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081809 pl mn CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, 18 AUGUST 2009 7:00 P.M. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Chair Geng called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Geng; Commissioners Arnst, Gagne, Hasek, Ruoff and Vilett (arrived 7:03 P.M.); Planning Director Nielsen; and Council Liaison Turgeon Absent: Commissioner Hutchins APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 21 July 2009 Gagne moved, Arnst seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 21 July 2009 as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 2. 4 August 2009 Gagne moved, Arnst seconded, Approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of 4 August 2009 as presented. Motion passed 5/0. Commissioner Vilett arrived at 7:03 P.M. S T U D Y S E S S I O N 1. DISCUSS PLANNING DISTRICT AREA PLANS Director Nielsen stated that this evening the Planning Commission will discuss Planning Districts 5, 6 and 7. The Area Plans for the City’s 12 Planning Districts are a more detailed elaboration on what is in included in other parts of the Comprehensive Plan (the Comp Plan). Director Nielsen explained the Planning Commission had numerous in-depth discussions about Planning District 6 during 2007 and 2008. Planning District 6 is bounded by Smithtown Road (County Road 19) to the south, the Shorewood/Tonka Bay border to the west, the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority (HCRRA) LRT Trail to the north, and the Shorewood/Excelsior border to the east. That combined area includes 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). CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 18 August 2009 Page 2 of 6 Nielsen then explained the Planning Commission held a public hearing [which was continued to a second meeting] to consider an amendment to the Comp Plan regarding future redevelopment of Planning District 6. The land owners had asked the City to consider options other that what was proposed. The proposed amendment stated if the SYC or the MPDCo ceased to exist, reuse of the properties should be directed to residential at similar densities as the surrounding area (both in Shorewood and Excelsior). The SYC and the MPDCo currently use a driveway off of County Road 19. The driveway crosses over the HCRRA LRT Trail, and it is there by license from HCRRA. The HCRRA can revoke the license at its discretion. If that happened, access to the properties would then have to come from West Lake Street. West Lake Street serves a residential neighborhood in Excelsior. The portion of West Lake Street that could provide access into Shorewood is blocked off (but not vacated). Nielsen stated the owner of the SYC and MPDCo properties expressed concern that the value of the properties would drop if they were to be used for residential purposes. There was some support for the proposed amendment from residential neighbors. There was another group that was skeptical of making any change to the Comp Plan. As a result, the Planning Commission decided not to recommend any change to the Comp Plan. He noted during the period between the original public hearing and its continuance the MPDCo property was purchased by the owner of the SYC property. He explained if the use of the MPDCo property, which is zoned C-2, were to change the property would be rezoned to be the same as the zoning for the SYC property. The C-2 District would cease to exist. The other two existing properties in the C-2 District would be rezoned to R-C, Residential Commercial. Nielsen stated the proposed changes to the Planning District 6 Area Plan are minor changes in the wording. There was consensus to change public safety campus to public safety facility. Commissioner Gagne stated a while back when trails were being discussed there was some consideration given to creating a trail that would run near the public safety facility; it would go from Smithtown Road to the LRT Trail. Director Nielsen explained that is included in the County Road 19 Corridor Study, noting that could almost be considered a separate area plan. The trail would be on the easterly boundary of the facility. When the Study was first discussed there was some opposition to it from some City staff and some public safety personnel. Commissioner Arnst suggested this potential trail be referenced in the Comp Plan. In response to a question from Chair Geng, Nielsen stated he thought the South Lake cities own the land the trail would be on. Discussion went off topic to Planning District 3; in particular the northwest quadrant of the Smithtown Crossing (i.e., the intersection of County Road 19 and Smithtown Road). Commissioner Gagne asked if the City would be willing to push for the redevelopment of the entire quadrant rather than having it develop on a property by property basis. Director Nielsen explained the Comp Plan indicates the City would prefer to have that area redeveloped as a cohesive planned development. The Comp Plan also indicates the City may be willing to consider incentives such as tax increment financing (TIF) to help a developer develop the entire area. He noted that if the City receives a proposal to develop one part of this area that satisfies all of the zoning requirements, the City could not deny the proposal. In response to a question from Commissioner Arnst, Director Nielsen explained another incentive could be for the City to purchase the land. Council