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10-24-11 PC Minutes Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2011 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Monday, October 24, 2011. Chair Waldhauser called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Those present were Planning Commissioners, Cera, Kisch, Kluchka, McCarty, Schmidgall, Segelbaum and Waldhauser. Also present was Director of Planning and Development Mark Grimes, City Planner Joe Hogeboom, Finance Director Sue Virnig, City Engineer Jeff Oliver and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman. 1. Presentation of Capital Improvement Program 2012-2016 — Sue Virnig, City Finance Director Sue Virnig, Finance Director, explained that the Planning Commission reviews the proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) because it is a part of the City's Comprehensive Plan. She referred to various sections in the CIP and discussed the State Aid Fund, the Douglas Drive Franchise Fee and the Golden Hills TIF District being decertified in 2015 which will cause a significant reduction in debt. She noted that the City Council has reviewed the document once already and they will be reviewing it again in November with a vote to adopt in December. Kluchka asked if there have been any impacts to the CIP based on current economic conditions. Virnig stated that the Pavement Management Program has been slowed down because of the impact of bond payments with the tax levy. Waldhauser asked for an explanation of cooperative agreements. Oliver explained that there is funding available for enhancements made to roads that are adjacent to state roads. He stated that he is hopeful the City will get the funding for the proposed enhancements at the Highway 55 and Winnetka intersection. Waldhauser asked about the proposed study to look at the removal or replacement of Brookview community center. Virnig explained that the study will consider the needs for that building and its possible replacement in the future. Waldhauser asked if the regional trail connections being proposed will impact the CIP. Virnig stated that the money for the maintenance of trails comes from the General Fund. Schmidgall asked if the equipment replacement at Brookview Golf Course comes from the revenue they generate. Virnig said yes, Brookview Golf Course is funded from user fees. Waldhauser referred to the expense of stormwater issues and asked if they are paid by the City or if they are assessed to private property owners. Oliver explained that it depends on what kind of stormwater project is being done. However, the Bassett Creek bank improvements listed in the CIP are funded by the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission at no cost to the City. Waldhauser asked about alternatives Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2011 Page 2 to traditional stormwater retention ponds. Oliver discussed trends in volume control through infiltration and filtration and stated that the City implements whatever works best on a case-by-case basis. Segelbaum referred to the proposed design of the intersection of Harold and Winnetka Avenues and asked if it is subject to change pending the outcome of the zoning in that area. Ol�ver said that the design for the intersection improvement has been finalized and the design was made considering the land use designation in the Comprehensive Plan MOVED by Schmidgall, seconded by Cera and motion carried unanimously to recommend approval of the 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program as it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. 2. Approval of Minutes September 12, 2011 Regular Planning Commission Meeting Waldhauser referred to the second paragraph on page 2 and asked that the sentence be changed to read as follows: Waldhauser noted that single family homes would be allowed to remain or allowed to be built in the future if the area is rezoned to R-2. MOVED by Segelbaum, seconded by Kisch and motion carried unanimously to approve the September 12, 2011 with the above noted change. Commissioners McCarty and Cera abstained from voting. 3. Informal Public Hearing — General Land Use Plan Map Amendment— Properties iocated north of Harold Avenue, south of Highway 55, west of Glenwood Avenue and east of Winnetka Avenue. The properties are proposed to be redesignated to Low Density Residential Applicant: City of Golden Valley Addresses: Properties located north of Harold Avenue, south of Highway 55, west of Glenwood Avenue and east of Winnetka Avenue (except for the Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church property) Purpose: To re-designate the properties to Low Density Residential Hogeboom explained the request per City Council to re-designate the properties east and west of the Spirit of Hope Methodist church to Low Density Residential on the General Land Use Plan Map (Comprehensive Plan). Currently, the properties west of the church are designated Medium-High Density Residential and the properties east of the church are designated Medium-Low Density. He explained that approximately one month ago the City Council denied rezoning the properties west of the church to Medium Density Residential (R-3). However, the Council approved rezoning the properties east of the church to Moderate Density Residential (R-2). He explained that the General Land Use Plan Map and the Zoning Map have to be consistent so at this point the plan is to re- Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2011 Page 3 designate both areas back to Low Density Residential. After the change to Low Density, the City Council could consider zoning changes for the properties in the R-1 or R-2 category. He added that the process to re-designate the properties on the General Land Use Plan Map (Comprehensive Plan) could take up to six months. Grimes