CC Minutes 8-24-09Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
Assistant Chief Roger Smallback: Yes it is.
Councilman Litsey: I think it speaks well the reception you get from the community in terms of
the support for the fire department too so, thanks.
Todd Gerhardt: Mayor, council. It’s difficult to really see who’s having more fun. If it’s the
kids or the fire fighters out there watching them. And I think we have pictures that show that
they’re all pretty much have a huge smile and having a good time so.
Assistant Chief Roger Smallback: Yep. Like I say it is a lot of fun.
Councilman Litsey: You’ve got some pretty cool stuff.
Assistant Chief Roger Smallback: You know hats off to Mark Littfin and Ed Coppersmith.
They’re kind of the coordinators, driving force behind the Fire Prevention Week and the Fire
Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshal so we’ve already been working on this for many weeks
already in preparation for it.
Mayor Furlong: Very good, thank you.
AUTO MOTORPLEX SITE PLAN AMENDMENT: REQUEST FOR AN AMENDMENT
TO SITE PLAN PERMIT 2006-34 TO ALLOW DECKS. APPLICANT: BRUNO
SILIKOWSKI.
Kate Aanenson: Thank you Mayor, members of the City Council. Bruno Silikowski, the
applicant is requesting an amendment to the site plan for the construction of some decks off the
storage units, and I want to be clear that I think what he’s asking for was really driven by the
staff’s interpretation of, and just clarification from kind of the original interpretation of the use of
this property and just to make sure that the Planning Commission and the City Council was
comfortable with the original use of it and kind of where it’s ending up. So while we say the
applicant, it’s really the staff wanted to make sure that everybody’s comfortable with this. So the
application is for the current site for the Auto Motorplex which is located just off of Audubon,
south of the General Mills property and north of the railroad tracks. This is the site plan as
approved for the units themselves. And the application, the site plan, I’ll show you some
pictures of the architecture in a minute but the site plan itself has evolved a little bit as far as the
architecture and the like. When the applicant was before you and the Planning Commission, the
intended purposes that people would rent these spaces for their automobiles, or whatever their
hobby may be. Whether it’s motorcycles or the like and be able to have them in a heated area
with being able to observe them with cameras and the like and to his benefit it’s evolved into
something even probably more than he thought it would be and that’s that they’ve finished off
the spaces and made really nice amenities in each of the units. And part of that, the architecture
moved up beyond what the original site plan showed and there were some architectural elements
that were added, and those included some, what we would consider architectural balconies as
opposed to a deck. So the request now is to go beyond a balcony but actually a large deck and
those are located then, you can see here on this drawing, and I’ll show you photos of what the
perspective would be. B, which would be 3 by 6 by 10 by 16 or on D, 8 by 14. So there’s
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
significantly more space outside the building so again if you think of more of a stagnant type
storage unit where you put something in and you maybe come back in 6 months and check on it.
This is a very dynamic type of use and that’s where the staff wanted to make sure that everybody
was comfortable with how this use is being enjoyed. We did send notice to the, at the Planning
Commission meeting, to the neighboring property. We got a few calls but really nobody showed
up to that meeting and the Planning Commission did support the change for the request for the,
for the decks, but there was a 4 to 2 vote and the 2 that voted against, there was a condition in the
staff report that talked about that they’d be limited to not being enclosed. Two people felt that
that should stay that way. The rest of the Planning Commission, the 4 voted that they didn’t care
if they were enclosed. Whether some were screened. Some were glass enclosed so that really
kind of leaves it open for how they could be used because you’re adding quite a bit of additional
space so they did support, the majority supported, just kind of leaving it open to the applicant
and the condition was completely struck from the Planning Commission recommendation. And
certainly the one condition caveat is they would still require all building permits would have to
be, you know so it needs to be engineered or meet all current building codes. So the area we’re
talking about are shown on those drawings. Again those would be those sites that overlook the
wetlands because in the other areas you’re impeded by drive aisles or fire lanes or the like. So
these are some of the views of the site itself. To the west. Southeast. Again you can see that a
little bit more differentiated in the articulation and these would be the platforms. The, what we
would consider by building code on these would actually be balconies as opposed to an actual
deck. And then again looking at those as more architectural. So this is where the difference
from the staff with the applicant saying well I’ve already kind of had these and we said well we
saw those as more architectural type uses that you wouldn’t be out there. Now we’ve kind of
evolved to kind of an open space and would the neighbors care if there’s more activity and kind
of what they thought maybe the intended purpose was more like I say stagnant or kind of quiet as
a little bit more evolved. More pictures of the storage units themselves. And then this is the club
house with the kind of the bridge between the two buildings themselves. Again this is probably
the most articulated building on the site. And these would be the buildings that would have the
biggest decks and I did some pictures looking the other way. You can see that window. The
patio door up on the top. So looking back. Another view. The existing balcony. Excuse me,
deck. We have to make sure we differentiate between deck and balcony. And then this would be
the distance between the, the Planning Commission asked questions of what those spacings
would be so we did provide that additional information on where would the closest structure be if
someone was one their deck. So this is what they’re looking at. So the question came up at the
Planning Commission, would they, because they wanted to put a rough structure on them too.
