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05-14-18 PC Minutes Regular Meeting of the Golden Valley Planning Commission May 14, 2018 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, May 14, 2018. Chair Baker called the meeting to order at 7 pm. Those present were Planning Commissioners Angell, Baker, Blum, Brookins, Johnson, Pockl, and Segelbaum. Also present were Planning Manager Jason Zimmerman and Administrative Assistant Lisa Wittman. Commissioner Black was absent 1. Approval of Minutes April 16, 2018, Special Planning Commission Meeting MOVED by Segelbaum, seconded by Brookins and motion carried unanimously to approve the April 16, 2018, minutes as submitted. April 23, 2018, Regular Planning Commission Meeting MOVED by Segelbaum, seconded by Angell and motion carried unanimously to approve the April 23, 2018, minutes as submitted. 2. Comp Plan – Review Full Draft Zimmerman stated that a complete draft of the updated Comp Plan is now ready for review on the City’s website. He stated that it is anticipated that the City Council will release the draft document for public comment at their May 15 meeting. After it is released for public comment there is a 60-day public review and comment period and a six month review period for adjacent communities and jurisdictions, including Met Council’s preliminary review. Baker asked if the City Council’s motion will be to approve the public review period. Zimmerman said yes. Baker asked if the Planning Commission will review other communities’ Comp Plans. Zimmerman said staff will be reviewing other communities’ plans, but that the links will be available if the Planning Commission would like to see other communities’ plans. Baker asked if staff would give the Planning Commission a synopsis of the other communities’ plans. Zimmerman said he could do that. Baker asked if the Planning Commission will see the public comments made about the Comp Plan. Zimmerman stated that there will be an appendix of the public comments and the responses. Zimmerman reviewed the Comp Plan with the Commissioners and stated that the theme is Suburban Evolution. The Plan includes seven chapters/elements, a 10-year policy plan with goals and objectives, a five year implementation plan with actions, an annual staff work plan, and the Capital Improvement Program. He explained that the Plan has a broad focus on: strengthening downtown, promoting sustainability, expanding transportation options, supporting diversity of population, and investing in infrastructure. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission May 14, 2018 Page 2 Zimmerman noted that each chapter includes an introduction, key points, history, existing conditions, a policy plan, and an implementation plan. He added that promotion of the Comp Plan will be done via mailings, newsletters, the City’s website, Facebook, and cable television and that additional edits and refining of the Plan will occur over the summer. Segelbaum asked if there will be instructions for residents on how to provide comments. Zimmerman said yes, there will be a comment form on the City’s website along with a phone number and email address. Baker asked if there will be any more public forums. Zimmerman said there won’t be any more open houses, but there will be promotion including attendance at summer events. Johnson said the draft Comp Plan looks good, but some of the key points in the chapters seem a little soft. He said he recalls that the Planning Commission discussions were to make the goals stronger and more quantifiable. Blum referred to goal 2.5 in the housing chapter and noted that it encourages accessory dwelling units. He said he recalls the City and the public rejecting that idea so calling out this specific type of housing might not be the best way to get multi-generational living opportunities. Zimmerman stated that staff has had a lot of feedback from people wanting accessory dwelling units and that the City Council would like staff to research them. He added that the accessory units that the City rejected last year were temporary health care dwellings. Blum stated that the Comp Plan is supposed to be used to drive policy and that there has been discussion in the past about this very specific type of housing. He said he is concerned about ending up with flag lot designs and that the message from the subdivision moratorium was clear that people don’t want houses and lot sizes squeezed too small. Zimmerman noted that accessory dwelling units could allow units to be located within existing structures as well. Baker agreed that it is worth looking at any research regarding accessory dwelling units. Blum suggested changing the goal to read “research opportunities for multi-generational living opportunities” and take out that one prescribed type of housing. Zimmerman suggested the language be changed to say “research opportunities to expand multi-generational housing.” Johnson referred to the key point in the transportation chapter regarding the City’s Pavement Management Program (PMP) evolving into a more comprehensive