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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/11/15 - ADMIN - Minutes - Planning Commission - Regular Planning commission November 15, 2023 6:00 p.m. If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call Sean Walther or the administration department at 952.924.2525. Planning commission Members present: Jim Beneke, Mia Divecha (arrived 6:05 p.m.), Matt Eckholm, Katie Merten, Tom Weber, Jan Youngquist Members absent: none Staff present: Jacquelyn Kramer, Sean Walther Guests: Mitch Goltz, GW Properties 1. Call to order – roll call 2. Approval of minutes – August 16, 2023; September 20, 2023; November 1, 2023 The minutes of Aug. 16, Sept. 20, and Nov. 1, 2023 were approved as presented on a vote of 5-0 (Divecha absent). 3. Hearings 3a. 5775 Wayzata Blvd – Park Place East Applicant: GW Properties Case No: 23-17-5, 23-18-SP, 23-10-CUP Ms. Kramer presented the report. Commissioner Beneke asked about the lack of an order window for one of the restaurants and if that was the restaurant’s choice and could that change in the future. Ms. Kramer stated an order window would not be allowed under this CUP because it is limited to in-vehicle service, not sales, and the queue does not accommodate an order board, so a CUP amendment would be needed for the in-vehicle sales use. Only a pickup window would be allowed with this CUP. Commissioner Youngquist asked if the original application had a different configuration. Ms. Kramer stated yes, and noted the site plan has been adjusted to improve vehicle circulations and reduce conflicts. Commissioner Youngquist asked if this site plan required the removal of the median island at the site. Ms. Kramer stated yes, a portion of the median would be removed, and the 16th Street driveway also shifts west from its present location. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Nov. 15, 2023 Commissioner Eckholm asked if there is a reason for the shown traffic direction for the pickup window. Reversing the direction would allow more space for the queue. Ms. Kramer stated this is for the driver’s side pickup window. Commissioner Divecha asked about a mural. Ms. Kramer stated the zoning code has ground floor requirements for transparency. She noted the code allows some flexibility if planning commission and city council support it and one suggested option is public art, so the developer proposes to install public murals along 16th Street that would equal the wall area of the 50% glass and transparency requirements. She added the artists and final design would need to go through the city’s public art selection process. Commissioner Divecha asked if vehicles and pedestrians would go past this area. Ms. Kramer stated yes. Commissioner Merten asked about vehicles pulling out of the drive through and which way they would go when exiting. Ms. Kramer stated they would most likely make a U- turn to the left and south to return to 16th Street. Commissioner Merten asked if the greenhouse stores items at the site. Ms. Kramer said no and noted the garden center fully breaks down their displays and is seasonal only. Commissioner Beneke noted he was surprised that with such a large parking lot there is only one EV charger included and asked if more would be added later. Ms. Kramer stated the requirement triggers based on reconstructed parking spaces. She added when the office reconstructs the entire parking lot more EV chargers will be required. Chair Weber asked if this is the first pick up window like this in St. Louis Park. Mr. Walther stated yes, noting that is the only eating establishment pick up window within the city vs. other businesses that have them, such as dry cleaners. Chair Weber asked about the tenants. The developer Mr. Goltz thanked staff for their work on this. He stated they do have tenants lined up at this time adding it is typically rare to have them already, but they have all committed. He noted the pickup window alleviates congestion in the area, and added he likes the ordinance concerning murals in the city, which will be community oriented. Chair Weber asked about the pedestrian access to the development and if that is a sure thing. Mr. Goltz stated yes, and they do want to maintain and further that and will continue to work with the city on acceptable enhancements. Chair Weber asked if there is a guarantee the garden center can remain. Mr. Goltz stated yes, they do want to keep them there, adding they are a value to the community and their mobility allows them to remain in the large space there. Commissioner Eckholm asked about the space between the buildings. Mr. Goltz noted it is an outdoor seating area and all the tenants will have their own defined areas for outdoor seating. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Nov. 15, 2023 Commissioner Eckholm noted there is a desire for pedestrian availability and the more it feels connected, the better it will be. Mr. Goltz agreed, adding it is wide enough to accommodate a five-foot-wide clear passage and the tables for outside dining if the tables are arranged differently than shown in the plans. Commissioner Merten asked if Chipotle will accommodate ordering onsite within the restaurant. Mr. Goltz stated yes. Commissioner Merten also asked about snow removal. Mr. Goltz stated there is an agreement with the office building and the parking lot contractor will be handling the whole parking lot. Commissioner Divecha asked about walkability in this area and how pedestrians can walk safely there. Mr. Goltz stated there is a sidewalk there and we are happy to connect with staff on this to make it work well. Commissioner Divecha added she would like to make it easy for residents living in the neighborhood to get there easily and safely. Mr. Goltz stated a crosswalk can also be added, and they will work with the city on this. Mr. Walther added Zarthan Avenue has a sidewalk on the west side that connects to 16th Street. He stated building a sidewalk on the east side of the street would require removing many mature trees and the berm screening the parking lot. He added there are grade issues west of the office building that also complicate sidewalk construction, so staff will work with the developer to include pedestrian connections from 16th Street to meet the needs and require a cash-in-lieu payment for the sidewalk along Zarthan as allowed in the subdivision ordinance for such situations. Mr. Walther also noted the existing private sidewalks connecting through the site. Commissioner Divecha urged a creative solution to this especially for those who live in the area. Commissioner Eckholm added there is also a hotel in the area as well and connections to the north side of 16th Street will be important in this area. Commissioner Youngquist asked if there will be signage letting folks know the Chipotle pick up lane is not a drive through. Mr. Goltz stated yes. Commissioner Youngquist noted the back of the building facing the street and stated she likes the solution of the mural. She asked if there is room to extend the outdoor seating to the south side of the building along 16th Street to activate the area. Mr. Goltz stated because there will probably not be seating back there, it becomes a safety issue as staff would not be able to see behind the building to address customer needs. Commissioner Merten noted the pick-up window lane should not be an issue, and noted ordering on the app will be convenient and customers will be used to this type of ordering system. Mr. Goltz agreed, noting this was devised during Covid for order pick up. DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Nov. 15, 2023 Chair Weber opened the public hearing. Kevin Curry, 5970 West 16th St., noted he is a 20-year resident of the neighborhood and complimented the development in the city, however, noted he is in opposition of this particular development. He stated the comprehensive plan notes the city wants to promote neighborhood livability, social connection, environmental stewardship, small business development, and high-quality jobs. He stated this development will make money for the developer and the fast-food restaurants not based in St. Louis Park, this is not good for the quality of life of his neighborhood or the city as a whole, or the property values of the city and the Blackstone neighborhood, which is become noisier and busier. He added fast-food restaurants do not class up a neighborhood and will result in noise, traffic and litter. He added traffic will increase and will not result in good solid jobs for residents, with increasing concerns about panhandling and safety issues, as well as fry cooking issues at the end of the evening. He asked the commissioners to consider if more restaurants are needed in the city, will this development foster the city goals, and will this development make life better for residents. He stated the answer is no and thanked them for their time. Jenna Untiedt, Waverly, MN, noted she represents the seasonal garden center, Untiedt’s, and stated they are the current tenant in the location and in the office building. She stated she sees some benefits for this development but has concerns about traffic there and noted the entryway off 16th Street is a concern as well. She also expressed their interest in remaining on the site. Mary Powers, 6090 West 16th Street, stated she lives right across the street and quality of life will be a concern. She added losing the farmer’s market is also a concern, adding the market used to be in the Shoppes at Knollwood parking lot and was displaced by a similar development when Chick-Fil-A was built. She stated this will be a nightmare come wintertime and noted the southwest corner of the parking lot usually ends up storing a 10 feet pile of snow. She asked where that snow will be placed now. She stated she loves the restaurants but doesn’t want them across the street from her. Chair Weber closed the public hearing. Commissioner Merten stated her assumption was that the farmer’s market would relocate within the parking lot and didn’t realize they used to be at Knollwood. She added she understands concerns about over development in this location but did think it is a good use of the large and underutilized parking lot. Commissioner Divecha added she feels mixed about this also adding she prefers something there vs. nothing. She added moving the farmer’s market the second time does feel less aligned with city goals as well as pedestrian friendliness in the area. Commissioner Eckholm added he also agrees with comments made. He noted in the West End there have been goals met with density and walkability, but in this area, he does have concerns putting a drive through in the area. However, he noted the developer’s presentation changed his mind on the pick up window and now does see DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Nov. 15, 2023 that as an improvement. He added even though this is not the development he would like to see, the developer is making an attempt to do this in an improved way, and it is a good thing. He added the issue with the farmer’s market is not a problem with the developer, but with the property owner and he hopes the owner will work with them in good faith as it is a community asset and have already been displaced another time. Commissioner Youngquist added this is a better utilization of an under-utilized parking lot and it will increase the tax base for the city and provide restaurant options for the community. She added she does understand the neighbors’ concerns but given how the property is zoned, there could be many things that could go there, but it’s not zoned for housing here. She thanked staff for their work on this and she appreciates the murals also. Commissioner Beneke agreed with comments on zoning and stated this is the best option for this area. Chair Weber stated the planning commission does have its limitations and he encouraged neighbors to bring their concerns also to staff and city council. He noted he likes the idea of council or staff communicating with the building owner regarding the farmer’s market and ask them to consider that this will survive in the area. Ms. Kramer noted all of these comments will go into the minutes for council consideration and public information and also this can be addressed following the meeting with the developer. She noted Council Member Brausen represents this ward and he attended the neighborhood meeting to listen to residents, as well as the mayor and at large council members. Mr. Goltz stated they are working closely with the owner, and they want to keep the farmer’s market and work with the owner to keep them in the area. It was moved by Commissioner Beneke, seconded by Commissioner Eckholm, to approve staff recommendations for 5775 Wayzata Blvd – Park Place East for the preliminary plat, special permit amendment, and conditional use permit, subject to conditions recommended by staff. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Other Business - none 5. Communications – Mr. Walther noted there is a meeting the first week of December to address an application at the Shops at West End. He added the recommendations from the planning commission on the zoning code updates to residential district standards were well received by city council and they indicated they were comfortable with staff starting discussions with the community. He encouraged commissioners to watch the meeting on the city’s YouTube channel or review the minutes when they are available. Chair Weber asked about the boards and commissions discussion with city council. Mr. Walther stated this meeting is coming up soon, and the council is considering ideas for DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC Planning commission Nov. 15, 2023 restructuring various boards and commissions, but not including the planning commission, board of zoning appeals or the housing authority. 6. Adjournment – 7:15 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Sean Walther, liaison Tom Weber, chair member DocuSign Envelope ID: 7AC6B08D-C9B8-4C05-908B-02D8A63A77BC