HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 11-26 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Regular'INUTFS OF THT
THE EDINA PLA1111111C COttitt:CSS:: )i
HELD TUESDAY., T1OV171BFR 26,
EDINA CITY HALL
Members Present: 1-1. W, Lewis, S. p_ D, T Runy n,
?I,, ticDonald, R T, Kremer, C., r_ Johilson, and" t" VJolinson
Staff Present: G., Luce, City Planner, and L,, Nyo, Sscretarv,
I. Approval of the October 16, 1974, Planning 'OfWiSSiOn Minutes,
Mr. Runvan moved the Planning Commission minifces dated October 16, 1974, be
approved as written, Mr. C Johiison seconded the motion,, All :'cited ave,, 11otion
carried,
Ii. 50T11 AND FRANCE REDEVICLOPMENT PROJECT,
11r, Peter Jarvis of Bather, Ringrose, Wolsfeld, Inc,,, project manager,
presented a composite concept plan for redevelopment of the 50th and France business
area, noting it is a reaction to comments received frDn the Citizens Advisory
Committee and businessmens st�ering committee as well as those m.idc at the joint
Planning Commission/Plousinp-, _---..-id Pedevelopment Autliori'v/Cit'
k. .7 Cou-1-;cil meeting held
November 13th,, Commercially., tille plan includes the r-!ii`,.-)va1 and -::',elocation of th-.2
gas station at 50th and llalil''3x anti intensification o:c five inte�,'nal sites,, All
curb cuts would be eliminateei aiong the north side of 50th Stre,v-,,, enabling enclosed
walkways and a major pedestri-in plaza, Fiftieth Street itself would be narrowed to
two moving lanes, one each tta,,, with space for potential. nus sto..,s, pick up/drop off
stations, etc,, A two level rarking, rainp would be cons*Lructed on the -north side,
there would be a two levei a(?-lition to the s�
existi717 1)
uth side ra.mp, and the reduction
of parking due to the intensification of the eve clinic site wou.i.d be replaced by
the removal of the service st.kion . The off-street parl:ing pror�--am will be able to
�-
accommodate the entire park .n:= dcm,.ind, so all or, streat parking ,n the Edina side of
France Avenue can be eliT.iii-,a-'C-_-d,, Circulation improvenents will 'a,e of u minimum
capital investment, improvinp� the radius of some inteosections facilitate bettex,
turning, movements, with some r-iinor reconstruction of 11rj 1/2 Str,�,t and Halifax,
Either open or closed walkways will connect all oi: th-2 buildirifls a-nd ramps on both
sides of 50th Street, and bacc to the street system i-� sclf -
Mr. Jarvis stated 1:'hc proposed concept plan can be impl,�-_ented independent of
the City of 11inneapolis and significant improvem,.ents :an he acco-Inplis'ned in Edina in
terms of land use, parking?„ a-id circulation; however, sliould i;i7%eaT,,olis participation
occur in the futuMc, the plarn coul"'i he expanded to i-nclude vamp._: tion of the ring
route and a full -mall along ::,.)ch 2'treet,
Mr. Luce noted the project would cost 53,")00$000:1 of
which almost $'2,000,000 wou-16, be :,pent on the parking .3,10ne, A.;--! par,'-:5.11,a in the
area would eventuallv be -pu7DIIc parking,, The pro-1-ect would oe .,_nanc.,:,l via -tax
increment financing.,
Discussion follo-,IE�('_ Till,, Jlay-vjs excplaire:" 1--i1- :r4.!loc1*'L'e
49 1/2 Street north was due -1to tlu-� cl-)x[-lict wit'i t-he
goal of "minimum disruption". thi3 narro-winc,, ol. 50 cln ;33''reet, Jarvis
observed 50th Street as i-,- --,-.s i'o.. not pPoper-.111 ccni.-.Jt7itu:,17'tl t10
moving, lanes in each dire c't'.Gi in _n eff-icient T: inner and! that capac%' "Y is -11ot
pro��iele addi�Llora.,. subs t-, nt iat ilng,
needed; he agreed, in repli Ta 1r,; HucThes, ,
information,, lire Jarvis "lly -'plained the -p-_,opos^d pha,-,31.-np_, or st-alil'g, of
project-, anticipated to tdk,3 ,gars to
No action was take -1
A
u-26-74 I'lannAg
Fage 2
SUBDIVISIONS,
S"74-14 city of Edina Registored Land Survey Ceneral!7 located south of
TV _� _' "" 7 '
Vernon Avf_1'1111�11 0 west of Bro0!'5-21-de
Mr, Luce stated the City of Eiina is reoLestj ig the pvoposed rogistered land
survey to simplify the propiycy ownership and legal dancriptions- He noted the
liquor store has been reconstfunted, parking ON he nOdod in the rear of the store,
and part of Bypokside Avenuc All be vacated,,
Mr, Ruaiyan moved the City of Edina registered land surveY be approved, and
Mr. Dean seconded the motion, All voted aye, Notion tarried,
S"74-15 Gray -tower Es:a?es. Generally locatea north of Pine Gy,ove Road and
—T lake MO
south of iiir';jr -aka, east
Mr. Luce explained th; proposed subdivision unuld combine two pinsently
unplatted parcels of land and aate six single KAY lots ranging in size from
33,000 square feat to 06,000 ware fee& Approval was recommended contingent on
provision of a sanitary sewer casement, and dedicatici as par? to the City of Edina
of the 10o foot open space ea ,emert shove on the prellAnary plat alonR Arror Late;
that dedication would surpass the 5% parkland dcdicaticn requirement..
In reply •`o t-Trc 11r, 11,uce explained the cdd lot boundaries are
because of the extreme topogrishy and the iscatluns 0j two existing houses,
Hr'. Hughes mo-vrcd' the )rvliminary plat ok crag vnwer rstates he approved.,
contingent on the modifications noted by the staff. Or I�:unvan seconded the motion.
All voted aye, Notion earrial,
S-74=13 Edina Creen VnIlage Development Connanp
y), Kearally located cast
or o.. 1"o 'Al .10 �'Tid s3lyt of li; 1-1
ADD (rezoning)
Z-74-11 Village Del .%: Camp= (Edir a oycen) Knorally ancated east
Single Family
00}-Qltlple 11SKYPosilence District
Mr, Luce recalled the City Council bas re npv.& the question K egress and
ingress to Western Edina. Bcinuue this dircctiv affe.0 the pruposed Edina Qreen
project, and although he woul- jj% to pursue the nencinnry Yzcning ard subdivision,
the pi�opcneait has agreed to P ntpoDs thcse requents in131 a decision is made,
Mr. C. Johnson moved -he Edina Green Plat and atoning requests he PostKUY
pending a City Council Qvis! n an the Westorn Edinwfkiu an aocnsn ounstions,
Mo. G. ichnson seconded the mWon .—All voTnd avc. notion carried.
S-74-16 Tictorson-L 'Rbervinw Addition. nrallv loy0nd W the southwest
uowncr
AUD Qezoning')
11=26--74 Planning Covniss-i—on ',i inu°tes
Page 3
7.=74-7 Folke Victornen (!'he Timbers), Generally located at the southwest:
corner of Gleason Road and the Cro,4sTcwn HTj_7 waV, R -1R-1 Single Fare
Residence"Dis,trict to PRD -3 Planned �T, siientia1 District.
fir, Luce recalled that in dune, 1971, the staff had recommended approval of
Folke Victorsenns rezoning request to PRD ---3 to allow a three story, 74 unit apartment
building on the north side of the hill and 21 single family lots on the south side,.
