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01-08-96 PC Minutes~: 2? Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission 1 January 8, 1996 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:OOpm. Those present were Commissioners Groger, Johnson, Kapsner, Lewis, McAleese, Pentel and Prazak. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development; Elizabeth Knoblauch, City Planner and Mary Dold, Planning Secretary. Approval of Minutes -November 27, 1995 MOVED by Pentel, seconded by McAleese and motion carried unanimously to approve the November 27, 1995 minutes as submitted. II. Informal Public Hearing -Conditional Use Permit Amendment Applicant: SuperAmerica Group, Inc. Address: 1930 Douglas Drive North, Golden Valley, Minnesota 1 Request: Amend Conditional Use Permit which would allow for the hours of operation to be extended to 24 hours a day Beth Knoblauch, City Planner, gave a brief summary of her report to the Commissioners dated January 3, 1996 commenting that SuperAmerica (SA) is requesting the restriction on the hours of operation (ham to 11 pm) be lifted to allow for SA to service their customers 24-hours a day. Since the store was opened in 1989, there has only been one complaint regarding the store being opened after 11 pm. As it turned out, employees were restocking shelves and cleaning which is permissible under the CUP. Ms. Knoblauch reviewed the ten "Factors for Consideration" commenting on several factors: Demonstrated Need.. Honeywell has a late shift, as other businesses in the area do. These employees on the late shift may choose to buy goods at SA. Effect of Traffic Generation. City Engineer Fred Salsbury does not anticipate additional street congestion due to the site being open 24-hours a day. Effect on Increased Noise Levels. The loud speakers are limited to the hours of lam and 10pm. Late night noise from deliveries shouldn't be a problem. The fire inspectors prefer the gas tankers to deliver in the early morning hours when less cars will be on the site. Visual Appearance. There should be no effect other than lighting. With the 24-hour operation, the canopy and exterior lighting will be left on. The lighting is visible from the apartments, but it is not directed toward that area. Other Effects on General Public Health, Safety, or Welfare. Director of Public Safety, Dean Mooney commented that convenience stores are vulnerable to hold-ups by their very nature, as are other businesses who remain open through-out the night. Golden Valley's "dog watch" routinely ~~ Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 8, 1996 Page Two stops by all 24-hour operations. SA makes a serious effort to maintain as safe a nighttime environ- ment for its employees and customers as possible. Director Mooney pointed out that the 24-hour operation may marginally increase the station's vulnerability to hold-ups, but at the same time it would reduce the likelihood of burglary or vandalism. Director Mooney's opinion is that a 24-hour operation will not decrease the safety for the neighborhood in general Ms. Knoblauch said that staff's recommendation to the Planning Commission would be to recommend to the City Council approval of an amendment to the existing CUP striking out the hours of operation (#7 on permit) and language added regarding the use of the loudspeaker. Commissioner Lewis asked if all the pumps would be lighted after 11 pm. City Planner Knoblauch said it would be difficult not to have the whole area illuminated. Chair Prazak asked the applicant to come forward to make any additional comments and answer questions from staff or the commission. Michael Cronin, 8809 W. Bush Lake Road, representative for SuperAmerica, commented that customers are the reason SA is requesting to be open 24-hours a day. He showed pictures of the area and talked about buffering that surrounds the store. Mr. Cronin commented that he had talked with the manager of the adjacent apartment building, who said that most tenants don't have a problem with the extended store hours. Commissioner Lewis asked Mr. Cronin about the canopy lighting. Mr. Cronin said the lighting is pointed downward and would prefer not to turn down the canopy lighting. Chair Prazak opened the informal public hearing. Dr. Mildred Hansen, owner of the Golden Valley Arms apartments, said that the apartment manager was incorrect in the number of residents who are against the proposal. The manager's count was 3 or 4 residents and Dr. Hansen's total came out to be 13 residents objecting to the extension of hours. Dr. Hansen talked about the noise from the tankers at Sam ahd the clanging of garbage containers in the early morning hours. She does not believe her apartment should be considered a buffer for SA. Dr. Hansen strongly opposes the request. Bob Parzyck, 2005 Brunswick Ave. No., .opposes the extension of hours and is concerned with the smell of gas fumes which come from the area. Elinor Snodgrass, 1945 Brunswick Ave. No., opposes the extension of hours and is concerned with added traffic congestion on Duluth and Douglas and the loudspeaker system. Commissioner Pentel asked Ms. Snodgrass if the speakers could be heard from her backyard. Ms. Snodgrass answered yes. Paul Snodgrass, 2010 Douglas Drive, opposes the extension of hours and is upset with the night time deliveries and noise they make and fumes generated from the intersection of Douglas and Duluth. Larry Blackburn, 2000 Douglas Drive No., is concerned with the amount of lighting that is generated. His other concerns are with the clientele that will be generated from a 24-hour operation and safety. 129 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 8, 1996 Page Three Norma Ruths, 1935 Brunswick Ave. No. is concerned about safety with a 24-hour operation, the loudspeaker noise -- especially in summer, gas delivery and trash container noise. Mr. Cronin, SA representative, told. the commission that SuperAmerica had some homework to do and would be willing to work with Dr. Hansen and the neighbors to clean up the operation on an issue to issue basis. Chair Prazak asked Mr. Cronin if there was an alternative to the loudspeakers. Mr. Cronin commented that the loudspeakers need to be there due to fire code and there needs to be the open communication between the customer and the employees inside. Commissioner Kapsner asked where the speakers were located. Mr. Cronin said more to the top of the post. Commissioner Kapsner asked if the speaker could be moved down to ear level or could SA investigate new technology for loudspeakers. Commissioner Pentel asked the applicant about the delivery of gas. Commissioner Kapsner commented that the City is telling SA that they would like to see gas delivery in the early morning hours because of traffic; City Planner Knoblauch acknowledged this comment. Commissioner McAleese asked staff if there were regulations regarding garbage pick-up. Staff commented that City Code only regulates residential zoned areas. Commissioner McAleese asked when garbage at SA was being picked up and Dr. Hansen said Sam. The store manager said that trash should be picked up later than that and will look into this with the trash haulers. Chair Prazak closed the informal public hearing. Commissioner Kapsner believes the problem with the trash cans and other issues raised can be worked out. He commented that the noise with the speakers need to be addressed so people don't hear the speakers a block away. Commissioner Kapsner said that there is an opportunity for the applicant and neighborhood to work together to solve some of the issues. Commissioner Johnson agreed that some of the issues could be resolved with the applicant working with the neighbors. She doesn't believe that a 24-hour operation will be a problem and that undesirables will not come into the area just because there is a 24-hour operation. Commissioner Johnson agreed with Director Mooney that having a 24-hour operation can be a benefit to the area by decreasing the prospect of crime. Chair Prazak concurred. Commissioner Groger agreed that some issues could be worked out. He commented that it doesn't take much lighting to be distractive and this may be the case with the apartment building. Commissioner Groger also talked about the lack of adequate buffering between the SA and the apartment building. Staff suggested that maybe the applicant could look at adding larger evergreens in the area where the apartment building can be seen. Chair Prazak asked staff to comment on the lighting. Staff said they could ask the applicant to do a lighting study and decimal rating of the loudspeakers. The ideal situation would be to not have the sound leave the area. `~ ;-'~ F1 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January. 8, 1996 Page Four Commissioner McAleese commented that he would encourage the commission to recommend to the City Council. to look at the lighting issue. Commissioner McAleese said he would vote against the proposal because he believes a 24-hour operation would change the character of the surrounding residential area. He said he was also very concerned with the noise at this intersection. Commissioner Lewis is concerned with safety in the area with a 24-hour operation, lighting and gas delivery in the middle of the night. She opposes the request. Chair Prazak commented that he feels there are concerns between the applicant and neighbors and would highly recommend that these issues be talked about before the request comes before the City Council. Chair Prazak is in favor of the request fora 24-hour operation at Duluth and Douglas. Commissioner Pentel said that the speaker issue needs to be addressed before it goes to the Council. She believes there is a need fora 24-hour gas operation in the area. Commissioner Pentel would like to have the conditions state that there would be no speakers after 10pm, no trash pick-up before lam, have tankers deliver gas closer to Gam rather than Sam and encourage SA to put up signs to encourage its customers to turn off their cars and radios before entering the store. Commissioner Pentel said that she would like to see the SA request tabled until a time when the applicant and the neighbors have had a time to review the issues at hand. Mr. Cronin came forward requested a postponement, for an indefinite time, of SuperAmerica's request in order to meet with the neighbors and address issues that were brought up at the meeting. MOVED by Pentel, seconded by McAleese and motion carried unanimously to postpone SuperAmerica's request to amend the Conditional Use Permit to allow fora 24-hour operation of their store at 1930 Douglas Drive. III. Informal Public Hearing -Planned Unit Development Applicant: Golden Valley Commons, L.L.C. Address: Northeast Quadrant of Olson Memorial Highway and Winnetka Avenue (Area C) Request: Review of the Preliminary Design Plan which .proposes construction of mixed retail and restaurant uses on 7.8 acres on the site known as Area C Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development, gave a brief summary of his staff report to the Planning Commission dated January 5, 1996. He highlighted a few areas of interest. The RFP had stated that no drive-through restaurants would be allowed on the site. The applicant is not proposing a drive-through restaurant but have indicated on the site plan adrive-through for the pharmacy on the west side of the main building. Glen Van Wormer, consultant with SEH, reviewed the site plan for the City and developer and parking layout. It is Mr. Van Wormer's belief that there is enough parking available on the site to accommodate all the uses proposed. Mr. Grimes talked about the sidewalks on the site. The sidewalks on the south and west sides of the site have been de-emphasized because of busy Hwy. 55. There is a sidewalk along the back side of the post office and a sidewalk along Rhode Island Avenue down to the southeast corner to accommodate the restaurant site. There are also sidewalks on Golden Valley Road and the north portion of Winnetka Avenue. He also said there were very good pedestrian connections to all of the Valley Square area. Mr. Grimes stated that 1 1 1 131 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 8, 1996 Page Five the site should have bike racks placed somewhere since the City of Golden Valley does allow bikes on the sidewalks. Mr. Grimes said variances would be required for the loading areas, parking spaces, street setbacks, and nonstreet setbacks (parking only). The applicant has submitted signage for the site which