PC 2016 01 19
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 19, 2016
Chairman Aller called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Andrew Aller, Mark Undestad, Nancy Madsen, Steve Weick, and
Lisa Hokkanen
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Maryam Yusuf and John Tietz
STAFF PRESENT:
Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; Bob Generous, Senior
Planner; and Terry Jeffery, Water Resources Coordinator
DISCUSSION OF UPDATED SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Jeffery: Sure Planning Commissioners, thanks. Appreciate the opportunity. I apologize. I had
every intention of tonight being the night that we’re finally we’re going to put the local water
management plan to rest. Sent it out for comment and then 60 days from now approve it.
However state statute changed this last summer and the most significant change affecting our
local water management plan is that the local water management plan must be adopted after
December 31, 2016 and before December 31, 2018 so can’t really go forward with it right now
but in addition to that there have been a few other changes. Well more significantly the good
thing about the timing of this is that now rather than having the merry-go-round where
Minnehaha Creek finishes their plan. Then we have to respond to it. Then Riley-Purgatory
finishes their plan, then we have to respond to it and that just keeps going around and never
seems to end. Now they’ll all be on this very similar 10 year plan so they will update at the same
time and we’ll just follow suit with it. So right now in order to stay with that timing Minnehaha
Creek is in the process of updating their plan. They’re not changing any of the rules at this time.
They’re just looking at their capital improvement plans and then the way that they’re going to
cost share with cities. It actually should be beneficial to all of the cities involved. Riley-
Purgatory is doing what they are calling a refreshment of their plan. Again they, because their
capital program was rather prescriptive what they’re finding is that every time they had to
deviate a little bit from a plan because of an engineer’s recommendation they had to go back and
update their plan just to, Lake Susan Spent Lime that we’re putting in right now. That facility in
their plan was a iron enhanced sand filter. Because that’s not what’s going in they had to amend
their plan so they’re just more changing their language so that it’s a little more lenient. There’s a
little more discrepancy. Carver County WMO is the one body that is changing their rules.
Unlike the other watershed districts the WMO is permitted under the National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System as an MS4 authority. When the PCA reviewed their rules they
found them to be lacking. They didn’t come to the 1 inch standards really is what it boiled down
to so they’re in the process of updating their rules. Lower Minnesota River Watershed District
just finished their plan update. At this time they have no rules but in the conversation that I’ve
Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
had with both the district engineer and the district administrator over the last 2 weeks they have
both indicated to me that they might start to exercise some rule authority but on a minor or a very
scaled version. They’d be looking at bluff areas or areas that discharge to Seminary Fen. For
most of the watershed district doesn’t have any bearing but for us that’s entirely all of what we
have in the lower but all of these organizations plan on doing whatever it is that they’re changing
in the 2017 year so we should all be on the same schedule moving forward from there. The other
change that has come about is the plan content or the clarity content of our plan. So like the plan
before we had to have an executive summary. Self explanatory. We need to include water
resource agreements so right now for instance we have an agreement with Carver County WMO
to jointly do educational programming. They have full time staff that does water resources
education. We just partner with them usually in a financial way but we will help the staff
hours…where we can. We also have an agreement with the Carver County SWCD to do erosion
inspections on some of our larger sites but the other agreements that will be included will be the
memorandums of understanding that we will eventually enter into and you will be a part of the
drafting or at least reviewing that draft as we update our local controls or our code to meet their
plan requirements. So really what the memorandum of understanding is going to do is it’s going
to say well yes, we’re going to go ahead and we’re going to take regulatory authority for these
items. Stormwater management for instance, erosion control, flood plain. Those are the things
that have the largest effect on our land use plan. It’s what makes the most sense in here but then
there are other aspects that the watershed districts like Minnehaha Creek or Riley-Purgatory have
in place such as water body crossings which is really just the DNR gave a general permit to the
watershed districts to enforce those rules on behalf of the DNR so it really doesn’t make sense
for us to update our rules so that we take that authority because then we’d have to enter into a
subsequent agreement with the DNR so those we’d probably just leave to the watershed districts
to administer. What we have completed to date and is required in both plans are the existing and
proposed physical environmental land use so what you see in the image to the right is just, it’s
the Lake Lucy, we call it the H&H model. The hydraulics and hydrologic model for Lake Lucy.
