04-16-18 PC Minutes
Special Meeting of the
Golden Valley Planning Commission
April 16, 2018
A special meeting of the Planning Commission was held at the Golden Valley City Hall,
Council Conference Room, 7800 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, Minnesota, on
Monday, April 16, 2018. Chair Baker called the meeting to order at 7 pm.
Those present were Planning Commissioners Baker, Brookins, Johnson, and
Segelbaum. Also present were Council Members Clausen, Rosenquist, and Schmidgall;
Planning Manager Jason Zimmerman and Associate Planner/Grant Writer Emily
Goellner; Elise Durbin with Hennepin County Bottineau Community Works; Jay Demma
with Perkins+Will; Mike Lamb with LHB; and Susan Henderson and Hazel Borys with
PlaceMakers.
1. TOD Zoning Workshop
Zimmerman introduced the topic of updating the City’s Mixed Use zoning code section
to be able to be used in the area around the proposed Golden Valley Road light rail
station. Clausen asked why the church was being talked about when they have stated
they do not intend to leave. Zimmerman discussed the importance of being prepared for
any future changes and pointed out the church would not be restricted by the new
zoning but that it could provide additional opportunities for them. Baker asked for
clarification between Neighborhood and Community scaled mixed use. Zimmerman
explained that it was related to the different character or intensity of places in addition to
the physical massing of buildings.
Demma presented an overview of the study and introduced the consultant team. Lamb
talked about mixed use zoning in general and how Golden Valley has used it in the past
along I-394. He pointed out the potential areas of change on the Golden Valley Road
station area plan and the group discussed protecting single-family neighborhoods.
Henderson walked the group through concepts being considered for the new mixed use
zoning code section. She described the ideas of requiring minimum frontage build-outs
and different façade types. Johnson expressed his concern about what was being left
out if the code was being simplified. Henderson pointed out that the code would be
more flexible and easier to administer.
Clausen asked if the concepts would hold over time. Henderson replied that while the
practical application of the concepts was fairly timeless, any good zoning code would be
revisited and updated from time to time. She presented an example of a two page
handout that contained almost all of the information needed to understand the zoning
district.
Baker asked if the code would dictate strict percentages of types of uses. Henderson
replied that while tight control used to be the standard, recent codes were more flexible
and let the market help dictate the mix of uses.
Special Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission
April 16, 2018
Page 2
Clausen asked if the St. Margaret Mary site would support retail. Henderson replied that
it was unlikely in the shorter term. Baker suggested any new spaces be "retail ready."
Clausen and Rosenquist discussed providing commercial/retail services for the
neighborhood and higher density housing close to the station platform. Clausen stated
that she believed that over time attitudes around light rail would soften around the
station. Baker asked if the single-family neighborhoods would ever turn over.
Henderson said it would be very difficult for site assembly to work.
Henderson talked about creating new use tables that were explicit about uses that were
not wanted and letting the market select the uses that were appropriate. Baker asked
about vertical mixed use. Henderson said that while it wouldn't be required, it would be
allowed and even encouraged.
Zimmerman told the group that additional work would be done between staff and the
consultants and that a draft version of new mixed use zoning code language would be
available for review later in the summer.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 pm.
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Ro lum, Secretary Lisa ittman, Administrative Assistant