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8. Site Plan Reivew to Expand Fire Station, 7610 Laredo Dr. g I IP. C I TY 0 F CHANHASSEN' P.C. DATE: June 15 , 198-7-- C.C. DATE: July 11, 988 CASE NO: 88-5 Site Plan ---....\,—. Prepared by: Dacy/v I ' 1 STAFF REPORT li PROPOSAL: Site Plan Review to Expand the Chanhassen Fire IStation 1... p.c. 1 i 0 LOCATION: 7610 Laredo Drive D;It I 7ni D.eteStic - I e‹. APPLICANT: City of Chanhassen II , . IPRESENT ZONING: OI, Office Institutional I ACREAGE: 2 acres DENSITY: N/A I ADJACENT ZONING AND LAND USE: N- OI; elementary school S- OI; post office I 4,4c ti a E- RSF; single family Id ' W- OI; city park IV! WATER AND SEWER: Municipal services are available to site. OMMEI PHYSICAL CHARAC. : Existing Fire Station located on site. I 2000 LAND USE PLAN: Public/Semi-Public I I Fire Station I June 15 , 1988 Page 2 REFERRAL AGENCIES Building Department No adverse comments ' Asst. City Engineer Attachment #1 Public Safety Department Attachment #2 and #3 1 BACKGROUND The proposed expansion to the fire station was approved as part of the referendum that was held on February 24 , 1988. Attached to the report are memos from the Public Safety Department to the City Council which describe the background for the type of expansion and design that has been proposed. ANALYSIS ' The proposed expansion consists of a 3 ,400 foot expansion to the 11 north of the existing building and approximately 2 ,000 square foot expansion (perimeter measurements) to the south of the existing building. In total, approximately 15 ,773 square feet is being added (both stories) . The addition on the north side of the building is for expansion of the apparatus storage area for fire vehicles . The addition on the south side is remodeling of the existing lower level area and upper level area for office, exercise and lounge areas . The proposed site plan also proposes minor reconfigurations of the existing parking areas . Concrete curbing will be added to the entrances into the fire station property. The site plan does not show concrete curbing on the north side of the new driveway area to serve the expanded appara- tus storage area. Addition of curbing in this area is required by ordinance. As to the number of proposed parking spaces, because the additions are for equipment storage and exercise and lounge areas , additional parking is not needed. The total imper- vious surface area is approximately 50% and which is below the 65% maximum permitted in the district. The sign on the property should be relocated so that it meets the required setback of ten feet from the proposed property line. The height of the proposed additions is approximately 21 feet which is in keeping with the ordinance requirement of 2 stories. A small addition is also proposed to be located on the existing hose tower at the rear part of the building. It is an ornamental feature which will improve its appearance. The proposed landscaping plan meets the requirements of the landscaping ordinance. Existing trees on site have been used to satisfy some of the requirements. It should be noted that the plant schedule does not indicate the type of species for the "I" . The plant schedule should be amended to identify these. ' Fire Station June 15 , 1988 Page 3 RECOMMENDATION Planning staff recommends the Planning Commission adopt the following motion: ' "The Planning Commission recommends approval of Site Plan Review #88-5 for expansion of the fire station based on the plans stamped "Received May 23 , 1988" and subject to the following con- , ditions: 1 . Concrete curbing shall be added to the north side of the pro- posed driveway entrance to the new appartus storage area. 2 . The landscaping plan shall be amended to indicate a species for the proposed trees along the south lot line. ' 3 . A revised grading plan shall be supplied to the City Engineer for approval prior to final site plan review. ' 4 . Calculations which verify that adequate flow and pressure conditions will be met to meet the demands for the sprinkling system. ' 5 . Adequate fire hydrant spacing will be met as part of the plans and specifications review process . PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION The Planning Commission recommended approval of the site plan ' review to expand the fire station based on staff' s recommendation but amended Conditions #2 and #4 as follows : ' 2 . The landscaping plan shall be amended to indicate a species for the proposed trees along the south lot line and to attempt to save the Sugar Maple on the northeast corner and ' maybe throw a few more Sugar Maples in there. 4 . Calculations shall be provided to the City Engineer which verify that adequate flow and pressure conditions will be met ' to meet the demands for the sprinkling system. STAFF UPDATE The Planning Commission was concerned as to why the basement area was not required to be handicap accessible. The Building ' Inspection Department states that because the occupancy load is below 100 persons, the Uniform Building Code does not require the area to be handicap accessible. As to the Maple and evergreen trees , the existing evergreens along the north side of the pro- perty will be retained. Should removal of these trees become necessary during construction, the city will replace any trees . The Fire Department will also comply with the Commission direc- tion to save the existing Maple trees and utilize Sugar Maples . Fire Station June 15 , 1988 Page 4 ' CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council approve Site Plan Review i #88-5 for expansion of the Fire Station based on the plans stamped "Received May 23 , 1988" and subject to the following con- ditions: ' 1 . Concrete curbing shall be added to the north side of the pro- posed driveway entrance to the new appartus storage area. 2 . The landscaping plan shall be amended to indicate a species for the proposed trees along the south lot line and to attempt to save the Sugar Maple on the northeast corner and install more Sugar Maples. 3 . A revised grading plan shall be supplied to the City Engineer for approval prior to final site plan review. 4 . Calculations shall be provided to the City Engineer which verify that adequate flow and pressure conditions will be met to meet the demands for the sprinkling system. 5 . Adequate fire hydrant spacing will be met as part of the plans and specifications review process . ATTACHMENTS 1 . Memo from Larry Brown dated June 9 , 1988 . 2 . Memo from Jim Chaffee dated March 9, 1988. 3 . Memo from Jim Chaffee dated December 3 , 1987 . 4 . City Council minutes dated December 7 , 1987 . 5 . Planning Commission minutes dated June 15, 1988. i CITY OF CHANHASSEN i . 