Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/01/18 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA January 18, 2017 – 6:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBERS MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Claudia Johnston-Madison, Torrey Kanne, Lisa Peilen, Richard Person, Carl Robertson, Joe Tatalovich, Ethan Rickert (youth member) MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jennifer Monson, Sean Walther, Phil Elkin, Jason West 1. Call to Order – Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes of December 7, 2016 Commissioner Peilen made a motion to approve the minutes of December 7, 2016. The motion passed on a vote of 5-0. Commissioner Person arrived at 6:05 p.m. Commissioner Tatalovich arrived at 6:12 p.m. 3. Public Hearings A. Carpenter Park Stormwater and Skate Park – Conditional Use Permit Location: 5005 Minnetonka Blvd. – Carpenter Park Applicant: City of St. Louis Park Case No.: 16-46-CUP Jennifer Monson, Planner, presented the staff report. She stated that the request for a conditional use permit is for excavation of soil in order to construct an underground stormwater detention system at the southwest corner of Carpenter Park. As part of the project the Engineering Dept. is working with the Operations and Recreation Dept. to construct a skate park that is 6,000 – 9,000 square feet in area over the top of the stormwater detention vault. Ms. Monson described existing park conditions. She reviewed construction hours, construction plans and landscaping. Ms. Monson spoke about the January 11 neighborhood meeting held to discuss the stormwater retention system and the skate park. She said 21 people attended. There was general support for both projects. Some concern was expressed regarding traffic, parking congestion and the loss of green space. Ms. Monson said that staff and skate park users present at the meeting spoke about skate parks being self-regulating. They can only hold a certain amount of people at the same Official Minutes Planning Commission January 18, 2017 Page 2 time so if there isn’t enough space skaters will go elsewhere. They also said most skaters do not drive to the skate board parks, so there is less of a traffic concern. She noted that the Engineering Dept. stated at the meeting that there is the ability to add 8-10 parking spots along the frontage road. Ms. Monson stated that some representatives of the Friends of Bass Lake were present at the neighborhood meeting. They indicated that they wished the stormwater project was located closer to the Bass Lake Preserve. Commissioner Carper asked about the surface level at Bass Lake and the surface level of the proposed retention basin. He asked if a lift station would be necessary. Phil Elkin, Sr. Engineering Project Manager, responded that the proposed system will have a lift station. Commissioner Carper had questions about the tree mix proposed for landscaping. He asked why more significant tree choices, such as maples, were not made. Ms. Monson responded she can bring this comment to the city Environmental Coordinator who determined the tree mix. Chair Johnston-Madison opened the public hearing. Chris James, 3117 Salem Ave. S., said he supports the stormwater system improvement. He said he doesn’t like the relocation of the skate park to Carpenter Park. He said it is a very busy area with two Little League baseball parks which take up a lot of space and parking. He said in the summer parking wraps up all along the service road and up to and including Salem Ave. He said the service road is narrower than a regular city street. There are lots of pedestrians, runners and bikers on the trail and visibility can be a problem. The sidewalk ends at Salem Ave. before the trail connection. Bikers ride around the parked traffic to get to the trail. He said there must be parks with less traffic that would be a better location for a skate park. Mr. James said he noticed problems with the weir at Bass Lake and asked if that would be upgraded at the same time. Mr. Elkin said that is a separate project. He spoke about the progress being made with that project. Chair Johnston-Madison closed the public hearing. Official Minutes Planning Commission January 18, 2017 Page 3 Commissioner Person spoke about the narrow service road. He asked if there were any plans to upgrade that road. Mr. Elkin responded that there are no plans and no funds for the service road, other than adding some parking spaces. He said as the pavement management plans catch up with this area staff would look at the condition of the road, the width of the road and parking. Jason West, Recreation Superintendent, noted that staff is looking at a trail connection to the skate park so the skate park won’t abut to the sidewalk as it currently does. He added that vehicle traffic to the former skate park was consistently very light. Commissioner Peilen made a motion recommending approval of the Conditional Use Permit for 6,000 cubic yards of excavation to allow construction of the underground stormwater detention system and city skate park. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 4. Other Business A. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Lisa Peilen made a motion to serve as Chair. Claudia Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Lisa Peilen made a motion to nominate Carl Robertson as Vice Chair. Claudia Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 7-0. 5. Communications A. Boards and Commissions Annual Meeting – Feb. 27 Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, discussed the annual meeting planned for February 27, 5:30 p.m. Commissioners will be receiving formal invitations soon. B. Vision Process Mr. Walther discussed the St. Louis Park Vision process which has just commenced with a Steering Committee meeting held on January 17. He spoke about upcoming events for community participation in the process. Official Minutes Planning Commission January 18, 2017 Page 4 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. STUDY SESSION The study session began at 6:35 p.m. 1. The Elmwood Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, said the public hearing for plat and PUD will come before the Planning Commission on February 1. Mr. Walther stated that staff, developers and City Council have been discussing the project for months. Jennifer Monson, Planner, presented renderings of the development and discussed project details. Commissioners asked about affordable housing units, unit square footage, street connections, entrances and plans for adjacent businesses and parking lot. Commissioner Johnston-Madison and Ms. Monson discussed the smaller 5-story building originally presented to the City Council. Commissioner Johnston- Madison said she isn’t in favor of the revised proposal which increases density to accommodate affordable units. Commissioner Tatalovich said he feels the opposite due to the proximity of the highway and light rail station. He said this area can go higher. He said he thinks it is a great spot for more density as the opportunities to hook up with planned changes in the area develop. Commissioners Peilen and Johnston-Madison asked if this project and the PLACE project would put too much pressure on 36th Street as a whole. Commissioner Robertson said he didn’t mind the height. He said the property is guided mixed use but it doesn’t feel mixed use, it feels residential. He said he’d like to see the entire street level walkable and commercial. Commissioner Kanne commented that the street doesn’t feel walkable. She spoke about problems at the 36th & Wooddale intersection. She said given the proximity to Hwy. 100 she doesn’t think the building is too tall. Official Minutes Planning Commission January 18, 2017 Page 5 Ms. Monson discussed the traffic study which was conducted for the project. Mr. Walther added that a larger traffic study was done in the area and that study included all projected growth in this corridor based on the Comprehensive Plan. As a result of that study significant changes have been made to the PLACE proposed development in order to resolve concerns about traffic. He said the project is being looked at in a broader view. 2. PLACE Mr. Walther spoke about revised concept plans. He said a variety of heights have been discussed and explored. The developer discussed the revised concept plans, building program, and building materials. Commissioners reiterated parking and traffic concerns. They also inquired about the onsite energy generation that was expected to be produced. 3. Council Chambers Remodeling Brian Hoffman, Director of Inspections, presented a concept plan for the proposed remodeling and invited input from the Planning Commission. Commissioners offered a number of suggestions. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Sells Recording Secretary