The concept presented at that time appeared to be a good compromise to the many
development requests and opinions expressed over -the past 3-4 years, and the Planning
Commission and City Council consequently granted concept approval., When final
development plans, including final grading plans, were submitted by tlr.> Victorsen
and subsequently reviewed by staff members of the various cite departments, it was
felt a five story concrete building on the north side of the hill, as earlier proposed,
would have a more positive effect on all city functions than would the apartment
building/single family concept approved, The Engineering Departricnt has reiterated
they feel the street and lot :slopes would be very steep, and commented that either a
lift station would have to be -provided or a sewer pipe would have 'to ba cut through
the hill., The public safety departments feel the road grade would be too steep to
assure normal emergency ser='v5. e -to any portion of tele development,, Both the
engineering and public safety departments agree the road serving the s.i.ngle family
residences (Timbervieww Lane) would present some safety Problems at the entrance onto
Indian Hills Pass due to 'the steep grade and curve and because the required street
surface was allowed to be narrowed in the concept approved to reduce the environmental
impact, At the concept stage, approval was recommended because -the proposal seemed
to be a reasonable, feasible compromises the final development pians, 'however, revealed
exactly how difficult it would be to actually construct the project as proposed and
approved in concept, and indi zated clearly the conside:L a?ale environment -al disturbance
which would result„
fir, Luce recalled the earlier proposal by Mr, Victorsen included a five story
apartment building on the north slope of the hill at 1.2 u-inits per acre. He noted
that although the staff wou16 prefer the all -multiple concept, ti,.e density would be
unacceptable from an enviYonr antal. point of view., He recommended instead that
variances be granted allowing construction of a "serial of smaller five story
buildings, perhaps two or th3aa, as close to the north rot line as possible to
eliminate any impact on the c `ner side of ti;e hill and further reduce the overall
environmental damage". Beca:3e this solution would retain a tremendou3 amount of
open space, the developer should be required to dedicate that open space to the City
of Edina to ensure its preservation and disn:Iss any denand for future development:.
He noted a life estate or sott:A other legal arrangemert should be negotiated with Dr.
and firs. Glenn Lewis, who over. the existing home at tl-.-. to;') of the hill (6328 Gleason
Road) so the total site can evz.!ntually he ci ty-oirned.,
fir. Luce presented a letter dated November 25, 1.974, f"n3m D_ Jerry Ekberg,
6513 Navaho Trail, which expressed several points of con ::!ern of "approximately 20
eery interested homeownE!rs iP_ the Cherokee Hills areal' vegarding the proposed
entrance of Timberview Lane ",,it a particularly dangerous point or. Indian hills
Pass",, He added that most of 'the Comments recei-ved }:ave been in connection with the
single family part of the dev<alop ent and not the n-ud i iple family portion„
Mr. Folke Victorsen c,:laria-ied hiss earlier prcpo.:al, - resented as an 8 story
apartment building, was 5 stcries above ground with levels of underground parking.
He stated "if it is felt that that proposal is the wr-,v to go, we would like to have
it before the Council at: their next meeting", ?fr. Victo.?sen staved the final
11-26 Planning
devalopmant plans show "no Ch'an'-e foom the colicep-'C iii tie rium�)er of lots or
units or anything other tha app-M-ach to the -_-cad; the City 1-ngILne4lir didn't like
the 13% grade but just can you dol," He "IcIds, is -11-U second time
1 ha�ic gone to a great ex.peiissc to try to work this hi.1out", and noted he feels he
should be conpensated in ,_,ome. way for those costs, pe-_ohaps by an incl -eased densit-3r,
Considerable disc ucsion followed regarding the -road f7.ader and intersection,
the church property, etc., Hir. Runyan, recalling the c-iirlier five stcr,, multiple
project was "a huge moriolith that in scale had no m-lation to the rest of the area",
stated he "has always thought that an apartment buildl.-ng on the -north side of the
hill was the best solutio,-: if it can be kept at a reaMnabie scale and density".
Mr. C. Johnson agreeJ,,
MrJerry Ekberg,, 651.3 Navaho Trail, felt t,at 11 -1 --hat hill, fton the stand-
point of putting, sing _
le fzmllv rosidonces on the sout[1 t;5,11n, is
virtually an
unbuildable kind of ad
and tllat ro:) ia_-Tth 13' above Tndimi "ills Pass,
.mold he incredibly poo-, plax 1,*','!f-; and a safety h, �ard* 11r, ERM,x? , Mr, Ken WahlI)e-og
(6521 Navaho Trail), ilr,, D,vi' d E`Lfrig (6533 Navaho Tvail), and, Ron Peterson
(6529 Navaho 'fra.il) p_a -ik:ho. proposed project ai,sd expr.-ssed conzern, about
the aaades and grading, for schoDi children, azid _5w!:fC automobilc and emer-,
,envy vehicle acc(,iss, Dr, Chrintirau (6500 Indiln Illills Pass) qu:ntioned Mr.
