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06-12-95 PC Minutes100 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall, Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order by Chair Prazak at 7:05 PM. June 12, 1995 Those present were Commissioners Groger, Lewis (arrived at 7:38), McAleese, Pentel and Prazak; absent were Johnson and Kapsner. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development and Mary Dold, Planning Secretary. Approval of Minutes -April 24 and May 8 1995 MOVED by McAleese, seconded by Johnson and motion carried unanimously to approve the April 24, 1995 minutes with the following corrections: Page Three, Paragraph Two. Second sentence should read "Tom Klatt, Street/Park Superintendent, presented and discussed a planting scheme." Page Three, Paragraph Three. Second sentence -- the word "them" should be changed to "then". MOVED by Groger, seconded by McAleese and motion carried unanimously to approve the May 8, 1995 minutes as submitted. Informal Public Hearing -Rezoning Applicant: Lisa and Doug Parks Address: 1511/1521 Xerxes Avenue North, Golden Valley, Minnesota Purpose: Rezone property from Single Family Residential to Two-Family (.R-2) Residential Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development gave a brief summary of his report to the Planning Commission. He commented that when the two-family home was built, it was permitted in the Single-Family Residential District. City Code has changed which does not permit this use in a Single-Family Residential District. Mr. Grimes also commented that when owners decide to make a change to a nonconforming use, they must first bring it into conformity. Commissioner McAleese asked about the notice sent to the Minneapolis Planning Department and if notices were sent to those Minneapolis residents across the street. Mr. Grimes stated that the Minnepolis Planning Department decides whether to send notice to their residents regarding this application. This procedure has worked in the past. Commissioner McAleese also asked about changing the Zoning Code so residents would not have to go through hearings, for a relative minor change, which could be handled administratively. Mr. Grimes commented that it would be difficult to determine how to amend the Zoning Code because not all properties meet City Code requirements and should therefore be looked at on an individual basis. 1 1 101 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission June 12, 1995 Page Two Commissioner Groger asked staff about the horseshoe driveway which is shown on the survey Mr. Grimes commented that the southerly part of the driveway sits on a railroad easement and does not believe that the owners use that part of the driveway. Lisa and Doug Parks, applicants, commented that they did not use the horseshoe driveway and will not be using it in the future because the proposed garage will be located over the top part of the horseshoe. They said no garage door is planned for the southern side of the garage. Chair Prazak opened the informal public hearing; seeing and hearing no one, Chair Prazak closed the informal public hearing. Commissioner Pentel commented that the request seems reasonable and the detached garage addition should improve the property. Commissioner McAleese concurred. MOVED by McAleese, seconded by Groger and motion carried unanimously to recommend to the City Council approval of the request for a rezoning of the property at 1511/1521 Xerxes Avenue North from Single-Family Residential to Two-Family (R-2) Residential. III. Review of Land. Use for Area B -- Valley Square Redevelopment Area Director Mark Grimes commented that the HRA has given direction for the Planning Commission to review the land use plan for Area B of the Valley Square Redevelopment Area. Mr. Grimes said the HRA would like the Commission to focus primarily on the vacated Jerry's and Maren Lane and to see if the "Plan" is still valid which was updated in 1991. Staff would like the Commission to also look at how the creek could be enhanced, what kind of housing use would be viable for this area and how to incorporate a walkway through Area B over to the Civic Center block. Staff suggested setting a date for a workshop. This will give the Commission time to walk the area and take a closer look at how the creek runs through the property. Commissioner Pentel commented that the Commission is very interested in having the chance to look at Area B and would be a good use of Planning Commission time. Council Member Joan Russell asked the Commission to also keep in mind the relationship of the downtown area as a whole and how it could function, how the. retailers could be retained and what can be offered to those driving through the downtown area. Council Member Russell also asked the Commission, when walking the site, to look at the tight turn into the Tower Square Shopping Center. She felt there may be a traffic problem when vehicles are coming from the north and then having to take a .sharp. corner to go north into the Tower Square Shopping Center. Due to no items for the June 26 Planning Commission meeting, staff and the Commission agreed to spend the evening reviewing Area B of the Valley Square Redevelopment District. Mark Grimes asked the Commission to contact staff with any questions or requests before the June 26 meeting. Commissioner Groger asked if Maren Lane was fixed. Mark Grimes commented that it could be vacated but utilities would have to be moved which could be costly. ~. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission June 12, 1995 Page Three IV. Comprehensive Plan -- Housing Review Director Mark Grimes commented that infern, Laurie Mezera-Kerr, has been putting together current data and windshield information relative to the housing stock in Golden Valley. Commissioner Pentel requested staff to compile census information from the Met Council that goes back approximately 10 years. Ms. Pentel also commented on the information which Commissioner McAleese put together including New Hope's housing. plan and said it was very helpful V. Review of Oasis Mental Health Program --Annual Report Commissioner McAleese commented that this facility seems to work very well in the area and the residents may feel reassured because the City does review the Progam's annual report every year. VI. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment AuthoritX, CitkCouncil, Board of Zoning Appeals~Community Standards Task Force Commissioner Groger reported on the Community Standards Task Force meetings. Mark Grimes reported on the HRA meeting and briefly talked about the upcoming June 27 HRA meeting. VII. Other Business -Sidewalk Committee Policy/Procedures. Commissioner Pentel asked staff if they could compile information on how much money has been spent for sidewalks for the last several years and which sidewalks have been constructed and when. She also would like to see a priority list and wanted to know when the list was compiled. Mr. Grimes commented that he would check with the Engineering Department for this information. - NSP. Mark Grimes commented that staff has met with Mr. Donkeys about the site and they have presented more information. which makes their request more workable. Staff will be meeting with NSP again in the next couple of weeks to gather more information. - Planning Commission Bus Tour. The Commission thanked staff for the time spent putting site information and the tour together. VIII. Adjournment Chair Prazak adjourned the Golden Valley Planning Commission meeting at 8:05 PM. Jean Lewis, Secretary