WS 2008 02 11CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:40 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilman Litsey, Councilwoman
Ernst, and Councilwoman Tjornhom
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Laurie Hokkanen, Kate Aanenson, Paul Oehme, Todd
Hoffman, and Terry Jeffrey
DISCUSS APPLICATIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL VACANCY.
Todd Gerhardt reviewed
the process of receiving and interviewing applicants, and outlined options on how to proceed.
Mayor Furlong suggested each council member write down their top 2 candidates to see where
the council stands. Councilwoman Ernst questioned why 2 candidates as opposed to 3. The top
2 candidates were Ladd Conrad and Jerry McDonald. Council members discussed the value of
Jerry McDonald’s recent history on the Planning Commission versus Ladd Conrad’s historical
background of living and serving the community for the past 20 years. After a lengthy
discussion, the council decided to appoint Jerry McDonald to fill out the term of Craig Peterson.
DISCUSSION OF CITY CODE AMENDMENTS.
Todd Gerhardt explained that staff wanted
to receive feedback from council members regarding City Code amendments before bringing the
items through the public hearing process. With regard to the commercial zoning district, Kate
Aanenson discussed the need to correct numbers for setbacks and buffer yards in PUD’s,
whether or not to permit drive thru windows with conditional use permits and design standards in
the Neighborhood Commercial district, allowing heights of 3 stories or 35 feet in Business
Neighborhood district, simplify zoning districts and standards in Central Business District,
General Business and Business Highway, creating a new Community Commercial District to
allow for larger retail uses in certain areas, and standards that would apply to a regional
commercial center. Mayor Furlong asked for comparisons of the proposed numbers presented in
the matrix handed out by staff to current numbers. The council discussed where and when drive
thru windows should be allowed, and what conditions should be applied to those uses.
Councilwoman Tjornhom asked for feedback on what impact the addition of the 400 new
employees working at Lifetime Fitness corporate headquarters has had on local businesses. Kate
Aanenson explained that these amendments will be going before the Planning Commission in
April and staff would welcome any feedback in the meantime. Mayor Furlong stressed the need
for flexibility for downtown businesses to be successful, along with monitoring what type of
businesses are allowed and excluded from different zoning districts.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session at 7:00 p.m.
Presented by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager Prepared by Nann Opheim