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09-07-2021CHANHASSEN PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Weick called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Steven Weick, Laura Skistad, Eric Noyes, Mark von Oven, Erik Johnson, Doug Reeder, and Kelsey Alto. MEMBERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Kate Aanenson, Community Development Director; Bob Generous, Senior Planner; and Erik Henricksen, Project Engineer. PUBLIC PRESENT: Dean Villella Crisp & Green Jason Pinski Shingobee Phillip Johnson 9116 34th Avenue N., Minneapolis Joel Buttenhoff 102 Jonathan Blvd. N. #200 Dan Parks 12701 Whitewater Dr., Suite 300 Chairman Weick reviewed guidelines for conducting the Planning Commission meeting. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) FOR A DRIVE- THRU PICK-UP WINDOW AT 530 W. 79TH STREET, UNIT 100 (CRISP & GREEN) Senior Planner Bob Generous presented the staff report on this item, noting Planning Case 2021-18 is located at 530 W. 79th Street and is guided for commercial uses and the district permits the restaurant, however, the drive-thru facility needs a separate CUP. As part of the application, staff requested a traffic study which has shown that the impact of the proposed project was not significant enough to reduce the level of service at any intersections on W. 79th Street and showed they do not need as many stacking lanes because of their business model (they do not have an order window but strictly a pick-up window). Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the CUP to allow a drive-thru pick-up window subject to the conditions of approval in the staff report, and adopt the Findings of Fact and Recommendation. Commissioner Noyes asked if the stacking lanes will block any deliveries to other tenants. Mr. Generous said by having only five stacking spots it leaves sufficient area for traffic operations. Planning Commission Minutes –September 7, 2021 2 Chairman Weick noted the standards in the City for stacking lanes is five for banks, twelve for fast food and asked about the City Code. Mr. Generous said the study was based on the actual use and the Code came from national standards. Chairman Weick personally does not believe that it is actually a shorter stack time for cars as he has visited the restaurant and waited for 45 minutes. What happens when someone gets in the line and the order is not ready, is there somewhere for them to park or loop around? Commissioner Alto agreed and said the assumption that people will order ahead of time on the app in an appropriate amount of time before getting in line would cause a wait. Commissioner Reeder asked if cars could park there even if the City said they have to have five stacking lanes. Mr. Generous replied if it goes slower than the applicant anticipates, it could back up in the area. Commissioner Skistad asked how many parking spots are available. Mr. Generous replied there are 72 parking spots in the lot. To comply with Code, 26 spots have been allocated to Crisp and Green. Dean Villella, applicant, approached the podium and noted unlike a typical drive-thru, one does not order or pay at the window, it is more like curb-side pick-up. He noted the app has a smart system in it so as to not overload the employees or the system by designating a next available pick-up time. In the event that someone comes 10 minutes before their order is ready, they do have parking spots available and an employee can walk out and bring the bag to the customer. Commissioner von Oven does not see any issues with it long-term but he could see for the first few months, people thinking this is a real drive-thru. He asked how they will educate customers who drive up and stop at the window to order. Mr. Villella is sure that will happen and he hopes it is a 10-second conversation and a picture in the window for people to scan with their phone camera, then go to the parking lot and order. He believes over time as they educate people, 60-70% of sales will be done through the window. Commissioner von Oven thinks there may be some benefit to some signage further back in the line. Chairman Weick opened the public hearing. Chairman Weick closed the public hearing. Commissioner Noyes moved, Commissioner Alto seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the Conditional Use Permit to allow a Planning Commission Minutes –September 7, 2021 3 drive-thru pick-up window subject to the conditions of approval in the staff report, and adopt the Findings of Fact and Recommendation. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR SUBDIVISION OF TWO PARCELS INTO THREE LOTS AND ONE OUTLOT AND SITE PLAN REVIEW FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROXIMATELY 82,000-SQUARE FOOT, ONE-STORY OFFICE/WAREHOUSE BUILDING AT 2100 STOUGHTON AVENUE (RIVER VALLEY INDUSTRIAL CENTER) Senior Planner Bob Generous presented the staff report on this item, noting Planning Case 2021-19 is a request for subdivision and site plan approval and the majority of the property is in Chanhassen with the northerly parcel in Chaska. This is zoned and guided for Office-Industrial and will also go before the City of Chaska for approval. As part of the development review, the applicant must provide buffer plantings but the Cities of Chanhassen and Chaska were concerned with the screening of the truck area and are requesting additional landscaping to be installed along the south property line. Erik Henricksen, Project Engineer, shared regarding surrounding right-of-ways, accesses, and noted the only right-of-way Chanhassen has jurisdictional authority over is a portion of Stoughton Avenue that does not abut the development. They would therefore defer any requirements and comments be met that are supplied by Chaska and the County. Things that may be required include ingress and egress configurations, right-of-way improvements, installations of sidewalks and/or traffic control markings, and utilities within the right-of-way. Mr. Generous spoke about proposed architectural materials. Staff recommends approval of the preliminary plat and site plan subject to the conditions outlined in the staff report. The site plan is contingent on the applicant getting final plat approval, meeting the requirements of the City of Chaska, and adoption of the Findings of Fact and Recommendation. Commissioner von Oven asked why the City is shaped this way. Mr. Generous thinks the Village of Chanhassen allowed it in the 1960’s. Commissioner Noyes asked if this could be used as retail within these smaller office/warehouse spaces. Mr. Generous stated it is possible in the Industrial Office Park (IOP) zoning, it is allowed to utilize up to 20% of the floor area for display and retail operations. Commissioner Weick thinks the applicant is short 105 trees if he did the math right. He asked if it is reasonable in the area to come up that high on the tree requirements. Planning Commission Minutes –September 7, 2021 4 Mr. Generous stated those are minimum numbers for the City of Chanhassen and noted it is a rather large area. Dan Parks, Civil Engineer with Westwood Professional Services, and Phillip Johnson, Architect, approached the podium, along with Joel Buttenhoff, applicant. They spoke about tree coverage, shrubs, square footage, and the look of the buildings and architecture. Mr. Parks would like the City to consider only having fees charged for the piece that they are developing, and he would like to bring that to the City and staff’s attention. Chairman Weick opened the public hearing. Chairman Weick closed the public hearing. Commissioner Alto moved, Commissioner Johnson seconded that the Chanhassen Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve 1) Preliminary Plat for River Valley Industrial Center plans prepared by Westwood Professional Services Inc., dated August 3, 2021; 2) Site Plan approval for an 81,660-square foot, one-story office industrial building plans prepared by Westwood Professional Services Inc., dated August 3, 2021 and Phillip Johnson, Architect, dated August 3, 2021, subject to the conditions of staff report and 3) adopt the Findings of Fact and Recommendation. All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 7 to 0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: APPROVAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES DATED AUGUST 17, 2021 Commissioner Noyes noted the Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting dated August 17, 2021, as presented. CITY COUNCIL ACTION UPDATE: Ms. Aanenson said the noise ordinance went before the City Council and was extended to 11:30 p.m. so the brewery will be ready for Octoberfest. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner von Oven moved 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 7:56 p.m. Submitted by Kate Aanenson Community Development Director Prepared by Jean M. Steckling