Planning Commission - 05/13/2019 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE PLANNING COMMISSION
MONDAY, MAY 13, 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;
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
Commission members Weber, Iyer and Villarreal were absent.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by DeSanctis to approve the agenda. MOTION
CARRIED 6-0.
IV. MINUTES
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Farr to approve the minutes of April 22, 2019.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. CITY YARD WASTE DROP SITE
Location: 9811 Flying Cloud Drive
Request for: Site Plan Review on 13.84 acres
Robert Ellis, Director of Public Works for Eden Prairie, presented a PowerPoint
and detailed the application. The City was requesting approval of a Site Plan to
establish a yard waste drop off area at the Maintenance Outdoor Storage Site at
9811 Flying Cloud Drive, located on the east side of Flying Cloud Drive and
southwest of Pioneer Trail across from airport property. The site is approximately
a half-mile from residential housing and is hidden behind a berm. The site
included a sand and salt storage canopy building and a cold storage equipment
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 13, 2019
Page 2
building for storage of off season equipment. The site would also be used by the
City for the storage of trees and brush, construction material, vehicles and
equipment. The proposed drop off site would accept yard waste, trees and brush
but not grass clippings, dirt, lumber, stumps or mixed loads. The site would be
open April through November, primarily later daylight hours and on weekends.
Ellis displayed and explained the entrance and the egress and the gate, the traffic
access, and circulation within the site. He displayed the views of the site from
various residential areas and displayed the timeline for completion, with
construction beginning in July, 2019 and the site being opened to the public in
April, 2020.
Kirk asked if the site would include an RV sanitary dump station. Ellis replied
that had not been considered but there was the potential for that. A truck that
cleaned sewer lines would be accommodated there. DeSanctis asked what impact
the light dome would have on the residential area. Ellis replied only one new
streetlight would be installed,plus some wall packs,but otherwise there was not
much new lighting. The facility would not normally operate after dark. DeSanctis
asked if this was an opportunity to use wind/solar energy or a combination. Ellis
replied his office had not explored it due to height restrictions stemming from its
proximity to the airport, and there would be minimal power usage on site. The
facility would be selling power back to the energy grid, and since all available
space would be used, there was no space for solar panels, though perhaps there is
potential for them on the former landfill site. This would entail a discussion with
the MPCA, plus holding community meetings and working through state law.
Farr asked for and received confirmation the county approved the improvements
to Flying Cloud Road at this site. He asked if drivers inadvertently entering the
site during off hours could negotiate a three-point turn at the automated entry
gate. Ellis replied the City would explore accommodating that for a vehicle with a
trailer; the current design made it possible for a small vehicle to do so. Farr
emphasized the importance of the fire hydrant being able to service the farthest
pile of dumped wood onsite.
Pieper asked for a figure on improvements and operating costs. Ellis replied
750,000.00 dollars was budgeted, and the annual operating budget was estimated
at 60,000.00 dollars but he hoped it would be operated at 45,000.00. He estimated
30,000.00 dollars a year for maintenance. Higgins asked how mixed loads would
be prohibited. Ellis replied the City took the City of Plymouth's experience and
found that effective communicated prevented problems. He expected there to be
some "growing pains" the first year. Two employees would work the site at all
times to inspect and if necessary to reject loads. There would also be signage. Farr
asked if there would be restrooms for employees and the public. Ellis replied there
would be no permanent restrooms; there would be port-a-Potties for employees at
a minimum.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 13, 2019
Page 3
Klima commented the site was guided and zoned for industrial purposes, which
was a permitted use. Staff recommended approval.
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by DeSanctis to close the public hearing.
MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
MOTION: Higgins moved, seconded by Kirk to recommend approval of the site
plan review on 13.84 acres based on the plan stamp-dated May 9, 2019 and staff
report dated May 8, 2019. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
B. CASTLE RIDGE
Location: 612-635 Prairie Center Drive
Request for:
• Planned Unit Development Concept Review on 19.75 acres
• Planned Unit Development District Review with waivers on 19.75 acres
• Zoning District Review on 19.75 acres and Zoning District change from C-Com
to RM-2.5 on 1.4 acres
• Site Plan Review on 6.94 acres
• Preliminary Plat of four lots into one lots and two outlots on 19.75 acres
John Fletcher, of Presbyterian Homes and Services, presented the revised plan and
highlighted the key questions the commissioners had at the April 22 hearing. A
second large vehicle loading space and delivery lane was added. There were now two
drop-off entrances, and short-term parking was added. The applicant working within
this confined space added ten additional benches, and outdoor yoga studio, more al
fresco outdoor dining space, more hardscaped seating area next to the entry, and
added ivy vines to the sides of the parking garage. The first floor of the senior
housing would include the outdoor yoga studio, bistro (indoor) dining, and al fresco
dining spaces. The site would accommodate a wide range of occupants, from
independent-living seniors to clients needing memory care. Community herb gardens
were added to both the independent-living and memory-care areas.
