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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/05/02 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA MAY 2, 2018 — 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Claudia Johnston -Madison, Torrey Kanne, Lisa Peilen, Richard Person, Carl Robertson, Joe Tatalovich MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Sean Walther; Jennifer Monson, Meg McMonigal, Jack Sullivan, Mike Harcey, Steve Koering, Brian Hoffman 1. Call to Order — Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of April 4, 2018 Commissioner Carper made a motion to recommend approval of the April 4, 2018 minutes. Commissioner Johnston -Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 3. Public Hearings A. Bridgewater Bank Corporate Headquarters Preliminary and Final PUD; Preliminary and Final Plat Location: 4424 and 4400 Excelsior Blvd., 3743 Monterey Drive Applicant: Bridgewater Bank Case Nos.: 18-07-5, 18 -08 -PUD Jennifer Monson, Planner, presented the staff report. She discussed the request, site information and background. She reviewed proposed access points. Ms. Monson gave an analysis of the preliminary and final plat request. Ms. Monson provided analysis of the PUD request. She spoke about zoning compliance, uses, architectural design, height, lighting, parking and access. She also discussed the traffic study, Travel Demand Management Plan, landscaping, Climate Action Plan components, Designed Outdoor Recreation Area and public input. Ms. Monson noted that staff has received input from a representative of LIV Apartments, the apartment complex directly to the north. Concerns include landscaping, location and height of the access C driveway and retaining wall, and stormwater. Official Minutes Planning Commission May 2, 2018 Page 2 Commissioner Peilen asked if the outdoor plaza area was a public space. Ms. Monson responded that it is a publicly accessible space. Commissioner Peilen asked about traffic patterns at Monterey and Park Commons Drive. Matt Pacyna, SRF traffic consultant, discussed current conditions. Commissioner Peilen and Jack Sullivan, Engineering Project Manager, spoke about the proposed roundabout design at Monterey and the Rec Center. Commissioner Peilen asked about the location of the proposed U turn. Mr. Sullivan showed and spoke about the location of U turn at Monterey and Excelsior Blvd. Commissioner Kanne asked if there would be physical barriers preventing left turns at the right in/right out access point driveway. Mr. Sullivan said physical barriers are proposed. Commissioner Carper asked about restaurant location and walkway to the patio. Dean Dovolis, DJR Architecture, indicated the location of the wrap around patio design and the plaza. Commissioner Carper thanked the developer for including infrastructure for charging stations. Commissioner Johnston -Madison asked about need for additional parking with outdoor seating. She stated there are existing Excelsior Blvd. restaurants whose patrons park in neighborhoods. Ms. Monson responded that the parking study indicated there is adequate parking to serve a 4,000 sq. ft. restaurant. She said the parking study shows even at peak time there is still additional capacity for restaurant parking. Sean Walther, Parking and Zoning Supervisor, explained the formula used in zoning code for parking and outdoor seating. Commissioner Johnston -Madison said she loves the building but everything depends upon the traffic impact. She commented that the new plan has more Official Minutes Planning Commission May 2, 2018 Page 3 daily trips than the previous proposal. She said the City Council voted down the previous proposal. Mr. Pacyna explained from a total site trips perspective it is less than what was previously proposed. He stated that the primary difference is the fact that when the data was collected previously the former uses were still active so there was a credit applied for those current uses. With the latest traffic count update those businesses were no longer active and the credit was not applied, which results in the reported net new system trips. He referenced where that information could be found in the traffic study. Mr. Dovolis, architect, gave a presentation on the development. Commissioner Johnston -Madison asked about Access B and the amount of traffic exiting from ramp. Mr. Pacyna said there would be approximately 10-15 peak hour vehicles making a right turn to go north on Excelsior Blvd. Commissioner Johnston -Madison asked if the proposed U turn would double the amount of traffic on that stretch of Monterey. Mr. Pacyna said that U-turns had been accounted for in the traffic analysis. Chair Robertson opened the public hearing. Paul Jennings, 3925 Joppa Ave. S., spoke about the choke point at Excelsior and Monterey. He said the only way he can get out of his neighborhood is at Wooddale or Excelsior/Monterey. He spoke about parking at Trader Joe's complicating the choke point problem. He said it doesn't make sense to him to grade traffic. He said it is up to the applicant to design the access points. Mr. Jennings said traffic questions need to be addressed with anything that is built on that corner. Patti Carlson, 3801 Inglewood Ave. S., said the building has a lot of great ideas but she is concerned about traffic. Monterey is her family's single primary route to multiple destinations. She spoke about her concern of the change to a single lane being the primary route for emergency vehicles. She spoke about bike lanes and bus stops in addition to one lane. She said she is able to walk for many of her errands and she is concerned about roundabout design and pedestrian safety. She said she thought the proposed changes to Monterey road design are dangerous, elaborate and expensive. Janet Grimes, 4530 Park Commons Dr. #309, said she lives above Trader Joe's parking lot. She spoke about accidents she has seen at Monterey and Park Official Minutes Planning Commission May 2, 2018 Page 4 Commons Dr. She said to create more driveways on to Monterey is insane. She commented that if she does not leave her parking lot by 3 p.m. she is not able to leave the lot. She spoke about the number of pedestrians going to the bank, stores, post office and apartment buildings currently encountering heavy traffic. Ms. Grimes said she likes the proposed building design but doesn't feel a roundabout is the solution to Park Commons Dr. and Monterey. Jonathan Saliterman, representing LIV Apartments, 4505 W. 36th '/2 St., provided background on LIV Apartments. He said the Bridgewater design is good but it is a strange site with incongruent pieces which neglect the existence of the LIV complex. Access C is currently on city -owned property. The land is being contributed to the development so it can be a driveway with a one foot setback and built on a substantial graded wall. He said it isn't a normal driveway. He said he is concerned about water retainage with the new development. LIV doesn't have any drainage naturally. Mr. Saliterman said as neighbors LIV should have been incorporated into the design of Access C. He said traffic concerns of neighbors are legitimate. Yvette LaCroix, building manager, LIV Apartments, 4505 W. 36 1/2 St., stated that LIV Apartments has been in the neighborhood since 1968. Additional traffic, Access C, landscaping, and setback are concerns. She added there is no consideration for neighbors to enjoy their right to quiet. Ms. LaCroix said there is also concern about construction hours and measures to protect residents. Alberto Bertomeu, property owner of several properties on Excelsior Blvd., said the traffic issues are a reality in urban areas. He said signage can be improved and there should be greater enforcement of traffic rules. He stated that the development is being wrongly mixed up with traffic further west on Excelsior Blvd. Mr. Bertomeu stated the community is missing the opportunity to discuss the project and bring employment to St. Louis Park. He commented that weekend traffic will be lighter than work week traffic which is a plus for neighborhoods. No one is mentioning weekend traffic. Mr. Bertomeu said the traffic flow needs to be enforced as well as enforcing respectful driving in the neighborhoods. As no one else was present wishing to speak and the Chair closed the public hearing. Chair Robertson asked staff to address setback concerns from LIV Apartments. Ms. Monson said the site is zoned C-2 and the zoning ordinance allows a driveway to be built there. It is not an accessory structure. It is an engineered retaining wall with a driveway on top. She spoke about wall requirements and noted the PUD creates the height and setback regulations for the site. Official Minutes Planning Commission May 2, 2018 Page 5 Mr. Walther added Access C was designed in that location to locate the driveway farther north away from Excelsior/Monterey and Access B. Commissioner Tatalovich asked about LIV Apts. and water retainage. Ms. Monson said the Water Resource Manager has explained to LIV Apartments how the stormwater works in that area. Currently where LIV property abuts the EDA property is at one of the low points of the site so the surface water is coming from LIV Apts and the EDA property and there is likely pooling currently in that area. There are no existing stormwater mitigations on the EDA site. She stated that the Bridgewater development has multiple areas for capturing and managing stormwater, including the plaza and Access A, which would improve the stormwater conditions in the area. Commissioner Peilen said the comments were excellent. She said the building is beautiful. She said there are pedestrian and traffic issues everywhere in the metro area. She stated she is concerned about the proposed U turn. She spoke about congestion with bike lanes. Overall she said she feels the project is lovely and worthy of the commission's consideration. Commissioner Carper said the roundabout concerns stand apart from the Bridgewater development. Chair Robertson said the project is well designed and thoughtful. He commented that it's been a long time since an office use has come to the city which is very exciting. Traffic issues are real but separate from the project. He said he felt the future road improvements will improve traffic flow. Commissioner Kanne said she agreed with traffic concerns. She stated she encounters traffic issues everywhere in the metro area. She said the development is ultimately an improvement, good for livability and property values. Commissioner Johnston -Madison said she likes the building but is concerned about traffic issues on Excelsior Blvd. She stated she is concerned about the number of driveways on Monterey. She said this part of St. Louis Park is different from other communities in that it doesn't have a grid road design. Commissioner Peilen made a motion recommending approval of the preliminary and final plat, and preliminary and final Planned Unit Development subject to staff recommendations. Commissioner Tatalovich seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 6-1 (Johnston -Madison no). 4. Other Business 5. Communications Official Minutes Planning Commission May 2, 2018 Page 6 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. A study session followed. STUDY SESSION The study session began at 7:40 p.m. 1. Comprehensive Plan — Public Health and Safety a. Police Services b. Fire Services C. Public Health Meg McMonigal, Principal Planner, introduced the study topic. She said City Organization, Inspections Services and Plan -by -Neighborhood sections of the plan would also be discussed; as well as an update on the Housing Goals and Strategies section. Mike Harcey, Police Chief, and Steve Koering, Fire Chief, gave presentations regarding their department services, policies and strategies. A question and answer session followed. Ms. McMonigal spoke about city-wide department connections with both departments. Brian Hoffman, Director of Inspections, discussed the department philosophy, services, policies and strategies. Ms. McMonigal distributed copies of the Housing Goals and Strategies section which has been refined. She spoke about clarifications made to density provisions on the land use page. Ms. McMonigal discussed plans for additional Comp Plan community outreach through a survey that will be available soon. She said the survey will include questions on accessory dwelling units and 2 -family dwelling units in low density residential areas. Commissioner Robertson asked about preserving and creating affordable commercial space. Mr. Walther and Ms. McMonigal spoke about how that will be addressed in the economic development section of the Comp Plan. Ms. McMonigal spoke about other survey questions being considered related to land use. Mr. Walther said a map element will be part of the survey design. The survey will start around May 15 and run 4-5 weeks. Official Minutes Planning Commission May 2, 2018 Page 7 Commissioner Robertson asked about including a survey question on relaxation of setbacks. Commissioner Peilen noted that the Fire Dept. strategy on Revenue Enhancement should state this is related to health and safety programs. Ms. McMonigal presented a mock-up of the Plan by Neighborhood section. Ms. McMonigal reviewed the upcoming City Council and Planning Commission schedule regarding Comp Plan. There was a conversation about senior services in the city. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Sells Recording Secretary