So this isn’t the, this structure. This is the intended applicant’s proposing to make them integral.
The matching architectural so here’s where the divergence came with the Planning Commission
on. What if you enclosed these, being 16 feet potentially and they became year round, would
that make a difference so there were some that didn’t care. Some that wanted them to be all
uniform in their look. Whether some be, they all be screened or all be, right now the applicant’s
stating that he didn’t anticipate anybody enclosing them. And then those are governed by their
internal architectural standards and their own association covenants that would manage that. The
Planning Commission chose to be silent on how that would be administrated. Leave it up to the
association. So these would be the views that they want to capture those people in those units
would want to capture. The looks of those units. Overlooking the wetlands itself. So and when
it went to the Planning Commission again, this is the other condition that they had choices.
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
Again we were just concerned, is this where you wanted to go? Are you comfortable with
where this has moved? I didn’t want 3 years later to come back and say how did we end up with
such a big deck on one of these that’s enclosed and how is it being used and so we wanted to,
because we felt it kind of diverged from that, the original intended purpose. The Planning
Commission felt comfortable in the fortitude, just whether or not they were screened or uniform
in that approach. So the motion that’s in your staff report on the front page is the motion that
supported what the Planning Commission had recommended. So with that I’d be happy to
answer any questions that you may have.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Questions for staff. Councilman Litsey.
Councilman Litsey: Yes. You know originally it was talked about this was a place for auto
enthusiast to store, maintain and view other vehicles. Does it not, this expand that to more of a
social aspect? I mean what’s the purpose of the deck if you’re really there to look at the cars and
talk about cars and stuff? Is it to barbeque afterwards or?
Kate Aanenson: I’ll let the applicant speak to that. I guess that’s kind of what we wanted
clarification on because there was a club house that we thought a lot of the gathering would
happen, but actually there’s a lot of gathering in individual units. Looking at other persons cars
and they’ve actually enhanced some. They have bathrooms and some have bars, sport courts so
they’re enhanced way beyond, so they’re actually using them in a different way than was
originally intended. Again that’s, I’m not saying that’s right or wrong. It’s just gone, it’s kind of
evolved and we want to just make sure everybody’s comfortable with that. It’s not a, it’s very
dynamic in how it’s being used so we just want to make sure everybody’s comfortable with that.
Councilman Litsey: It just seems an expansion of what, when we originally looked at what it
was intended for. I’m not saying necessarily at this point whether it’s good or bad. It’s just
different and.
Kate Aanenson: Yeah. Well the first thing that we looked at was the building code and it is
consistent. It is, it does meet all the building code requirements of how it’s being used and the
uses that are in there and you know the fire code and those sort of things so really then what it
came down it is the zoning. And just what the neighbors understood it to be and we want to
make sure that if they had an opportunity to weigh in on that because I think they felt like this
was a use that was next to them and kind of quiet but as the applicant explained that, they
haven’t had any complaints about the neighbors and they police themselves because certainly
they all have value and expense in their ownership and making sure that it’s being run how they
want it to be to be successful and maintain it’s value so it’s self policing to that extent. We just
want to make sure that everybody understood how it’s being used today and will be in the future
as opposed to kind of maybe the original.