The rooftop would include a cistern system to collect rain water, since solar was not
feasible for this development, as well as additional benches. As far as increasing the
building height, that came with increased challenges, since height changed building
type and changed the requirements for materials, increasing costs. The project would
remain at five stories. Each area of the project would have its own parking
requirement but the entire site would be subject to a master declaration to dictate
parking standards, including cross access easements, parking rights, et cetera. He
explained the parking areas and perimeter roads.
DeSanctis applauded the inclusion of the memory herb garden and asked if hard
numbers were run for the solar panels system. Fletcher replied the company explored
this but could not take advantage of tax credits as a non-profit organization. Mette
asked for and received clarification the maintenance of the vacated western part of
Castlemoore Road would be borne by Presbyterian Homes and shared by the project
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 13, 2019
Page 4
partners. The private roads would maintained by the partners under a maintenance
agreement, and there would be a private access easement. The public access to the
site would be discouraged from being used for deliveries.
Farr recommended changing the proposed seating on the rooftop (exhibit A) at the
top of the wall to allow residents to enjoy a better vista. Fletcher replied there were
benches where Farr indicated; the stars on the slide only showed the newest seating
added. Farr also recommended widened front entries for emergency vehicles and a
resident bicycle/tricycle lending program, which was successful for elderly residents.
Fletcher replied the bike racks would be primarily for employees, and a
bicycle/tricycle lending program could be considered. He commended the previous
design of the colored crosswalk bisecting the connector and urged that it be restored.
Fletcher replied the use across the street needed to be finalized, but he would add the
walking path if the use called for it. Farr warned Fletcher to shift the location of the
underground storage tank and to rethink the location of the accessible southwest
corner parking stalls. Fletcher agreed to both suggestions.
Klima presented the staff report. The public hearing for this item was opened at the
April 22 meeting and continued to this meeting. The entire site was seeking a PUD
approval and two sites had concept reviews, whereas only Presbyterian Homes would
be seeking final approval at this meeting. Staff recommended approval of this revised
plan and PUD waivers.
Mette asked for next steps for the two outlots, specifically if there was anything to
prevent an applicant coming back with a 15-story office building or changing the plan
to trigger a PUD instead of a site review. Klima replied City Code was very clear that
a concept review was not binding,but such a hypothetical change at these outlots
would have to go through PUD process and comprehensive plan revision and would
be inconsistent with zoning. DeSanctis noted there were now three significant
residential developments close to Mall and asked how to promote pedestrian access.
Klima replied two of the projects were senior projects which limited the mobility of
residents. The City would be looking at pedestrian connections as part of this and
future development applications. The City had updated its transportation plan as a
part of Aspire 2040 and this was a long-term process.
Farr asked if Outlot C could be continued further east to the eastern edge of that
southerly property line of the neighbor; as it was it might harm the nearby resident
who had written a letter, and asked if an agreement could be added to allow this
landowner future access to the outlot in the wake of future redevelopment. Rue
replied the property owner would have legal access to the entire outlot according to
the development agreement,but the City could explore extending the line. Another
access was not likely in that area,however. Farr stated he was thinking of possible
redevelopment on the other side of Castlemoore Drive, specifically the setback
allowed next to the public way. Rue agreed to explore an agreement to address this.
Farr noted the slide showing the trees and perennials off lot one, and asked if this was
acceptable to staff. Klima replied perennials and landscape beds could only account
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 13, 2019
Page 5
toward 25 percent of the calculation and the site provided for more than the
requirement, and staff calculated the waiver request accordingly.
Angela Opstad from Cushman and Wakefield spoke about the Fountain Place
project's possible change to the delivery flow of her business by vacating
Castlemoore Drive to the east. She requested a traffic count at a minimum and for the
commission to consider the letter submitted. Fletcher replied the partners were
essentially cutting Castlemoore Drive in half. The western half would remain in place
as a private drive at no cost, and the eastern half would be vacated and consolidated
with two parcels to create an outlot planned for commercial use. Fountain Way would
continue to have access through the intersection and delivery access would turn west
onto Castlemoore Drive going to Columbine, which was a safer access. There would
be no roundabout. He agreed to communicate with Ms. Opstad throughout the
development process.
MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by Kirk to close the public hearing. MOTION
CARRIED 6-0.
Farr commended the project and the applicant's efforts to address the commission
members' and the residents' comments and concerns. Kirk concurred and stated this
process had been positive. Two additional project partners in the future would have a
greater understanding of the commission's expectations as a result.
MOTION: Farr moved, seconded by DeSanctis to recommend approval of the
planned unit concept review on 19.75 acres,planned unit development district review
with waivers on 19.75 acres, zoning district review on 19.75 acres and zoning district
change from C-Com to RM-2.5 on 1.4 acres, site plan review on 6.94 acres, and
preliminary plat of four lots into one lots and two outlots on 19.75 acres based on
plans stamp-dated May 1, 2019 and the staff report dated April 19, 2019 and May 9,
2019. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
VI. PLANNERS' REPORT
VII. MEMBERS' REPORTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Kirk moved, seconded by Higgins to adjourn. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.