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02-11-85 PC Minutes103 1 1 MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION February 11, 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. Those present were Commissioners Kapsner, Leppik, McAleese, McCracken-Hunt, Prazak and Schmidt. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development, Alda Peikert, City Planner, and Gloria Anderson, Planning Secretary. Commissioner Russell was absent. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 28, 1985 It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner Kapsner and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 28, 1985 Planning Commission meeting pending changes. II. SET DATE FOR INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - PRELIMINARY PLAT APPLICANT: Church of the Good Shepherd LOCATION: 145 and 225 Jersey Avenue South and 6800 Laurel Avenue REQUEST: Approval of the Preliminary Plat of Church of the Good Shepherd Addition Acting Chairman Prazak introduced this agenda item and noted the February 25, 1985 informal public hearing date recommended by staff. It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner McAleese and carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of February 25, 1985 for consideration of the Preliminary Plat of the Church of the Good Shepherd Addition at 145 and 225 Jersey Avenue South and 6800 Laurel Avenue. III. SET DATE FOR INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - PRELIMINARY PLAT APPLICANT: City of Golden Valley LOCATION: 6500 Laurel Avenue REQUEST: Approval of the Preliminary Plat of "Cortlawn Pond" 1 104 ~~ar~ning Commission Minutes February 11, 1985 Page 2 IV. SET DATE FOR INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - PRELIMINARY PLAT APPLICANT: city of Golden Valley LOCATION: 7000 Laurel Avenue REQUEST: Approval of the Preliminary Plat of "Laurel Pond" Acting Chairman Prazak introduced these agenda items and noted the February 25, 1985 informal public hearing date recommended by staff. It was moved by Commissioner McAleese, seconded by Commissioner McCracken-Hunt and carried unanimously to set an informal public hearing date of February 25, 1985 for consideration of the Preliminary Plats for "Cortlawn Pond" and "Laurel Pond". V. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - REZONING APPLICANT: Foxboro Corporation LOCATION: 1245, 1315, 1335 and 1411 North Lilac Drive REQUEST: Approval of Rezoning from Residential to Business and Professional Offices Zoning District Acting Chairman Prazak introduced this agenda item and asked staff to review the proposal. City Planner Alda Peikert reviewed the request for rezoning and gave the staff recommendation. Commissioner Leppik asked if this would come back to the Commission as a PUD and also if there were any plans for closing the Lindsay Street entrance to Highway 100 and, if so, how it would affect traffic. City Planner Alda Peikert explained that this would not be a PUD. She also stated that there were no plans to close Lindsay Street but there were plans to upgrade Duluth Street and the service road in the future which would improve access to Highway 100 north. Acting Chairman Prazak asked if the parking was adequate and. how many units there would be. City Planner Alda Peikert said she would let the proponent give answers to those questions. Mr. Lynn Sloat of Sloat Logan Associates, architects, was present to represent the proponent. He stated the building contained a total of 36,700 square feet of which 24,900 square feet were on the first floor and 11,700 square feet on the second floor. He explained that the building was U-shaped fronting on Manning Commission Minutes February 11, 1985 Page 3 Highway 100 for maximum appearance keeping the minimal amount of building toward the residential properties to the rear. The parking requirements for this pro- ject would be 147 spaces and they have provided for 155 parking spaces. M r. Sloat also explained that they had trie d to distribute the parking around the site rather than concentrate it in one area. Mr. Sloat explained that the pro- posed building would have brick walls, cedar shake roof and bronze tinted glass to create an ambiance of a residential area, and that the two-story height keeps the building low to blend in with the a rea. They have off-set the modules to break up the roof line. Mr. Sloat stated they are looking at various. ways to resolve the drainage problem and that it would not be draining from the blacktop surface to the west into the backyards of the residences. Mr. Sloat stated that any drainage plan would have to be approved by the City and that the construction would comply with all City codes and ordinances. Commissioner Leppik stated that one of her concerns when a piece of property which is zoned from residential to another use such as Business and Professional Offices is whether or not the owners had tried previously to sell it as residen- tial and if this were the case with this property. Mr. Sloat did not know if this were the case. Commissioner Schmidt asked if they had commitments on this property including the small portion to the north. Mr. Sloat said that they did. Commissioner Leppik asked how long the actual construction would take and if they had any ideas on the landscaping. Mr. Sloat stated the construction would take about six or seven months and that the landscaping would probably consist of shrubs and trees. He explained they would probably use shrubs around the parking areas to keep headlights from shining into the residential area in the winter and would probably use larger trees to break up~the landscaping. Commissioner Kapsner asked how high the grade would be between the parking lot and backyards and whether it would be a slope or retaining wall. Mr. Sloat replied it would be roughly 14 feet but at this time they did not know if it would be a slope or retaining wall and that these were things they would have to look at in order to make the project work. Commissioner Schmidt felt that the drainage is the most important part of this project. Mr. Sloat stated that they do not have all the drainage problems solved but that it would be something they would have to work on. 105 1 1®~ Planning Commission Minutes February 11, 1985 Page 4 City Planner Alda Peikert asked how the interior was designed and how many units there would be. Mr. Sloat explained that the modules were 35 by 60 feet for a typical unit. There are ten units plus two corner units and how they would be divided would depend on the owners and how large the companies were that buy the units. Acting Chairman Prazak opened the informal public hearing for public input. Mr. Wally Kovstad, 1220 Welcome Avenue, objected to the rezoning because he would be looking at cars whenever he looked out his window and suggested they maybe could put parking to the front rather than the rear of the property. He also objected to the rezoning because it did not follow the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and was concerned about the drainage problem. Mr. R. C. Johnson, 1200 Welcome Avenue, opposed the rezoning