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2020-06-22 EC Agenda Packet REGULAR MEETING AGENDA This meeting will be held via Cisco Webex in accordance with the local emergency declaration made by the City under Minn. Stat. § 12.37. The public may monitor this meeting by calling 1-415-655- 0001 and entering the meeting code 133 664 8518. For technical assistance, please contact support staff at 763-593-8007 or webexsupport@goldenvalleymn.gov. If you incur costs to call into the meeting, you may submit the costs to the City for reimbursement consideration. Additional information about for monitoring electronic meetings is available on the City website. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Agenda 4. Approval of May 18, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes (5 min) 5. Old Business A. Update on Commission Bylaws (5 min) B. Partners In Energy Update (5 min) C. Curbside Organics Collection Update (5 min) 6. New Business A. Environmental Justice Collaboration (20 min) B. Downtown Study (20 min) C. Pollinators i. Inventory of chemicals (5 min) ii. Developing new plots and habitat (5 min) D. Program/Project Updates (5 min) E. Council Updates (5 min) F. Other Business (5 min) 7. Adjournment June 22, 2020 – 6:30 pm REGULAR MEETING MINUTES This meeting will be held via Cisco Webex in accordance with the local emergency declaration made by the City under Minn. Stat. § 12.37. The public may monitor this meeting by calling 1-415-655- 0001 and entering the meeting code 287 136 762. For technical assistance, please contact support staff at 763-593-8007 or webexsupport@goldenvalleymn.gov. If you incur costs to call into the meeting, you may submit the costs to the City for reimbursement consideration. Additional information about for monitoring electronic meetings is available on the City website. 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Seys at 6:33 2. Roll Call Commissioners present: Scott Seys, Debra Yahle, Tonia Galonska, Dawn Hill, Jim Stremmel, Wendy Weirich, Shannon Hansen Commissioners absent: None Council Members present: Larry Fonnest Staff present: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor; Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member; Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant 3. Resignation of Commission Member Susan Phelps 4. New Member Shannon Hansen A. Shannon Hansen was given her Official Oath by Chair Seys 5. New Member Wendy Weirich A. Wendy Weirich was given her Official Oath by Chair Seys 6. Approval of Agenda MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Stremmel to approve the agenda of May 18, 2020 and the motion carried with the following additions recommended by Eric Eckman to the Commission: - 5A. Annual Commissioner Re-Orientation - 5B. Review Commission Bylaws May 18, 2020 – 6:30 pm City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting April 27, 2019 – 6:30 pm 2 7. Approval of February 24, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Yahle, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to approve the minutes of April 27, 2020 as submitted and the motion carried. 8. Old Business A. Partners in Energy Update i. 2-year Cooperative Program with Xcel Energy ii. City is working on developing an Energy Action Plan 1. 6 months of planning 2. 18 months of implementation iii. Currently entering the recruitment phase of a 12-14 member team. Recruitment will start soon. 1. Commissioners Hill and Galonska interested in applying. 2. Possibly members from other various boards/commissions such as the Human Rights Commission, Planning Commission, Rising Tides Task Force. 3. Also recruit from Golden Valley businesses and institutions, Community Organizations, Multi-Family Organizations. 4. 1-2 citizen members not currently serving on boards/commissions. B. 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Work Plan i. Presented May 12 at the Council/Managers meeting. Council members are appreciative of the work done by the commission and excited for the proposed work to come. ii. Council will officially accept the 2019 Annual Report and approve 2020 Work Plan at the May 19 meeting. iii. At the June meeting we will discuss ideas for the cooperative project between the Human Rights Commission and the Environmental Commission. C. Curbside Organics Collection - Commission Summary Report MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Stremmel to approve the Curbside Organics Collection Commission Summary Report and the motion carried with the following changes: i. Change the 2nd to last paragraph to reflect that ‘the Commission took all public comments into consideration when it made its recommendation, as the citizen survey and open house were still ongoing.’ ii. Delete ‘and potentially offer first year assistance to low and fixed income residents’ from the last paragraph. D. Curbside Organics Collection - Update on Public Input i. The Citizen Survey Closes on May 20. As of this meeting there have been 236 responses. Here are the results: 1. 