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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/05/05 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularMeeting: City council Meeting date: June 7, 2021 Consent agenda item: 4j Official minutes Planning commission May 5, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Members present: Jim Beneke (arrived at 6:47 p.m.), Imran Dagane (arrived 6:40 p.m.), Matt Eckholm, Courtney Erwin, Jessica Kraft, Tom Weber Members absent: None Staff present: Jennifer Monson, Gary Morrison, Sean Walther Guests: Josh Bacott, Kayleen Burnett, Steve Cross, Jeri Krieg, Tom Meyer, Paul Humiston 1. Call to order – roll call 2. Approval of minutes – April 7, 2021 A motion was made by Commissioner Weber, seconded by Commissioner Kraft to approve the April 7, 2021 minutes as presented. The motion passed 4-0 (Commissioners Beneke and Dagane absent). 3. Public hearings 3a. Costco parking lot expansion Applicant: Costco Wholesale Corporation Case No: 21-09-S, 21-10-PUD Mr. Morrison presented the report. Mr. Morrison noted a resident on the west side of Costco expressed concern about commercial traffic on the service drive behind Costco, and Costco loading and unloading. She stated that she opposes this application until this is resolved. Commissioner Kraft asked about the decrease in the number of total parking spaces and which area where they removed from the previous proposal. Mr. Morrison stated to make the driveway entrance longer, some spots were eliminated in the main lot east of the Costco building. Chair Eckholm opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Chair Eckholm closed the public hearing. Mr. Cross, the development manager from Costco, stated they made changes in the parking lot at the entrance, since the last meeting. He noted parking was added around the side, and then others eliminated near the entrance to allow for better traffic flow into the parking lot. He thanked the commission for their feedback at the March meeting, allowing them to make these changes, which are a good improvement to get traffic into the site, and turn left or right. City council meeting of June 7, 2021 (Item No. 4j) Page 2 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes May 5, 2021 Mr. Cross added they opened the driveway coming in from 16th Street and extended the southbound turning lane allowing traffic to flow better. The driveway there was also extended, and the parking stalls eliminated there for safety as well. He noted they also improved the flow of the intersection into the parking lot. Mr. Cross stated this is a significant improvement over the last plan. Mr. Cross stated Costco is working on rearranging delivery times to help with concerns of neighbors. Chair Eckholm stated this is an incredible improvement and the applicant took the feedback from the commission and made it easier for customers to utilize the parking lot to it is fullest potential. He appreciated the developers work and added he is happy to support it. Commissioner Weber agreed and thanked the developer and city staff for their work to adjust, change and update the project. He appreciated the time they took to do this. Commissioner Beneke stated he is impressed with their comprehensive effort to approve the project. A motion was made by Commissioner Beneke, seconded by Commissioner Weber to approve the major amendment to PUD, preliminary and final plat for the Costco parking lot expansion subject to the conditions recommended by staff. The motion passed 6-0. 3b. Major amendment to Park Place Plaza PUD Applicant: Bianco Properties Case No: 21-11-PUD Mr. Morrison presented the report. He noted there were no changes from the March application. Chair Eckholm opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Chair Eckholm closed the public hearing. A motion was made by Commissioner Kraft, seconded by Commissioner Weber to approve the major amendment to Park Place Plaza PUD as presented by staff. The motion passed 6-0. 3c. Text amendment to section 36-268-PUD 9 and rezoning of 5950 36th St. W. Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority Case No: 21-12-PUD, 21-13-ZA City council meeting of June 7, 2021 (Item No. 4j) Page 3 Title: Planning commission meeting minutes May 5, 2021 Ms. Monson presented the report. Commissioner Kraft asked about the rezoning and if the new developers want a PUD back on that site, so as not to rezone twice. Ms. Monson stated the developers will ask for a PUD on the property, to take full advantage of the transit-oriented development land use on the site. Chair Eckholm opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Chair Eckholm closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber asked about the need to rezone from one PUD to another, adding he invited staff to be creative with the code rather than going back and forth between PUDs. Ms. Monson stated staff contemplated how to best move forward for this site for several years, but it is a very complicated PUD with the multiple sites, so staff decided to bring this to the commission to make steps easier. Mr. Walther added staff is working on a better long-term solution going forward with a new transit-oriented development zoning district, but reiterated the complexities for this site and that this action was taken to streamline and clean up the process before moving forward with a new development proposal for the site. A motion was made by Commissioner Weber, seconded by Commissioner Kraft to approve the text amendment to section 36-268-PUD 9 and rezoning of 5950 36th St. W. to MX-1 vertical mixed use. The motion passed 6-0. 4. Other business - none 5. Communications Mr. Walther stated the next meeting will bring an application at the former Prince of Peace site for a public hearing. He added city council is working to fill the vacancies on the Planning Commission and more will be known by May 17th. He stated vacancies will be filled by the June 2nd planning commission meeting. 6. Adjournment – 6:55 p.m. Sean Walther Matt Eckholm ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Sean Walther, liaison Matt Eckholm, chair member