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041408 Joint CC Planning Comm MinCITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6:00 PM MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2008 MINUTES 1. CONVENE JOINT COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Mayor Lizee called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A. Roll Call Present: Mayor Lizee; Councilmembers Bailey (arrived 6:03 P.M.), Turgeon, Wellens, and Woodruff; Acting Administrator Brown; and Planning Director Nielsen Planning Commission Chair Schmitt; Planning Commissioners Gagne (arrived 6:04 P.M.), Geng, Gniffke, Hutchins, Ruoff, and Vilett Absent: None B. Review Agenda Woodruff moved, Wellens seconded, Approving the agenda as Presented. Motion passed 5/0. 2. REVIEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ISSUES Mayor Lizee welcomed the Planning Commissioners. She then asked Director Nielsen to lead the discussion on Comprehensive Plan issues. Director Nielson stated the City was in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) which had been prepared approximately two years ago. He explained the issues sections of the Plan identified what items should be addressed in the Plan. He stated at its March 18, 2008, meeting the Planning Commission reviewed a document prepared by the Planning Department which identified updates Staff recommended to the issues sections of the Plan. The updates included removing issues that had been resolved and adding new issues that would be addressed in the Plan. Some of the new issues included mandated items. The Commission recommended an additional five issues it thought should also be addressed in the Plan. Nielsen reviewed the Commission's recommendations which were as follows. 1. Control of "McMansions" otherwise known as very large homes on relatively small lots. (Land Use) There was a provision adopted in the Zoning Code which put a limit on the size a lot created by combining small lots could be. There were also hardcover requirements and building height restrictions. There would be additional discussion about what, if anything, could further be done to restrict the building of very large homes on small lots. CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING April 14, 2008 Page 2 of 5 2. The future use/development of the Minnetonka Country Club property in the event it ceased to exist as a golf course. (Land Use) Staff had been in discussions with the current property owner over the last few years and had suggested things such as tax credits and conservation easements to the owner as an attempt to keep the property as a golf course. The owner had conveyed that he did not want to make any decisions about the future of his property at this time. The value of the property would be worth substantially less as a golf course than it would be as a development. The future use/development for the Howard's Point Marina property and its surrounding area. (Land Use) There continued to be a great deal of discussion among the owners of the Marina property (of which there were 26 at one time) about the possible sale of the marina property. Developers had approached the City with very grandiose plans for redevelopment of the area. 4. Wildlife, such as habitat control and deer management. (Natural Resources) The City had conducted a deer management effort in the City and it was assumed this would be done again this year; that would be addressed in the Plan. Invasive vegetation. (Natural Resources) Years ago the major concern had been purple loosestrife. More recently Eurasian watermilfoil had become a major concern, as had buckthorn. Nielsen stated Staff and the Planning Commission wanted the Council's perspective about the new issues that were identified and any additional issues Council thought should be included. Mayor Lizee suggested Council could provide its perspective on the five issues just presented. The following is a summary of comments made regarding the issue of "McMansions". - The cities of Edina, Greenwood and Minnetonka had been trying to address the issue for some time. - The issue of "McMansions" existed throughout the United States. - There was some agreement that the City did not have much of an issue with "McMansion" construction, but the issue should be addressed in the Comp Plan. - There was question as to whether it was worth the time to have stricter controls to minimize the construction of "McMansions". - There was a provision adopted in the Zoning Code which put a limit on the size a lot created by combining small lots could be in the Minnetonka Manor area. The topic of blocking the view and sunlight was discussed at the time that provision was put in place. - It could be appropriate to consider the floor-ratio to land-area approach to controlling house sizes in the future. CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING April 14, 2008 Page 3 of 5 - Independent of the size of the lot, there appeared to be a commonality of building structures near the maximum size allowed on the lots; the structures filled a large portion of the lots. - If it was the City's position not to control the construction of "McMansions" then that position should be stated in the Plan. - McMansions could be built through an addition process as well as by new construction. - There was a suggestion that areas with smaller lots should be the focus for control. - There was a suggestion to just maintain awareness of the issue at this time but not try and further control "McMansion" construction. - The "McMansion" issue may just be a subjective style issue. - It was prudent to preserve property owners' rights. - The issue may