Liaison Turgeon commented that a while back the City discussed if it would like to have the right of first refusal to purchase the Minnetonka Country Club property. It may be worthwhile for Council to discuss what properties the City may want to potentially CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 18 August 2009 Page 3 of 6 purchase, and then prioritize the list. In response to a question from Commissioner Ruoff, Nielsen explained the City would not receive any tax break if it were to purchase a property. Director Nielsen commented that the American Legion may not demolish the empty gas station on the northwest corner for a while. He noted it has been informed that if it doesn’t it will have to remove the dirt brought in to fill the holes that would result from the removal. He noted there will likely be some contamination of that property or adjacent properties that will have to be addressed when it is redeveloped. There was ensuing discussion about the various properties in the northwest quadrant and abutting properties and their potential redevelopment. Discussion returned to items on the agenda. Director Nielsen stated there is virtually no change to the Area Plan for Planning District 5. He noted the potential redevelopment of the Minnetonka Country Club property was addressed in the last update of the Comp Plan. City Staff has met with the owner of the property to discuss its future. Staff attempted to have the owner commit to keeping its use as it is, or at least part of it. He noted the property would be more valuable if it were to be developed as residential, noting it would be rezoned to R-1A. One option could be to have a nine-hole golf course and to allow increased density on the property near Smithtown Road. He commented this property is the largest single parcel of land in the City. He stated if it were to be developed residential it would likely increase the traffic volume on Country Club Road and Lake Linden Drive. There are pockets of bad soil on the property and some areas a quite wet, but the property is developable. Commissioner Hasek stated he lives on Yellowstone Trail. He asked if there are any long-term plans to upgrade the road and to add a trail next to it. Director Nielsen stated during his tenure with the City the traffic on Yellowstone Trail has increased significantly. The residents in the area did not want that road upgraded because they thought it could encourage traffic to move faster. They also did not want a trail to be installed. Hasek stated he wondered where a trail could go. He thought it would be expensive to build. He also thought the City would have to purchase right-of-way from all the residents along Yellowstone Trail. He also thought the terrain would be an issue. Nielsen stated he thought the City had sufficient right-of-way (i.e., 50 feet). Commissioner Arnst stated she thought the City had right-of-way on the west side of Country Club Road. Commissioner Arnst stated the Area Plan for Planning District 7 states the reconstruction and realignment of the County Road 19/Country Club Road intersection was designed, in part, to discourage non-local traffic from cutting through from County Road 19 to Highway 7. She questioned if that really happened. Director Nielsen stated the City had traffic counts done when CUB Foods was being constructed, and it has done at least one other count since then. There was a drop in average daily trips (ADT) along that alignment. Arnst stated she was one of 22 cars the other day and she had to wait to get out of the CUB Foods parking lot. Commissioner Hasek stated he has observed much traffic that has traveled Country Club Road to Yellowstone Trail to Lake Linden Drive to access Highway 41 going south. Nielsen commented the "no thru traffic" sign has not had any impact on the traffic. Hasek noted the school buses use that route. Arnst stated the closing of some of the accesses to Highway 7 exacerbated the traffic flow problem. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 18 August 2009 Page 4 of 6 Commissioner Arnst stated she has observed an increase in traffic on Smithtown Road and she thinks it because people are traveling to the new intersection on Highway 7 rather than use the Highway 7/41 intersection to go west on Highway 7. Director Nielsen stated in 2010 the Planning Commission should do a complete overhaul of what is called the planning inventory. As part of that the City will get up-to-date and historical traffic count data. Council Liaison Turgeon requested South Shore Senior Community Center be changed to Southshore Community Center in the Area Plan for Planning District 7. Director Nielsen stated the changes to Area Plan 7 are reflective what has been done versus what needs to be done. They are not about the plan for this area. Commissioner Gagne asked if the City has acquired the property to straighten out Lake Linden Drive. Director Nielsen explained the City has some right-of-way there but he did not think it is enough to straighten it. He did not envision that road being straightened in the near feature; it would be a very expensive project. Commissioner Ruoff stated Area Plan 5 states “The vacant land on the west side of Lake Linden Drive that is zoned R-C should be considered for office or two-family residential use.” yet Area Plan 7 states “A vacant parcel on the west side of Lake Linden Drive is anticipated to be developed as office space.” He suggested they be made