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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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