Councilman Litsey: Thank you.
Todd Gerhardt: And one point to add to this is that this is a new product you know for the entire
state of Minnesota. I don’t think there’s another product like this and I think Kate kind of hit it
on the head. It’s evolving and it’s evolving more than you know I think even Bruno’s
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expectations were when he originally started to develop. So it’s one that is kind of interesting. If
you’ve driven out there and taken a look, we should encourage people to improve their properties
and you know, but you’ve got to watch the border line that it doesn’t turn into a residential type
development and that people aren’t permanently staying out there. But we want them to enjoy it.
They’ve got a huge investment in there and you know I think it’s done tastefully and the units
that he is proposing to put in are not in the drive aisles so there isn’t the potential of somebody
driving into a footing or anything like that. It’s protected.
Mayor Furlong: Other questions at this time? Councilman McDonald.
Councilman McDonald: I’ve got one question. I know they do a lot of things on a couple
Saturdays and everything and you said you know none of the residents showed up to the
meetings so I take it that the noise levels and everything have been kept within acceptable limits
then.
Kate Aanenson: Yeah. Those are special events that we do look at. We haven’t had problems
with any of those yet either, and those obviously are going to be summertime activities for the
most part so. I think going back to what the city manager said too, it’s the concern is that, and
this is kind of self policing because the Planning Commission in their meeting also discussed
hours. You know what happens if someone’s going beyond the normal hours and they do have
hours of operation that normally, they have a gate and some of those sort of things but kind of
going that it doesn’t end up that people are spending the week or weekends out there, or
vacations out there kind of thing and has a different atmosphere so again it’s kind of evolving.
We just want you to be comfortable with where that’s evolving to and the changes that have
happened.
Mayor Furlong: Anything else?
Councilman McDonald: No.
Mayor Furlong: Other questions for staff? Councilwoman Tjornhom? Councilwoman Ernst?
Questions? Just a couple questions on my part. One of the, one of the conditions speaks to, or
proposed conditions. Let me find it here. Condition number 3 speaks to requiring a design or
signature by professional structural engineer and a design professional in terms of obtaining or
required in obtaining building permits. Are these normal requirements in a, just at an office
industrial district?
Kate Aanenson: Those conditions were put in by the building official so I would say if you want
to add a caveat, if required by building permit, that they would be required.
Mayor Furlong: Okay I guess I’m.
Kate Aanenson: These are off the ground quite a ways. They’re not.
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
Mayor Furlong: Will they have, I mean because the picture you showed of that one deck, and
I’m not sure what the distance out away from the building is but there are no posts or footings
there as you would typically see in a residential deck.
Kate Aanenson: Right. Right.
Mayor Furlong: And is this, is it a footingless or a postless type of, and maybe this is a question
for the applicant. Is this what you would expect and that’s why it requires the higher standard
because it isn’t a typical? Maybe I’ll save that but I guess from a city standpoint why did we
think it was necessary to require, if they were to go forward and put decks on, require to have
the.
Kate Aanenson: This is the drawing of where the one door is coming out.
Mayor Furlong: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: So it’d be difficult now at this point to put in a footing or post to attach it so,
but I’ll let the applicant answer that.
Mayor Furlong: I’m sorry. Could you say that again.
Kate Aanenson: I’ll let the applicant answer that but certainly…
Mayor Furlong: Yeah, that’s fine.
Kate Aanenson: …we would only require it if the building code requires it. If you want to add
that as a caveat on that condition.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. Alright.
Kate Aanenson: It wouldn’t be any more onerous than we require to get any other permit in the
city.
Mayor Furlong: In this zoning? With the regard to an office industrial zoning is what you’re
saying?
Kate Aanenson: Yeah.
Mayor Furlong: We don’t need to be any more.
Kate Aanenson: No.
Mayor Furlong: There’s no greater concern with these than.
Kate Aanenson: Absolutely.
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Mayor Furlong: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: Right. And again speaking to, we put them on, they’re placed on the side
where there’s no other driveways or anything like that because they wouldn’t meet.
Mayor Furlong: From a safety standpoint.
