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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018 12-12 Planning Commission Minutes/ Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Planning Commission Edina City Hall Council Chambers December 12, 2018   Call To Order Chair Olsen called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM Roll Call Answering the roll call were: Commissioners Miranda, Thorsen, Strauss, Mangalick, Melton, Nemerov, Hamilton, Bennett, Berube, Chair Olsen Staff Present: Cary Teague, Community Development Director, Kaylin Eidsness, Senior Communications Coordinator, Liz Olson, Support Staff Absent from the roll call: Lee Approval Of Meeting Agenda Commissioner Thorsen moved to approve the December 12, 2018, agenda. Commissioner Strauss seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Commissioner Thorsen moved to approve the November 28, 2018, meeting minutes. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Public Hearings A. Greater Southdale District Plan Michael Schroeder, Working Group Co-Chair, introduced himself and presented a PowerPoint that outlined the plan and the design experience guidelines. Public Hearing Bob Erickson, Senior Development Associate for Wildamere, acknowledged the good work of the committee and Michael Schroeder. Erickson discussed pages 77 and 78 not belonging in the plan. John Carlson, 4433 Ellsworth Drive, stated that he was pleased the Southdale working group was accessible to the neighborhood. Carlson expressed wanting to see what Edina’s population growth forecast is in regards to the housing market. Hope Melton, 4825 Valley View Road, discussed the community challenges we face, including high and increasing inequality, a history of racial discrimination in housing and employment, local and regional economic competition in a global economy, and climate change. Melton commended the housing section in the plan and urged the Planning Commission to support the Greater Southdale District plan as written. Nora Davis, 6921 Southdale Road, stated that she was pleased the plan included a section regarding water resources. Mark Manfred, 4445 Dunham Drive, expressed concerns about the density and Edina becoming “apartment centric.” Commissioner Thorsen moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Discussion/Comments/Questions Director Teague commented on pages 77 and 78 stating they aren’t necessary in a Comprehensive Plan and the two pages could be removed and it wouldn’t impact the document in any way. Director Teague also discussed studying the need of housing and growth and that it could be separate from the Comprehensive Plan, but could be a City Council initiative to do a study on what the needs are. Student Commissioners expressed appreciation for the environmental impact and consideration affecting the community. Commissioners discussed that the plan could to be a model for how the City of Edina should develop in the future and how other cities and suburbs can develop and re-develop their entities. Commissioners continued to discuss goals in the Implementation Section, such as adding a parking/multimodal fund, Metro Transit’s E Line aBRT, a bicycle network, and using major streets like France and York as boulevards with transpiration on them. Commissioners complimented the work group and stated it was great to hear from Edina Residents during the process. Motion Commissioner Thorsen moved approval of the Greater Southdale District Plan as with the condition that the Existing Zoning and Existing Height Overlay District on pages 77 and 78 be removed from the document. Chair Olsen added a friendly amendment to have stronger implementation as proposed by Commissioner Miranda. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. B. Comprehensive Plan Amendment- 7399, 7410, & 7505 Metro Boulevard Director Teague presented a PowerPoint explaining that the specific request of the Planning Commission is a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to re-guide 7399, 7401, and 7505 Metro Boulevard from O, Office District to OR, Office Residential District, with an overall density of 50 units per acre. Director Teague also explained that Staff does not supportive of the amendment due to the existing sanitary sewer system serving this site being at capacity. Teague stated Staff is recommending denial subject to the findings that are outlined in the staff report. Perry Ryan, with Lake West Development, introduced himself and showed a slightly updated site plan that included the project’s phases. Public Hearing Jacob Steen, Larkin Hoffman Attorneys 8300 Norman center Drive, Representing Film Tech. Steen stated that he believes the application to be premature. Steen stated that the sewer capacity issue and added traffic is alarming to his client and he supports denial of the project. Nora Davis, 6921 Southdale Road, stated that she represents that Lake Cornelia Neighborhood Association and expressed concerns about the sewage backing up and the knowledge of existing affordable housing units in Edina. John Stechman, 7460 Shannon Drive, stated concern about increasing non-ownership density and the schools being impacted negatively. Commissioner Thorsen moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Discussion/Comments/Questions Commissioners asked if sanitary was the main concern or if there were other public utilities of concern and Chad Millner replied that sanitary is the main concern. Commissioners asked Millner if the applicant was able to find another way to address the sewer concerns. Millner replied that the applicant can talk to other water users in the Industrial Park and added that those discussions would take quite a while. Director Teague stated