01-22-73 PC Minutes ���
MINUTES OF THE GOLDIId VALLEY
PLANNING OOMMISSION
January 22, 1973
A regular meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission was held at 7:30 P.M.
on Monday, January 22, 1973 at the Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Raad,
Golden Valley, Minn�sota.
Chairman Warren Lundsgaard presided and the following members were present:
Commissioners Anderson, Christiansen, Edstrom, 5ampson, and Swanson. Also present
was Allan Ostrow and Jon Westlake from the Village staff and Consultant Carl Dale.
Members absent: Vice Chairman Franzen and Commissioner Becker.
1. APPR�QVAL OF MINUTES: MOVF�D by Anderson, seconded by Christiansen, carried
unanimously, to approve the minutes of the January 8, 1973 meeting as mailed.
2. R�VIEW PRQPt1SAL �UR W.T.G.Id. BUILDING
South of Highway �5 and West of Boone Avenue
Zoning - Business and Frofessional Offiees
Present to review the request with the Planni.ng Commission were the following
members from the Building Board of Review: Chairman James Rydeen, Donald Anderson,
and Geraldine Wagenhals.
Mr. Westlake informed the Pl.anning Commission the proponent had requested a
waiver at the Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on 1)ecember 12, 1972 a'sking for
a variance on the height of the structure. The Board of Zoning Appeals denied
the request and the decision was appealed to the Village Council. The Village
Council, prior to making a decision on the appeal., has asked the Planning
Commission and the Building Board of Review to review the proposal. Mr. Carl
�ale then reviewed the planning considerations as follow:
'�l. The parcel of land in question is zoned for Business and i'rofessional
Office use and was apparently zoned for the specific use proposed. Tlie current
requESt, however, is for a waiver to allow an additional two stories to the
maximum allowable of one story for a total of three stories and also to allow
the additional height of an elevator penthouse and microwave tower.
2. The proposed Comprehensive Village Plan calls for this area to be of a
�tlimited" type use such as office or even multiple dwellings; it would not seem
a good site for more intense commercial activity nor would it seem likely to be
in demand for single family housing.
3. The basic question has to do with the potential impact and affect upon
adjacent single family housing to the west. It should be noted, however, that
the Village Plan does not envision further expansion or development of single
family housing in this general area. There may also be a question as to the
long-term cantinued existence of single family housing in this rather isolated
area. It may, however, be in demand for some type of multiple nousing.
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Planning Commission
January 22, 1973 page 2
1�. For the present, it would seem reasonable to confine the evaluation to a
determination of potential detrimental effects upan existing housing units.
This is somewhat difficult to determine from the existing drawings. Additional
information is needed such as:
a) Affect of tower on nearby TV and radio reception.
b) Nature of proposed "service area" adjacent to homes.
c) A.ppearance of building as viewed from existing homes.
d) Actual height in relation to existing curb lines and single-family housing.
5• It is suggested that there are many excellent features to the current p1an,
and not the least of which is underground parking. Architecture seems rather
imaginative and pleasing. Use of the entire building site is, however, not indicated.
6. Additional information would be needed in order to properly evaluate the pro-
posal. It woul.d seem that the proposal has some merit but that potential detrimental
effects cannot be properly evaluated based upon the information submitted.��
Messrs. Leo �omeier, Eazgineer for W.T.C.N., Robert Fransen, General Manager for
W.T.C.N., and Richard Levine, A.I.A. from the firm of Bleemer and Levine Inc., were
present to explain the proposed request.
Mr. Fransen distributed a letter from Harold E. Allen who is with the Federal
Communications Commission (5t. Paul office) stating the following on interference
of receiv�rs for the residents i.n the area:
'�This is a reply to your telephone question of January 19, 1973 concerni.ng location
of a studio to transmitter microwave station in Golden Valley. Due to the high
frequency and low power proposed there should be no interference to the reception
of other radio servicss by residents in the area surrounding the tower. Although
there are numerous stations of this type operated by broadcasters and telephone
companies in the district, no complaint of interference has ever come to my
attention.��
Mr. Levine reviewed the site plan with the Planning Commission pointing out how
they intend to scr�en the sereice area and parking area from the residents to the
west. They plan to provide a terrace containing sculpture with a water fountain
on the north side of the building (the details of which have to be worked out with
a landscape architect}, The building has been changed in height since the original
plans were presented in that 90� af the building (office area) has been lowered
1.1.� to 16 feet. The mechanical area has also been lowered but will have to be
higher than the office area in order for the elevator to function. Also, the area
of the building has been reduced approximately 10,000 to 15,000 square feet.
It is difficult to establish an exact elevation on the transmitter center from
Boone Avenue because Boone Avenue varies in elevation, but the transmitter center,
which is 8� x 16� , will be approximately 65 feet above Boone Avenue. This
height will be less the 5� of the total building. The office portion will be
approximately 28 feet abov� Boone Avenue, except the mechanical area. The
building will contain !�2 inside parking spaces and 65 outside parking spaces.
The interior of the building will i.nclude an area for the general public con-
tainin�, for example, an ar� gallery. The mobile units for television will be
enclosed in the building also.
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Planning Commission
Januaxy 22, 1973 page 3
The e�erior of the building will be glass and the present proposal for area
other than the glass �rill be paured concrete that would be sand blasted for a
granite aggr�;gate appearance.
The Planning Commission in discussing the proposal referred to Item 4 of the
planning considerations and reviewed the following questions with the proponent;
l. If a structure were bui.lt between the site and Shoreview, which would block
the transmission, would the transmitter center have to be elevated?
2. Why the change from the previous plans to the present plans?
3. What are the future plans for the south end of the property?
1t. Because of the smaller building, will they be planning expansion in the
near future?
5. Is there enough parking provided for such events as a production series?
The Planning Commission also noted the Comprehensive Plan indicates this area is
for limited business (which this use would fit) or Multiple. The height under the
proposed Zoning Code would be 25 feet and the tower would require a special use
permit.
After further discussion it was moved by Sampson, seconded by Christiansen,
earried unanimously, that although the proposed W.T.C.N. studio does not conform
with the existing Zoning Ordina�ce, the Planning Commission feels its unique
design would be compatible with the proposed Comprehensive Plan. We, therefore,
feel that favorable consideration should be given to the requested zoning vari-
ance for its eonstruction with total height of the tower not to exeeed 65 feet
above Boone Avenue and the remainder of the building not to exceed two stories.
We wish to further recommend that the architect work with the staff and the
Building Board of Review to provide proper screening and plantings to be in
keeping with the building design and the golf course to the east. We also suggest
that any proposed add2�tion in the future be referred back to the Planning
Commission and the Building Board of Review to insure proper integration with the
first phase, and that the property to the south on this parcel cannot be sub-
divided without Council approval.
It was further noted, enen though the Planning Commission is meeting with the
Building Board of Review, the Board of Review will introduce a separate motion
about the proposal in their minutes.
3• OONTIAtUE REVIEW OF PROPOSED ZONING OODE - �URTH SESSION
Carl �ale of �7esign Planning Associates
The Planning Commission continued their diseussion of the proposed Zoning Code
with the following members of the Board of Zoning Appeals present: Mahlon Swedberg,
Walter Kost, and Jim Ingemunson from the Village staff.
There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was on motion,
duly seconded, adjourned at 11:lt0 P.M.
Chairman Warren Lundsgaard Secretary Lowell Swanson