Kate Aanenson: Correct because you wouldn’t have clearance, that’s correct.
Mayor Furlong: …driving into a post.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
Roger Knutson: Mr. Mayor, just so we’re clear. It’s the type of construction that drives the
building permit requirements. Not the zoning so the building official determined that based upon
this type of construction you need those kind of added safeguards. It’s dictated by the building
code. It’s not a local requirement.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. Okay.
Todd Gerhardt: And my guess is if we were going to put roofs on these, you want engineered
drawings for the truss and the rafters that are going to be as a part, if you’re going to have a roof
on it. That’s typically what we ask for engineered drawings and then depending on how big it is,
the size of the footing. You know that typically doesn’t…
Mayor Furlong: That’s usually part of the building process, and I’m, I mean this is, I mean most
people think of decks and decks with roofs or porches is very typical in a residential area and I
don’t know what’s.
Kate Aanenson: I think again in this we try to make all the conditions a catch all so this is kind
of the clearinghouse of all the conditions so later on the applicant says I didn’t know I needed to
get this, so it’s really, it doesn’t have anything to do with the zoning application.
Mayor Furlong: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: We’re just making sure that they understand the conditions. And maybe it’s as
simple as any required permit must be obtained. That would cover it too.
Mayor Furlong: Deck structures or.
Kate Aanenson: Any necessary.
Mayor Furlong: Will require a building permit.
Kate Aanenson: May require a building permit and that must be obtained. That’s the intent and
whatever those conditions are for that permit.
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Mayor Furlong: But Mr. Knutson you’re saying that typically you see these more in the nature
of the construction might require an added level of design or.
Roger Knutson: Right. It has nothing to do with the zoning.
Mayor Furlong: Understood.
Roger Knutson: It has to do with the type of construction and I think you can just say, I think the
detail is in there just to give people a heads up. That hey you might need something more than
you’re expecting, but if you don’t that’s fine. It’s just saying if we require it by the building
code you must.
Mayor Furlong: Requirement of documents may include.
Roger Knutson: Yes.
Mayor Furlong: Would that be an appropriate way of doing that?
Kate Aanenson: Yeah, and that’s fine. Agreed.
Councilman McDonald: Well if I could just ask you a question about that. I’m not quite sure
where you’re going with that. I mean part of what I guess I would see on this is, this is
somewhat to me commercial and because of that you’ve got weight limits on decks. You’ve got
capacity that I would think we would have an interest in making sure that at least to a point it’s
safe for a number of people to be out on them.
Mayor Furlong: And that’s fine. I’m, and I’m being, I guess I’m not forming an opinion yet.
I’m trying to ask questions but typically we wouldn’t see this in a.
Councilman McDonald: Oh, okay.
Kate Aanenson: Point of clarification. The plans were submitted. That’s how this got caught so
the building official already looked at the plans and made a determination so really all we’re
trying to say is, you need a building permit.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. We’re spending too much time on that. Okay.
Kate Aanenson: Yeah.
Mayor Furlong: Nope, that’s fine. The other question I had, was there anything, and was there
anything in the original approval or in this area that deals with outside storage?
Kate Aanenson: No, and that’s, that was one of the reasons why we, the staff felt, I didn’t want
in a year down the road these are built and someone says how in the heck did we go from here to
there and then that’s where I think the applicant and the staff kind of you know just like, we just
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want to make sure there’s full disclosure on this because again to their, to his credit it evolved
into something bigger than he imagined and you know people enjoy going down there and with
like minded people and.
Mayor Furlong: But I guess, when we approved the site plan.
Kate Aanenson: No.
Mayor Furlong: We didn’t put any limitations on outside storage.
Kate Aanenson: There was no outdoor, there was no outdoor storage permitted.
Mayor Furlong: So that would not change?
Kate Aanenson: Right. Well the Planning Commission did also spend some time on that too.
Would there be stuff, would their things be stored on the decks? Outdoor decks. That question
was also asked. How they’ve, and there was some discussion on that. They left it open ended
but the applicant did state through their own covenants they would try to manage that.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, but when we originally approved the project back in 2006.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Furlong: Was there a restriction on outside storage? Do you recall?