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 1 (612) 937-1900 i MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission FROM: Larry Brown, Staff Engineer 452591 1 DATE: June 9, 1988 1 SUBJ: Site Plan Review for the Expansion of the Chanhassen Fire Station , Planning File 88-5 (Site Plan) On March 14, 1988, the City Council approved the concept plan for the expansion of the fire station and authorize staff to proceed with the site plan review process. 1 Sanitary Sewer 1 Municipal sanitary sewer service is available to the site by the existing sewer service located off Laredo Drive. Water Service 1 Similarly , municipal water service is also available to the site by the service in existence from Laredo Drive. Further analysis will be required to address concerns regarding this service for supplying the fire sprinkling system. 1 At this time, plans for the installation of additional fire hydrants are being reviewed and will be addressed as part of the plans and specifications. 1 Drainage The building maintains the existing drainage pattern and has been 1 accounted for in the downtown redevelopment storm drainage area. Grading Although it is anticipated that the parking lot area and side slope areas will not deviate from the existing plan , a grading plan showing contours which address drainage and screening shall 1 be submitted to the City Engineer as part of the plans and speci- fication review process. 1 1 I Planning Commission June 9 , 1988 II Page 2 It is therefore recommended that the site plan be approved upon 1 the following conditions: 1 . A revised grading plan shall be supplied to the City Engineer II for approval prior to final site plan review. 2. Calculations which verify that adequate flow and pressure II conditions will be met to meet the demands for the sprinkling system. 3. Adequate fire hydrant spacing will be met as part of the I plans and specifications review process . 1 1 I I 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 CI "T"Y QF ••■•■■•■•••••■••....e......• \ CHANHASSEN f 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 ' (612) 937-1900 i MEMORANDUM 1 TO: Don Ashworth, City Manager \ L) FROM: Jim Chaffee, Public Safety Director 1 DATE: March 9 , 1988 SUBJ: Fire Department Concept Plan - Final Approval Background 1 On September 21, 1987, the City Council was updated and appraised of the status of the Fire Department expansion and remodeling. ' At that time they were presented with the initial concept plan as worked out by the Fire Department and designed by E.O.S. The concept plan was well received and only a few questions were aired. ' On December 7 , 1987, the Fire Department, with E.O.S. , came back to the Council with a revision and cost breakdowns as requested by Council. The original concept plan was once again presented 1 with clarifications on costs for specific items . It was well received by the Council and a motion was made and passed to pre- sent to the voters a fire department referendum which would ' include the original concept plan plus an aerial platform truck. Recommendation 1 It is the recommendation of this office to give final approval of the Fire Department expansion and remodeling plan as presented. Staff will then initiate the site review process with the 1 Planning Commission and recognizing that time is a factor, this office would recommend simultaneous authority to proceed with the plans and specifications . 1 11 1 1 1 1 ( (1.- . , 31 70 1 g ,,, CITY © F �_ i„. i \I , .Al \-Lik.,1/41 .7.-...:- ' 690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • I �T ,� 7 CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317 `, (612) 937-1900 I MEMORANDUM LI T0: Don Ashworth, City Manager _ II FROM: Jim Chaffee, Public Safety Director 12./3_/_S7__ El .e...,; -:,..... :-- :, ..,..;:ri"; 'el DATE: December 3, 1987 M - ______ II SUBJ: Fire Department Referendum _/2/1•./1.7. II Four years ago there was a recognized need for additional space • at the Central Fire Station on Laredo Drive. Because of dif- ' f ering priorities and capital improvement timetables, the Fire Department Building Committee was asked to wait. In May of this year, the go ahead for the Building Committee to meet with the architect was obtained. At that time, an expansion to the II apparatus area was the only addition anticipated, costing in the neighborhood of $300, 000 . The question now is "How did we go from that to an expansion costing more than three times as much?" II The answer is not simple and involves many complex and sometimes competing issues. When the original concept of additional apparatus space PP p 2 was ' discussed four ( 4 ) years ago, it was reflecting a present need. Since that time, the City has seen tremendous growth which has necessitated taking a closer look at the Fire Department' s needs I then, its present needs , and its future needs . As was mentioned 3 previously, the Fire Department needs four years ago appeared to be space, especially in the apparatus bays . There was not ade- ' quate space to accommodate the Fire Department vehicles and equipment presently on hand. Consequently, emergency response 3 vehicles were forced to be stacked in an unsafe and cramped manner. This necessitated hazardous vehicle movements during il emergency call outs when speed ( response time) was critical. IIAt the present time, these needs are still as critical as they were four years ago. In addition, two events during this last ' summer suggested some other needs . The first event occurred in the beginning of July when the Fire Chief, 1st Assistant Fire II Chief, and the Public Safety Director attended a two day weekend seminar on recruiting, training, and maintaining volunteer fire- ]] The seminar was instructed by Jack W. Snook, a nationally recognized expert in the field of volunteer II firefighters . II II il .. - ' 1 Mr . Don Ashworth I December 3 , 1987 Page 2 IMr. Snook pointed it the oklpoineedfoue that the best value in municipal ' dous service for what little remuneration tislrecereaping government y its mem- bers. Typically, the volunteer firefighter is recruited from the ranks of the blue collar worker and Chanhassen ' s growth is Ioccurring in the white collar area. Consequently, recruitment efforts must be geared toward the white collar members of the community. The suggested methods toward white collar recruitment includes providing challenges, recognition, and rewards. Good I equipment, facilities, and training are the most important minants of high morale and subsequently a dedicatedvolunteerter- force. IThe second event occurred on July century" . During the course of the 3storm uand gtheeevening of the, it I became readily apparent that the Chanhassen municipal facilities were inadequate to handle a relatively simple, but intense natural disaster. These two events provided fuel for concept designs and subsequent schematic additions to the original ba expansion that was four years old. Y Throughout the summer, as the Fire Station addition and remo- ' deling began evolving, the concept of a multi-faceted facility took form. These uses include civil defer opera- tions center, command post, rescue coordination, physical l fit- ness, emergency shelter, physical fit- ' The needs were a o , and meeting rooms, just to name a few. apparent, but how to transform these needs into an economically feasible, albeit adequate , design were complex. In a paid fire department, employees are on hand at the fire station I 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. i response times . Although a volunteer lfire edepartment cdoes onot have the luxury of 24 hour staffin g crucial. Some of the methods that voluntteere fire edepartments I commonly employ to ensure quick response are incentives s members are attracted to the station during their spare by ime. I These include pool tables , pin movie channels, kitchen faciligiesngsleelen� cable tv' s with rooms, and the list p g quarters es, goes on. All these are concepts that were looked at in the design I also designed to meet the the stati ten years or longer into the future, recognizing a service population of approximately 13, 000 to 15, 000. The initial concept was or I I 1987 esented to the Council on to include the cost estimates for the constructioneater 21, $ 1 900, 000. 00 . It appeared to be relatively well received by the I Council, except for comments concerning the raquetball court. On November 30, 1987, the Fire Department members me II ' the design. They voted to go with the design as originallyspre- sented to the Council . In deference to the Council ' s concerns; I II II 1 ---- C 1 ii I Mr. Don Ashworth Al December 3, 1987 Page 3 I however, an alternate design was suggested, eliminating the rac- 341 court. If the Council voices strong objection to the I racquetball court, then the alternate design could be looked at keeping in mind that no cost savings may be realized. The argu- ments in favor of the racquetball court appear to be convincing: I 1 . The ability for an amenity such as the racquetball court 14 to a) attract (recruit) , and b) retain members to the volunteer Fire Department. I 11 2 . The racquetball court' s relatively low cost compared with the entire cost of the project ( less than 4.5% ) . I 13 3 . The designed ability for the court to be converted to office/storage space at some point in the future if it ' is needed. 11 4 . Use of facility open to all city employees. 5 . Physical fitness guidelines to comply with anticipated I OSHA mandates and liability concerns. pat�d A 6 . An attraction for rescue/fire personnel to be on premises I when the alarm is sounded. 7. Emergency shelter/storage. Hopefully, there is more than adequate justification for the design as presented, including the racquetball court. The three ' ( 3 ) critical areas as measued by past, present, and future needs 3 are 1 ) apparatus space, 2 ) command station/emergency operations center, and 3 ) exercise aerobic area. The fire station remo- deling is designed to meet these needs ten years into the future I and beyond. Aerial Platform Truck: In a memo from Jim Castleberr y to Don I Ashworth dated June 5 , 1984 , it was suggested that an ae 3 platform truck may be needed in 1989 , depending on Chanhassen ' s industrial growth. The industrial growth is here and very much on the horizon. I Can the City use an aerial platform truck at present and is the need there for one? The answer to both these questions is yes_ II ii To paraphrase from the 1984 memo, it has been well documented that an aerial fire apparatus enhances the attack capabilities of the Fire Department. An aerial platform truck can place fire- I fighters on the top of roofs and can direct master streams into II large areas in a short period of time. To fight a large fire from a safe distance is crucial for safety and the aerial plat- ' form allows for that capability. An aerial would prove valuable in fire suppression needs for Chanhassen apartment complexes and multi-family units. 1 11 I 1 Mr. Don Ashworth December 3 , 1987 1 Page 4 In rescue operations alone, an aerial platform truck could prove 1 its worth with its extended reach capabilities. All things considered (mutual aid and sprinkler systems ) , an aerial 1 platform truck is a needed piece of apparatus that the City of Chanhassen cannot long be without. Public Safety uses for an aerial truck are numerous and varied. The cost for an aerial platform truck is $450, 000. 00 with a two year lead time antici- pated. The total Fire Department package approximates $1,500, 000, 1 fulfilling a present need and representing an investment in the future for the City of Chanhassen. 1 Manager' s Comments: This office fully endorses the design n c on- cept as presented. I doubt that we will be able to fund aerial truck from the operating budget. The space needs have 1 been evident for a number of years and the incident this last summer points out a real need for a command/emergency operation center. In a time of initial chaos following a large emergency, 1 a truly coordinated command and dispatch function is needed. The Department appears to believe that the community will support the fire station addition including the racquetball court. I would 1 recommend that they be given the opportunity to see if they are right. 