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01-28-85 PC Minutes97 MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION January 28, 1985 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the Council Chambers of the Civic Center, 7800.Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN. Acting Chairman Prazak called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Thosepresentwere Commissioners K~psner, McAleese, Prazak, Russell and Schmidt. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development, Alda Peikert, City Planner, and Gloria Anderson, Planning Secretary. Commissioner Leppik was not present at the beginning of the meeting. Commissioner McCracken-Hunt was absent. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 14, 1985 It was moved by Commissioner Kapsner, seconded by Commissioner McAleese and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 14, 1985 Planning Commission meeting as recorded. II. SET DATE FOR INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING APPLICANT: Foxboro Corporation LOCATION: 1245, 1315, 1335 and 1411 North Lilac Drive REQUEST: Approval of Rezoning from Residential to Business and Professional Offices Acting Chairman Prazak introduced this agenda item and noted the February 11, 1985 informal public hearing date recommended by staff. It was moved by Commissioner Schmidt, seconded by Commissioner Russell and carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of February 11, 1985 for consideration of the request received from Foxboro Corporation for rezoning of the property at 1245, 1315, 1335 and 1411 North Lilac Drive from the Residential Zoning District to the Business and Professional Offices Zoning District. Commissioner Leppik arrived at the meeting. III. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING APPLICANT: General Mills, Inc. LOCATION: 8800 and 9300 Betty Crocker Drive REQUEST:- Approval of Rezoning from Open Development to Business and Professional Offices ~~ Planning Commission Minutes January 28, 1985 Page 2 Acting Chairman Prazak introduced this agenda item and asked staff to review the proposal. Director Grimes reviewed the request for rezoning and gave the staff recommendation. He stated that the request for rezoning is consistent with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan designation. He also said that the construction of the building and the platting of the property would require General Mills to appear before the Planning Commission and City Council again in the future. Acting Chairman Prazak wanted to know when the Comprehensive Land Use Plan first designated this area as Business and Professional Offices and if the east or west half of the property might be preferred for office construction by the City Engineering Department in regard to drainage. City Planner Alda Peikert stated it was first designated in 1976. Director Grimes stated that the Engineering Department did not express any preference but that the west half might be more accessible for traffic and have better visibility. Commissioner Schmidt questioned if it was intended that there would eventually be two buildings and Director Grimes stated that General Mills indicated there would only be one building. Acting Chairman Prazak asked if there were any other questions of staff. There were none. Acting Chairman Prazak recognized the proponents Mr. David Latvaaho, Real Estate Representative for General Mills, and Mr. John Schevenius, P.E. of the Engineering Policy Group of General Mills. Mr. Latvaaho stated that they were at the meeting for the rezoning only and that General Mills has no immediate plans to develop the property, only conceptual plans, and that they understand they would have to come back to the Planning Commission in order to pursue any further plans. Commissioner Kapsner wanted to know if there was going to be two buildings. Mr. Latvaaho stated that their plans were to build only one building but as yet have not decided on which half of the parcel they will build. Commissioner Leppik wanted to know what kind of drainage plans had been deve- loped for the site. Mr. Schevenius said they had discussed a number of different kinds of drainage possibilities for the property. Flood storage could be on either half of the site as there is adequate space and that they could also put flood storage to the south of Betty Crocker Drive. Mr. Schevenius stated that they have worked with the Bassett Creek Flood Control Commission's engineers and there are a number of ways it could be done. Acting Chairman Prazak wanted to know the year General Mills could best estimate when construction would begin. 1 99 Planning Commission Minutes January 28, 1985 Page 3 Mr. Latvaaho said they estimated it would be two to five years before develop- ment of the property would begin. Commissioner Leppik asked if the large piece of property sticking down into the General Mills property was going to create a problem or if General Mills would possibly be buying and developing this property. Director Grimes said the property is part of the density calculations for Brookview Condominiums and that General Mills has no plans to obtain this pro- p e rty . Commissioner McAleese asked why General Mills was coming to the Planning Commission at this time for rezoning. Mr. Latvaaho stated it was so that when they are ready to develop this property the zoning would be in place. Acting Chairman Prazak asked if the office development would be for General Mills use exclusively and Mr. Latvaaho replied yes. Acting Chairman Prazak opened the informal public hearing for public input. Mr. Thomas McChesney, 432 Decatur Avenue North, was concerned about sewer assessments and traffic. He stated he already had a sewer system at the rear and to the front of his property that he has-paid for and does not see why he should subsidize General Mills. He questioned who owns Betty Crocker Drive and that they should abide by the laws and provide stop signs at their exits. He stated that it is very difficult to get on Boone Avenue from the service road when people are leaving General Mills in the afternoon. Acting Chairman Prazak assured him that the Planning Commission would look at the traffic issue when a specific plan comes before the Planning Commission. Michelle Poirier, 8925 Wally Street is concerned if the residents would have any input before General Mills started building on the property and that she would prefer they rezone the west half of the property to build on. Acting Chairman Prazak stated the area was one parcel and the entire area would be rezoned. He also stated that the residents would be notified when plans were more definite. Mr. Andrew Grega, 9145 West Highway 55, opposed rezoning. He was concerned about the traffic and what would happen to Boone Avenue traffic when they are working on I-394. Mr. Schevenius stated that the plans for upgrading Highway 12 to I-394 include plans for an interchange at I-394 and Boone Avenue. 