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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-04-29 Evironmental Quality Commission Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE EDINA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSION HELD MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1974 EDINA CITY HALL I. Rollcall: Ron Hays, Chairman Paul Mucke Virginia Scott Clifford Johnson. Barbara Casselman Donald Johnson Fritz Reid Fred Richards Staff Present: James Bentley John Telfer Robert Sandilla (arrived at 8:30 P.M.) Gary West, Administrative Services Coordinator Greg Luce, City Planner Gordon Hughes, Environmental Planner Lynnae Nye, Secretary Mr. Greg Luce, the City Planner, introduced Gordon Hughes, the Environ- mental Planner recently hired by Edina who will serve as staff representative for the EQC. He noted Mr. Hughes' time, as part of the Planning Department's time, will be used as much as possible on environmentally related activities to avoid the duplication of environmental and planning efforts which may have occurred previously. Mr. Hughes will attempt to standardize the EQC's review . in an effort to better understand and relate their goals, as it is hoped many things can become programatic and can be taken care of on the staff level. Mr. Hays commented "this will signify a new phase for the EQC, which will now become part of the Planning Department unbrella and will have a permanent staff representative with greater involvement in the EQC's concerns". Mr. Hays stated the EQC has developed standards for review, although they are not formalized, in that developers have repeatedly been asked to provide the same type of information. He agreed there is some basis for writing out established standards, and noted one way this has been accomplished is through the development of ordinances. All ordinances developed by the EQC have been passed by the Council, and there are no committees now working on specific ordinances; he noted the "soil erosion committee could probably be dissolved because they have done their job". Mr. Hays stated that "formally or informally we have set out certain goals and have, to a large extent, attained those goals, so we are at a point where we are going to be setting out new goals". Mr. Luce agreed that much of the subcommittee work could be turned over to the staff, and encouraged a more comprehensive approach so that Mr. Hughes and the Planning Department can participate in the EQC's next period of goals. Mr. Luce observed "we all have to work for a greater amount of confidence with the public, including developers, as well as with the other commissions and Council", and reiterated he and Mr. Hughes will work on a staff level in an attempt to avoid duplication. Mr. Hays agreed that duplication has probably occurred, but added he is not convinced it is necessarily bad. II. MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 25, 1974, EQC MEETING. Following brief discussion, Mr. D. Johnson moved the minutes of the February 25, 1974, EQC meeting be approved as submitted. Mrs. Scott seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried. MINUTES OF THE MARCH 25, 1974, EQC MEETING. A motion was made by Mr. C. Johnson and seconded by Mr. D. Johnson to approve the minutes of the March 25, 1974, EQC meeting as submitted. All voted aye. Motion carried. EQC MINUTES Page 2 III. OLD BUSINESS: A. Metram Properties - Staff. Mr. West recalled the Metram Properties proposal was approved by the Planning Commission at their March meeting; it was then forwarded to the City Council, who continued it until their May 20, 1974 meeting because there were several questions in regard to the proposed road layout. B. Folke R. Victorsen, R-1 to PRD-5 - Staff. Mr. C. Johnson recalled the Planning Commission denied Mr. Victorsen's rezoning request at their March meeting because the proposed density (12 units per acre) was too high, and the height of the buildings (8 stories) was excessive. C. Melvin C. Gittleman, R-1 to PRD-3 (Krahl Hill) - Staff. Mr. West recalled that although the Gittleman proposal was approved unanimously by the Planning Commission, it was denied by the City Council on 4-15-74 after hearing the neighbor's objections. He noted Mr. Krahl has indi- cated he intends to pursue single family development of the hill. In reply to Mr. Hays, Mr. West explained Mr. Krahl has received approval of a preliminary plat for 20 single family lots; and under previous practices, a preliminary plat approval is sufficient to permit preliminary grading and site work to be done. Discussion followed. Mr. Hays stated the concensus of the EQC is that the concerns of the residents in the area are not really environmental concerns, but that was just one of the many tools they could use to obtain their objectives. He clarified the concern of the EQC is that the situation be closely watched by the staff to ensure compliance with all relevant ordi- nances, particularly the tree removal and soil erosion ordinances. Mr. Hughes was instructed by the Commission to monitor any development activity on the site. D. Soil Erosion and Tree Removal Ordinances - Staff. Mr. West reported the City Council approved the soil erosion and tree removal ordinances on April 1, 1974, as drafted, without the changes suggested by the EQC. IV. A. Hyde Park Second Addition - Request for R-1 Plat. Mr. Hughes referred to the Planning Commission staff report and his additional written comments. He stated approval of a preliminary 34 lot, single- family subdivision is requested, and noted the main issue of concern is the storm water