CC Minutes 09-12-2011Chanhassen City Council – September 12, 2011
Findings of Fact and Decision. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote
of 5 to 0.
Josh Koller: Thanks for your time.
Mayor Furlong: Yep, thank you. Move now to the next item on our agenda which is the Lake Drive
Business Center, a request for a site plan review of 155 stall parking lot expansion at 950 Lake Drive.
Staff report.
LAKE DRIVE BUSINESS CENTER: REQUEST FOR SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR A 155-STALL
PARKING LOT EXPANSION, 950 LAKE DRIVE. APPLICANT: CSM CORPORATION.
Kate Aanenson: Thank you Mayor. As you stated this request is for a parking stall expansion for the
Lake Drive Business Center. It’s located just at the Highway 5 and the current zoning on that is industrial
office park. To the east you’ve got Robert’s Automotive. You’ve got the Lake Susan Business Park. To
the west it’s vacant industrial land. We did receive one comment from, off of the Powers Boulevard
property just immediately to the west. They had some concerns about the visibility of grading. Although
that property isn’t developed, the grades on that are such that I’m not sure they would see a lot of it so, we
did send them back our comment that it did meet ordinance. There’s no variances requested with this. It
does meet ordinance so the parking lot expansion’s really to accommodate some additional parking on the
southwest, 48 additional stalls. On the southeast, 41 additional spaces and then on the east 66. So this
could be done in phases. The real goal here is to accommodate the ability for the property owner to sell
this property and make sure that the user needs additional parking, the plan’s been approved so they can
say that there’s already entitlement to the property and they could go ahead and proceed with the parking
lot so it provides them the flexibility to a potential buyer. So the grading plan itself does have some
retaining walls with it. On the southwest side it’s about 2 1/2 feet. On the southeast side it’s about,
almost 7 feet. And the east side’s the tallest. The 8 feet and there’s a tall one on the north side which
would be about 17 feet so there is one issue on the drainage and utility easement on this side. There’s the
drainage, excuse me the retaining wall goes into the drainage utility easement. That needs to be moved.
That may reduce some of the parking stalls there but I think we can accommodate that. Or the applicant
can so when they come in for a final plans then they would have to accommodate that. And then there’s
also an existing stairwell that they need to accommodate through that retaining wall. They’ve also
submitted a landscape plan and there’s a few deficiencies in that but again we believe that can all be
accommodated. Again this plan may not go forward immediately. It just depends on the currently they
want to maximize the lease space in there so it does provide them the flexibility. The Planning
Commission at their meeting did recommend approval of this plan when they had their meeting on
th
August 16 they voted 6 for, none against recommending the parking lot expansion and with that the
motion we have for you would then also to approve the site plan for the parking lot expansion. With the
condition in the staff report and with that I’d answer any questions that you have.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Any questions for staff? Any concerns from the property to the east?
Kate Aanenson: Yeah we did talk, we did talk to them.
Mayor Furlong: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: They live out of state. We did let them know that all the requests did meet code. There
is additional landscaping that would be put in there and I think that was some of the concern that they
would look and see a lot of landscaping. I mean it was a lot of parking but actually the landscape would
buffer that so I think we’ve accomplished that and we.
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Chanhassen City Council – September 12, 2011
Mayor Furlong: Is this, I’m sorry, is this the property to the west across Powers that you’re talking about
or to the Robert’s Automotive to the east?
Kate Aanenson: Yeah, it’s actually the piece across on Powers Boulevard.
Mayor Furlong: Right. They expressed some concerns.
Kate Aanenson: Yep, nobody else commented on it.
Mayor Furlong: Okay.
Kate Aanenson: Yes, I’m sorry.
Mayor Furlong: Alright, thank you. Any other questions for staff? Comments, thoughts. I mean it’s
within, it meets ordinance. It’s, there’s no variances required. People are looking to improve the
property.
Kate Aanenson: It gives them the flexibility to maximize the building which is what we would like, yes.
Mayor Furlong: Absolutely.
Councilman Laufenburger: Is the building vacant right now Kate?
John Ferrier: It’s largely vacant.
Kate Aanenson: Yes.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. Any comments from the applicant they’d like to share with the council this
evening?
John Ferrier: Good evening Mayor and council members. I’m John Ferrier with CSM Corporation. I
represent the owner. Also here with me tonight is Mark Kronbeck. He is the engineer that worked on the
plans and first I’d like to thank staff for working with us on this request. Essentially you said it, we just
want to make the building more marketable. Not necessarily for a sale but we like our buildings to have
tenants and so this one’s been largely vacant for some time so we’re looking at ways, creative ways to
bring in more tenants so. We’ve read the staff report and agree with it’s findings so we’re here to answer
any questions. Thank you.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you, any questions for the applicant? Thank you.
Councilman Laufenburger: Yeah I do have, John.
John Ferrier: Yes.
Councilman Laufenburger: Mr. Ferrier. Is it, is the inside of the building designed for industrial or office
or what?
John Ferrier: It is, it’s one part of the property which is the property to the west was largely office so if
you see in the lower left hand corner of the plan where that black paving area is.
Councilman Laufenburger: Okay.
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Chanhassen City Council – September 12, 2011
John Ferrier: That’s where a lot of the parking we’re bringing in. That’s probably what we would do first
because with, to the west with that large office component, there just isn’t enough parking for the office
component. The two areas more to the east are more of your standard office or standard warehouse with a
little bit of office component.
Councilman Laufenburger: Is there access to the buildings? Are there doors on the southeast and the east
side?
John Ferrier: Yes.
Councilman Laufenburger: Okay. Yeah, I like it Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, thank you. Any other comments? Discussion. If not, would somebody like to
make a motion?
Councilwoman Ernst: I will.
Mayor Furlong: Councilwoman Ernst.
Councilwoman Ernst: I make a motion we approve the site plan for parking lot expansion located at 950
Lake Drive, plans prepared by Alliant Engineering, Incorporated dated July 19, 2011, subject to the
conditions of the staff report, and adoption of the Findings of Fact.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Is there a second?
Councilman Laufenburger: Second.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Is there any discussion on the motion? Sometimes the easy ones are hard to
get the second on. If there is no discussion, we’ll proceed with the vote.
Councilwoman Ernst moved, Councilman Laufenburger seconded that the City Council approve
the site plan for parking lot expansion located at 950 Lake Drive, plans prepared by Alliant
Engineering, Inc., dated July 19, 2011, subject to the following conditions, and adoption of the
Findings of Fact and Recommendation:
Planning Department Conditions
1. The applicant shall enter into a site plan agreement and provide the security required by it.
2. This relocated sign shall require a separate building permit and sign permit.
3. The landscape island on the north end of the parking adjacent to the east side of the building shall be
extended further out to provide full protection of the parking stall.
Environmental Resource Specialist Conditions
1. The applicant shall submit a revised landscape plan showing the minimum number of landscape
islands/peninsulas (16) and trees (50).
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Chanhassen City Council – September 12, 2011
2. The applicant shall provide adequate screening for the new parking areas along Lake Drive. Shrubs
shall reach a mature height of at least two feet. A revised landscape plan shall be submitted to the
city for approval.
Water Resources Coordinator Conditions
1. Rates of surface water runoff must not be increased from existing conditions. Where practicable to
do so, rates should be decreased.
2. The applicant and city shall work together on future phases to look for potential cooperative surface
water management opportunities.
3. These approvals for future phases are contingent upon City code and other jurisdictional agency rules
remaining the same. In the event that any of these changes, the applicant will need to resubmit to
assure that the plans meet any new rules germane to this project.
4. Include a note on the Grading and Erosion Control plan indicating that the proposed best management
practices is the minimum controls anticipated, but that as unanticipated site and climatic conditions
present themselves, it will be to modify the best management practices to meet these new conditions.
5. All 3:1 slopes shall be covered with erosion control blanket or sod. This needs to be indicated within
the plan set on sheet C-2: Grading and Erosion Control.
6. An escrow or letter of credit in the amount of $2,450.00 shall be provided to the City before
commencement of the first phase. This escrow is only for the first phase. Subsequent phases will
require additional assurance funds.
7. Applicant must apply for and receive approvals from other jurisdictional agencies as necessary.
8. The applicant must show that the total disturbed area for all phases is less than one acre or they must
apply for and receive an NPDES Construction Stormwater Permit from the MPCA. If this is the case,
a full Surface Water Pollution Prevention Plan must be prepared and submitted to the City for review
and comment.
9. All exposed soils must be stabilized within 14 days of cessation of earth work activities.
10. Lake Drive must be swept clean of soils and debris tracked onto it from the site as needed but no less
than once per week until final stabilization is achieved.
11. The applicant or their designee must maintain the best management practices in good working order
until final stabilization is achieved.
Engineering Department Conditions
1. Grass area maximum slope must not exceed 3:1.
2. The applicant must submit revised plans (redlines) which meet the requirements of the City.
3. Drainage plans must be revised so that the plans match the drainage calculations. The applicant must
also follow City standards for water quality volume. Also, the proposed drainage rates must be
maintained for the 2-, 10-, and 100-year rain events.
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Chanhassen City Council – September 12, 2011
4. The storm sewer provided for treatment will be privately owned and maintained.
5. If importing or exporting material for development of the site is necessary, the applicant will be
required to supply the City with detailed haul routes.
6. Building permits are required for all retaining walls four feet tall or higher and must be designed by a
Structural Engineer registered in the State of Minnesota. A fence must be placed at the top of the
wall for safety.
7. The exits in front of Wall 2 may be inadequate for some uses of the building under the proposed
parking scenario. Exterior exit discharge must accommodate exits served. The parking stalls in this
area should be constructed at the time when a final end user is determined so that the exits will not
limit the occupancy.
8. The wall and wall supports (not including soil) in drainage area three on the east side of the site must
be removed from the drainage and utility easement.
9. Details must be provided for all proposed storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and watermain crossings.
Actual elevations of existing utilities shall be verified for accuracy. A minimum vertical separation
of 18” is required at all storm, sanitary, and watermain crossings.
10. All of the utility improvements are required to be constructed in accordance with the City's latest
edition of Standard Specifications and Detail Plates. The applicant is also required to provide the
City with the necessary financial security in the form of a letter of credit or cash escrow to guarantee
the installation of the storm sewer, erosion control, and seeding. This amount will be determined
prior to start of construction due to the possible phasing of the project and not knowing the amount to
be installed and disturbed.
11. The applicant must also notify the City after installation of the erosion control and 48 hours prior to
the commencement of grading. Permits from the appropriate regulatory agencies will be required.
12. The plans and drainage calculations must be signed by a professional engineer registered in the State
of Minnesota.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you everyone. We have one more item on our new business tonight but it’s about
10 to 9:00. I’d like to take just a quick 5 minute break because this discussion might go for a little bit so
we’ll make it a quick 5 minutes as opposed to a long 5 minutes, without objection. We’ll just recess.
The City Council took a short recess at this point in the meeting.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS: SENATOR JULIANNE ORTMAN.
Mayor Furlong: Good evening Senator, thanks for coming.
Senator Julianne Ortman: Well Mr. Mayor and members, thank you for having me tonight. It’s good to
be home. Truly I was in Norwood-Young America and then Waconia and then Victoria tonight. Seems
like everybody meets on Monday and Tuesday nights right so my schedule gets kind of tight and so I
apologize for coming late in the evening but I’m on my way home so that’s good. And let me start by
congratulating you on your recent recognition for being an outstanding city. The residents knew it. We
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