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041408 CC and Planning Comm Reg AgPCITY OF SHOREWOOD JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2008 AGENDA 1. 2. 3. 4. 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD COUNCIL CHAMBERS 6:00 PM CONVENE JOINT COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A. Roll Call CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Lizee Woodruff Turgeon Bailey Wellens PLANNING COMMISSION: Chair Schmitt Gagne Geng Gniffke Hutchins Vilett Ruoff B. Review Agenda REVIEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ISSUES (Att. -Planning Director's memorandum) OTHER BUSINESS ADJOURN 'I' SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD •SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331-8927 • (952) 474-3236 FAX (952) 474-0128 • www.ci.shorewood.mn.us • cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Brad Nielsen DATE: 10 Apri12008 RE: City CounciUPlanning Commission Joint Meeting - 14 April FILE NO. Comp Plan (Admin) At its March meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed a Planning Department memorandum, setting forth a number of issues staff recommends to be addressed in the current update of the Shorewood Comprehensive Plan. The Commission suggested five additional issues it felt should be addressed also. Briefly, they are: 1. Control of "McMansions", that is very large homes on relatively small lots. (Land Use). 2. The future use/development of the Minnetonka Country Club, in the event is ceases to exist as a golf course. (Land Use). 3. The future use/development of the Howard's Point Marina and its surrounding area. (Land Use). 4. Wildlife, e.g. habitat, control, deer management. (Natural Resources). 5. Invasive vegetation. (Natural Resources). The Commission recommended that a joint meeting be scheduled between the Commission and the Council, at which the Council could discuss the Commission's recommendations and add to them. This meeting has been scheduled as a work session for Monday night at 6:00 P.M. before the regular Council meeting. It should be noted that this Two memoranda from staff are attached as background for the discussion. Cc: Larry Brown ~~ ®s a- "~ ~®r® PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD •SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331-8927 • (952) 474-3236 FAX (952) 474-0128 ° www.Ci.shorewood.mn.us • Cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission FROM: Brad Nielsen DATE: 17 March 2008 RE: Comprehensive Plan Update 08 -Planning Issues FILE NO. Comp Plan (Admin) Last month staff forwarded the issues sections of each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, asking the Planning Commission to begin thinking about any new issues that may have arisen over the last couple of years. Planning issues are scheduled for discussion at Tuesday night's meeting. In addition to weeding out issues that had been previously identified and resolved, staff has identified certain items that should be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan Update. By chapter, they are as follows: Natural Resources The issues identified in the past tend to be ongoing. Some, however are in need of updating. For example, the recent decision by the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District to no longer handle permitting relative to the Wetland Conservation Act has resulted in the City delegating this activity to the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. This arrangement should be formalized in the Comprehensive Plan. The City is currently in the process of updating its Comprehensive Water Resource Management Plan (CWRMP) As with other elements of the Comp Plan, there is overlap between chapters of the Plan. Much'of what is addressed in the CWRMP relates to natural resource protection (e.g. surface water management, erosion control, etc.). Water supply and wastewater management tend to be community facility matters. What is important is to integrate the CWRMP into the Comprehensive Plan and make sure the two documents are in sync. IE eror' PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Memorandum Re: Comprehensive Plan Update 08 - Plarming Issues 17 March 2008 Land Use The current edition of the Comprehensive Plan cites discrepancies between the Land Use Plan and existing zoning as an issue. This is no longer the case in that the Shorewood Zoning Districts map has been updated to reflect and implement the City's Land Use Plan. Housing variety and affordability remain an issue, solutions to which have been illusive, given the relatively high land values and low density character of the community. Lake access issues have been addressed since the current Plan was adopted, including a recent amendment that allows a percentage of boats kept at the Shorewood Yacht Club to be power boats. Long term land use issues for the area in which the Yacht Club is located will be addressed in the ultimate plan for Planning District 6. A recently identified issue relative to land use is the types of land uses that should be encouraged along the County Road 19 corridor through Shorewood. The County Road 19 Corridor Study that was adopted addresses street issues, area identity, trails and utilities, but little or no reference is made regarding