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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022/04/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularMeeting: City council Meeting date: June 6, 2022 Consent agenda item: 4k Official minutes Planning commission April 6, 2022 – 6 p.m. Members present: Jim Beneke, Matt Eckholm, Jessica Kraft, Michael Salzer, Tom Weber Members absent: Joffrey Wilson Staff present: Gary Morrison, Sean Walther, Jennifer Monson, Laura Chamberlain Guests: Derek Reise, Executive Director STEP 1. Call to order 2. Approval of minutes – March 16 and March 23, 2022 Commissioner Salzer noted the misspelling of his last name. Commissioner Salzer made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Eckholm to approve both sets of minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously. 3. Hearings 3a. STEP Expansion preliminary and final plat Applicant: Derek Reise on behalf of St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) Case No: 22-08-S Mr. Morrison presented the staff report. Commissioner Salzer asked if the easement is changed. Mr. Morrison stated currently there are no drainage utilities along the perimeter and the easements are required for utilities and along the street, as can be accommodated. Chair Beneke opened the public hearing. There were no speakers from the public. The applicant, Mr. Reise, Executive Director of STEP, stated this is part of an expansion to serve the community and STEP appreciates the commissions consideration. Commissioner Salzer asked if there will be openings between the two buildings with the expansion. Mr. Reise stated the plan is to make two openings between the current building and the new building. One for the client-facing area and another for the warehouse area. Commissioner Salzer asked if STEP will continue to use the loading dock door at the existing facility. Mr. Reise stated yes, adding there is a second door facing the alley in City council meeting of June 6, 2022 (Item No. 4k) Page 2 Title: Planning commission minutes of April 6, 2022 the new building that will also be used for incoming donations. He added there are two doors facing Library Lane, noting one will not be used going forward. Chair Beneke closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber thanked STEP for what they do for the community. Commissioner Weber made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Salzer to recommend approval of the STEP expansion preliminary and final plat as presented by staff. The motion passed 5-0 (Commissioner Wilson absent). 4. Other Business - none 5. Communications Mr. Walther stated city council approved the first round of the Beltline Station and the Wooddale Avenue Apartments. He noted the State of the City is planned for Sunday, May 15 from 1-4 p.m. at Dakota Park and commissioners are invited to attend, as well as the public. Mr. Walther stated the April 20 meeting is cancelled and the first meeting in May will be held May 11. 6. Adjournment - 6:10 p.m. Study Session 1. Wooddale Station Development discussion Greg Anderson, Anderson Properties, the co-developer of the project introduced himself. Ahti Westphal and David Horner with DJR Architects, as well as Mark Laverty and Nate Brice with Saturday Properties were present for the discussion. Mr. Anderson stated tonight the developers and architect firm would like feedback from the Planning Commission, prior to them submitting their proposal to the city. Mr. Laverty noted their firm was involved in the Nolan Mains development in Edina. He stated everything is designated for bikes and pedestrian traffic at the Wooddale Station site, noting there will also be retail, deliveries and vehicle entrances. He noted access to parking and surface parking will be included, for businesses in the development. Ms. Monson pointed out the entrance into the development off 36th Street will only be for commercial businesses and not for the residential units. City council meeting of June 6, 2022 (Item No. 4k) Page 3 Title: Planning commission minutes of April 6, 2022 Mr. Westphal presented several projects DJR has done in St. Louis Park including Bridgewater Bank building on Excelsior Boulevard. He noted they wanted feedback on the desire for the city wanting more iconic art on the facade and within the courtyard area, to connect it to the landscaping of the light rail. He noted the courtyard area presents great opportunity, noting they are working on some ideas there and with stormwater. Commissioner Weber asked if the middle block will be redeveloped in this location eventually also. Mr. Walther stated yes that is expected over time per the Elmwood Neighborhood plan. This was discussed and reinforced with the streetscape in the area, as well as new stormwater management, and street design changes. He noted some industrial design elements have been incorporated into the amenities and buildings. Commissioner Eckholm stated he would like to see something that resembles buildings in the north loop of Minneapolis. He added he would like to see electric chargers included and incentivizing folks to park there. He stated he likes the plaza inspired by the Bridgewater Bank site, which turned out well. Commissioner Weber asked if there will be pedestrian access near the light rail platform and also near the plaza. Mr. Walther clarified on the drawing where pedestrian traffic to and from the LRT platform would be located. Commissioner Weber stated he was asking related to pedestrian safety as it relates to the light rail platform. Mr. Walther stated the driveway around the building will be wide enough to accommodate for drop-offs to the light rail as well, though the designated space to do so in the LRT plans is on Yosemite. Commissioner Kraft asked about the crosswalk and dropping off across the street from the light rail. Mr. Walther stated drop offs would be best avoided at Wooddale Avenue and 36th Street and elements in the landscaping may help deter that. Commissioner Weber asked if Nash Frames was an iconic corner and if they have a place in the city’s history, is there a way to use the name of the building in the new development. He asked also about the Skippy factory, and if that could be incorporated also. He stated he loves and appreciates when the history of the area can play into a new development. Mr. Laverty noted how the windows will also be weighed against the landscape and how the reflectivity can be incorporated into the buildings as well. Commissioner Kraft added she likes the idea of the facades with ribbon windows and different sizes, which is not similar to other buildings in the area. She added she likes interesting ways to break up the facades and the green space proposed an area that can be used by the nearby daycare. City council meeting of June 6, 2022 (Item No. 4k) Page 4 Title: Planning commission minutes of April 6, 2022 Chair Beneke added he would like the development to be different and not similar to the others in the area. He noted he would like to see solar panels added, as well. The developer stated the proposals will be submitted to the city by the end of April so they are working to get as much feedback as possible prior to then. He added 20% of the units will be affordable. He stated construction could begin as early as March or April of 2023. Ms. Monson stated the plaza levels help to make it more activated. Commissioner Eckholm agreed adding this can also create more intimacy in the plaza space. It was noted a 2nd community workshop will be held at city hall next week and all are encouraged to attend. Mr. Walther noted two attached written reports for the commission’s review. 2. Comprehensive plan implementation – diversity, equity, and inclusion policy report 3. Comprehensive plan implementation update – housing activity report Commissioner Weber asked if ADUs status within the city should be added to the housing activity report so folks do not forget it exists. Mr. Walther stated the ADUs information will be brought back to the commission and council with a progress report in 2022. 4. Communications Mr. Walther noted that Commissioner Wilson has decided not to reapply for a position on the commission after his term is up at the end of May. Mr. Walther stated two commissioners will be appointed by the city council from the pool of applicants, with alternates possible also. 5. Adjournment – 7:20 p.m. Sean Walther Jim Beneke ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Sean Walther, liaison Jim Beneke, chair member