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08 04 2020 Planning Commission Minutes CITY OF SHOREWOOD COUNCIL CHAMBERS PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020 7:00 P.M. DRAFT MINUTES Due to a recording failure, some information was not able to be accurately included. CALL TO ORDER Chair Maddy called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Maddy; Commissioners Eggenberger, Gorham, Gault and Riedel; Planning Director Darling; and, Council Liaison Siakel Absent: None 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Gault moved, Riedel seconded, approving the agenda for August 4, 2020, as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  July 7, 2020 Eggenberger moved, Riedel seconded, approving the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of July 7, 2020, as presented. Motion passed 4/0/1 (Commissioner Gorham abstained due to absence at the previous meeting). 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 – COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, REZONING AND PUD CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE VILLAS OF SHOREWOOD VILLAGE Applicant: Stoddard Company Location: Vacant parcel north of Highway 7 between Eureka Road and Seamans Drive Chair Maddy opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 P.M. noting the procedures used in a Public Hearing and asked for Planning Director Planning Director Darling to present the request. Director Darling presented the staff report and indicated that staff were recommending approval of the item subject to several conditions. Planning Director Darling also indicated that staff had CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 4, 2020 ----DRAFT---- Page 2 of 4 received a letter from the Shorewood Ponds board of directors that included a preference that the road be constructed through the subdivision rather than end in a cul-de-sac. Chair Maddy recognized the applicant, Bill Stoddard representing Stoddard Companies. Commissioner Riedel asked the applicant if more information would be presented on the design of the storm water plan. The applicant is responded affirmatively, noting that information would be presented with more detail in later PUD phases. Commissioner Gorham asked about the email from MnDOT staff indicating that their staff is of the conclusion that the development would be too small to warrant any improvements to the intersection. The applicant indicated that they agreed with MnDOT and noted that staff had directed them to provide a traffic study of the intersection, but due to the impact of the COVID pandemic, they did not think any traffic study would be accurate. Director Darling noted that the development may not warrant improvements to the intersection, but without the study staff is unable to determine if the waits at the intersection would increase to the point that residents would take alternative routes to the other intersections with Highway 7. Chair Maddy opened the Public Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at 7:35 P.M. Chair Maddy recognized Kim Koehnen, 6115 Seamans Drive, indicated that she is in supportive of the reduction in density from previous sketches and supports the cul-de-sac as it would cut down on through traffic to Cub and park traffic after events. Chair Maddy recognized Joe Quillen, 6100 Seamans Drive, indicated that he is concerned about property values and does not believe that they would not be impacted. Chair Maddy recognized Steve Frazier, 6125 Seamans Drive, preferred this layout over a through street to cut down on traffic from the park. He remembered that the property owner cut down a number of trees in the southeast corner of the site after a previous development approval was denied because it would have been too high a density. He also asked if approval of this PUD would be a precedent for any additional requests in the area and if this would be based on a particular zoning district. Director Darling noted that each PUD is custom-suited to the property and based on a particular situation property. As such, they do not act as a precedent to approve additional developments. This development would be most consistent with the R-1D zoning district, although not fully compliant. Chair Maddy recognized Sandy Finke, 6060 Seamans Drive, listed a number of comments:  she felt this development would make the traffic situation in the neighborhood worse  she proposed the City buy the property and create a park  she was concerned that the development would encourage parking on Seamans Drive  she was concerned with how close the homes would be to the property to the north and felt the largest setbacks should be adjacent to the north property line  she was supportive of limiting sheds and other property issues could be limited CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 4, 2020 ----DRAFT---- Page 3 of 4 Chair Maddy recognized Robert Finke, 6060 Seamans Drive stated that he agreed with Sandy’s point, did not feel there was a need for change and was not in support of the additional lots. Chair Maddy recognized Mike Steadman, 24505 Niblick Alcove stated that detached villas are perfect for empty nesters and the market is very strong. He indicated that the villas in the Minnetonka Country Club have sold out. He stated that the homes provide 2500-3500 square feet on the main floor and a maintenance free living, which is a nice alternative. 8:xx Chair Maddy closed the Public Testimony portion of the Public Hearing at P.M. Eggenberger moved, Gualt seconded, recommending approval of the application for comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning to PUD and PUD Concept plan subject to the conditions listed in the memo. Motion passed 4/1, with Chair Maddy dissenting. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Variance to Front Setback for a Deck Applicant: Elizabeth Witchger and Gerry Trainor Location: 5840 Strawberry Lane Chair Maddy introduced the application and recognized Director Darling to present the staff report. Planning Director Darling presented the staff report and indicated that she had received two letter expressing support for the application from the following neighbors, Dan Malone, 5830 Strawberry Lane Dania Schulman, 26425 Strawberry Ct. Chair Maddy recognized the applicant and Pat Mackey, the applicant’s architect who spoke in favor of the request. Mr. Mackey indicated the purpose of the project was to provide both a safe entrance to the home and to provide more community interaction. Chair Maddy recognized Dania Schulman, 26425 Strawberry Ct. who also spoke in favor of the request. Commissioner Riedel asked about the concerns with the setback. he supported the project and did not think it was intrusive, but Commissioner Gorman indicated without a practical difficulty he could not, in strict interpretation of the code, recommend approving the variance. Eggenberger moved, Gault seconded, recommending approval of the application for variance to front setback subject to the conditions listed in the staff report. Motion failed 1/4. (Commissioner Eggenberger voting aye) Those voting against the variance found that the applicant, while not a request for an unreasonable variance, had not shown practical difficulties existed. CITY OF SHOREWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 4, 2020 ----DRAFT---- Page 4 of 4 Director Darling indicated that both applications would move to the City Council on August 24, 2020. 5. MATTERS FROM THE FLOOR 6. REPORTS • Council Meeting Report Councilmember Siakel summarized several items that were on the last Council agenda. • Draft Next Meeting Agenda Director Darling indicated the next meeting would include a variance application. A separate meeting would likely be scheduled to discuss the fire lane tours. Commissioner Gorham volunteered to present the items at the October City Council meeting, Commissioner Eggenberger volunteered for November, and Commissioner Riedel volunteered in December. 7. ADJOURNMENT Reidel moved, Gorham seconded, adjourning the Planning Commission Meeting of August 4, 2020, at 9:30 P.M. Motion passed 5/0.