HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-23 Council Work Session MINUTES
OF THE STUDY SESSION OF THE
EDINA CITY COUNCIL HELD
OCTOBER 23, 2007
7:30 A.M.
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. in the Community Room of Edina
City Hall. Answering rollcall were: Members Bennett, Housh, Masica, Swenson and Mayor
Hovland. Members of the Comprehensive Planning Task Force present were: Steve
Brown, John Lonsbury, Floyd Grabiel, Kevin Staunton and Mike Fischer. Staff present
included: Gordon Hughes, City Manager; Heather Worthington, Assistant City Manager;
Cary Teague, Director of Planning; and Debra Mangen, City Clerk. City Consultants
included: Dan Cornejo, Arijs Pakalns and Suzanne Rhees, URS
Mayor Hovland said the purpose of the study session was a workshop on building height
to be presented by Aris Pakalns of URS. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Pakalns
conducted a brief workshop on building heights as follows:
• Building Heights Regulation Reasons/Impacts
• Visual Impacts-City image/landmark/views
• Aesthetic Scale/proportions
• Light Access
• Shadow Impacts
• Density
• Traffic Capacity
o Utility Capacity
• Cost of Land
• Market Conditions
• Developer Investment/Building Technology
• History Examples Reviewed
• June 1913 -Fifth Ave Association advocating maximum height of 125 feet
• Paris does not permit a facade higher than 651/2 feet, Rome limits were set at
781/2 feet
• Berlin limit at 72 feet but no building may rise higher than width of the street
• Quoted Roger K Lewis, Columnist May 26, 2007 "...building height
regulations are expressed quantitatively; they in fact reflect value
judgments..."
• Photos of Paris (uniform building heights); Sydney (gradual build-up); Dubai
(scattered skyline); and Excelsior &Grand (uniform building heights)
• Various Building Height Options Reviewed - Transition & Flexible Height
zone envelop, transition & capped height envelope, pyramid or constant-
slope envelope and ziggurat or stepped envelope
• Set Heights, districts and desired building height buildup reviewed
• Reviewed Building Height Bonuses where height and density bonuses may
be granted for: public open space, affordable housing, landmark design,
hotel and corporate headquarters, retrofits and historic preservation
o Parking lots special conditions options reviewed
• Potential Principles/Techniques Reviewed - building heights issues can be very
subjective and can be influenced by personal aesthetic, individual concepts of
scale, levels of comfort, past experiences and traditions
Minutes/Edina City Council/Work Session October 23,2007
• Building Heights Approach Options
o Refine current, formula based building height zoning
o Establish specific building heights for each area
o Establish building heights and bonus incentives
• Built Form Principals/Guidelines - reviewed photographic examples of each of
the following:
• Buildings frame the street
• Height transition
• Facade articulation
• Variety of building forms
• Transparency and natural surveillance
Following Mr. Pakalns' presentation the Council, Comp Plan Task Force Members,
Consultants and staff discussed the issues surrounding building height regulations.
Included in the discussion were: the seemingly subjective nature of using incentives to
ensure visible impacts, including criteria in code similar to a Planned Use District approach
to height, considering allowing conditional heights based on density bonuses,
developers/property owners view that building height was driven by zoning, how to
develop parking and blend it with development, desire of advisory boards to have
direction from City Council, difficulty that would be encountered if attempt were to be
made to accomplish a development similar to Excelsior & Grand which took years of
planning, how Council could give direction that would encompass all possible
development scenarios, potential for developing different potential scenarios for different
areas, acknowledgement that all the various criteria intertwine with each other, the city
seemed to be moving to a more pedestrian mode, feeling that keeping buildings stepped
back from the street was desirable, perhaps allowing two stories at the street then stepping
up higher in some areas, possibly weaving higher buildings (4 stories) with residential
areas, acknowledging desire from development community for clear direction from City as
to what will be allowed and where it would be allowed. The Council discussed potential
development height scenarios for areas such as the 50th and France, Southdale and the
Promenade, 494 & 100, Gateway Area, 441h & France, 70th & Cahill, and and Wooddale &
Valley View Road.
The Council also briefly discussed the Comprehensive Plan Process as it related to public
comment period at the scheduled community meetings. Assistant Manager Worthington
assured the Council time would be allowed for public comment at each meeting.
Mayor Hovland declared the meeting adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
De'bra IVY,ngen, City Clerk