070213 planning commissionCITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA 55428
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 2, 2013
City Hall, 7:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER The New Hope Planning Commission met in regular session pursuant to
due call and notice thereof; Vice Chair Schmidt called the meeting to
order at 7:00 p.m.
OATH OF OFFICE The oath of office was administered by Curtis Jacobsen, director of
community development for newly appointed planning commissioners
Wade English and Greg Gehring and they were welcomed to the
Commission.
ROLL CALL Present: Mikel Dumonceaux, Wade English, Greg Gehring, Jeff
Houle, Sandra Hunten, Roger Landy, Christopher
McKenzie, Ranjan Nirgude, Tom Schmidt
Absent: Jim Brinkman, Steve Svendsen
Also Present: Curtis Jacobsen, Director of Community Development,
Steve Sondrall, City Attorney, Jeff Sargent, Community
Development Specialist, Pamela Sylvester, Recording
Secretary
CONSENT BUSINESS There was no Consent Business on the agenda.
PUBLIC HEARING
Planning Case 13 -03 Vice Chair Schmidt introduced Item 4.1, an ordinance amending Section
Item 4.1 4- 3(e)(14) of the New Hope city code establishing the requirements for
bicycle parking in all commercial zoning districts, city of New Hope,
petitioner.
Mr. Jeff Sargent, community development specialist, explained that the
Active Living Hennepin County (ALHC) initiative promotes active and
healthy living, bicycling as an alternative transportation mode, safe
bicycling within commercial site planning, and bicycling parking as a
design standard to insure it is planned for in commercial sites. Bicycle
parking requirements would only be applicable to commercial land uses
at this time.
The Codes and Standards Committee discussed the proposed ordinance
amendment earlier this year. The committee was generally agreeable to
the proposed changes, but was hesitant to require existing businesses to
provide bicycle parking by a given date. The compromise was that bicycle
parking would only be triggered by new site plan review applications.
The proposed ordinance would require usage of bicycle racks. The
placement of bicycle parking should not interfere with other on -site
vehicles or pedestrian traffic. The new City Center District requires
bicycle parking based on building size and the recommendation was to
utilize the same standards city -wide. A building up to 40,000 square feet
would require one bicycle space per 20 automobile parking spaces. A
building 40,001 to 80,000 square feet would require one bicycle space per
30 automobile spaces, and a building over 80,000 square feet would
require one space per 40 automobile spaces. Staff proposes that, due to
the ALHC initiative, the city provide for bicycle parking throughout the
entire CB, community business, district.
Commissioner Houle questioned whether or not specific bicycle parking
locations were part of the Design Guidelines. Mr. Sargent replied that a
specific location was not written into the ordinance. Each business would
be reviewed on a case -by -case basis through the site review process, with
flexibility allowed for placement. Commissioner Houle stated he felt that
bike racks near the front entrance of a business promoted bicycle usage.
He was concerned that the city would suggest that the business provide
bicycle parking in a specific location, but could not enforce it, such as the
CVS at Midland Center. Mr. Sargent stressed that at the time there were
no bicycle parking requirements and CVS did provide bicycle parking,
although not in the location the city would have preferred. This ordinance
would provide specifics that the applicant would need to follow for new
construction projects.
Commissioner Dumonceaux raised the question whether a business
would have to provide two bicycle racks if its employees were required to
park at the back of the building. Mr. Sargent replied that it may depend
on the business and whether it wanted to provide two racks or have
employees and customers utilize the same bicycle rack near the front
entrance.
Commissioner English pointed out that more space may be required for
three - wheeled bicycles and whether or not there were ADA regulations
regarding bicycle parking. Mr. Sargent responded that ADA parking
regulations were for automobiles. The provision for bicycle parking
would be above and beyond to give customers an alternate mode of
transportation. It would be up to the businesses to determine whether
they wanted to design bicycle parking for three - wheeled or tandem
bicycles or those with a child carrier attached behind the bicycle.
Commissioner Houle added that through the site plan review and
building permit process there were mechanisms in place to insure
accessibility would be met.
Commissioner Nirgude inquired whether adjacent communities were
requiring bicycle parking. Mr. Sargent stated that the requirements in the
city's proposed ordinance were consistent with neighboring
communities. Commissioner Nirgude suggested adding sample photos of
bicycle racks and locations in the Design Guidelines for businesses to
follow. He added that he was concerned for the safety of bicyclists in New
Hope.
Mr. Sargent stated that forums he had attended related to bicycle usage in
Planning Commission Meeting 2 July 2, 2013
the Twin Cities area indicated there are many trails that connect cities
together If a user bikes to a place of business and there is no bicycle
parking he won't bike there again. However, if the same customer drives
to the same store and sees bicycle parking, he may be apt to ride his bike
the next time he goes to the same destination. The purpose of ALHC is to
promote alternative transportation. The city needs to be part of the
solution in getting customers to their destination.
Mr. Sargent explained the bicycle to automobile parking ratio by stating a
10,000 square foot retail center would be required to provide 45
automobile parking spaces and two bicycle spaces. The ratio for a 40,000
square foot building would be 180:9; for an 80,000 square foot building
the ratio would be 360:12; and a building over 120,000 square feet the ratio
would be 540:14.
Commissioner Houle interjected that bicycling ties in with complete
streets and the work Hennepin County completed in changing Medicine
Lake Road from four lanes to two and providing a wider shoulder for a
bicycle lane. He suggested the city look at other means to encourage more
bicycle ridership.
Commissioner McKenzie initiated discussion on the minimum number of
bicycle parking spaces. For example, a very small business may only need
to provide one bicycle parking space, however, if a family came together,
there would be nowhere for all of them to park. He stated he felt every
business should provide at least two spaces or possibly four spaces.