0,7Y 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i rEOS I ICORPORATION ' J.NICHOLAS RUEHL,AIA BERTIL E.HAGLUND,AIA I I 1 September 28, 1987 Mr.Jim Chaffee, Director of Public Safety I I City of Chanhassen 690 Coulter Drive I PO Box 147 - Chanhassen, MN 55317 Dear Jim: _ ' 3 Enclosed please find our revised preliminary estimate for the proposed Chanhassen Central Fire Station, Chanhassen, MN. I 1 I have incorporated the previous additional cost items into our original estimate. Also I have Indicated the line Item deletions for the racquetball court area and skylights. I As per our previous conversation, the possible re-design of the lower level which would involve changing the racquetball court into another type of use could push the occupant over 100 people which would then require an elevator for handicapped access. I If you have any questions, please call. Sincerely, I 31 ' /r IJack And4son, AIA IJA:jc I IEnclosure I 1 1 A 1 1 . SEP 2 9 087 CITY OF CHANHAS 1 SE,1 n ARCHITECTS • SPACE PLANNERS • INTERIOR DESIGNERS I J684 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD • SUITE ONE • EXCELSIOR, MINNESOTA 55331 • (612) 474-3291 r r 0 CORPORATION J.NICHOLAS RUEHL,AIA ill BERTIL E.HAGLUND,AIA CHANHASSEN CENTRAL FIRE STATION 87146 CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 24, 1987 III PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE illGENERAL: Site Work 59,000 Demolition 12 183 leConcrete 24,405 Masonry 134.640 Metals 51,360 II Carpentry 10,000 Thermal & Moisture 41,010 Doors&Windows 43,302 le Finishes 47,588 Specialties 12,400 Special Construction 28,000 SUB TOTAL 463,888 MECHANICAL: HVAC 51,900 Plumbing 50,300 Sprinkler 22,800 SUB TOTAL 125,000 ELECTRICAL: Electrical 53,000 Site 7,000 Emergency Generator 35,000 TOTAL 95,000 SUB TOTAL 683,888 G. C. OH & Profit (15%) &General Conditions 102,582 SUB TOTAL 786,470 Contingency (5%) 39,323 • I IARCHITECTS • SPACE PLANNERS • INTERIOR DESIGNERS 684 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD • SUITE ONE • EXCELSIOR, MINNESOTA 55331 • (612) 474-3291 T Eos 1 CORPORATION I SUB TOTAL 825,793 Architectural/Engineering (9.25%) 76,387 , TOTAL 902,180 1 Additional Costs: Equipment and furniture Soil Testing Reproduction and Printing - Kitchen Appliances Deletions I A. Racquetball Court:walls, floors, ceiling structure, finishes, mech., and elec.. 61,200 B. Raquetball Court: finishes and elec. .39,600 C.Skylights 42,200 I I I i 1 1 I I I II City Council Meetin - December 7, 1987 C II Councilman Johnson: I'd like to suggest one improvement to the final report and that is that information be placed in the report detailing the other sites that were looked at. Make this report as complete as possible. A good document to stand on. Talk about why we didn't place it outside the MUSA I line. Why the group decided against the other free standing options and what the costs where. Place that in the report rather than merely referring to it. Make this report a complete report on all the actions taken by the Task Force. I Councilman Horn: My concern in referendums is that we shou give as many options as we can. I'm going to push for that in all the refereoidtum II items. That we separate them as much to give the this thing as possible. I think by lumping thin s ptople as much input into those options and I don't feel that's right. g ogether we're giving away IICONSIDER POTENTIAL 1988 REFERENDUM ITEM: RUE LH OS CORPORATION . REMODELING OF FIRE STATION, NICK IJack Anderson: I'll let Jim speak first and introduce the project then I'll come up and focus on the planning then we'll deal with the questions. II . Jim McMahon: 4 years ago there was a recognized need for an addition on the fire station. However, at that time there were not funds available to consider that project. Then about a year and a half ago we were informed that Ithe time was such that we were to review our problems and needs, and propose an addition onto the fire station. In doing that, reviewing our problems and needs, we came up with the facts that we needed added room for equipment, d II offices, meeting rooms and some type of a fitness facility or room. In addition to that, we reviewed our situation as far as membership is concerned. New members as well as keeping those existing members. We've also reviewed the growth of the city, where the city is going. There has been a lot of I discussion tonight in regards to the new downtown, the community center, industrial park is growing and our residential population is growing in leaps and bounds. For example, to date we are up 21% in calls over last year. We II also reviewed what our needs were as far as added equipment at this time and with all the industrial growth, downtown and so on, we also came to the conclusion that we now are in need of a aerial platform. This is in conjunction with industrial growth and residential construction changes, I designs, setbacks in buildings throughout the community. Basically what we've come up with as far as solutions to some our problems. Obviously we will cover the room situation with the presentation of the plan that we have for I the building. However, as far as our membership is concerned, which also is tied into this plan, after visiting with other communities and other chiefs in the area who have similar problems to us in regards to new members and keeping II members, they recommended that we attend a school seminar that was put on by an individual out of Cleveland who specializes in volunteer fire departments. After attending this we also designed into our building and found areas where II we felt we could help fill the requirements as far as membership and keeping our members. One of the aspects that they pointed was that the overall picture as far as planning your department you should consider what your population is, what your membership is, where it's coming from and after doing [E: II that, we've determined that Chanhassen is pretty much now, and moving more so 48 1 - . ___ �, 4. C- C City Council Meeting - December 7, 1987 II towards a white collar community and therefore, the use of two three II that we feel will attract people of that particular standing. o We also ropose a Plan A and Plan B to the membership. What o propose p. you're going to see tonight is II the choice of the total department. Obviously not 100% voted but definitely a unanimous vote in favor of the plan that's going to be presented to you tonight. There was some question at one of the meetings in regards to a portion of the station which will be addressed tonight and that's our multi- II use fitness facility. In regards to what we would like to recommend to the council, we would like on the referendum that both the aerial aparatus and the fire station be a single issue. At this point Jack can go over the planning I aspects. Mayor Hamilton: Could you repeat what you just said? You want to have the aerial with the station? You want them to go together? I just want to clear II on that. Jack Anderson: I'll start out with the lower level. Basically, the existing I building there is about 7,000 square feet and the new would be about 15,000 square feet. The lower level, the green area is where you come in, pile storage, training officers, womens and men's locker area, courtyard, exercise II area that could be used as a racquetball court or multipurpose uses. The intent was to design it so a second floor could be put in. With this four across here, there could be some expansion in offices in the administrative area here and down here, expansion of the exercise area and additional II • storage. This exercise area down here... On the first floor, I'll start out with the apparatus area. That essentially has grown twice as large and as you can see, this is basically, putting the aerial here... We maintain a back access. There's an emergency generator, I think the plan previously said to II not have it. This would be an emergency generator here and this would tie into the City Hall for emergency power. This is the existing building presently goes from here and goes like this. The office, the more , administrative part, one of the key planning aspects was this manned conference dispatch located centrally between the chief and other offices, entry with dispatch lookout into the apparatus room. It also gets the I dispatch out of the traffic which it presently is in right now. It's a much better planning for that room. Then, the chief's office here, assistant and an additional office located there, a lounge area in the upper area of the II courtyard. Parking is up front, predominantly in back and then along the side over here. I guess that pretty much takes you through. You had expressed some concerns about cost. We have indicated a skylight area here and some additional orientation of the local post tower, those came to about $42,000.00 II and we could look at those as an alternate. Mayor Hamilton: Did you have anything else you wanted to present Jim? ` II Jim McMahon: No, I think that's pretty much it other than the fact that I forgot to mention one of the things involved in the multiuse fitness room..., one of the things at the entrance was the fact that we attended three meetings II in the last year that were attended by OSHA and OSHA has on all three s occasions stressed an emphasize on the need and the fact that they will be entorcing fitness g programs as far as fire fighters are concerned and they II expressed an interest in seeing to it that many new stations building 49 I _.:� _ I ,. . IICity Council Meeting December 7, 1987 II additions will include some type of a fitness facility for their fire fighters as it's been determined on a national numbers, the number one cause of fire fighters fatality is heart attack from physical exertion. Our multiuse fitness room includes a program for strenuous cardiac exercise program. II might also add, this facility will be on for police under the same requirements as we are. Other public servants that w uldefallo under that .requirement. Councilman Johnson: I don't have many estio this. I work with OSHA regulations and are familiar here. ith with have requirementst I here. I see the entire need for this. This is probably one of the most vital services that this city provides to our citizens. It's an excellent fire protection system, our fire fighting. We're working more with our fire marshalls and everything to get fire prevention going and the entire facility I I believe is totally necessary if we want to continue providing our citizens with this current level of service. With the changing. demographic nature of this city, we are going to have to have something that will attract more fire II fighters into the area. We're going to need more fire fighters as we are growing. The need for the aerial truck I believe is there. It's past due. You have to fight fires, it doesn't necessarily mean a tall building to fight a fire in. It would mean a wide building. If you want to hit a fire that's I 'in the center of a building like United Mailing or Instant Webb, the Press, you can't reach those from the ground. If you have to get into the attic of a II building that has a high pitch on the roof, it becomes very dangerous for the fire fighters to try and negotiate those pitches. With the, I call it a cherry picker type ladder truck here where you have a platform that people can stand in, they can go right up onto those high pitch roofs and fight their I fire. You look at Near Mountain. A lot of those houses have a high pitch roof in it. I have a neighbor near me that probably has at least a 1 to 1 pitch on his roof. It's almost an A-frame. I think it's due and I'd like to see this go to referendum. I'd like to see our citizens pass this and get I this project built because I think this is an essential service that we must have. II Councilman Boyt: I can save us some time. I'm for them both. I got no questions and no comments. Councilman Horn: The only question I have is just one minor one. I believe I in our packet you talked about the space being available to city employees. Are you referring only to public safety employees or all city employees? I Jim McMahon: It would be available to all city employees. It's important for the City. When we have looked at facilities that have been built in this town, Instant Webb, they have an exercise facility for their employees. The I Press and what they've found is one, they keep people on the job. Two, they get less people missing work because they are physically fit and their performance is better. So whether or not everybody will use that facility, it will be available to them and those who do use it, will be better workers as I far as the city's concerned. Councilman Horn: I just have one more comment. It should be obvious to IIeverybody here that if we buy an aerial truck we're going to need someplace to [E: 50 II - _ ---ur- - - ._.� .._.. . " r (7 if City Council cxl Meeti.ng - December 7, 1987 put it so if we get an aerial truck with II truck. Again, in this case, I no facility, we can't get an aerial truck. without an aerial think there is an option of expanding the II put them together. I don't think that that's a good idea to Councilman Geving: I've been here for many years and I can tell you that I've always appreciated what the fire department has done for our community. II the most part we've tried to take care of their needs with good y. For supported them wherever it was needed, g equipment me and tonight is one that's highly important to our I see have not had II expansion to our fire hall since it was built. Our community has not had any doubled in that time. We know that the need is there for a command center. We need to have additional office spaces as we mentioned when II time. We need to have the additional two bays for the placement ofeour vehicles that are pretty well crowded in there now. be embarrassed about asking for a recreation room or and exercise f ci lit�y. to That goes with the department and if it's a need that's going to be placed on I us by OSHA and we recognize that it's for the good of our firemen, let's call if. a fitness facility and let's use it for that. I highly endorse this whole proposal. I'm more concerned about where we're going-to get our additional firemen and I think the two go hand in