87% of respondents are very or somewhat familiar with organics recycling 44% of respondents currently recycle organics at their home City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting April 27, 2019 – 6:30 pm 3 27% of those recycling organics at home use curbside organics collection by a hauler 2. Aspects of Organics Recycling Most Important to Respondents (out of 236): a. Environmental Impact – 204 b. Cost of Service – 115 c. Creating a marketable product such as compost – 93 d. Transparent pricing – 77 e. Reducing the size of your trash bin – 75 f. Number of trucks on streets – 66 g. Storage of an additional bin – 50 h. Other - 12 3. Currently/Willing to Pay a. 14% of all respondents currently pay a hauler to collect organics. b. 60% of those without service would be willing to pay for curbside organics collection (65% of all respondents support curbside organics, either currently participating or willing to pay) 4. Monthly Cost People are Willing to Pay a. $1 - $5 – 43 respondents b. $6 - $10 - 56 respondents c. $11 - $15 - 12 respondents d. $16 - $20 - 5 respondents e. Over $20 - 2 respondents 5. 72% of respondents would be interested in picking up finished compost 6. 64% of respondents support the City changing code to allow collection bins to be visible from the street at all times 7. Virtual Open House – a. Topics Covered: i. What is Organics Recycling ii. Benefits of Organics Recycling iii. Recycling Methods iv. Resilience & Sustainability Plan v. Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Policy Plan vi. Hennepin County Solid Waste Management Policy Plan vii. Hennepin County Ordinance 13 and Compliance Options viii. Other Cities’ Participation Rates and Costs ix. Cart Comparisons b. A "pay for your neighbor" program could be explored for feasibility after Council gives direction on which type of program the City will be implementing. The City would like to make organics recycling accessible and affordable for all residents. c. Once City Council gives direction on a program to implement, the City will explore education campaign opportunities for the public to City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting April 27, 2019 – 6:30 pm 4 learn more about Organics Recycling. Volunteers could be part of that effort. d. Recycling MRFs (Material Recovery Facilities) are required to recover a minimum of 85% of recyclable materials that enter the facility. The State of Minnesota has strict requirements for MRFs and does not allow the landfilling of recyclable materials. e. The State of Minnesota places responsibility for waste disposal on waste generators and producers. The resident would be considered a waste generator and therefore responsible for the cost associated with managing that waste. To incentivize waste reduction, recycling, and organics recycling over landfilling, the State and County tax landfilling services but not recycling and organics recycling services. Waste reduction is indeed the best practice, but is not always feasible for every scenario. The Environmental Commission’s 2020 work plan includes exploring limitations on certain types of plastics and containers. 9. New Business A. Commissioner Re-Orientation B. Review of Commission By-Laws i. Eckman mentioned that Council will be considering the changes proposed by the Commission in summer 2019 and will report back at the next meeting. ii. No new changes proposed by Commission in 2020. C. Election of Officers MOTION by Commissioner Hill, seconded by Commissioner Galonska to re-elect Commissioner Scott Seys as Chair and Commissioner Debra Yahle as Vice-Chair and the motion carried. D. Hennepin County Climate Action Plan - County Wide Plan - Hennepin County is reaching out to Cities, Watersheds, Park Districts, and others to understand issues and needs and find common interests and mutual goals. We’re experiencing climate change with wetter weather, warmer winters, and excessive heat and drought now and in the future. DNR Office of Climatology is already seeing this and has been for the last few decades. How do we respond to this at a local level? How do we adapt? How do we prevent some of these issues? - Focus areas prioritized by partners are: o Water, natural resources and land use o Transportation and Infrastructure o People: Health, behavior, & disparity reduction o Buildings and energy o Waste and materials City of Golden Valley Environmental Commission Regular Meeting April 27, 2019 – 6:30 pm 5 - Staff will provide updates and announce any opportunities for input as the plan continues to develop. E. Program/Project Updates i. Will a lack of a state bonding bill affect the project at Wildwood Park/SEA School? 1. The studying and planning will continue. Depending on how much/little funding we get from a state bonding bill the project may have to be completed in stages. F. Council Updates G. Other Business 10. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Galonska, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the meeting at 8:33 pm and the motion carried. ATTEST: _________________________________ _________________________________________ Carrie Nelson, Administrative Assistant Scott Seys, Chair G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: June 18, 2020 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor Subject: Environmental Justice Collaboration The Environmental Commission’s 2020 work plan includes working collaboratively with the Human Rights Commission to address the issue of environmental justice and more specifically climate justice in our community. More information about our existing disparities and climate vulnerabilities can be found at: The Minnesota Equity Blueprint Golden Valley Rising TIDES 2020 Annual Report (attached) Hennepin County Climate Action Plan (brief overview attached) City’s Resilience and Sustainability Plan The 2020 work plan includes the following actions: • Community Outreach: Use a portion of the Commission’s $3,500 budget to: o fund a joint project, speaker, or event with the Human Rights Commission • Climate Justice and Environmental Justice: Partner with Human Rights Commission on joint project, event, or speaker. May require joint meeting. Ties in well with City’s Resilience and Sustainability Plan. Potential ideas for collaboration include: o hosting a speaker on climate justice and environmental justice focusing on climate adaptation and resilience or promoting community gardens and local food production o sponsoring a project in an area of the City with inequities of green space and amenities, or pairing a community event with planting trees and vegetation in that area Chair Seys has reached out to HRC Chair Chris Mitchell to discuss the opportunity and will share what he’s learned, and staff will have additional data and maps to share to aid in the discussion. Commission members should read through the reference materials above and come to the meeting prepared to discuss their thoughts and ideas around a collaborative project for 2020. G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: June 18, 2020 To: Environmental Commission From: Eric Eckman, Environmental Resources Supervisor Subject: Downtown Redevelopment Study At its June 9 Council/Manager meeting, City Council directed staff to begin working on Phase 3 of the Downtown Study which will include the development of design guidelines and small areas plans for certain catalyst quadrants of the study area. Design guidelines will be developed for all four quadrants relating to sites, buildings, streets and walk/bikeways. Implementation strategies will be researched and identified. Click here to review the June 9 meeting materials and the Phase 2 Study reports and concept plans. In its 2020 Work Plan, the Environmental Commission included the following action: • Downtown Redevelopment Study: Engage in environmental aspects of the study and plan Consistent with the work plan, the Commission would like to engage early in the community input process by providing Council and staff with a prioritized list of environmental site design guidelines, and/or environmental goals and considerations for Phase 3 of the study. These may be based on the City’s Resilience and Sustainability Plan or other factors. Commissioners should come to the June 22 meeting prepared to discuss their thoughts and ideas in advance of a recommendation in June or July. G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: June 18, 2020 To: Environmental Commission From: Emma Pierson, MN GreenCorps Member Subject: Pollinators – Inventory Of Chemicals The Environmental Commission 2020 Work Plan includes the following action: • Pollinators: Complete actions listed in the City’s Pollinator Protection Resolution, such as: o completing an inventory and reducing the use of chemicals on City properties The first step of this action is to inventory the chemicals currently being used in City maintenance operations. The attached spreadsheet lists each chemical and its intended use. Each chemical’s Safety Data Sheet describes safety procedures, ecotoxicity, and best practices for application. The City follows these guidelines as well as state and federal regulations and the manufacturer’s recommendations, and works to limit the amount and location of chemical applied on City properties. The City’s maintenance practices and procedures with respect to the application of chemicals will be explored in more detail in the coming months. The chemicals used by the City do not contain neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are a class of systemic chemical insecticides that have been shown to impair pollinators at low doses and kill them at higher doses, as stated in the Resolution Endorsing Pollinator Protection and Promoting Pollinator Habitat. The Commission is being asked to receive and file the inventory. Inventory of Chemicals Used on City Properties Forestry Use PPE Company Contact Ecotoxicity Safe Conditions for Use Pathfinder II Safety Data Sheet Buckthorn stump application (Winter) Safety glasses (with side shields), chemical resistant gloves, clean, body- covering clothing, respiratory protection when there is potential to increase exposure limit 800-992-5994 Highly toxic to aquatic organisms on an acute basis, slightly toxic to birds on an acute and dietary basis Prevent from entering into soil, ditches, sewers, waterways, and/or