HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 10-17-2007Approved Minutes
City of Plymouth
Planning Commission Meeting
October 17, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair James Holmes, Commissioners Terry Jaffoni, James
Davis, Erik Aamoth and John Cooney.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioners Frank Weir and Karl Neset
STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Steve Juetten, Senior Planner
Shawn Drill, Public Works Director Doran Cote, Administrative Services Director Jean
McGann, Park Superintendent Mark Peterson and Office Support Representative Janice
Bergstrom
1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. PUBLIC FORUM
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION by Commissioner Davis, seconded by Commissioner Jaffoni, to approve the
October 17, 2007 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 3, 2007 PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Jaffoni, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to approve the
October 3, 2007 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH (2007094)
Chair Holmes introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for the 2008-2012 Capital
Improvements Program.
Administrative Services Director McGann gave an overview of the October 12, 2007 staff
report.
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Administrative Services Director McGann said Moody's Investors Services had reaffirmed
the City's AAA rating for existing debt and the upcoming bond issue for the park
referendum. She said these bonds would be sold and the City Council will review for
approval on October 23, 2007.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked how this relates to the comprehensive plan which is being
updated now.
Administrative Services Director McGann said we need to ensure that the projects listed in
the CIP are consistent with the current comprehensive plan.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked how often a 5 -year Capital Improvement Program is prepared.
Administrative Services Director McGann said these are done every year and explained
that the first two years of a CIP we are fairly certain of costs, but funding sources and
priorities could change.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked how the projected expenditures of $157M compare to the
previous year.
Administrative Services Director McGann said the projection was $163M.
Chair Holmes opened and closed the public hearing as there was no one present to speak
on the item.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked how this plan has changed from the previous CIP what the
main differences are.
Administrative Services Director McGann explained that the 5 year CIP would normally be
done in 2006, however, this year it was delayed until February, 2007. She said overall the
Capital Improvement Program is relatively the same as in prior years.
Public Works Director Cote added that with the exception of 2007 projects which are
completed, what has occurred is the addition of the year 2012. Public Works Director Cote
said two water quality and drainage projects which have been started but not completed
will be included as 2008 projects.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked if this Capital Improvement Program reflects City Center,
Trillium Woods, and other projects that have been contemplated.
Public Works Director Cote said reconstruction of 36th Avenue within City Center is
incorporated into this CIP as well as the Cheshire Lane extension north to C.R. 47 and the
traffic signals associated with that project. He said Plymouth Crossroads Station is also
included in the CIP.
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Community Development Director Juetten said there are some items for City Center not
included in this CIP, but if the City Center plan is approved, they would be added in the
next 5 year CIP.
Commissioner Cooney referenced the vehicles and equipment and asked how the funding
sources are determined.
Administrative Services Director McGann said a replacement vehicle would come from the
Essential Equipment Fund. If a vehicle is an addition to the fleet, that would come from
the General Fund from the division making that request. She said if you want to
completely upgrade i.e., a fire truck, the Essential Equipment Fund would be used for the
replacement, but the upgrade would come from the department's budget.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked for information on the open space referendum bonds. She
noted the funding source summary showed only $6.5M.
Administrative Services Director McGann said that $2.6 — 2.8M will be expended in 2007
and would be reduced from the overall $9M. She said staff is still working on the exact
size of the bond.
MOTION by Commissioner Jaffoni, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to approve the
request by the City of Plymouth for the 2008-2012 Capital Improvements Program. Roll
Call Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved.
B. CITY OF PLYMOUTH. (2005050 and 2007090)
Chair Holmes introduced the request by the City of Plymouth for a comprehensive plan
update — preliminary City Center plan, and Zoning Ordinance text and map amendments.
Community Development Director Juetten gave an overview of the October 9, 2007 staff
report.
Commissioner Davis asked where residential uses would be allowed.
Community Development Director Juetten said residential uses would be allowed in the
CC -OT & R district.
Commissioner Davis asked about promoting pedestrian friendliness, and if the study
analyzed how many pedestrians walk to the facilities now.
Community Development Director Juetten said no counts were done. He said residents in
one of the senior buildings say they walk to City Center, however, they say it is not
pedestrian friendly and there are no well-defined cross walks.
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Commissioner Davis said he struggles with reasons to walk from one place to another. He
said he never walks, but rather drives from Chipotle to the library to Lifetime, and said he
is not sure how to change that.
Chair Holmes said there are a lot of reasons not to walk. He said to walk from a movie to
the Applebee's restaurant, a pedestrian needs to be very aware of traffic behavior
constantly. Chair Holmes said if we are striving as an interim goal to make the City Center
area safer to feel better about walking than feeling bad about driving, we have made a
quantum leap to make the City Center the environment we want it to be.
Commissioner Davis asked what would be done to facilitate walking.
Community Development Director Juetten said the City is working with the library and
Inland project on the west side of the Cub parking lot, to better define locations of
walkways and providing safe places for pedestrians to encourage walking. He said a
walkway with some landscaping through the Cub parking lot would provide the
opportunity to walk and be safe.
