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04-10-89 PC Minutes~_~ MINUTES OF THE GOLDEN VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION April 10, 1989 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held in the meeting room of Golden Valley Fire Station #3, 3700 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Chair Prazak at 7:00 P.M. Those present were Commissioners Kapsner, Leppik, Lewis, McAleese, Prazak, McCracken-Hunt and Russell. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development, and Beth Knoblauch, City Planner. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 20 AND MARCH 30, 1989 It was moved by Commissioner Lewis, seconded by Commissioner McAleese, and carried unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular March 20, 1989 and the minutes of the special March 30, 1989 Planning Commission meetings as written. II. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING - RECONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE LAND USf PLAN MAP APPLICANT: Parker and Associates LOCATION: 1950, 2000, 2010 and 2020 Douglas Drive REQUEST: Amendment of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Map to Change the Land Use Designation from Medium Density Residential and Semi-Public to Commercial Chair Prazak introduced this item and asked Director Grimes for an explanation. Director Grimes stated that this item had been taken off the agenda. The City Council has asked the Planning Commission to consider a larger area when review- ing this Amendment to the Land Use Plan Map. The consideration should consider the effect of commercial development on surrounding properties that are now residential and commercial. There were several persons in the audience concerned about the strip shopping center a t Duluth and Douglas proposed by Parker and Associates. The neighbors at Duluth and Douglas believe that additional commercial development in the area will increase traffic on Duluth and Douglas. They now have a difficult time getting onto both streets, and particularly at the afternoon peak hour when the Honeywell shift ends at 3 P.M. Commissioner Leppik felt that it would be difficult. to review this matter at one meeting and that more detailed study may be necessary. Director Grimes said that he felt the Planning Commission could at least start the review at the April 24 Planning Commission meeting. It was moved by Commissioner Russell and seconded by Commissioner Kapsner to set an informal public hearing for the recommendation of an Amendment to the Compre- hensive Land Use Plan Map for 1950, 2000, 2010 and 2020 Douglas Drive for April 24, 1989. The motion was carried unanimously. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 10, 1989 Page 2 It was decided that the area to be notified of the informal public hearing shall be as follows: Medicine Lake Road on the north, Douglas Drive on the west, Bassett's Creek on the east and the Soo Line Railroad track on the south. III. INFORMAL PUBLIC HEARING -CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT APPLICANT: Ogren PropertiesJSuperAmerica LOCATION: 1910 Douglas Drive REQUEST: Approval of a Conditional Use Permit to Allow for Construction of a SuperAmerica Service Station With Convenience Shopping Chair Prazak introduced this agenda item and. asked City Planner Knoblauch for an overview. City Planner Knoblauch reviewed the plan to tear down the existing Mobil Station and construct a 2,400 square foot SuperAmerica Station. This is a small SuperAmerica store. There would be no sit down deli or car wash in the store. There would be eight pumping stations. The plan was to reduce the number of driveways to two - one each on Douglas and Duluth. The County had been consulted regarding the access and they believe the new plan is improved over the existing. Mobil situation. Commissioner Leppik asked why a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) was required. City Planner Knoblauch said that a CUP is needed for both gas station and convenience food stores in the Commercial Zoning District. Bob Fields, representing SuperAmerica, explained the proposal.. He expanded on a couple of concerns. He said that the garbage area will be behind a masonry wall with a fence. He said that traffic was a concern for the station. In particular, he realizes that Honeywell causes a problem for the area in the mid afternoon. Mr. Fields said that he feels the SuperAmerica will better serve the area with gas and convenience goods. He said that the SuperAmerica is a "trip interrupter". In other words, the SuperAmerica will create few new trips on Douglas and Duluth. People who will go to the SuperAmerica are those already using those two streets. Mr. Fields estimated that the design capacity of the proposed SuperAmerica station would be 750 customers a day, bu that. expected usage would be more like 450-500 customers. The existing Mobil station serves 350 customers a day. Mr. Fields explained there will be security lighting on at all times. There will be short pole lights at the driveway entrances. He said that SuperAmerica will be flexible regarding the type of lighting and will work with the City to design the best lighting package. Commissioner Leppik said that there should be good pedestrian access to the site because many people will walk to the station. 