1 100 Planning Commission Minutes January 28, 1985 Page 4 Commissioner Kapsner noted that the new interchange would probably lessen the traffic on Boone Avenue. Mr. Art Mills, 416 Decatur Avenue North, was represented by his daughter. She stated that this area has been used by her father and other relatives for walking for many years and that he would prefer the west side for building construction. She asked that General Mills at least leave some of the woods. Mr. Mark Poirier, 8925 Wally Street, asked why General Mills could not build on the south side of Betty Crocker Drive instead of the north side. Mr. Latvaaho stated he could not answer this question. Mrs. Grega of the Brookview Condominiums wanted to know if this plan calls for doing anything to Bassetts Creek. Mr. Schevenius stated they have no intentions to alter Bassetts Creek. Acting Chairman Prazak closed the public hearing. Commissioner .Russell asked if the Boone Avenue/I-394 interchange would take pro- perty from General Mills or the Brookview property. Staff stated both. Commissioner Kapsner asked if the interchange is designed to alleviate some of the General Mills traffic. Staff stated that it would and questioned if it was to be a full interchange. Mr. Schevenius stated that it would be a full inter- change. Commissioner Leppik asked who does own Betty Crocker Drive. Staff indicated it was a dedicated right-of-way on the street map and is maintained by the City. Commissioner Leppik said she can see no reason not to rezone this property but that there would be more input on what General Mills does with the property. Commissioner McAleese questioned how we have the discrepency between the General Plan and the existing residential development directly west of the WTCN building. The General Plan designates the entire area south of Highway 55 as Business and Professional Offices. Director Grimes stated that the homes were probably there before General Mills. Mr. Schevenius stated the homes were built soon after World War II. General Mills purchased the property beginning in the mid 195O's. Commissioner McAleese opposed the rezoning. He said it is a major step and gives General Mills some legal rights to the property that they don't have if it is not rezoned and that we would have more control over the development of the property under its current status. He would like to have more time to think about this and to defer the Planning Commission's decision to a future date. Commissioner Leppik asked what more information Commissioner McAleese would want before voting on it. Planning Commission Minutes January 28, 1985 Page 5 101 Commissioner McAleese feels that the Planning Commission needs to get a better handle on the planning aspect of their jobs and that the City would benefit trom taking time to make the decision. He would like more information on the sewer system, the traffic problems that exist now and what might exist if a building were to go in on one of these parcels. If the property were rezoned, he believes that the City has less control of the development of the site. He said that the Conditional Use Permit procedure and PUD procedure does not give the City the same amount of control over development as does a rezoning. Acting Chairman Prazak asked if he was suggesting they plat the property into two components first and then rezone. Commissioner McAleese stated that it would be a reasonable alternative and that rezoning is a major step and gives them legal rights they currently do not now have. He stated that the Planning Commission should review the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and be looking ahead as to how it will affect the community ten years down the line. Commissioner Schmidt asked how long General Mills has owned property and if it had been zoned Open Development since that time. Director Grimes stated they had owned it since 1956 and that it probably had been zoned Open Development since then. Commissioner Leppik stated she could see no reason the Commission should not make a decision at this time as the rezoning was in conformance with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Commissioner McAleese moved that the Planning Commission defer the decision one meeting to afford him the opportunity to write a brief as to why the Commission should delay the decision. The motion died for lack of a second. Acting Chairman Prazak noted there were considerable questions raised by both the Commission and members of the community about specific potential aspects of the plan that will be presented to the Commission at a later time. At that time General Mills can expect there to be a very intensive look at the specifics of that plan and how it will affect traffic and the neighbors. Commissioner Russell stated she agreed with the process but felt the Commission would not be right in denying General Mills what they had every right to expect. It was moved by Commissioner Russell and seconded by Commissioner Leppik to recommend City Council approval of the rezoning of 8800 and 9300 Betty Crocker Drive from the Open Development Zoning District to the Business and Professional Offices Zoning District. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 1 with Commissioner McAleese opposed. IV. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE RELATED TO RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES After discussion it was moved by Commissioner Schmidt, seconded by Commissioner Russell and carried unanimously to recommend City Council approval of the pro- posed ordinance changes related to residential facilities. ~~~ Planning Commission Minutes January 28, 1985 Page 6 V. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL MEETING - JANUARY 15, 1985 Staff gave a report on the City Council Meeting held January 15, 1985. VI. ZONING AUTHORITY RESPONSIBILITIES PROCEDURES SEMINAR - JANUARY 22, 1985 Commissioner McAleese gave a report on the Zoning Authority Responsibilities Procedures Seminar which he attended. He felt the key point that was made was that cities need to do more planning rather than react to Conditional Use Permits, PUD's and rezonings. He also stated that the Planning Commission should more carefully evaluate testimony given by the public. Meeting was adjourned at 8:40 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Gary Prazak, Acting Chairman Margaret Leppik, Secretary 1 1 1