Loading...
050509 pl mn (2) CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2009 7:00 P.M. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Geng called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Geng; Commissioners Arnst, Gagne, Hutchins, Ruoff (Arrived 7:04) and Vilett; Planning Director Nielsen; and Council Liaison Zerby Absent: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES  21 April 2009 Gagne moved, Hutchins seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 21 April 2009 as presented. Motion passed 5/0. Commissioner Ruoff arrived at 7:04 P.M. 1. 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE Chair Geng opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 P.M., noting the procedures utilized in a Public Hearing. He explained items recommended for approval that evening would be placed on an 11 May 2009 Regular City Council meeting agenda for further review and consideration. Director Nielsen stated because there was no one in the audience this evening he would just highlight the substantive changes Council made to the Planning Commission’s version of the Comprehensive Plan (the Comp Plan). He noted most of Council’s changes were insignificant. He explained the 2004/2005 Comp Plan contained recommendations of things that should be done, and in this version those recommendations where changed to indicate they would have to be maintained. The items that are done serve as a basis for other implementation tools. Nielsen then highlighted the substantive changes to each of the four chapters in the Comp Plan. With regard to the Natural Resources Chapter, Nielsen stated Council did not make any substantive changes to this Chapter. Council did ask that examples of non-native aquatic species be added. He then reviewed other substantive changes the Planning Commission had previously discussed. The City’s Surface Water Management Plan and Stormwater Pollution Protection Plan (SWPPP) recently adopted by the City are included by reference. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) now administers the Wetland Conservation Act for the entire City. The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) has chosen not to administer the Wetland Conservation Act for the portion of the City that resides in the RPBCWD. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5 May 2009 Page 2 of 5 With regard to the Land Use Chapter, Nielsen stated Council did not make any substantive changes to this Chapter. He commented that in the past this Chapter (with the possible exception of the Community Facilities Services Chapter) has been the one people have been most interested in. People wanted to know how the City would be developed. He stated the Proposed 2008/2009 Land Use Plan changed little from the 2004/2005 Land Use Plan. The City has a little less undeveloped land now than it did in 2004/2005. There are 312.5 acres now and back then there were 335.5 acres, noting the 312.5 acres amounts to approximately 9 percent of the land in the City. The City has started to see redevelopment of land. Council Liaison Zerby stated the first time he was on the Council it changed the classification of Lake Linden to a wetland; therefore, the map Proposed Land Use Plan should be corrected to reflect that. Director Nielsen stated he would do that. Commissioner Arnst stated from her vantage point the Land Use Objective “Property values are to be protected.” is too subjective. Director Nielsen stated the Comp Plan is supposed to ensure that land uses and their relationships are compatible; for example, it prohibits commercial development in the middle of a residential area. Council Liaison Zerby also thought it was nebulous. Nielsen stated it is the City’s intent to protect land values. Zerby suggested the objective be expanded to include something such as “through the use of the City’s planning ordinances”. Nielsen stated the Land Use Policies address that, noting the policy “Residential neighborhoods shall be protected from penetration by through traffic.” should protect property values. Nielsen explained there are two ways to buffer lower use areas from commercial areas; one is through the use of landscaping or buffering and the other is through land use, noting the City has a little of both. Director Nielsen explained the City is divided into 12 Planning Districts. He explained that once the Planning Commission has completed its review and update of the Planning District Area Plans the Commission will have neighborhood meetings to discuss 3 – 4 of the revised Area Plans at a time. Residents within the particular Districts being discussed will be invited to attend. The 2004/2005 Comp Plan indicated the land use for the Howard’s Point Marina property needed further study. That was removed from this version of the Comp Plan, and it states the Marina property should be redeveloped to R-1A, Single Family Residential District standards if/when it is redeveloped. Also, the Xcel Energy property on County Road 19 was removed as an area for further study; if Xcel were to move from that location redevelopment of the site would be encouraged to be mixed use. Nielsen stated the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) wants all cities to provide their fair share of affordable housing. The City looked at that very