120208 pl mn
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5735 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SOUTHSHORE CENTER
TUESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2008 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Acting Chair Gagne called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Acting Chair Gagne; Commissioners Geng, Gniffke, Hutchins, Ruoff, and Vilett; Planning
Director Nielsen; and Council Liaison Turgeon
Absent: Chair Schmitt
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
18 November 2008
This item was continued to the 6 January 2009 Planning Commission meeting.
S T U D Y S E S S I O N
1. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Land Use Chapter Revisions
Director Nielsen stated the Planning Commission first reviewed the Land Use Chapter of the City’
Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) in June 2008. This Chapter is the last Chapter the Planning
Commission has to finish discussing before the revised Comp Plan is given to the City Council for its
review and comment.
Nielsen reviewed the timetable for completing the Comp Plan update. He noted the City sought and was
granted an extension from the Metropolitan Council for submitting its updated Comp Plan; the new date
for submission is no later than May 29, 2009. He explained he has placed a copy of what he termed “the
distribution copy” of the draft updated Comp Plan” on the City’s website. Representatives of the
surrounding communities and affected agencies have been notified the distribution copy is available for
review and comment. He noted the agencies have six months to comment on the draft update. He stated
he would be contacting his planning colleagues to request they expedite their review. The draft update of
the Comp Plan will be placed on Council’s January 26, 2009, work session agenda for discussion;
Council will be provided will a complete printed copy of the Comp Plan. He explained a Public Hearing
will have to be held on the updated Comp Plan prior to Council adopting the Plan.
Nielsen distributed a complete copy of revised Land Use Chapter, including maps, to the Planning
Commission along with a hardcopy of revisions made since the Commission’s original review.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
2 December 2008
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Nielsen reviewed the additional revisions to the Land Use Chapter.
In Land Use Issues: Housing Variety/Affordability – An issue was added relating to latter
phases of life cycle housing (assisted living and care facilities).
In Land Use Issues: Redevelopment – The issue of redevelopment is new in this update
of the Plan. This new revision to the draft update increased the number of areas of
particular concern from three to four to include the nonresidential uses that currently exist
in the east end of Planning District 6.
In Land Use Plan: Land Use Classifications/Commercial – A paragraph was added to the
existing revision stating the commercial properties at the east end of the Country Road 19
corridor is designated as an area of further study on the Proposed Land Use Plan.
In Land Use Plan: Housing Variety / Affordability – A paragraph was added discussing
affordable housing and the fact there is little the City can do about it. Another paragraph
was added stating the City’s zoning regulations should be updated to accommodate and
encourage various types of senior housing that would include dependent living such as
assisted living and dependent care faculties.
In response to a question from Council Liaison Turgeon, Director Nielsen explained hospice facilities
would fall under care facilities.
Acting Chair Gagne stated at its 10 October 2008 meeting the Planning Commission held a public hearing
to consider an amendment to the City’s Comp Plan regarding future redevelopment of Planning District 6.
That public hearing was a continuation of the public hearing held on 20 May 2008. During second public
hearing there was Planning Commission consensus to recommend the language in the Shorewood
Comprehensive Plan regarding Planning District 6 remain the same as in the adopted Plan.
Director Nielsen stated the City gets questions from developers asking what can be developed on those
properties. He explained that combined area included the following commercial sites: the Shorewood
Yacht Club (SYC), the Minnetonka Portable Dredging Company (MPDCo), the Garden Patch Nursery,
the South Lake Office Building, and the property between the South Lake Office Building and the Garden
Patch Nursery (the old Crepeau Dock location which is owned by the same individual who owned the
Garden Patch Nursery).
Council Liaison Turgeon stated from her vantage point there should be something in the Comp Plan about
future redevelopment of Planning District 6. Although one can think the SYC property will stay as
currently used and remain Lakeshore – Residential zoning, there should be a backup plan in the event that
property changes hands.
Director Nielsen stated at the 10 October 2008 meeting the Planning Commission discussed the
importance of keeping access to Lake Minnetonka as there were few somewhat public access points in the
City. He stated if the SYC and MPDCo properties were developed as a Planned Unit Development, the
unbuildable strip of property abutting the Hennepin Country Regional Rail Authority right-of-way could
be made into public open space; that would as close to public access as possible.
There was lengthy ensuing discussion about the discussions that took place at the public hearing held
during the 10 October 2008 Planning Commission meeting (the discussions are detailed in the minutes of
that meeting). There are additional discussions documented in the minutes of the 20 May 2008 Planning
Commission meeting.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
2 December 2008
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Director Nielsen explained that as part of its 2009 work program the Planning Commission will be
reviewing all of the area plans. Planning District 6 redevelopment can be discussed again at that time. He
stated that area is relatively stable at this time.
Gniffke moved, Geng seconded, recommending the language in the Shorewood Comprehensive
Plan regarding Planning District 6 remain the same as in the adopted Plan.
Director Nielsen stated he would update the distribution copy of the draft update to the Comp Plan to
reflect the Planning Commission’s recommendation, and he will provide the Planning Commission copies
of the revised pages. He requested the Commissioners keep their entire copy of the Land Use Chapter
they received that evening as they will only receive updates to the Chapter.
There was ensuing discussion about the Garden Patch property and the old Crepeau property which are
for sale. Director Nielsen explained the pond at the back of those two properties is close to the old
Crepeau property; it is not as close to the Garden Patch property because that property is a little deeper
than the other property.
In response to a comment from Acting Chair Gagne, Director Nielsen stated the old Excelsior dump is
located entirely in Excelsior.
Motion passed 6/0.
2. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no matters from the floor presented this evening.
3. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA
Director Nielsen stated there is a public hearing slated for the 6 January 2009 Planning Commission
meeting for a preliminary plat. The study portion of the meeting will be devoted to a discussing various
aspects of the Comprehensive Plan and to discuss the Planning Commission’s 2009 work program.
4. REPORTS
Liaison to Council
Commissioner Gniffke reported on matters considered and actions taken at the 24 November 2008 City
Council regular meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting). Council Liaison Turgeon and
Director Nielsen elaborated on Gniffke’s report. Turgeon reported on the 1 December 2008 City Council
special meeting which included the Truth-In-Taxation Public Hearing.
• SLUC
No report was given.
• Other
None.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
2 December 2008
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5. ADJOURNMENT
Vilett moved, Ruoff seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of 2 December 2008
at 7:36 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Christine Freeman, Recorder