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10-26-71 PC Minutes � MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING CONMISSION October 26; 1971 A regular meeting of the Golden Va11ey Planning Comnission was held at 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, October 26; 1971 at the Civic Cente.r, 7�00 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. Chairman Lundsgaard presided and the following' members were present: Vice Chairman Franzen, Commissioners Anderson, Christiansen, Edstrom, Moran, Sampson, Swanson, and Van Horn. Also present was Recording Secretary Jon Westlake. Members absent: none. 1. APPROVAL �F MINUTES: MOVED by Van Norn, seconded by Swanson, carried unanimously, to approve the minutes of the October 11 , 1971 meeting as mailed. 2. MIDWEST PLANNING AND RESEARCH, INC. (a) Proposed Goals and Policy Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Report Larry Geisier of Midwest Planning and Research, Inc. reviewed with the Planning Canmission the memorandum on goals and policies to be part of Section I of the Canprehensive Plan Repo rt. Changes made in the memorandum by the Planning Commission will be incorporated in a new draft for further study by the Coiranission. With respect to Items 10 and 11 of the memorandum, Mr. Geisler will provide the Planning Commission with background for study. (b) Development Standards � Mr. Geisler distributed to the Planning Commission a large pamphlet cont�i:ning � standards that are a minimum for subdivision, zoning, community appearanc�, public health and safety, convenience, and general welfare. 3. PROPOSED MOTEL AND RESTAURANT ( OAK LEAF CORPORATION) 5100 Wayzata Boulevard , The Chairman of the Planning Commission, War�►en Lundsgaard, explained to the e Planning Commission that the Village Council at their October 18, 1971 meeting referred a request by the 0ak Leaf Corporation for a motel , restaurant, and liquor license to the Planning Commission to see what the sketch plans indicate for this area, which Midwest Planning and Research, Inc. is presently working-out. Larry Geisler of Midwest Planning and Research, Inc. reviewed and explained his report which is as follows: "Midwest Planning and Research, Inc. has been requested to provide a report on the appropriateness of a motel and restaurant as a proposed use on the site in question; the `ev�luation made against the sketch plan previously prepared by the planner. (1) � (1 ) The sketch plan at this point in time, may be regarded as the planner's initial proposal of use classification and not a document reflecting the adopted goals and objectives of the Village. .rY � . . � . . .. f �',.Y �:'2 . . . � . ... � � . . � � ' . � � . Planning Commission October 26; 1971 page 2 The sketch plan indicates a commercial designation for the proposed site; the type or magnitude of commercial use dependent upon various transportation issues. �hen the site is evaivated entirely on the basis of use compatibility (not considering traffic impacts) , a motel/restaurant appears as an appropriate use. Although the apartment site to the north provides a minimal buffer to the single family neighborhood to the north, precautions in site design may m3nimize any adverse effects to the residential area. The remaining neighbors to the site are commercial in nature and would not be adversely affected by the proposed development. Further, the site's proximity to Trunk Nighway 12 offers good exposure for this type of use. Although all the above factors support the site as appropriate location for the proposed use, the Village should recagnize that there are serious traffic and transportation planning implications connected with the intensive development of the site. Some of the factors requiring consideration are: 1. The design of the circulation system serving this facility should avoid traffic intrusions to the residential neighborhood to the north. 2. The general traffic situation at the intersection of Turner' s Crossroad at Trunk Highway 12 is one of periodic congestion and confusion of traffic movement. Additianal traffic directed to the intersection via the frontage road along Trunk Highway 12 will only add to the confusion of the traffic ° movement at the intersection and will contribute to operational breakdown " of the shopping center parking area to the west of the site. It is recomm- ended that the applicant provide the Village with a Traffic Engineering Study to address this prcjblem in conjunction with point (1 ) on the previous page, and the following considerations concerning the future improvements to Trunk Highway 12. In discussions with Village staff the applicant has been made aware that the development of a detached f rontage road may pro- vide the basis for circulation solutions. 3. !�Ihether or not Trunk Highway 12 is redeveloped as Interstate 394 or upgraded to a freeway standard, I believe it can be assumed that the individual access points along Trunk Highway 12 will be eventually closed and the access rights acquired. Although damages will be paid upon the removal of these access drives, it is to the best interest of the long term success of the facility that little reliance be placed on these drives as a permanent access solution. 