1 13 1
Victorsen's "e-conamic e ti ie GUrndcrso� (6405 Indian Pa-d Circle)
and Dr. Glenn Lewis (63M iridlicated thy ,;,mild support a well-designed
in,scale apartme-m- develo-.'menz at a reaso:nahle denisi-,'�y oll the north si(Ie of the
hill, leaving the; rest ciChe hil-i., untoucned,,
Mir, Luce noted the EQ", it; opposed to the -3ingle il"am-Ily dc�velorp)�i,nt on the
south side of the hill,
Mr,, Runyan mcxod lho q) Its 11 -propose a -,-c.cation which util5--!.-s the sit
at a maximrm of 3 units pQ.r c.cve FL -Ind that sep,-3ral-e the bu,_'Iding mass
into two separate sections wit:h ar, Underpl'OUTId Varig -;ices Ihould be
allowed so the buildingr. I nc! -mtovc,d nor`rIjc-;-rjy or., pro- ' per-, -y -%'c red,-ce the height.Also, if at all Tx3ssibj_,:,, ohould ex -it on"_-�o ?'�/,Caaley Trail rat�,er than
Gleason Road..; The balance clz- '?Ijil shou-I'd he acq-ul-r-ced bv and by a
life estate or some other nnang
ement foal parl< .-d open space pu-.r,-poses,.II
Following farther disci ,,:,sln, Mz,,, Hughes �iacondcd the T.,;otionr the
Planning -not comstztuto, z7
)t ap7)roval bua:: asks the
developer to Gubmrt Fi c,m-TlL basnd on:%alamcteis, All -ticted aye.
Motion cirrigid,
southwest
Pne_ I -
iocated at th,_
a
.
Road ll oly1sr
Family
F
11'r, Luce otated 5 zo.13 -Ls r.�?n ast�_cj to 1, - !..low of a five
d 3
t -� nuthwo�nt .�,f C�ilhill a• --A Dewey Iii—L
r�,antal apariment On .0( D
to th�: pimpr-sed
Roads , He indica,7.'edl thi�'_- SCC -S -_,mne,
'on e tio,,� $hould be
.`oleo,, he' infonmecl +nat "_'n"11;
mi. s, _tc,
T _S4,he
aho t:
unzil -6m- �Oel _..� , -
s reactlon o f,f A. . - ".''.- C?:� " �, P, a- to a;.,C-W a five
S tovy struct-Ure i;r,, rran,,,., oan a the -, Plan,inj--,, Commission
rind a resident of the, ar-a, has aglr��(__� tco att-:�,-ICIC that:-�Ceting,
tentatively scheduled 4th, 11:17,1,tp at, -,:hCG C',itv ITZ111
M
11> 2&:=74 Planning; Cortin ::: }i;r�tes
Page 5
lir, Deal, recalled tlia-i when he was contacted 1.1v one of ..:he devr!loperls
representatives about a no tl i ago. he clearly explained the neighhorhocl * s feelings
about compromising the thx•ae story height maximum in Southwest Edina.
lir,; James Cooperman, ".Pie architect, introduce.1 the principles of Lowry
Hill Enterprises, Inc., Krekelberp, and Bernard Barr,
Following; brief discussion, lira Hughes moved the rezoning request be
continued until after a neighborhood meeting is held to discuss the proposed five
story project and the comprehensive plan, lir, G., Johnson seconded the motion,
All voted aye, Motion carried,
V� OTHER BUSINESS:
ill Special H„R..A. (Planning Commission Meeting December 11, 19740
lir;. Luce reminded the Planning Cormiission of the special meeting to be held
at 7:30 P.,lt,,, Wednesday, Deocf:iber 11, 1974, at the Edina City Hall to receive the
Housing and Redevelopment Autiiositv's plan for redevelopment of the 501:h and France
area,
2,. January i'1.,:xning Comru-ssion Meeting Date,
All generally agree:! 'he regular January, 1975, Planning Commission meeting
should be held .7ednesday9, January 8, 1975, at 7:30 P:1i, at the Edina City Hall,
vi, Adjournment
Respectfully submitted,
:,t7nnae C_ ltye, Secretary