retention ponds located in blocks 1 and 3. Mr. John Dickson of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District has indicated permits for construction of these ponding areas have not been approved but will be granted after the prelim- .EQC MINUTES Page 3 inary plat is approved by the City and more detailed construction drawings are submitted. Mr. Hughes recommended preliminary plat approval be granted because the storm water retention plans are in accordance with the overall storm water plan of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and the City of Edina, and the existing trees and other vegetation will be minimally affected. Approval was recommended, provided the proponent has an approved soil erosion plan prior to final plat approval. He presented a copy of the City's Southwest Edina Storm Water plan, and clarified a portion of the lagoons will be acquired as a result of approval of Hyde Park 2nd Addition; the remainder of the storm water area will be dedicated in conjunction with proposed development of the Schuster farm property, directly east. In reply to Mr. Hays, Mr. Hughes explained the Watershed District will require more definite plans in regard to the water depth, etc., before granting any permits. Mr. Hays explained the EQC has required that type of information as standard procedure in similar situations because creation of open, shallow water areas is to be avoided since those areas contribute to the City's weed and algae problems. Mr. Luce explained the City and Watershed District have decided the ponds in question will be part of the southwest Edina storm water system, and the developer is merely providing the land as requested. These particular ponds will be sloping, low, marshy areas with open water. The Engineering Department has required the land for a silting basin. Following discussion, Mr. C. Johnson moved the preliminary plat be approved contingent on an approved soil erosion plan prior to final plat approval. Mr. D. Johnson seconded the motion. Following further discussion, Mr. C. Johnson amended his motion to also require dedication of the silting basins as outlots, rather than easements. Mr. D. Johnson seconded the motion, as originally stated and amended. All voted aye. Motion carried. Mr. Hughes agreed to submit the Engineering Department's plans for the proposed storm water system, its depth, etc. at the next EQC meeting. The EQC members generally agreed the City should be cautioned in their planning and construction to consider the possible weed and algae problem' discussed. discussed. B. Committee Appointments. Mr. Hays requested all committee chairpersons to prepare a current list of their committee members to be submitted at-the next EQC meeting. 1. Chairperson for Land Resources Committee. Mr. Hays indicated that Barbara Casselman is the new chairperson for the Land Resources Committee. She will, however, continue to work on the Solid Waste Committee. EQC MINUTES Page 4 2. Chairperson for Air, Noise and Transportation Committee. Mr. Hays stated that no one has volunteered as yet to be the chairperson for the Air, Noise and Transportation Committee. Appointment of new members to committees. No new appointments have been made. 4. Discussion followed regarding the Valley View Road/County Road 18 interchange, the City littering ordinance (particularly the littering problem in the Southdale area), the tree removal ordinance, the use of 2,4-D pellets in some City ponds to control weed growth, etc. Mr. Hughes was instructed to investigate the dumping, piling or other such activities occurring by Nine Mile Creek near the Creek Valley Baptist Church on Tracy Avenue. The Western Edina Traffic Task Force Report was discussed; Mrs. Scott made a motion requesting the Council defer their approval and refer the report to the EQC for review. Mr. Sandilla seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried. Mr. Hughes agreed to present the Western Edina Traffic Task Force Report at the next EQC meeting. IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS A. Solid Waste Committee. Mr. Bentley informed the EQC that Mr. David Winter of Hennepin County will be speaking at the Caryl Dunn residence, 6921 Paiute Drive, on May 14, 1974 at 8:00 PM. about contract trash hauling and the County's plans in regard to solid waste disposal. Mr. Richards stated the EQC has not gone on record as favoring or not favoring contract trash hauling and asked whether the Solid Waste Committee has publicly advanced an opinion; he felt the Solid Waste Committee should not publicly take a position until all of the facts are gathered and the EQC makes a recommendation to the Council because the Committee's opinions might be interpreted to be the attitudes of the entire EQC. Mrs. Casselman responded that the Solid Waste Committee has undertaken a public education process and "sounding out" through other groups and associations, such as the Edina Home- owners' Coalition. She emphasized they have never said, as a committee, that they favor contract garbage pickup. VI. COMMUNICATIONS. Mr. West indicated that an ordinance was recently passed by the Council which states that any member of any advisory commission who has missed three consecutive meetings or four meetings in any one year period will automatically be removed from that commission. He noted the EQC bylaws contain a similar provision. Several members requested a copy of the bylaws. EQC MINUTES Page 5 VIII. Mr. D. Johnson moved the meeting be adjourned (at 9:55 PM) and Mrs. Scott seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, L nae Nye, Secretar hd