Kate Aanenson: Well I think we approved the site plan with no outdoor storage so that’s…
Mayor Furlong: So, and that’s not being changed?
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. So these wouldn’t be used, I mean we wouldn’t expect to see these being
used for significant storage or piled high with excess stuff.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, because the original approval did not allow outside storage and.
Kate Aanenson: That’s correct.
Mayor Furlong: And that’s not being changed.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Furlong: Or not proposed to be changed here.
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Kate Aanenson: But for, let’s make, again just for clarity. If someone leaves patio furniture out
there or something, then we need to talk about what your intent is for outdoor storage because
there may be some of that out there and I don’t know, I just want to make sure you’re clear on
expectations.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. And I think storage with the original purposes is to work on auto parts.
Kate Aanenson: Okay.
Mayor Furlong: To have significant auto parts or to be an extension of the storage use of the
facility. When we hear the use here is more for the social aspects, that I think a logical person, a
reasonable person would say patio furniture or grill, something like that is not storage. No more
than it would be inside so that, but I appreciate you clarifying that.
Kate Aanenson: Okay.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, and then the other question I have Mr. Knutson probably for you is, if
there are, and I realize we’ll have a question on the covenants and this is you know, people need
to be good neighbors but we already, if there’s ever an issue with noise or late hour activities we
have existing protection for neighbors with regard to nuisance ordinances and noise ordinances.
Roger Knutson: Just as they apply to everyone else they would apply. Noise and nuisance.
Mayor Furlong: Yeah. Yep. And I think we’ll hear that we haven’t had any issues which is,
gives everybody comfort. Okay. Very good. Any other questions? Follow up questions?
Okay. Mr. Silikowski is here this evening. Good evening. Anything you want to address the
council on? I know you addressed the Planning Commission. We appreciate your comments
there.
Bruno Silikowski: Well I think just this one quick comment just because of the fire marshal.
I’ve got to tell you Mark Littfin, he has been fantastic. I’ve never had a city official that I’ve had
more enjoyment working with. He’s just got a practical way of going about it. Nice guy. He’s
just very approachable and always available. I’ve got to tell you you’ve got a great guy on your
staff so, for what it’s worth. There’s a whole lot of inaccuracies that are being. Pardon me?
Todd Gerhardt: Better than Kate and I?
Bruno Silikowski: …be happy to, no but there’s just a whole lot of inaccuracies that are being
spoken here so a lot of these conversations are going off on tangents that are completely off base
so I mean the short of it is.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, maybe you can try to clarify it.
Bruno Silikowski: Well no, it’s okay. Could I speak first?
Mayor Furlong: Please.
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
Bruno Silikowski: Just a quick moment. I mean the short of it is this. The one thing that’s
changed that I didn’t expect is that we’re having a lot more relatively wealthy people move into
the complex than I expected so the short of it is, as we all do, we like nice things so you know
it’s like buying a car and buying a car with a sun roof. Does it change the car? No, but it makes
the driving experience a little bit more fun. Do you really use it? You hardly ever open it, right?
It’s kind of, sort of a similar parallel with this. They want a deck. You know they want to have
some place where they can go outside and sort of like take in a view and have a little bit of fun.
That’s it. So this is not about anything more than that, so this is not like your, I don’t know I’ll
try not to you know, but the short of it is you know it’s not like some trailer park where people
are going to be hanging out living on a deck. This is a totally, totally different group of people.
And many of you have been out to our facility and you’ve seen the events. You’ve seen the
people. This is incredibly creative. In fact I’ll share one last other fact for you. It’s, originally I
expect this to be about a $16 million dollar project. It’s gone to a $22 million dollar project.
This is well over, easily over 3 times the tax base you would have gotten if some commercial
project were to go out there and I know exactly the project that was going to go in there. So I’m
hoping actually you guys will look at it a little differently and that is help me. Help me be
successful. I mean we’ve been, this will be 2 years this December since we started moving
people into the complex in an economy that’s just been crushed. It’s been crushing people. Now
you know I got lucky. Now maybe I don’t know whatever but we did some things right but I
don’t count by stars too quickly. I mean I need help. I mean don’t get me wrong. Every sale we
get is an individual sale and you work for it. I need the help. So when you guys look at this stuff
you’ve almost got to get the feeling like yeah it’s so you know flamboyant, whatever. It’s not.
This is what people want. This is what’s helping me sell. This is what’s helping me to be
successful so I hope you take that into consideration is we’re within the guidelines. We’re non-
nuisance. We’re doing things, in fact if you look at our facility, the architectural features of the
exterior have far exceeded what I said I was going to do and actually have then I think very
creative. I mean the neighbors, we have neighbors coming over from across the way telling us
thank you and they’re appreciative of how things look and how things go and in fact we have
two neighbors that now who have joined us in the campus, so they like it and it’s been a good
thing. You know so many people from down the street. Not just from across the pond. So
there’s a lot of I think positives that you know I don’t know, somehow it’s getting lost in this
thing so as much as a good academic discussion about knowing where things are going that Kate
brought up, but big pictures you guys I mean you know this is something that you know
everything evolves a little bit. This hasn’t gone too far, it didn’t stray too far from where I
intended to but there’s some things here that cropped up that I didn’t expect you know back in
’06 when I talked about it so. Just out of fairness.
Mayor Furlong: No, and I appreciate that and I will at least address my questions.
Bruno Silikowski: Sure.
Mayor Furlong: You know don’t read into the questions more than just the questions themselves
so what we have to do is just make sure that we know where the parameters are.
Bruno Silikowski: Sure.
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Mayor Furlong: And make sure that we understand what’s being asked. What’s allowed. When
it’s allowed, it’s all part of the public process.
Bruno Silikowski: Got it, yeah.
Mayor Furlong: So.
Bruno Silikowski: It’s hard not to get personal sometimes.
Mayor Furlong: I understand that. I understand that but don’t read into the questions.
Bruno Silikowski: So I’d be happy to answer any questions you have.
Mayor Furlong: No, and that’s good. That’s good.
Bruno Silikowski: Thank you.
Mayor Furlong: Any questions for the applicant? I guess I will, some of the questions that I
asked dealt with that in terms of the outside storage. You have association covenants or.
Bruno Silikowski: We do.
Mayor Furlong: And do those permit outside storage?
Bruno Silikowski: Do not.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. Alright. So that’s consistent. And I think the other thing was with
regard to the permit but I think we’ve got that answered and we can talk about that as well so,
anything else? No? Okay. Thank you. Appreciate it. Let’s bring it back to council for
discussion then. Thoughts and comments.
Councilman McDonald: I’ll go first.
Mayor Furlong: Councilman McDonald.
Councilman McDonald: Yeah I’ve been out there and I was on the Planning Commission when
this came together and remember the outpour about it and I’m actually quite proud of this one
that you have assimilated in the community quite well and I really do like the idea, you know the
open houses you throw because that’s giving everybody an opportunity to kind of come out and
see exactly what goes on here and I think the community’s appreciative of that. I mean I know a
lot of people take their kids out there to see the cars and yeah, it is just one big car show. It is
just fantastic. It really is. Yeah I guess I’m not surprised at this after seeing the inside of some
of these garages so I’d be in full support because again I think it’s been a real plus to the
community and whatever we can do to help you, you know again within the reasons of the
original deal and everything and you know the only concern I guess I would have had is you
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know if you had all the neighbors bringing pitchforks and you know ready to burn you down, but
it has really changed and a lot of that I have to give you credit. You did listen to people and you
know you did what you could to fit it into the community so I think from that standpoint yeah
I’m more than willing to support this.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, thank you. Other thoughts or comments. Councilwoman Tjornhom.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Yeah, I haven’t been out there but I certainly, I mean the pictures in
the packet don’t compare to what we saw tonight. It looks like a very nice place to store a car, if
you could. I think you know the term that kind of sums it up is that it’s uniquely evolved into
what it is right now and I just love the fact that we have something uniquely evolved in
Chanhassen again. You know I think we’re a town that I hate to say no to anything like that.
And so architecturally I think you’ve done a phenomenal job and I think I’m thrilled with your
success and I’m certainly ready to approve any motion being made for this tonight.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. Councilwoman Ernst.
Councilwoman Ernst: Well obviously it’s from every, from what you’ve said, from what Kate
said and from what I’ve heard from most is that there are no concerns with the neighbors. I
believe that it totally, the deck would totally compliment the structure of the building and I agree
with Todd, I think that it was done very tastefully in terms of how that would look. And I think
it ties into our economic development within the community and so I read all the Planning
Commission notes and I would totally support this.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Councilman Litsey.
Councilman Litsey: I agree with the statements that have been made. I think it is an expansion
of what originally understood it to be but I’m looking at it from what’s been stated that it’s kind
of an evolving project. Kind of a nitch thing that you’ve been respectful of the process. Case in
point is bringing it forward tonight to make sure we understand exactly where this project is
going so I can support it.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, thank you. I think when, bottom line the purpose of this whole project
from the beginning and Mr. McDonald mentioned that many of us were involved with that
process and it was unique and it was, everybody kind of stretching out a little bit and trying to do
something different and it’s nice to see the success when it does happen. Primarily the purpose
here is for storage. That’s the consistency with the underlying zoning. When we look back at
the beginning of the staff report it’s the city’s discretion approving or denying. Whether or not
the project fits with the zoning ordinance, zoning requirements. Clearly this is a secondary use.
It’s an extension of the use of the facility. I think it can be very easy to say that it complies.
That being said, I also agree with the other comments that were made earlier with regard to
economic development. Doing something unique in the city. The connection that the property
owners and members of this organization have done to the rest of the city and residents with the
open houses so I mean it’s all those things added on top of it when maybe our decision legally is
focused on the zoning. All those other things also just make it, make it that much better so I
certainly support it. With regard to the specific question of the condition, I mean I’m fine
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
leaving that the way it is since that was specifically recommended. I just wanted to make sure
that we weren’t adding anything onerous on top of what would be there and I’m not hearing that.
I’m hearing it’s a normal, expected requirement so I’m comfortable keeping it in there. And it
also does, by putting the language out there, make sure that those expectations are managed so
that we don’t have misunderstandings and we’re always looking to try to bring back, so I think it
makes sense for a variety of reasons and I’d certainly support it. Any other comments? If not,
would somebody like to make a motion?
Councilwoman Ernst: Sure. I make a motion that we approve the amendment to the Site Plan
for Auto Motorplex Planning Case #09-13 permitting installation of decks in the locations
highlighted in the staff report subject to conditions, and I have the mayor’s glasses on so I’m
quite sure.
Mayor Furlong: 1 through 4.
Councilwoman Ernst: 1 through 4, page 8 of the staff report.
Mayor Furlong: That should help you see better.
Todd Gerhardt: Now it all makes sense.
Mayor Furlong: Now I see.
Todd Gerhardt: You need to get 3 more pair mayor.
Mayor Furlong: Coming in 2 weeks. Motion’s been made. Is there a second?
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Second.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Any discussion on the motion?
Councilwoman Ernst moved, Councilwoman Tjornhom seconded that the Chanhassen City
Council approves the amendment to the site plan for Auto Motorplex, Planning Case #09-
13, permitting the installation of decks in the locations highlighted in the staff report,
subject to the following conditions:
1. The development shall comply with the conditions and requirements of site plan Planning
Case #06-34.
2. The decks shall not encroach into or above any easements.
3. Deck structures will require a building permit. Required submittal documents include:
a. Design (and signature) by a professional, structural engineer.
b. Revised civil drawings by the respective design professional.
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
4. If decks/exterior balconies are to be constructed, the City will need to review the plans to
determine if a fire sprinkler head will be required under the deck/balcony.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Bruno Silikowski: Mr. Mayor could I ask, make one more comment?
Mayor Furlong: Usually I would advise somebody not to after they got it but if you would like
to go ahead.
Bruno Silikowski: I want to say something good.
Mayor Furlong: No, that’s fine. No, absolutely. Please come to the podium.