4. The access at Turner's Crossroad as it presently exists plays an all impor- tant role in the short term success of the proposed venture as it provides the primary access to the regional transportation network. Any change to the convenience of access to the regional system will have an effect on the long term success of the proposal . It may also be assumed that the magni- tude of the proposed develo�xnent and its requirement for convenient access tends to solidify the future considerations of access requirements in this general area. Therefore, the question arises as to what bearing this land use decision has upon the I-394 corridor study presently being conducted? Does this new traffic generator in this specific location, with its inherent access requirement�, alter the rating being placed on any of the corridor alter�atives? Do the comnunity benefits derived from development of the 3 P1 anni ng Correni ssi on October 26; 1971 page 3 site as proposed outweigh the detrimental impact of increased highway interchange complexity? What use is envisioned for the development if access to the site is not adequate for the proposed restaurantlmotel development? Can the motel/restau rant complex succeed over a long period of time with the removal of direct highway access from the general vicinity of Turner's Crossroad? The value judgements, economic considerations, and technical answers to the above questions are beyond the scope of this report, but require care.ful consideration on the part of the Village officials and the deveiopment." After questions were answered from Mr. Geisler's report Mr. Lundsgaard then read a segment of the Consultant's report as follows: "I feel that in some regards this proposed motel development will pose even a more diffieUlt situation in regard to traffic circulation and generation, in a given area. I am fully aware that the site proposed for the motel is presently zoned comnercial and because of this the land use has more or less been deter- mined. Ho►aever, there are obvious basic points which should be discussed which should be subject to close scrutiny by your staff, your planning comnission, as well as the Council itself. I have alluded previously that traffic is of the prime concern, but I can assure you that there are other ramifications that should be studied and for which answers should be sought. The question of an issuance of a liquor license should also be a part of this discussion, in that I feel that certain guidelines should be established which would relate directly to the placement of a liquor estab- lishment in relationship to its placement next to residential areas." F�essrs. Ben Gingold and Paul Pink of Gingold-Pin� Architects, J. D. Smith, Secretary of Oak Leaf Corporation, and Ralph Green, a partner of the proposed motel , were present to explain the proposal to the Planning Commission. The motel will contain 144 units with a 7,�00 square foot restaurant. The architects also stated the proposal meets all the requirements of the Zoning Code, including parking and landscaping. Mr. Richard P. Wolsfeld Jr. , traffic consultant from the firm of Bather Ringrose Wolsfeld Inc. , was also present to review with the Planning Commission traffic counts that his firm had taken at Turner' s Crossroad and Wayzata Boulevard. Dr. David M. Brown of 5120 Circle Down, Harry Shapiro of 5231 Circle Down, and Leonard Kronfeld of 5240 Circle Dawn objected to the proposal. They expressed concern because of the close proximity of residential homes to the north and the increased traffic that would be generated by this proposal. The Planning Commission again reviewed the reports by the consultants, noting that this area is earmarked for a limit�d business catagory, which would not include a motel . However, the present zoning is Comnercial , which allows this type of use. It was further pointed out that to change this area to a limited business classification would require a public hearing. The Cor�nission also expressed concern about the increase in traffic which would be generated by this use. 4 Planning Commission October 26; 1971 page 4 It was moved by Moran to defer action subject to the traffic data being completed in a report form for study by the Planning Corr�nission. The motion died for lack of a second. The Chairnian again reviewed with the Planning Comnission the request by the Council -which is to see how this specific use fits into the Comprehensive Plan for this particular area. After further discussion, it was moved by Franzen, seconded by Swanson, carried unanir�usly, that upon reviewing the motel , restaurant, and liquor license proposal , it is the feeling of �the Planning Commission that this would be incompatible with the nearby residential area and proposed Comprehensive Plan and that significant traffic problems would occur. 4: ADMINISTRATIVE The Recording Secretary distributed to the Planning Commission a pamphlet entitled °A Nome for Everyone" , which was giverr'to the Planning Comnission by the League of Women Vo ters. There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was on motion, duly seconded, adjourned at 12:45 A.M. Chairman Lundsgaard Secretary 1owe11 Swanson NO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 8, 1971