Loading...
01-13-97 PC Minutes195 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 13, 1997 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 7pm. Those present were Commissioners Groger, Johnson, Kapsner, McAleese, Pentel and Prazak; absent was Lewis. Also present were Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development; Elizabeth Knoblauch, City Planner and Mary Dold, Recording Secretary. approval of Minutes -December 16,1996 MOVED by Groger, seconded by Pentel and motion carried unanimously to approve the December 16, 1996 minutes as submitted. II. Informal Public Hearing -Conditional Use Permit Applicant: McDonald's Corporation Address: 9315 Medicine Lake Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota Purpose: To consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit which would allow for the operation of a Class II Restaurant in the Commercial Zoning District Mark Grimes, Director of Planning and Development gave a summary of his report to the Planning Commission commenting that a conditional use permit is needed to allow a Class II restaurant in a Commercial Zoning District; the existing structure is considered non-conforming. Director Grimes noted that the McDonald's site is 1.9 acres in size. The restaurant has been on the site for some time. The drive-through window was added sometime in the 1970's. Director Grimes reminded the Commission that they had seen a similar proposal before them during the summer of 1996. McDonald's at that time was requesting to keep the existing restaurant in operation while the, new restaurant was being built along side of the existing restaurant. This plan called for several variances. The Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) and City Council denied McDonald's requests because of the extensive variances required. The City Council also denied McDonald's appeal regarding the BZA's decision to deny its request. Director Grimes reviewed a new site plan which showed the construction of a 5200 sq.ft. McDonald's which includes a playland area to the front, facing Medicine Lake Road. He told the Commission that the existing facility would be torn down before construction started on the new restaurant. Mr. Grimes reviewed the new access plans noting that the access on the south side had been eliminated and replaced with a "one-way out" on Hillsboro, which is directly across from the access into the commercial complex across the street. He noted also that the applicant is ~~V Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 13, 1997 Page Two proposing an "in-only" closer to the intersection of Hillsboro and Medicine Lake Road. There would also be access from Medicine Lake Road onto the site. Mr. Grimes said that the City Engineer believes that any circulation problems would occur on the site rather than on public streets due to the adequate stacking lane for the drive-through. Director Grimes told the Commission that the issue regarding the submitted proposal is parking, in that the applicant is requesting a substantial variance from the parking requirements. Mr. Grimes said that the required parking for this size building is 148 spaces; the applicants are supplying 93 spaces. McDonald's believes that 93 spaces are adequate because of a parking study completed by SRF Consulting Group, for the City of Golden Valley, in the summer of 1996. The study revealed that with a 4800 sq.ft. building, 88 parking spaces would be needed at peak demand. The Board of Zoning Appeals will need to review McDonald's request for a parking variance at its meeting of January 28. Commissioner Pentel asked if their was a sidewalk along Medicine Lake Road. Director Grimes said there was and the City may add some sidewalk along Hillsboro due to the relocation of the bus stop further south, on the west side of Hillsboro. He also said that there is a sidewalk along Hillsboro on the east side. Director Grimes commented that the site plan shows parking stall size of 9'x 18'; code requirement is 9'x 20'. The BZA will need to address this issue unless McDonald's submits new plans showing the required size of parking spaces. Representative for McDonald's, Jerry Roper, told the Commission that new plans will be submitted regarding the parking space size. Mr. Roper introduced Tom Drews and Dan Borders, who work for McDonald's. Mr. Roper reviewed the site plan with the Commission noting the access points. He told the Commission that the square footage of this building was larger because of the extra storage needed for the new deluxe menus that were introduced last year. All space in this proposed building is on one level. The existing store has a basement of 1,695 sq.ft. for storage. Chair Prazak inquired about how the proposed building would be different from the present restaurant. Mr. Roper told the Commission the new restaurant would have a playland .area, which would face Medicine Lake Road. Commissioner Pentel questioned Mr. Roper on McDonald's willingness to continue a sidewalk to the relocated bus stop. Director Grimes noted that the City is trying to encourage sidewalks on all collector type streets and believes that there is an advantage at this particular location to extend the sidewalk to the bus stop. 1 1.97 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 