HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 06-09-2009 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
June 9, 2009
Mayor Slavik called a Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Medicine Lake Conference Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on June 9, 2009.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Slavik, Councilmembers Johnson, Murdock, Stein, Black, and
Willis.
ABSENT: Councilmember Bildsoe.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Ahrens, Community Development Director Juetten, Planning
Manager Senness, Parks and Recreation. Director Blank, and City Cleric Engdahl.
Architectural Standards
Community Development Director Juetten stated at the May 12 Council meeting, the Council
adopted an annual update to the Zoning Ordinance. Proposed architectural standards for
townhouses were included in that annual update but weren't adopted at that meeting. The
i Council suggested discussing the standards at a Study Session. The following amendments had
been proposed:
1. Breaking up barrier type look along collector streets, not allowing them to be parallel but
to be offset.
2. Providing more flexibility with garage size which would allow some of the units in a
development to be affordable.
3. Placing more design requirements on the buildings on the periphery of the development
but only the color and materials would have to differ on interior units to lessen the impact
on affordability. This would break up the monotony and provide texture.
4. Requiring all sides of a building that face higher traffic roads to be designed with features
that make larger structures look less imposing. Although it is possible that developers
may construct the required design features only to the periphery units or to the sides of
the building in question, they may carry the features throughout the development in order
to reduce their design costs.
5. Adding landscaping and fencing requirements for those developments containing three or
more principal structures. The periphery of the development abutting an arterial or
collector roadway shall be landscaped with a minimum of one over story tree per abutting
dwelling unit. Shrubbery and decorative fencing, at least four feet high, shall also be
installed along such areas.
Staff is seeking direction from the City Council this evening.
Councilmember Stein stated he doesn't support amendment No. 1. Perhaps there could be
different setbacks or orientation. Regarding amendment No. 2, he could support, even though
Adopted Council Minutes 1 of 3 Special Meeting of June 9, 2009
it's somewhat dictated by the market. He stated perhaps if there is a one car garage, the City
could require so many off street parking spaces or storage shed per unit. He stated the design
and appearance of all the structures should be the same. He would like to study further the
concept of the City dictating what type of architecture there should be in the City and
implementing new standards for large apartment buildings to avoid the barrack look.
Councilmember Johnson voiced her concern with government's role. She stated the Council
might be getting to a line that she doesn't feel comfortable crossing, and the Council needs to be
careful of citizens' perceptions. She agreed that the market will dictate a lot of this. She stated
with stricter standards, the City would be impacting the cost of housing. She indicated that there
is a market for one -car garages. She stated every development is unique.
Councilmember Willis stated developers are in the business to generate income, but that doesn't
mean they have to tell the City what the market is. He noted there is limited parking in a
townhome development.
Mayor Slavik stated staff has presented some good ideas, and it's more about the quality of
developments coming to the community long term. She agreed that developers are profit driven,
and the City needs to make sure the long-term marketing and viability will be there. For
example, she stated a two -car garage would maintain viability of the neighborhood; however, she
is unsure of the fencing requirements as there will always be the issue of maintenance. She
agreed these suggested amendments need to be discussed further.
Councilmember Murdock stated she likes some of the proposed standards for variety of materials
and garage requirements. However, she is also concerned about maintenance for any fencing
requirements:
Councilmember Black stated she likes amendment No. 3. She also questioned fencing
requirements due to maintenance issues. She stated townhome developments never have enough
parking, but their parking surfaces should be pervious. She suggested this area be reviewed
further.
The Council suggested that staff draft revised language based on the comments expressed this
evening, and the Council would schedule a Study Session this fall to review before it would be
presented to the Planning Commission.
Set Future Study Sessions
The Council scheduled the following Study Sessions:
1. June 23 at 5:30 p.m., discuss park replacement fund and update with the City Manager.
2. July 28 at 5:30 p.m., discuss 2010-2011 budgets.
3. August 25 at 5:00 p.m., discuss 2010-2011 budgets.
4. September 1 at 5:00 p.m. discuss 2010-2011 budgets.
Adopted Council Minutes 2of 3 Special Meeting of June 9, 2009
Adjournment
Mayor Slavik adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
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Adopted Council Minutes 3of 3 Special Meeting of June 9, 2009