PC 2014 01 07
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 7, 2014
Chairman Aller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Andrew Aller, Mark Undestad, Kim Tennyson, Lisa Hokkanen, Maryam
Yusuf, Stephen Withrow, and Steven Weick
STAFF PRESENT:
Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; and Alyson Fauske, Assistant
City Engineer
PUBLIC HEARING:
6421 HAZELTINE BOULEVARD, PLANNING CASE 2014-01: REQUEST FOR AN INTERIM
USE PERMIT TO GRADE PROPERTY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A PARKING LOT
ADDITION AND STORMWATER DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON PROPERTY ZONED
OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT (OI) AND LOCATED AT 6421 HAZELTINE
BOULVARD (MINNETONKA MIDDLE SCHOOL WEST). APPLICANT: MINNETONKA
SCHOOL DISTRICT 276.
Aanenson: Thank you Chairman, members of the Planning Commission. This item again is being, the
request is from Minnetonka Public Schools. It is property zoned Office Institutional, public, semi-public
and it’s 30 acres in size. The reason why it needs an interim use permit is that it’s in excess of 1,000
cubic yards. So again the subject site is located just south of Highway 7, off of 41. The Minnetonka
Middle School. And it’s a large piece of property but with the improvements that they’ve made,
including the swimming pool, additional parking is required. There’s just kind of congestion in this
corner of the site itself. So the parking improvements in and of itself will be to add 51 additional parking
stalls, so you can see that shown in this area here will be the additional parking stalls. So what is being
disturbed is about 2 1/2 acres and want to add about 1 acre of new impervious to the hard cover being
treated. So part of what needs to be accommodated here, as we looked at with the last permit is to
manage the rate and control of the water that’s being, additional water that’s being created. It needs to be
treated so with this project we’re actually looking at a filtration swale via 6 curb cuts and if you have
questions and more specific about that I’ll let engineering or Alyson answer those questions but the
filtration site would really be privately owned and managed by the school district so we’ll put together a
manual and how they’ll maintain that and inspections and the like so the City will have that so if there’s
concerns about that we can manage that as we do all of our other stormwater ponds to make sure that’s
being accommodated. So the actual cubic yards being graded would be about 2,400 cubic yards so that’s
the excess over the requirement. We also are taking security in place to make sure that that happens.
That everything gets put back. Because of the drainage swale in this retention area, it will be here. Then
we also a retaining wall will go around the site and as a normal practice we like to state how that retaining
wall will look so it’s actually about 5 1/2 feet tall and it would be concrete segment wall with a chiseled
finish. Kind of a split face rock so that will be on the, this side of the property as I indicated here. So the
stalls meet all the City standards. We are requiring landscaping that will be on the perimeter of the site.
Additional landscaping there to buffer that so with that we are recommending approval. It does meet all
the requirements of the City. There are conditions of approval. More specifics here a little bit on the
grading plan. If you had questions on that I’d then defer to Alyson on that but we are recommending
approval. There are Findings of Fact in the staff report supporting the conditions of approval. Again the
security that we’re putting in place and then operational manual that we’ll review or have on staff to make
sure that it’s, the filtration pond is functioning as it should so we are recommending approval and I’d be
happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 7, 2014
Aller: In my reading of the report, and review of the conditions, it appears as though this could have been
handled administratively. Is the only reason that it’s before us the square footage requirements?
Aanenson: That’s correct, yeah. Because it’s over 1,000 square feet, yeah. Cubic yards, sorry. Yeah,
and then to look at the, to attach those conditions that would go with it yeah.
Aller: Does anybody have any other questions at this point other than?
Withrow: I guess one question. Will the soil actually be removed or will it stay on site?
Aller: I was going to turn to Alyson in a second.
Fauske: They’ve indicated that they have excess soil for the site so they will be trucking some of the soil
off the site and we’ve requested that they provide us with a haul route just so that if we get telephone calls
about truck traffic that we’re able to answer where that traffic is coming from and going to. And also to
make sure that it’s going to a site outside of Chanhassen so that we can ensure that it’s not a site that’s
getting the excess material and need of a grading permit or an interim use permit.
Withrow: Okay, thank you.
Aanenson: And it’s correct too Alyson that some of the removal also will be some of the reclaimed
pavement material too so again that’s part of the condition is to make sure that we know where it’s going
and.
Aller: And for those of you that aren’t here we get a complete report which includes the
recommendations and the Findings of Fact but just to go through a little bit of that, with regard to the
retaining wall and the drainage systems. Alyson if you’d just kind of give an overview of what that is.
