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03-10-03 PC Minutes Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission March 10,2003 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall Council Chambers, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Monday, March 10, 2003. Chair Pentel called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Those present were Chair Pentel and Commissioners Eck, Groger, Keysser, McAleese, Rasmussen and Shaffer. Also present were Director of Planning and Development, Mark Grimes, City Planner, Dan Olson and Recording Secretary, Lisa Wittman. I. Approval of Minutes - February 24, 2003 Planning Commission Meeting - MOVED by Groger, seconded by McAleese and motion carried unanimously to approve the February 24, 2003 minutes as submitted. II. Informal Public Hearing - Minor Subdivision (SU10-07) Applicants: Daniel and Linda Ahlberg Address: Purpose: 4440 Tyrol Crest; 1315 and 1325 Fairlawn Way, Golden Valley, MN The applicants would like to consolidate these three lots into one lot. The applicants own all three lots, and have an existing home and tennis court on them. - Grimes referred to a location map and the three existing lots that the applicant would like to consolidate into one. He explained that the applicant made this same request back in 1993 which was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission but prior to the request going to the City Council it was determined that platting the property was not necessary to make the improvements they wanted to make at the time so they withdrew their request. He stated that the applicants are being assessed for three lots now and that the assessments for two of the lots were be deferred until the property is subdivided to create additional building lots. Grimes stated that staff is recommending approval because the three lots are essentially one lot. Pentel asked if corner lots are assessed at one unit or two. Grimes explained that assessments are done by lot, not by frontage or square footage. Eck questioned how the assessments on two of the lots could be deferred since the reconstruction of the streets in that area already done and the assessments are already due. Grimes stated the City Attorney has recommended that the request be done this way. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission March 10, 2003 Page 2 Keysser asked if the two lots are buildable and if so, where would their access be from. Grimes stated that any lot in Golden Valley is buildable and that access could be from Fairlawn Way. Keysser asked how much the assessment is. Grimes said $2,900 and explained that property owners are assessed about 25% of street reconstruction costs and the whole city pays the rest. e Linda Ahlberg, applicant, showed a site plan and explained where the house and tennis court are located on the property. She stated that she asked the County Assessor how her property was going to be assessed and was told not to worry that they would only be assessed for one lot and have the assessments on two lots deferred until the lot is subdivided. She stated that in October they were notified of the option to come to a City Council meeting to discuss their assessments but at that meeting the Council chose not to address their issue because they would be amending what was on the table at that time. She stated that she had to file a complaint with Hennepin County which got the City involved and that is why she is requesting this subdivision (lot consolidation) now. Pentel opened the public hearing. Seeing and hearing no one Pentel closed the public hearing. McAleese stated that this is a curious case, but assessments aside the Planning Commission is just looking at the subdivision request at this meeting. MOVED by McAleese, seconded by Eck and motion carried unanimously to recommend approval to consolidate the three lots located at 4440 Tyrol Crest; 1315 and 1325 Fairlawn Way into one lot. -- Short Recess -- e III. Reports on Meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other Meetings Grimes reported that Staff is discussing a proposed purchase agreement with Hennepin County to buy the Sheriff's property. Grimes reported that Staff had a meeting with a developer for assisted living people at the White House Site. IV. Other Business A. Discuss Housing Plan. At the February 24, 2003 Planning Commission meeting, Grimes asked the Planning Commission to review the Technical Background section of the Housing chapter of Comprehensive Plan. Following are the highlights arising from that discussion: e e' Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission March 10,2003 Page 3 There was discussion that all of the demographic charts and tables need to be updated with current data since the Hidden Lakes, Valley Square and The Villas on Bassett Creek projects have been completed. The Commission discussed the validity of the Livable Communities Act given the current government and about providing more rental properties and higher density developments in the City and about the goals on page five of the Technical Background that the City has already committed to. There was discussion about active and passive solar energy and the new energy code and how the City is more accommodating to people who use solar energy, but that there are no ordinances requiring people to use it. It was decided that exhibits three and four in the Technical Background should be updated and that the Commission would like to see, if possible, a map of small houses on big lots and take a tour, tentatively in late April, once they have identified areas that they would like to see possibly used for housing. v. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8: 15 pm.