07-24-2023 City Council Work Session MinutesCHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
MINUTES
JULY 24, 2023
Mayor Ryan called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ryan, Councilman McDonald, Councilman von
Oven, Councilwoman Schubert, and Councilman Kimber.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Laurie Hokkanen, City Manager; Matt Unmacht, Assistant City Manager;
Eric Maass, Planning Director; Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer; Don
Johnson, Fire Chief; Jerry Ruegemer, Park & Recreation Director; Bob Generous, Senior
Planner; Samantha DiMaggio, Economic Development Manager; and Kim Meuwissen, City
Clerk.
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Consultants:
Bryan Harjes, HKGi
Jeff Miller, HKGi
Paul Michell, BKV Group
Bruce Schwartzman, BKV Group
Dustin Phillips, Kraus-Anderson
Scott Caron, Ballard King
Kelly Baylor, BKV Group
Economic Development Commissioners:
Eric Anderson
Duke Zurek
Chris Freeman
Luke Bame
Cohen Lee
Planning Commissioners:
Kelsey Alto
Steve Jobe
Erik Johnson
Perry Schwartz
Ryan Soller
City Council Work Session Minutes – July 24, 2023
2
JOINT MEETING WITH PLANNING COMMISSION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO DISCUSS DOWNTOWN ZONING DISTRICT
USES AND THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES PROJECT WITH HKGI
Planning Director Eric Maass asked all attendees to introduce themselves and thanked them for
completing the survey prior to the meeting. He then introduced Bryan Harjes and Jeff Miller
from HKGi. Mr. Harjes provided an overview of the evening’s agenda and presented the
schedule for completing the following three tasks: understanding what exists, preparing draft
recommendations, refining the draft to a preferred design guideline document, and seeking
approvals.
Mr. Jeff Miller reviewed the current guidance for downtown redevelopment, which includes the
2018 Downtown Vision Plan, zoning districts, design standards for commercial, industrial, and
office-institutional developments, and design standards for multifamily developments.
Mr. Harjes reviewed the guiding principles of the 2018 Downtown Vision Plan and presented an
aerial view showing the downtown district boundary and a sub-district diagram with dimensions.
downtown character and scale. Mr. Harjes presented overlays showing downtown comparisons
of the size and scale of the cities of Hopkins, Wayzata, 50th and France in Edina, and
Burnsville’s Heart of the City. These comparisons were significantly smaller than the current
Chanhassen Central Business District (CBD) boundary. Reviewed building and parking lot
locations, key streets that carry the majority of traffic, West 78th Street character showing
different spaces between building faces, downtown entries and gateways, and potential new
streets. Mr. Harjes also presented slides showing the location of current trails and sidewalks,
building and parking lot locations, and key streets in the downtown. The current character of
West 78th Street and Market Boulevard was presented with photos, downtown entries and
gateways, key streets, driveway access points, and potential new streets.
Following the presentation, Mr. Harjes reviewed the discussion questions that were previously
sent to meeting members and asked for feedback to assist HKGi in setting the foundations for the
questions that are asked of the community and our recommendations for the downtown.
1. Aspirational districts or downtowns? Excelsior, Hopkins, and Wayzata were mentioned
due to unique destinations, pedestrian access to retail, and how storefronts are close to the
street, with parking provided in public ramps and lots within the downtown. An increase in
structured parking in Chanhassen was suggested. Architectural cohesiveness is preferred to
the mish-mash of different styles and building materials currently in downtown Chanhassen;
however, the goal of cohesion should not be to create another Arbor Lakes but for
timelessness. Design guidelines should be developed and incorporated. Victoria and Waconia
were also mentioned as desirable downtowns because they have corridors with multiple
shops, restaurants, green space, and a smaller block pattern. Most of these downtowns have
some sort of primary draw, such as a lake or a theater. The proposed Civic Campus could be
a new downtown draw for Chanhassen.