groundwater. Spills or discharge to natural waterwasys is likely to kill aquatic organisms. Rodeo Safety Data Sheet Buckthorn stump application (Summer) Safety glasses (with side shields), chemical resistant gloves, clean, body- covering clothing, respiratory protection when there is potential to increase exposure limit 800-992-5994 Slightly toxic to aquatic organisms on an accute basis Prevent from entering into soil, ditches, sewers, waterways, and/or groundwater. Park Maintenance Use PPE Company Contact Ecotoxicity Safe Conditions for Use On Deck (Helena) Safety Data Sheet Ballfield infield and warning track edges (as needed) Splashproof goggles or face shield, chemical-resistant gloves, long-sleeved shirt and long pants, shoes and socks. Emergency shower and eyewash should be available in work area. Use NIOSH- approved respirator for organic vapors when needed 901-761-0050 Toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present, or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark Roundup Pro Max Safety Data Sheet Landscape planter and hardscape weed control Chemical goggles (if potential for contact), chemical resistant gloves, skin protection, no respiratory protection needed if used as recommended 800-332-3111 Moderate-highly toxic to aquatic organisms, practically non-toxic to honey bee, earthworm, bobwhite quail Keep out of drains, sewers, ditches, and water ways. Strike 3 Safety Data Sheet Broadleaf weed control (as needed) Chemical resistant gloves, eye protection, chemical protective boots, aprons, coveralls, and gauntlets to prevent prolonged or repeated skin contact Medical Emergency Phone Number: 1-877- 424-7452 Toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates and may adversley affect non-target plants Do not contaminate water when disposing. Can result in groundwater contamination if soils are permeable or the water table is shallow. Inventory of Chemicals Used on City Properties Embark Safety Data Sheet Growth regulator (discontinuing once exising inventory is used) Protective clothing including rubber gloves and eyeware Emergency Telephone: 1-800-424-9300 Possible toxicity to aquatic environments Do not use near drains or allow to enter drains. Street Maintenance Use PPE Company Contact Ecotoxicity Safe Conditions for Use Specticle Total Safety Data Sheet Hardscape weed control NIOSH approved respirators when required, chemical resistant nitrile rubber gloves, safety glasses with side-shields, long sleeved shirt and long pants, closed toe shoes and socks.1-800-331-2867 Toxic to aquatic organisms, not rapidly biodegradable Do not allow to get into surface water, drains and ground water. Do not contaminate surface or ground water by cleaning equipment or disposal of wastes, including equipment wash water. Drift and runoff from treated areas may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in adjacent sites. Drift or runoff from treated areas may adversely Golf Course Operations Use PPE Company Contact Ecotoxicity Safe Conditions for Use Ipro 2 Safety Data Sheet Fungicide NIOSH approved respirators when required, chemical resistant nitrile rubber gloves, safety glasses with side-shields, long sleeved shirt and long pants, closed toe shoes and socks.1-866-897-8050 Toxic to invertebrates, drift and runoff may be hazardous to awuatic organisms in neighboring areas. Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present, or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark. Tebuconazole 3.6F Safety Data Sheet Fungicide NIOSH approved respirators when required, chemical resistant nitrile rubber gloves, safety glasses with side-shields, long sleeved shirt and long pants, closed toe shoes and socks.1-919-256-9300 Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Toxic to estuarine and marine invertebrates. Do not apply directly to water, or areas where surgace waster is present or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark. Runoff may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in neighboring areas. Do not contaminate water when disposing of equipment washwater or rinsate. Rotator Fluazinam Safety Data Sheet Fungicide Long sleeved shirt and long pants, closed toe shoes and socks.1-800-345-3330 Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. Prevent material from entering public sewer systems or any waterways. Do not flush to drain. Large spills to soil or similar surfaces may necessitate removal of topsoil. The affected area should be removed and placed in an appropriate container for disposal. Inventory of Chemicals Used on City Properties Chlorothalonin 720 Sft Safety Data Sheet Fungicide Safety glasses with sheild, goggles recommended. Chemical resistant gloves, logn sleeve shirt, pants, and close toed shoes.1-919-256-9300 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. This product is toxic to aquatic invertebrates and wildlife. Do not apply directly to water, or to areas where surface water is present, or to intertidal areas below the mean high-water mark. Drift and runoff may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in neighboring areas. T-nex