the types of commercial the City is looking for, especially in the area of Smithtown Crossing. In that same area, the issue of redevelopment of existing commercial properties has been a topic of discussion. Transportation One of the most significant issues raised in the current plan was the improvement of the County Road 19/Country Club Road intersection. After several years, this has been resolved. Mass transit, or the lack thereof, remains an issue, however, given Shorewood's low density and minimal demand, it appears unlikely that any type of mass transit will be feasible for a long time. The County Road 19 Corridor Study sets forth a concept plan for pedestrian/bicycle circulation, primarily in Planning District 6. The issue now is how to get it implemented. Shorewood has joined with Tonka Bay and Orono in planning for a trail system. that connects the LRT Trail to the Dakota Rail Line in Orono and'also extends southward to the Smithtown Crossing area. The Transportation chapter includes a plan for the reconstruction of existing substandard streets. It allows existing residential streets to be reconstnicted to a width of less than 24 feet (the standard for new streets), but no less than Fire Code standards (20-foot traveled surface). A recent street project was moth-balled, due in part to residents opposed to a 20-foot wide street. The City should reevaluate the current plan and change policy if necessary. Memorandum Re: Comprehensive Plan Update 08 - Plamling Issues 17 March 2008 A number of "paper streets" currently exist in Shorewood. These are street rights-of- way that were platted, but never built. A complete inventory of these streets should be done, with some analysis as to whether any of them should be considered for vacation. Community Facilities Sanitary sewer has not been an issue for quite some dine relative to capacity. The entire city is served with sanitary sewer service. What continues to be an issue is maintenance and repair of the aging system. The Metropolitan Council is particularly interested in addressing inflow and infiltration (I&I). Current policies relative to municipal water expansion appear to be working well. Deficiencies in the existing water system noted in the current plan have been addressed in recent water improvement projects. The larger issue of water supply must, however, be addressed -specifically, water conservation and possible future water treatment. By the time the Comp Plan Update is completed it appears that the City will have renovated City Hall, a project that should serve the community for many years to come. Police and fire building needs should be well satisfied with the recent construction of the public safety facility in Shorewood and the satellite fire station in Deephaven. While master plans have been developed for all of Shorewood's parks, the Park Commission has recommended that plans for Badger Field and Silverwood Park be updated. They also recommend the installation of restrooms at Manor Park. Summary It is hoped that the items raised herein may generate further discussion by Planning Commission and City Council. In fact, this is a good opportunity for the Commission and Council to schedule a joint meeting to review which issues should be addressed in the Comp Plan Update. If possible, an April or early May meeting would provide time to formulate plans to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. Cc: Mayor and City Council Larry Brown James Landini Bonnie Burton CITY O F SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD •SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331-8927 • (952) 474-3236 FAX (952) 474-0128 • www.ci.shorewood.mn.us • cityhall@ci.shorewood.mn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission FROM: Brad Nielsen DATE: 14 February 2008 RE: Comprehensive Plan Update. -Issues FILE NO. Comp Plan (Admin) As you are aware, the City must update its Comprehensive Plan in 2008. Since our Plan was approved by the Metropolitan Council only two years ago, the update should be relatively simple. Nevertheless, there are certain aspects of the Plan that are out of date or which require attention due to recent mandates. One such aspect of the Plan in need of update is the identification of plaiuiing issues. Each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan contains a list of issues to be addressed within the Plan. For example, in the Transportation chapter, The County Road 19/Country Club Road intersection was identified as an issue. It no longer is, since the intersection was reconstructed last year. For your convenience, we have copied the issues sections of each chapter for your review. Staff will send out afollow-up memorandum identifying which issues we feel have been resolved and new issues that we feel deserve attention. We aslc that the Planning Commission review the existing issues and jot down any new areas of concern that might be addressed in the Comprehensive Plan. We will ask the City Council to do the same, after which it may be a good time for the Cormmission and Council to have a joint meeting to review the new list. Keep in mind that we are not trying to resolve the issues at this stage, we are simply identifying the concerns to be addressed. The follow-up memorandum will likely be forwarded