Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/18/20121. CALL TO ORDER CITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 18, 2012 The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Melander at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Tom Melander, Ken Alwin, Tim Burke, Keith Diekmann, Paul Scanlan, and David Schindler. Members Absent: Brian Wasserman Staff Present: Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist, City Planner Tom Lovelace, Associate Planner Kathy Bodmer, City Attorney Sharon Hills, Assistant City Engineer David Bennett and Department Assistant Joan Murphy. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Melander asked if there were any changes to the agenda. MOTION: Commissioner Alwin moved, seconded by Commissioner Schindler, approving the agenda. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 20, 2012. Chair Melander asked if there were any changes to the minutes. Hearing none he called for a motion. MOTION: Commissioner Diekmann moved, seconded by Commissioner Schindler, approving the minutes of the meeting of June 20, 2012, as written. Ayes - 6 - Nays — 0. 4. CONSENT ITEMS --NONE-- 5. PUBLIC HEARINGS --NONE-- 6. LAND USE/ACTION ITEMS A. Hillcrest Acres 5th/AutoZone Retail Store - Public hearing to consider a lot split and site plan/building permit authorization to allow for construction of a 13,000 sq. ft. auto accessory store on a 1.75-acre lot. (PC12-22-FB) CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes July 18, 2012 Page 2 of 7 City Planner Tom Lovelace reviewed the applicant's request for approval of the subdivision of an existing lot into two lots and site plan/ building permit authorization to allow for construction of a 13,000 sq. ft. auto accessory store on one of the newly created lots. The replat would involve the subdivision of an existing 7.22-acre lot into 1.75 and 5.47 lots. The site is located along the east side of Foliage Avenue, south of CSAH 42. Direct access to the site would be via existing private streets located in Hillcrest Acres development. Agreements that would allow for vehicular access via the private drive from the lots located east and west of the site, similar to what currently exists for the east/west private drive that extends through the Hillcrest Acres development, would need to be executed prior to issuance of any building permit. He addressed the issues for truck turnaround which was a concern from the previous Planning Commission meeting. He stated the applicant provided staff with an auto turn design which illustrated how trucks would maneuver around and access the site. A large tractor trailer would impact several parking spaces during exiting the site but expectation would be that they would deliver product during off-peak hours when the store is not in operation and they would not have conflict with customers during the operating hours. He identified a previous concern related to pedestrian access to the site. He said the applicant would provide a sidewalk along the east side and along the curb as you enter into the site as well as a sidewalk connection from Foliage Avenue. He reviewed the grading and landscaping plans as well as elevation drawings. He stated the applicant would need to provide the City with an operation and maintenance agreement for the infiltration basins and underground storm water system prior to issuance of a building permit. Addressing would be along the side of the building so it would be visible from Foliage Avenue in ease of emergency situations as recommended by the Fire Marshal. He stated the applicant had addressed any comments based on the City's recommendation and comments from the Planning Commission. Chair Melander questioned if AutoZone was amendable to any changes described. Mr. Lovelace answered yes, with the exclusion of the sidewalk along the north side of the property and they would install that one. Commissioner Scanlan inquired about landscaping on the south side of the building regarding screening for the residential areas to the south. Mr. Lovelace answered that there is another lot to the south so there would be another building between AutoZone and the properties in the Orchard Pointe development. He believes that screening from the residential area would be more applicable when the south lot would be developed. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes July 18, 20U Page 3 of 7 Commissioner Scanlan identified that landscaping was not shown in the plans on the west side of the building and possibly that could be addressed with the applicant. Mr. Lovelace stated he would do that. MOTION: Commissioner Diekmann moved, seconded by Commissioner Alwin, recommending approval of the Hillcrest Acres Fifth addition plat. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. MOTION: Commissioner Diekmann moved, seconded by Commissioner Alwin, recommending approval of the site plan/building permit authorization to allow for construction of a 13,000 sq. ft. AutoZone retail store on Lot 1, Block 1, Hillcrest Acres Fifth addition in accordance with the plans date stamped July 12, 2012 and elevation drawing dated July 10, 2012, subject to the following: Ayes - 6 - Nays — 0. 