We need to show every sub-watershed how much water, the volume of water, the rate of water
and the flow path of water coming out of it so we can manage for that now and in the future. We
use that to identify potential flooding or capacity issues that we might have. Kate will be talking
with you later about the Comprehensive Plan and that’s where most of the land use information
is going to come from as that is updated. Then this will be then used for the next part which is to
identify existing potential issues throughout the city. We have a lot of them already. The storm
events of June 2 years ago showed us a lot of them. Flooding events are a lot of the issues but
we also have the H&H model. We have worked with Riley-Purgatory to update the use
sustainability assessments for Lake Lucy, Lake Ann, Lake Riley, Lake Susan. We’re currently
working on Lotus and Rice Marsh Lake and all of those, what those allow us to do is to rather
than say well we need to find some water quality treatment somewhere in this watershed. It
allows us to target areas that we know are significantly greater in their contribution to the
pollutant load as opposed to, in essence allows us to get a more efficient use of that money rather
than just saying let’s put in a feature because we need to put in a feature. Why not instead we
take it and put it over here and use that. But in addition to the issues we also will need to take
public comment on that so I’ll be working with the Environmental Commission to put together a
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
survey and to hold neighborhood meetings as needed. And then lastly the local limitation plan.
How are we going to address those issues and that’s everything from the actual structural best
management practices that we’ll do to the local controls that we’ll be updating. So a lot of that
is, what’s notably absent that we had to do always before this and actually that is the bulk of the
plan that we already had done is goals and policies. We don’t need it. They don’t need to be put
into these plans anymore. Your goals are to comply with the watershed districts authority and
NPDES permits, etcetera so we had a large part of this plan done but rather than, and then we’ll
be working on the local controls as we move forward and so we can put the entire plan together
in one. Prior to this I was actually going to say that we’ll put the plan out for review and then
we’ll work on the local controls after but since we now have this new change in schedule we’ll
work on the local controls throughout the summer here so that we can put the entire plan out for
review and comment at the end of the year. Here’s again a chart of what’s going on. Don’t
worry about this. I’ve got a condensed version of what’s really going to be germane to this body
but like I said I am going to be using the Environmental Commission to do a lot of our public
outreach so we can get the stakeholder businesses and residents to identify what they see as
issues. The end date for all of this is January of 2017 so January 22, 2017 is when I want to have
approved the plan. Adopted the plan. So Planning Commission. This is when I, see you’re in
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the top column. The top row. I want to be back before you on the 9. Some of this will be, well
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all of this will be new to Kate too. I want to be back before you on the 19 of April and at that
time I would like to talk about the flood plain, erosion control and the storm water ordinances
and flood plain and erosion control should be very little change. There’ll be some. Mostly
including definitions that are already there. Just make sure that we clean up language so it’s
consistent with the watershed districts. The storm water ordinance will be an entire re-write. It
will be completely new from what we have now. If that goes well, depending upon your
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recommendation and the public hearing then we go to council on May 9 with that. I left buffer
management for the June meeting because that’s the one that I still don’t have an idea how to
best address it. In addition to having 3 separate buffer rules from the 4 management
organizations, we also as a city have 4 separate sets of rules depending upon when an area was
platted. So I want to some how simplify that because that’s just, it’s too onerous for everybody.
Anybody to undertake. For this body to understand. For a developer to understand. For the
homeowner to understand and for staff to manage so I want to come to you in June with a
recommendation of what we’ll do with that buffer ordinance. Council in July. That would mean
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October 4 would be when I would like to come back to ask for approval to distribute the plan
for review to Met Council, to the watershed organizations, to the surrounding cities. October
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23 the City Council will act on your recommendation. 60 day comment period would end
about the middle of December. Will come back, address any comments that we receive and then
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January 17 be back before this body in 2017 to approve the plan adoption. Going before
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council on the 23. That’s all I wanted to do at this time. I just wanted to get you thinking about
it again. I know that a little over 12 months ago I was talking to you about yeah, we’re going to
be going. We’re going to be done with this by now. We’re not. Starting all over really in
essence with the rule changes but January will be it so if you have any questions I’d be happy to
answer them. Otherwise thank you for your time.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
Aller: Any questions from any individual? I just have a comment and I appreciate all the time
and effort you put into these matters Mr. Jeffery. With the extra time obviously it sounds like
you’ve got it set up to simplify these rules, which adds to the transparency and is a benefit to all
the homeowners because they can get a better understanding and idea what they can and can’t do
with their property, which is beneficial to all so thank you for everything you’re doing. Alright,
so with that we’ll move onto the first public hearing and last public hearing tonight.