13, 1997 Page Three Chair Prazak asked how accesses on Hillsboro line up with those across .the street. City Planner Knoblauch noted that the McDonald's northern in-access does not quite match up with the entrance into the commercial area. The southern out-access seems to line up with the access going into the commercial area on the east side of Hillsboro . Commissioner Groger asked the representatives how many patrons use the Medicine Lake access. Mr. Border answered that approximately 70% of traffic uses the Medicine Lake Road access. Mr. Roper noted that cars entering on Hillsboro will have to loop all the way around the building to use the proposed drive-through lane. Mr. Border commented that he believes this will help keep cars in their lane and more organized. Commissioner Johnson inquired if there would be room for cars to get out of the drive-through lane and go around; Mr. Roper answered yes. Commissioner Johnson said that she likes the points of access on Hillsboro. Commissioner Groger asked Mr. Roper if the submitted landscape plan was the final plan; Mr. Roper said yes. Commissioner Groger. said he likes the idea of solid landscaping along the south side. Commissioner Pentel asked if a picnic table now exists near the bus stop. Mr. Border said yes and during the summer months the picnic area gets used quite alot. He continued by saying that if this particular area is bermed it would be difficult to keep the picnic table in this area. Chair Prazak asked the representatives what projections McDonald's had for increased business with the new restaurant. Mr. Borders believes that the traffic increase to be approximately 10-15% and will occur primarily between 5 and 8pm, on weekdays, and during the weekends which will be spread throughout the day. Chair Prazak opened the informal public hearing. Charles Hoyum, Chairman of the Pheasant Glen Association commented that they had the opportunity to meet with McDonald's and had no objections to the proposal. Mr. Hoyum did want to address the issue of semi-trucks parking on Hillsboro. Director Grimes asked Mr. Hoyum to address his concern to Director of Public Works Fred Salsbury, who can address the Association's concern. Chair Prazak closed the informal public hearing. Chair Prazak commented that he believes that McDonald's has responded to many of the objections of the surrounding neighborhood by improving access points and landscaping. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 13, 1997 Page Four Commissioner Johnson said she was pleased with the new proposal. Commissioner Groger asked Mr. Roper how long it would take to demolish the existing restaurant, construct the new restaurant and be open for business. Mr. Roper believed the new restaurant would be open for business sometime in June. Commissioner Pentel noted the signage on the playland .addition and asked if there would be any new pylons. Mr. Roper said McDonald's would be maintaining the pylon signs now existing on the site. Director Grimes added that McDonald's would need to meet sign code regulations. Commissioner McAleese concurred with what had been said. He noted his concern with the. parking waiver being requested, but in this case it seems reasonable. Commissioner Groger believes the requested parking seems reasonable and is comfortable with the plan presented. MOVED by Pentel, seconded by Kapsner. Commissioner Pentel requested that a condition be placed in the CUP noting that additional sidewalk be built on City right-of--way to the relocated bus stop. The sidewalk should be constructed by McDonald's. The motion passed unanimously to recommend to the City Council approval of the request for a Conditional Use Permit to operate a Class II restaurant in the Commercial Zoning District noting that the parking variance be approved by the BZA and that a sidewalk be built on City right-of--way to the bus stop. III. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment AuthoritX, City Council and Board of Zoning_Anneals Director Grimes reported on a BZA meeting concerning Liberty Carton and F1uiDyne Engineering Corporation. He reviewed with the Commission an HRA meeting concerning Area Al, the closing on the Super Value building and the process to receive input regarding development of Area B. Commissioner Pentel told the Commission that the meeting she had attended on first ring suburbs has money available to help facilitate a planning process for suburban downtown areas. She said that Mayor Anderson would be contacted. Commissioner Pentel said that she would get information to Director Grimes. City Planner Knoblauch reviewed with the Commission information supplied by Dave Trach for additions on his shopping center site. Director Grimes told the Commission that Hidden Lakes would be bringing in the application to amend PUD 45 soon. 199 Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission January 13, 1997 Page Five IV. Other Business Chair Prazak said that he would like to attend the APA conference in San Diego. Commissioner Johnson said that she would be back-up if he was unable to attend. Chair Prazak asked that the minutes reflect the Commission welcoming Commissioner Kapsner back after recuperating from major surgery. V. Adjournment Chair Prazak adjourned the meeting at 7:55pm. 1 i