seriously a number of years ago. When the Shorewood Ponds and the Seasons were considered for development the residential units were intended to be affordable. By the time the Shorewood Ponds’ units were constructed they had gone up in value and were no longer classified as affordable. The City does not have much land left to achieve affordable housing and it’s not zoned for what the Met Council is looking for. The Met Council was okay with the City’s 2004/2005 stance on affordable housing (i.e., it wasn’t achievable) but he was not sure how it would react to it this time. The market does not support affordable housing. The City is a desirable place to live and it has a minimal amount of land available. In response to a question from Chair Geng, Nielsen explained it’s easier for the Met Council to force growing communities to develop affordable housing; it can do so by limiting the approval of sewer systems (it controls were sewer goes). Nielsen then stated the City is a low- density residential community and it would be difficult for there to be a development with enough density to have affordable housing. In response to a question from Commissioner Vilett, Nielsen stated the City has a four-story maximum height restriction. Nielsen stated that in the past the City has tried to explain to the Met Council that the City is part of a larger community (the South Lake community) and the larger community has a mix of housing. With regard to the Transportation Chapter, Nielsen stated Council did not make any substantive changes to this Chapter. He explained the Trail Concept Plan indicates possible trails, but the City is not proposing CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5 May 2009 Page 3 of 5 building the trails. The City’s approach has been one of responding to neighborhood demands for rails. Frequently in the past land owners next to possible trails have not been in support of them. He noted the City did build a couple of trails. He explained the LRT Trail is the largest and most used trail in the City. This Chapter indicates the City does not have much mass transit and it’s unlikely it every will. He noted the City is still served by the Metro Transit system, and that there are two park-n-ride locations in the City. In response to a comment from Commissioner Arnst, Nielsen stated the City has completed its 20- Year Pavement Management Plan and it is incorporated in the Comp Plan by reference. He explained the 2004/2005 Chapter contained sections for the various street sizes; the description of those street sizes remains but the diagrams have been removed in this version. The diagrams can be found in the manual for roadway reconstruction so there was no need to include them in this. Nielsen explained this Chapter now reiterates the City’s policy for reconstructing roadways. It identifies the standards that must be adhered to when reconstructing roadways, noting roadways can no longer be constructed with a width of less than 20 feet (which is the fire safety standard) and the preferred width is 24 feet. There has to be sufficient justification to reconstruct to less than 24 feet wide. Curb and gutter is required unless there is absolutely no need for it for drainage purposes; alternatives to that would be considered. Commissioner Arnst stated she recollected a decision had been made to use the term “edge control” rather than “curb and gutter” because it was less controversial with residents. Nielsen explained it’s still referred to as “curb and gutter” in the City’s Ordinance, noting that is what it is and it supports the edge of the roadway. Nielsen stated he could add “edge control” in parentheses after “curb and gutter”. He explained the Galpin Lake Road intersection map is still included because the intersection is still an area of further study. The map shows the results of a 1987 and 1995 corridor studies. The intersection of Vine Hill Road and Highway 7 is another area of further study. Commissioner Arnst asked if the Park Commission was going to consider potential trails as part of its update to the Park Master Plan. Director Nielsen stated he did not think so, but it may be beneficial for the Commission to revisit trails as a separate task. Commissioner Hutchins asked if there is a particular area of the City where roadways less than 20-feet wide are located. Director Nielsen stated the few there are scattered throughout the City. With regard to the Community Facilities Chapter, Nielsen stated most of the items in this Chapter are relatively established. The City has a sewer system that extends to all developed properties with the exception of one property on both Gayle and Spray Islands to which there is no sewer system access, and then a third property on Marsh Point that does have access. About one-half of the properties in the City are hooked up to City water. The City has a water policy and water is installed by neighborhood demand or as part of roadway reconstruction project (if water is available the City strongly considers installing water main as part of the project). The policy has been controversial. In response to a comment from Commissioner Vilett, Nielsen stated the assessment is the major issue residents have with installing water main; the issue used to be about controlling growth in the City years ago. The cost per property to install water cannot exceed $10,000 unless a neighborhood requests it be installed independent of the price. Commissioner Ruoff questioned what the “unknown” water-main size classification is. Director Nielsen stated that is no longer needed and he will remove it from the water main map. Director Nielsen explained the City’s Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan is incorporated in the Comp Plan by reference. The most significant change to this Chapter will be the updates to the Park Master Plans and any park policy changes. Council Liaison Zerby stated the City’s Skate Park needs to be added to the Parks and Open Space map. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5 May 2009 Page 4 of 5 There was discussion about who owns a parcel of land off of Highway 7 near Old Market Road, noting the City mows some of the property. Chair Geng asked who maintains the stone structures build on that property. Director Nielsen stated the City mows around them. In response to a comment from Commissioner Ruoff, Director Nielsen explained the prairie grass planted last year near the base of the SE Area Water Tower will have to be replanted because it was damaged during the renovation of the Tower. Director Nielsen stated Council will consider the Comp Plan during its May 11, 2009, meeting. If Council approves the Comp Plan it will be submitted to the Met Council for review by the end of May. The Comp Plan has been distributed to the abutting communities, and the City has not received any feedback from them. Commissioner Hutchins stated the Star Tribune recently published an article about charging fees for certain public safety services. He questioned if the Excelsior Fire District was considering doing that. Seeing no one present wishing to comment on this case, Chair Geng opened and closed the Public Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at 8:02 P.M. Gagne moved, Hutchins seconded, recommending approval of the public hearing draft of the Shorewood Comprehensive Plan. Motion passed 6/0. Chair Geng closed the Public Hearing at 8:04 P.M. 2. 7:10 P.M. PUBLIC HEARING – ZONING CODE TEXT AMENDMENT REGARDING PARKING REQUIREMENTS Chair Geng opened the Public Hearing at 8:04 P.M. Director Nielsen stated he had not prepared anything for this item. He noted that during the 21 April 2009 Planning Commission meeting the Commission discussed parking requirements, and it was suggested that the definition for shopping center be expanded. He suggested this item be continued to the 19 May 2009 Planning Commission meeting. Seeing no one present wishing to comment on this case, Chair Geng opened and closed the Public Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at 8:06 P.M. Gagne moved, Vilett seconded, continuing the public hearing for a Shorewood Zoning Code text amendment regarding parking requirements to the 19 May 2009 Planning Commission meeting. Motion passed 6/0. Chair Geng closed the Public Hearing at 8:07 P.M. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were no matters from the floor presented this evening. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5 May 2009 Page 5 of 5 4. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA Director Nielsen stated the continuation of the public hearing for a Shorewood Zoning Code text amending regarding parking requirements is slated for the 19 May 2009 Planning Commission meeting. The study session portion will be devoted to continued discussion of Planning District Area Plans. 5. REPORTS • Liaison to Council Chair Geng reported on matters considered and actions taken at the 27 April 2009 Regular City Council meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting), noting the City Council approved the administrative enforcement of code regulations. In response to a question from Commissioner Vilett, Council Liaison Zerby explained Council approved the fines recommended by the Planning Commission which were $100, $200 and $300. Zerby noted that the Lake Minnetonka Communications Commission officially withdrew its offer to purchase the Southshore Center from Shorewood and it decided to pursue the purchase of the facility it currently leases. • SLUC No report was given. Director Nielsen stated he and Commissioner Arnst are going to attend the Sensible Land Use Coalition program titled “Chasing the American Dream: What does it Mean Today?” which is scheduled for 27 May 2009. Commissioners Geng and Vilett stated they would let Nielsen know the next day if they planned on attending the session. • Other Commissioner Ruoff asked if there were any residential actions pending for the Planning Commission’s consideration. Director Nielsen stated the City just received a request about a property on Lilac Lane. Commissioner Gagne commented he recently observed three cars on the property located on the northwest corner of Smithtown Road and County Road 19. He then commented that he had heard on the national news that there were two banks in California that were having two partially completed developments bulldozed after the developments went into foreclosure. 6. ADJOURNMENT Gagne moved, Vilett seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of 5 May 2009 at 8:12 P.M. Motion passed 6/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder