11-13-06 PC Agenda
AGENDA
Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
Golden Valley City Hall, 7800 Golden Valley Road
Council Conference Room
Monday,November13,2006
7pm
1. Approval of Minutes
October 23, 2006 Special Planning Commission Meeting
October 23, 2006 Regular Planning Commission Meeting
2. Discussion Regarding Infill Housing Issues
3. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority,
City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other Meetings
4. Other Business
5. Adjournment
Special Meeting of the
Golden Valley Planning Commission
.
October 23, 2006
A special meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall,
Council Conference Room, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on
Monday, October 23,2006. Chair Keysser called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
Those present were Planning Commissioners Cera, Eck, Keysser, Kluchka and
Waldhauser. Also present was Director of Planning and Development 'mes, City
Engineer Jeff Oliver, Environmental Coordinator AI Lundstrom and A
Assistant Lisa Wittman. Commissioners McCarty and Schmidgall r
I. Storm Water Management Discussion with City En
Oliver referred to 2 year s
100 year storm has a 1 %
90% chance of occurring i
occurring in any gi ar
was based on a two
that today's de st
based on 10
tudy the
sues related
I y ineer Jeff Oliver
e technical
Keysser stated that the City Council has asked the Planning
issues of infill and~',tear down" development. He expla' th
to this type of development is stormwater drainage so
to attend this meeting in order to give the Planni
information about the stormwater drainage issu
Oliver gave the Commissioners copies of
that the thing that stands out the most
yard storm sewer or catch basins in ba
developed there was little though
the future.
er base map. He explained
the dramatic absence of rear
rom added that when the City was
ainage and what would happen in
.
storms and 100 year storms and explained that a
ring in any given year, a 10 year storm has a
ven ye r and a 2 year storm has a 98% chance of
ted that the design standard used several years ago
'ch results in considerably smaller pipes. He added
designed for a higher intensity of storm events and are
hich results in bigger pipes and more capacity.
equency or intensity of storm events have been getting worse.
know but there has been some discussion nationally about reviewing
cu rves.
.
t most of the concerns the City hears about is water standing on
somebo t. He said that until approximately 10 years ago there really wasn't a lot of
attention paid to the grading of property for sheds, fences and landscaping and what
those things do to the drainage patterns. He explained that the City's policy for dealing
with rear yard drainage is that the City is responsible for storm water once it hits the
streets or is intercepted by a pipe that it owns and maintains. When the problem is in back
yards, the City will provide technical advice and help analyze the situation but it is the
homeowner's responsibility. Waldhauser said that she thinks residents realize there is
probably a technical solution, but they feel they are paying to drain the neighborhood.
.
.
.
Oliver explained that the City will provide a public improvement project to extend storm
sewer into a backyard if the affected property owners, or everybody that contributes to the
drainage, pays for it. He stated that since he has worked in Golden Valley there has never
been that type of a public improvement project done. Waldhauser agreed that the
homeowner's would probably not do a public improvement project voluntarily.
Keysser asked if the City could do a special assessment district. Oliver said the City
could, but they are very difficult to establish because they have to go through the public
hearing process and the homeowner's that don't have a problem don't typically want to
pay an assessment because they won't see as obvious of a benefit.
Waldhauser stated the homeowner's are required to pay an assessm
be reconstructed. Oliver said that is a little different because stree
everybody uses. Streets are much more visual and more hand
drainage is a little more ushadowy". For example, one homeo
drainage problem, but ten properties might be contributing t
Oliver explained that most of Golden Valley's drainag
proper grading. He said that there are very few ho
surface water draining issues most of the issues
high water table.
treets to
at
ter
a
Ived with
Un! that have
ter infiltration and the
Grimes asked if the funds that property 0
go to maintain the existing system. Oli
projects such as nutrient and sedim
environmental manholes, etc. He
in general are addressed by th
enforcing those issues.
urface water management
oes into water quality types of
sewer cleaning, street sweeping,
st 0 e rate control and flooding issues
. t and the City is responsible for
Waldhauser said that m
new properties bein de
problems worse. S
issue to begin ith a
conditions. Oli
low spots .
floodin
surface
g rs concerns seem to be about the run-off from
nd tha the new home being built will make their water
lot of these properties already have a groundwater
additional surface water adds to these existing
ost common surface water issue is water standing in
. Kluchka asked if the surface water contributes to basement
, but generally it takes a minimum of a 2% grade to get good
er a turf area.
re is a way to make this issue easier for people to understand. Oliver
al is to not make an existing situation worse. He handed out copies of
the gra inage and erosion control plan application and explained all of the
information at is required from applicants. Grimes added that the City is also starting to
implement subdivision agreements that will help with the grading, drainage and erosion
control issues.
