expressed enthusiasm for the diversity of tools used for community outreach.
IX. MEMBERS' REPORTS
Farr announced he received an email from the City Manager stating Eden Prairie was
again voted one of the 150 Best Places to Work.
X. CONTINUING BUSINESS
XI. NEW BUSINESS
XII. ADJOURNMENT
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MOTION: Freiberg moved, seconded by Higgins to adjourn the Planning Commission
meeting. MOTION CARRIED 8-0. Vice Chair Farr adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.