Bruno Silikowski: Well I guess what I want to try to say to you, and I know you guys are all
getting excited about us as much as you know I am and my clients are but we’ve been getting so
much good press and I just think it would be really smart for us to work with the city to try to get
more coverage for Chanhassen specifically because my business is getting, we’re in New York
Times. We’re going to be in the Robb Report. We’ve been in, as a matter of fact there’s another
article coming up in the Wall Street. We’ve been in Forbes Magazine. There’s a whole bunch of
publications and frankly what’s been happening, it’s been gaining momentum. I’d like to be able
to give back to Chanhassen and I think if whomever you might appoint within the city to work
with me, and on our kind of our publicity side of things, I think there’s a lot of good things we
could do for the city back as well so just as a point I’d encourage you to do that.
Mayor Furlong: No, I think that makes sense and I would encourage you to work with Todd and
Laurie at the city in terms of some of the marketing issues. The other thing, and maybe some of
th
your clients are already doing this but at the 4 of July there’s a classic car show that’s right at
city hall and I know you do some of the things and maybe some of them are already participating
but looking to work in those ways too would I think be very well received.
th
Bruno Silikowski: Absolutely. Well the year before this one we were at the 4 of July deal.
Unfortunately our one event was actually on the same day at the same time and so it was one of
those situations that it kind of clashed. We do events on the first Saturday and the third Saturday
th
of each month and it just happened to work out the way it did with the 4 of July. Otherwise
absolutely.
Mayor Furlong: But whether it’s the car show. Whether it’s the parade. You know those are
good ways to you know share some of the passion and the love that they have with thousands of
people.
Bruno Silikowski: Absolutely, and I’ll tell you one thing. It’s an event called Cars and Coffee.
It’s public and you all know about it. It has become the largest, believe this or not, the largest
cars and coffee in the nation. Right here and we don’t talk about it. We need to talk about it.
We need to talk about Chanhassen. We need to talk about how it’s all integrating into the, and
it’s you know what about this community. Why is it so popular here and all that. There’s a lot
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Chanhassen City Council – August 24, 2009
of good stories to be told and I just am encouraging that we should do that. We should work
together.
Mayor Furlong: I think that will be very well received.
Bruno Silikowski: Good. Thank you.
Councilwoman Ernst: Thank you.
Councilman McDonald: Sounds as though we could use him in our application for Money
Magazine next year as another reason to come to Chanhassen.
Mayor Furlong: Yep. Very good, thank you.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS:
Mayor Furlong: Just a couple I have. One, the Southwest Metro Chamber of Commerce is
sponsoring a, I guess a town hall meeting or sponsoring an event with Congressman Klein
tomorrow afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00. It’s going to be at the School of the Wise II so any
residents that are interested in coming and meeting the Congressman and listening to issues. I
know they’re welcome to come down there. The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring that
event. Again that’s tomorrow afternoon from 4:30 to 6:00 at the School of the Wise. And then
also Southwest Transit, which is the transit authority is having an open house at Southwest
Village on Saturday. This coming Saturday. I believe it’s from 9:00 to noon. 9:00 to 11:00 so
they are also offering, this year they are offering State Fair service directly from Southwest
Village. This is the new station and parking ramp down at 212 and Highway 101. So in the past
there’s been service, during the weekday I think it’s going to be offered from Wooddale Church
in Eden Prairie but on the weekends it will be offered from Southwest Village. In the past it’s
just been on the weekends at Eden Prairie parking ramp but this year it will be right here in town.
First Saturday of the State Fair is this weekend. There will be an open house in the morning
there as well with some reduced fairs available and other information. So if you’re interested I’d
encourage you to stop down for that as well. Very good. Mr. Gerhardt.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS:
Todd Gerhardt: Couple of new facilities that have opened in the last couple weeks here.
Walgreen’s at 41 and 7 is open for business so we’re proud of that business. Kwik Trip has an
nd
opening coming, I see the Mayor has a flyer there. Grand opening on September 2.
nd
Mayor Furlong: September 2, yes. And that’s the Kwik Trip down, right by Southwest
Village or 101 and 212.
Todd Gerhardt: Correct. 101 and 212, off of Lyman. Yep. And the one that we’re really
excited, which I think is making history in the community is the opening of the high school.
We’ve got school starting here in 2 weeks and they’ve got a lot of work to do yet but.
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