HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/09/01 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - Regular Meeting: City council
Meeting date: October 18, 2021
Consent agenda item: 4j
Official minutes
Planning commission
September 1, 2021 – 6:00 p.m.
Members present: Jim Beneke, Matt Eckholm, Jessica Kraft, Sam Tift, Tom Weber, Joffrey Wilson
Members absent: Imran Dagane
Staff present: Jennifer Monson, Sean Walther
Guests: Andy Bollig, Christine Picard
1. Call to order – roll call
2. Approval of minutes – none
3. Hearings
3a. Development proposal for 3510 Beltline Blvd
Applicant: Roers Companies
Case No: 21-27-S, 21-28-PUD
Ms. Monson presented the report.
Commissioner Beneke asked about the affordable units and if anyone can live in those
units. Mr. Bollig, a developer with Roers Companies, stated everyone in the building
must be 55 and older, including in the live-work units.
Commissioner Beneke asked what types of live-work businesses are allowed. Ms.
Monson stated they are similar to home occupation. Customers can also come to the
unit and is treated more like a commercial use. She noted that any change in
commercial use would need to have a registration of land use and certificate of
occupancy.
Commissioner Wilson liked the design and stated he sees items in the design that
address the aging population. He asked about the developer’s approach to economic
inclusion, partner firms and how dollars will be spent.
Mr. Bollig stated throughout the design process they are pushing for equity through all
the facets of the development, using both minority and women owned businesses, with
equitable design and process. He stated they are committed to this as the city is also.
The architect, Ms. Picard, also addressed these issues noting they are looking at spa
features and pickle ball courts as well for their target market.
City council meeting of October 18, 2021 (Item No. 4j) Page 2
Title: Planning commission meeting minutes September 1, 2021
Commissioner Weber asked if there is a left turn lane to get into the development. Ms.
Monson stated there will be a center turn lane added to the street as part of the city’s
restriping project this summer which will convert the road from four to three lanes and
provide bike lanes.
Commissioner Weber asked about Beltline and the fact that staff said there was not a
need for more traffic studies here. Ms. Monson stated that is still the case.
Commissioner Weber asked if the proposed building and the recently approved building
to the north will complement each other. The architect stated they considered that
project in their design. She stated the scale and materiality will be similar to the other
building. She added they want to fit into the context of the neighborhood, especially
near the Bass Lake Preserve.
Commissioner Weber asked what the speed limit will be on Beltline Boulevard after the
city project is completed. Mr. Walther stated it will be reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph.
Commissioner Kraft commented the live-work units add interest. She asked how the
units will be managed to make sure they are doing what is required. Mr. Bollig stated
the units will have lease guidelines they will need to abide by.
Chair Eckholm opened the public hearing.
There were no callers on the line or speakers present.
Chair Eckholm closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Beneke made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Wilson, to
recommend approval of the preliminary and final plat and PUD, subject to
recommendations by staff. The motion was approved 6-0.
4. Other Business
5. Communications
5a. Zoning text amendment: parking requirements
Mr. Walther stated this is an update from the last study session. He noted minor
adjustments were made and noted in the staff report. Mr. Walther also stated staff
intends to explore adjustments to parking requirements for outdoor seating in the next
draft of the ordinance, as a another means of promoting outdoor seating.
Chair Eckholm asked if electric vehicle parking will go from 15% to five percent and what
the intention of this is. Mr. Walther stated he will clarify this in the next report.
Commissioner Beneke stated he likes the balance of parking and suggested high-volume
restaurants should have a higher requirement for parking.
City council meeting of October 18, 2021 (Item No. 4j) Page 3
Title: Planning commission meeting minutes September 1, 2021
Commissioner Weber asked if the development that was just presented would have
been required to have different requirements for parking, if it were subject to the
proposed text amendment. Mr. Walther stated it would had to have more level 2 EV
chargers and conduit for future level 2 chargers, instead of level 1. Ms. Monson stated
the overall parking counts would remain the same as what was presented today.
Chair Eckholm stated there is a maximum on large retail centers now and asked if this
will be reduced in the future. Mr. Walther confirmed there is a maximum now, and it is
within the range expected within the market while also working to achieve city goals of
reducing areas paved over for parking lots also.
Mr. Walther stated the next meeting will be on September 22 at 6 p.m., which will be a
study session and a tour of two recently completed developments – The Quentin and
The Elmwood. He noted this has been a helpful exercise for staff and commissions to
review and look at issues to inform the review of future development proposals.
Commissioner Wilson asked for staff to prepare questions to prompt feedback from the
commission during the tour. Mr. Walther agreed to do so.
Mr. Walther stated there will be public hearings on October 6, one is a variance
application for the board of zoning appeals and the other is an apartment building
development application. He added the meeting will be held in the community room on
the first floor of City Hall.
6. Adjournment – 6:45 p.m.
Sean Walther Matt Eckholm
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Sean Walther, liaison Matt Eckholm, chair member