Infrastructure Renewal Program (IRP) and said he remembers discussing something more robust and not as soft. Zimmerman explained that the current PMP is just about pavement and that there are only a few years left in the existing program so there is overlap before the IRP starts. He added that there is more robust language in the water resources chapter. Johnson referred to the last key point in the housing chapter that states that the benefits and impacts of construction activity in single family neighborhoods must be balanced with proper City oversight. He questioned the point of that statement and if that is a given. Zimmerman said that key point is a way to state that there is going to be some teardown Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission May 14, 2018 Page 3 construction that requires proper oversight. Baker questioned if the word “balanced” is the right word. Segelbaum suggested saying that impacts of construction must be balanced with public needs or public good. Zimmerman said he would work on the language in that key point. He asked the Commissioners to send staff comments as they continue to review the Comp Plan. 3. 2017-18 Recodification of City Code Zimmerman explained that as an effort to clean-up outdated language in the City Code and to create consistency in references and between sections, staff has been working with the City Clerk to prepare for a recodification. He stated that the City Council will be considering the first draft of the recodification in June and it will be brought back to the Planning Commission for a public hearing in late summer. Baker asked if the Council would see the proposed code changes before the Planning Commission. Zimmerman said yes, and added that the Planning Commission has already discussed a number of items proposed to be changed such as outdoor storage, average grade language in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts, and height limits. Segelbaum referred to the extra height allowed for senior living units in the R-4 zoning district and asked if that will be allowed in the R-3 zoning district as well. Zimmerman said yes, and added that upper limits will be added as well. Baker referred to the proposed list of changes and asked why some of them were bolded. Zimmerman stated that the bolded items are more substantial changes. Baker asked if plain language could be used as much as possible. Blum asked about the requirements regarding the screening of items stored in a side yard. Zimmerman stated that items stored in a side yard will be required to be 5 feet away from the property line and screened with a 75% opaque screen, with either fencing or vegetative screening. Zimmerman stated that the City Council is interested is considering materials standards for commercial and office developments. He clarified that this does not mean architectural style, but rather materials used. He added that the Council is also interested is looking at impervious surfaces amounts, sign code requirements, and a sunset date for gravel driveways. 4. Annual Board/Commission Orientation Zimmerman showed the Commissioners a PowerPoint presentation and discussed the Golden Valley organizational chart, the Board and Commission structure, the open meeting law, the role of the Commission, the guiding principles and core values, and the standards of conduct. Minutes of the Golden Valley Planning Commission May 14, 2018 Page 4 5. Election of Officers MOVED by Segelbaum, seconded by Blum, and motion carried unanimously to elect Baker as Chair. MOVED by Baker, seconded by Segelbaum, and motion carried unanimously to elect Johnson as Vice Chair. MOVED by Segelbaum, seconded by Johnson, and motion carried unanimously to elect Blum as Secretary. 6. Council Liaison Report Council Member Schmidgall stated that the public hearing for Meadowbrook's proposed PUD amendment is scheduled for the May 15 City Council meeting. Schmidgall thanked the Planning Commission for their work on the Comp Plan update and said that he thinks the Plan is more useful and more approachable than the current Comp Plan. He said he is particularly excited about the Douglas Drive changes and the Bike and Pedestrian plans. Schmidgall stated that the Global Pointe project is moving forward and that he is pleased with what the City has been doing in regard to affordable housing. Johnson asked if the Planning Commission has ever thought about framing their agendas for the year in order to discuss things they'd like to see or things they think are important. Segelbaum said he likes that idea and suggested having a brainstorming meeting. Blum suggested that the Commissioners present ideas they are passionate about so it doesn't take staff time or time away from public business. Angell stated that issues discussed at the resident's open forum at the Council meetings could be passed on to the Planning Commission. Baker suggested the Commissioners compile a list of ideas they'd like to discuss. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. � Vv �� on um, Secre ary Lisa Wittman, Administrative Assistant