7. OTHER BUSINESS • Agreements that will allow for vehicular access via the private drive from the lots located east and west of the site, similar to what currently exists for the east/west private drive that extends through the Hillcrest Acres development, shall be executed prior to issuance of a building permit. • A temporary curb shall be installed along the south side of the 30-foot wide access drive located along the south side of the building. • The applicant shall provide the City with an operation and maintenance agreement for the infiltration basins and underground storm water system prior to issuance of a building permit. • A five-foot wide sidewalk shall be installed along the south side of the east/west private street, located along the north side of the site. • All applicable City ordinances shall be adhered to. A. Legacy North Sketch Plan — Review of two multiple-family buildings totaling 330 units in the Legacy North development. Associate Planner Kathy Bodmer reviewed a sketch plan for the Legacy North development located on the northeast corner of Galaxie Avenue and 153rd Street West. The sketch plan showed a phase one development of two multiple-family apartment buildings with a total of 330 units. The project development team included the property owner, IMH Special Asset NT- AVN, LLC; the developer Titan Development of Denver, Colorado; and Kaas Wilson Architects. The site plan showed two multiple-family apartment buildings would be constructed in phase one. The building at Galaxie Avenue and 153rd Street West was a four-story 130-unit building with underground and off-street surface parking. The building layout would require the vacation of a portion of Fortino Street. The density of this portion of the development would be approximately 45 units/acre. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes July 18, 2012 Page 4 of 7 The building north of 152nd Street was designed to look like two four-story tall buildings connected by a single-story community area element. Again, underground parking and surface parking would be provided. The building layout would require the vacation of a portion of Fontana Trail. The petitioners propose extending Gabella Street out to Foliage Avenue. The density of this portion of the development would be approximately 43 units/acre. The site plan also showed future development of two more multiple-family buildings with a total of 220 units on each side of Fresco Terrace north of 153rd Street. The parcel on the northwest corner of the site at Galaxie Avenue and 152nd Street would be slated for future commercial. Ms. Bodmer identified images prepared by the development team showing the exterior of the buildings and how the buildings would be oriented on the site. She added the following land use actions would be needed in order for the project to move forward: Amend Planned Development Zone 739, approve preliminary and final plats for lot consolidation, approve vacation of right-of- way and approve site plan review/building permit authorization for the two buildings. Tony Patinella, Titan Development, provided an overview of the proposed Legacy North Development. He reviewed other projects his team had been involved with including the Seasons of Apple Valley. Link Wilson, Kaas Wilson Architects, reviewed sketches for the proposed site and stated they do not want to cut the vision off to Kelley Park. He stated it was important to pull the building back to give it green space and Kelley Park would be more visible. He identified amenities people now look for in apartments and stated their team would be open to ideas from the City and neighborhood as they move their vision forward. Commissioner Alwin commented he liked the glass design on the structures and had no concerns with blocking off Fortino Street or the vacation of Fontana Trail north of 152nd Street. Commissioner Scanlan inquired as to the timetable for the various phases. Mr. Wilson stated they would be working with Kraus Anderson through the fall, bidding it out in early winter, and would be looking at a spring 2013 start. Mr. Patinella answered that they would be looking at starting construction in March 2013. They would like to have their site plan review submitted for the August 8, 2012, deadline. Commissioner Burke stated he was in support of the sketch plan and thought it looked good. Chair Melander commented he liked the corner statements and that the design had interesting architecture. He was unimpressed with the bulk of the units such as flat faced and mono and would like to see that dressed up with balconies, etc. He would like to see this project move forward. Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist inquired if the design team gave any thought to a rooftop amenity. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes July 18,2O2 Page 5 of 7 Mr. Patinella answered that for one of the single story elements they are considering having a rooftop unit accessible from 2nd floor from both buildings for a view down to the Kelley Park. Commissioner Diekmann asked for clarification on horizontal mixed use vs. vertical mixed use. He also questioned how much they were allowing for parking underground per unit and if it would impact people that needed to park at Kelley Park. Mr. Patinella stated they have allowed for one space underground per unit for parking and another half space on the surface parking lots for the buildings themselves. He said there may be street parking along Gabella Street. He identified green space in the northeast area of the site that could be used as a parking lot for overflow parking for Kelley Park. Commenting on the retail, they do not feel the demand for retail on the first floor is there yet for these buildings. They do not want to intergrade it with the housing. They prefer to keep the retail in the northwest corner of the site so when the market changes they can complement the area and still keep retail in the overall master plan. Commissioner Diekmann inquired if that held true for future phase 3 and phase 4 that those buildings would be all housing units as well. Mr. Patinella answered it was correct now but it could change in the future based on the demand for retail or a different type of use. They are saying housing right now but it could include senior housing or multi-family housing. Mr. Nordquist stated that another area on the site could become surface parking lot with the expansion of Kelley Park. He said it would be referred to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for discussion for how an expanded park might look and what the amenities might be. Commissioner Scanlan asked if they could share what type of materials they would be using for the exterior of the buildings. Mr. Wilson stated they are contemplating a mixture of stone base with some brick. They have used plaster glass in the past that looks just like stone but is a fiberglass composite that is painted. They would also be using a combination of colored rock and Hardi Plank panels. Commissioner Schindler commented the plan looks nice. He stated that once people move into that area the retail could become a demand and he liked the idea of some retail in the north area of the site. He stated it was beautiful and a nice walking area with good features. He asked if they were planning to build mostly smaller type units. Mr. Patinella answered they have a range of one, two and three bedrooms that range from 600 square feet up to 1200 square feet. They would try to offer a variety of plans within the one, two and three bedrooms with some facing the park and some not. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes July 18, 2012 Page 6 of 7 Commissioner Scanlan commented he was pleasantly surprised at the thought that had gone into the site lines and the importance that Kelley Park would not be isolated and that they are trying to keep that vision as people drive by. He stated he liked that they were open to other ideas in the future phases as the economy changes. 13. Update of 2030 Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment for Single-Family Densities. City Planner Tom Lovelace stated staff would like to provide the Planning Commission with an update on the status of the proposed text amendment to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. On May 16, 2012, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider an amendment to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan that would add criteria for residential projects to be developed at densities less than 3 units per acre. More specifically, the City proposed adding the following language: The City will also consider densities of less than three units per acre when it can be justified by means of a valid market analysis. The purpose of this amendment was to allow new developments such as the proposed 182-lot single family development by D. R. Horton on 77 acres of land located at the southeast corner of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 42 and future Embry Path, to be constructed at densities less than 3 units per acre. The Planning Commission recommended approval of the submission of the text amendment, and the City Council approved submittal of the text amendment to the Met Council at its May 24 meeting and subsequently forwarded to the Met Council for their consideration. Upon their review, the Met Council expressed some reservations regarding the proposed amendment and requested that the City consider amending the units per acre range for the City's "Low Density Residential" classification. The City had initially considered this but decided to do the text amendment instead based upon the feedback received from the Council during their review of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update in 2009. After meeting with the with Met Council representatives on June 25, 2012, City staff submitted a tter requesting that the Council consider amending the density range for the "LD" (Low Density Residential) land use designation from 3-6 units per acre to 2-6 units per acre as an alternative to the proposed Comprehensive Plan text amendment. A letter was received from the Met Council stating that would be acceptable and staff would be taking the text amendment to the City Council at the July 26, 2012, meeting asking for them to adopt an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. C. Review of upcoming schedule and other updates. Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist stated that the next Planning Commission meeting would take place Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. 8. ADJOURNMENT CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes July 18, 2012 Page 7 of 7 Hearing no further comments from the Planning Staff or Planning Commission, Chair Melander asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Commissioner Schindler moved, seconded by Commissioner Diekmann, to adjourn the meeting at 8:02 p.m. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. Restfully Submitted, Joa urphy, Planning De artmen ssistant Approved by the Apple Valley Planning Commission on