PC Minutes 02-18-2014
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 18, 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, and Steven Weick
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Stephen Withrow
STAFF PRESENT:
Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; and Bob Generous, Senior
Planner
PUBLIC PRESENT:
Curt Kobilarcsik 9149 Springfield Drive
PUBLIC HEARING:
CAMDEN RIDGE-PLANNING CASE 2014-03: REQUEST FOR A MINOR AMENDMENT TO
THE CAMDEN RIDGE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) TO ADJUST SIDE YARD
SETBACKS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED HOUSING ON 36.2 ACRES OF PROPERTY
ZONED PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT-RESIDENTIAL (PUD-R) AND LOCATED WEST
OF HIGHWAY 212, NORTH OF PIONEER TRAIL AND EAST OF PIONEER PASS (CAMDEN
RIDGE). APPLICANT: LENNAR.
Generous: Thank you Chairman, commissioners. As you stated this is a Camden Ridge development.
The public hearing is tonight. This goes to City Council on March 10, 2014. The developer is Lennar.
The actually representative for the developer contacted me today. He was stuck out in California and
could not get back in time. His flight yesterday was cancelled and the one today was delayed so he won’t
be back until later this evening. The other representative is at another public hearing in another city so,
however we believe this is a fairly straight forward development proposal and so they asked that we
present it and go forward. The property is located at 1500 Pioneer Trail. As part of the Camden Ridge
development they actually extended River Rock Drive south from Bluff Creek Boulevard and it follows
this alignment and then comes into the development. They have started the preliminary subdivision work
and so they have the first phase, well it’s all being done in one phase but they have the temporary road in
so they can start their first building right at the entrance to the project. The request is to amend the
planned unit development standards for single family homes setbacks. Currently all the setbacks are 7 1/2
foot side yard setbacks with the 15 foot separation between the buildings. However for the single family
homes within the project they’d like to make that a 5 foot setback and a 10 foot setback with the 15 foot
separation. This is the same setback requirements as in the residential low and medium density district
and we have it in other, the Pioneer Pass project and other projects within this area. From all practical
purposes you won’t be able to tell that there’s a difference in setback between the building. 2 1/2 feet’s
not a lot so this map shows the portion of the development that will be impacted by the new setback
requirements. Basically the reason for it is a slight curve in the road meant that these homes right here
would not be able to meet the setbacks requirement and rather than come in and request variances for the
those, they decided let’s change the standard and we agreed that that is very easy to do and then it’s easier
for us to administer and everyone in the neighborhood would have the same requirements. The specific in
the amendment, we just added the single family detached requirement of 5 and 10 feet setbacks with the
15 foot separation and noted that the other, 7 1/2 foot setback is for the twinhome development. Staff is
recommending approval of the amendment to the planned unit development side yard setback
Chanhassen Planning Commission – February 18, 2014
requirements and adoption of the Findings of Fact and Recommendation. With that I’d be happy to
answer any questions.
Aller: Bob, I don’t see and I don’t believe there would be an impact on the hard cover.
Generous: No.
Aller: That’s still going to be required to be meeting the minimum?
Generous: As part of the overall project they developed a table for maximum site coverage on each lot
and they will still have to follow that.
Aller: Any other questions?
Weick: I had a question on the setback. Just as a point of clarification for me. That’s the distance
between, we’re talking about the distance between two homes right?
Generous: Well that’s the 15 foot separation. The setbacks are always established from the structure to
the property line.
Weick: So it’s 15 feet and it was 15 feet.
Generous: Yes.
Weick: It’s just the question of one is going to be a little closer.
Generous: Yeah, it shifts 2 1/2 feet.
Weick: And the other’s going to be a little further away. Okay. Got it. Thank you.
Aller: Based on the responses any additional questions? Okay, thank you. We’re going to open up the
public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak either for or against the request that are being made this
evening can do so at this time. Seeing no one coming forward I will close the public portion of the
hearing and open it for commissioner comments. Great. Well I think the report covers the basis. I don’t
think the applicant had to be here so I don’t think he was prejudiced at all at this point. I’m sure they’ll
make an effort to be before the City Council if they feel that it’s needed. With that I’ll entertain a motion.
Undestad: I’ll make a motion that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends approval of the
Camden Ridge Planned Unit Development residential side yard setback requirements and adopts the
Findings of Fact and Recommendation.
Hokkanen: Second.
Aller: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?
Undestad moved, Hokkanen seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends
approval of the Camden Ridge Planned Unit Development residential side yard setback
requirements and adopts the Findings of Fact and Recommendation. All voted in favor and the
motion carried unanimously with a vote of 6 to 0.
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