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01-15-19 Planning Commission Meeting CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY JANUARY 15, 2019 7:00 P.M. A G E N D A CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL / (LIAISON) SCHEDULE EGGENBERGER (Dec&Feb) ______ DAVIS (Jan) ______ RIEDEL (Apr) ______ MADDY (May) ______ GORHAM (Mar) ______ 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 4, 2018  3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A) 7:00 P.M. – C.U.P. TO COLLOCATE ANTENNA ON EXISTING MONOPOLE*** Applicant: Tower Engineering Professionals, for Dish Network Location: 24283 Smithtown Road TH *** THIS ITEM WILL BE CONTINUED TO THE FEBRUARY 5 MEETING 4. OTHER BUSINESS None 5. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR 6. REPORTS Council Meeting Report  Draft next meeting agenda  7. ADJOURNMENT NOTE: A joint Planning and Park Commission Work Session will follow this meeting, at 7:30 P.M. CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2018 7:00 P.M. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Maddy called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Maddy; Commissioners Eggenberger, Davis, Riedel and Gorham; Planning Director Darling; and, Council Liaison Johnson Absent: None 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Davis moved, Riedel seconded, approving the agenda for December 4, 2018, as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  November 20, 2018 Davis moved, Riedel seconded, approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2018, as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS Chair Maddy explained the Planning Commission is comprised of residents of the City of Shorewood who are serving as volunteers on the Commission. The Commissioners are appointed by the City Council. The Commission’s role is to help the City Council in determining zoning and planning issues. One of the Commission’s responsibilities is to hold public hearings and to help develop the factual record for an application and to make a non-binding recommendation to the City Council. The recommendation is advisory only. A. PUBLIC HEARING – PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT AND MINOR SUBDIVISION Applicant: Greenwood Design Build, LLC (Doug Cutting) Location: 23825 Lawtonka Drive Director Darling explained that Greenwood Design Build has requested a minor subdivision and Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Lawtonka Villas to create two single family homes at 23825 Lawtonka Drive. The subject property is located at the end of the cul-de-sac. She noted that the properties to the north are developed with twin family homes and the homes to the south are single family homes. She explained the location of a wetland area and noted that the applicant may be required to create wetland buffers on-site and structures would be subject to a 15-foot setback. She explained that this lot was rezoned to PUD in 1992 when the other lots in the area were developed. She gave a brief overview of the grading and stormwater run off plans. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 4, 2018 Page 2 of 5 Commissioner Riedel asked for clarification about the history of the property being zoned PUD. Director Darling stated that the history of this parcel is very interesting and explained that the entire cul- de-sac was originally created with R-1A lots. After the plat was recorded, the developer decided they wanted to put in twin homes instead and two nearby properties, including the one being discussed tonight were owned by a different party and were not developed as twin homes, but were rezoned to PUD at the same time as the twin home development. Commissioner Riedell asked why a PUD plan was required if the lot is already zoned PUD. Director Darling explained that although it is zoned PUD, there was never a development plan for the property. She stated that she believes it may have been a mistake to lump this property in with the twin homes in rezoning it to PUD. She gave a brief overview of the layout of the property and the lot sizes. She noted that there have been two letters received from residents on the cul-de-sac and noted that most of their concerns had been addressed in the staff response. Staff is recommending approval of both the PUD and the minor subdivision with the conditions as outlined in the staff report. Chair Maddy noted that in looking at the zoning map it appears as though the City created an orphan lot years ago and is now being requested to straighten it out. He asked why the lot was not just zoned R-2A to match what the zoning is in the surrounding area. Director Darling stated that she was not sure why this parcel was included in the PUD zoning rather than left as the original R-1A. She stated that changing the zoning to R-2A would probably require some variances for development. Commissioner Riedel asked how the Commission should move forward with consideration of materials used because these homes will be entering into an existing PUD as an outsider, but yet also part of the same development. Director Darling explained that the developer did propose including some gables in the design to help it blend in, but noted that it will not match the twin homes because construction styles have changed since 1992. The Commission discussed the PUD zoning and the R-1A zoning requirements. Doug Cutting, co-owner of Greenwood Design Build, explained that when they were looking at purchasing this lot, they were also confused by the zoning designation and noted that their backup plan was to build a single-family home on the lot. He stated that given the context of what already exists on the street with the twin homes, they felt two villa style homes would be a better fit. Commissioner Riedel confirmed that this property would not have lake access like the nearby properties do. Commissioner Gorham asked the applicant to discuss the changes in the landscape plan. Mr. Cutting stated that there are about 30 trees on the property that are considered substantial and noted that about 12-14 of them are on the perimeter and will not be affected by the grading. He stated that the ones that are in the center would not survive the necessary grading. Commissioner Riedel confirmed that the plans were to take down a mature tree in order to put in a rain garden. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 4, 2018 Page 3 of 5 Chair Maddy opened the Public Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at 7:27 P.M. Thor Holmgren, 23880 Smithtown Road, stated that he strongly opposes the subdivision because it is literally the back yard for his home. He expressed his concerns and the reasons for his opposition. He stated that when they bought their home there were told it was a single-family home and are shocked to hear the talk of a PUD and the subdivision as this property was intended to be a buffer between the town homes and his home. Commissioner Riedel asked what part of the grading and drainage plan Mr. Holmgren would like to see changed. Mr. Holmgren stated that he didn’t think anything should be done to the lot because it provides greenspace. He stated that his understanding is that the oldest maple tree in the City is located on this lot and will be taken out for this project. Commissioner Riedel stated that he also has concerns about taking out the old sugar maple in the center of the lot. He stated that the City has a policy that with any new development, stormwater run off is absorbed on site which means there needs to be a large infiltration basin, but if that means taking out mature trees, he feels this is a regrettable trade-off. There being no additional comment, Chair Maddy closed the Public Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at 7:32 P.M. Commissioner Davis asked if a tree inventory had been performed by an arborist. Director Darling stated there is a tree inventory and noted when an arborist was on-site, they discovered additional trees that were not on the survey. She stated that they showed 25 significant trees located on the site. Chair Maddy asked how many of the significant trees were slated for removal. Director Darling stated that the developer has indicated that they can save roughly half of the significant trees, but none of the trees in the middle where the building pads or rain garden would be located. Commissioner Davis asked if the plans were saving the trees worth saving. Mr. Cutting stated that the trees marked for the arborist for saving were all deemed significant trees. Commissioner Reidel noted that the report had specifically mentioned Boxelder trees and the City does not consider that type of tree to be significant. Mr. Cutting stated that he did not believe any of the trees being saved were Boxelders, but were, Maple, Spruce, and Boxwood trees. Commissioner Riedel stated that there had been mention of retaining walls to help decrease the amount of grading and asked if that was the original or revised plan. Mr. Cutting stated that the idea of a retaining wall was in order to lower the driveways and the first-floor elevation of the homes. He stated that the difficulty with lowering the property is the ability to properly drain it. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 4, 2018 Page 4 of 5 Director Darling clarified the areas where she had mentioned the possible use of retaining walls was to help with saving additional trees. Commissioner Riedel asked with regard to the tree replacement policy whether the developer was planning to plant replacement trees on site or contribute to the parks. Mr. Cutting stated that he is open to either option. Director Darling stated that in this case, she expects to see the planting to happen back on the lot. Chair Maddy suggested that the developer consider planting more trees than required because of the concerns expressed by the neighbors. Commissioner Riedel asked how the footprint of the proposed dwellings compare with the other dwellings in the PUD. Director Darling stated that she believes they are wider. Mark Kirkeby, Coldwell Banker Wayzata, stated that the size of the twin homes is very similar to the villas. He noted that the villas are a bit shorter and wider than the twin homes. Commissioner Eggenberger showed a satellite photo from Google Maps of the twin homes. Eggenberger moved, Riedel seconded, recommending approval of the Planned Unit Development and Minor Subdivision located at 23825 Lawtonka Drive, subject to conditions listed in the staff report. Motion passed 5/0. Commissioner Gorham commended both Director Darling and City Engineer Fauske for their thorough job in looking into this matter and putting together the report. Director Darling noted that this will be presented to the Council on January 14, 2019. 4. OTHER BUSINESS - None 5. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR - None 6. REPORTS • Liaison to Council Council Liaison Johnson stated that he was unable to report on the November 26, 2018 meeting because he was traveling for work on that evening. Director Darling gave a brief overview of the Council meeting and work session discussion from November 26, 2018. • Draft Next Meeting Agenda Director Darling stated that she had not received anything for the next meeting yet, but believes there is an antennae application coming in by the end of the week. She stated that she would also like the Planning Commission to consider scheduling a joint Planning Commission/Parks Commission meeting to discuss fire lanes. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 4, 2018 Page 5 of 5 Chair Maddy stated that a joint meeting makes sense because the fire lanes are both a recreational and zoning issue. Commissioner Davis asked how the deer hunt ended up doing this year. Director Darling stated that she has not heard the results and believes the information will be reported at the December 10, 2018 Council meeting. 7. ADJOURNMENT Eggenberger moved, Riedel seconded, adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of December 4, 2018, at 7:52 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.