hand. If you have good f II have good equipment, you're going to attract additional firemen. you you're going to attract and keep up. least � p the people that we have signed up• I II understnad we've lost some people. Maybe these are the kinds of things that will hold them if we do have a good facility but it's highly needed. It's i absolutely essential to the communit II t between our communities, whenever we have afmajor fire orccats ropne an agreement to have an aerial truck come in from Excelsior rem Prairie we have and we don't have anything or Eden Prairie Y ng to reciprocate with other than our good will so I think down the line we're going to have to have an aerial facility. As we build our community it's absolutely essential. The thing that I think about I however is how best to package this in a referendum. I believe if recto give my priority of the three or four items that we're going I were to tonight, I'd place the fire department's needs first. g t' tO talk about on ' priority over the community center, over an ice arena, over, trails. To one me this is where it's at because this is something I can feel, I can touch, can see. The need is here now. I believe we can get along with some of the other I proposals later but this is a need that should go to the referendum and I think will support it. I think that you've done us a favor in identifying some of the things that we probably would have asked you to delete from the plan. Originally there was some skylights in here that I know we all asked II questions about and Clark asked that the items be enumerated and you have done that. I believe that the skylights could go. Whether or not we finish off that exercise facility, I guess I have to ask the r ' in the exercise facility in the lower level, wouldgwesbuildfanmuppe if el put over it with office space? Is that the plan? upper level Jack Anderson: Not right now. II 1 g.Councilman Gevin - j g now.You wouldn't complete that? Jack Anderson: It would be an open space right II. 51 II ', _ I City Council -Meetin g - December 7, 1987 �, SSki I Councilman Geving: Okay, I didn't understand that. I guess I ha difficult time trying to put all these packages together. Where I'm coming from is whether or not to package the aerial ladder truck with the facility I itself, with construction of the expanded fire station. I happen to realize that two years from now when we really need the aerial truck and somebody says let's go buy it, we won't have the half million dollars that's needed to come I out of the general fund. We just won't have it. We may not even have the levy authority to buy it so the strategy and I'm going to have to look to Don for an answer on this but it seems to me that the only smart way to package this is to put it all in one. Then if the need is absolutely essential and I two years from now, or a year from now, whatever it happens to be, the Council decides to go ahead with the truck, we will have had the referendum approval II from the people to go out and do it. Whereas, if we don't package it that way, we won't have the money so that's the real strategy. I guess I've given you most of my comments except to say, I think you guys have done a nice job. The fire department is unanimously behind this proposal and I hope we can get Iit for you. That's all I have. Mayor Hamilton: I guess I can take the easy way out and not make any comments either but I'm going to continue to be honest with you as I have been right I along to say that I do have a lot of concerns about what you're asking for. I think there are a lot of questions that we don't have the answers to so we can deal with this issue effectively yet. For instance, we talked about the need I for equipment, additional equipment, a $500,000.00 piece of equipment but when we look at developments and the building of new buildings we continue to put more and more restrictions on the building. Putting in sprinkler systems, new sprinkler systems, up in the roof, up in the rafters, then lower, then I everything has to be with all the bells and whistles on it so the alarms blow in the central location someplace so it can respond to it in an instant. I think we've been told when you start adding those things to buildings, that I you don't need the equipment or as much equipment or personnel that you would need if you didn't have those things. Then we immediately turn around and we have a request for a $500,000.00 piece of equipment. Maybe it's needed. I'm II not saying it's not needed. What I am saying is exactly what I've said to you before is, I think it's time that we find out what is needed. I think there are ways to do that and that's by having a consultant coming into the City. II Look at what the needs are of the fire department and the police department and then to evaluate what is said in that study and then to make some adjustments from there. Just because our town is growing and we have additional population doesn't indicate to me, nor does it to the experts that I I've talked to, doesn't indicate that you need to add additional people to your fire department, to your police department nor do you need to add additional equipment. One of the things you need to look at is response time I to calls and you have to come up with a response time that you feel the community can live with. If you can meet that response time on a consistent basis and if the people in the community are happy with that and with the job once you do get there, you don't need to keep buying equipment. You don't I need to keep adding people. OSHA, I'm sure it's true that they're looking at physical fitness for fire fighters but do they say that it's the city's responsibility to give them facilities to use to keep themselves in physically L: II good shape? When there's a community center proposed for about 3 blocks away that can be used by all members of the fire department at no cost, I find it 52 1 - _ City Council Meet3uy - December 7, 1987 II / i F difficult in going along with the proposal to put a racquetball court i what's now being called a multipurpose or II people. One of the things I'm mostly concerned about facility i is I know rth the use or 3t need for the expansion of the space. re is great space. You certainly need �cY You need more room. Whether it's office II Y eed more bays for your equipment. I'm concerned if you package this whole thing into one lump, that you may end up not getting e anything. At least not for a r you wanted to period of time so I guess I was surprised that II put the aerial truck on with everything else that you wanted to do. I think that might be an invitation to not have it pass. I think