Planning Commission - 04/08/2019 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY,APRIL 8, 2019 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, Balu Iyer
CITY STAFF: Julie Klima, City Planner; Rod Rue, City Engineer;
Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary
I. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
Chair Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
II. SWEARING IN OF NEW COMMISSION MEMBER
Klima swore in the new Planning Commission member, Balu Iyer.
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Commission member Weber was absent.
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Iyer moved, seconded by Higgins to approve the agenda. MOTION
CARRIED 8-0.
V. MINUTES
MOTION: DeSanctis moved, seconded by Villarreal to approve the minutes of March
25, 2019. MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MN LLC
Location: 6385 Beach Rd
Request for:
• Planned Unit Development Concept Review on approximately 55 acres
• Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on
approximately 55 acres
• Site Plan Review on approximately 55 acres
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 8, 2019
Page 2
John Harriss, Principal of Harriss & Associates,presented the application. He thanked
City staff for its work with him. He had worked on this building being renovated back as
a young architect in 1989. He stated there were limitations on this project due to the site
being hilly and bisected by a wetland. In addition to the improvements, he sought a new
architectural expression as the present buildings were quite conservative: two-story brick
exteriors that followed the original master plan but needed updating.
Harriss displayed a PowerPoint showing the location of the cafeteria and classroom
addition. He added the overall 57 acres was contained in the packet but was not a part of
this PowerPoint. The site was bisected by a roadway and parking area, and made up of
three similar-shaped, two-story walk-out buildings. The cafeteria and classrooms
comprised this project. An enlargement of the area showed the difficulty of having
internal roads on this hilly site,requiring a"spine" at the perimeter. Harriss stated the
addition would be 5,700 square feet and would renovate the kitchen and dining area.
Deliveries would come into a new driveway slightly shifted from its current site. A trash
and delivery room would be constructed to provide interior spaces for those services. An
entry to the south would be constructed for after school pickup. The building's second
floor renovation continued the corridor into a new biology classroom and lab and a
physics classroom and lab, and a small office. The enlarged first floor plan showed the
entrance and trash area and renovated dining area. The second floor physics and biology
classrooms would have labs as well with emergency equipment.
There would be a new and renovated dining area with salad stations,beverage stations, et
cetera. The fenestration on the first floor would be virtually all glass with punched
openings. There would be doors added to existing opening for future outdoor dining.
Harriss displayed the south and west elevations which showed the current classroom
windows as well as the future windows for the renovation. The canopy would be
removed and a corrugated look added in a more modern style. There would be white
doors and windows to tie the renovation together with the existing building along with a
six foot cantilever. Harriss explained the blue opaque panels were actually glass in an
effort to bring as much light into the building as possible. He detailed the materials and
materials percentages. He showed the stairs, emergency exits, and doors on the west
elevation.
DeSanctis asked if the exterior lighting would impact the surrounding residential area on
Beach Road. Harriss replied it would not; no pole lighting would be added. DeSanctis
asked if there was an opportunity for rain water capture or recycling. Harriss replied he
had not pursued that as the entire site has an irrigation system,but it might be possible to
capture rainwater in a cistern which could be connected to the irrigation system, and this
would depend upon the owner. Iyer asked if there was a storm water drainage pond
planned. Harriss replied he did get approval from the Watershed District to switch from a
large infiltration basin to replace the existing one, which was expensive, to a phased
project which would push changes to the existing basin out to the future when the
residence hall would be renovated. Iyer asked for and received confirmation the existing
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 8, 2019
Page 3
infiltration system could handle the current volume of water. The current transformer
would be replaced and relocated to the north.
Farr asked if the "modern design" noted in the Master Plan could be expected in future
renovations on the site and if so, to what extent. Harriss replied this design would be
extended to the future renovation of the performing arts center and gymnasium, a service
area which would receive a more robust athletics component, and to connect two brick
buildings with modern materials in a more creative way. Some of this had already been
done on site with renovated bands, sun shades, and a corrugated look. Farr asked how the
existing parking would change. Harriss stated the parking could handle 1,000 students,
whereas the school had 400 attendees at present. However, there was another area that
could offer an additional 80 spaces if need be.
Klima gave the staff report. The applicant was seeking an amendment to an existing PUD
and an amendment to the site plan for the classroom and cafeteria addition. One PUD
waiver was being request for the west facade. Staff recommended approval of that waiver
subject to conditions and approval of the plan as proposed. Some landscaping would be
added to the project,but no trees would be removed.
Mette asked the difference between a PUD Concept Review versus a PUD District
Review and why both were needed. Klima replied City code stated a PUD should not be
approved unless it complied with a PUD Concept Review. Both can be reviewed
simultaneously and it does not be an"extra step."
Villarreal asked Klima to address the materials against the zoning ordinance. Klima
replied City code did require 75 percent of Class One materials per facade, and not by the
overall calculation of the building, and this was a recent change driven by new design
standards, thus the waiver. It was triggered on the west facade because that did not have
an existing building to draw upon. Farr challenged this interpretation which measured
only the west facade, as the building was serpentine. Klima replied staff strove to relay
the same message to all property owners and an equitable interpretation took into
consideration the particular circumstances of the project.
MOTION: Iyer moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. MOTION
CARRIED 8-0.
Mette urged the applicant to consider tailoring the materials intended for the trash room
to allow a power wash and ventilation to prevent odors, and to consider using a dark
stained concrete to avoid discoloration from rolling garbage cans back and forth. Kirk
expressed approval of having"borderline" or"questionable" issues such as Farr's
concerns regarding the materials percentages come before the commission, which
showed Eden Prairie's high standards in construction. Villarreal stated his initial
inclination was this discussion of materials was not required by the commission,but it
prevented "gray area" questions not automatically being granted without a waiver, even
though the applicant for this project might not be required to go through the waiver
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
April 8, 2019
Page 4
process. Klima replied the waiver request was not the only issue prompting this
commission review. The addition was 5,700 square feet in size, which did not allow for a
streamlined review process and which automatically triggered a PUD review. DeSanctis
thanked the applicant for considering lighting impacts on circadian rhythms. Farr thanked
the applicant for maintaining architect continuity throughout the life of this building.
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Farr to recommend approval of the planned unit
concept review on approximately 55 acres, planned unit development district review with
waivers on approximately 55 acres, and site plan review on approximately 55 acres
based on the staff report dated April 4, 2019 and plans stamp-dated March 22, 2019.
MOTION CARRIED 8-0.
B. PLANNERS' REPORT
Klima reminded the commission members of the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed
District Open House on April 10, 2019.
C. MEMBERS' REPORTS
D. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Iyer to adjourn the meeting. MOTION
CARRIED 8-0. Chair Pieper adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.