HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/07/2011 CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
DECEMBER 7, 2011
1. CALL TO ORDER
The City of Apple Valley Informal Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Acting
Chair Burke at 7:00 p.m.
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Members Present: Ken Alwin, Tim Burke, Paul Scanlan, David Schindler, and Brian Wasserman.
Members Absent: Keith Diekmann and Tom Melander.
Staff Present: City Planner Tom Lovelace, Associate City Planner Kathy Bodmer, Associate City
Planner Margaret Dykes, Assistant City Engineer David Bennett, and Department Assistant Joan
Murphy.
Mr. Lovelace stated only informational material will be presented at this meeting and no action will
be taken on any of the items presented. He said staff wanted to provide information to the Planning
Commission on projects that they will be working on over the next several months. Some of these
projects might be familiar to the Planning Commission, and many will require Planning
Commission review or participation.
1. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL LIVABLE COMMUNITIES DEMONSTRATION
ACCOUNT (LCDA) GRANTS
The Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) funds development and redevelopment
projects that achieve connected development patterns linking housing, jobs and services, and
maximize the development potential of existing infrastructure and regional facilities. Funding has
been a catalyst that has enabled cities and developers to expand options available in the market, like
transforming an outmoded shopping center into a neighborhood center with new housing
opportunities, retail and commercial services, and public spaces. Funded projects include a variety
of small-scale and large-scale developments throughout the region, serving as destinations for daily
activities, such as work, errands, shopping and entertainment.
Since the program's inception in 1996, Apple Valley has received three development grants. In
2004, $2,356,344 was awarded for the construction of a below-grade parking structure in the
Village at Founders Circle development. Unfortunately, that development did not occur and the
funding was returned to the Met Council. In 2005, $425,000 was awarded and used for the
installation of a splash pad, waterfalls/entry feature and playground equipment in the Central
Village's Kelley Park. In 2008, the City received a grant in the amount of $566,834 that was used to
assist the Dakota County Community Development Agency with the purchase of property for a 60-
unit senior's apartment in the Cobblestone Lake development.
This year, the City submitted two grant applications for the following projects:
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
Dakota County, Minnesota
Planning Commission Minutes
December 7, 2011
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a. The Enclave Trails - The Enclave Apartments will be a high-density 240-unit apartment
building with some affordable units located within the Apple Valley Transit Station (AVTS)
Transit Improvement Area (TIA), approximately 1/4-mile from AVTS on the Cedar Avenue
Bus Rapid Transit corridor in the mixed-use Central Village area. The $174,800 grant will
fund the construction of two pedestrian links connecting AVTS to the Project: 1) 650-feet of
sidewalk on the east side of Garrett Avenue from 153rd Street to its terminus; and 2) 1,200-
feet of trail from Founders Lane through a City-owned ponding area to Garrett Avenue.
Pedestrian-scale lighting will be added. The trails between the Enclave apartments and the
AVTS will provide a pedestrian and bicycle connection between the future affordable and
market-rate housing units and the Cedar Avenue BRT line.
b. Cobblestone Lake Seniors Complex and Cobblestone Lake Parks Improvements - The
City requested $896,000 in grant funds that will be used to assist in the acquisition of land for
a 214-unit life-cycle senior complex and completion of planned park amenities, which should
provide the stimulus for future multi-family and/or mixed-use development on the western
side of the Cobblestone Lake development. This proposed senior continuum of care project
will provide another housing option in a mixed-use development that adds another level of
life-cycle housing. The park amenities will encourage biking and walking along the pathway
within the development and connections to a transit station and community park.
These two funding requests have received recommendations for approval by the Metropolitan
Council's Livable Communities Advisory Committee and Community Development Committee.
The full Metropolitan Council will review the requests at its December 14 meeting to determine
whether the projects will receive full funding.
2. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL LCDA PRE-DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The Metropolitan Council also has another grant program that provides funding to assist cities that
are in the pre-development phases for a specific development or redevelopment project. The City
was successful in receiving two 2011 pre-development grants for the following projects:
a. Hanson Property Market Analysis - The Hanson Concrete Plant was located on 80 acres of
industrially zoned property northwest of the intersection of Johnny Cake Ridge Road and
County Road 42. Due to the recession of 2007-2010, the property owner closed the facility in
March 2010. This represents a loss of over 100 jobs. The Metropolitan Council awarded the
City a $50,000 pre-development grant to hire a consultant (the McComb Group was chosen in
September) to examine the market mix and economic feasibility of potential future users of
the now-vacant 80 acres. The 2030 Comprehensive Plan designated the site for industrial
users, and the City continues to support industrial users on the property, preferably a larger
user or multiple users. The market analysis will be used to identify key elements of a future
land use plan.
b. Apple Valley Bus Rapid Transit-Oriented Development (BRTOD) Guide Plan - The
Metropolitan Council awarded the City a $70,000 pre-development grant to hire a consultant
to perform a planning study of bus rapid transit-oriented development opportunities along the
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
Dakota County, Minnesota
Planning Commission Minutes
December 7, 2011
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Cedar Avenue transitway. The planning study will include market study/demographic
analysis, design principles, guide plans, land use controls and design standards. Staff is in the
process of completing the request for proposal and expects to have a consultant on board early
2012.
3. AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS-SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ASSESSMENT
TEAM (AIA-SDAT) FINAL REPORT
In early November, staff distributed a draft of the final report to the Planning Commission for their
review and comment. As stated in the memo that accompanied the draft report, staff will gather
comments regarding a vision and implementation priorities from the City Council, Planning
Commission, and Steering Committee and then prepare a draft outline of the implementation
process. The implementation would include the Central Village. Due to the variety of potential
land use decisions and zoning code amendments that have been identified in the report, the City is
asking for the Planning Commission to take the lead as the implementation committee and could be
further discussed at the Planning Commission meeting on December 21
The City has not set up a time to meet with the Steering Committee and City Council to discuss the
draft report, which is expected sometime early in 2012.
