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120412 PC-CC joint work sessionCITY OF NEW HOPE 4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428 Planning Commission -City Council Minutes Joint Work Session Meeting CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL December 4, 2012 Parks and Recreation Conference Room The New Hope Planning Commission and City Council met in a joint work session pursuant to due call and notice thereof; Chair Houle called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Planning Commission Jeff Houle, Chair Present Paul Anderson, Commissioner Jim Brinkman, Commissioner Sandra Hunten, Commissioner Roger Landy, Commissioner Christopher McKenzie, Commissioner Tom Schmidt, Commissioner Steve Svendsen, Commissioner Council present: Kathi Hemken, Mayor John Elder, Council Member Andy Hoffe, Council Member Eric Lammle, Council Member Daniel Stauner, Council Member Staff present: Kirk McDonald, City Manager Jeff Sargent, Community Development Specialist Steve Sondrall, City Attorney Alan Brixius, Planning Consultant (arrived 7:20 p.m.) Pamela Sylvester, Recording Secretary TELEVISING Mr. Kirk McDonald, city manager, introduced for discussion item 3.1, discussion PLANNING regarding televising Planning Commission meetings starting in January 2013. COMMISSION MEETINGS Mr. McDonald stated the communications coordinator had suggested that the city Item 3.1 council discuss televising planning commission meetings as a means for residents to stay better informed. The council discussed this issue at its November work session and expressed support for televising planning commission meetings so long as the planning commissioners agreed. If agreeable, meetings could be broadcast beginning in 2013. He pointed out the meetings could be replayed "on demand" by residents. He noted the city is a member of Northwest Communities Television and, currently, five of the nine member cities broadcast planning commission meetings. He stated the cost to cable cast would be borne through the city's annual cable grant. Council Member Elder stated that the Council was agreeable to broadcasting the City Council Work Session December 4, 2012 Page 1 meetings as long as the commissioners were agreeable. He indicated that commissioners do an excellent job reviewing the planning cases and he felt residents should be made aware of the commission's work. Commissioner Landy pointed out that the commission's meetings usually were of a technical nature and may not interest most residents. He indicated he was not in favor of televising the planning commission meetings. The city does a good job getting information to its residents through the local newspaper, the city's newsletter, the website and the Pipeline that is sent with the utility bills. Commissioner Hunten indicated she was not in favor of televising the meetings. She mentioned that generally residents do not attend meetings when invited and didn't think they would watch the meeting either. The commission meetings are sometimes a bit informal in its discussions and she indicated she did not want to lose that aspect. Council Member Hoffe pointed out that the public has a right to know what is happening. He indicated that surveys taken at Northwest Community Television show that 12,000 to 14,000 people watch the council meetings. He added that the public should be aware of the expertise of the planning commissioners and that the recommendation given to the council for projects had been thoroughly discussed. Commissioner Schmidt stated he was in favor of televising the meetings due to the fact that the meeting could be watched at a later time if someone could not attend the meeting in person. Commissioners Svendsen, McKenzie, Anderson and Brinkman all were in favor of televising the meetings. Mr. Jeff Sargent, community development specialist, stated that from a staff perspective, a video of the meetings would be a good historical tool. Seeing how people say things would be better than just interpreting the written word. Commissioner Schmidt mentioned that the meetings are currently broadcast in a format that is not compatible with gadgets such as iPads and iPhones. Chair Houle stated that he was in favor of anything the city could do to assist residents in getting information. He preferred not losing the informality of the discussion portion of the meetings. If meetings are available on video, residents can choose how much of the meetings to watch. Discussion ensued on whether or not to have a separate email address for the planning commission. Mr. Sondrall interjected that it would have to be made clear that the planning commission is an advisory body for the council and its action may not necessarily be the final result. The city hall's general email could be utilized for any emails directed to the planning commission. MOTION Motion by Commissioner Schmidt, seconded by Commissioner Svendsen, to Item 3.1 recommend televising planning commission meetings beginning in 2013. Voting in favor: Anderson, Brinkman, Houle, Landy, McKenzie, Schmidt, Svendsen City Council Work Session December 4, 2012 Page 2 Voting against: Hunten Absent: Nirgude Motion approved. PC12 -03 Chair Houle excused himself from all discussion on this topic. City Center Zoning Item 3.2 Mr. McDonald introduced for discussion item 3.2, review of amendments to the New Hope Comprehensive Plan, New Hope Design Guidelines, and New Hope Zoning Ordinance by City Council and Planning Commission Mr. McDonald stated that there had been several joint planning commission /city council meetings on the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) study. Open houses for public input were conducted and the planning commission and city council approved the City Center Vision in June 2011. During 2012, the planning commission worked to develop a zoning ordinance for the city center district, amendments to the comprehensive plan, zoning map, design guidelines and the land use plan. The planning commission held a public hearing in November. After the planning commission meeting, Mr. McDonald suggested that the commission and council meet to discuss the ordinance prior to council approval and adoption of the ordinance. Mr. Alan Brixius, planning consultant, stated that the City Center Vision represented recommendations for the redevelopment of the City Center area. The Vision would be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan and would be utilized to guide city policy and redevelopment efforts, including transportation goals. He explained that the Vision was designed to provide flexibility for developers. The City Center area should be the focus of civic, business and cultural activity. It should express the identity and character of the city. Redevelopment should be compact, efficient and transit oriented, reinforce a cohesive identity and