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PC 06.04.2024CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 4, 2024 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Noyes called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Eric Noyes, Steve Jobe, Perry Schwartz, Ed Goff, Ryan Soller, Jeremy Rosengren, Katie Trevena. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Rachel Arsenault, Associate Planner; Rachel Jeske, Planner; Eric Maass, Community Development Director. PUBLIC PRESENT: Bryan Harjes HKGi Vernelle Clayton Manager, Market Square and Colonial Square Heidi Armstrong Resident on Kerber Boulevard Bob Seward 8031 Cheyenne Avenue TJ Hart 8670 Chanhassen Hills Drive Reuben Kelzenberg Resident on Iroquois Street PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. REVIEW DESIGN STANDARDS FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Community Development Director Eric Maass introduced Bryan Harjes, HKGi, to review the downtown design guidelines and design standards. Mr. Harjes presented an overview of the design standards for the downtown area of Chanhassen. He explained the different design standards for the area defined as downtown. These design standards include landscaping, building materials, and lighting. Mr. Maass highlighted the second requirement of exterior materials. He stated that they wanted standards that provided flexibility for an architectural design that made sense with the building. Mr. Harjes explained the design goals of streets along with the overall design. He detailed the differences between the downtown mixed-use design guidelines and the downtown west guidelines. Mr. Maass commented that the design guidelines provide a framework for private development in Chanhassen. The street guidelines provide standards for how the city will design its streets. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 2 There are no plans to reconstruct West 78th Street because of this planning project. The treatment of the intersection of Market Boulevard would adhere to these guidelines. Mr. Harjes presented slides to showcase the existing conditions of West 78th Street. Mr. Maass stated that the city considered the level of service for West 78th Street if the westbound land was dropped to a single lane. Mr. Harjes continued explaining the West 78th Street complete streets design and the 80-foot right of way. Mr. Maass commented that creating a bump out at the intersection would possibly allow the opportunity to create more on-street parking or large planter boxes. Mr. Harjes reviewed information about the various widths of right-of-way in the different areas of downtown. Chairman Noyes asked how future street changes relate to traffic signals or roundabouts. Mr. Maass stated that the specific intersection control would be determined in the feasibility portion of a road project. Mr. Harjes commented that roundabouts need more space to accommodate. There were concerns about additional acquisitions. They considered a smaller roundabout on Market Boulevard and different traffic control measures for other intersections. Commissioner Schwartz asked for the city’s philosophy on controlling traffic in specific intersections. Mr. Maass responded that the city’s goal is to balance the needs of each mode of transportation. The consideration of traffic needs has impacted the discussion between downtown mixed-use and downtown west. Commissioner Schwartz asked if the city planned to install parking meters for on-street parking. Mr. Maass responded that the city had not discussed parking meter installation. Mr. Schwartz asked about Excelsior’s experience installing parking meters downtown, and he commented that there would be increased traffic, but often parking meters annoy people. Mr. Maass stated that the City Council has discussed this project multiple times and parking meters have never been a consideration. Commissioner Goff asked if the multi-use trail was always on the north. Mr. Harjes commented that on West 78th Street, the multi-use would always be on the north side, and on Market Boulevard, it would be on the east side. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 3 Mr. Maass displayed a side-by-side image of West 78th Street and Market Boulevard. Commissioner Goff suggested including directions on the figures. Commissioner Soller asked why it was critical to include design guidelines for West 78th Street when any projects would be completed quite a few years in the future Mr. Maass responded that this document is intended to guide development now and into the future. He explained the differences between the design guidelines and the city code. These design guidelines would influence future discussions. Commissioner Soller commented that this is a guide for the future, but engineers ten years from now might not be held to these guidelines. He asked if the document would be evolving and if it could be amended. Mr. Maass answered that the guidelines could be amended through a process that would include Planning Commission review, a public hearing, and City Council approval. Commissioner Schwartz asked if a part of the document would be implemented into the comprehensive plan. Mr. Maass responded that planning studies are often referenced in comprehensive plans. Commissioner Soller stated that structured parking seems to be the most preferred in development. He asked if that guideline would persuade or prevent development. He acknowledged that this was a guideline but would guide the vision for downtown development. Mr. Maass stated that it would provide clarity to prospective developers, and they would know the expectations from the start before investing time, money, or effort into a project. Commissioner Goff asked if a developer went against the guidelines and if they would need a variance. Mr. Maass answered that they would not need a variance, but the guidelines show a preference. This document would be helpful for those looking for financial assistance to make a project viable. Commissioner Schwartz asked if the document had been shared with prospective developers to get their thoughts on the guidelines. Mr. Maass commented that the guidelines were shared with architects since they often design the buildings. He provided an example of revisions that resulted from comments from the architects. Commissioner Trevena asked if there was any differentiation for structured parking for the different types of buildings in the downtown district. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 4 Mr. Maass responded that the idea is to limit surface parking as much as possible. If there is surface parking, it is encouraged to be located in the rear or on the side. Commissioner Jobe asked if there was a limit on the size of trucks allowed. Mr. Maass stated that they require fire apparatus accessibility, which accounts for the large truck traffic that would need to access the sites. Commissioner Schwartz asked if they anticipated having indoor access to the building from structured parking. Mr. Maass responded that this would be dependent on the project. He explained that most projects with public structured parking would be on the first floor and would be accessible to the business or the sidewalk. Commissioner Schwartz asked how many levels of structured parking there would be. Mr. Maass answered that this would be dependent on the needs of the project. Commissioner Soller stated that the access from the commercial area to the Central Business District was non-existent. He asked if there was anything in the plans to connect these areas for pedestrians or bicycles. Mr. Maass demonstrated the two crossings over the railroad into downtown. Commissioner Soller commented that to do pedestrian or bicycle crossing, you would have to go all the way to Market Boulevard or Great Plains. He asked whether connectivity to the district was important. Mr. Maass used the map to show where the pedestrian overpass was located and explained how it could create options for bike paths in the future. Commissioner Schwartz expressed concerns about the safety of the pedestrian pathway being next to the bicycle pathway. Mr. Maass responded that there was not enough right-of-way to have two separate trails. He stated that they were trying to accommodate bump-outs, through lanes, and different plants, which did not leave room for two separate pathways. Chairman Noyes opened the public hearing. Vernelle Clayton, who manages Market Square and Colonial Square in Chanhassen, suggested that when promoting the downtown district, it is not just West 78th Street. She requested providing signage for additional streets beside West 78th Street. She stated most individuals drive Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 5 to the grocery store or appointments. She commented that retail succeeds based on the number of cars that pass by the stores and voiced concerns about limiting traffic downtown. Heidi Armstrong, a resident of Kerber Boulevard, asked what created this initiative to change, as she appreciated the small-town feel of Chanhassen. Ms. Armstrong stated that Chanhassen does not have many problems and voiced concerns about the tax impacts of these large changes. Chairman Noyes summarized the discussion of the meeting, which focused on creating guidelines, not a specific project. Mr. Maass stated that the downtown development guidelines create standards for the Central Business District, and he explained the current guidelines in place in the city. He agreed the downtown is a special place, which prompted the creation of the guidelines so when or if projects come forward, the requirements are clear. Chairman Noyes clarified that there were no specific projects proposed downtown, but these would create outlines for when projects do occur. Bob Seward, 8031 Cheyenne Avenue, asked whether it was accurate that another 500-unit apartment building was being constructed. Mr. Maass explained that there was not a project that was building 500 multi-family homes but clarified that there was a redevelopment project with the Country Inn and Suites that included multi-family housing. Mr. Seward voiced concerns about the traffic in Chanhassen with the redevelopment of additional housing. He believed that there was drag racing occurring often on Highway 5 and that police presence was limited. He expressed concerns that this would continually get worse. TJ Hart, 8670 Chanhassen Hills Drive, provided an overview of positive attributes of the design standards for the Central Business District. He encouraged the potential implementation of reduced lane widths to ten feet for safety standards. He commented that two lanes encourage faster travel and a curb-out in those areas would be more appropriate for the flow of traffic and pedestrian crossing. He stated that the off-street parking mandates in the city code would be difficult for smaller developers or businesses. Reuben Kelzenberg, Iroquois, asked if it was a dead issue for Market Boulevard to line up with Laredo Drive. He stated that it seems surprising that everything must be rebuilt. He encouraged limiting street parking on West 78th Street to allow for easy snowplowing and traffic navigation. Chairman Noyes closed the public hearing. Commissioner Schwartz stated that many residents seem to be surprised about projects. He suggested that the city makes efforts to communicate changes. He encouraged residents to reach out about changes to better understand what was happening. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 6 Chairman Noyes commented at a March Planning Commission meeting, they reviewed the different communication types and frequency for projects in the city. Commissioner Trevena explained that the Chanhassen website provides additional information about ongoing projects in the city. She encouraged the citizens to be active. Commissioner Soller voiced support for the future vision and what the guidelines might create. He emphasized that these guidelines are for a long period. These projects are subject to market forces. He stated that these guidelines are to make traffic efficient but asked for additional input about this information. Mr. Maass commented that West 78th Street does not have a complete sidewalk. He clarified that businesses are crucial downtown. He explained the value of allowing for multiple means of transportation downtown. Chairman Noyes stated that it is difficult because these are guidelines for a specific subsection of Chanhassen. It might be appropriate to slow traffic in certain areas of Chanhassen, but not throughout the city. Commissioner Jobe stated that the comment about on-street parking was valid. Commissioner Trevena commented that overall, she is in favor of the guidelines but voiced concern about the structured parking from a developer’s standpoint. She stated that structured parking was expensive to maintain over time. Commissioner Schwartz said that it was a great move for the city to create the guidelines to help establish a vision for the city. He voiced concerns that business owners outside of the Central Business District might be concerned with the money and focus on West 78th Street. He encouraged the city to continue to help other businesses grow and succeed. Chairman Noyes stated that there are no quick solutions but explained the necessity for the long- term plan to continue to develop. Commissioner Goff expressed favor for the plan. He stated that the guidelines were the first step. If the plan does not work, a future planning commission will need to figure out the next steps. Commissioner Soller provided positive feedback about revitalizing downtown in new ways. He stated that other locations should not be neglected with signage. Commissioner Schwartz stated there had been previous discussions of extending the signage to different areas of Chanhassen to create a cohesive welcome to the city. Commissioner Soller stated that residents could submit public comments that could be read if they had additional thoughts to share. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 7 2. ORDINANCE XXX: AMENDING LOT REQUIREMENTS AND SETBACKS IN THE R-8 AND R-12 ZONING DISTRICTS Community Development Director Eric Maass presented an overview of the R-8 Zoning District and the R-12 Zoning District. He explained the future land use map from the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. He reviewed the R-8 Zoning District’s proposed standards and current standards. He reviewed the R-12 Zoning District’s proposed standards and current standards. Commissioner Jobe asked about lot cover with the multi-family units. Mr. Maass clarified that they are considering the impervious area in the overall lot. Commissioner Jobe asked about stormwater runoff on these properties. Mr. Maass stated that all these properties need to consider how to manage their stormwater runoff accordingly. Commissioner Schwartz asked if this ordinance would prevent developers from building homes with a zero-foot front setback. Mr. Maass stated that there was a 25-foot setback, which is approximately the size of a car. He stated there could not be a building with a 0-foot setback unless they wanted to pursue a PUD. There could be row homes, but there would need to be a yard. Commissioner Schwartz questioned whether it would allow developers to impact the width of private streets. Mr. Maass stated that private streets are required to be 50 feet wide and would not be changed with this ordinance. Chairman Noyes asked who changes the zoning of a location in Chanhassen and asked how it would be used by the city. Mr. Maass explained that the city is required to update its comprehensive plan every ten years. This determines the land use guidance, which would help guide the zoning. Properties can be rezoned if they align with the land use guidance. There are only a handful of properties eligible. Chairman Noyes asked what the potential for properties to be developed is, and how many residents would be impacted. Mr. Maass stated that city utilities impact which properties can be developed. He provided examples of properties that could be developed for medium density. He commented that the zoning designation would not change for any one property. Chairman Noyes clarified that this ultimately changes the design of the properties. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 8 Mr. Maass responded that this would facilitate the option of straight zoning for this type of development. Commissioner Soller asked for clarification regarding the minimum lot area. He asked if it was 1,500 square feet of a minimum lot area per dwelling unit and if the setback would be in addition to this. Mr. Maass explained the minimum lot frontage and lot area. He clarified that individuals could not go below the required lot area or above the maximum lot coverage. He said that the higher- density district would have greater lot coverage as a percentage because of the units being put in the same amount of land. Commissioner Soller asked if today the maximum lot coverage is 35 percent and if there was no increase from 35 to 50 percent, would that still create the need for PUDs. Mr. Maass stated that 35 percent of 1,500 square feet is 525 square feet of impervious lot cover. This would be approximately a small garage. The increase of max lot coverage would allow a reasonable-sized structure on a property. They can average the lot coverage over a development and the HOA-managed green space and stormwater ponds can alleviate the lot cover of the impervious area. Chairman Noyes commented that these developments would have common walls due to the nature of the development. This is where the density argument comes in. Chairman Noyes opened the public hearing. There were no public comments. Chairman Noyes closed the public hearing. Commissioner Jobe moved, Commissioner Schwartz seconded that the Chanhassen Board of Appeals and Adjustments recommends that the City Council adopt the ordinance amending lot requirements and setbacks in the R-8 and R-12 zoning districts. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES DATED MAY 7, 2024 Commissioner Goff moved, Commissioner Rosengren seconded to approve the Chanhassen Planning Commission summary minutes dated May 7, 2024 as presented. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. CITY COUNCIL ACTION UPDATE: Planning Director Maass updated the Commissioners on recent council actions, noting the construction and site preparation would begin tomorrow. Planning Commission Minutes – June 4, 2024 9 ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Schwartz moved, Commissioner Goff seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. The Planning Commission meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. Submitted by Eric Maass Planning Director