Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016/08/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA AUGUST 3, 2016 – 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Torrey Kanne, Richard Person, Carl Robertson MEMBERS ABSENT: Claudia Johnston-Madison, Lisa Peilen, Joe Tatalovich Ethan Rickert (youth member) STAFF PRESENT: 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of July 20, 2016 Commissioner Carper made a motion approving the minutes of July 20, 2016. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 4-0. 3. Public Hearings A. Rezoning from High Density Multifamily Residence to Office Location: 8001 State Highway 7 Applicant: 8001 Highway Seven, LLC (Steven Thiel) Case No.: 16-29-Z Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator, presented the staff report. The application has been made to rezone the property to Office for the purpose of increasing the amount of signage the property is allowed. The applicant would like to construct a monument sign that will increase the tenants’ visibility and exposure to traffic on Highway 7. Mr. Morrison provided background on the site and explained how the site is suitable for office development. Commissioner Kanne asked if the proposed sign would have lighting. Mr. Morrison stated that the sign very likely would be back lit. The standard signage ordinance conditions would apply to it and it could be back lit or electronic. Commissioner Person opened the public hearing. As no one was present wishing to speak he closed the public hearing. Commissioner Robertson made a motion recommending approval to rezone the property from R-C High-Density Multiple-Family Residential to O Office. Official Minutes Planning Commission August 3, 2016 Page 2 Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 4- 0. B. Plat Revision and Major Amendment to Planned Unit Development Location: 7905 Wayzata Blvd. - Arlington Row Apartments West Applicant: Melrose Company Case No.: 16-31-S, 16-33-PUD Julie Grove, Economic Development Specialist, presented the staff report. Ms. Grove explained that a major amendment to the PUD is being requested to add solar installations above carports at the site. A revision for the plat for Arlington Row Apartments West is also requested to correct a surveyor error in the previously approved plat. Commissioner Carper spoke about the PUD no longer being greater than 2 acres at one particular site. The sites are not contiguous and are separated by a block. He asked if this was unusual. Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, said the City Council previously approved the PUD West with less than two acres. Due to the adjustment to north property line it becomes smaller yet. The Arlington project is actually two separate PUDs and each of these are less than two acres. But they have informally been viewed, and progressed through the review process, as Phases I and Phase II of the overall Arlington Row Apartments development. Commissioner Carper said facing west from the carports there seems to be a large vegetated area. He asked for details about that area. Ms. Grove said several existing trees will be preserved and several more trees will be planted in that area. She spoke about the hillside and said the area will remain vegetated. Commissioner Carper asked if this would be maintained as green space or prairie development or if it would grow wild. Robert Cunningham, Melrose Company, applicant, said due to the significant grade change at the area it will be left natural and untouched. Commissioner Carper said unmaintained areas in the city are frequently overrun by noxious types of weeds and bushes such as buckthorn and wild garlic. He asked if that material would be removed. Mr. Cunningham stated his understanding of buckthorn is that it grows along the edges of wooded areas. They would be diligent in removing buckthorn along the Official Minutes Planning Commission August 3, 2016 Page 3 edge of the woods facing the solar area. He said he has seen garlic mustard on the site but only in grassy areas, not on the slope. He said he wouldn’t spray any herbicides on the slope as he wouldn’t want to kill off any native vegetation. Removing garlic mustard on the slope would be very difficult. Commissioner Robertson asked about the efficiency of flat solar panels. Mr. Cunningham responded that the carport runs north-south on the Arlington West site. The options for the panels were flat or saw-tooth design. They chose not to do the saw-tooth design as that would expose the cars under the carport to the weather from the north. He added that the panels have some translucency as solar panels let light through as well as capture light. Commissioner Person asked if they expect to ever generate excess power. Mr. Cunningham said according to the engineers, the 40 kilowatt solar installation would generate 40-45% of the electrical needs of the project. That means the project would never generate excess power in the course of a year. Commissioner Person opened the public hearing. Illson Johnson, 1319 Texas Ave. S., a 30-year resident, said the Texas/Wayzata traffic corner has been changed. She remarked that traffic and parking on Texas Ave. has already been difficult and even more so now with bike lanes. She remarked that the area is a residential area without apartments. She said she would rather see townhomes at that location. She said she is concerned about apartment resident parking. She said she hates that the development will be apartments. Commissioner Person clarified that the development has previously been approved and the current request is for an