HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-27-19 Planning Commission MinutesDraft Minutes
Approved Minutes
Approved Date: April 10, 2019
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Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Planning Commission
Edina City Hall Council Chambers
March 27, 2019
I. Call To Order
Chair Olsen called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM
II. Roll Call
Answering the roll call were: Commissioners Miranda, Lee, Thorsen, Strauss, Mangalick, Nemerov,
Hamilton, Berube, Chair Olsen Staff Present: Cary Teague, Community Development Director, Kaylin
Eidsness, Senior Communications Coordinator, Liz Olson, Administrative Support Specialist
Absent from the roll call: Bennett and Melton
III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda
Commissioner Thorsen moved to approve the March 27, 2019, agenda. Commissioner
Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Thorsen moved to approve the March 13, 2019, meeting minutes.
Commissioner Strauss seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
V. Special Recognitions and Presentations
A. Annual Meeting, Election of Officers
Director Teague explained that what needed to be accomplished was the election of officers for Chair,
Vice Chair, and Secretary. Teague explained that those currently in their positions are eligible to continue
in their position. Teague also explained that the Planning Commission is going to vote on adopting the
bylaws and the process involves asking for nominations.
Commissioner Nemerov moved to nominate Chair Olsen to continue in her position as
Chair. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
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Commissioner Hamilton moved to nominate Commissioner Nemerov to continue in his
position as Vice Chair. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
Commissioner Strauss moved to nominate Commissioner Thorsen to continue in his
position as Secretary. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.
Annual Meeting, Bylaws
Director Teague presented revisions to the bylaws that were proposed by Commissioners Nemerov and
Olsen. Teague stated that he would revise the bylaws with the recommendations and bring the proposal
back to the Planning Commission on April 10.
The approval of the Bylaws was tabled to the next Planning Commission meeting.
Commissioner Thorsen moved to close the Annual Meeting. Commissioner Miranda
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
VI. Public Hearings
A. 50th & France Small Area Plan
Commissioner Nemerov introduced himself and thanked and introduced the members of the 50th &
France Small Area Plan Working Group which included Thomas Koon, John Breitinger, Jen Auguston,
Mark Arnold, and Patrick Huss. Commissioner Nemerov also explained that Commissioner Hamilton and
he were Co-Chairs for the Working Group and he thanked Bill Smith, Consultant, for all of the work he
has done. Nemerov explained that they started in March of 2018, started receiving applications, and
selected a Working Group in May of 2019. Commissioner Nemerov gave a brief history on the 50th &
France study area on a PowerPoint presentation.
Ede Pecard and Christine Rice introduced themselves and explained that the Working Group has been
meeting since October of 2019. Christine explained their Community Engagement Process that included
engagement from the public in the following ways:
Open house style public meetings with an open forum, working sessions, presentations, question
and answer sessions, and comment cards.
Task force group review of emails sent to the City of Edina staff.
Discussion amongst task force group members on community postings to public media forums
such as Nextdoor.
Invitation to join draft plan working sessions.
An open booth at the Edina Art Fair.
Rice commented on the low attendance numbers from residents at the meetings and stated that the City
of Edina needs to do a better job with their notification process with these types of things in the
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community are going on. Rice summarized the community feedback they received regarding what the
community wanted and discussed in detail the concerns including traffic, building height and density, and
direct connections into the residential neighborhood. Rice and Pecard discussed in length the connectivity
and access to the district has been an important topic of discussion in development of the small area plan.
They explained that the small area plan task force believes strongly that access to and throughout the site
will be a vital part of supporting businesses within the district and should be a consideration as new
developments are proposed. Rice and Pecard also discussed that during community meetings some
neighbors expressed a desire for pedestrian and bike improvements, while others expressed an adverse
reaction to new roadways or passages directly through neighborhoods, particularly to the North. Pecard
and Rice explained that the small area plan indicates connectivity as a guiding principle to be considered
with the proposal of new developments, but the plan does not propose locations or means of providing
access to the site. Pecard explained that there were concerns regarding the existing easement on the west
side of the US Bank site and explained that the plan supports the easement remaining.