actually be one of affordable housing rather than style. It would be a disservice to the community to not provide a variety of housing types. - There was some thought that the construction of "McMansions" on Lakeshore property should be controlled because of view. - There was some agreement that there should be further discussion as part of the Comp Plan revisions to determine if there should be any further restrictions put in place to control "McMansion" construction and, if so, where those restrictions should be in effect. The following is a summary of comments made regarding the issue of the future use of the Minnetonka Country Club property. - The property was currently zoned RI-A Single Family Residential with a minimal lot size of 40,000 square feet. - If it were to cease to be a golf course there would be transportation and utility issues. - The property could be treated as if it were an undeveloped land if it ceased being a golf course. - The questioned was posed as to whether the City should continue to secure a way to keep the properly as a golf course for a longer period of time. - The desire to have an executive 9-hole golf course on the property with the remainder of the property developed as a dense residential development could be stated in the Plan. The intent would be for the 9-hole golf course to remain on the location for many years to come. This option would require the property be approved for development as a Planned Unit Development at the time of development. - Although it would be interesting to hear public feedback on how the property should be developed in the future, it was still private property so including a question about it in the City survey may not be appropriate. - There was consensus that the Plan be more general with regards to the future of the property. For example, the Plan could state it was the City's desire to have more open space and clusters of homes. The following is a summary of comments made regarding the issue of the future use of the Howard's Point Marina property and surrounding area. - The Marina property was currently private property, but there was an expectation that it would someday be sold. - It the property stayed as currently zoned, the property may be worth more as a marina. CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING April 14, 2008 Page 4 of 5 - There was not a great deal of development potential; technically there were no lakeshore lots unless the road was moved. - There was consensus that the property should be addressed in the Plan to allow the City to respond to potential developers. The following is a summary of comments made regarding wildlife. - There was question as to whose issue this was -the Planning Commission's or the Council's. There was consensus it was an issue for both. The Plan addressed other natural resources. The Planning Commission addressed the creation of wetland areas and open spaces which were habitat for wildlife. - There was consensus that the Plan should have a broad statement that wildlife would be managed. - There was consensus that the deer management program would occur again this year. The following is a summary of comments made regarding invasive vegetation. - There was clarification made that there were invasive vegetation and aquatic invasive species. The aquatic invasive species included both vegetation and animal species. There should be an emphasis placed on developing and maintaining partnerships with other organizations to address the problems. - There was clarification that Buckthorn was a serious problem; it was important to educate the residents on the issue. There following is a list of other items that should be considered for inclusion. - The construction of a sidewalk from the intersection from Tonka Bay to the LRT Trail (this was a trail issue) on the east side of County Road 19 should be addressed. The concept plan for the County Road 19 corridor study would be incorporated via reference. - It was noted that the cities of Orono, Shorewood and Tonka Bay had applied for and received a grant for a feasibility study regarding a trail that would go from the County Road 19 intersection to the Dakota Rail corridor just north of County Road 15. Hennepin County would lead the study which was in its conceptual stage. - The Plan should address how the City wanted to have the area around the County Road 19 and Smithtown Road intersection redeveloped. There was consensus to keep industrial use out of the area. - There was a suggestion that the City should be actively considered acquiring properties that could be used for water treatment in the future; it was inevitable that the City would have to do more treatment of water in the future. - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was passively looking for additional public access to Lake Minnetonka. There was discussion about not having public access in highly residential areas in the City. 3. OTHER BUSINESS In response to a question from Commissioner Gagne, Director Nielson stated the City had guidelines for roadway surface width. Acting Administrator Brown clarified the minimum driving surface was 20 feet wide. CITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING April 14, 2008 Page 5 of 5 Mayor Lizee introduced Missy Villet, the newest member of the Planning Commission, to the meeting attendees. 4. ADJOURN Woodruff moved, Turgeon seconded, Adjourning the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting of April 14, 2008, at 6:43 P.M. Motion passed 5/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder , _` 1 Christine Lizee, Mayor ATTEST: L wrence A. Brown, Acting City Administrator/Clerk