Planning Commission

MAPLE GROVE PLANNING COMMISSION February 22, 2021 CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Maple Grove Planning Commission was held at 7:00 p.m. on February 22, 2021 at the Maple Grove City Hall, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Chair Lamothe called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Planning Commission members present were Chair Craig Lamothe, Chris Ayika, Lorie Klein, Susan Lindeman, Chuck Lenthe, and Joe Piket. Present also were Karen Jaeger, City Council Liaison; Peter Vickerman, Planning Manager; Jesse Corrow, Associate Planner; and Scott Landsman, City Attorney. ITEMS TO BE None. REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA CONSENT ITEMS The following Consent Items were presented for the Commission’ s approval: MINUTES A. Regular Meeting – January 25, 2021 Motion by Commissioner Lenthe, seconded by Commissioner Klein, to approve the Consent Items as presented. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. CONSIDERATION None. OF ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT AGENDA REVIEW OF THE Mr. Vickerman reviewed with the Commission what items the City CITY COUNCIL Council approved that was given direction at the Planning Commission level. Staff commented further on the housing study MINUTES FROM that was completed for the City of Maple Grove. THEIR REGULAR Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 2 MEETING OF FEBRUARY 16, 2021 OLD BUSINESS No items to present. NEW BUSINESS Motion by Commissioner Lindeman, seconded by PUBLIC HEARING Commissioner Ayika, to remove this item from the table. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes EDGEWATER ON and no nays. Motion carried. COOK LAKE THE EXCELSIOR Mr. Vickerman stated the applicant is requesting Planned Unit Development ( PUD), development stage plan and final plat GROUP approval for a 58- lot single- family rental home development. The 18962 BASS LAKE property received PUD concept stage plan approval on September ROAD AND 7423 8, 2020 and this plan conforms to the approved concept plan. Staff discussed the plans in further detail and made the following WALNUT GROVE recommendation. LANE NORTH PUD STAFF RECOMMENDATION: DEVELOPMENT Motion to recommend that the City Council direct the City STAGE PLAN AND Attorney to draft a Resolution and a planned unit development FINAL PLAT TO agreement approving the Edgewater on Cook Lake PUD CONSTRUCT 58 development stage plan and final plat, subject to: SINGLE- FAMILY RENTAL HOMES 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the City AND ONE LOT any remaining applicable comments contained in the memorandums from: FOR A COMMUNITY a. The Community & Economic Development BUILDING Department dated February 3, 2021 b. The Water Resources Engineer dated January 25, 2021 c. The Parks & Recreation Department, dated February 4, 2021 The applicant shall acknowledge that Park Dedication requirements are based on staff review and recommendation to the Park and Recreation Board and their subsequent board action. Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 3 Discussion Commissioner Klein indicated the 235 overstory trees was in excess of what the City required. She questioned how many existing trees were being removed. Mr. Vickerman explained 235 new trees would be planted. He reported there was an area along the lakeshore where existing trees would remain in place. He stated he did not have a specific number for the trees that would be removed from the property. Commissioner Klein stated she was pleased to see the developer would be planting a large number of trees within this development. Commissioner Lenthe asked what the rental rates would be for this development. He inquired if it would be possible to that these units become for-sale in the future. He recommended the developer consider placing a bench or two along the trails. Mr. Vickerman explained each of the rental units would be built on a separate lot. He indicated the developer would have to work through how to make the lots saleable through the agreements put in place. He commented benches would be desirable for this trail and City staff could work to address this matter. Commissioner Ayika requested further information regarding the trail stating he would like to know which trail was being removed and which trail was staying. Mr. Vickerman discussed the proposed trail location noting it was consistent with the proposed concept plan. Commissioner Piket questioned if this plan differed from the concept plan. Mr. Vickerman stated the plan was consistent, but included more details regarding landscaping, architecture and grading. The applicant was at the meeting to answer questions. Steph Griffin, Excelsior Group representative, thanked the Commission for their consideration. She explained the trail would serve as a great amenity for the residents in this development. She estimated the rental rates would be $ 2,500 to $3,600 per month. She agreed the benches were a great idea and stated she would work with the City on this. Commissioner Ayika questioned if the rental units would ever be for-sale in the future. Ms. Griffin explained the Excelsior Group Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 4 managed residential land development. She reported her company would develop, own and manage these housing units. She noted this development was platted with each unit being on an individual lot. She indicated if units were to go for sale, she anticipated the entire subdivision would be for sale. Chair Lamothe asked if this was something the Excelsior Group has done in the past. Ms. Griffin commented this was not something that has been done in the past. Chair Lamothe inquired if anyone from the public would like to speak to this item. Mr. Vickerman reported there were no comments from the public. Motion by Commissioner Piket, seconded by Commissioner Ayika, to recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a Resolution and a planned unit development agreement approving the Edgewater on Cook Lake PUD development stage plan and final plat, subject to: 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the City any remaining applicable comments contained in the memorandums from: a. The Community & Economic Development Department dated February 3, 2021 b. The Water Resources Engineer dated January 25, 2021 c. The Parks & Recreation Department, dated February 4, 2021 The applicant shall acknowledge that Park Dedication requirements are based on staff review and recommendation to the Park and Recreation Board and their subsequent board action. Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING Mr. Corrow stated the applicant is requesting a 2.1-foot variance to the standard 25-foot front yard setback for the purpose of 6248 EAGLE LAKE constructing a 2-story addition to their home located at 6248 Eagle DRIVE Lake Drive. The proposed addition would measure 22 feet wide  Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 5 would extend 12 feet off the front of the home, replacing the JOHN AND location of an existing deck. The lot was platted in 1920 and does JENNIFER MASON not meet the current dimensional requirements of a residential lot. VARIANCE TO The total lot area of this property is 5,243 S.F., making it one of the smaller lots in the neighborhood. The property slopes ENCROACH ON significantly towards the front yard and while the front of the home THE 25- FOOT faces Eagle Lake Drive, the property is accessed by a shared FRONT YARD alleyway at the rear of the property. Staff discussed the plans in SETBACK TO further detail and made the following recommendation. CONSTRUCT AN ADDITION TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION: HOME Motion to recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a Resolution approving the 6248 Eagle Lake Drive variance, subject to: 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the city any remaining applicable comments contained in the memorandum from: a. The Water Resources Engineer dated January 28, 2021 The applicant shall acknowledge that Park Dedication requirements are based on staff review and recommendation to the Park and Recreation Board and their subsequent board action. Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Discussion Commissioner Lindeman discussed the impervious surface requirements and stated she understood the applicant would be staying at the same percentage of coverage. Mr. Corrow reported this was the case. He indicated the City worked to have smaller non-conforming lots maintaining where they were at. The applicant was at the meeting to answer questions. John Mason, 6248 Eagle Lake Drive, thanked the Commission for hearing his request. He explained he was hoping to put an addition onto his house to add living space for his family. Chair Lamothe opened the public hearing at 7:31 p.m.  Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 6 The public was asked by Chair Lamothe if they had any comments to make regarding this application. No one wished to address the Commission. Motion by Chair Lamothe, seconded by Commissioner Klein, to close the public hearing at 7:32 p.m. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Klein, seconded by Commissioner Lenthe, to recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a Resolution approving the 6248 Eagle Lake Drive variance, subject to: 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the city any remaining applicable comments contained in the memorandum from: a. The Water Resources Engineer dated January 28, 2021 The applicant shall acknowledge that Park Dedication requirements are based on staff review and recommendation to the Park and Recreation Board and their subsequent board action. Board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING Mr. Vickerman stated the applicant is requesting PUD development stage plan and rezoning approval for 82 attached AVERY PARK townhomes and 42 detached single-family homes. This project received concept approval for 77 townhomes and 42 single family AVERY PARK, LLC homes. They were able to add an additional townhome unit onto five of the buildings on the east side of the site. The plan is almost 9533 JEFFERSON identical to the approved concept plan with the single family HIGHWAY detached homes on the west side of the site and the townhomes on the east side of the site. They are now including a small dog park PUD RESIDENTIAL near one of the storm ponds. Staff discussed the plans in further DEVELOPMENT detail and made the following recommendation. STAGE PLAN AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 7 REZONING TO CONSTRUCT 82 Motion to recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a Resolution approving the Avery Residential ATTACHED PUD development stage plan subject to: TOWNHOMES AND 42 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the City any DETACHED remaining applicable comments contained in the SINGLE- FAMILY memorandums from: HOMES a. The Community & Economic Development Department dated February 17, 2021 b. The Water Resources Engineer dated February 9, 2021 c. The Parks & Recreation Department dated January 26, 2021 Motion to recommend the City Council direct staff to draft an Ordinance rezoning property from R-A, Single Family Agricultural to R2 PUD Single Family Residential (Planned Unit Development) and R4 PUD, Medium Density Residential District (Planned Unit Development), subject to the approval of the final plat. Discussion Commissioner Piket asked if the concerns of the neighbors had been addressed. Mr. Vickerman reported the main concern was the road connection at Nathan Lane and this had been addressed. He explained the single-family homes would be adjacent to the existing single-family homes and the townhomes would be off to the east side. The applicant was at the meeting to answer questions. Nathan Fair, Avery Park representative, thanked staff for the thorough staff report. He also thanked the Planning Commission for their consideration. Chair Lamothe stated he was happy to see the applicant had addressed the concerns that were raised by the neighbors. Chair Lamothe opened the public hearing at 7:39 p.m. The public was asked by Chair Lamothe if they had any comments to make regarding this application. Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 8 No one wished to address the Commission. Motion by Chair Lamothe, seconded by Commissioner Lenthe, to close the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Lindeman, seconded by Commissioner Ayika, to recommend that the City Council direct the City Attorney to draft a Resolution approving the Avery Residential PUD development stage plan subject to: 1. The applicant addressing to the satisfaction of the City any remaining applicable comments contained in the memorandums from: a. The Community & Economic Development Department dated February 17, 2021 b. The Water Resources Engineer dated February 9, 2021 c. The Parks & Recreation Department dated January 26, 2021 Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Motion by Commissioner Piket, seconded by Commissioner Lindeman, to recommend the City Council direct staff to draft an Ordinance rezoning property from R-A, Single Family Agricultural to R2 PUD Single Family Residential ( Planned Unit Development) and R4 PUD, Medium Density Residential District (Planned Unit Development), subject to the approval of the final plat. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. DISCUSSION There were no discussion items. ITEMS ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Piket, seconded by Commissioner Lenthe, to adjourn the Planning Commission meeting. Upon call of the motion by Chair Lamothe, there were six ayes and no nays. Motion carried. Chair Lamothe adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m. to the next Maple Grove Planning Commission February 22, 2021 Page 9 regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission scheduled for March 8, 2021.