12-01-83 PC Minutes ���
MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY
PLANNING COMMISSION
December 1, 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 was Alda Peikert, Assistant Planner.
I . Approval of Minutes - November 14, 1983
It was moved by Commissioner Prazak, seconded by Commissioner Leppik and
carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the November 14, 1983 Planning
Commission meeting as recorded.
II. Set Date for Informal Public Hearin - Amendment of Management
lan for PUD , Dover Hi 1
APPLICANT: Dover Hill Apts. (Canadian Financial )
LOCATION: 2400 Rhode Island Avenue N.
REQUEST: Approval of Amendments to Management
Plan for Subsidized Housing
Chairman Thampson introduced this agenda item and noted the staff recommen-
dation of a December 12, 1983 informal public hearing date. Assistant Planner
Alda Peikert reported that the Dover Hill Property Manager was unable to be
present at the rescheduled Planning Commission meeting but concurs with the
suggested December 12, 1983 informal public hearing date.
It was moved by Commissioner Forster, seconded by Commissioner Singer and
carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of December 12,
1983 for consideration of the Preliminary Design Plan of PUD #8, Dover Hill ,
for amendment of the Dover Hill Management Plan.
III. Set Date for Informal Public Hearin - Preliminary Design Plan
, o den a ey ea t enter
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item. In response to a question from
Commissioner Forster whether Golden Yalley Health Center proposes further
construction at this time, Assistant Planner Alda Peikert offered a brief
explanation of the purpose of the PUD proposal . Chairman Thompson noted the
staff recommendation of a December 12, 1983 informal public hearing date.
It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Tubman and
carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of December 12,
273
Planning Commission Meeting - December 1, 1983 -2-
1983 for consideration of the Preliminary Design Plan of PUD #45, Golden
Valley Health Center.
IV. Informal Public Hearing - Preliminary Design Plan, PUD #43,
Schnecks Firehouse Addition
APPLICANT: Ronald Schneck
LOCATION: 1000 Lilac Drive North
REQUEST: Approval of Preliminary Design Plan for
PUD #43, Schnecks Firehouse Addition
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item. Assistant Planner Alda Peikert
offered the staff recommendation that the informal public hearing, originally
scheduled for the November 28, 1983 Planning Commission meeting cancelled due
to weather conditions, be rescheduled for December 12, 1983, allowing for
renotification of neighboring property owners. Planning Commissioners
discussed the scheduling of three hearings for the December 12, 1983 meeting
and the effect of holidays on the December meeting schedule.
It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Polachek and
carried unanimously to reset for December 12, 1983 the informal public hearing
for consideration of the Preliminary Design Plan of PUD #43, Schnecks
Firehouse Addition.
V. Request for Waiver of Platting Ordinance - 4420 Adell Avenue
APPLICANT: Bruce and Karen Johnsen
LOCATION: 4420 Adell Avenue
REQUEST: Waiver of the Platting Ordinance to Allow
Transfer of Property to 3300 Lee Avenue
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item and requested an explanation of
the proposed lot division from Assistant Planner Alda Peikert.
Mrs. Karen Johnsen was present to represent the proponents, and Mrs. Osmera,
the neighboring property owner involved in the land transfer, was also pre-
sent. In response to an inquiry from Chairman Thompson, both Mrs. Johnsen and
Mrs. Osmera confirmed that the proposed lot division and proper�y transfer are
acceptable to them.
It was moved by Commissioner Polachek, seconded by Co�nissioner Leppik and
carried unanimously to recommend City Council approval of the Waiver of the
Platting Ordinance requested by Bruce and Karen Johnsen to allow division of
their lot located at 4420 Ade11 Avenue for transfer of a portion of their pro-
perty to the adjacent lot located at 3300 Lee Avenue, subject to Board of
Zoning Appeals approval of a variance of the rear yard setback requirement on
the Johnsen property.
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Planning Commission Meeting - December 1, 1983 -3-
VI. Request from City Council for Review and Comment on a Revised
re iminary P at of To g Addition
Chairman Thompson introduced this agenda item and asked whether Planning
Commissioners wished to provide comment to the City Council on the revised
Preliminary Plat for "Tolg Addition".