by e-mail. Cc: Craig Dawson Mayor and City Council ~~ ~ ~ PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ®~ Natural Resources Issues soils Many of the soils in Shorewood are characterized by high water tables and excessive moisture content. This can have a variety of effects, including frost heaving, poor filtration of on-site sewer systems, and slow drainage following peak storm periods. There is a concern that vacant land on poor soils will be developed with inadequate restrictions on appropriate uses. Regulations pertaining to filling and excavating land will be reviewed and updated. Slopes There are several areas with slopes in excess of 12 percent. Uf special concern is development on slopes adjacent to water bodies. When vegetation is not replaced following grading, clearing and construction activities, sedimentation may occur in lakes and streams. City policies establishing a maximum slope of 3:1 for disturbed slopes in new development will be formalized. Tree Preservation/Reforestation Virtually any development, regardless of size, can result in the destniction of nat~.lral vegetation. Shorewood recognizes the scenic, environmental and even economic value of preserving its wooded areas. While some loss of vegetation may be unavoidable as undeveloped land is converted to its ultimate use, efforts will be made to preserve existing trees where possible and to replace trees where necessary. Wetlands A substantial portion of Shorewood consists of marshes, wet basins and wet flats. These marsh areas must be protected because they play an important role in the storm drainage system, as well as providing habitat for wildlife. Shorewood has made substantial progress in the protection of wetlands, as it passed its first Wetlands ®rdinance in 1970. These rules have recently been updated to address the requirements of the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991.. 8-99 NR.-5 Surface Water Management Inasmuch as Shorewood borders on the southern shore of Lake Minnetonka and contains six other lakes within its boundaries, surface water management is a critical issue. Although in the past, the discharge of sewage effluent into Lake Minnetonka was the primary contributor to poor water quality, this practice has been curtailed and storm drainage is the largest source of water pollution. Where past storm water control efforts concentrated on the quantity of water, there is increasing concern over the quality of water which finds its way into wetlands and lakes. In this regard the use of chemicals for such purposes as Lawn fertilizing and widespread mosquito control has been called into question, both in terms of surface water quality and ground water quality. The adoption of National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) standards is viewed as one measure to improve surface water quality. Non-native aquatic species such as Eurasian Water Milfoil, Purple Loostrife and Zebra Mussels are increasingly choking out lakes and wetlands, raising concerns over the effectiveness of current control efforts. Air and Noise Pollution I~ue to the lack of industrial operations or heavy vehicular traffic, air and noise pollution have not been identified as a problem in Shorewood. Although traffic volumes have been increasing on Highway 7, part of which runs through Shorewood, noise levels are still within State guidelines. The lack of significant air and noise pollution is a positive environmental factor in Shorewood. Efforts will be made to maintain this quality. a-99 ATP-6 Land Use Issues Undeveloped/LTnderdeveloped Land A limited number of vacant parcels remain to be developed in Shorewood. Despite land use patterns having been relatively well established, issues will undoubtedly arise concerning intensity, compatibility and environmental impact. It is not necessary for all land to be developed. More challenging than developing the remaining large parcels is coordinating the development of small parcels to avoid the adverse effects of piece-meal subdivision. Discrepancies Between Land Use Plan and Existing Zoning The Comprehensive Plan prepared in 1981 resulted in the rezoning of several areas within the community, primarily to make zoning consistent with existing development. Other areas have been rezoned over the years to be consistent with the previous Land Use Plan. While any discrepancies that may have existed will be resolved in favor of the City's current zoning map, there are areas where further land use study is appropriate. These areas should be identified and scheduled for future review. Housing Variety/Affordability Shorewood has served, over a long period of time, as a residential. community with the tradition of single-family homes. While some variety of cost and lot sizes has been achieved over the past several years, the limited amount of land remaining in the community, combined with high land values, presents little opportunity for the development of housing that is affordable by metropolitan area standards. As such, it is important that the City explore ways to preserve its present stock of affordable housing. Lake Access As a result of the 1981 Comprehensive Plan, two lake access issues were addressed. The City conducted a study relative to the use of existing fire lanes, which