Cera stated that the grading, drainage and erosion control plans are submitted at the time
the building permit process starts and questioned if the timing could be different so
drainage plans are submitted earlier in the process. Oliver said it is difficult because often
times lots are custom graded and designed after the property has been subdivided so
staff doesn't know what type of house is going to be built.
.
.
.
Kluchka asked how the grading plans are enforced. Lundstrom explained that a
Certificate of Occupancy is not issued until there is a final inspection of the grading to
make sure that the property is graded properly.
Keysser asked about the effectiveness rain gardens, environmental manholes, etc. Oliver
said they are all tools in the tool box but in the right place they can be tremendously
successful. Keysser asked how much maintenance is involved with rain gardens and how
the City enforces the maintenance. Oliver explained that the City requires applicants to
enter into maintenance agreements and they are supposed to do the routine maintenance
and report back to the City annually. He added that the City does have the ability to do
order that the maintenance work be done or the City can do the work a e property
owner.
Cera asked if the maintenance agreements are permanently on
said yes.
Waldhauser asked how onerous the maintenance on ponds
most storm water !)onds need to be dredged after ap ima
rain gardens haven't been around long enough to k
. Oliver said
. .He said that
nce yet.
Keysser asked if larger sized commercial sites r
management. Oliver said that the City follows th
Cera asked if the City periodically che
Oliver reiterated that the applicants ar
added that periodic inspections ar
staff has put together a list of m
do.
er Ie I of storm water
District standards.
gardens once they are built.
bmit annual reports. Lundstrom
nstruction stage. He stated that
that are reasonable for a homeowner to
Cera asked if there is a
Lundstrom stated that m
on a complaint basi
Keysser noted
drainage situati
grading p
built b
'n gardens that would not be taxing on the staff.
maint ance issues with rain gardens will be handled
Ision requests the grading plan can make the existing
era said it comes back to how the City is going to enforce the
ned that there may be increase in run-off when a new house is
Iy quantify the total volume is very difficult.
's a fee for the maintenance agreement. Grimes said yes. Cera asked
oes bonding. Oliver said that bonds are hard to collect on.
Oliver reit ed that staff takes drainage issues very seriously and spend a lot of time
making sure that proposed drainage plans will work. He said that if a proposal goes to the
Planning Commission with a positive recommendation they can be confident that staff
feels the proposed drainage plan will work. Grimes added that if the City Engineer is not
confident about a proposed drainage plan the proposal most likely won't even go to the
Planning Commission.
II. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 pm.
.
.
.
Regular Meeting of the.
Golden Valley Planning Commission
October 23, 2006
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 23, 2006. Chair Keysser called the meeting to order at 7 pm.
Those present were Planning Commissioners Cera, Eck, Keysser, Kluch~a and
Waldhauser. Also present was Director of Planning and Development Ma rimes, City
Engineer Jeff Oliver, SEH Traffic Consultant Mike Kotila and Administr 'stant Lisa
Wittman. Commissioners McCarty and Schmidgall were absent.
I. Approval of minutes
September 25, 2006 Planning Commission Meeting
MOVED by Eck, seconded by Waldhauser and motio
the September 25,2006 minutes as submitted.
II. Informal Public Hearing - Preliminary
PUD No. 53-A2
Applicant: Minnesota ND Pr
Insurance an
rporation owned by Teachers
of New York
Address:
Purpose:
o square foot office building with two additional
arking ramp.
Grimes explained th
to a site plan 0
Golden Hills D .
hotel. He
they w
t is proposing to amend their existing PUD. He referred
ated that the vacant part of the site at the corner of
ia Avenue was originally designated for the construction of a
ners now feel that a hotel doesn't make economic sense and
second office building instead.
e proposed new office building have 7 to 8 stories of parking and
ve that. He said that the main issue regarding this proposal is the
at the intersection of Golden Hills Drive and Xenia Avenue. He stated
that staff s to make sure that intersection will operate effectively and efficiently in the
future. He added that staff has suggested that there should be some limitation on the
amount of employees which is not acceptable to the applicant. He said that another
solution may be to limit the amount of parking on the site but those numbers still need to
be worked out between the City and the applicant. The applicant has said they would be
comfortable limiting the number of parking spaces which will reduce the peak hour trips to
an acceptable level.
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
October 23, 2006
Page 2
.
He said he thinks the number of parking spaces will between 1,600 and 2,200. He added
that there are some significant public improvements that are going to be required with the
project and that the developer has committed to doing these improvements.
Grimes stated that the applicant is using the same architect used for the first building so
the proposed new office building will be consistent with the existing building.
Eck referred to Grimes' staff report and noted that in it, it states that the number of
parking spaces would be limited to 1,600. Grimes explained that was the n mber
proposed by staff but the applicant isn't comfortable with that number '11 be
working with the applicant to come up with a number of parking spac rk.
Sellegren showed the Commis .
peak hour trips from all the dev
trips for a 200,000 square
for a 240,000 square foo
square foot office building
hat the Golden Hills
ctid any in the metro
osal is to add two levels to
ave seven levels of parking
ssed the entrances and exits
o the proposed new building.
Waldhauser stated that the 1-394 Corridor Study looked at the
future developments in that area and asked if the Colonnad '
the Corridor Study. 'Grimes stated that it does and stated th
Mike Kotila looked at both the Corridor Study and the Colonn
.
Dave Sellegren, Attorney representing the prope
Drive and Xenia Avenue intersection is as studi
area. He referred to an area map and explained
the existing parking ramp and a new offic
and 240,000 square feet of office spac
on the site and showed several persp
t illustrated the projected amount of PM
in rea, the projected amount of peak hour
ing and the projected amount of peak hour trips
'\i~e said that the difference between a 200,000
40,000 'square foot office building is 38 trips.
chitect for the project, stated that the building design
Ived from continuing the same design and materials as
stated that the proposed new building will be approximately
e shorter than the existing Colonnade building. It will have 8
r 7 levels of parking. He stated that they are only requiring two
ill be along Golden Hills Drive and will be used for delivery trucks
rs will continue to use the existing entrances to access the parking
buildings.
Farr showe he Commissioners a shadow study. The study looked at the summer and
winter solstice and showed the proposal with the previously proposed hotel and the newly
proposed office building. He said that the hotel and proposed office building would have
pretty much the same impact to the neighborhood.
.
Cera asked about the height difference between the previously proposed hotel and the
newly proposed office building.
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
October 23, 2006
Page 3
.
Farr said that the hotel was proposed to be 150 to 170 feet high and the office building is
proposed to be 200 feet in height. Grimes added that the height of the hotel was never
really determined and that the plans were conceptual.
Eck referred to the driveway plan and asked if the new truck access would be able to
accommodate trailers as mentioned as a concern in the staff reports. Farr explained that
there is a loading berth that can hold two semi-truck trailer lengths as well as a trash berth
recessed under the parking deck that will service the phase two building.
Cera asked if the existing sidewal
sidewalks will stay or be contin
there is a sculpture
an II service phase two
rr stated that there were
t will be enlarged for phase
IC Management Plan.
Keysser asked if there will be a sign on Golden Hills Drive that says th
trucks only. Farr said yes. He added that there will be no access to t
that side of the building and it will be for delivery trucks only.
Keysser asked if there is a plan for any type of retail use. Fa
the phase two bUilding is connected to the phase one buildi
cafeteria, the capacity for a restaurant and some small retail
Keysser asked if there are any plans for public a
and a pond that set the stage in the phase one
as well. Keysser asked if there are plans for bic
also bicycle racks installed in the phase 0
two. Grimes added that bicycle racks w'
.
able. Farr said that existing
the site will have full pedestrian access.
