02-08-82 PC Minutes ��
Minutes of the Golden Valley
Planning Commission
February 8, 1982
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the
Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Road,
Golden Valley, MN. Chairman Thompson called the meeting to
order at 7:00 p.m.
Those present were Commissioners Eastes, Forster, Leppik,
Polachek and Thompson. Commissioner Singer was not present at
the beginning of the meeting.
Also present were Mike Miller, Director of Planning and
Redevelopment, and Alda Peikert, Assistant Planner.
I. Approval of Minutes - January 25, 1982:
It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner
Polachek and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the
January 25, 1982 Planning Commisison meeting as recorded.
II . Set date for Informal Public Hearing - P.U.D. #30-B,
Medley �arcf 'Townhouses —
APPLICANT: Bor-Son Construction Companies
LOCATION: West of Medley Park & North of
Kings Valley Townhouses
REQUEST: Approval of General Plan of Devel-
opment for P.U.D. #30-B
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item and recognized Mr.
Donald Jacobson, Director of Development, Bor-Son Construction
Companies, who was present to represent the proponent.
Commissioner Singer arrived at the meeting.
Chairman Thompson noted the staff recommendation that the
Planning Commission set a March 8, 1982 informal public hearing
date. The Commissioners did not have any questions of staff or
the proponent.
It was moved by Commissioner Polachek, seconded by Commissioner
Leppik and carried unanimously to set the date of March 8, 1982
for an informal public hearing on the General Plan of Development
for PUD #30-B, Medley Park Townhouses.
Planning and Redevelopment Director Mike Miller distributed
copies of the plan for PUD #30-B to the Planning Commissioners.
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 8, 1982 Page -2
III . Informal Public Hearing - Conditional Use Permit
APPLICAN7: Reinertson & Associates, Inc.
LOCATION: 5800 Duluth Street
REQUEST: Approval of Conditional Use Permit
to erect a 4-story offi ce bui 1 di ng
within a B & P 0 Zoning District.
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item and recognized Mr.
Mark Reinertson who was present to represent the proponent.
Commissioner Eastes asked Mr. Reinertson to explain the need for
a fourth story on his proposed office building. Mr. Reinertson
replied that the fourth story is necessary for financial feasibi-
lity of the project due to unusual soils correction costs.
Commissioner Eastes also asked Mr. Reinertson whether he had made
a study of the impact of his proposed office building on traffic
congestion on Duluth Street. Mr. Reinertson replied that he had
studied the traffic situation and had determined that the
greatest congestion on Duluth Street corresponds to working hours
of the Honeywell plant located to the west and that working
hours in his proposed office building will be later than those of
the Honeywell plant.
Commissioner Leppik asked the location of the access drive to the
proposed building in relation to the drive to the building
directly across Duluth Street. Mr. Reinertson responded that the
drive to his proposed building would be directly opposite that
across the street as directed by the State.
Commissioner Leppik also asked about plans for improvement of the
trail easement east of Bassett Creek on the site. Mr. Reinertson
replied that plans coordinated with the City are to maintain the
easement in a natural state except for construction of the actual
trail which would be approximately 10 feet wide.
Chairman Thompson asked whether the plans for the proposed
building had been submitted to the County Department of
Transportation for review. Planning and Redevelopment Director
Mike Miller stated that the proponent was required to obtain an
entrance permit from the County Department of Transportation for
his access drive onto Duluth Street, County Road No. 66.
Chairman Thompson opened the informal public hearing.
Mr. J ohn Paterson, 2040 Adair Avenue, stated that his concerns
are the building elevation and the traffic impact. Mr. Patterson
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 8, 1982 Page -3
said that he sees no need for a fourth story on the building and
does not desire to look out at a four story building. He stated
further that traffic on Duluth Street is heavy until 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Patterson said that he spoke also for his brother-in-law, Mr.
Robert Paulson, 2010 Adair Avenue, who was out of town the night
of the hearing.
Chairman Thompson closed the informal public hearing.
Commissioner Leppik asked the proponent, Mr. Reinertson, how much
of the building would be visible from the north. Mr. Reinertson
replied that two and one half stories would be visible from the
north.
Commissioners Eastes and Leppik both expressed concern over the
traffic impact of the proposed office building project.
Commissioner Leppik noted that the property is zoned Business and
Professional Offices and that any office building would
necessarily have a traffic impact.
It was moved by Commissioner Leppik and seconded by Commissioner
Forster to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for
Reinertson and Associates allowing construction of a four story
office building at 5800 Duluth Street in a Business and
Professional Offices Zoning District subject to the following
conditions:
1 . The building may not exceed four stories in height and may
not exceed 50 feet in height as indicated on plans submitted
with the conditional use permit application.
2. The building and parking structure design must conform to
plans submitted with the conditional use permit application.
Chairman Thompson asked for discussion on the motion.
Commissioner Eastes stated that she wished to comment on her con-
cern over the additional traffic impact. She explained that she
was not suggesting the Planning Commission should deny the
request for a conditional use permit, but wished to express her
concern. Commissioner Leppik stated that she shares the concern
expressed by Commissioner Eastes.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Chairman Thompson added the comment that the additional traffic
may serve to hasten much needed improvements to Duluth Street.
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 8, 1982 Page -4
IV. Informal Public Hearing - P.U.D. #33, North Wirth Parkway
APPLICANT: M. A. Mortenson Company
LOCATION: Northeast Quadrant of intersection
of T.H. 55 and Meadow Lane
REQUEST: General Plan Approval without Concept
Plan Approval
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item and asked whether
there were any questi ons of staff.
Commissioner Eastes commented on the percentage of the site
covered with parking. Planning and Redevelopment Director Mike
Miller observed that the need for parking is critical in an
office building complex and that the development plans provide a
fair amount of green space.
Chairman Thompson recognized three representatives of the
proponent: Daniel Moll , architect with Armstrong, Torseth, Skold
and Rydeen; Kenneth Grabow, principal in the architectural firm;
and Chester Yanik, General Manager of Development, M.A. Mortenson
Company.
Commissioner Leppik questioned the proponents concerning the need
for parking lots in addition to the proposed parking ramp. Mr.
Moll explained that the parking ramp would be primarily for
employee parking. Short time visitor parking is provided on site
adjacent to each of the three office buildings.
Commissioner Leppik asked whether it would be possible to add
further to the parking ramp in the future to provide parking for
a fourth building in the area of the northeast parking lot. Mr.
Moll replied that the proponent does not intend to develop the
site beyond the three buildings, parking ramp and parking lots
shown and that it would not be possible to provide adequate
parking for a fourth building.
Commissioner Leppik suggested the possibility of providing more
green area by concentrating parking in the parking ramp. Mr.
Grabow noted that the proponent had already gained green area by
adding the parking ramp. Mr. Yanik informed the commisison that
the proponent plans heavy landscaping of the green areas using
trees of substantial initial size. Mr. Yanik reported that the
cost of an additional level on the parking ramp would be
$1,200.00. Cost of the two level first phase ramp will be over
$2,000,000, and cost of the additional level planned in the
second phase will be $1,200,000.
4� Planning Commission Meeting - February 8, 1982 Page -5
Chairman Thompson opened the informal public hearing. There was
no one present who wished to speak on this agenda item, and the
informal public hearing was closed.
It was moved- by Commissioner Eastes, seconded by Commisisoner
Polachek and carried unanimously to recommend approval of the
General Plan of Development for PUD #33, North Wirth Parkway, for
the following reasons:
1 . The proposed development will improve the general welfare of
the community due to aesthetic improvement of the property.
2. The proposed development will improve the City tax base in
the long run.
3. The proposed development is a good use of a transitional
area.
4. The proposed development will have a positive effect on
nearby property values.
V. Report on City Council Meeting = February 2, 1982
Commissioner Eastes, who was scheduled to represent the Planning
` Commission at the February 2, 1982 City Council meeting, was
unable to attend. Planning and Redevelopment Director Mike
Miller provided the Commission with a report on the February 2,
1982 City Council meeting.
VI . Report on Progress of Valley Square Commission
Chairman Thompson provided the Planning Commission with a report
on the Valley Square Commission meeting held January 28, 1982.
VII . Planning Commission Representatives to City Council and HRA
Meet ni gs —
Due to scheduling conflicts, Commisisoner Singer agreed to take
the place of Commisisoner Polachek at the February 9, 1982 HRA
meeting, and Commisisoner Polachek agreed to take the place of
Commissioner Singer at the February 16, 1982 City Council
meeting.
Commisisoner Eastes informed staff that she had a conflict and
would not be able to represent the Planning Commission at the
March 9, 1982 HRA meeting. Commisisoner Eastes has a conflict
the second Tuesday of every month and will be unable to serve as
representative at HRA meetings. Planning and Redevelopment
Director Mike Miller said he would prepare a new schedule of City
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Planning Commission Meeting - February 8, 1982 Page -6
Council and HRA meeting representatives for the month of March
through the remainder of 1982 for consideration at the next
Planning Commisison meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
c� m �
avi ompson, airm