Commissioner Davis cited the Excelsior and Grand area of St. Louis Park and said he likes
to walk and stroll after dining at a restaurant. He said that opportunity is not available at
restaurants here. Commissioner Davis asked why property on the west side of Vicksburg
Lane is still part of City Center if Plymouth Boulevard is going to be the main street. He
said that property is like an "orphan property" that doesn't get a lot of attention.
Community Development Director Juetten said originally Vicksburg Lane was considered
to be the main street. He said if this portion were removed, the City Center sign would not
be in City Center.
Commissioner Davis asked if the Comcast site is developable, and noted that access would
be difficult.
Community Development Director Juetten said the access to that site would be located
between the funeral home and medical office building. He said if it were redeveloped, one
option is an intersection by the cul-de-sac lining up with 37th Avenue.
Commissioner Jaffoni thanked staff for the great work putting this report together.
Commissioner Jaffoni asked why the sign for City Center was placed at Ruby Tuesday's.
She noted that the goals in 1995 were worded the same as in 2007, and accomplishing the
goals has been a slow process. Commissioner Jaffoni said her main concern is the market
analysis, indicating the competition of significant retail areas developed around this area
would make retail difficult and challenging for the City Center area. She said because the
City Center would be functioning more as a neighbor, patrons would be mainly residents of
the area, and to a lesser extent people who work in close proximity. Commissioner Jaffoni
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said the emphasis is on retail zoning. She reiterated Commissioner Davis' question about
the residential component of the zoning. Commissioner Jaffoni said she is concerned that
retail can be anywhere except in the public area, and questioned if this emphasis on retail is
the right direction for City Center. Commissioner Jaffoni added that residents have
indicated to her they want something different. She asked if the will is there to put forth an
aggressive approach to changing the environment to make it more pedestrian friendly.
Commissioner Aamoth said he likes the three goals presented and asked how these goals
would tie into ensuring that options for safety and walkways are implemented.
Community Development Director Juetten said the idea is to create an area that will
encourage people to go and spend time, no matter what the uses. He said he does not
foresee us changing City Center, but rather figuring out what exists and molding it over
time to get what we want. Community Development Director Juetten said the Parks
Department is adding some new programs for the Hilde Center which will draw different
types of people at different times of the year. He said the goal is to encourage people to
attend a function at the Hilde Center and then walk into City Center to spend some time.
Commissioner Aamoth asked if there are other cities who currently have what we are
trying to look like in 5-10 years.
Community Development Director Juetten said we want to create something that puts
Plymouth on the map. He said there are some real positive features at the Excelsior and
Grand area that encourage people to want to spend time there. He referenced the Maple
Grove outdoor mall at the Arbor Lakes area, and the quaint main street. Community
Development Director Juetten said we are not trying to emulate the Apple Valley area
which requires driving from store to store, nor can we create a downtown Wayzata.
Community Development Director Juetten stressed that we need to incorporate something
unique to Plymouth.
Commissioner Aamoth said he was not aware of all the previous planning which had a lot
of detail and good ideas but didn't come to fruition. He asked what is different from the
previous plan and how that plan would be implemented with the new ideas.
Community Development Director Juetten responded that the ideas are similar, and this
plan encourages retail. Community Development Director Juetten said he does think if an
area is created that is vibrant by adding street lighting, up -lighting and making the area
pedestrian friendly, we will see some uses coming in. He said creating and implementing
the City Center plan through the CIP is part of a systematic planning and expenditure
process.
Commissioner Aamoth said the market study validated what people wanted to do before.
He said we are on the right track and now need discipline to incrementally make the
changes and be consistent. Commissioner Aamoth said he is excited about doing this and
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it sounds like we have a good implementation plan. He commented that the context about
decisions we make for City Center are critical to him. Commissioner Aamoth said when
the Planning Commission must make a decision and there is pressure from an individual
with recommendations, it is important to understand how a decision affects long term goals
for City Center.
Commissioner Cooney cited the Excelsior and Grand as a great example, and asked if any
developer has ever proposed a similar plan.
Community Development Director Juetten said he was not aware of any proposal, and
added that the City of St. Louis Park provided significant money into that plan. He said
this is not in the equation for Plymouth.
Senior Planner Drill added that with smaller parcels of land under separate ownership such
as in City Center, it is more difficult for one developer to get control of a large area of land
to propose a large development.
Commissioner Davis asked about the possibility of redeveloping the State Farm property
and what would be desirable for that site.
Community Development Director Juetten said the future of the State Farm site is
unknown. He said there is a need to create density along Plymouth Boulevard, and
preferably also along
37th Avenue. He said two-story architecture close to Plymouth
Boulevard is preferred. Community Development Director Juetten said the pond on the
north side could be incorporated as an amenity, and said a combination office/retail or a
restaurant are uses that could work at that site.
Chair Holmes opened the public hearing.