4. UPCOMING LAND USE PROJECTS
Staff has been working on a variety of projects that are expected to be before the Planning
Commission for review in 2012. The following projects were briefly described and what type of
approvals will be necessary:
a. Cedar Avenue Commercial Development — As part of the Cedar Avenue Transit Oriented
Development planning process, Mt. Olivet Church has informally asked the City to consider
whether some small commercial development could occur on their property. For instance, a
bank has stated it is interested in purchasing a Y2 acre portion of their property to construct a
small stand-alone facility that would have two drive-through lanes. This would require a
Comprehensive Plan amendment, rezoning, subdivision, and site plan/building permit
authorization.
b. Cobblestone Lake Pizza Ranch Restaurant - The City has been approached by
representatives of the restaurant about constructing a 7,400-sq. ft. restaurant facility in the
northeast corner of 157th Street West and Pilot Knob Road. This proposal will require
consideration of a minor subdivision and site plan/building permit authorization.
c. Fischer Point Addition/Menard's Relocation - An application has been submitted
requesting the subdivision of 56 acres of property located along the south side of CSAH 42,
between Flagstaff Avenue and Johnny Cake Ridge Road for the purpose of creating one lot
and five outlots. The proposed 19-acre lot would be used for the construction of a 162,340 sq.
ft. Menard's store, which would relocate their existing operations to this site. This proposed
development project will also require approval of a 2030 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
Dakota County, Minnesota
Planning Commission Minutes
December 7, 2011
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re-designation and rezoning of the proposed lot as well as a 6-acre outlot that would be used
for future retail development. Comp Plan Map re-designation and rezoning is not being
requested for the remaining four outlots within the proposed subdivision.
Access to the site is limited as well as limited easements due to the pipeline that goes through
it. The area would not be mined. If this is approved the project would be able to move
forward. The current Menard's store could be sold to another user or multiple users. At this
time Menard's has not made application but is waiting for approvals of rezoning and Comp
Plan change. Menard's would like to get started in early 2012.
d. Fischer Property, East of Pilot Knob Road - In 2009, the City approved a request for the
rezoning of 113 acres of property, generally located in the southeast comer of Pilot Knob
Road and CSAH 42, from "SG" (Sand and Gravel) to low and medium density residential
uses, and institutional uses. More specifically, approval was granted for the rezoning of 22
acres to "R- 3 (Single Family Residential/1 1,000 sq. ft. min. lot area), 53 acres to "M-3"
(Multiple Family Residential/3-6 units per acre), 34 acres to "M-6" (Multiple Family
Residential/6- 12 units per acre), and 4 acres "P" (Institutional). There have been several
inquiries recently about developing this property; therefore, we might expect seeing a proposal
for this property in the upcoming year.
e. Commons II - Staff has been working with East-West Ventures and the owner of the
Commons 11 office building at 15025 Glazier Avenue to bring a large national tenant that
would occupy the entire 65,000 sq. ft. building, and construct an approximately 40,000 sq. ft.
expansion. The potential business needs 100,000 sq. ft. for a combination headquarters and
business-to-business service center. The Commons II location is desirable because it is in
Apple Valley, and in proximity to future regional transit services. The larger user is interested
in the building now and looking for financial contribution. They are interested in the property
because of the BRT. On-sight parking could be reduced because of the transit use.
f. Apple Valley Business Campus — This past August, Hebert and Associates, Inc. submitted a
request for approval of a subdivision by plat of an existing 27-acre outlot to create two lots
and two outlots for the purpose of constructing two office/warehouse buildings on the
proposed lots and future industrial development on the two outlots. The site is located at the
northeast comer of 147th Street West and Flagstaff Avenue. Since that submission, an issue
has arisen regarding the relocation of several underground pipelines in order to accommodate
the construction 147th Street West between Johnny Cake Ridge Road and Flagstaff Avenue.
Construction of this street is necessary for access to the development. The acquisition of
additional easement area will be required for the pipeline relocation, which has impacted the
development proposal as presented by the applicant. Staff is working with the property and
pipeline company with the acquisition of additional land for the pipeline relocation.
g. Central Village - Staff has been working with IMH and Tim Nichols on possible
modifications to the existing plans for the Legacy North area. No formal plans have been
submitted, though the new property owner is considering changes that may require planned
development zoning amendments, replatting, and site plan/building permit authorization.
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CITY OF APPLE VALLEY
Dakota County, Minnesota
Planning Commission Minutes
December 7, 2011
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Under consideration is an increase in the number of residential dwelling units, a decrease in
the commercial square footage, and the expansion of Kelley Park.
Commission Alwin inquired what is happening at Time Square.
Associate Planner Margaret Dykes said the City continues to work with the property owner to find
additional financial resources to rehab the exterior of the building, and create amenities such as a
small plaza and enhanced landscaping.
h. Ordinance Amendments - A list of proposed ordinance amendments that staff will be
working on in the coming year was presented. The Commission was asked to review this list
and provide any comments regarding the list or suggestions for amendments that they would
like staff to review.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further comments from the Planning Staff or Planning Commission, Acting Chair Burke
adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
((j
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Jo0 Murphy, Planning De rtm e n rssistant
Approved by the Apple Valley Planning Commission on I): 2 1 - 1 1 .
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