added that the Low Density designation can accommodate properties zoned either R-1 or R-2. Waldhauser questioned if there will be enough time to meet with the neighbors to discuss various zoning possibilities. Schmidgall stated that there were rumors that a developer owned, or was interested in acquiring, some of the properties west of the church. He questioned if these properties are re-designated back to Low Density if a developer could do anything with them. Hogeboom stated that United Properties was interested in considering a senior housing development on the west properties but that idea will be abandoned once these properties are re-designated back to Low Density. Segelbaum stated that in essence re-designating these properties will restrict development to R-1 or R-2 in both areas. Grimes agreed and added that the properties east of the church are currently consistent with the General Land Use Plan Map. Kluchka asked if re-designating the properties east of the church would prevent the church from buying adjacent property to use for parking. Hogeboom explained that if the church wanted to use adjacent property for parking the General Land Use Plan Map and the Zoning Map would have to be changed to Institutional. Schmidgall asked if there would be a benefit to using the same terms on both the General Land Use Plan Map and the Zoning Map to avoid confusion. Kisch suggested adding the zoning districts as part of the key on the General Land Use Plan Map so it would be easier to distinguish which zoning districts would be compatible in each land use designation. Waldhauser summarized that the Planning Commission has received direction from the City Council that they don't want to change the zoning on the subject properties, so now the General Land Use Plan Map needs to be amended instead. Waldhauser opened the public hearing. Brian Hillins, 340 Louisiana Avenue North, asked if any discussion regarding rezoning of the properties will be tabled until the General Land Use Plan Map amendment process is finished. Waldhauser explained that there will be no changes in zoning until the General Land Use Plan Map is consistent with the Zoning Map. Hillins said he, and other residents, would be interested in discussing the future zoning of these properties when the General Land Use Plan Map amendment process is done. Seeing and hearing no one else wishing to comment, Waldhauser closed the public hearing. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2011 Page 4 McCarty asked if the Zoning Map will have to be updated in six months or when the General Land Use Plan Map amendment process is done. Hogeboom stated that the City Council will have to decide how they want the properties zoned. Grimes said he thinks it would be appropriate for the Planning Commission as a part of their recommendation to ask the Council for a study of the area to be done. MOVED by Segelbaum and seconded by Kluchka to recommend re-designating the subject properties to Low Density Residential on the General Land Use Plan Map. Kisch amended the motion to include asking the City Council to study how the properties should be zoned and what the highest and best use for the properties would be. McCarty said he understands the neighborhood concerns but the City is losing development opportunities and that needs to be weighed against what the City Council is asking the Planning Commission to do. Waldhauser said she shares the same concern and that is why she supported the High Density designation, but the Planning Commission's charge is to make the General Land Use Plan Map and Zoning Map consistent. McCarty said he is concerned about losing development opportunities and limiting what is able to be built on these properties. Cera said he agrees with McCarty and suggested that the properties be re-designated to Medium-Low Density. Waldhauser said that would open the door to higher density and that is what the neighborhood and the City Council didn't want. Kisch noted that the Medium-Low designation would make the properties west of the church non-compliant with the Zoning Map. Grimes explained that it is difficult to see what uses the different zoning districts would allow, but the Council was quite clear about wanting to re-designate the General Land Use Plan Map back to Low Density Residential and consider the zoning designations in the future. Waldhauser noted that a motion and a second had been made. Commissioners Cera, Kisch, Kluchka, Segelbaum and Waldhauser voted yes in recommending that the General Land Use Plan Map be re-designated to Low Density Residential and a zoning study of the area be conducted. Commissioners McCarty and Schmidgall voted no. --Short Recess-- 4. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other Meetings Waldhauser reported on the MnAPA conference she and Commissioner Kluchka attended. She referred to a legislative session where she learned about what constitutes a taking and another session she attended regarding smaller scale redevelopment with limited funding. She offered to share materials and highlights of the conference to the Planning Commission at a future meeting. Kluchka added that he attended a session regarding the incorporation of health policies and improvements into planning ordinances and policies. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2011 Page 5 Schmidgall reported on the September 20, 2011 City Council meeting. He stated that SuperAmerica's request to stay open 24 hours per day was denied. He said there was discussion of illegal signage on the site that he wasn't aware off and he felt as if the City Council had different information than what was presented to the Planning Commission. 5. Other Business No other business was discussed. 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:46 pm. � �t�- � � David A. Cera, Secretary