2. What are we striving for with the updated design standards? What are the priorities?
Existing parking areas could be repurposed, and buildings could be placed closer to the
City Council Work Session Minutes – July 24, 2023
3
street. The pedestrian experience could be more dog friendly. Prioritization should be given
to small businesses. Increase green space and landscape architecture and include sculptures
and art installations.
3. Where does additional housing make sense in the downtown? Commercial uses versus
residential uses were discussed. Not just apartments, but maybe include rowhomes or
townhomes or a rooftop venue. Possibly include a hotel.
4. Noting the challenges of vertical mixed-use, how does stand-alone retail mix with multi-
story, pedestrian-oriented development? Preference for vertical mixed-use development
but important that any new development or redevelopment remains compact and walkable.
Multi-story apartment buildings without ground level retail or townhomes could be
appropriate in the outer edges of the downtown area.
5. Where are the logical redevelopment sites? Either west or south of the proposed Civic
Campus block. The streets decide what spaces are available for urban development.
6. Should West 78th Street and Market Boulevard both have commercial uses at the street
level? Is housing OK at the street level along these streets? The core of the downtown
should contain street level commercial uses which activate the street frontages and create
activity. Areas with topography issues that would make commercial storefronts that are
ADA compliant unlikely could result in those areas being used for residential uses.
7. Convenience/ auto-oriented commercial vs. pedestrian-oriented district or both? Can
speeds be lowered in the heart of downtown to become less car dominant and more bike-
oriented? Another suggestion is to narrow the streets to calm traffic with no parking on the
main downtown arteries but instead on internal downtown streets. Consider roundabouts.
8. Should the City push for additional connections (streets, trails, sidewalks) in the
downtown with redevelopment? The group’s general consensus was that the city should
support adding internal streets.
Mr. Harjes asked the group if the survey questions made sense for the broader public and should
new streets be added. The number of comparable images could be increased with detailed
descriptions and comparisons. A suggestion was made to play off of Paisley Park within the
downtown as far as art and design. HKGi will take the comments received from tonight’s
meeting and return in a couple of months with some ideas. Anticipated future meeting schedule
on the CBD Zoning District Ordinance Amendment:
• August 8th Economic Development Commission
• August 15th Planning Commission
• September 5th Planning Commission (public hearing)
• September 11th City Council
City Council Work Session Minutes – July 24, 2023
4
ADULT USE CANNABIS
City Manager Laurie Hokkanen reviewed the recently adopted statewide legislation legalizing
recreational cannabis starting on August 1. Cities are authorized to adopt an ordinance deeming
it a petty misdemeanor to use cannabis flower, cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles,
or hemp-derived consumer products in public places. Without such an ordinance, a person could
use them in public places if such use is not separately prohibited by another existing law, e.g. the
Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. For example, someone could legally use these products in city
parks or while on streets, sidewalks, or public parking lots unless the city has an ordinance
deeming such use a petty misdemeanor. Ms. Hokkanen provided ordinance examples from the
cities or Carver and Duluth and asked for city council direction on creating an ordinance
prohibiting the use of cannabis and hemp in public spaces.
The consensus of the city council was to create an ordinance prohibiting all tobacco and cannabis
smoking and vaping in public and to schedule the ordinance for the August 14, 2023 City
Council meeting.
Mayor Ryan recessed the work session at 6:55 p.m.
Mayor Ryan reconvened the work session at 8:10 p.m.
UPDATE ON CIVIC CAMPUS WITH BKV GROUP AND HKGI
The Civic Campus Project Team was introduced and presented an update on the Civic Campus
programming work completed to date as well as presented a roadmap of upcoming meetings,
deadlines, and engagement opportunities.
Mr. Paul Michell presented project activities to date, including kickoff and goal setting, City Hall
Senior Center programming, review of draft program results/space standards, confirm program
with department staff, site masterplan program refinements, and final project program, schedule,
and budget review. He reviewed the city hall program.
The Project Team provided facilities program updates for city hall, the senior center, and the
park pavilion, including a summary comparing proposed program square footage results
compared to prior studies.