Safety Data Sheet Safety Data Sheet Growth regulator NIOSH approved respirators when required, chemical resistant nitrile rubber gloves, safety glasses with side-shields, long sleeved shirt and long pants, closed toe shoes and socks.1-919-256-9300 Possible toxicity to aquatic environments Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present, or to intertidal areas below the mean high water mark. T-zone Safety Data Sheet Herbicide Protective eyeware, long-sleeved shirts and pants, shoes and socks, chemical resistant gloves 816-421-4070 May be toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present. Drift and runoff may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in water adjacent to treated areas. Triplet Safety Data Sheet Herbicide Protective eyeware, long-sleeved shirts and pants, shoes and socks, chemical resistant gloves 1-800-345-3330 May be toxic to aquatic invertebrates and may adversely afect non-target plants Prevent from entering into soil, ditches, sewers, waterways, and/or groundwater. 3D Safety Data Sheet Herbicide Protective eyeware, long-sleeved shirts and pants, shoes and socks, chemical resistant gloves 1-877-250-9291 May be toxic to aquatic invertebrates and may adversely afect non-target plants Do not apply directly to water, to areas where surface water is present. Drift and runoff may be hazardous to aquatic organisms in water adjacent to treated areas. G:\Environmental Commission\Memos Date: June 18, 2020 To: Environmental Commission From: Drew Chirpich, Environmental Specialist Subject: Pollinators - Developing New Plots and Habitat As part of Golden Valley’s ongoing effort to support pollinators and enhance water quality, the City is investing in creating and maintaining pollinator plots throughout the City. Staff has worked with the Environmental Commission to identify and rank areas to be converted into pollinator friendly plantings next. In an effort to multiply the benefits of these plots into areas that can also benefit humans and provide access to healthy food, staff is proposing to incorporate a small amount of edible trees, shrubs, and ground covers into these plantings. Most edible trees, shrubs, and ground covers flower, which results in the production of nectar and pollen for insects, as well as fruit for other wildlife and human consumption. These pollinator plots would still be comprised of mostly wildflowers, but would have central and accessible areas enhanced with edible plants. The compounding benefits of incorporating edible plants into the landscape will fulfill items in the Environmental Commission work plan, such as removing barriers to local food production, and the City’s Resilience and Sustainability goals, including Goals 4 and 5. These plots can also can be sited to provide access to traditionally underserved populations to provide fresh, local food. If designed correctly, the plots can provide pollinator and wildlife habitat, enhance water quality, provide food that can be consumed by humans, and be aesthetically pleasing, social gathering areas. The cost of incorporating edible plants into these areas should be comparable to developing typical pollinator habitat and may require less maintenance and cost over time. The two plots being assessed for development in 2020 are shown in the attached map. Following a brief discussion, the Commission is encouraged to provide its thoughts on incorporating edible elements into the design of these soon to be developed pollinator plots. !!!!! !!!!! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! !!! !!!!!!!!! !!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! !!!C I T Y O F C R Y S T A L C I T Y O F R O B B I N S D A L E CITY OF MINNEAPOLISC I T Y O F S T . L O U I S P A R K CITY OF MINNEAPOLISCITY OFST. LOUIS PARKCITY OF ROBBINSDALECITY OF CRYSTAL CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK C I T Y O F N E W H O P E CITY OF PLYMOUTHCITY OF MINNEAPOLISC I T Y O F S T . L O U I S P A R KCITY OFPLYMOUTH456766 456770 456766 456740 456740 4567156 4567102 §¨¦394 §¨¦394 Æÿ55Æÿ55 Æÿ100 Æÿ100 £¤169 £¤169 Winnetka Ave SWinnetka Ave NWinnetka Ave NDouglas Dr NDouglas Dr NMedicine Lake Rd Glenwood AveMendelssohn Ave NPl ymo u th Av e N 10th Ave N 7thAve Boone Ave NWisconsin Ave NNevada Ave NGeneralMillsBlvdG o ld e n V alleyRdRhodeIslandSandburg Rd Betty CrockerDr WayzataBlvd Country Club Dr Olympia St Harold Ave Laurel Ave Louisiana Ave SJersey AveFloridaAve SGolden Hills DrZane Ave NS Frontage Rd TurnersCrossroad NMeadow Ln NNoble Ave NHampshireAve SW ayza ta Blvd Zenith Ave NTheod o r e WirthPkwyDecatur Ave NDuluth St G o l d e n Vall ey Rd AveNG o l d e n Valley Rd Pennsylvania Ave SWayzataBlvd XeniaAveSOlson Memorial HwyN Frontage Rd Lindsay St Lilac Dr N211 213 48 206 204 29 7 201 208 209 54 202 17 24 207 203 22 210 138 200 211 211 212 117 142 205 16 0 1,800 3,600900Feet IPrint Date: 10/21/2019Sources:-Hennepin County Surveyors Office for Property Lines (2019).-City of Golden Valley for all other layers. Pollinator Plots Potential Pollinator Plot(23.91 acres) Planned (5.01 acres) PROGRAM/PROJECT UPDATES – June 2020 GREENCORPS Member for 2020-2021 service term – The City has been informed that they have been selected to host a GreenCorps member for the upcoming 2020-2021 service term. The member will be in the Air Pollution Reduction track and will work on many of the City’s sustainability and energy reduction goals. Market in the Valley- Market in the Valley is scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 21st. This year City staff and our current serving GreenCorps member, will help to make the event more sustainable by providing the opportunity to recycle organics at the market, and eventually will try to move towards making Market in the Valley a zero-waste event. NATURAL RESOURCES Pennsylvania Woods DNR Habitat Grant – The City recently received confirmation that it was selected to receive a habitat grant for areas of the Pennsylvania Woods Nature Area that are outside of the DeCola Ponds B and C Flood Mitigation project boundaries. The project will involve the removal of buckthorn and other invasive species, and the planting and establishment of native vegetation. A request for quotes has been sent out to select a contractor to complete the work outlined in the project. A contract is expected to be executed soon. WATER RESOURCES DeCola Ponds Flood Mitigation Projects - The DeCola Ponds B and C Project is about 90% complete. The excavation and utility work is complete, the trails have been paved, and the City’s native vegetation contractor is working on soil preparation, seeding, and planting trees, shrubs, and grasses. The City and Bassett Creek Watershed are beginning to plan and study the next flood mitigation project areas. The Wildwood Park/SEA School area has been identified as having potential for flood storage to benefit properties around DeCola Ponds D, E, and F. A planning level study to understand opportunities and challenges and develop concepts is programmed for this spring and will include engagement with the community, the school, and nearby stakeholders. The Isaacson Park/Industrial Area is also being looked at for potential future flood storage. The DNR is supportive of the projects in Golden Valley and has requested flood damage reduction funding in the 2020 state bonding bill this legislative session. A community engagement opportunity is now available for residents to learn more and provide valuable input at https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0cd58b281eb94ddea9dcb5ace866ab3b. PLANNING AND ZONING AND DEVELOPMENTS June 18, 2020 Planning Commission Narrow Lots—A Zoning Text Amendment to modify regulations for homes built on narrow lots (those 65 feet in width and less). The Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 8 and discussed eight different changes to the Zoning Chapter focusing on narrow lots. 53 comments were submitted as part of the public record via an on-line form; three callers provided input during the hearing. The Commission continued the hearing to June 22 in order to give staff additional time to address questions related to shading and dormers. The City Council is expected to consider the proposed changes on July 21. City Council Tobacco Sales Restrictions—A Zoning Text Amendment to restrict the sale of tobacco products based on nearby uses was approved on June 16 (5-0). Following recent City action to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco, to raise the age of sales to 21, and to cap the number of City tobacco licenses, the new regulations add locational restrictions around schools, parks, and other youth-oriented centers. 1421 Rhode Island Ave N—An appeal of a variance denial around a driveway and curb cut was heard by the City Council on June 16. The Council voted (5-0) to uphold the BZA decision and require the second driveway be removed. 4725 Olson Memorial Highway—An appeal of a variance denial around adding two accessible spaces at the end of the frontage road cul-de-sac was heard by the City Council on June 16. After discussing options with staff, the Council voted (5-0) to approve the variance with three conditions that addressed concerns regarding snow removal, visibility, and construction. Other Updates Temporary Outdoor Service Areas—In order to meeting the Governor’s orders allowing outdoor dining, staff worked to develop a process for reviewing and approving applications from local restaurants in order to allow them to conduct business outdoors. The City is offering temporary waivers to various zoning requirements including setbacks and parking counts. All liquor licenses requirements, building codes, and fire codes must still be met. Five restaurants, in addition to Brookview’s Three One Six Bar + Grill, have opened. Downtown Study, Phase III—At the June 9 Council/Manager meeting, the City Council gave the go ahead to move forward with Phase III of the Downtown Study. HKGi will resume its work in July and will further refine designs for three catalyst sites in addition to producing design guidelines for the downtown area. A small area plan for the downtown will be ready for adoption as part of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan at the conclusion of the process.