that Film Tech, the neighboring property, was opposed to it. Commissioners asked Director Teague if we might have land that cannot be developed if it is only office. Teague replied that the concern would be that with this amendment, we’re not precluding an office from going on that site, but given the housing market there might not be a new office developed on that site. Commissioners asked Millner how many trunk lines the City of Edina has. Millner replied that there are 3 meter stations out in the Met Council system and the trunk line follows 9 Mile Creek and Minnehaha Creek to the appropriate meter stations. Commissioners discussed affordable housing and that it be located near public transit facilities and Ryan responded that there is a Metro Transit line near the proposed area and near the Burger King and coffee shop area. Commissioners asked if Lake West Development did similar projects that were outside the realm of what is in the land use plan and contributed to increasing sewage capacity or another infrastructure. Ryan replied that they had completed a few that required a guide plan change and land use change, but nothing with sewage capacity. Commissioners thanked the applicant for presenting a sketch plan instead of a finished document so it could be discussed in the planning stage. Commissioners expressed concern regarding the land being isolated and not being a part of a neighborhood. Commissioners stated that this project meets quite a few of the City’s needs but the affordable housing being all in one location isn’t preferable. Motion Commissioner Thorsen moved denial of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment for 7399, 7410, & 7505 Metro Boulevard as recommended in the staff memo subject to the findings therein. Commissioner Miranda seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. C. 4412 Valley View Road Variances for New Horizon Academy Director Teague stated the applicant would significantly remodel the existing retail and office building into a day care facility and the existing building is 9,047 square feet in size and has been used for a variety of retail and offices uses over the years. Teague discussed the proposed remodeled building would be 9,600 square feet in size and the remodeling includes changing the hip roof into a flat roof, and locating a play area on to the roof. Teague stated that an elevator would be required to get staff and the kids to the roof and a height variance would be required for this elevator that would also include a lobby, stairs and storage area. Teague stated Staff is recommending approval of the variances subject to the findings that are outlined in the staff report. Scott Isrealson, with Traffic Impact Group, introduced himself explained the study was done during rush hour in September and took Edina Flats into account. Isrealson specifically discussed Kellogg Avenue and the amount of trips to and from is estimated to be roughly 2 percent of the total. Vickie Hesche with Rylar Architects and Chad Dunkley with New Horizon Academy introduced themselves and explained more details on the project. Public Hearing John Victorsen, 7213 Cornelia Drive, explained that he manages the home to the south of the proposed property at 4415 Valley View Road. Victorsen explained that the parking has never been an issue but the noise has been a concern. Victorsen stated that New Horizon has been a good neighbor and he has no complaints. Commissioner Thorsen moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Bennett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Motion Commissioner Thorsen moved approval of variances outlined in the staff memo subject to the conditions and findings therein. Commissioner Hamilton seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. VII. Community Comment None. VIII. Reports/Recommendations A. 70th & Cahill Small Area Plan Staff noted that the revisions to the Plan requested by the Planning Commission were made by the consultant team and Commissioner Lee. Commissioners explained that they received all of the submittals and comments turned in to the Planning Commission. Chair Olsen explained that the Planning Commission directed Staff to draft the proposed amendments and Director Teague was only following their request. Director Teague explained that the staff memo addresses the potential to allow greater density to provide affordable housing; and to provide language that could be negotiated through a variance or rezoning to increase height rather than amending the Zoning Ordinance to give property owners by right to go to the height limits within the Plan. Commissioners continued with a lengthy discussion regarding height, density, and affordable housing. Commissioner Berube moved for approval of the 70th & Cahill Small Area Plan as written. Commissioner Nemerov seconded the motion. Aye: Strauss, Nemerov, Berube, Olsen Nay: Miranda, Thorsen, Hamilton, Bennett The motion fails 4-4. Commissioner Hamilton made a motion to recommend approval of the edits to the Small Area Plan to City Council as written in the staff memo dated December 12, 2018. Commissioner Thorsen seconded the motion. Aye: Miranda, Thorsen, Hamilton, Bennett, Berube Nay: Strauss, Nemerov, Olsen The motion passed 5-3. IX. Correspondence And Petitions None. X. Chair and Member Comments Commissioners discussed the Southwest light rail ceremonial ground breaking was on November 30th, 2018 and something that should be considered when discussing future developments. XI. Staff Comments None. XII. Adjournment Commissioner Thorsen moved to adjourn the December 12, 2018, Meeting of the Edina Planning Commission at 10:05 PM. Commissioner Miranda seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.