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HomeMy WebLinkAbout081722 PC MINUTESCITY OF APPLE VALLEY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES August 17, 2022 1.CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission Meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Scanlan at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Paul Scanlan, Keith Diekmann, David Schindler, Phil Mahowald Member(s) Absent: Jodi Kurtz, Becky Sandahl, and Jeff Prewitt City staff members attending: Community Develo pment Director Bruce Nordquist, City Planner Tom Lovelace, Planner Alex Sharpe, City Engineer Brandon Anderson, City Attorney Sharon Hills, and Department Assistant Breanna Vincent. 2.APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Scanlan asked if there were any changes to the agenda. MOTION: Commissioner Schindler moved, seconded by Commissioner Diekmann, approving the agenda. Roll call vote: Ayes - 4 – Nays - 0. 3. CONSENT ITEMS MOTION: Commissioner Schindler moved, seconded by Commissioner Diekmann, approving the minutes of the meeting of August 3, 2022. Roll call vote: Ayes – 4 – Nays – 0. 4.PUBLIC HEARING A.Floor and Décor Planner Lovelace presented the staff report. Commissioner Schindler stated that the southeast corner could use additional landscaping and requested that better elevations be provided at the next meeting. Planner Lovelace stated that there are some different colors within the horizontal lines but that better images can be provided as they do not translate well to the larger screen. Commissioner Diekmann asked why the new building appears to be much larger in the plans than the current building though the square footage is similar. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes August 17, 2022 Page 2 of 5 Planner Lovelace stated that the current building is squarer in shape as opposed to a longer more rectangular shape. Commissioner Diekmann asked how many parking spaces are required for this use. Planner Lovelace stated that there are different requirements with this use and that it is being treated similar to a hardware operation and roughly 1 space per 800 sq. ft. is required. The demand is higher for a movie theater as opposed to this operation. Commissioner Mahowald agreed with previous comments regarding additional landscaping being added and requested that an elevation that shows the landscaping be provided at the next meeting. Commissioner Mahowald also stated he had concerns over increasing building coverage from 20% to 30%. Planner Lovelace advised that the new coverage would actually be around 28.5% and much of the lot is already covered in impervious surface. Commissioner Schindler added that they would be adding extra green space and also onsite drainage. He also agreed that the new building did seem much larger than the current. Planner Lovelace suggested providing a superimposed photo of one building over the other to get an idea of the size difference. Commissioner Diekmann asked what the lot size was and if the current coverage was already over the limit. Planner Lovelace stated he would have the information at the next meeting. Vice Chair Scanlan asked if the parking lot to the north could be used as a separate outlot for another use in the future. Planner Lovelace stated that it is a possibility. There are some cross access/cross parking agreements with Red Robin and MVTA. Vice Chair Scanlan pointed out that if the parking lot is used for another use, it would affect the parking requirement for this project. He also stated the importance of having a balanced façade and landscaping. Petitioner Alan Catchpool (Kimley Horn) was present for questions. With no further comments, Vice Chair Scanlan closed the public hearing. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes August 17, 2022 Page 3 of 5 B.Apple Valley Square 7th Addition The public hearing for this item is being continued to the September 21, 2022, meeting. 5.LAND USE A.Woodwinds 8th Addition Preliminary Plat Planner Sharpe presented the staff report. Petitioner Bob McNearney (McNearney Family Homes) was present for questions. There were no questions from staff or commissioners. MOTION: Commissioner Diekmann moved, seconded by Commissioner Schindler, to recommend approval of a preliminary plat to subdivide a 2.97 acre parcel into six single-family lots through Woodwinds 8th Addition preliminary plat subject to conditions 1 through 18 in the staff report. Roll call vote: Ayes – 4 – Nays – 0. 6. OTHER BUSINESS A.Orchard Place Amenity Area/North Creek Greenway Trail Concepts City Engineer Brandon Anderson presented a brief staff report. Senior Landscape Architect Karyn Luger (Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.) provided a presentation of the four concepts being proposed for the Orchard Place Amenity Area. Commissioner Mahowald asked where parking would be located for this amenity area. City Engineer Anderson stated that the primary function is a pedestrian trail. As the retail development is built, it may include additional parking. The amenity area will be designed as a destination along the greenway trail. There is some parking available at various parks that could be utilized. Commissioner Mahowald opined that having an amphitheater may be difficult with no parking available. City Engineer Anderson stated that the term “amphitheater” is being use loosely in these concepts. It’s more of a passive use for gathering and will not be used to generate crowds CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota Planning Commission Minutes August 17, 2022 Page 4 of 5 or host concerts. Feedback from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee showed that most did not believe the amphitheater would be beneficial. Commissioner Mahowald advised that the amenities associated with the bike trail seem to be more beneficial to the area. Commissioner Diekmann asked what the elevation difference would be from the retail space to the amenity area. City Engineer Anderson stated it would be 15’. Commissioner Diekmann advised that concept 4 was initially ideal as it draws in people from the retail space as opposed to the other 3 concepts which are more focused on the trail, though with the lowered elevation, it likely will not be visible from the retail space. Commissioner Diekmann stated that concept 2 may be the most likely to draw in people from the retail space while still incorporating the trail focus, especially if the pergolas are high enough to be visible from the retail space. Commissioner Schindler stated that it was difficult to imagine the concepts but that concept 2 seemed to be a good fit with the gathering area. Commissioner Schindler advised that focusing on the trail amenities would be preferred. Vice Chair Scanlan opined that the amphitheater may be a nice amenity to keep some separation between those using the trail and others who may want to just have a gathering space. With the tunnel connection, there could be an increase in those who frequent Cobblestone to use the greenway and access the retail space. Commissioner Schindler asked if the only shade would be provided from trees. Senior Landscape Architect Luger stated that the plan is to incorporate some type of structure for shade. CD Director Nordquist asked what the maintenance responsibility would entail. City Engineer Anderson stated that it has not yet been determined between the City and Dakota County for this amenity area. The trail will be maintained by Dakota County. CD Director Nordquist asked if the zig-zag design for the connection point to the retail area would provide winter maintenance difficulty. City Engineer Anderson stated that the switchback trail would be difficult to maintain but the project would need to be a 12-month use. Feedback from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee advised the softening of the switchback to be more gradual is ideal.