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10-24-05 PC Minutes e e e Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2005 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, October 24, 2005. Chair Keysser called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Those present were Commissioners Cera, Eck, Hackett, Keysser, Rasmussen, Schmidgall and Waldhauser. Also present were, Director of Planning and Development Mark Grimes and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman. I. Approval of minutes October 10, 2005 Joint Planning Commission and Environmental Commission Meeting MOVED by Waldhauser, seconded by Eck and motion carried unanimously to approve the October 10, 2005 minutes as submitted. II. Informal Public Hearing - PUD No. 65 Amendment #2 - Golden Valley Shopping Center Applicant: Trach Properties Address: 505 Winnetka Ave. N. Purpose: To allow the applicant to convert the freestanding building (former bookstore) at the south end of the Golden Valley Shopping Center to additional retail space. Grimes explained that this is the second PUD amendment request for this property. The first proposal was for a TCF Bank to be located at the far west side of the site. The City Council denied the proposal due to traffic, pedestrian circulation and setback issues. He stated that the specific part of the property addressed in this current proposal is the former bookstore building situated at the southeast corner of the site. Since the building is currently vacant the applicant is looking for new uses for the building. Grimes stated thatthe proposal is to keep the existing building and to add on to it. The building would go from 4,900 square feet to 9,300 square feet and be made up of a number of smaller units. He stated that the City Council has concerns about drive-through businesses at this location and that this proposal does not include any. It would most likely be smaller retail spaces including a small restaurant and/or coffee shop. Grimes stated that one of the biggest challenges with this site is traffic and access. He said that the City's Traffic Engineer consultant, Glen Van Wormer has reviewed the plans and has said that he feels the proposal would work well, if not better, than how it is now. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2005 Page 2 . Grimes discussed some of the proposed changes such as a better turn around to the north, 8,700 square feet of added green space and a better connection to the existing pedestrian bridge. He stated that the overall shopping center has less parking than required by code, but there seem to be many vacant parking spaces throughout the day. He added that he doesn't think this proposal would have a dramatic impact on the parking and traffic and that adding some different uses would be good for the shopping center and the area and will hopefully trigger more changes and updates to the shopping center. Grimes stated that he is concerned about the existing screening of the trash enclosures on this site, especially from the residential area across the street. He noted that the new proposed building would have all of its trash enclosures inside the building but he would like to see all of the other trash dumpsters enclosed. Grimes referred to his staff report and stated that the number of parking spaces would be reduced from 401 spaces to 389 spaces. He explained that the signage on the remodeled building would have to meet the same sign code requirements as any other Commercial building its same size. . Eck referred to Mr. Van Wormer's review of the angled parking on the east side. He said he did not see angled parking on the east side shown on the plans. Grimes stated that the angled parking must have been on a different version of the plans, but that the plans the Commissioners received were the most current. Waldhauser asked why the existing parking lot bumps out into Winnetka Avenue. Grimes explained that it is the design that MnDOT and the County came up with in order to channel traffic. Eck asked about the purpose of the proposed small median in the north entrance. Grimes said it is to help direct traffic and it allows for a right turn in. Eck said he thinks it looks hazardous. Grimes said he would talk to the City Engineer and the Traffic Engineer and have them take another look at it. Dave Clark, WCL Architects, Minneapolis, stated that he has been working with Trach Properties for the last couple of decades and when the book store became vacant they had the option to lease it as is or to do something special. He referred to a rendering of the proposed building and stated that it would have new facades, a new roof and lots of glass. He stated that they would like the building to be a symbol at that corner and that hopefully it will begin the effort on redeveloping the rest of the shopping center. Keysser asked Clark about the proposed median right at the north entrance. Clark said that that entrance is problematic because there are too many different turns happening at that intersection and that the median would subdivide the outgoing and incoming traffic. . Hackett asked Clark to describe the types of materials being proposed for the new building. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2005 Page 3 . Clark explained that the building will be brick where it touches the ground, with brick pilasters and a lighter color brick or EIFS (a stucco-like material) toward the top, it would also have a rounded metal entry with a tall metal fin through the middle of it. Keysser asked if the vertical sign on the new building will replace the existing pylon sign. Clark said that their plan is to keep the existing pylon sign. Cera asked Clark if he would be amenable to removing it so that there would only be one tall sign on the site. Clark said he would like to keep the options open right now. Cera asked Clark if they are planning on remodeling the rest of the shopping center. Clark said that they are hoping this will be a catalyst to redoing the shopping center. He said that it would be hard for the local tenants to afford million dollar changes and if that were the case, they'd probably have to have national chains become tenants. Keysser asked about delivery trucks going to the new building. Clark referred to his site plans and showed the delivery entrance and trash enclosure area. Keysser asked how many tenants they are envisioning. Clark said there would probably be a maximum of six tenants and the units would be from 1,200 square feet to 1,400 square feet in size. . Waldhauser asked how many restaurants they think will have because any type of restaurant is going to bring in a lot of noon time traffic. Clark said possible two out of the six units could be restaurants. Waldhauser asked Clark if there were plans to resurface the whole parking lot. Clark said he wasn't sure. Waldhauser asked about the payback period of the new building. Clark said that the current buildings have been there for 40 years and that the new building will probably be there for 10 to 20 years. Hackett referred to Envision Golden Valley and said it is a reoccurring comment that the citizens really have a problem with the general unkempt nature of the site. He said one problem is the signage and that there are a few simple things that could be done such as benches, plantings, more organized signage, etc. He said he worries that the same sort of attitude will continue with the new building. Clark stated that he thinks they have a real advantage with the new building because each tenant will receive a sign package with guidelines so there will be a more uniform look to it. . Hackett said this proposed new building is important because it is a gateway so he has concerns about what it will look like. He said the building should have a certain simplicity and encouraged Clark to approach it sensibly and carefully because it has the opportunity to be special. He added that he is happy to hear about the signage requirements on the new building and the added green space. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24,2005 Page 4 . Rasmussen asked Clark if when he thought about the design of the proposed new building he thought about the totality of the other shopping center designs in the area. Clark said he doesn't think the new building has to match the other shopping centers in the area and. He said he wants to make the building more of a showpiece. Cera asked Clark about adding an addition pedestrian connection in the general shopping area. Clark said he would love to that, but he is governed by parking regulations. He said he would look into moving some of the parking spaces in front of the shopping center over a bit and adding a sidewalk. Keysser stated that people have a strong affection for the shopping center and nobody wants to see the local tenants be replaced by national tenants but with a modest investment the center could be spruced up. Clark said he is hoping this new building is a first step. Waldhauser referred to the dumpsters and asked why they are not being screened. Clark said he thought maybe the dumpsters are not being pushed back in properly. Waldhauser said she would like to see a decorative fence installed all along Golden Valley Road and not just screened dumpsters because it is our main street. Grimes said that the problem with fences is that they require a lot of maintenance and they can have a "fenced in" feeling. He added that there is not much room on this property to allow for fence. . Keysser asked if there are any environmental issues on this site. Clark said there are none that he is aware of. Grimes asked Clark what is planned for the existing basement area. Clark said it would just be used for storage. Hackett referred to the plans showing the existing pedestrian bridge and asked about possibly creating a more direct route to the southeast corner of the shopping center. Clark said he didn't think that would a problem. Keysser opened the public hearing. Kathy Barnes, 625 Wesley Commons Drive, stated that she is encouraged to see new development in the area and she is pleased to see what is being proposed. She referred to the proposed signage and said she is worried about holes being punched in the metal when signs need to be replaced. She suggested installing a low profile wall instead of fence along the back side of the shopping center. Seeing and hearing no one else wishing to comment, Keysser closed the public hearing. . Hackett suggested to Clark that during his final presentation he could address a maintenance process that would allow for repair when tenant signs change. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2005 Page 5 . Waldhauser said her initial concern is that the proposed new building seems so out of character with the rest of the area. She said maybe there could be some adjustment in the design that could make it some kind of an offshoot of what's there now. Grimes explained that this proposal will have to go the Building Board of Review and at this time that is all the City has in regard to design standards. Eck said he thinks the whole concept is a great way to better utilize and enhance the site, but he does not care for the metal "fin" sticking up. Keysser asked if they are planning to stripe the parking lot. Clark said it was recently striped. Cera said the proposal is an obvious improvement to what is there. The signage should be looked at and he'd like to see more pedestrian sidewalks and would really like to see the whole center updated. Schmidgall said he thinks the proposal is a nice improvement to the shopping center. He said that when the existing pedestrian bridge over Highway 55 was put in it should have been moved down further to the west. He said he is pleased with the outdoor space and that this is a step in sprucing up the shopping center. . Rasmussen said she agreed with Waldhauser's concerns and added that it is really an important piece in Golden Valley and people really do use it. Keysser said he likes the architecture even though it is a little different and since Golden Valley doesn't have a design code right now so it's a personal thing. Grimes asked Clark how he would be sure about the upkeep of the new signs. Clark said they will have a signage packet for each lease that covers style, lettering, location, etc. He clarified that the metal part is really on the corner piece and that 5 of the 6 signs would be on the stucco surface which is easily repaired. Rasmussen asked if adding more pedestrian connections should be made a condition of approval. Keysser said yes. Cera suggested that condition number 10 in Grimes' memo could say that an additional pedestrian access be added between the new building and existing shopping center. Hackett added the recommendation that there more direct access from the landing of the pedestrian bridge to the new outdoor seating space so people don't have to go back to the corner to get access. Rasmussen added the recommendation that the proposed median in the north entrance be reviewed. . Waldhauser suggested that alternatives for screening on the north side be looked at, maybe something small, just as a separation. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2005 Page 6 . Grimes stated that there is not a lot of room along that property line and there may be easements along that area as well. He said he would talk to the City Engineer about their concerns. MOVED by Cera, seconded by Waldhauser and motion carried unanimously to approve amendment #2 to PUD 65 with the following ten conditions: 1. The site plan for the expansion prepared by WCL Architects and dated 10/13/2005 shall become a part of this plan. 2. The landscape plan prepared by WCL Architects and dated 10/13/2005 shall become a part of this plan and be approved by the Building Board of Review. 3. The building plans must be reviewed and approved by the Building Board of Review. 4. The recommendations of the City Engineer Jeff Oliver, PE, found in a memo to Mark Grimes dated October 18, 2005 shall become a part of this approval. . 5. All dumpsters on the shopping center site shall be screened from view from Golden Valley Rd. Dumpster enclosures shall be utilized and dumpsters placed within the enclosures. (This means that new enclosures shall be constructed for the exposed dumpster for the two westernmost buildings in the shopping center.) All dumpsters arid recycling materials will be kept inside the 550 Winnetka Ave. buildings. Dumpster enclosures must be constructed for all dumpsters on the shopping center property by June 1, 2006. The Director of Inspections shall approve the enclosure design. All dumpster shall be kept within the dumpster enclosures at all times. 6. The overall parking for the shopping center is reduced from 401 to 389. 7. The total signage for the 550 Winnetka Ave. building (including the signage on the pylon sign) shall be limited to the amount permitted for a commercial building of its size in the Commercial zoning district. The amount of signage for the remainder of the buildings shall remain "as is" as per the existing PUD permit. 8. The recommendations of Deputy Fire Marshal Ed Anderson found in his memo to Mark Grimes dated 10/6/05 shall become a part of this approval. 9. Additional pedestrian access should be added between the new building and the existing shopping center. -- Short Recess -- . . . . Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission October 24, 2005 Page 7 III. Reports on meetings of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, City Council, Board of Zoning Appeals and other meetings Cera stated that he attended the October 6 City Council meeting and that they approved the Conditional Use Permit for LoveWorks Early Childhood Academy and the Subdivisions at 209 Cutacross Road and 1440 June Ave. IV. Other business Cera asked why the Planning Commission allows residents to speak to issues at public hearings if the Commission doesn't have the ability to address their issues. Grimes stated that state law requires public hearings. Waldhauser added that is a way for them to become aware of various issues. Keysser asked if there is going to be a follow up to their design standards discussion. Grimes said he thinks the City will have to hire someone to help us with the framework. Waldhauser talked about a seminar she attended on design standards at the MnAPA Conference. V. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.