Planning Commission - 02/11/2019 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2018 7:00 PM—CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
COMMISSION MEMBERS: John Kirk, Charles Weber, Ann Higgins, Andrew
Pieper, Ed Farr, Michael DeSanctis, Christopher
Villarreal, Carole Mette
CITY STAFF: Julie Klima, City Planner; Matthew Bourne, Manager
of Parks and Natural Resources; Kristin Harley,
Recording Secretary
A. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Absent was commission member
Villarreal.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Kirk to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0.
D. MINUTES
MOTION: Weber moved, seconded by Farr to approve the minutes of January 28, 2018.
Motion carried 7-0.
E. INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS
A. STARING LAKE PARK SHELTER
Location: 14800 Pioneer Trail
Request for: Construction of the park shelter building
Bourne displayed a PowerPoint and explained the reconstruction. Staring Lake
Park was due for a major update on the building constructed in 1983, including
glass for natural light and separate skating and sliding hill warming house areas.
The outdoor picnic pavilion and picnic area did not work together as well as
would the redesign, which would better accommodate families and facilitate
destination rentals. The picnic pavilion would remain its own separate structure.
The overall site plan would shift the building to the southwest, closer to the
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February 11, 2019
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skating rink, to preserve the large oaks nearby. The parking loop would be
enhanced with stalls, including accessible stalls, and a drop-off area, though much
of the layout would remain the same. The building would also be connected to
sanitary sewer; it presently used a septic system. There would be a gas fire pit and
a gathering area. The edges of the gathering area and the warming house would be
rounded and added benches and an overhang, allowing for places to prepare to
skate or sled even when the building is closed. Standalone heating elements were
a possibility. The rental capacity would be for about 80 people seated. The design
accommodated attractive views of the lake and power/USB outlets.
The"command center" would serve as the headquarters for staff and a place for
food prep for rentals. A large storage area, restrooms, and mechanical facilities
were included. The restrooms were separated from the warming/gathering areas to
allow the restrooms to be open 24/7. Also, a card access was being considered for
security. Bourne displayed both setups for rentals and for sledding/skating
activities.
Pieper asked if the term on the detailed floor plan above the warming house was
"prep." Bourne replied this was indeed another small prep area. Both the
gathering room and the sledding/warming room area would be able to be rented.
Bourne displayed the exterior elevations. The side would be clad in brick with
hardy siding and windows, with asphalt shingles for the roof. The roof plan
showed two pitched roofs over the warming house areas and a flat roof over the
lobby area, restrooms, and mechanical unit with HVAC. There would be three
separate heating elements, which would be screened. Stormwater would drain into
storm ponds and infiltration basins. He displayed a slide with features and
dimensions of the warming houses and storage rooms' capacity. Snowshoe, ski or
sled rentals could be a future possibility. The landscaping would offer pollinators
and a rain garden. The picnic shelter would be bid alternate and could be added in
the future. He displayed further elevations showing the standalone picnic shelter
and indoor/outdoor artist renderings.
DeSanctis asked if this was an opportunity for the City to demonstrate how solar
energy could offset the cost of electricity. Bourne replied this had been
considered,but the area that faced south faced the parking lot and the driveway
which would cause it to be the first thing visitors would see, so a solar array
would be located elsewhere, such as at the amphitheater.
Mette asked for and received clarification the door connected to the existing
smaller warming house led to a ramp to the skating oval. Mette urged the path to
the bathrooms be given a more direct access while the warming house is not open,
or perhaps making the existing bathrooms smaller and create a single unisex
bathroom, instead of the currently designed path around the building. Bourne
agreed to explore this idea. Mette asked for and received confirmation the larger
gathering space allowed for the setup of AV equipment, and asked if the
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February 11, 2019
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command center had an opening with a service counter top. Bourne replied the
door directly from command center would be a double door with no service
counter;however,he would look at adding such a roll-up counter Mette was
suggesting. Mette urged having a round seating area where the square planter was
shown to facilitate more interaction between visitors and the raised garden. Mette
added she was underwhelmed by the architecture which seemed similar to the
current(and dated) building, with a piecemeal and complex roof, though she liked
the curved wall. She urged more efficiency in the roof and a more up-to-date,
unified design.
Farr shared Mette's concerns, though he loved the plan in general and the
enlargement of the space, and how it utilized the outdoors with the windows. He
referred to the water pump house from the January 28, 2018 meeting, which was
not even a destination, as a better example of incorporating design with a public
amenity. This building was not inspiring, where in the context of the hills and the
lake it could be more playful. Higgins agreed and stated she wished to try to
articulate what was missing: the architecture should say, "This is Staring Park."
Discussion followed on what specifically could help the design be more inviting.
Kirk concurred with the concerns of the other commission members but stated the
semicircular design appealed to him emphasizing the outdoors, showing winter as
well as summer. Higgins asked if there change in staff as a result of the redesign.
Bourne replied there would be no change, although two staff members might be
used to monitor visitors. There would also be cameras. Farr asked what steps were
taken to discourage nuisance crime such as broken windows. Bourne replied
security mesh screening would be on all windows; there was no fear of vandalism.
Farr asked if the windows could be opened to allow fresh air, and Bourne agreed
to check on that.
Kirk suggested adding statues or artwork to warm up the design. Mette reiterated
the building should tell a story, as the water pump station did—the question was
what the story could be at this location. She asked what the history of Staring
Lake was and if that was a possible direction. Farr added he did not find the
present entrance/exit procession or the scale of the building, rather like an
insurance building with heaving roofs and deep shadows, to be kid- or family-
friendly; also, it did not adequately utilize this vista. Discussion followed on
further suggestions to improve the design to make it more unique and memorable.
The commissioners emphasized they approved of the project in general but
wished to see a continuation of the creative designs utilizing context such as the
pump house and Fire Station#4.
Klima stated this was an informational item requiring no formal action at present.
Kirk praised Bourne for his efforts and the City for investing in this valuable
amenity. Bourne thanked the commission members for their suggestions.
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F. PUBLIC MEETINGS
G. PUBLIC HEARINGS
H. PLANNERS' REPORT
Klima issued a reminder the commission members were next Tuesday invited to the City
Council work session the following Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. The Planning Commission
meeting on February 25, 2019 was canceled.
I. MEMBERS' REPORTS
J. CONTINUING BUSINESS
K. NEW BUSINESS
L. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Kirk to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried
6-0. Chair Pieper adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m.