amendment regarding solar and a correction to the plat. Mr. Walther discussed the recent pavement management project along Texas Ave bike lanes were added, on-street parking was limited, and where a short right turn lane was striped to improve the overall traffic flow at the Wayzata Blvd intersection. Commissioner Robertson commented that the development is visually one of the most modest apartment developments that has come before the Commission. The apartments have a townhome look with very low density. All 52 required parking spaces will be on site. He said he doesn’t think the development will have much more impact than townhomes would have. He said he understands Official Minutes Planning Commission August 3, 2016 Page 4 Ms. Johnson’s concerns but he believes the development will prove to be a respectful addition to the neighborhood. Ms. Johnson said homeowners take care of their homes and that is different from apartments and renters. She said she has concerns about parking and traffic due to apartment residents and visitors. As no one else was present wishing to speak, Commissioner Person closed the public hearing. Commissioner Carper said the requests are straightforward. He made a motion recommending approval of the revision to the Arlington Row West Plat Major Amendment and approval of the Major Amendment to the Arlington Row West PUD. Commissioner Kanne seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 4-0. C. Major Amendment to Planned Unit Development Location: 7705 Wayzata Blvd. – Arlington Row Apartments East Applicant: Melrose Company Case No.: 16-32-PUD Julie Grove, Economic Development Specialist, presented the staff report. She explained that the request is for solar panel installations above carports, designed in the same way as carports for Arlington Row Apartments West. Carports of Phase II, East site, are split in two locations on the east side of the parking lot. She reviewed the setbacks and height of the carport structure. She said due to installation of carports two of the stalls will be compact stalls. She reviewed landscaping changes. Commissioner Carper asked about lack of screening to obscure the concrete pillars of the parking structure from residents across the street. He asked about the exposed row of parking on the north side. He asked why carports wouldn’t appear on that side. Ms. Grove responded that the east side of the property will be screened with evergreens. On the south, solar panels will be visible especially in the winter. Additional trees along 13th Lane will provide screening in the summer. The north side of the building wasn’t proposed for solar because of shading from the building itself. Robert Cunningham, Melrose Company, said deliberate placement of solar panels was considered to try to get as much solar power as possible during winter months. Some of the structure will be visible to residents to the south. There is a good distance between the Arlington property line and the residential front Official Minutes Planning Commission August 3, 2016 Page 5 yards. There will be substantial shrubbery and trees lining the 13th Lane elevation. Commissioner Robertson asked about the location of accessible parking spaces. Mr. Cunningham said the accessible spaces were not moved to the solar carport areas. They remain closest to the main entrance of the building and accessible building units. He said he could look at moving those spaces to the carport area. Commissioner Robertson also asked if the applicant would consider expanding the north solar array further west so that more solar power could be generated. Mr. Cunningham stated the building may provide too much shading but that he would have his architect analyze it and work with staff if it is feasible. Commissioner Person opened the public hearing. As no one was present wishing to speak, he closed the public hearing. Commissioner Robertson made a motion to recommending approval of the Major Amendment to the Arlington Row East PUD. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 4-0. 4. Other Business: None 5. Communications: None 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. STUDY SESSION The study session began at 7:05 p.m. 1. Floodplain District Zoning Map and Floodplain Ordinance Amendments Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, reviewed the proposed amendments which are required to comply with new and updated Federal regulations with regards to the National Flood Insurance Program. 2. Proposed Zoning Text Amendments for Fences Official Minutes Planning Commission August 3, 2016 Page 6 Gary Morrison, Assistant Zoning Administrator, reviewed the proposed amendments regarding fence materials that will be allowed and prohibited. He shared photographs of several fence material types that Commissioners Carper and Robertson suggested the Commission should consider. Based on the discussion, staff will present the changes to Commissioners at an upcoming regular meeting for a formal recommendation to City Council. 3. Gardens Discussion Commissioners discussed the possibilities of either requiring edible gardens or community gardens to be included in designed outdoor recreation areas (DORA) of new developments, or providing reductions in the amount of DORA required if these are provided. The commissioners concluded that no change was needed to the city’s regulations in regard to gardens and DORA requirements. Such gardens will still be welcomed and encouraged as part of an overall landscaping and DORA plan in new developments. The study session was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Sells Recording Secretary