PC SUM 2011 11 01CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
SUMMARY MINUTES
NOVEMBER 1, 2011
Chairman Aller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Andrew Aller, Mark Undestad, Tom Doll, Kathleen Thomas, Kevin Ellsworth,
Kim Tennyson and Lisa Hokkanen
STAFF PRESENT: Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; Paul Oehme, City
Engineer /Public Works Director; Alyson Fauske, Assistant City Engineer; Sharmeen Al -Jaff, Senior
Planner; and Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Mark Giancola
Mary Rubai
Marjorie & Jesse Knight
Steven L. Cohen & Allyson Segar -Cohen
Gary Disch
Dan Mertes
Brad Karels
Anne & Bill Fisher
Dorothy Downing
Linda Landsman
Larry Pastorek
Gary Theis
Sarah Thomas
Julia Seper
Janice Schulter
Candance G. Carlson
Karen Walker
Sandra Resnik
Brenda Witzig
Joyce Arlt
Dan Mahady
John Kunitz
Joe & Desiree Nozling
Jackie & Doug Jacobson
Scott & Marcia Hippen
Bob & Susan Seward
Sheryl Mickelsen
Adele Pint
Chris Miller
Kirsten McBeken
Steve Taborek
Mark Arrington
Tonya Stier
Kristi Strang
Kurt Kuhlmann
8441 Rosewood Drive
7340 Frontier Trail
2014 Clover Court
7022 Sandy Hook Circle
8170 Marsh Drive
8671 Flamingo Drive
8105 Dakota Lane
1321 Lake Drive West 4225
7200 Juniper Avenue, Excelsior
7329 Frontier Trail
7071 Shawnee Lane
1696 Valley Ridge Trail North
2555 Longacres Drive
1081 Lake Lucy Road
8691 Chanhassen Hills Drive North
7720 Arboretum Village Circle
7591 Walnut Curve
7370 Kurvers Point
9520 Washington Boulevard 43
8434 Burlwood Drive
1020 Butte Court
6441 Bretton Way
8410 West Lake Drive
1121 Dove Court
7017 Cheyenne Trail
8031 Cheyenne Trail
981 Pontiac Lane
1641 Koehnen Circle
8401 West Lake Drive
1401 Field Creek Circle, Victoria
8022 Cheyenne Avenue
870 Lake Susan Hills Drive
9200 Ellendale Lane
1701 Valley Ridge Trail South
8445 Powers Place
Planning Commission Summary — November 1, 2011
Alan & Barb Johnson
John & Jennifer Bentz
Kelly Woods
Patrick Rutledge
Shelley Kerber
Chris Robinson
David Enright
Kurt Weimer
Susan & Rian Nobel
Irene Oberstar
Rick Dorsey
Ted Lamson
Christine Meier
Robby Virnig
Margaret DiMarco
John Prondzinski, Ridgeview Medical Center
John & Karl Davis
Barry McKinney
Edwin Everett
Tim Bloudek
Pat & Tom Potter
Lauren Kopp
Emily Mattran
Tim Polivany
Wayne Skoblik
Jean & Dale Rusch
Rich Gavert
Scott B. Haas
Barry & Anita Steckling
Paul & Darlene Ryan
Lee Kaufman
Linda Boerboom
J. Wagle
Bruce VonOrnum
Kathi Cadmus
Jane Gharbi
Curt Kobilaresik
Sue Bogan
George Beinik
Debra Pladsen
Lana & Doug Haberman
Dave Mayer
Karen Zellner
Christoph Leser
Colleen Cannon
Darlene Loving
Ronald & Cynthia Tonn
James Hastreiter
Brian Bole
Chris Johnson
G. Dye
700 Lake Susan Hills Drive
9840 Deerbrook Drive
850 Lake Susan Hills Drive
7568 Walnut Curve
6025 Whitney Circle
7900 Market Boulevard
795 Ponderosa Drive
6211 Dogwood Avenue
7100 Tecumseh Lane
2170 Baneberry Way West
14215 Green View Court, Eden Prairie
680 Lake Susan Hills Drive
8437 Rosewood Drive
26380 Shorewood Oaks Drive, Shorewood
1131 Dove Court
500 So. Maple Street, Waconia
8200 West Lake Court
8046 Cheyenne Avenue
6301 Near Mountain Boulevard
1171 Homestead Lane
6531 Devonshire Drive
8020 Hidden Circle
8210 West Lake Court
181 Fox Hollow Drive
409 Del Rio Drive
2856 Century Trail
7701 Frontier Trail
7264 Pontiac Circle
8320 West Lake Court
8310 West Lake Court
300 Hidden Lane
8261 West Lake Court
8411 Egret Court
8150 Hidden Court
8426 Stone Creek Court
1401 Crest Drive
9149 Springfield Drive
7757 Buttercup Court
412 West 76 Street
1490 Heron Drive
520 Pleasant View Road
8726 Flamingo Drive
7616 Frontier Trail
8110 Marsh Drive
8110 Marsh Drive
7112 Pontiac Circle
8300 West Lake Court
6990 Tecumseh Lane
1577 Bluebill Trail
Chanhassen
1331 Lake Drive West
Planning Commission Summary — November 1, 2011
Ben Newton
1560 Lake Susan Hills
Joseph O'Connor
811 Lake Susan Hills Drive
Gloria J. Cox
6990 Shawnee Lane
Tom Kraus
7744 Vasserman Trail
Terry McGinley
920 Lake Susan Hills Drive
Ellis Thomas
406 West 76 Street
John & Stacey Boshacker
7428 Bent Bow Trail
Scott Paulson
634 Summerfield Lane
Mark Ploof
7040 Tecumseh Lane
Debbie Lloyd
7302 Laredo Drive
Kathleen Haas
7264 Pontiac Circle
Jackie Ottoson
7080 Harrison Hill Terrace
Lori Tollberg
6981 Pima Lane
Tim Boyce
8941 Audubon Road
Tana Erickson
8941 Audubon Road
Bob Ayotte
Chanhassen
Michael & Virginia Bailey
7472 Saratoga Drive
Charlie & Julie Littfin
7609 Laredo Drive
Mark Flodoski
2204 Sommergate
Katie Mahannah
92 Shasta Circle East
Holly White
8657 Valley Ridge Court
Irina Osadchuk
7301 Pontiac Circle
Carmen Ried
8301 West Lake Court
Ross Huseby
1431 Heron Drive
Ana Moritz
860 Lake Susan Hills Drive
Jane Revsbech
2155 Murray Hill Court
Jack Krueger
7606 Kiowa Avenue
Greg & Kelly Hastings
9217 Lake Riley Boulevard
Jay Donohue
6561 Troendle Circle
Larry White
8657 Valley Ridge Court
Bill & Kelly Schulte
8420 West Lake Drive
Stephanie Fisher
1451 Heron Drive
David & Elizabeth Kressler
1750 Valley Ridge Trail North
Christine Callahan
8595 Drake Court
Katherine Peterson
7713 Vasserman Place
Kent Ludford
8615 Valley View Court
Mike Boyer
2370 Bridle Creek Circle
David & Kristy Brackett
1320 Lake Susan Hills Drive
PUBLIC HEARING:
WALMART: REQUEST FOR CONCEPT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD)
APPROVAL FOR A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF A 120.000 SOUARE FOOT
WALMART STORE ON APPROXIMATELY 14.10 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF HIGHWAY 5 AND POWERS BOULEVARD (1000 PARK ROAD).
APPLICANT: WALMART, C/O KIMLEY -HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC. PLANNING CASE
2011 -11.
Kate Aanenson presented the staff report and background information and Paul Oehme discussed traffic
issues associated with the proposed plan. Chairman Aller asked for clarification on recommendations to
change parking, access points, and turn lane improvements. Commissioner Ellsworth asked for
clarification of the zoning and guiding for the property, criteria used in the staff's findings, who's going
Planning Commission Summary — November 1, 2011
to pay for infrastructure improvements to the site, and water quality. Commissioner Doll asked about
truck traffic through the parking lot. Commissioner Tennyson asked for clarification on the difference
between regular commercial and community commercial zoning. Commissioner Hokkanen asked for
clarification of the traffic study. Lisa B. Nelson provided background information on the Walmart
corporation and the issues that will be addressed by members of the Walmart team. Chairman Aller asked
Will Matzek, the engineer of record for the project, to focus his presentation on the findings in the report
and the concerns of the planning staff. Mike Sims, the realtor working with the applicant, addressed the
question of locating Walmart on this site. Jackie Cook -Haxby with SAIC addressed the architectural and
sustainability issues associated with the building.
Chairman Aller opened the public hearing. Scott Hippen, 7017 Cheyenne Trail explained why he is
against Walmart moving into 1000 Park Road and asked the commission to make a recommendation that
the City Council put a moratorium on big box store development until it can establish where to put that
type of development. He expressed concerns with the traffic study and impact on the nearby soccer field.
