04-06-21 Work Session - Summary1
CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION
WORK SESSION SUMMARY MINUTES - 6:00 P.M.
APRIL 6, 2021
CHANHASSEN SENIOR CENTER
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Kelsey Alto, Erik Johnson, Eric
Noyes, Mark von Oven, Doug Reeder and Steven Weick.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Laura Skistad.
STAFF PRESENT: Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; Bob Generous, Senior
Planner; Sharmeen Al-Jaff, Senior Planner, MacKenzie Young-Walters, Associate Planner (via
Zoom), Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resource Specialist, George Bender, Assistant City
Engineer; Erik Henricksen, Project Engineer, and Matt Unmacht, Water Resources Coordinator
PUBLIC PRESENT: None
WORK SESSION
1. Planning Commission Appointments and Oath of Office
It was noted that Kelsey Alto and Erik Johnson met with Kate Aanenson at 5:00 p.m. and read
their oaths and signed the document before a notary public.
As an introduction, all those present gave a brief background about themselves.
2. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
Doug Reeder nominated Steven Weick as chair. Eric Noyes seconded the nomination. There
were no other nominations. The Commission voted 6 – 0 to appoint Steven Weick as chair.
Steven Weick nominated Mark von Owen as vice-chair. Kelsey Alto seconded the motion.
There were no other nominations. The Commission voted 6 – 0 to appoint Mark von Oven as
vice-chair.
3. Adoption of Bylaws
Doug Reeder moved to approve the Planning Commission Bylaws as written. The motion was
approved by unanimous consensus.
4. Development Review Discussion
Kate Aanenson reviewed the development review handout with the Commission. She pointed
out that some items were quasi-judicial in review, which requires that the Planning Commission
review a project in relation to the regulations in City Code.
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Kate Aanenson said that amendments to the Comprehensive Plan are reviewed by the Planning
Commission and an amendment would be coming at the next Planning Commission meeting.
Kate Aanenson discussed zoning ordinance amendments, or changes to City Code, and rezonings
as items that the Planning Commission holds public hearings on. Such amendments must be
consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. She pointed out that it was critical that the Planning
Commission be cognizant of the timeframe for review of such items, which must be completed
within 60 days unless the city takes a 60-day time extension or the applicant grants an extension
to the review timeframe.
Kate Aanenson discussed the subdivision process. There are two types of subdivisions:
Preliminary and Final Plat, and Metes and Bounds. Preliminary plats have a 120-day timeframe
for review. Preliminary plats grant standing for the development of a property. Metes and
Bounds subdivisions go to City Council for a public hearing. Final plats are heard by City
Council which reviews whether the conditions of the preliminary plat have been met.
Kate Aanenson reviewed the Wetland Alteration process. The city is in the process of amending
its wetland and stormwater ordinances so it can again become the Local Governmental Unit
(LGU) for wetland and stormwater issues. This will streamline the development review process.
Kate Aanenson discussed the Site Plan Review process. Site plans are required prior to
construction of new buildings. Site plan reviews check to verify that a proposed development
meets City Code.
Conditional Use Permits and Interim Use Permits were discussed by Kate Aanenson.
Conditional uses must meet certain criteria or conditions as outlined in the City Code. Interim
Use Permits are reviewed in the same fashion but have a sunset date to the use. Conditional Use
Permits run with the property and are for the use, not the person.
Kate Aanenson noted that the Findings of Fact and Recommendation/Decision are a critical
component of city review because it provides the basis for the city’s decision on a project. The
Findings of Fact are used if the city’s decisions are ever challenged.
Kate Aanenson discussed the jurisdictional review document (Agency Review Request) that is
sent out for every development review application.
5. Ongoing Projects
Jill Sinclair gave a presentation on landscaping and tree preservation. She pointed out the
benefits of trees including cooling, increased property values and stormwater management and
deduced runoff. Trees also provide health benefits by reducing pollution, producing oxygen,
reducing erosion and they also provide beauty and calming benefits. Trees are under stress due
to three causes: development threats, insects and disease and climate changes.
The city’s focus is on preserving the urban forest and where preservation cannot be done, then
planting to replace. Chapters 18 and 20 of the City Code address tree preservation and provide
buffer yard, foundation and parking lot landscaping requirements. As part of tree preservation,
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the city takes existing canopy coverage, then provides a minimum amount of preservation that
must be maintained without triggering tree replacement requirements.
The Commission asked whether we could require greater preservation than what Code states.
While we encourage more than the minimum, our role is to implement the Code.
Regarding insect infestation, the greatest current threat is the emerald ash borer. It can be
treated, which is recommended for healthy trees 10 inches in diameter, breast height or larger.
The idea is to save the best and remove the rest since eventually, all ash trees will be infected
unless treated.
Matt Unmacht discussed the stormwater and wetland ordinance amendments. He explained that
surface water either runs off, soaks in or evaporates. What stormwater management attempts to
do is mitigate for pollution, which is quality improvements, or mitigate for flooding, which is
quantity improvements. In a developing community, there is an increase in the quantity of hard
surfaces. Exposed soils, which lead to increased erosion and water sedimentation. What we are
also seeing is a change in the frequency and intensity of storm events. The city is trying to make
up for the lack of historical controls and management of stormwater. We reduce flooding by
capturing runoff.
Stormwater in Chanhassen is regulated a by number of agencies at the state, local and federal
level. There are four watershed management organizations (WMO) that have regulations in the
city. The city is amending Chapters 1, 18, 19 and 20 of the City Code to implement all WMO
regulations to obtain permitting for the city, rather than the WMO, to reduce redundancy and
speed up the review process.
George Bender gave an update on some 2021 Capital Projects. He discussed that the city, in
partnership with adjacent communities, Carver County and the Minnesota Department of
Transportation, has completed a two-year infrastructure review of the Arboretum Area
Transportation Plan. The partnership has received regional solicitation of $10 million for 2024-
2025 for the project. Carver County is the lead agency on the project.
Highway 101 Phase II will begin this spring. A visualization video was shown as well as
photographs and links to Carver County for drone pictures.
Minnewashta Parkway is a two phase project that includes rehabilitation, reconstruction and mill
and overlay in some places. The first phase was last year and was not fully completed. The
project includes replacement of sanitary sewer, water and storm sewer as well as roadway
replacement.
2021 Pavement Management. Includes six areas from the 2021 – 2025 CIP. 6.5 miles of
roadway with four full-depth replacement and two mill and overlay. Projects include ADA
pedestrian ramps, sanitary sewer infill and infiltration repairs. Storm sewer improvements,
adding sumps, and stormwater ponding in Trappers Pass.
Matt Unmacht added that the city completed a comprehensive filed survey of 250 city ponds
which will be used to prioritize pond improvements.
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Mark von Oven asked how these studies happen.
George Bender stated that it was a cooperative effort by the affected jurisdiction based on
common knowledge of a known problem and collaborative effort to correct the problem.
6. Ongoing Development
Kate Aanenson pointed out some ongoing development activity including the Lakes at
Chanhassen development, Moments Continuing Care Facility, potential development of the
Southwest Transit property for apartments, the subdivision of the Crossroads development and
the potential subdivision of land south of the Fox Wood development.
7. Review Other Commissions’ Goals
Kate Aanenson noted that as time presents itself, staff will bring educational items to the
Planning Commission such as review of demographic data, addressing senior issues and
miscellaneous city projects. A joint Commission tour is intended for later this summer.
The work session ended at 8:20 p.m.
Submitted by Kate Aanenson
Community Development Director
Prepared by Robert Generous