Mr. Harjes reviewed the site amenities, including relocation of the Veterans Memorial, level of
finish for the skate park, additional pickleball court (4 total), sculptural splash pad, and
integration with West 78th Street and Market Boulevard intersection.
Mr. Harjes discussed open topics, including the stair/elevator at the parking garage, café at the
park pavilion, multi-purpose council chambers versus a dedicated training room, senior center
fitness areas, and makers space. Mr. Schwartzman asked for council input on these topics. The
council was in favor of including the parking garage elevator.
Mr. Schwartzman asked about adding a café component at the park pavilion. Park and
Recreation Director Jerry Ruegemer stated that a concession area could be an option for splash
City Council Work Session Minutes – July 24, 2023
5
pad users, outdoor concerts, and winter activity users. Concern was expressed about the size and
purpose of the park pavilion and if the facility would be private or public.
Mr. Michell asked about the council chambers being a multipurpose room that can be used for
training. Ms. Hokkanen responded that there are concerns regarding seating and the ability to
move the podium and that a separate council chamber is preferred.
Mr. Schwartzman asked about the senior center fitness areas, which would include equipment
designed specifically for senior fitness programs and low-impact cardio that is handicap
accessible, and weight equipment geared toward pulley systems as opposed to free weights. The
council consensus was not to include a senior fitness area in the senior center space as the Rec
Center is available for fitness. Additionally, many senior living facilities incorporate their own
fitness areas.
Mr. Caron asked about the makerspace, which is defined as a collaborative workspace inside a
school, library, or separate public/private facility for making, learning, exploring, and sharing
that uses high-tech to no tech tools. Ms. Hokkanen discussed the current wood carvers group,
their need for a workspace, and future growth opportunities for other groups. The council
consensus was to include the makerspace.
Mr. Michell reviewed upcoming stakeholder engagement, including a senior center listening
session, city council workshops, library/parking, farmers market, public workshop, and project
website.
Mr. Schwartzman reviewed each phase of the upcoming project schedule, including schematic
design, design development, construction documents, bidding and award, and construction.
Upcoming dates for additional project work with the city council are:
July 31 at 6:30 p.m. – Visioning Workshop
August 21 at 5:30 p.m. – Design Workshop
RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY (RSF) ZONING DISTRICT LOT COVER
DISCUSSION
The city council asked for additional discussion on lot coverage requirements at the April City
Council Roundtable. Planning Director Eric Maass reviewed the city’s current standard for lot
coverage in the RSF district, which allows a maximum of 25% impervious surface, and was
approved by the city council in December 1986. In June 2018, the city council approved an
additional 5% impervious surface coverage for areas outside of the Shoreland Overlay District
(SOD) if permeable pavers were used. RSF zoning in Chanhassen covers 2513 acres (20%) of
the city, of which 1360 acres are either within the SOD or Bluff Creek Overlay District (BCOD).
This consideration would affect 1153 acres (9%) in the city. The frequency of requests for lot
cover variances has increased over the past 18 years. Twelve other cities were researched,
generally in the range of 25-40% impervious allowed.
City Council Work Session Minutes – July 24, 2023
6
Public Works Director/City Engineer Charlie Howley reviewed potential quantitative and
qualitative impacts and offered five potential options and their impacts on the city, the applicant,
and natural resources.
Council discussed the proposed options and came to a consensus to bring this item back to a
future work session to discuss considering the option to increase the maximum lot cover
percentage and whether or not an impact study should be initiated and/or public engagement on
the topic.
FUTURE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE
August 14, 2023
• Interview Youth Commissioner Applicants
• Review Early Draft of the 2024 General Fund Budget & Levy
August 28, 2023
•
September 11, 2023
• Presentation of Preliminary 2024 Levy and Gov Fund Budgets; 2024-2028 Gov Fund CIP
September 25, 2023
• Fire Station Open House
• City Council Roundtable
The work session adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Submitted by Laurie Hokkanen
City Manager
Prepared by Kim Meuwissen
City Clerk