Sarah Thomas, 2555 Longacres Drive asked that the Planning Commission deny the request because it
does not meet the guiding of the City's comprehensive plan for this area of downtown and that Walmart
has not gone above and beyond the code before passing out and explaining a handout with tax
information. Tim Bloudek, 1171 Homestead Lane stated he was against this rezoning and explained his
belief that Walmart doesn't fit with his view of what the community needs or wants in a retail district.
Ellis Thomas, 406 West 76 Street, who has lived in Chanhassen since 1967, gave an emotional plea to
keep the community the way it is. Brad Karels, 8105 Dakota Lane addressed the issue of environmental
impact to this site, specifically non point source water pollution and solid waste concerns. He asked that
every aspect of the local ecosystem be considered and if environmental protection cannot be guaranteed,
that this rezoning not be recommended to the City Council. Todd Neils, cited information from several
studies about the assumed tax and economic impact big box stores such as Walmart have on a
community. Annie Fisher, who currently resides at 1321 Lake Drive West, one block directly south of
Park Road where this new Walmart is proposed to go, expressed concern with traffic, local business
competition, heighten crime rate and property values. Bill Fisher, 1321 Lake Drive West, board member
of the Powers Ridge Homeowners Association, and truck driver for Lakewinds stated his biggest concern
was with access and truck traffic. David Kressler, 1750 Valley Ridge Trail North asked that the Planning
Commission recommend against Walmart's proposed development in Chanhassen after discussing
Walmart's slogan that Walmart Sells for Less Always and the effect that has on small local businesses.
Elizabeth Kressler, 1750 Valley Ridge Trail North, representing the 1,030 people that signed a petition on
www.change.org, referenced a study done by the University of Iowa on the effects of Walmart coming
into a community. Christine Callahan, 8595 Drake Court addressed the Planning Commission's role in
planning development of the city and asked the commission to draw their attention to the goals and
policies in the comprehensive plan. Colleen Cannon, 8110 Marsh Drive discussed a study done by
Kenneth Stone, Professor of Economics at Iowa State University entitled the Economic Impact of
Walmart Supercenters on Existing Businesses in Mississippi. She informed the commission that she had
brought an exchange student from China to the meeting to see the democratic process in action. Dave
Enright, 795 Ponderosa Drive, in talking about the limited physical area of the site, asked where the snow
removal would go. Scott Hadden, an optometrist who works at the Bloomington Walmart Vision Center,
explained how he would be the lease holder at the Chanhassen store, discussed the type of people he sees
as patients, and the positive economic impact the Bloomington Walmart has had on surrounding
businesses. Bill Shubert asked about the number of full time employees, the percentage of charitable
contribution compared to profit, and the need to find a location that is best for the community, not the best
location for Walmart. Katherine Peterson, 7713 Vasserman Place explained the effect of Walmart
locating in her hometown of Litchfield. Margaret DiMarco, 1131 Dove Court stated her concern with
increased traffic on Powers Boulevard. Deb Lloyd, 7302 Laredo Drive explained the ownership of the
surrounding businesses, the deficiencies in the PUD proposal, the fact that Walmart allows RV's to park
in their parking lot overnight, and the amount of impervious surface. Kent Ludford, 8615 Valley View
Planning Commission Summary — November 1, 2011
Court explained his commute from his home to his place business, the Ace Hardware store and his
concern with the viability of the soccer field and traffic flow. Mike Boyer, 2370 Bridle Creek Circle
discussed the economic study that was done in 2006 which concluded the need for about 110,000
additional square feet of retail around the center of town, but asked the commission to consider that
consumer spending habits have changed since 2006. Robby Virnig, 26380 Shorewood Oaks Drive in
Shorewood and an employee of Target, expressed concern over losing his job due to the loss of business
with Walmart being open 24/7. Kristy Brackett, 1320 Lake Susan Hills Drive, which is 2 blocks from the
proposed site, expressed concern with traffic, noise, school bus safety, and lighting. David Brackett, 1320
Lake Susan Hills Drive explained his belief that Walmart has been known as a predatory company.
Chairman Aller closed the public hearing. After comments from commission members the following
motion was made.
Doll moved, Undestad seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends denial of
the Concept Planned Unit Development based on the Findings of the Planned Unit Development as
stated in the staff report for Planning Case 2011 -11. All voted in favor and the motion carried
unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0.
The Planning Commission took a short recess at this point in the meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Thomas noted the verbatim and summary minutes of the
Planning Commission meeting dated October 18, 2011 as presented.
COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS. None.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION UPDATE. Kate Aanenson stated there were no planning items on the
October 26 City Council meeting, and that the November 15 Planning Commission meeting was
cancelled due to lack of items.
Ellsworth moved, Doll 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 9:40 p.m.
Submitted by Kate Aanenson
Community Development Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim