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11-14-83 PC Minutes ?6? MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION November 14, 1983 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. Chairman Thompson called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Those present were Commissioners Forster, Leppik, Polachek, Prazak, Singer, Thompson and Tubman. Also present were Mike Miller, Planning and Redevelopment Coordinator, and Alda Peikert, Assistant Planner. I . Approval of Minutes - October 24, 1983 It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Polachek and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the October 24, 1983 Planning Commission meeting as recorded. II. Call for Informal Public Hearin - PUD #43, Schnecks irehouse Addit�on APPLICANT: Ronald J . Schneck LOCATION: Northwest corner of Lindsay Street and North Lilac Drive REQUEST: Approval of Preliminary Design Plan for PUD #43, Schnecks Firehouse Addition Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item. It was moved by Commissioner Singer, seconded by Commissioner Prazak and carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of November 28, 1983 for consideration of the Preliminary Design Plan of PUD #43, Schnecks Firehouse Addition. III. Discussion and Outline of Procedures Involved in Amending the Comprehensive P an Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item and reviewed the City Council resolution requesting Planning Commission review of the status of Duluth Street and designation of Duluth Street in the Comprehensive Plan. Chairman Thompson stated that the Planning Commision has three options for action: 1. Initiate study at this time by the full Commission. 2. Initiate study at this time by a three member committee of Planning Commissioners. !::.A�'�_> Planning Commission Meeting - November 14, 1983 -2- 3. Defer study until such time as the total Comprehensive Plan is scheduled for updating. Planning and Redevelopment Coordinator Mike Miller stated that according to State Statute only the Planning Commission can amend the Comprehensive Plan. When the City Council initiates consideration of an amendment by resolution, the Planning Commission may respond in one of two ways: 1. The Planning Commission may draft an amendment, hold a public hearing on the amendment, adopt the amendment and refer it to the City Council . 2. The Planning Commission may recommend against amendment and provide documentation for its negative recommendation. The City Council rrxi�st then plead its case with the Planning Commission if it desires an amendment. According to State Statute, the Planning Commission is the only body with the authority to prepare Plan amendments. Mr. Miller stated that in the case of either response, the Planning Commission position should be well documented including input from all affected jurisdic- tions. Commissioner Singer observed that it appears that documentation is more impor- tant in the event that the Planning Commission decides to prepare an amendment. Mr. Miller stated that documentation is important in either case. Commissioner Prazak stated that it was his impression that City Council intent was to provide an opportunity for citizen input into the process. Mr. Miller suggested that the Planning Commission has the option of holding a public meeting at any point in the process whether or not a Comprehensive Plan amend- ment is drafted. Notice could be sent to residents that the Planning Commission will receive citizen input at such a meeting. Chairman Thompson suggested that direction to the Planning Commission in the RESOLVED clause of the City Council resolution requests review of Comprehensive Plan designation of Duluth Street but does not suggest that the Planning Commission consider justification for construction of remaining segments of Duluth Street. Chairman Thompson stated that he does not feel that the question of construction of Duluth Street is a Planning Commission matter. Commissioner Tubman suggested that there is need for a hearing in either event with or without a Comprehensive Plan amendment. Commissioner Tubman questioned whether the Planning Commission has the option of deferring study of the Duluth Street issue in light of the resolution by the City Council . Chairman Thompson stated that the Planning Commission can always refer a matter back to the City Council with a recommendation of deferral . Commissioner Singer asked whether there would be duplication of costs and effort in studying the Duluth Street question now and then reviewing it again when the Comprehensive Plan is due for updating. Commissioner Tubman asked Planning Commission Meeting - November 14, 1983 -3- ��� the reason for targeting Duluth Street for accelerated attention. Commissioner Prazak stated that he feels City Council initiation of the study was in response to resident input concerning the current Duluth Street construction project. Commissioner Prazak stated his impression that the City Council is expecting a Planning Commission recommendation in response to their resolution sooner than in two years. Mr. Miller observed that even if the Duluth Street designation is changed from Collector to Local street, completion of the street would result in similar neighborhood opposition. Mr. Miller suggested that if residents understand that there is no plan to build further segments of the street in the next five to ten years, then possibly there would be acceptance of the classification. Commissioner Tubman suggested that an additional reason for deferral might be unknown effects of I-394 construction on Highway 55 and areas to the north. Chairman Thompson observed that construction of Duluth Street is tied to upgrading of Medieine Lake Road, which will not occur until the Cities of Crystal , New Hope and Golden Valley agree to a four lane road. Chairman Thompson stated that this would not happen for five to ten years. Chairman Thompson further observed that the key to construction of Duluth Street is development of the General Mills property. Cor�nissioner Prazak stated that residents believed that there would be no further construction of Duluth Street until upgrading of Medicine Lake Road, but that at City staff initiation a two block segment of Duluth Street is currently under construction. The neighborhood did not desire the construc- tion project, and due to the Collector status the specifications call for greater street width. Residents wish assurance that there will be no further construction of Duluth Street. Commissioner Forster asked how Duluth Street became a Collector in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Miller recalled that the Planning Commission formed subcommittees for preparation of the various sections of the Comprehensive Plan. The Transportation Subcommittee studied the street classification system and determined eventual need of a Collector at that point in the City. Mr. Miller added that staff has requested in writing State clarification of the State Aid status of Duluth Street in the event the Collector designation is removed. Chairman Thompson observed that State aid becomes an issue only if the Planning Commission determines that removal of the Collector designation is preferable. Chairman Thompson stated that the first decision to be made is when to initiate the study. Secondly, Chairman Thompson stated that the Planning Commission should consider only the Collector status and not the question of construction. Commissioner Leppik suggested that eventual construction is presumed if recom- mendation is made that Duluth Street remain a Collector. Chairman Thompson observed that the Collector/Local designation determines the width of the street if and when constructed, not whether the street should be J'�O Planning Commission Meeting - November 14, 1983 -4- constructed. If the General Mills property is developed, then the street must be constructed. If the street is constructed, then the decision is whether the amount of traffic justifies Collector status. Commissioner Prazak asked the role of staff in obtaining required background information for the study and whether there is enough information available without initiating further traffic studies. Mr. Miller stated that required background information would include review of potential development ofi adja- cent areas, examination of routing of traffic from potential development loca- tions to major traffic corridors, determination of locations where traffic would build if Duluth Street is not completed, and also consideration of effects on transit provision. Mr. Miller stated that adequate information is available from the City, County and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Chairman Thompson stated his concern that there is no more information available now than at the time the Comprehensive Plan was prepared, specifi- cally concerning development of General Mills property. Chairman Thompson stated that the choice is whether to initiate a study at this time or to tell the City Council that the Planning Commission does not feel a study at this time would be profitable. Chairman Thompson suggested that perhaps the Planning Commission should see what information is available and then decide. Mr. Miller stated that the study, including staff collection of information and Planning Commission consideration, would take six months and that the Planning Commission would not be ready for a hearing by the end of the year. Commissioner Prazak suggested that since the study will take considerable time, the Planning Commission should not delay but should initiate the study and proceed at a reasonable pace. It was moved by Commissioner Prazak and seconded by Commissioner Tubman to ask staff to proceed with assemby from appropriate sources, including other governmental bodies, information readily available, without initiation of new studies, for the purpose of reaching a determination of whether amendment of the Collector status of Duluth Street in the Comprehensive Plan is appropriate. Commissioner Forster asked whether there are any other developable lands besides the General Mills property in the area of Duluth Street. Mr. Miller stated that there are only a few lots in addition to the General Mills pro- perty. Chairman Thompson asked how long it would take for staff to assemble the information requested. Mr. Miller replied that it would take several months. A vote was taken, and the motion carried unanimously. Chairman Thompson stated that he would contact Mr. Stan Tabor, General Mills, to see if he could get any kind of reading on the timing of development of the General Mills property and on potential future use of the property. 271 Planning Commission Meeting - November 14, 1983 -5- IV. Report on City Council Meeting - November 1, 1983 Commissioner Prazak provided the Planning Commission with a report on the November 1, 1983 City Council meeting. V. Report on HRA Meeting - November 7, 1983 Chairman Thompson provided the Planning Cor�nission with a report on the November 7, 1983 meeting of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA). VI. Report on BZA Meeting - November 10, 1983 Commissioner Polachek stated that he did not have a report on the November 10, 1983 meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) because he was not in atten- dance and the minutes were not out as yet. VIII. Attendance at Annual Planning Institute and Land Use Planning Workshops Chairman Thompson introduced this item, and staff confirmed that the City would pay the tuition for Planning Commissioner attendance at the Annual Planning Institute or Land Use Planning Workshops. Interested Commissioners were advised to notify staff of plans to attend. Commissioner Singer asked that the minutes reflect congratulations from the Planning Commission to Chai,rman Thompson on his ascendancy to the City Council . The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, avi ompson, airman argaret eppi , ecretary