includes the clock tower and three pylon signs. The Inspections Department and Planning would like to see the developer meet the sign code's square footage requirement. Mr. Grimes told the commission that other public agencies have received the site plan and preliminary plat for review. The Engineering Department has also reviewed the plan and submitted a memo regarding the drainage and drive-through. The Engineering staff is concerned with the drive- through driveway and may request that the driveway go directly into.the back of the post office driveway and not the street. Commissioner Lewis asked if having the driveway go directly into the other driveway would cause accidents because of limited visibility caused by the building. Commissioner Pentel talked about her concern in having three separate lots, the amount of parking, fighting, maintenance of sidewalks and stop signs within the development. Mark Grimes commented that the overall construction of the sites will be similar, and there will be across-parking agreement. The owners of the businesses will maintain the sidewalks which are in the interior of the site. The City will maintain the perimeter sidewalks. There will be controls within the development to control traffic. Commissioner Groger asked for clarification if cars will be able to turn into the center coming south on Winnetka Avenue. Mark Grimes stated that cars will not be able to turn into the center if they are traveling south on Winnetka Avenue. Access from the north will be from Golden Valley Road. Chair Prazak asked the applicant to come forward. Jay Scott, representative for Opus, talked briefly about meeting the needs and goals of the RFP and that the developer is creating a development that meets the needs of the community. Kathy Anderson, KKE Architects, talked about 1) the mixed uses (restaurants, coffee shops, retail and drug) being unique, 2) the site being pedestrian friendly, 3) how the arbors and landscaping mimic what is seen on Winnetka Avenue streetscape and 4) how the roof lines and clock tower are key visual elements. Mike Pan, representative for Snyder Drug, told the commission that Snyder's has signed a letter of intent for the drug store use. He commented that the drive-through is very convenient for the elderly and those parents, who are picking up prescriptions for a sick child on the way home from the clinic. Commissioner Johnson asked if customers would sit in line at the drive-through and wait for their prescriptions to be filled. Mr. Pan said that was a possibility but most prescriptions are called in ahead of time. Mark Grimes asked what the anticipated use of the drive-up would be and how many cars would use the drive-up window. Mr. Pan thought approximately 10 - 15% of customers would use the drive- . through which is anywhere from 6 to 25 stops per day. He also commented that the drive-through window would only be in operation when the pharmacy is open. 132 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 8, 1996 Page Six Commissioner Pentel is concerned with the drive-through egress as well as cars lined up in winter causing fumes --she is not in favor of any drive-throughs. Commissioner Lewis commented that she was in favor of adrive-through window and if the plans are redone she would like to have this concept maintained. Chair Prazak suggested that the commission visit adrive-through facility. Mark Grimes commented that he has never seen car stacking at the drive-through which is in his neighborhood. Mark Grimes brought up the question of how to deal with the drive-through if Snyder Drug decides to leave. After being in operation, Commissioner Pentel thought it would be difficult to tell someone, when all the infrastructure is there, that they can't use it. Mr. Pan commented that the drive-through could be ripped out and walled in after Synder left. Commissioner Johnson expressed her concern on the signage for the area and the color scheme to be used. Mr. Scott said that tenants will adhere to stringent guidelines on what signage they can use. Commissioner Pentel asked about the width of the walkway between the video store and bagel store. She is concerned with bike traffic on the sidewalks, which is allowed in Golden Valley. Mr. Scott commented that the connections and internal flow within the development is very important. Mark Grimes said that the development could decide to not allow bikes within the area. Chair Prazak commented that he was very happy with the design concept. Commissioner McAleese asked about the control over the design of the canopies and overall consistency in the development. Mr. Scott stated that there would be a covenant agreement which would have control over the design of signage, canopies, etc. Commissioners Groger and Johnson agreed that they liked the general concept. Commissioner McAleese said he was concerned with the drive-through and the blind corner. He feels this problem needs to be addressed. Chair Prazak opened the informal public hearing. Lu Rockman, 130 Jersey Avenue North, commented that she and her husband were involved in the Valley Square Task Force. She thinks Opus has done an excellent job. She does not believe that the drive-through works in this location. Ms. Rockman asked the developer if there was room for outdoor sculptures. Chair Prazak closed the informal public hearing. Mark Grimes told the commission that they needed to approve the Preliminary Design Plan and if there is something specific that needs to be dealt with, they could name the item(s) or just vote in agreement with the plan. MOVED by Johnson, seconded by McAleese and motion carried unanimously to recommend to the City Council approval of the Preliminary Design Plan for Golden Valley Commons PUD No. 70 as presented. along with concerns on signage, the drive-through, crosswalks, awnings, etc. 133 1 1 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 8, 1996 Page Seven V. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Community Standards Task Force, and Valley Square Task Force Chair Prazak requested that the reports be continued to the next meeting of the Planning Commission due to the late hour. VI. .Other Business No other business was reported V. Adjournment Chair Prazak adjourned the meeting at 10pm.