concluded 12/04- LU-5 with a decision to keep, but regulate, fire lanes for neighborhood use. Secondly, the City adopted regulations pertaining to existing marinas. Recently the LMCD and the DNR have agreed upon a goal of locating 750 parking spaces associated with lake access to Lake Minnetonka. With the exception of the parking at Crescent Beach, there are no fee free parking spaces associated with public access to Lake Minnetonka in Shorewood. Shorewood has provided a minimum number of parking spaces on Christmas Lake. 1.2/04 L~J-6 Transportation Issues Highway 7 In 1986 Shorewood participated with several area communities, MNDOT and the Metropolitan Council in the preparation of a Corridor Study for State Highway 7. Most of the recommendations of the 1986 Study have been implemented, and many of the recommendations of a subsequent 1995 Study have been programmed. There are, however areas along the highway which have been identified for further study. County Road 19/Country Club Road There is a tendency for traffic southbound on County Road 19 to use Country Club Road as a shortcut to westbound Highway 7. Traffic counts south of County Road 19 exceed 3000 ADT. Heavy traffic along County Road 19 at times creates considerable congestion at the intersection of Country Club Road and County Road 19. Although private property development on various sites has helped define and limit access points, additional improvement is needed. Although the City has developed concept plans for the intersection, it should be realized that resolution of the problem necessitates coordination between Shorewood, Tonka Bay and Hennepin County. Municigal State Aid System In 1989 Shorewood's population exceeded 5000, malting the city eligible for MSA funding. The MSA routes currently designated require review as well as the design standards for construction. Fire Protection Due to the narrow surface widths of certain streets in Shorewood, a serious question exists over the adequacy of road access for emergency vehicles. As the availability of municipal water is quite limited, fire fighting efforts are generally dependent upon the use of tank trucks. However, on narrow roads there often is not sufficient room for tank truclts and pumpers to pass each other, and thus fire protection efforts may be critically jeopardized. MaSS ZCransit Shorewood, not unlike many outlying communities within the metropolitan area, desires, but does not have the benefit of readily available public transit services. Given Shorewood's low density character, 12/04 TR-5 traditional transit services do not appear to be economically feasible at this time. However, alternative methods of providing transit service (e.g. park and ride sites) could potentially be introduced and thus, such alternatives should be explored thoroughly. Bikeways/Trails Although viewed primarily as recreational these facilities relate closely to other transportation modes. It is important that planning for streets take into account the safe movement of bicyclists and pedestrians. 12/04 TR-o community FacilitieslServices Issues Sanitary Sewer Virtually the entire community is served by the municipal sewer system, or has sanitary sewer availability. With minor exceptions future extensions to the system will be paid for by private development. Capacity issues raised in the past have been resolved. Rate increases by the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission reinforce the need to control inflow and infiltration into the existing system. Consequently, repair and routine maintenance of the system will be a priority in coming years. Water System Despite an increased interest in the last several years, the majority of residents do not feel that a city-wide water system is desirable or economically feasible at this time. As a result, future planning must focus on determining where demand exists for city water and finding ways to provide it as inexpensively as possible. Aside from financial considerations, certain physical deficiencies exist within the overall system: Amesbury -This system consists of two wells serving 146 residential units. Without a backup source, the system is near or at capacity. interconnection to the southeast area system is viewed as an important objective. Woodhaven -Despite serving only 20 properties, the extension of this system is not advisable due to the single well and lack of a backup source. The City should continue to explore the possibility of an interconnection with Excelsior or Chanhassen to enhance the reliability of the system. Stormwater Management While new development in recent years has been required to address stormwater ntnoff, many older parts of the community experience drainage problems. The City has recently adopted a program for funding stormwater management projects. In the past attention has been paid primarily to the quantity of stormwater runoff. Environmental concerns dictate that future stormwater management also address the quality of stormwater runoff. Parks and Recreation Having acquired most of the land identified as being needed for a park system, considerable planning has gone into the development of various parks. Master plans exist for all of the parks in Shorewood and the City has adopted a trail planing process for the