capitalize on existing key assets. Key assets of City Center include: location, transportation connections, existing successful businesses and city facilities. Key issues of the area include underutilized space, large parking lots, connection and circulation issues, not generating enough shoppers, visitors, income, jobs or tax dollars. Generally, the area is not prepared for future redevelopment. The Vision proposed to build on area assets by creating a vibrant destination with diverse uses including housing, connections and transit, and developing public and private spaces to encourage visitors. Mr. Brixius explained that the Vision must be adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan which would give the city authority to implement its goals, objectives and recommendations. The proposed land use plan must be amended to illustrate the City Center District super block as a mixed use land use. The mixed use land use description in the Comp Plan must be rewritten with language applicable to the City Center commercial site. The commercial redevelopment target areas map must be expanded to include the City Center District super blocks. The Planning District 11 description must be rewritten to provide specific language to include the mixed use policy and recommendations from the Vision Study. Mr. Brixius suggested that a site master plan was a critical element in the development process so that, as parcels are sold, all of the projects fit into the City Council Work Session December 4, 2012 Page 3 vision for the area and will interconnect. The county would be involved because the super blocks abut two county roads and the county would have authority over access to the site. The generalized land use map includes all of the parcels in the City Center area and the proposed use designations, as some uses may not be appropriate along the main corridors of the super blocks, but better suited to the interior streets. The purpose of the Design Guidelines is to reinforce the community's vision for development, foster high quality architecture, encourage creativity, and protect public and private investment. Mr. Brixius stressed that the guidelines are mandatory, however, there are many ways to achieve the intent of the guidelines. He stated that the architectural elements provide flexibility in design so variances are not required. Elements that shifted from the zoning ordinance to the design guidelines include facade treatments, such as storefront division, building materials, roof lines and articulation intervals. Canopies, awnings, and balconies, as well as window and door openings (for commercial and mixed use buildings and multifamily residential) were also shifted to the design guidelines to provide more flexibility. Mr. Brixius reported that the purpose of the CC, City Center Zoning District, was to encourage a mixture of residential, commercial, office, and civic uses in the City Center area to enhance its function as the heart of the community. There are a number of existing businesses in the City Center area that do not meet the proposed rules and would be exempt. A list of permitted, conditional, administrative, and temporary business uses was established for the City Center District that would establish the small downtown character desired. Administrative uses would include farmers markets, festival, open outdoor sales, drive - through lanes, and home occupations. Conditional uses would include freestanding - multifamily housing, live -work buildings, daycare facilities, recreation businesses, entertainment, etc. Additional criteria established in the Design Guidelines include building placement and dimensional standards, build - to range which moves buildings closer to the street, maximum density requirements for mixed use and multifamily buildings, vehicle parking requirements, parking minimums and maximums, off - street parking, bicycle parking, pedestrian access, lighting, and landscaping elements. Proposed signage standards for the City Center District would be inserted into the Sign Code. Mr. Brixius stressed that the Design Guidelines allow for flexibility in design. The changes in the code allow for a broad range of uses in the CC district and establishes the build -to line and densities. Commissioner Brinkman commented that flexibility was a very important component of the Vision and Design Guidelines and redevelopment for the future. Commissioner Brinkman stated he felt that the city should not purchase the Winnetka Learning Center and focus instead on City Center redevelopment. It would be better to allow a developer to redevelop that property. Council Member Stauner stated he agreed that the city should not purchase the Winnetka Learning Center. City Council Work Session December 4, 2012 Page 4 Mr. Brixius added that once the zoning ordinance was adopted, the changes to the zoning map would need to be approved. A master plan for the super blocks should be established prior to the first developer's proposal with regard to pedestrian and vehicle connections. Mr. McDonald explained that the city attorney would prepare the ordinance for Council approval early in 2013. Council Member Stauner stated he appreciated the flexibility allowed for developers through the Vision, which will be critical in defining the future of New Hope and what the market dictates. Mr. McDonald and Council Member Stauner shared that city staff had been meeting with several property owners in the City Center area to inform with them of the city's vision for the area. Council Member Lammle thanked the commission for its work on the Vision Study and zoning ordinance that would allow the city to do the redevelopment right. Mayor Hemken asked that the once the Planning Commission made a decision on a project to stand behind the decision as a whole and to show a united front to developers. Commissioner Landy requested that if the Council did not agree with a recommendation from the Commission to have the Commission revisit the issue rather than denying the request. Commissioner Brinkman inquired once again if the Council would reconsider purchasing the Winnetka Learning Center and the mayor indicated the council could revisit its decision. OLD BUSINESS Discussion ensued on the reason for denying the variance request and lot split at 40th and Winnetka avenues. Council members stressed they tried to work with the applicant, but did not feel the applicant could show a hardship. Commissioner Landy mentioned that Chair Houle's term as chair of the Planning Commission was over and thanked him for his leadership. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. as there was no further business to come before the Planning Commission or City Council at this work session. Respectfully submitted, � f iir Pamela Sylvester Recording Secretary City Council Work Session December 4, 2012 Page 5