Waldhauser asked the ap
the 1-394 Corridor Study
sounds like there is no int
workers during bus'
intentions for that ar
restaurant for ic
the corridor w
traffic Sp
existing10
Corridor i
Hi edev
inter ion.
west 0
ade any attempts to try to accommodate any of
icter height limits and mixed use. She said it
ve an retail other than what will serve the office
e asked the applicants if they are aware of the City's
that he didn't think the owners would object to a
ey are using the land judiciously and adding density in
absorbed instead of putting it further away from the main
ilding up, not out and they are in scale and context with the
orridor. Waldhauser stated that the direction in the 1-394
lower heights. Grimes explained that this property is in the Golden
t area and the City has said it wants higher buildings at this
added that the 1-394 Corridor study area is really looked at as starting
o Avenue.
Waldhauser said the shadow study was helpful but the site lines will be affected as well.
.
Sellegren stated that Golden Valley has been working on the Golden Hills
Redevelopment area for a long time and that this is the area where the community
wanted the mass, the image and the jobs. He said in regard to traffic there are Allianz,
United Properties, the Miner Site as well as the Colonnade and the Colonnade Phase
two.
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
October 23, 2006
Page 4
.
He said they acknowledge that they are a contributor to the traffic and explained that as
suggested in their Traffic Management Plan they intend to install a gate mechanism in
their parking ramp such as Allianz has in order to help manage the traffic.
Sellegren said that the last thing they are prepared to do is place limitations on the
parking. He said he thinks the traffic numbers will work if they don't add on the proposed
two levels to the existing parking ramp, but then they wouldn't meet the City's parking
ratio requirements. He stated that the City also has an 1-394 Overlay Ordinance that they
have their tenants follow; He stated that he thinks using the Traffic Mana ement Plan, the
gate control and the limited amount of parking will work.
Cera aske
office sga
need t
w they
. e gate
. He
eysser
rred to the
ps have not
dded that there will be
ransit that will help as
Keysser asked for clarification regarding the gate in the parking r
would avoid cars parking all over the neighborhood streets. Oli
in the parking ramp would be tied into the signal control cab'
stated that the details would be worked out in the public imp
asked how long people would have to wait in the rampto get
Allianz parking ramp which is similar and said that so
come close to the threshold and the gates haven'
an emphasis placed on flexible work schedules
a whole.
.
Keysser asked if there has been any di
the schedule in this area. Grimes state
about the added development in t
ransit about adding buses to
et with Metro Transit and told them
Grimes asked about the curr
stated that their occupanc
occupancy rate was at 1
100% occupancy and if t
Grimes suggested
put in "no parking" Sl
y nu 'er. Kim Ihle, CB Richard Ellis, applicant,
tly in the mid 70% range. Keysser asked if their
uld be a problem. Ihle said they are never at
95% I they would still be ok regarding parking.
e to the PUD Permit that will require the developer to
ounding neighborhood if required by the City.
ssibly build less than the proposed 240,000 square feet of
they've analyzed that but their economics indicate that they
uare feet.
at currently the Colonnade has low density offices and asked if the
uilding will have similar density. Sellegren said the density and tenants
will be the new building. He said that they may get the critical mass necessary
to have pu IC retail facilities again; but when they tried previously it just didn't work.
Waldhauser said she thinks street level access to any public fadlities would help.
Keysser opened the public hearing. Seeing and hearing no one wishing to comment,
Keysser closed the public hearing.
. Kluchka said he is disappointed that a development of this size doesn't utilize mixed use
and let the public use this building. He said the parking and traffic issues have been
addressed but the development concerns him.
.
.
.
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
October 23, 2006
Page 5
Grimes explained that this property is a big part of the Golden Hills Redevelopment area
which doesn't say anything about mixed use. He said he knows they have talked a lot
about mixed use in the corridor area but the Louisiana Avenue area is where the City
wants to emphasis mixed use. The Colonnade area has always been seen as a higher
density area. He explained that the first phase of the Colonnade was a mixed use
development and had a restaurant and a proposed hotel but staff feels the use should be
limited because of the parking and traffic concerns.