Pecard read the following vision statement, “50th & France is the heart of Edina and will continue to be an
energetic mixed use district in the future. Its vibrancy and energy will stem from activity occurring at
street level, which will be enhanced by its walkability, tree-lined streets, public areas, and linkages within
and between buildings and public areas. Its buildings will be pedestrian-oriented and of the highest
architectural quality. Even while evolving, as it always has, 50th & France will continue to be a year-round
meeting and gathering place that is inviting to wide ranges of people who will enjoy living, shopping,
working, and being entertained in the district. The district will value street level pedestrian activity, which
will combine with the placement of building to enhance movement through, to, and within the district.”
Pecard and Rice explained that the Working Group came up with 8 guiding principles that they would
want someone to focus on when considering possible development in the future. The principles included
connectivity, building a design, density and scale, economic vitality, public realm, urban design, site
sustainability, and access, parking, and movement. Pecard explained that connectivity included
Improvements within the district should strengthen the connection between this area and surrounding
Neighborhoods and pathways and public areas should encourage and promote safe and convenient walking
and biking experience throughout the district and between the district and adjacent neighborhoods.
Pecard also discussed that the building design should maintain the upscale aesthetic and traditional main
street experience of the 50th & France district through use of high-quality materials, notable attention to
detail, and variety in design. Buildings should strive to enhance conservation of energy and include features
like green roofs to improve the district’s aesthetics and protect the environment. Pecard explained that
increased density and mixed-use development will support the district’s economic and environmental
sustainability. Pecard also explained that building massing and stepbacks will take into consideration access
to daylight and human scale at the street level.
Pecard and Rice continued with explaining that the economic vitality meant a range of housing and
commercial uses that should support living, working, shopping, and playing within the district. Pecard
noted that the emphasis should be placed on promoting a strategic commercial mix, ranging from basic
goods and services to entertainment and boutique shops that continue the economic success of the
district. Pecard and Rice discussed the public realm principle and explained that the public spaces at the
street level, such as sidewalks, restaurant patios and building entrances, should incorporate vegetation,
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ambient lighting, landmark elements, art features, and enhanced materials to enhance the welcoming
atmosphere of the district. Pecard explained that site sustainability included open green space, canopy tree
coverage, and green roofs should be encourages to reduce the heat island effect in summer months.
Pecard explained that the landscaping material selection should prioritize use of narrative, low-
maintenance plant species and natural methods of stormwater management, such as rain gardens, should
be utilized where appropriate. Rice and Pecard explained that urban design included Developments should
include spaces that are safe, inviting, walkable, support life-long learning, and mix well with the unique
character of 50th & France. Pecard explained that design should promote year-round public gathering and
provide spaces for events for diverse groups of residents and visitors, to enable formal and informal
events and social interaction.
The last principle the Pecard discussed was access, parking, and movement which included parking lots,
buildings, and pedestrian and bike infrastructure should support residents’ and visitors’ ability to arrive at
one location and comfortably walk to destinations within the district. Pecard and Rice explained that
development within the district should create a welcoming face for surrounding neighborhoods and
support convenient movement within the district and between the district and adjacent neighborhoods
and added transit options will enhance movement through the district.
Pecard and Rice discussed the conceptual development plan and briefly discussed that takes a look at the
existing building and how they may relate to new development, ideal opportunities for new development
in just looking at the plan today, and looking at the public realm and how that interfaces with the existing
and new buildings. Pecard ended the presentation with a brief comparison and discussion of the existing
50th & France plan to the conceptual plan.
Public Hearing
Roberta Castellano, 4854 France Ave. S., stated that she believes there are factors in the plan that the
City’s goal is to get that plan through so the City of Edina has mad modifications, but that some of the
modifications aren’t changing the potential of what’s going to happen with the plan. Castellano explained
that the buffer is included in the redevelopment area and it puts it at risk.