community. The challenge for the fuhire is to finance proposed park improvements and projects resulting from the trail planning process. Public Safety Sharing police and fire services with other South Lake Minnetonka communities and the City of Mound has proven to be effective and economical, and Shorewood remains committed to these joint use efforts. Recently concerns have been raised regarding volunteer fire protection services. A committee has been established to make recommendations as to how the present level of service can be maintained in the fuhire. Solid Waste Shorewood began its recycling efforts in 1990 and has experienced a relatively high rate of participation from residents. In addition to increased collection, fiiture efforts should be made to use recycled products. As mentioned in the Transportation Chapter, refuse collection has been identified as contributing to the deterioration of City streets. Garbage ttlicks, while providing an essential service, are among the heaviest vehicles on the road. In light of increasing street repair costs, the City must examine ways to control the rnlmber and size of these trucks. Natural Gas, Electrical and Cable Television Services These semipublic utility services are available throughout most of Shorewood. Shorewood's participation in the "Gopher State One- Call" program has enhanced communication between the City, private contractors and the utility companies relative to construction projects. Refinement of permitting procedures and a program to bury existing overhead utilities are viewed as future issues to be addressed. Municipal Buildings Shorewood's City Hall has been expanded in the last several years and a new public works facility was constructed in 1992. Although these facilities are viewed as adequate to meet the future needs of Shorewood, some discussion has occurred relative to enlarging the public meeting space in the City Hall. Other possible facilities to be considered are shelter buildings for community parks, reconstiliction of the Badger Well pumphouse and a future satellite fire station for the west end of Shorewood. Schools The recent addition and remodeling of the Minnewashta Elementary School and the acquisition by the School District of adjoining land should be adequate to serve area needs in the future. The School District has not identified future additional facilities within the City. 8/99 C~- 6 Housing Issues Housing Condition and Maintenance The City of Shorewood commissioned a Housing Condition Inventory in 1996 that concluded that the "vast majority of the houses surveyed were rated as being in average condition or better". Nevertheless, the study indicated that a number of homes in the community exhibited maintenance problems. While the City offers rehabilitation assistance in conjunction with Hennepin County, problem properties are increasingly being improved through private owner initiative. In 1993 the City adopted a rental housing code that established an inspection and maintenance program for the city's rental housing stock. Character of Existing Neighborhoods ~s mentioned in the Land Use Chapter, the preservation and enhancement of existing neighborhoods is an important element in establishing a sense of "community". In the past the greatest concern expressed by residents was splitting large properties into small lots. More recently the concern has shifted to the redevelopment of older neighborhoods where modest homes on smaller lots are being replaced by very Large homes that may be out of scale with the neighborhood. The challenge for the City is to balance the character of existing neighborhoods with the desire of residents to improve their properties. Variety of I~iousing Types Like other Lake Minnetonka communities, Shorewood has historically been dominated by single-family residential development. Since the mid-1980's the City has created areas where a variety of lot sizes exist. Other than a limited number of twinhomes and townhouses, the member of multiple-family residential units in Shorewood is extremely limited. This concern is somewhat mitigated by the fact that the south lake area as a whole exhibits a fairly substantial variety in housing types. While there may be future opportunities tG i ~-og 1TC-~ broaden the variety of housing types in Shorewood, they are quite limited due to existing Land use patterns and a rapidly diminishing amount of undeveloped Land remaining. Senior Housing Based upon a Senior Housing Needs Study, prepared in 1991, Shorewood has actively attempted to encourage the development of senior housing projects in the city over the past several years. Concerns have been expressed by some area residents that current regulations relative to senior housing need to be revised to better address the suitability of various sites for senior housing. It has also been suggested that the 1991 study should be updated. Affordable Housing/Livable Communities Participation Although the City of Shorewood has elected to participate in the Livable Communities program, numerous factors, most notably high land prices, serve as barriers to the creation of affordable housing. Minimal job opportunities and lack of transit service complicate this issue. Shorewood has chosen to focus its efforts on affordable senior housing.