Commissioner Leppik asked what changes had been made since submittal of the
original Preliminary Plat with a cul-de-sac design. Assistant Planner Alda
Peikert replied that all lot widths are conforming in the revised cul-de-sac
design, whereas the original cul-de-sac design, previously considered by the
Planning Commission, included two lots with less than the required minimum 80
foot width at the building setback line. Ms. Peikert stated that staff
questioned the method of ineasuring lot width used by the surveyor on the
revised plan, as noted in the staff report, but that the City Attorney con-
firmed that lot widths meet the minimum requirement based on the definition of
lot width contained in the City Zoning Ordinance.
Commissioner Prazak noted that it appears that the drainage plan is acceptable
to the City Engineer but that the drainage issue is not directly addressed in
the staff report. Ms. Peikert confirmed that the proposed drainage plan for
the revised cul-de-sac design of "Tolg Addition" is acceptable to the City
Engineer. Calculation of estimated volume of water draining to the soutMwest,
which is the area of concern, indicated that volume of surface water draining
to the southwest after development of "Tolg Addition" will be the same as the
volume of water currently draining to the southwest under existing conditions
prior to development. The area draining in that direction will be less after
development, but the ratio of runoff to area will increase with development,
resulting in the same water volume. The proposed development would neither
aggravate nor alleviate existing water problems experienced by the owner of a
walkout residence located on low ground directly to the west of the proposed
plat.
Commissioner Polachek observed that builders will have difficulty planning the
placement of houses, garages and driveways on several of the lots due to mini-
mal lot size and narrow configuration. Commissioner Polachek speculated that
the usual placement of homes at the setback line to minimize length of driveways
and utility connections will result in setback waiver requests. Commissioner
Polachek concluded that the Planning Commission could go on record as saying
that the proposed revised cul-de-sac plan for "Tolg Addition" is minimal in
terms of ineeting Ordinance dimensional requirements but is not a good design
plan. Planning Commissioners expressed consensus with this statement.
Commissioner Leppik suggested that there is potential for a far more acceptable
plan with a five lot cul-de-sac design and that the Planning Commi.ssion has
only the word of the developer that a five lot design would not be economical .
Commissioners agreed that a five lot design would produce more valuable lots
supporting higher priced homes. Commissioner Leppik further stressed the
importance of arrangement of lot lines to facilitate looping of the watermain
between the proposed cul-de-sac and the existing Roanoke Circle cul-de-sac to
the south.
Planning Commission Meeting - December 1, 1983 -4- �7�
The Planning Commission reached a consensus on the following comments for
transmittal to the City Council concerning the proposed revised cul-de-sac
design for "Tolg Addition": While the Planning Commission understands the
desire of the developer from an economic standpoint to create six lots, the
proposed revised cul-de-sac design is a poor plan likely to create variance
requests and can be termed minimal at best. The plan could be improved by use
of a five lot design which would create greater lot widths, provide for the
development of more attractive homes and allow installation of a looped water-
main.
VII. Report on City Council Meeting - November 15, 1983
Commissioner Singer provided the Planning Commission with a report on the
November 15, 1983 City Council meeting.
VIII. Attendance at Annual Planning Institute and Land Use Planning
Workshops
Commissioners Prazak and Singer reported that they plan to attend the Annual
Planning Institute, and Commissioner Leppik and Chairman Thompson reported
that they plan to attend the Land Use Planning Workshops.
IX. Reappointment of Planning Commissioners
In response to inquiries from Chairman Thompson, Commissioners Singer and
Tubman expressed desire for reappointment to the Planning Commission, and
Commissioner Polachek stated that he does not desire reappointment. Chairman
Thompson said that he would transmit the wishes of these Planning
Commissioners to the City Council .
X. Response from the State on State Aid Status of Duluth Street
Assistant Planner Alda Peikert distributed to Planning Commissioners copies of
a letter received from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in
response to staff inquiries concerning the State Aid status of Duluth Street.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
avid hompson, Chairman Margaret eppi , ecretary