Martha Moffit, 4829 Maple Road, stated that she is against the development and is very concerned about
height and density. Moffit suggested that any developer be asked to improve the public realm as part of
their plan with a proposed 4 or 2 story building and not just required for 6 stories. Moffit thanked the
Working Group for all of the hard work.
Dayna Deutsch, 4921 Maple Road, thanked the Working Group and Commission Nemerov for all of the
hard work gone into the plan. Deutsch expressed concern about height, density, and the buffer and
explained an incident on Maple Road last summer involving a flipped vehicle, due to heavy parking on
Maple Road. Deutsch commented that speeds and risks are greater and she would love consideration of
proposed retail and commercial and the impact on the perimeter of roads around 50th & France.
Hope Melton, 4825 Valley View Road, asked the Planning Commission if they had thought about the
possibility of work force and senior affordable housing in the area. Melton explained that there are seniors
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in the area that would like to stay in the area and might need to downsize. Melton explained that there is a
Noah housing project north of Walgreens and Melton hopes that can be preserved. Melton complimented
the Working Group and thanked them.
Steve Halloway, 4809 Townes Road, Commented that it didn’t make sense to him that the residential
traffic would not impact the traffic. Halloway also commented on connectivity and that he is concerned
about cars and traffic passing thought the area. Halloway also stated that he is also concerned about
people using the residential neighborhood streets as parking lots to access retail.
Peter MacDonagh 5132 Hankerson Ave., stated that he thought the plans were very forward thinking.
MacDonagh stated that he liked the idea of increasing the density and it is needed. MacDonagh also
commented that he appreciates of the idea of requiring developers to increase street amenities if they
went taller, including similar art like downtown Hopkins.
Commissioner Thorsen moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Berube seconded
the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Discussion/Comments/Questions
Commissioners complimented the Working Group and Commissioner Nemerov. Commissioners
also complimented Commissioner Nemerov and how he started the introduction with a
background and history of the area and then the outreach efforts to the community.
Commissioners complimented the presentation and stated that the document was well put
together. Commissioners commented on the 3 main concerns with density, height, and traffic and
how they were addressed as well as working on communication with residents that can be
improved.
Commissioners commented on the implementation section and stated that the plan did a great job
at framing the history.
Motion
Commissioner Thorsen moved approval of the 50th & France Small Area Plan. Commissioner
Miranda seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
VII. Community Comment
None.
VIII. Reports/Recommendations
A. Comprehensive Plan Update
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Commissioners explained that the Planning Commission has received several comments from the
public though Better Together and it seems to be working well. Commissioners also stated that
they have a work session with the City Council on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 5:30 PM in the
Community Room.
Director Teague commented that they have received 47 comments and 10 people have left those
comments on Better Together. Teague added that Better Together has had over 1,100 visits.
Commissioners commented that one of the comments that was discussed by the citizens and by
Ede and Christine was communication. Commissioners commented that they believes it will be an
ongoing discussion and commented that Staff’s Better Together tool is going to improve collecting
feedback from people, being able to organize it, and respond to it.
IX. Correspondence and Petitions
None.
X. Chair and Member Comments
Commissioners discussed the student protest across the country regarding concerns with changes in
the environment and stated that Edina students participated too. Commissioners commented that they
need to be thinking about that issue too when making decisions and to remember that climate changes
affects everything that the Planning Commission, City Council, and the City of Edina does.
Commissioner Miranda commented that he attended the Sub Committee meeting of the Transportation
Commission on TDM with Commissioner Lee. Commissioner Miranda explained that the City of Edina
is a member of the organized called the I-494 Corridor Commission. Miranda explained that it acts as a
liaison between Bloomington, Richfield, Edina, Eden Prairie, and Minnetonka to see how they can get
themselves and businesses in the area to encourage people to use alternative methods of transportation
to reduce congestion. Commissioner Miranda commented that the City of Bloomington has a TDM
ordinance and perhaps the City of Edina should consider one as well.
XI. Staff Comments
None.
XII. Adjournment
Commissioner Thorsen moved to adjourn the March 27, 2019, Meeting of the Edina Planning
Commission at 8:23 PM. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried
unanimously.