you need to think about that. I really think you need to have the expansion of the facility and I suspose you can split those things off but I think it's just absolutely essential that II not necessarily essential the equipment you get the expansion space for the station but noted ce there. qu'pment and some of the other goodies that you've I guess those are my comments. It's the same thing I've told you before and I'm going to continue to say it and I think until I have more I information to deal with the issue, I'm not sure I can change my position. Councilman Boyt moved, Councilman Geving seconded to support the placing of I the remodeling of the fire station and acquiring of an aerial truck on the referendum ballot as one item. Councilman Boyt, Councilman Geving and Councilman Johnson voted in favor of the motion. Councilman Horn and Mayor Hamilton voted in opposition to the motion. The motion carried with a vote of II 3 to 2. Councilman Boyt: Clearly they're going to go out to the community. If the II community tells them we think you ought to split it, then we've got time between now and the referendum to come back and split them but to me, it makes sense to go at it initially as one package. It's all related to the same kind II of thing so my motion would be to present the aerial truck and the fire station remodeling as one it on the referendum. Councilman Horn: I'd like to comment. I'm not opposed to these as a ' referendum item. I don't like bundling referendum items. People can make that choice. Mayor Hamilton: I think you need to come back to us with some informatio I because I really am afraid that by putting information to lose the whole works. 3 them together, it's an invitation Jim McMahon: We appreciate your comments and we II the Bill stated, we do have some time to come back after a little stud whole package and as n possibly asking some of the residents their opinion. II CONSIDER 1988 REFERENDUM ITEM: TRAIL PLAN AND LAKE ANN IMPROVEMENTS, PARK AND c ' RE TI CREAON COMMISSION. Mark Koegler: I think you're familiar with the basics on this one so I'll run II through it very quickly. It was referenced earlier tonight about the survey that was done. I think you're well aware that of the top 10 responses, five of those, particularly 1, 2, 6, 7 and 10 were trail oriented. skiing, bicycling, walking, whatever so there was a strong public sentiment II 53 I II—__ . - Planning Commission Meeting June 15, 1988 - Page 21 IBatzli : The one comment I had was for agricultural district with less than 3 acres . Are there many agricultural districts in the City with less than 3 acres? Are you talking about lots in agricultural districts? IOlsen: Yes . I Batzli : I think I 'd just clarify that or something . We' re talking about lots . Emmings: Agricultural district lot. IBatzli : Something like that. You ' re not talkin g about the district. You' re talking about lots within the district . IEmmings: Or parcels maybe because they probably aren' t divided into lots . IBatzli : That ' s just kind of a clarification . Olsen: Just add parcels to residential district parcels and agricultural district parcels. IBatzli : Does the 3 acres apply to the residential district as well? I I- Olsen: No. I 'm just saying , if y ou ' re confused with agricultural district maybe residential district is confusing too . I Batzli : Well , it' s in any residential district or in an agricultural _ district on lots of less than 3 acres is what you ' re trying to say, correct? I guess I 'd just clarify that a little bit. I Emmings : Okay, then is there a motion to table this until proper notice can be given for a public hearing? IBatzli moved , Wildermuth seconded to table the Zoning Ordinance Amendment to amend Section 20-904 and Section 20-615 (6b) until proper notice can be given . All voted in favor and the motion carried . SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR EXPANSION OF THE FIRE STATION, 7610 LAREDO DRIVE. IJo Ann Olsen presented the staff report . IWildermuth: I have no questions on this issue. I think it' s a fine idea to expand the fire department . P Batzli : I think it' s a fine idea to expand it as well . I have a couple questions though. I was curious where, the power lines now run along the north side of the property. Apparently some sort of utility easement. Is Ithat where the property line is? Planning Commission Meeting June 15, 1988 - Page 22 Olsen : Where the utility easement is? 1 Batzli : Is there a utility easement on the north side of the property and is that where the property line is? Olsen : If there' s a utility easement , I 'm sure it ' s along the north edge. Batzli : Because if that 's where the property is and they' re coming in 16 1 feet 16 inches from the property line , there' s no way they' re going to save any of those pine trees on the north side. It's about 15 feet to the pine trees . That was one question. The other one was , are they going to 1 remove that maple tree on the northeast corner of the property? Is that what they' re doing by putting in this new bituminous surface? A big old 30 foot tree? Jim Chaffee: I don' t think we are. Batzli : I also understand there ' s not going to be an elevator in this? Jim Chaffee: No. Batzli : Why not?. 1 Jim Chaffee : I think when we presented it to our building inspector , they decided because of the dock we proposed, we did not need it. Batzli : What about handicap accessible? Jim Chaffee: I think they considered. . . 1 Wildermuth : There aren ' t too many handicapped firemen . Batzli : But this is, the lower level is available to the entire city. Jim Chaffee : I know what you ' re saying . I can ' t remember how they determined that. They thought about that and they decided it wasn ' t necessary. . . . Batzli : I guess I have a problem with that and I don ' t even know that I mentioned it when we talked about the addition to this building but I have a big problem with that. I think that every building the City builds should be handicap accessible in all ways . My one last question was , if we continue to have the voting at the fire station , are we losing parking? Gaining parking? That kind of stuff by doing this? Olsen : No, we' re not losing it . We' re maintaining the same. 1 Batzli : Once you pull all the trucks out so people can go in to vote? Jim Chaffee : I don ' t think we' ll be losing anything . It' s hard to determine that because the back parking lot on the west side has not been marked in any way. This time it will be. I don' t think we' ll be losing any. That was one of the major concerns of the fire department because Planning Commission Meeting June 15, 1988 - Page 23 1 - ' we' re adding members , part of the reason for the expansion was to hopefully increase our membership. To do that they have to park so we looked at that. Olsen : We didn' t look at it in terms of the voting . . .but the zoning requirements in terms of the square footage. Batzli : I think some of your peak periods of parking might be during those periods and obviously you've got a lot of city streets there and other things that people can kind of muddle around in. Then I had a minor changes to the staff' s recommendation. Those were my four questions . Emmings : What are the changes? ' Batzli : Just that they' re going to be acceptable to city staff. Provided to the City Engineer. For instance, in condition 4, calculations which verify. Just calculations will be provided to the City Engineer . That ' type of thing . Conrad : 50% impervious ratio . That just always amazes me. Where am I missing it Jo Ann? When I look at the layout here, it ' s just hard to ' believe that there' s 50% that ' s not impervious and 50% that is. Where is the part that isn ' t? Olsen : It ' s in the setback areas . There' s quite an open area between the I street and parking. It always does amaze. It ' s just those setbacks really add up those areas . ' Conrad : It ' s just incredible to me. There ' s no way it can be. Emmings : Is this going on? ' Conrad : That ' s the only place it can be . There ' s the little jog saying never, never land to the left and yes , that' s it. The plantings , there are no sugar maples on the plantings . Any particular reason? Ellson: That one big one that' s there now. Conrad : Was there any logic to the plantings around the fire station? Olsen: We usually just go with the plantings recommended and then confirm. . . Conrad : I 'm just looking for logic . I 'm just trying to figure out why. Why are we planting a juniper here? Olsen : They usually do it in terms of density. . . Conrad: They' re lower trees right? Olsen : The juniper? 1 1 Planning Commission Meeting June 15, 1988 - Page 24 ( Conrad : It looks like the planting schedule are all shorter . Junipers . I The crabs are smaller . Summit ash, I have no idea what that does . The sanchera is small . . . I 'm not going to force with this but when an architect comes up with plantings for Chanhassen and we' re talked about it a little bit . If Headla was here he'd talk about it some more. Why not ' the symbol of our . . . Olsen : A lot of times they pick out the more exotic trees because they look at it from the aesthetics of what kind of form it will have rather than looking at the maple trees . Emmings : None of these are that . ' Conrad : I guess the only thing that I would, and I really don ' t care a whole lot other than it' s kind of interesting to know what the architect or the planner was thinking of when they said this is rationel for the types of trees. That' s a one liner on our staff report that says the architect planted these trees for these reasons but I don ' t think it ' s my time or anybody's time right now to talk. . . Batzli : From the planting schedule , they don' t have, I don ' t think they have the one maple that remains. ' Jim Chaffee : I pretty sure it' s staying . Batzli : It looks to me like they' re planting two snowdrift crabs there. 11 Do they take out the maple and put in two snowdrifts? Olsen: We' ll check that out. 1 Ellson : No comments . Emmings : I don't really have any comments either . I didn ' t look at the fire station, I had to admit but if there ' s a big maple over there, if there ' s anyway to keep it, it ought to be kept . And for god sakes , Bob Siegel used to sit here and say everytime, let' s see some sugar maples in II here. Especially on city buildings where we' ve got control over it . I can' t imagine why we wouldn' t have them there. It's kind of a minor issue . Brian , is there a motion? Batzli : As much as I hate to do this because I still want an elevator , I move that the Planning Commission recommend approval of site plan review II #88-5 for expansion of the fire station based, on the plan stampted "Received May 23, 1988" and subject to the following conditions . Condition 1 as it reads. Condition 2, the landscaping plan shall be amended to indicate a species for the proposed trees along the south lot line and to attempt to save the sugar maple on the northeast corner and maybe throw a few more sugar maples in there. Condition 3 as it reads . Condition 4, calculations shall be provided to the City Engineer which verify that adequate flow and pressue conditions will be met to meet the Planning Commission Meeting June 15, 1988 - Page 25 1 demands for the sprinkling system. Condition 5 as it reads and I guess I 'd like somebody to verify where the heck the property line is so that we know. This isn ' t part of my motion . My motion is done . I'd like somebody to verify where the property line is to make sure that all those trees are going to stay on the north side. Batzli moved, Wildermuth seconded that the Planning Commission recommend approval of Site Plan Review #88-5 for expansion of the fire station based on the plans stamped "Received May 23, 1988" and subject to the following conditions : ' 1. Concrete curbing shall be added to the north side of the proposed driveway entrance to the new appartus storage area. ' 2. the landscaping plan shall be amended to indicate a species for the proposed trees along the south lot line and to attempt to save the sugar maple on the northeast corner and maybe throw a few more sugar maples in there. 3 . A revised grading plan shall be supplied to the City Engineer for ' approval prior to final site plan review. 4. Calculations shall be provided to the City Engineer which verify that adequate flow and pressue conditions will be met to meet the demands for the sprinkling system. ' 5. Adequate fire hydrant spacing will be met as part of the plans and specifications review process . All voted in favor and the motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. ' Conrad moved , Wildermuth seconded to approve the Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting dated June 1, 1988 as presented. All voted in favor and the motion carried . OPEN DISCUSSION. ' Fsatzli : Let' s talk about this memo that we got about adding an extra meeting . I 'd only do it if Ladd didn' t run the meeting . Ellson : I think you ' re really asking are we going to get at least four in there. Olsen : We ' re just asking if you do want to split those up or if you want them all on one? ' Batzli : It' s hard to say without seeing what would be involved on all of these as well . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ..A 1 1