02-27-89 PC Minutes:I
MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY
PLANNING COMMISSION
February 27, 1989
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the at Fire Station #2,
400 Turners Crossroad South, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The meeting was called
to order by Chair Prazak at 7:00 P.M.
Those present were Commissioners Kapsner, Leppik, McAleese, McCracken-Hunt,
Prazak, and Russell. Commissioner Lewis was absent at the beginning of the
meeting. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development,
and Beth Knoblauch, City Planner.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - FEBRUARY 13, 1989
It was moved by Commissioner Kapsner, seconded by Commissioner McCracken-Hunt,
and carried. unanimously to approve the minutes of the February. 13, 1989 Planning
Commission meeting.
II. ADDITIONAL INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - FLUIDYNE - REZONING
APPLICANT: F1uiDyne Engineering Company
LOCATION: 5828 Olson Memorial Highway
REQUEST: Rezone the property at the Northeast corner of Zane Avenue
and Olson Memorial Highway from the Open Development Zoning
District to the Industrial Zoning District
'III. ADDITIONAL INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - AMENDMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
APPLICANT: F1uiDyne Engineering Company
LOCATION: 5828 Olson Memorial Highway
REQUEST: Change .the Land Use Designation on the Comprehensive Land
Use Plan Map from Business and Professional Uses to
Industrial Uses
These items were introduced by Chair Prazak who-asked for an update from City
Planner Knoblauch. She explained that the informal public hearing was being
reopened because of an incorrect date being given in the original notices to
neighboring property owners. While State law does not require both a Planning
Commission hearing and a City Council hearing, the City's Ordinance specifies.
that in rezoning requests public input will be taken by both bodies. Planner
Knoblauch then gave a reiteration of the staff report and a summary of the
discussion at the earlier informal public hearing.
Commissioner Lewis arrived at the meeting.
The informal hearing was opened for comment by the public. Jim and Vicky Trettel,
5802 Olson Memorial Highway, came forward. They own the northernmost of four
houses that border the affected property on the east side. They stated that they
did not necessarily wish to oppose the F1uiDyne requests, but they had several
,~,
~'
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
February 27, 1989
Page 2
concerns about the effect of the proposed parking lot on their residential
property. Primary concerns were a potential decrease in property value, the
need for protective landscaping, the potential for squealing tires as cars exit
the parking lot, and the means of snow removal/storage in the winter months.
The Trettels also wished to see no parking signs posted on the street if and
when the lot is constructed.
There being no one else present to speak, the public comment portion of the
informal hearing was concluded. Development Director Grimes addressed the
property value issue by pointing out that the area's long range land use desig-
nation is office space, and the greatest likelihood is that at some future date
all of the existing properties will. be bought up for assembly into an office
site. This potential increases the future value of the residential property,
and will be unaffected by the presence of an adjacent parking lot.
Mr. Doug Frame, speaking for F1uiDyne, addressed the other major concerns.. The
company would like to retain as much of the existing gradient between properties
as possible, which will provide somewhat of a buffer, and he is willing to work
with the homeowners on the property landscaping. He would be open to reversing
the direction of the one-way flow of traffic through the parking lot, which
would place the exit at the opposite end where the gradient between properties
is greater. The company is also willing to be a good neighbor when it comes to
snow removal. Mr. Frame took down the name and phone number of the Trettels,
and will be in contact with them.
After some discussion,. the Planning Commission determined that there was no
reason to reconsider its earlier recommendation in view of the public input.
The motion to recommend approval of the Plan amendment and the rezoning stands
unchanged.
IV. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN - WORK SESSION
City Planner Knoblauch presented an outline of steps to take in updating the
Comprehensive Plan for Golden Valley. Because the existing plan appears to have
some major failings, and because there seems to have been a problem with other
efforts to update the Plan in recent years, the proposed outline more closely
resembles the formulation of a new Plan than a simple update of the existing
one. This will allow fora major overhaul of key Plan elements where goals and
policies are poorly defined or no longer applicable. There was considerable
discussion on exactly what Plan elements should be or must be included at this
time. Planner Knoblauch will do some additional research into this question in
preparation for the next work session.
V. APA CONFERENCE
Commissioner McCracken-Hunt and Commissioner Lewis will be attending the
conference. Commissioner Kapsner is looking into it. The other Commissioners
have declined due to previous commitments.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 P.M.
1