Chair Holmes introduced Jerry Rotman, 15905 38th Avenue N. Mr. Rotman commented
on the pedestrian friendliness, and said he and his wife have walked to the Mann Theater
several times. Mr. Rotman said because he lives across the street west of the Comcast site,
he is concerned about traffic and aesthetics as Comcast is a quiet neighbor and the trees on
that site are desirable. He asked why the expanded use category of retail and entertainment
were options for that particular corner. Mr. Rotman asked if there are specific uses
contemplated for the Comcast site if Comcast sells or agrees to redevelopment. He said he
hoped any signage on the corner of Rockford Road and Vicksburg would be built into the
small hill on the corner rather than sit as an edifice at the top of the hill.
Chair Holmes closed the public hearing.
Community Development Director Juetten said any signage would be worked into the
existing contours of the site. He agreed the landscaping is very nice and said trees would
not be removed for signage. Community Development Director Juetten addressed the uses
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allowed under the Zoning Ordinance and said he sees this site different than the State Farm
site because it is oriented to lower density than the higher density on the east side. He said
it is zoned retail now, and would be rezoned to allow a combination of retail and
entertainment, including restaurants and an amusement center.
Commissioner Jaffoni agreed with the idea to make Plymouth Boulevard the main street.
She concurred that the City Center signage should be moved and including the section west
of Vicksburg doesn't make sense. Commissioner Jaffoni said the crosswalks with
pedestrian walkway north/south mid -block should have a consistent look. She said she
agrees with the abandonment of the roadway due to cost, and thinks the proposed
pedestrian spine is the right way to go. Commissioner Jaffoni recommended a systematic
approach right away to jump start a pedestrian environment. She said the City should
make the pedestrian spine a priority and create it with benches, lighting and market it to the
community. Commissioner Jaffoni asked if the walkway could loop in front of the
proposed retail buildings on the west side of the Cub parking lot, rather than in front of
Cub Foods. Commissioner Jaffoni said if Vicksburg is not the main street, she is
concerned about the design of retail fronts on Vicksburg as front entrances would not face
Vicksburg, i.e. Mann Theater. Commissioner Jaffoni said parking in side yards between
buildings should be screened for walkers. She said bike paths and handicap accessibility
for walkways would give a senior friendly emphasis. Commissioner Jaffoni questioned if a
parking ramp has been considered and cited the Carlson Towers and Edina's 2 -level
parking ramp that allow patrons to park and enjoy restaurants and shopping. She said a
parking ramp would use the "air" and allow the land for another use.
Community Development Director Juetten said the pedestrian spine being developed with
the Inland development and library project will establish positive examples of what the
City wants to see for a consistent look for pedestrian walkways. He said the completion of
the walkway spine would be reviewed when budgeting as it will have a fairly hefty price
tag. Community Development Director Juetten said private money would not be available
until properties are developed. Community Development Director Juetten said the design
of buildings along Vicksburg lane would be reviewed as these projects come forward. He
said the developer for the Inland project said the Vicksburg side is as important as the Cub
side of the building. Community Development Director Juetten stressed the architecture
on the Vicksburg and Cub side are equally important, regardless of where the door is
located.
Commissioner Davis said he thinks that buildings along Vicksburg Lane should not have
an entrance facing Vicksburg. He said there would be a row of buildings on the Vicksburg
side, and the intent would be to have people park in the middle of the parking lot and walk
to Cub and other places that have front doors on the inside. Commissioner Davis noted
that there are numerous street signs cropping up everywhere causing a suburban blight. He
said he hopes Plymouth Boulevard, which will look nice with banners, lights, and planters,
would not have too many traffic signs.
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Chair Holmes said he sees this as a positive first step. He said everyone has looked for a
better way and staff has done an outstanding job to start this process. Chair Holmes said
everyone wants to jump start this process, but it is an evolutionary process to reach the
vision for 10 years from now; Chair Holmes said we do have to consider the rights of
people. Chair Holmes said if we can follow the path we choose, eventually we will get to
where we want it to be. Chair Holmes said he is supporting this proposal.
Commissioner Davis said he does not see the point of changing zoning for the west side of
Vicksburg Lane and would not support the recommendation. He said he recommends
leaving that zoning as is.
Senior Planner Drill stated that if the text of the Zoning Ordinance changed, that area
would need to be rezoned because the current CC -RE district would no longer exist.
Senior Planner Drill added that those three parcels were originally created as a gateway
into the City Center area. He said this was originally zoned this way so all buildings would
have the setbacks and building standards consistent with City Center.
MOTION by Commissioner Jaffoni to approve the map and text, and recommending the
area of west of Vicksburg be zoned consistent with part of that PUD.
Community Development Director Juetten stated the zoning in this area can't be changed
because it has PUD guidelines. Additionally, that area was not published for PUD
rezoning.
MOTION by Commissioner Cooney, seconded by Commissioner Davis, to approve the
request by the City of Plymouth for a Zoning Ordinance text and map amendments. Roll
Call Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved. Commissioner Jaffoni voting nay.
MOTION by Commissioner Jaffoni, seconded by Commissioner Aamoth, to approve the
request by the City of Plymouth for a comprehensive plan update — preliminary City Center
plan. Roll Call Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved.
B. CITY OF PLYMOUTH.
Chair Holmes said the November 21, 2007 Planning Commission meeting would be
canceled.
8. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Chair Holmes, without objection, to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 p.m.