Several commissioners concurred with a minimum of two spaces.
Commissioner Hunten suggested a central location for bicycle parking at
a strip mall.
Discussion ensued on the designs of bicycle racks and what type would
be allowed. Mr. Sargent indicated this would be reviewed on a case -by-
case basis.
A question was raised whether other cities have minimum requirements.
Mr. Sargent responded that the planning consultant had checked with
various cities when he prepared the ordinance. A change could be made
to have a minimum of four spaces for any building up to 40,000 square
feet, with a sliding scale for larger buildings.
Commissioner Nirgude stated he felt strongly that the ordinance should
require bicycle parking at city facilities, such as the parks and swimming
pool. Mr. Sargent stated that the Codes and Standards Committee had
discussed including other areas of the city, however, decided that since
the bicycle parking was initiated in the City Center District, to concentrate
on all of the city's commercial areas first. In the future, the city could look
at adding institutional facilities, city parks, churches, and industrial areas.
Vice Chair Schmidt stated he did not feel that the city code should dictate
how to run the parks.
Planning Commission Meeting 3 July 2, 2013
Mr. Jacobsen pointed out that most of the parks have very small buildings
and the ordinance was based on building size, so only the minimum
number of spaces would be required. Parks and the swimming pool
would have to possibly be based on volume of users. Mr. Sargent added
that bicycle parking at industrial buildings would have to be based on
different standards than a commercial building.
Commissioner Hunten questioned how many automobile parking spaces
a bicycle rack would utilize. Mr. Sargent responded that a standard
automobile stall could fit 15 bikes on a rack. If the sidewalk by the
building is wide enough, the bicycle rack could be located there.
Mr. Steve Sondrall, city attorney, questioned whether the intent of the
ordinance was to pertain to the square footage of the entire strip mall or if
bicycle parking was to be required for each tenant in the mall. Mr.
Jacobsen stated that the site plan review for a multi- tenant building
would take into account the square footage of the entire building and
require bicycle parking on that number and not require parking spaces in
front of each tenant based on the square footage of each individual tenant
bay.
Vice Chair Schmidt wondered whether the ordinance would allow a
business to put a bicycle rack out in spring and take it down in fall. Mr.
Sargent replied that matter would have to be considered, however, there
would then be enforcement issues for the city to be sure the business put
the rack out every spring. He suggested that for new building
construction, the site be designed to include bicycle parking, keeping in
mind that it would be placed in an area that would not impede traffic or
pedestrian use during the months in winter when it may not be utilized.
Commissioner Houle stated he was not in favor of temporary bicycle
parking stalls. The Design and Review Committee would be reviewing all
new applications through the site plan review process and would look at
each case. He stated he was in favor of the ordinance as written with
changing to a minimum of four stalls.
Mr. Sondrall clarified that every building in the R -O, R -B, LB and CB
zoning districts would be required to have a minimum of four bicycle
parking stalls and increase depending on building area and the number
of automobile parking stalls required for that building. Mr. Sargent
reiterated that the ordinance was based on total building area not
individual tenant bays.
There was no one in the audience that wished to speak at the public
hearing.
Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Houle to
close the public hearing. All voted in favor. Motion carried.
Motion Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Houle, to
Planning Commission Meeting 4 July 2, 2013
Item 4.1 approve Planning Case 13 -03, an ordinance amending Section 4- 3(e)(14)
of the New Hope city code establishing the requirements for bicycle
parking in all commercial zoning districts with a minimum requirement
of four bicycle parking spaces, city of New Hope, petitioner.
Voting in favor: Dumonceaux, English, Gehring, Houle, Hunten, Landy,
McKenzie, Schmidt
Voting against: Nirgude
Absent: Brinkman, Svendsen
Motion approved.
Vice Chair Schmidt stated that the City Council would consider this
ordinance amendment at its July 22 meeting.
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
Design and Review Mr. Jacobsen reported that two pre - application meetings were scheduled.
Committee Committee members would be contacted if a meeting is necessary next
Item 5.1 week.
Codes and Standards Mr. Sargent stated the Codes and Standards memo included in the
Committee planning packet was an update of what the city had done recently
Item 5.2 regarding code issues and upcoming issues for the Commission to
discuss.
NEW BUSINESS Vice Chair Schmidt explained the subcommittees for the new
commissioners and assigned Commissioner English to the Design and
Review Committee and Commissioner Gehring to the Codes and
Standards Committee.
OLD BUSINESS
Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Landy, seconded by Commissioner Houle, to
Item 7.1 approve the Planning Commission minutes of March 5, 2013. All voted
in favor. Motion carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Sargent stated that the closure of the intersection at 42nd and
Winnetka avenues would be delayed by two additional weeks to July 22
due to the recent storms and then one lane in each direction would be
open for an additional five weeks.
Mr. Jacobsen reported that the contractor was nearly complete with the
demolition project at the Kmart site. City staff is waiting for developers to
submit proposals for council review possibly by the end of July.
The closing for the Winnetka Learning Center was delayed due to the
submission of a grant application for demolition and cleanup. One
stipulation of the grant was that the city could not already have
purchased the property. The city received one grant in the amount of
$200,000 for asbestos cleanup, and additional grant money was received
from Hennepin County to complete a new Phase I and Phase II, which
Planning Commission Meeting 5 July 2, 2013
was required for another grant application. Two developers have
submitted proposals for this site, however, a developer would not be
selected until the city owns the property.
Mr. Jacobsen reported that the city opened the southwest portion of the
former Kmart lot for residents to take storm debris until July 15. Public
works staff is in the process of picking up debris from boulevard trees.
ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:10
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela Sylvester, Recording Secretary
Planning Commission Meeting 6 July 2, 2013