because the addi- tional traffic, fumes and noise would make the area intolerable. He too was concerned about the drainage as they already have some water problems. Mr. Pavlos Electris, 1316 Welcome Avenue, said they moved into their home in 1978 and have been trying to upgrade their property since then. He does not want to look at the cars in the parking lot and feels they will lose their pri- vacy. He also was concerned with drainage and does not want the zoning changed. Mr. George Seiter, 1408 North Lilac Drive, had questions on variances and set- backs which were explained by City Planner Alda Peikert. Mr. Frank Tenczar, 1310 Welcome Avenue, opposed the zoning change. He also was concerned about the drainage situation and said that presently there are children that slide on this hill in the winter. Ms. Betty Ellgen, 1438 North Lilac Drive, stated that she and her husband were very much opposed to this rezoning because of the traffic and accessibility. Ms. Ellgen and her husband feel more effort should be made to build single family residences on these lots. She also read a letter from her neighbor, Mrs. Fae Fay, 1420 North Lilac Drive, who also opposes the rezoning of this property. Mr. Harry Lucas, 1324 Welcome Avenue, opposed the rezoning because of the drainage situation. Mr. Al Schuler, 1411 North Lilac Drive, was in favor of the rezoning as he does not see any other way to improve this area. He said there is more pollution from traffic on the east side of Highway 100. He also suggested they need signs to reduce the speed on the frontage road. Mrs. Marlys Johnson, 1125 North Lilac Drive, asked if there were plans to upgrade Highway 100 to three lanes each way. City Planner Alda Peikert said there are no plans in the capital improvement plan for the next five years and it is unlikely it would be upgraded in ten years. 1 1 1 Planning Commission Minutes February 11, 1985 Page 5 Acting Chairman Prazak questioned whether there had been any attempts to sell the property for senior citizen housing. City Planner Alda Peikert stated there had been two people who had come in during the past two years to talk about senior citizen housing one of which would be combined with a medical clinic. Acting. Chairman Prazak closed the informal public hearing. The Planning Commission had various questions on the drainage problems and City Planner Alda Peikert explained that no plans would be approved until the City was satisfied that it would not drain toward the properties to the west. Commissioner Schmidt asked if any efforts had been made to maintain this as single family residential and asked the staff to comment on what would happen in the future if this property would remain zoned for residential use. City Planner Alda Peikert said it could remain residential but it would have to be cost effective for a developer to develop the property. She stated that staff has suggested low-density townhouses, multiple dwelling units or offices as options for development. Director Grimes said a developer would be cautious before constructing residen- tial units along Highway 100 because of the fumes and traffic. Commissioner McAleese asked if this property had ever been on the HRA agenda and wondered what types of improvements were proposed for the traffic situation at Duluth Street and Highway 100. City Planner Alda Peikert said it had not been on the HRA agenda and that the improvements planned were for widening of Duluth Street and possible addition of traffic signals. Commissioner Schmidt asked if it were possible to put the parking in the front and Mr. Sloat explained that they tried to keep the building as far as they could from the residential area at the rear. Commissioner Kapsner asked it it was feasible to put berming along the west. Mr. Sloat said this would be possible and is one thing they would have to study along with the drainage. Acting Chairman Prazak asked what would happen if the City Council approved the rezoning and the developer found it was not cost effective and withdrew their plans. City Planner Alda Peikert said that once any property is rezoned there is no guarantee that the developer who presented the rezoning and plans would go ahead with the project. It could very easily chanye hands and go to someone else. l07 1®~ Planning Commission Minutes February 11, 1985 Page 6 Acting Chairman Prazak had concerns for changing the zoning and the comprehen- sive plan on the basis of not only a tentative development but also with so many unanswered questions. Director Grimes doubted that single homes would be built if the property remained residential and that multiple family use would probably create more traffic in the area. Commissioner McCracken-Hunt agreed that single family character is not feasible and that multiple residential units would create some of the same problems such as traffic. Commissioner McAleese stated he would like additional information on traffic and drainage and would like to hold off making a decision at this time. Commissioner Leppik stated she liked the plan, that it was very good use of the property with modifications for drainage. She complimented the developer on the presentation of a plan sensitive to the neighborhood. Commissioner McCracken-Hunt had concerns for the car lights shining into the properties and the drainage. Mr. Sloat said if the drainage situation could not be worked out, it would not be in their best interest to complete the project they are trying to develop. He asked if there was a way to tie the rezoning in with this project? Acting Chairman Prazak said there was not. Commissioner Leppik stated that though it does have flaws, she thought it was a very good plan but did not support it because the comprehensive plan did not have this zoning and because of the neighborhood opposition. She felt the neighbors should consider this plan as she believes that eventually this pro- perty will be rezoned. It was moved by Commissioner Leppik, seconded by Commissioner McAleese and unanimously agreed to recommend City Council denial of the requst for rezoning of 1245, 1315, 1335 and 1411 North Lilac Drive from Residential to Business and Professional Offices Zoning District. VI. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ZONING ORDINANCE RELATED TO HOME nrcisaATloNs There was general discussion on the proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance related to home occupations. Director Grimes will continue to work out the details and forward to the City Attorney. 1 Punning Commission Meeting February 11, 1985 Page 7 VII. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL MEETING - FEBRUARY 5,1985 Commissioner McAleese gave a report on the City Council meeting held February 5, 1985. VIII. DISCUSSION OF ATTENDANCE AT APA CONFERENCE It was decided that Acting Chairman Prazak and Commissioner Kapsner would attend the APA Conference in Montreal April, 1985. IX. STUDY MEETING 109 It was decided to schedule the March 25, 1985 .Planning Commission meeting as a study meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Gary Prazak, Acting Chairman Margaret Leppik, Secretary i