Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout4-10-19 Planning Commission MinutesDraft Minutes Approved Minutes Approved Date: April 24, 2019 Page 1 of 6 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Planning Commission Edina City Hall Council Chambers April 10, 2019 I. Call To Order Chair Thorsen called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM II. Roll Call Answering the roll call were: Commissioners Miranda, Lee, Strauss, Melton, Hamilton, Berube, Chair Thorsen. Staff Present: Cary Teague, Community Development Director, Kris Aaker, Assistant Planner, Ross Bintner, Engineering Services Manager, Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Technology Services Director, Liz Olson, Administrative Support Specialist Absent from the roll call: Mangalick, Nemerov, Bennett, and Olsen. Commissioner Hamilton moved to approve Commissioner Thorsen as acting Chair the April 10, 2019 meeting. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Commissioner Strauss moved to approve the April 10, 2019, agenda. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Commissioner Berube moved to approve the March 27, 2019, meeting minutes. Commissioner Miranda seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. V. Community Comment None. VI. Public Hearings A. B-19-6, Variance Request at 4249 Crocker Ave. Draft Minutes Approved Minutes Approved Date: April 24, 2019 Page 2 of 6 Planner Aaker presented the staff report for 4249 Crocker Ave., Edina, MN and explained that the applicant is requesting a 7.4 foot side street setback variance to the south side street/front setback from Morningside Road for a teardown-rebuild new home. The subject property, 4240 Crocker Ave., is approximately 9,504 square feet in area and is located on the northwest corner of Crocker Avenue and Morningside Road. The existing home will be torn down and replaced on the lot with a two-story home with a side load garage. Staff recommends approval of the variance, as requested subject to the findings and conditions listed in the staff report. Appearing for the Applicant Scott Busyn, Great Neighborhood Homes, introduced himself and the homeowners, Kush Chottepanda and Sarah Bakken and asked Commissioners if they had any questions. Ross Bintner, Engineering Services Manager, introduced himself and explained that he completed the Engineering review on the property. Bintner displayed plans from the applicant and explained the existing site survey shows elevation lines along the property and contour lines and explained that the lot drains south and west. Bintner noted that the property to the north has window wells near the property line and explained that was his primary concern. Discussion/Comments/Questions Commissioners asked if garages were included in lot coverage and Aaker confirmed that they are. Commissioners commented that the applicant’s lot coverage is listed at 24.8 percent and 2,185 square feet and Aaker confirmed that the percentage includes the attached garage, screened porch, house, and entry porch according to the designer’s first floor plans. Aaker explained that the patio is not included because it is 150 square feet. Aaker explained that she took the hard coverage calculations off of the survey and to refer to the designer regarding the stated “preliminary” and “maximum” calculations. Commissioners asked if detached garages are included in lot coverage and Aaker responded in the affirmative. Commissioners made a comment that when you tear down a small house in Edina, you cannot replace it with a small house because it doesn’t work because you have to add the value. Commissioners commented that residents further down on Crocker asked about lot area coverage and hard surface and suggested that the concrete patio might be wood instead. Commissioners commented on the preliminary site plan and that the landscape plan doesn’t represent the sidewalk and boulevard. Commissioners also stated concern about the water coming off of the hard surface, how it is handled, and where it goes. Commissioners asked Busyn about the landscape plan because it appeared to go into the sidewalk. Busyn explained that the plan is preliminary and when they apply for a permit, they will submit a survey showing the fence inside the property line and follow the zoning rules. Commissioners stated that other residents on Crocker Ave. have asked that that the new homeowners be as respectful as they can and be mindful of the hard surface, including the downspout, how the landscape is addressed, the fence and hedge is addressed, and if the patio needs to be concrete versus a wood deck. Busyn responded that storm water is a valid concern Draft Minutes Approved Minutes Approved Date: April 24, 2019 Page 3 of 6 and that the engineered plan was carefully calculated where the water would go. Busyn said they are using the front yard and large backyard to percolate as much as they can before the water would shed off the site. Busyn explained that the patio in the back would be a paver patio and it would be set in sand so it wouldn’t be a concrete patio that would tip away from the garage. Commissioners asked about the “max” dimension for both direction and asked Busyn which is the more accurate number. Busyn replied that the survey is the more accurate number because they surveyor is taking the proposed design and site fit the final footprint. Commissioners also asked Busyn if he was taking the first floor height up beyond what is currently existing and Busyn responded in the negative and explained that it is actually going to be lower than what is existing right now. Commissioners asked if there was any grading that needed to be done that would elevate the grade from where it is now around the house. Busyn replied that a little grading would need to be done on the north side. Busyn explained that it is currently flat so having a swale, on the homeowner’s side that has a peak in the eastern, end would allow the water to flow across into the front yard. Busyn also said that he would grade it from that point to the east to flow into the backyard. Commissioners asked if Busyn was going to remove any trees from the property. Busyn replied that he met with about 10 neighbors last Tuesday and they discussed the trees. Busyn stated that a few of the trees aren’t healthy so once the bud out, it will be easy to determine if they need to be replaced per the tree ordinance. Commissioners asked Busyn if he expecting to apply for a watershed permit and Busyn replied that they will apply to the Minnehaha Watershed, per the City’s requirement. Commissioners commented that the Morningside and Weber Park area has been one of the areas high up on the City’s priority list in terms of drainage and is subject to a lot of flood situations. Commissioners mentioned that the Planning Commission has been talking about adding an item to their work plan as far as looking at lot coverage and the amount of impermeable and permeable surface. Commissioners stated that they will be looking at where applicants are proposing walks and what type of materials are going to be more important now as they move forward. Commissioners commented that once you throw the overhangs in, the applicant is almost an additional 