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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/10/04 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AND STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA OCTOBER 4, 2017 – 6:00 p.m. COMMUNITY ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Lynne Carper, Claudia Johnston-Madison, Torrey Kanne, Lisa Peilen, Richard Person, Carl Robertson, Joe Tatalovich, MEMBERS ABSENT: Ethan Rickert (youth member) STAFF PRESENT: Sean Walther, Jacquelyn Kramer, Jennifer Monson 1. Call to Order 2. Approval of Minutes A. July 19, 2017 Commissioner Carper moved approval of the July 19, 2017 minutes. Commissioner Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 5-0-2 (Tatalovich and Kanne abstained). B. August 16, 2017 Commissioner Johnston-Madison moved approval of the August 16, 2017 minutes. Commissioner Carper seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 5-0-2 (Person and Robertson abstained). C. September 6, 2017 Commissioner Robertson moved approval of the September 6, 2017 minutes. Commissioner Johnston-Madison seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 5-0-2 (Tatalovich and Person abstained). 3. Public Hearings A. Platia Place – Preliminary Plat; Preliminary PUD Location: 9808 and 9920 Wayzata Boulevard Applicant: SLP Venture Properties Case No.: 17-19-S and 17-20-PUD Jacquelyn Kramer, Associate Planner, presented the staff report. She stated the application was previously presented on June 21, 2017, at which time the Official Minutes Planning Commission October 4, 2017 Page 2 Commission moved to table the application pending additional information needed from the applicant. Ms. Kramer explained that previously the application was short on parking but now both lots meet the city’s minimum parking requirements. Ms. Kramer reviewed building materials. For approval of the Final PUD staff suggests requiring submittal of material samples for review. Ms. Kramer noted that at the June 21st presentation the application had planting shortfalls. These have improved significantly since last time but there are still some shortfalls on the apartment site. She said there is a shortfall of 65 trees and 303 shrubs. There are also alternative landscaping features including 396 perennial plantings on the south side of the residential lot. She said that alternative landscaping requirements are features that are not necessarily plantings but also contribute to the design of the site. Other features that could be used here include green roofs, roof top gardens and public art. Ms. Kramer said staff found a shortfall in DORA on the hotel site. Staff suggests a revised DORA plan showing at least 12% DORA on the hotel lot as a condition of approval. Ms. Kramer reviewed zoning compliance factors. Ms. Kramer reviewed all conditions to be met before approval of the Final Plat and Final PUD by the City Council. Chair Peilen said at the first presentation there was a shortfall of landscaping materials. She asked now that it has come up again is there something about the lot that makes it more difficult to meet requirements. Ms. Kramer said the green spaces available on site are fully landscaped and the building footprint takes up a large part of the site. Commissioner Johnston-Madison said she isn’t pleased with the privacy screening wall between adjacent buildings being considered as an articulation element. She said she hasn’t seen this in any other projects. Sean Walther, Planning and Zoning Supervisor, said he wasn’t aware of any time that particular method has been used. He explained that the requirement is related to building elevations that are visible from off-site. There is limited public visibility to this particular elevation because of trees along that side as well Official Minutes Planning Commission October 4, 2017 Page 3 as the adjacent parking ramp. For that reason staff was willing to put that forward to the Commission for comment. Commissioner Johnston-Madison said we’re still looking at the same engineering comments that need to be met. She asked if that is normal to still be looking at the same items. She said she’s also concerned about the look of the building even though it’s a view not necessarily seen by the public. Commissioner Carper asked if the buildings will include electric car charging ports. Ms. Kramer said she wasn’t aware of any charge stations on the site. Commissioner Kanne asked if is there a reason why exterior materials need some discussion and why they need further review or approval by staff. Ms. Kramer stated that the applicant has provided an extensive table showing breakdown of materials on each façade with a label. The request for samples is just to confirm, for example, the stucco and other elements are correct. She said the city has received samples for other projects and this is something we’ve done in the past. Bill Stoddard, applicant, said regarding exterior façade, they tried to differentiate in a number of ways including green planting on facades, green roof tray planting systems, masonry to the pool deck, addition of stucco and removal of some siding. He said electric charge stations are a good idea. Mr. Stoddard said they’ve put a lot of plantings on the site and they request some consideration for plantings at the apartment site. The north side façade faces a parking ramp. He stated they are building an expensive building with a lot of good materials. If they differentiate more that affects the size of the building and unit counts. He said they’d like some consideration on the plantings and DORA for the hotel. Commissioner Robertson had questions about accessible parking spaces on the opposite side of drive aisles. Mr. Stoddard said they would look at changing those. Commissioner Carper recommended putting in channels for electric charging stations to accommodate future need. Commissioner Robertson said it’s a nice project and looks very good. Official Minutes Planning Commission October 4, 2017 Page 4 Chair Peilen re-opened the public hearing. Jerry Kern, 1155 Ford Road, #316, said he also spoke at the June 21, 2017 meeting. His building is right next to the development. He spoke about his support for the development. The vacant lot looks terrible and has become a dumping site. He said the developer is willing to put two beautiful buildings and landscaping on the property. He asked the Commission for their approval. He said he is tired of the delay and hopes the Commission will work with the developer to move forward. He commented that the remaining concerns are very small and he has confidence the developer will meet those concerns. As no one else was present wishing to speak, the Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Kanne said she likes the project and it makes a lot of sense. She said the details in these projects are important and we need to make sure we get those details right. She said there needs to be more discussion on the planting situation. She stated that St. Louis Park has always had a standard of mature trees, lots of shrubs, and a beautiful environment for a first ring suburb and we need to stay on that path. Chair Peilen said the project looks good but she wishes the list of things that need to be done wasn’t quite so long. She said she would support the project provided the conditions are met. Commissioner Johnston-Madison said she knows the property has long been in need of development and she is glad someone has come forward to do that. She said she appreciates that it is a difficult lot. She added that she has never been totally comfortable with the application and she will have to abstain from voting. Commissioner Person and Mr. Walther spoke about the city’s green building policy. Mr. Walther discussed the climate action plan of the city. Commissioner Robertson made a motion recommending approval of the Preliminary Plat and Preliminary PUD with conditions as recommended by staff. Commissioner Tatalovich seconded the motion, and the motion passed on a vote of 6-0-1 (Johnston-Madison abstained). 4. Other Business 5. Communications 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.