Fauske: Certainly. In the back of the staff report there’s some of the plans that, which one’s the clearest
one is probably number C-4. It indicates where the retaining wall is. It shows you the wall elevation
through there. The reason being they just need to hold back some of that dirt and provide an area for that
filtration area and that’s what they’re proposing to provide some stormwater treatment and rate
attenuation through the project. So that’s the genesis for the retaining wall in the site.
Aller: Thank you.
Aanenson: Yeah and I was just going to add. I know we did have someone come into the office today
and we went through the staff report with them. I think we may have only received one other call. Just
explained what was going on and didn’t, nobody had concerns that they felt like they needed to be here
for that. Felt comfortable with what we were recommending.
Aller: Alright, thank you. Does anybody else have any questions or comments at this point? Okay. If
the applicant wishes to do so he can come forward. Okay. And we’ll go ahead and open the public
hearing portion of tonight’s meeting. Again if you wish to speak for or against an item you can come
forward at this point in time. Public hearing is open. Seeing no one come forward I will close the public
hearing. Comments. Discussion. I think we have a good working relationship with the school district. I
think they’ve proven themselves to be sound fiscally and management wise and they’ve worked with us
before so I see no reason why I wouldn’t.
Hokkanen: They need the parking spaces.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 7, 2014
Aller: Everybody needs parking. So entertain a motion at this time.
Hokkanen: I’ll move. I will propose that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends approval of
an Interim Use Permit for the site grading in excess of 1,000 cubic yards to allow a parking lot expansion
and stormwater improvements subject to the conditions of approval and adopts the attached Findings of
Fact and Recommendation.
Aller: I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Tennyson: I’ll second.
Aller: Having a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
Hokkanen moved, Tennyson seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends
approve the Interim Use Permit subject to the following conditions and
that the City Council
adoption of the attached Findings of Fact and Recommendation:
1.New retaining wall(s) exceeding 48 inches in height will require a professional design and
building permit.
2.“No Parking Fire Lane” signage and yellow painted curbing will be required. Contact
Chanhassen Fire Marshal for exact location of signs and curb to be painted yellow.
3.The applicant shall install a minimum of six deciduous trees.
4.The interior width of the landscape islands or peninsulas shall be 10 feet.
5.All parking stalls shall be marked with painted lines not less than four inches wide in
accordance with the approved plan.
6.Staff recommends the applicant installs forebays at each curb cut.
7.All seed mixes shall be from the MN State Seed Mix list.
8.Seed mix 25-141 shall be replaced within the filtration swale with 33-262 or its equivalent.
9.The plan shall call out MNDOT 3877 Filter Topsoil Borrow or shall otherwise limit the clay
content to less than 5% of the topsoil portion.
10.The applicant must develop an operations and maintenance manual addressing the anticipate
inspection and maintenance schedule for the filtration swale as well as measures to assure
that the swale functions according to design. This must be provided to the city and
provisions must be included to allow for City staff to inspect as is required under the
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit issued in August of 2013.
11.Inlet protection shall be called out and installed at all catch basins and catch basin manholes.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 7, 2014
12.Inlet protection shall be called out and installed at all curb cuts into the filtration swale until
the swale is fully stabilized.
13.Remove all references to a filter sock around the underdrain as is shown in detail 11 on page
C5.
14.The applicant must apply for and receive coverage under the NPDES permit. Proof of this
must be provided to the City.
15.The plans shall be revised to note the style of the existing grated manhole covers and, if they
are to be upgraded, note the new style.
16.A $5,000 escrow for restoration and erosion control will be required with the permit.
17.The applicant must provide a proposed haul route for review and approval.
18.An as-built grading plan is required once site grading is complete.
19.The applicant shall show the retaining wall on the grading plan.
20.The plan must follow all applicable state and federal guidelines.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0.
COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS.
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Undestad noted the verbatim and summary Minutes
of the Planning Commission meeting dated November 19, 2013 as presented.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION UPDATE.
Aanenson: I’ll give you the City Council update.
Aller: Please.
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Aanenson: Okay. So the City Council approved on their November 24 the Pioneer Cemetery so they
put together a process so we’re working on that right now. The goal right now is to get it surveyed and
then once we get the survey and have a better understanding of that, we actually chose a day before it
snowed and got cold to go out there and walk it so we’ve kind of looked at some of the issues out there
and then we’re out with getting a couple bids right now from surveying crews. It’s pretty cold right now
to get that all staked. We want to look at all the information. Then we’ll have another neighborhood
meeting and come back to the City Council with what we believe should be a good transition for the
buffering between the neighborhood and so that meeting we were hoping might take place in January but
we’ll see what the weather is like because we’d like everybody to be able to see the stakes and feel
comfortable with kind of that information and disbursing all that so that neighborhood meeting is coming
forth. They also approved the Great Plains Center at 7905. The British Petroleum site. Sharmeen Al-Jaff
and myself have met with the developer. Alyson, kind of reviewing their plans. They finalized their
tenants. That’s still a little bit proprietary. I think you’ll be very pleased with what they’re coming back
for the mix so that project should be underway. Again weather is determining some of the projects. Kind
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 7, 2014
of holding everybody up but we suspect that should be getting underway pretty quickly here. Then finally
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under, we talked about the last grading permit there on the December 9 that was approved too at 8821
Sunset Trail so that’s all I had for council update.
FUTURE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Aller: Future items or agendas?
Aanenson: Okay. We’ll go right into the upcoming items. We were anticipating, we do have another,
there’s a sign up on Villages on the Pond. Another small strip center. Again we’ll be, you’ll be pleased
with some of the mix that is in there. Again proprietary yet. We have two businesses that are going that
may be talking to the same clients but I think you’ll be very pleased with the uses that are going in there.
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We did anticipate that they would be in last Friday which would have been a deadline for the February 4.
They did not get in so we know there’s a subdivision on for the, we’re anticipating that coming on
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February 18 so we think that commercial project will be on that same night. That commercial project
again is right next to the bank there. The Chanhassen Bank. Kind of over by Lakewinds there. So that
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subdivision, Fretham 19 will be on, looks on the Naomi Carlson property. That was the one we were
working on with the barn so probably 4 houses on there so we are talking to a lot of people on
subdivisions so we anticipate those will be lined up in the queue. If you look up above, you know
Boulder Cove’s changed hands a couple times but we believe that one will be coming back. Also
Westwood Church looking at a proposal on the back there’s 4-5 lots on the back of their property and
then the Bentz property has changed hands a couple times too but all of them seem like they’re kind of in
the queue now to come forward. Then the other one too is at 7 and 41. That center’s been sold. That
excludes the Walgreen’s and the SuperAmerica but they are, there was an additional pad so they’re
working through a design in that so the challenge that we have is not to have them all on one meeting and
so for you and for staff so we try to you know encourage people to, the first in first will get in the process
so we don’t put them all on one for you. And the other thing too is we’ll have to, between now and
March then we’ll look at interviewing for Planning Commissioners so.
Aller: Great.
Aanenson: So that’s what we have going. Oh I was also going to mention too, we do have bids out for
the County Road 61/101 so we’ll be presenting that to the City Council. So there’s kind of two
components to that. Looking at whether or not, on how we can provide sewer and water down to that
bottom area and then in addition we’ll be looking at the land uses down there. Kind of controlled access.
You know there’s properties that we don’t want to have a driveway on each one on a collector road so
we’re looking at those issues. So we’re setting up a process so the Planning Commission will be involved
with that. We’ll be meeting with the property owners and you’ll have a meeting with the City Council
too. That’s kind of wrapped into that study but you’ll also kind of be, kind of the focus group instead of
doing a separate study committee so you’ll be involved in that process too. So no matter what we do
down there we need all those property owners to, what we’re thinking about down there as the pressure
kind of comes to bear as we put the new bridge across the river. There’ll be some raised expectations so
we’ll be busy this year so.
Aller: Great.
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Aanenson: A lot of meetings so, so we do not have a meeting on the 21 of January because we did not
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have anything in. And we were anticipating one of the 4 and I’m just hopeful that we don’t have 3 or 4
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items on the 18 so we’re doing our best to try to spread them out a little bit here. And then we do have,
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we always anticipate our April 1 work session so that’s kind of a time for us. We do two. One in the
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 7, 2014
fall. We did the tour in the fall and then the April one we’ll do kind of some training so our next meeting
I’ll probably come back with some ideas. We should talk amongst ourselves and maybe get some ideas
from you on things you may want to learn about. So with that we just did include then some new
business signs. If you have questions on any of those I’d be happy to address those and I know the
MacPhail Center for Music is having a grand opening on Sunday so if anybody’s interested in that.
They’re pretty excited, as are we to have them in town. So with that Chairman, Planning Commissioners
that’s all I had.
Aller: Great. Anything from anyone else? For those of you watching, it’s going to be an exciting year.
We’ve got a lot of things coming as soon as we thaw out things will be moving forward.
Aanenson: Yeah, exactly.
Aller: So come on down. Take a look at and participate with us in the meetings and have a say in what’s
going on in your community and keep watching. With that, entertain a motion to adjourn.
Weick moved, Yusuf 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 7:15 p.m.
Submitted by Kate Aanenson
Community Development Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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