500 square feet of impermeable surface beyond the house footprint. Commissioners stated that the neighborhood is tender because they have been hurt in times past with water problems. Commissioners asked Busyn if he was planning to hold as much water as they can on site for stormwater. Busyn replied in the affirmative and he explained that he wants to use the yard areas as best as he can, especially to get it away from the neighbor to the north. Commissioners also commented to be cautious of the downspout placements. Commissioners stated that in cases like this one where there is a water sensitivity, you may have to give consideration to additional downspouts to spread it out the exits on to a grassy or permeable area before it heads out towards the street. Public Hearing Draft Minutes Approved Minutes Approved Date: April 24, 2019 Page 4 of 6 Brian Johnson, 4247 Crocker Ave., stated that Morningside is very sensitive. Johnson stated that a lot of builders were interested in the property but a lot passed because of the lot difficulties. Johnson stated that there is a variance on the back where the driveway is off of Morningside Road and Johnson owns 10 feet of the land. Johnson also stated that on the back side there is 2.5 to 3 foot mound and to be cognizant of the downspouts and on the backside where the driveway is. Commissioner Strauss moved to close the public hearing. Commissioner Lee seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Discussion/Comments/Questions Commissioners asked Johnson if the mound is located behind the existing garage now and if the retaining wall is on the east side of his driveway and Johnson replied in the affirmative and commented that he wants to make sure his retaining wall is protected. Commissioners commented that it was an interesting case and embodies a lot of the issues that the Planning Commission has been faced with on so many other projects. Commissioners commented that a smaller home would have been nice to see built on this lot. Commissioners commented that the issue is the characteristic of the lot and questioning if that merits a variance because of circumstances beyond the control of the owner. Commissioners also commented on their sensitivity to the area because they have gone through their documentation of water issues. Commissioner’s commented that it is a smaller lot that merits a special treatment of perhaps a different type of design that would look at the lot in terms of its storm water drainage and holding capacity. Commissioners asked Bintner about the catch basin for the site on Morningside at the corner. Bintner replied that once the site drains off to the right-of-way, both Crocker Ave. and Morningside Road have curb lines that transmit the flow to local storm sewer systems and once it is there, it makes its way into our public system. Bintner commented that he is concerned about the flooding in the Morningside neighborhood, but Engineering reviewed plans with its consistency with the policy that interprets both the code and the comprehensive water resource management plan. Bintner explained that the additional 1,000 square feet of lot coverage that the home is adding, isn’t the same thing as impervious surface. Bintner explained that his report is a preliminary review and stated that at the point of a Building permit, he will make sure that the impervious surface amount that is new to the site doesn’t’ exceed the 600 square foot threshold. Bintner also stated that if it exceeds the 600 square foot threshold, mitigation measures will be required. Commissioners asked Bintner about the back downspouts that had a fair amount of property to the east to perk before it ran off the site and stated that now it doesn’t. Bintner commented that when looking at the existing conditions, Engineering doesn’t generally focus on the land area between the hard surfaces or assume anything about gutters. Bintner noted that he see the water flowing along the north property line out to the west and across the property to Morningside Road. The site design isn’t something that Engineering looks at in the calculations and the site and storm water can handle it on the site and meets our policy. Draft Minutes Approved Minutes Approved Date: April 24, 2019 Page 5 of 6 Student Commissioners mentioned possibly looking into changing the 3 car garage to a 2 car to reduce the amount of area covered on the lot. Commissioners discussed that they were influenced by the compliance table and seeing the building coverage, which is within the City standard. Commissioners also commented on the odd size of the lot, but that the design on Crocker Ave. is very attractive and fits in. Motion Commissioner Strauss moved approval of the variance as outlined in the staff memo subject to the conditions and findings therein. Commissioner Berube seconded the motion. Aye: Miranda, Strauss, Thorsen, Hamilton, Berube Nay: Lee The motion carried 5-1. VII. Reports/Recommendations A. Comprehensive Plan Update Commissioners discussed the work session that took place at 5:30 PM on April 10, 2019 and explained that the discussion included reviewing the submitted comments from the public and noted that Monday was the end of the 30 day review period. Commissioners explained that they’re trying to address or acknowledge each one. Commissioners commented that the public hearing for the draft Comprehensive Plan will be on the agenda at the April 24, 2019 Planning Commission meeting. Commissioners stated that the Comprehensive Plan is a general guidance document for the City of Edina to emphasize what might happen over the next 10 years. B. 2019 Bylaws Chair Thorsen discussed the revisions to the bylaws that were proposed. Commissioner Lee made a friendly amendment to the bylaws to include a change on page 11 on Chapter 16 to now read, “E. 10. Provide an annual educational opportunities for all members including the role of a planning commissioner and an annual training session with the City Attorney.” Commissioner Berube moved approval of the bylaws with the amendment to now read, E. 10. Provide annual educational opportunities for all members including an annual training Draft Minutes Approved Minutes Approved Date: April 24, 2019 Page 6 of 6 session on the role of a planning commissioner and an annual training session with the City Attorney.” Commissioner Miranda seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. VIII. Correspondence and Petitions None. IX. Chair and Member Comments Commissioner Miranda commented that he attended the second Sub Committee meeting of the Transportation Commission on TDM with Commissioner Lee and summarized what was discussed at the meeting. Commissioner Miranda provided information that can be found in the website links below: E Line Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.metrotransit.org/Data/Sites/1/media/e- line/eline_fact_final.pdf E Line Project: https://www.metrotransit.org/e-line-project All Metro Transit aBRT Projects: https://www.metrotransit.org/metro-network X. Staff Comments None. XI. Adjournment Commissioner Thorsen moved to adjourn the April 10, 2019, Meeting of the Edina Planning Commission at 8:19 PM. Commissioner Strauss seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.