PUBLIC HEARING:
6421 HAZELTINE BOULEVARD, PLANNING CASE 2016-03: REQUEST FOR AN
INTERIM USE PERMIT TO PERMIT SITE GRADING TO WIDEN THE MAIN
ENTRANCE/EXIT DRIVEWAY AT MINNETONKA MIDDLE SCHOOL WEST. THE
PROPERTY IS ZONED OFFICE AND INSTITUTIONAL DISTRICT (OI) AND
LOCATED AT 6421 HAZELTINE BOULEVARD. APPLICANT/OWNER:
MINNETONKA SCHOOLS, ISD #276.
Jeffery: Chairman Aller, Commissioners, thank you. Tonight I think Paul and Cliff from the
school district are here to represent. Minnetonka Schools is requesting an interim use permit. As
you’ve already mentioned it will be going before the council based upon your recommendation
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on February 8. This is a public hearing. The property is located at 6421 Hazeltine Boulevard
which is Trunk Highway 41 so it’s in the southeast corner of Trunk Highway 41 and Highway 7,
just south of Melody Hills. There are, the request is for an interim use permit because they are
moving materials in excess of 1,000 cubic yards. The site plan in front of you shows 2 of the 3
proposed improvements. So if.
Aanenson: …shows up in red. Can I use the mouse for a second? I’m sorry.
Jeffery: Take it. Oh not that one. I don’t want to go there. Okay.
Aanenson: Sorry.
Jeffery: Alright. Okay so where did you find the laser?
Aanenson: We lost it.
Aller: We’ll have to get some Minnetonka students to come in and code us and use their
experience.
Jeffery: Laser. Oh look at this.
Aanenson: It’s your friend.
Jeffery: Alright. So this area here is they propose to expand the driveway, the ingress and egress
from Trunk Highway 41 and the school. This is to improve traffic flows within the school.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
Buses will be routed around the outside. Automobiles will be routed around the inside. They
will also at the same time be removing this island and replacing the pavement to get additional
parking. That’s one of our comments is to maintain that pedestrian access that’s provided for
that right now, and then the part that you can’t see is up here by the tennis courts. They’re going
to do some trail work to improve pedestrian traffic flow through that area. There were originally,
if you look in your staff report there’s discussion of storm water improvement. At one time the
school district was going to improve the pond to improve drainage out there. In discussions with
them, staff didn’t think that was necessarily well. While it was appreciated, it wasn’t necessarily
needed with this project at that time so we’re not doing that. There is some minor drainage
improvements that are going to be made in association with the trail but otherwise it’s really
about widening the access driveway onto the site. Staff does recommend approval of this with
the conditions and Findings of Fact. Yep speak up Bob.
Generous: Well I was just saying, put up that email that we received today and they’re really,
the concern that we’re seeing is for the traffic on 41 and we are in the process of working with
the school district and MnDOT to evaluate traffic conditions there and hopefully as part of that
study we can see some improvements that may be possible in the future.
Aller: Just quickly for the record, and for those of you at home we did receive an email
correspondence regarding this matter which Bob was just addressing. That will be part of the
package that goes to the City Council and will be attached to the package on the website so if
you want to take a look at this and all the drawings regarding this matter you can do so on the
City’s website.
Jeffery: There is no reason to believe that this improvement would result in increased traffic.
There’s no reason that the daily trips would increase. It’s the same use. We are recommending
approval of it with the conditions in the packet. As I said Cliff Buhman who is the engineer for
the project and Paul from the District are here.
Aller: Great. Any questions of staff at this point? Would the applicant like to come up? Ah
Commissioner Weick.
Weick: What is the significance of the path that goes between the, that cuts the parking lot?
Aanenson: If you go to this first map. It kind of shows the when they walk.
Weick: Is that just to keep a walkway to the tennis courts? That’s the idea?
Jeffery: Well this trail system does connect to Melody Hills and it connects to a larger trail
system so it would be best to continue that. Somehow have that north/south connection.
Aanenson: Just so you know what we’ve done in other subdivisions in the area we’ve made
connections. There’s one on the south that, and then there’s also one on the.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
Generous: Southeast.
Aanenson: Yeah. On the.
Jeffery: Take it.
Aanenson: I can’t get the pointer. It’s not working. Yeah over on that side. Yes so we’ve
connected both those neighborhoods. You can see there’s walking trails through there so we just
want to make sure that that’s continued.
Aller: Would the applicants like to come forward? They don’t have to if they don’t want to.
Otherwise you can, alright. So with that I’ll open up the public hearing portion of this item.
Anyone wishing to come forward to speak either for or against the item can do so at this time.
Seeing no one come forward I’ll close the public hearing and open it up for commissioner
discussion. I’ve been up there a lot. Commissioner Weick and I, I think that’s a good safety
feature up there. The courts are used.
Weick: I agree.
Aller: The courts are used all the time. It’s a well used property.
Weick: I just didn’t know if it was beyond just to keep the walkway there so.
Aller: Any questions? I think the packet is pretty self explanatory. Has all the information you
need so I’ll entertain a motion at this time either for or against.
Undestad: I’ll make a motion. That the Planning Commission recommends the City Council
approve the Interim Use Permit to permit grading in excess of 1,000 cubic yards to allow parking
lot alteration. Widen the main entrance/exit driveway and drainage improvements and adopts the
Findings of Fact and Recommendation.
Aller: I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Hokkanen: Second.
Aller: Having a motion by Commissioner Undestad, seconded by Commissioner Hokkanen.
Any further discussion?
Undestad moved, Hokkanen seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission
recommends City Council approve the Interim Use Permit to permit grading in excess of
1,000 cubic yards to allow a parking lot alteration, widen the main entrance/exit driveway and
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
stormwater improvements subject to the following conditions and adopts the Findings of Fact
and Recommendation:
1.The applicant’s engineer shall adjust the slope of the expanded drive lane to convey runoff to
the northeast gutter line.
2.The plans must be revised to label the catch basins to match the CB/MH Schedule on Page
C5.
3.Slopes shall be labeled on all proposed pipes.
4.The note for the draintile shall be revised so that no sock is used on the draintile.
5.The applicant shall submit an erosion control plan (including additional detail plates) for this
project per City Code §19-154.
6.A $5,000 escrow to guarantee restoration and erosion control measures will be required with
the permit.
7.Staff will require that the applicant provide a proposed haul route for review and approval.
8.An as-built grading plan is required at the completion of site grading to ensure compliance
with the approved grading plan.
9.MnDOT comments shall be incorporated into the plans.
10.The parking spaces and aisles must be adjusted to meet the Chanhassen City Code
requirements.
11.The parking lot design shall be revised to provide a travel path for north-south pedestrians.
12.The applicant shall submit documentation to the city for how the queues will lay out with use
of the gates.
13.The plan must follow all applicable State and Federal guidelines.
14.The applicant shall install a total of two islands in the reconfigured parking area and a
minimum of four deciduous trees.
15.The interior width of the landscape islands or peninsulas shall be 10 feet.
16.The applicant shall install perimeter landscaping to correspond to existing parking lot site
conditions.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
COMMISSIONER PRESENTATIONS.
None.
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Chanhassen Planning Commission – January 19, 2016
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS.
Aller: City Council action update.
Aanenson: Yes. Thank you Mr. Chairman. We didn’t have any items on the last City Council so
there are no updates so these items are on now will be before it. I think we tried to fast track some
of the items at the end of the year to get them passed through. I will give you an upgoing future
agenda items. We are working on a few subdivisions so you’ll be seeing some projects come
forward. Right now we’re kind of trickling in on some of these but we will have a meeting on
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February 2. There’s a wetland alteration permit variance setback and then we also have one for
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the February 16 and we’re also planning on doing Planning Commission interviews so those
interviews would be the people that are reapplying wouldn’t be a part of those interviews. But then
the council will interview all applying applicants so, we’ll see who applies and how many
interviews we may have. Don’t know all that yet. Just plugged in some of Terry’s stuff coming up
but we do anticipate a couple projects. Like I said we are working on a couple subdivisions right
now and potentially another restaurant. That’s what I read in the paper. And that’s all I had. We’ll
do work session after the close of the meeting. Just spend a few minutes kind of going through
comp plan. Kind of segue into what we talked about with stormwater management so.
Aller: Great.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Hokkanen noted the verbatim and summary
Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting dated January 5, 2016 as presented.
Undestad moved, Madsen seconded to adjourn the meeting. All voted in favor and the motion
carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. The Planning Commission meeting was adjourned
at 7:22 p.m.
Submitted by Kate Aanenson
Community Development Director
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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