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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.