1 1 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 10, 1989 Page 3 Mr. Fields noted that there will be 2 - 3 employees. It is anticipated that the station will be closed from about midnight to 6 A.M. Commissioner McAleese was concerned about the increase in traffic in the area. He said that the trips to the site will be increased by at least a third. He was also concerned regarding the lighting of the site. Mr. Fields noted that this proposal will have more green area than the existing station because it meets all setback requirements. Chair Prazak opened the informal public hearing. Helen Brown, 2000 Douglas Drive, said that there are several people in wheel chairs who live nearby the proposed SuperAmerica station and that the Super- America station would be convenient. Ms. Brown indicated that it is difficult to make a left hand turn from her driveway onto Douglas Drive. Cliff Roark, 6025 Wolfberry Lane, said that traffic around the proposed Super- America station will increase because SuperAmerica is a popular brand. He said people will go out of their way to buy at SuperAmerica. Cathy Roark, 6025 Wolfberry Lane, said that the SuperAmerica station would not help the people in the area, except for the renters. She felt the traffic and other issues should be studied in greater detail. She is concerned about the effect of the trips into the SuperAmerica station on the flow of traffic on Duluth and Douglas. Bob Parzck, 2005 Brunswick, said that the proposed SuperAmerica station is better in design than the existing one. However, it will increase traffic. Bob Fields said that a median in Duluth or Douglas may be in the future. He said SuperAmerica would not be against its construction. Charles Whittaker, 5900 Wolfberry Lane, said that there is already too much traffic in the area. Mr. Fields said that tanks at the Mobil station must be removed by the end of the year. Chair Prazak closed the informal public hearing. Commissioner Leppik said that overall the station is an improvement due to elimination of driveway cuts and good landscaping. She said that it was good to remove the car wash. Commissioner Kapsner said that this was a difficult decision. He felt that the SuperAmerica station would create more traffic and he would vote against it. 1 -~ ,,~ ~, 4 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 10, 1989 Page 4 Commissioner Lewis agreed that the proposed SuperAmerica is an improvement compared to the existing Mobil station. Commissioner McCracken-Hunt said the traffic will not be substantially worse after the SuperAmerica is constructed. She believes that the only way to eliminate traffic at this intersection is to eliminate all commercial develop- ment in the area. Commissioner Russell agreed with Commissioner McCracken-Hunt. She said that the SuperAmerica station will improve traffic somewhat because of fewer driveways than the Mobil station. She believes that pedestrian access in the area should be improved. Commissioner Prazak believes the proposed SuperAmerica station is an improvement to the site because it will better serve the area. He said that the traffic flow in and out of the proposed station should be studied in greater detail. Commissioner McAleese said that the site plan was good for the SuperAmerica station. He believes, however, that traffic is a problem because trips will be interrupted which causes more congestion and possible conflicts. He said this area should be included in an overall review of the Comprehensive Plan. He sa id that the traffic issue should be looked at in greater detail by the staff. He indicated he would vote no. Commissioner Leppik said she would like the County to study traffic at the inter- section and report back to the City regarding the effect of the SuperAmerica station on the intersection. Bob Fields said that he would have his firm pay fora traffic impact study prior to the City Council public hearing. It was moved by Commissioner McCracken-Hunt and seconded by Commissioner Leppik to recommend approval of the Conditional Use Permit with the following conditions: 1. Site layout shall be as indicated on the site sketch filed in the City. Planning office. As a clarification, the four-foot wide strip running along the perimeter of the main building and extending into the setback area on the property's west side shall represent a sidewalk only. In addition, there may be an overhanging roof line extending no more than 30 inches into the setback area. 2. Except for changes required by the Building Board of Review, landscaping on the site shall be as indicated on the Landscape Plan filed in the. City Planning office. 3. Between the hours of l0 P.M. and 7 A.M. loudspeaker use shall be limited to emergency communications. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission April 10, 1989 Page 5 4. The dumpster area shall be fully shielded from view. 5. The site shall meet all other City and State requirements. 6. A traffic study, paid for by SuperAmerica, be prepared and evaluated by City staff before the proposal is reviewed by the City Council. 7. Failure to comply with any of the terms of this permit shall constitute grounds for revocation. Upon vote taken, the motion passed 5 - 2. IU. REVIEW OF ZONING CODE CHANGES City Planner Beth Knoblauch introduced this item. Staff has been investigating three situations in .which ordinance revisions seem advisable. None of the revisions has been requested by property owners; all are internally initiated. The Commissioners discussed the two situations which had the most immediate need: a clarification to the setback requirements for residential corner lots, and a specific permitted use designation for the Courage Center in the I-3 Institutional Zoning District. Staff was directed to proceed to the informal public hearing stage with both of these. A third situation, involving the status of day/child care in various zoning districts, was held back from dis- cussion until more time was available. V. REPORTS ON CITY COUNCIL AND HRA MEETINGS Reports were given on the March 21, 1989 HRA meeting and the March 21, 1989 and April 4, 1989 City Council meetings. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 P.M. 1