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05-29-84 PC Minutes~~ MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION May 29, 1984 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the Valley Room of the Civic Center, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. Vice Chair Tubman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present were Commissioners Leppik, Prazak, Russell, Singer and Tubman. Commissioners Forster and McAleese were absent. Also present was Alda Peikert, Assistant Planner. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MAY 14, 1984 It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Singer and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the May 14, 1984 Planning Commission meeting as recorded. II. SET DATE FOR INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - PUD AMENDMENT PRELIMINARY DESIGN PLAN APPLICANT: Gary Properties, Inc. LOCATION: 1100 through 1200 Boone Avenue North REQUEST: Preliminary Design Plan Approval of Amendment to PUD #24, Midtown Vice Chair Tubman introduced this agenda item and noted the staff recommen- dation of a June 11, 1984 informal public hearing date. It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Prazak and carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of June 11, 1984 for consideration of the Preliminary Design Plan for an amendment to PUD #24, Midtown. III. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICANT: Teacher Federations Credit Union LOCATION: 6500 Olson Memorial Highway REQUEST: Approval of a Drive Up Banking Facility in a Business and Professional Offices Zoning District Vice Chair Tubman introduced this agenda item and called on Assistant Planner Alda Peikert to provide a staff report. 1 1 1 Planning Commission Minutes May 29, 1984 Page 2 Commissioner Russell questioned impact of the proposal on existing traffic congestion on Country Club Drive near the intersection with Douglas Drive and Highway 55. Ms. Peikert stated that City staff recognizes that traffic conyestion exists at the three way intersection of Country Club Drive with Douglas Drive and Highway 55, but that the Teacher Federations proposal would not have a negative impact on the traffic situation. The proposed plan in- cludes three curb cuts, which is the same number as currently exist at the site. The drive through facility directs traffic in one direction limiting one curb cut to an entrance and another to an exit, which may have a slight beneficial effect on the traffic situation. Commissioner Leppik asked why staff did not suggest removal of the row of ten parking spaces encroaching into the required landscaped setback on the south side of the property in view of the fact that parking provided is substan- tially more than required by Ordinance. Ms. Peikert answered that parking space required by Ordinance is a minimum and may not meet actual demand of a specific user. Staff encourayes provision of additional parking space if a proponent anticipates need for more space than required by Ordinance. Vice Chair Tubman expressed concern over potential conyestion in the drive through lanes caused by cars stacking up at the exit drive waiting to turn both left and right onto Country Club Drive. Vice Chair Tubman recoynized Mr. Paul Horgen, President of the Teacher Federations Credit Union, who was present to represent the proponent. Mr. Horgen offered background on the Teacher Federations Credit Union and the current proposal and then answered questions from Commissioners. Mr. Horgen stated that the Teacher Federations Credit Union is unique in that it does not serve the general community. A portion of the Teacher Federations Credit Union clientele is within the immediate eight county metropolitan area, but a substantial portion of the clientele is outside the metropolitan area. The Teacher Federations Credit Union has one other office located in St. Paul, and it would be the intent of the Credit Union to open an additional satellite office at another location rather than to expand operations on the 6500 Olson Memorial Highway site. Mr. Horyen described the Teacher Federations Credit Union facility at 6500 Olson Memorial Hiyhway as resembling a home office with half of the business at that location home office type business and half of the business involving client transactions. Mr. Horgen stated that the Teacher Federations Credit Union has 5,000 members within a four mile radius of the Golden Valley office and therefore wishes to provide personal service to these people. According to Mr. Horgen, the current proposal for upgrading of the site is motivated by parking problems. The design for the current proposal was pre- pared from the outside in beginning with the best parking arrangement outside and adapting the inside spaces to accommodate the outside .parking arrangement. 35 1 ~~ planning Commission Minutes May 29, 1984 Page 3 Mr. Horgen addressed earlier Planning Commissioner questions beginning with the question of parking within the landscaped yard on the south side of the property. Mr. Horgen stated that Ordinance parking requirements are minimal and that they are slim for the needs of the Teacher Federations Credit Union. The Teacher Federations Credit Union desires a long term solution to parking problems and therefore provides parking above Ordinance requirements. Mr. Horgen added that the location of parking on the south side results also from a design consideration in that the parking lot extends the line of the building which is located at the same setback point. Mr. Horgen stated that the three drive through lanes proposed include two lanes manned by human tellers located in an elevated extension off the northeast corner of the building ahead of the drive up lanes. The outside lane is an automated teller (ATM) lane which will elongate service hours with 24 hour availability and relieve peak hour traffic. The ATM lane