02-26-96 PC Minutes147
Minutes of the Golden Valley
Planning Commission
February 26, 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 7:05pm.
Those present were Commissioners Groger, Johnson, McAleese, and Prazak; those absent
Kapsner, Lewis and Pentel. Also present were Mark Grimes,- Director of Planning and Development;
Elizabeth Knoblauch, City Planner and Mary Dold, Planning Secretary.
Approval of Minutes - Februa~r 12. 1996
Not available.
II Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment AuthoritX.,~ Council, and
Board of Zoning Appeals
Chair Prazak gave a report on the City Council meeting of 2/6/96.
III. Other Business
A. Discussion of rezoning the property located at 5400 Glenwood Avenue
Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development told the commission that the discussion to follow
would be to inform the proposed applicant whether the property located at 5400 Glenwood Avenue
should be rezoned or should. staff consider a text amendment of the Zoning Code to permit office
uses in the Institutional (I-3) Zoning District. Director Grimes gave a brief summary of the history of
the property. He talked about the parking for clinics vs. offices whereby clinics having a much higher
parking ratio than office use. The problem with a text amendment to the Zoning Code is that office
buildings may not fit into some districts and may be too close to residential areas.
City Planner Beth Knoblauch briefly talked about the City's concern of not wanting medical office
buildings in the B&PO District because of the higher need for parking. City Planner Knobluach also
commented that the building at 5400 Glenwood Avenue has residential to the south of it and the
entire lot is non-conforming. Director Grimes stated that the City does not encourage rezoning of lots
that are non-conforming and that this has never been done in the City.
Kay Harris, Kay Harris Real Estate Consultants, requested staff to review the issue of whether this
site could be rezoned. She gave a brief history of the building use commenting that the immediate
use for this building in today's market would be for office use, and by rezoning the site there should
be less traffic generated than a medical office building.
Commissioner McAleese asked staff if this discussion would decide whether to hold a hearing for a
text amendment or a rezoning. City Planner Knoblauch commented that either the owner of the
building or Kay Harris would be coming in request a text change to the zoning code or a rezoning of
the property at 5400 Glenwood Avenue.
Chair Prazak said he was concerned with changing the language of the zoning code.
14~
Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
February 26, 1996
Page Two
Commissioner Groger commented that the I-3 District has a wide range of uses and is concerned
with this. He continued by saying that he would not want to have an office building located next to a
nursing home. Commissioner Groger said that he is leaning toward a rezoning of the property vs.
changing the uses of the I-3 District.
Commissioner McAleese said that the City can't make changes every time an owner has a difficult
time selling a building due to market instability.
Director Grimes commented that the people who should buy this building would be the school district.
Kay Harris said that the district is looking for funding -- they have no money to buy the building.
Chair Prazak thanked Kay Harris for her time.
No action was taken.
B. Review of Attendance
Chair Prazak reviewed the attendance of the Commissioners.
IV. Adjournment
Chair Prazak adjourned the meeting at 7:40pm.
J an Lewis, Secretary
1
1