Waldhauser noted that the City is requiring mixed use right across-the corn r at the
proposed Miner Site. Grimes explained that the Miner site is adjacent ntial area
and the Colonnade site is right on 1-394. The City wanted the develo down
from higher level buildings toward the residential area in the case t
development. Kluchka stated there are also restaurants right 0 94
that is a valid argument for the Colonnade not to have mixe
proposed new building isn't addressing the community. Gri
require mixed use at the Allianz site and that a mixed se wo
explained that the City can't force people to build thin
added that this is a very difficult corner and the C'
corner for retail because of the traffic and pedes
t think
he
City didn't
ry site. He
is not there. He
ant to emphasize this
es.
long 1-394 but the
e agrees with the applicant
ere is no restaurant close by. He
h the developer that a hotel is not
user said the direction the City wants to
-sync ith what the developers would prefer,
at Golden Valley can attract.
Waldhauser said it's interesting that other
Colonnade applicants say a hotel won'
that a hotel would not work well in this
said he agrees with the market an
the highest and best use for thi
take with the 1-394 Corridor
but we also have to be pr
Grimes suggested langu
spaces will be dete .
eliminating condition
the City and th
spaces all we
ded a a condition of approval that a number of parking
final City Council approval. Keysser suggested
. Grimes' memo and replace it with language that says
me to an agreement on a maximum number of parking
prior to going forward to the City Council.
round the top of the existing Colonnade building and asked if it
rr stated that the red light on top of the building is required to be on,
'ring the white light to be on.
he proposed street lighting plan looks great and asked if there is going to
be significa lighting on the building. Farr said the lighting on the site is derived by three
concepts. The first concept is the pedestrian lighting, such as bollards. The second
concept is the over-story street lighting and the third cpncept is the building illumination.
He stated that the look and feel of the building and lighting will be the same as in the
phase one building. Kluchka asked if the proposed lighting fits within the City's proposed
new lighting ordinance. Grimes said their lighting plan would be subject to the proposed
new lighting ordinance because it should be adopted by the building is constructed. Farr
said they would design the lighting plan accordingly.
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
October 23, 2006
Page 6
.
Keysser asked the applicant about the construction timetable. Sellegren explained that
they need government approvals first and they need to have 60% of the space pre-leased
before they begin construction.
MOVED by Eck, seconded by Cera and motion carried 3 to 2. to approve the amendment
to PUD No. 53 with the following conditions. Commissioners Kluchka and Waldhauser
voted no.
.
1. The Colonnade Phase II Plans prepared by Edward Farr Architects, In . and dated
10/21/06 shall become a part of this approval.
2. The City and the Developer will come to an agreement on a maxi
parking spaces allowed on the site prior to going forward to th
3. The Traffic Management Plan prepared for ND Properties
covering the Colonnade Phase I and II and dated Septe
of this approval:"
4. The memo from Ed Anderson, Deputy Fire Marshal" date
&.,
become a part of this approval. Recommended chafl"
plans for the PUD.
5. The memo from City Engineer Jeff Oliver, P
part of this approval. Recommendations fou
applicant and made a part of the final
from the City's consulting traffic en .
reflected in changes to the final pia
for Colonnade I and II.
6. As required by the 1-394 Ov
for both Phase I and II as out
'ct, a Traffic Management Fee shall be paid
nce
IV.
be , 2006 shall become a
o shall be addressed by the
ached to his memo is a memo
. His recommendations shall be
raft of the Traffic Management Plan
III.
Reports on mee
Council, Board 0
ing and Redevelopment Authority, City
s and other meetings
g Infill Housing
he St. Louis Park report regarding infill developments and suggested
mission study it and have a more lengthy discussion regarding infill
their next meeting.
V. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned ~t 8:40 pm.
.
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R.1 Residential Lots
over 20,000 square feet
_ Subdividable Lots (225)
_ Not subdividable (783)
o PUDs
Note:
This study does NOT Include elClsli1g vacant lots
or elllslhg homes sluated on mulllple platted
loti of racord.
It only Indudea Iola over 20,000 d. that would meet
current zoning standards.
Methodology:
To be subdividable, . lot must have 20,000 ..t. and an
eo fool 101 width me.sured al the 35' lronlMlback line.
Comer 101. were typicIlly dlvtded at. dlagona~
creating 2101:&, ..ch tontng on. dift'.rent street
Plata and quarter section maps were coMUled
when Bv.llable, and m..llUl'ementa were taken
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