will receive less use than the human teller lanes during open hours. It is estimated that one car per minute will exit the drive through facility during the busiest peak periods, and site planners hired by the Teacher Federations Credit Union do not anticipate any congestion problems associated with exiting the drive through lanes. Mr. Horgen states that there are at present no problems observed with exiting the site and that current problems are with getting onto the site and finding parking. Mr. Horgen emphasized need for the ATM lane in order to relieve parking congestion by elongating hours. Commissioner Leppik asked whether the proponent considered installation of an automatic teller without a separate drive up lane. Mr. Horgen stated that it would be possible to use ATM through the wall on another part of the building, but that the Teacher Federations Credit Union prefers use of the drive through to accomplish what they wish to achieve with the ATM. The Teacher Federations Credit Union anticipates a trend toward greater automation in the future. Younger clients are more likely to choose use of the ATM. Use of the night deposit facility within an entrance has increased, and it is felt that use of the ATM would increase to a greater extent if combined with the drive through feature. The designers chose use of the outside lane for the ATM drive through in order to achieve maximum visibility. The Teacher Federations Credit Union does not anticipate phased installation of the drive through lanes as indicated in the design consultant letter. Although the design con- sultants recommended initial installation of the two human teller lanes, the Teacher Federations Credit Union plans a more aggressive program with initial installation of all three lanes including the ATM lane provided the budget allows construction of all three. Vice Chair Tubman asked for clarification of the charter limitation on the Teacher Federations Credit Union. Mr. Horgen stated that membership is limited to the State of Minnesota. Mr. Horgen added that the Teacher Federations Credit Union is dedicated to providing service to all members without the necessity for visiting the facility. Commissioner Russell stated that she feels the proposal represents an improve- ment to the site. 37 Planning Commission Minutes May 29, 1984 Page 4 Commissioner Prazak asked for clarification of his understanding that the pro- posal will actually increase the landscaped setback from Country Club Drive over what exists on the site at this time. Ms. Peikert confirmed that the landscaped setback would be increased. Vice Chair Tubman opened the informal public hearing for public input. There was no one present who wished to speak on this agenda item, and Vice Chair Tubman closed the informal public hearing. Mr. Horgen stated that he reviewed the conditions of approval recommended in the staff report and requested a change in the fourth recommended condition prohibiting future expansion of the building and parking lot beyond that shown in the site plan submitted with the Conditional Use Permit application. Mr. Horgen stated that the proponent desires to preserve the opportunity to round off the proposed building addition with an additional 960 square feet of space in the northwest corner. Mr. Horgen stated that this option would be exer- cised only in the event the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) does not grant the variance required for three drive through lanes. Vice Chair Tubman questioned whether a condition prohibiting future-expansion would be enforceable in view of the fact that a proponent has the right to request amendment of a Conditional Use Permit. Vice Chair Tubman suggested that the Planning Commission opinion that the current expansion program is the maximum desirable development of the site be included in the minutes but not be included as a condition of the Permit. Ms. Peikert cautioned that inclu- sion in the Conditional Use Permit is the best way to assure preservation of the action for future reference. Commissioner Singer stated that he would recommend approval of the proposed three drive through lanes due to the fact that the site location is across from Pako and from the Golden Valley Country Club Golf Course and due to the fact that no residents attended the hearing to object to the proposal. Commissioner Singer suggested that provision for a larger building addition would not be necessary if the Panning Commission recommends favorable con- sideration of the three lane drive through proposal. Commissioner Prazak also expressed support for the three lane drive through. facility, especially in view of the fact that green space under the proposal will exceed what currently exists along the Country Club street frontage. Commissioner Leppik stated that she would like to see a commitment to landscaping and screening both on Country Club Drive and along the Highway 55 frontage. Commissioner Prazak asked whether signage, particularly directional signs for use and separation of the drive through facility, would be addressed. Ms. Peikert replied that signage would be examined by the City Building Inspector and by the Building Board of Review. Commissioner Prazak asked that note be made in the minutes to alert the Building Inspector and Building Board of Review to direct particular attention to signage at this site. ~O Planning Commission Minutes May 29, 1984 Page 5 Commissioner Russell questioned the availability of snow removal storage space under the proposed site plan. It was agreed that removal of snow from the site, if necessary, would be the responsibility of the proponent. It was moved by Commissioner Singer and seconded by Commissioner Prazak to recommend City Council approval of the Conditional Use Permit requested by the Teacher Federations Credit Union for addition of a drive up banking facility to the existing building located at 6500 Olson Memorial Highway in a Business and Professional Offices Zoning District subject to the following conditions and highlighting the second condition requiring intensified landscaping: 1. Granting by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) of waiver necessary for construction of the drive up facility, construction of the building addition and expansion of the parking lot. 2. Intensified landscaping treatment of the front yards along Country Club Drive and along Olson Memorial Highway in accordance with direction and requirements provided by the Building Board of Review. 3. Combination into one parcel for tax purposes and for resale purposes of the two original parcels comprising the Teacher Federations Credit Union site. 4. No future construction of additional building or parking beyond that indicated on the site plan dated April 23, 1984 and revised May 2, 1984, submitted in support of the Conditional Use Permit application. 5. No stacking of cars for the drive up facility onto Country Club Drive. 6. No customer parking off site on Country Club Drive. 7. Failure to comply with one or more of the above conditions shall be grounds for revocation of the Conditional Use Permit. Ms. Peikert asked for clarification of Planning Commission intent regarding the fourth condition prohibiting future expansion. It was the general consen- sus of the Planning Commission that the condition should remain as a caution to future decision makers and that provision for a larger addition at this time would not be appropriate in view of Planning Commission endorsement of the proposed three drive through lanes. A vote was taken, and the motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Russell stated for the record that she is opposed to inclusion of the fourth condition prohibiting future expansion but that she chose not to vote against the motion based on inclusion of that one condition. 1 1 1 39 Planning Commission Minutes May 29, 1984 Page 6 IV. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL MEETING - MAY 15, 1984 Vice Chair Tubman directed that the report on the May 15, 1984 City Council meeting be deferred to the next Planning Commission meeting agenda due to the absence of Commissioner McAleese who attended the meeting. V. REPORTS ON APA CONFERENCE SESSIONS Vice Chair Tubman informed Commissioners that Commissioner Forster requested deferral of American Planning Association (APA) Conference reports until the next meeting when he would be present. It was decided to proceed with some of the reports and to hold those of more general interest until the next Planning Commission meeting. Commissioners Leppik and Russell reported on a session entitled Redesigning the American Dream", which they described as a futuristic session dealing with housing and neighborhood redesign to accommodate changes in household com- position. Commissioner Leppik reported on a session entitled "The Electronic Cottage" dealing with the rapid growth in home businesses based on computer use and with zoning techniques for handling the new home businesses. The recommended approach to regulation of home businesses is to concentrate on the impacts which cause problems, such as parking, traffic, commercial deliveries, and employees, and not to regulate aspects of the home business which do not create problems. Planning Commissioners discussed the City of Golden Valley Zoning Ordinance which prohibits home businesses and recalled a request received in 1981 for a Zoning Ordinance amendment to allow home businesses. Planning Commissioners agreed that both based on awareness of numerous home businesses in existence in Golden Valley and based on expectation that home businesses will increase, the Planning Commission should initiate study of the home business question. The Planning Commission requested collection of background materials on the subject of home business regulation as a starting point for study of the issue. Commissioner Leppik reported on a Conference session entitled Women and Housing" which provided statistical data on female heads of households, income levels and housing needs. The session discussed zoning provisions which impact on the ability of women heads of households to obtain adequate housing. Commissioner Russell reported on a similar session on the status of women heads of households and reported that 40 percent of households in this cate- gory are located in the suburbs. Commissioner Russell observed that the sub- ject of female heads of households and their housing needs correlates with the home businesses topic due to the increased need for home businesses in house- holds of this type. 1 ~V Planning Commission Minutes May 29, 1984 Page 7 Commissioner Russell reported on a session entitled "Meeting Elderly Housing Needs in Metropolitan Areas", which pointed out that a planner's objective assessment of elderly housing may differ substantially from the elderly person's own subjective assessment of his or her housing. Elderly persons may favor familiar housing in neighborhoods where they have friends and may not be in a mood to accept the housing marketed to the elderly. The point made in the session is that early marketing of elderly housing options is necessary. Several Commissioners reported attending a Planning Commissioners Workshop entitled "Reasoning Together" and receiving excerpts from a recently published book written by the leader of the session. Commissioner Prazak suggested purchase of copies of the book for Planning Commissioners and use of available meeting time to review and discuss selected sections of the book as background training for the Planning Commissioner role. It was agreed that remaining reports on APA Conference sessions would be pre- sented at the next Planning Commission meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 P.M. Respectfully submitted, 1 Lloyd Tubman, Vice Chair Gary Prazak, Secretary 1