consistent. Director Nielsen stated he will remove “or two-family residential” from the first statement. Commissioner Ruoff stated Area Plan 5 states “The conditional use process for the property should be streamlined so that minor improvements to the facilities can be subject to a simple site plan review.” He questioned if that meant the City would offer some type of incentive. Director Nielsen explained that sentence ties to the sentence which precedes it which is “It is suggested that the City work with the owner to develop a master plan for the property upon which future land use approvals can be based.” It’s intended to mean that once a master plan is developed then the owner could get building permits for minor improvements; he should not have to go back through a conditional use process. Commissioner Ruoff stated Area Plan 5 states “Consideration should be given to requiring a pedestrian/bicycle trail through the vacant land in the southwest corner of the district to connect Seamans Drive and Eureka Road.” He asked if the intent would be for access to Freeman Park. He also asked if the property privately owned. Director Nielsen explained when that area is platted the City wants an easement for a trail. Commissioner Arnst suggested this potential trail be added to the trail concept plan. There was consensus to do that. There was ensuing discussion about the dangers of the LRT Trail crossing at County Road 19. Some bikers stop at the crossing and others don’t, and some drivers stop and others don’t. The State law for a trail crossing is not the same as for a pedestrian crossing. Director Nielsen stated that he will have both a clean copy and a copy showing the changes of each of the 12 Area Plans available for the next Planning Commission meeting. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 18 August 2009 Page 5 of 6 2. DISCUSS NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS FOR COMP PLAN REVIEW Director Nielsen explained the neighborhood meetings will be an open house style meeting. There will not be any formal presentations. There will be five stations set up. Four of them are for the four different chapters in the Plan. The fifth station will be for the Area Plans being reviewed that particular evening. After discussion the following assignments were made for the neighborhood meetings. The meetings will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. The assignments are as follows. 15 September 2009 – Chair Geng and Commissioners Arnst, Gagne and Ruoff  29 September 2009 – Commissioners Gagne, Hasek, Hutchins and Ruoff  6 October 2009 – Chair Geng and Commissioners Arnst, Hasek, Hutchins and Vilett  The 15 September and 6 October meetings precede the regular Planning Commission meeting. The 29 September meeting is in lieu of the 20 October Commission study session. There was consensus to have Director Nielsen assign Commissioners to the stations for the four chapters in the Comp Plan. The Chapters are the Natural Resources Plan, the Land Use Plan, the Transportation Plan and the Community Facilities/Services Plan. Director Nielsen stated he will prepare talking points for each of the four chapters and the Area Plans. Nielsen stated there will be a small piece about the neighborhood meetings in the City’s September newsletter and that will refer people to the City’s website for additional information. There was consensus that there should be a press release in the local papers. Nielsen stated he will check into the possibility of inserting a flyer in the residents’ utility bills. He noted that he did not have the budget to do an individual mailing. He asked the Commission to encourage their neighbors to come to the meetings. Nielsen stated one of his goals for 2010 is to market the Comp Plan better. He is not sure how to get residents interested in it. He thought the City should do some type of community survey. 3. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR There were no matters from the floor presented this evening. 4. DRAFT NEXT MEETING AGENDA Director Nielsen stated there will be a rehearsal for the neighborhood meetings scheduled for the 1 September 2009 Planning Commission meeting. Commissioner Vilett noted that she will not be in attendance for the 1 September 2009 meeting. 5. REPORTS • Liaison to Council There was a review of what items were on the 10 August 2009 Regular City Council meeting agenda (the details of the meeting can be found in the minutes of that meeting). CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETEING 18 August 2009 Page 6 of 6 • SLUC Commissioners Hasek and Vilett stated they would like to attend the Sensible Land Use Coalition program titled “Unlock the Mystery! Special Service Districts and Housing Improvement”, which is th scheduled for August 26 from 11:30 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. The event will be held at the Double Tree Park Place hotel in St. Louis Park. • Other Commissioner Gagne asked what the Park Commission decided to recommend about South Tonka Little League’s request for allowing sponsorship signs in Freeman Park. Director Nielsen stated it’s his understanding that it recommended the text amendment to the City Code and STLL’s conditional use permit request be denied. 6. ADJOURNMENT Arnst moved, Gagne seconded, Adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of 18 August 2009 at 8:23 P.M. Motion passed 6/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder