012009 pl mn
CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5735 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SOUTHSHORE CENTER
TUESDAY, 20 JANUARY 2008 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Schmitt called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Schmitt; Commissioners Gagne, Geng, Gniffke, and Vilett; and Planning Director
Nielsen
Absent: Commissioners Hutchins and Ruoff
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. 6 January 2009
Gagne moved, Gniffke seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 6
January 2009 as presented. Motion passed 5/0.
S T U D Y S E S S I O N
1. 2009 WORK PROGRAM
Director Nielsen reviewed the 2009 Planning Commission work program timeline for the items identified
to date. He noted the Commission reviewed the preliminary list of items proposed for the work program
at its 6 January 2009 meeting at which time Commission requested life cycle housing (senior housing) be
added to the list. The tentative schedule for the 2009 work program is as follows.
January → March – Develop administrative code enforcement procedures
January → March – Develop administrative code enforcement fee schedule
January → November – Review the planning district area plans
February → March – Review/update of the City’s parking requirements
April – Hold a public information meeting on the Comprehensive Plan Update (tentative)
April – Annual variance discussion
May – Hold a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan Update
May – Submit Comprehensive Plan Update to Metropolitan Council by May 29, 2009
June → July – Adopt Comprehensive Plan Update (more of a Council action item)
June → August – Study life cycle housing
August – Publish the Comprehensive Plan Update
August → October – Study the City’s public rights-of-way
September – Review Shorewood Yacht Club’s conditional use permit compliance
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20 January 2009
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Nielsen stated he had received comprehensive administrative code enforcement materials from the City of
Bloomington which can be used as an initial template to develop the City procedures, training materials,
fee schedule, etc. He then stated the annual variance discussion will involve reviewing variances the
Commission has approved as well as discussing the more general topic of granting variances. He will
update a document former Planning Commission Chair Bailey had prepared a few years ago which
identifies variances requested, recommendations made and the rationale for the recommendations.
Nielsen stated Gabriel Jabbour, co-owner of the Shorewood Yacht Club, had sent the City an email about
the SYC’s rental of slips for powerboats. Jabbour stated that in 2008 out of the 35 slips on pier 4
approved for powerboats 30 were utilized by powerboats, one by a jet ski, and one by a sailboat. Three
were not conducive for power boats unless they were smaller boats. Eight Shorewood residents utilized
the 15 percent discount and ten have signed up for the 2009 season. At no time did SYC personnel notice
more than five powerboats out of the marina at the same time, including holidays. Nielsen noted he
forwarded the email to the Commissioners. He also noted the City did not receive any complaints about in
2008 power boaters who dock at the SYC; in fact the only call received was to state there were no
problems.
Nielsen stated there will likely be additions to the list of work program items during the year.
2. DISCUSS PLANNING DISTRICT AREA PLANS
Director Nielsen explained the City is broken into 12 planning districts in the Land Use Chapter of the
Comprehensive Plan. These districts provide a more detailed look at geographic areas, which are most
frequently defined by physical boundaries. The “area plans” for these districts elaborate on what is planed
for each district.
Nielsen stated the Planning Commission has recently completed its distribution draft of the
Comprehensive Plan Update 2008, and it will now update the area plans. He explained the meeting packet
for this evening contained copies of the area plans for Planning Districts 1, 2 and 4 for review this
evening.
Nielsen explained that Planning District 1 consists of the east half of Enchanted Island, Shady Island,
Spray Island and Goose Island. Enchanted and Shady Islands are zoned R-1C/S, Single-Family
Residential/Shoreland. Spray and Goose Islands are zoned R-1A/S, which is also single-family
residential. He noted there is one person that lives on Spray Island. He stated the islands are for all
practical purposes fully developed. The one outstanding issue in this District has to do with the Upper
Minnetonka Yacht Club (UMYC) which is located on the end of Enchanted Point. UMYC is a sailing
yacht club and it is a nonconforming use in a residential area. The City is currently in litigation UMYC
because the UMYC started to rent slips (approximately four) for power boats; this practice was initiated
in 2005. He highlighted the history of the events leading to this litigation issue. He explained a number of
years ago the owners of the UMYC property tried to have the zoning for the property changed to L-R,
Lakeshore Recreational, but it could not satisfy enough of the requirements for that zoning. He noted that
C.U.P.s are attached to the land (they are in perpetuity), but that was not always the case. He also noted
that approximately five years ago the option to issue interim C.U.P.s became allowable; they are in effect
for a specified period of time.
Nielsen explained Planning District 2 is bounded by the Shorewood/Chanhassen border and Smithtown
Road on the south, Lake Minnetonka on the west and north, and the large wetland area just east of
Howard’s Point Road on the east. District 2 is mainly developed, noting the Howard’s Point Marina
property and the property to the south of it have development potential. He stated the City has received
CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
20 January 2009
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inquiries about what the development possibilities are for the Marina property; one inquirer thought 40
condos could be built on the site. This property is currently zoned for single-family residential and the
Marina is a nonconforming use. The property is owned by multiple people. If the property were to be
subdivided there would not be any lots with lakeshore, and the lots would not be large enough to build a
house on. A developer could possibly request to move Howard’s Point Road further from Lake
Minnetonka to increase the size of the buildable property, and if agreed to the developer would have to
bear that expense. Doing so could possibly allow for three new houses to be built on properties with
lakeshore. He noted the City is still open to possibly rezoning the property to Lakeshore Recreational.
Nielsen explained Planning District 4 is bounded by Shorewood’s border with Chanhassen and Victoria
on the south, Smithtown Road on the west and north, and Eureka Road on the east. It is one of the largest
districts in the City, and is nearly fully developed. The area plan for District 4 needs a few updates. The
large parcel on the west end of the city has been developed as Lake Virginia Woods; therefore, the
reference to a planned unit development and the small parcel to the north of it should be removed. The
auto repair operation located on Smithtown Road has been rezoned to R-1C, Single-Family Residential;
this must be revised in the plan. The south access to Freeman Park has been closed, and the plan must be
revised to reflect that. The reference to water availability on Afton Road should be changed to Cajed
Lane.
3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no matters from the floor presented this evening.
3. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA
Director Nielsen stated that the 3 February 2009 Planning Commission meeting will be a study session
and it would be devoted to continued discussion of planning district area plans.
Nielsen then stated South Tonka Little League approached the Park Commission about possibly placing
signs on the ball-field fences in Freeman Park. The Park Commission turned the informal request down
based on input from Staff. He explained, at a minimum, a zoning text amendment would have to be done
to allow for that and a conditional use permit may also be required. The City has resisted having
advertising signs in City-owned parks, and has fought hard to have advertising signs removed from
commercial areas. The League wants to pursue their request with a formal application; if it does the
application would come before the Planning Commission. The League has broadcast to its membership to
email him and Mayor Lizée in support of the League’s request.
In response to a comment from Commissioner Gagne, Director Nielsen explained each area plan
addresses if there are any suitable areas for telecommunications facilities and the only area available is in
Freeman Park. He stated there doesn’t seem to be much demand for that at this time, and there is space
available for rent on the west-end tower.
4. REPORTS
Director Nielsen reported on matters considered and actions taken at the 12 January 2009 City Council
regular meeting (as detailed in the minutes of that meeting).
• SLUC
No report was given.
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20 January 2009
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• Other
None.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Gagne moved, Gniffke seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of 20 January
2009 at 7:38 P.M. Motion passed 4/0.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Christine Freeman, Recorder