WS 2007 02 12
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
FEBRUARY 12, 2007
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:35 p.m..
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilwoman Ernst, Councilwoman
Tjornhom, Councilman Peterson and Councilman Litsey
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, Laurie Hokkanen, Kate Aanenson, Paul Oehme, and Todd
Hoffman
UPDATE ON LAND USE STUDY, SRF.
Kate Aanenson framed up the city's plan for the land use update and introduced Barry Warner
with SRF who will be facilitating the plan. Barry Warner asked the council to re-evaluate the
city's comprehensive plan vision of keeping retail in the downtown and to consider what their
public policy is related to retail/commercial development. The schedule and issues that will be
reviewed will include doing an inventory analysis, reviewing issues, opportunities and
constraints, project objectives and evaluation criteria, alternatives and solutions, holding public
open houses, and refining the preferred plan before presenting the final product. Councilman
Litsey talked about the commercial development being considered along new Highway 212,
stating he would like to see the Highway 212 corridor stay more residential than becoming
another Highway 5. Mayor Furlong asked the consultants to consider traffic infrastructure
(ingress and egress) concerns that compliment downtown but not compete with the downtown
commercial/retail. Councilwoman Tjornhom asked for studies of what other communities have
done when they had a viable downtown and brought retail/commercial development outside of
that downtown area. Councilman Peterson stated he sees downtown as more convenience retail.
Councilwoman Ernst noted some residents have said they would prefer a mall in Chanhassen and
others have said if they wanted a mall in their community they would have moved to Eden
Prairie. Councilman Litsey stated with residential growth currently being slow, the council
needs to be careful not to jump to change zoning to accommodate developers. Councilman
Peterson suggested the community needs more areas for unique restaurants, not chain
restaurants. Barry Warner stated they will be studying fiscal considerations (cost vs. benefit) and
asked the council to consider if they want to see Chanhassen as a destination for other
communities dollars. Todd Gerhardt told the council to keep in mind the community will be
built out in another 10 to 15 years and how will the city be looking to draw more dollars into the
community. Councilman Peterson noted that having a regional draw in the city is a paradigm
shift for the current policy and he would like to study the effects of a regional mall on the
downtown retail/commercial. Mayor Furlong asked for specific examples of communities where
a viable downtown and regional mall have been successful. Kate Aanenson clarified that the
council needs to set policy first before getting specific. Todd Gerhardt stated the representatives
from SRF will be back before the council after meeting with major stakeholders in the city.
City Council Work Session - February 12, 2007
UPDATE ON TANADOONA DRIVE/DOGWOOD ROAD RECONSTRUCTION
PROJECT 06-06.
Paul Oehme gave a power point presentation providing historical information on what's been
discussed and proposed in the past. He reviewed the current project scope of street
reconstruction and widening, watermain, storm sewer and sanitary sewer improvements and
showed the areas of concern where currently septic systems are failing. He showed the proposed
street reconstruction area and right-of-way needs for a typical rural and urban street section and
reviewed the pros and cons of a 31 foot versus 26 foot wide street. Councilwoman Ernst asked
what street section residents in the area preferred. Paul Oehme reviewed how the transition from
the current road width to the new roadway width will occur, drainage improvement options,
project assessments, financing options and schedule. Councilman Litsey asked for clarification
on when the assessment policy went into effect. Councilman Peterson asked how traffic flow
during construction will be handled. Councilman Litsey asked when the road width would have
to be decided. Todd Gerhardt suggested that the road width be decided by the public hearing
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being held on February 26.
COMMUNITY SURVEY QUESTIONS.
Todd Gerhardt reviewed the proposed close ended and open ended questions and asked for
council feedback. Councilman Litsey noted public safety was missing and asked that the
question regarding paying more taxes be reworded. Councilman Peterson noted the questions
seemed like a laundry list and expressed concern about asking questions the public will
understand. Mayor Furlong asked for one or two questions regarding commercial/retail in the
city. Councilwoman Ernst asked about feedback from residents on customer service.
The work session was recessed at 7:00 p.m.. It was reconvened at 7:15 p.m..
FINALIZE 2007 GOALS.
Todd Gerhardt asked for council feedback on the proposed goals for 2007. Councilman Litsey
asked for clarification on how the process will proceed and how many items staff feels it can
accomplish during the year. Todd Gerhardt explained that now that the list is established, staff
will prioritize and set up a work session schedule for the year.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session meeting at 7:20 p.m..
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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