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10-24-2017PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES October 24, 2017 A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on October 24, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Hopkins City Hall. Present were Commission Members Laura L. Daly, Elizabeth Goeman, Kristin Hanneman, Brian Hunke, Matthew McNeil and James Warden. Commissioner Emily Wallace Jackson was absent. Also present were City Planner Jason Lindahl and Economic Development Intern Kurt Howard. CALL TO ORDER Chair Hunke called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. New Commissioner Elizabeth Goeman was introduced and welcomed. ADOPT AGENDA Commissioner Warden moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adopt the agenda. The motion was approved unanimously. OPEN AGENDA — PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS — none. CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Daly seconded, to approve the minutes of the July 25, 2017, and August 22, 2017, regular meetings. The motion was approved unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Planning Application 2017 -05 -TA: Pawnshops, Payday Loans, Currency Exchange and Coin Dealer Mr. Lindahl reviewed the background of this item, which is now being formally reviewed with this public hearing. The only pawnshop in the City will be displaced because of the coming light rail station, which precipitated a moratorium on these uses. The Commission has reviewed this issue twice, discussing appropriate zoning districts, whether uses should be classified permitted or conditional and development standards. Staff reviewed other communities' standards, and the Commission determined that St. Louis Park's model was closest to what the Commission wants. The Commission directed staff to develop standards and remove the uses from B2, Downtown Central Business District, and along Mainstreet on either end, zoned B3, and directed that they should be conditional uses. Business licensing was discussed but all uses have stated requirements and the Commission determined that is adequate. A draft ordinance was taken to the Council at their September work session. They were generally supportive and wanted to continue licensing for pawnshops. The Council suggested the Commission talk further about limiting the number of uses based on population. Mr. Lindahl went through the wording on the proposed ordinance. Home businesses and antique shops are not impacted. In response to questions from the Commission, Mr. Lindahl stated that grandfathered status continues when properties are sold; he did not do analysis on how many such businesses would be possible if they were limited by population. No other cities reviewed limited the number, except Edina, which prohibited all uses. The Commission consensus was that population limitations were not necessary. Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, October 24, 2017 — Page 2 Chau Hunke opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. No one came forward to speak. Commissioner Daly moved, Commissioner Warden seconded, to close the public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously. The hearing closed at 6:51 p.m. Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Warden seconded, to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2017-04, recommending the City Council approve an ordinance amending Sections 515.07 (Definitions) and 535 (Business Districts) of the City Code related to zoning standards for Pawnshops, Payday Loan Agencies, Currency Exchanges and Coin Dealers. The motion was approved unanimously. 2. Planning Application 2017 -10 -TA: Small Cell Wireless Technologies (TABLED) This item was originally scheduled for public hearing because of new state legislation. Since being placed on the agenda, the City Attorney has advised further study before taking any action. Chau Hunke opened the public hearing at 6:54 p.m. No one came forward to speak. Commissioner Hanneman moved, Commissioner Daly seconded, to close the public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously. The hearing closed at 6:55 p.m. Commissioner Daly moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to table Planning Application 2017 -10 -TA: Small Cell Wireless Technologies. The motion was approved unanimously. 3. Planning Application 2017 -14 -TA: Day Nursery and Adult Daycare Facilities Mr. Howard stated that application was initiated by staff to address land use and transportation challenges, such as transparency of windows and client drop-off on streets. There is inconsistency of language in the present code referring to use titles. Existing conditional use permit standards require only that the facility be licensed. There are no specific standards to manage land use and transportation. The proposed amendment will strengthen and clarify licensing and prohibit frontage on Mainstreet in B2 and further add off-street parking requirements and loading area requirements. Two current properties would be impacted by the proposed changes and be allowed to continue as they are but not expand unless they meet the new standards. Chau Hunke opened the public hearing at 7:16 p.m. Matthew Kern, COO of Augustana Care (Open Circle and Chapel View) appeared before the Commission, stating Augustana has been providing services for 120 years. He introduced Director Peggy Gaard of Open Circle, which has existed since 1982 when she started. She stated that her staff buys parking passes and uses the ramp. She told the Committee the key times for metro mobility buses are between 9-10:30 a.m. and 2:30-4 p.m., and that PRI, another program serving adults, also has Metro Mobility buses on the other side of street. She said she was hoping mirrors could be put up at the Wells Fargo drive through. She said they appreciate being in Hopkins, try to be good stewards and have volunteers expediting drop off. Mr. Lindahl stated he appreciates Open Circle's attendance at the meeting, and both Open Circle and the Resources and Childcare will be allowed to continue as they are now—the goal is to prevent new uses in B2. Open Circle has conditional use and only off-street parking requirement would change. Resources and Childcare would become non -conforming because it abuts Mainstreet. Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Daly seconded, to close the public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously. The hearing closed at 7:24 p.m. Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Goeman seconded, to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2017-05, recommending the City Council approve an ordinance amending Sections 515.07 (Definitions) and 535 (Business Districts) of the City Code related to zoning standards for Day Nursery (Child Daycare) and Adult Daycare Facilities. The motion was approved 5-1, with Commissioner Warden voting nay. Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, October 24, 2017 — Page 3 4. Planning Application 2017 -15 -TA: Off -Street Parking Standards Mr. Lindahl gave the following overview: This application was filed by Barbara and Mohsen Zadeh, owners of 1605 Mainstreet, a former bridal shop that has been vacant for some time. The Zadehs are interested in rehabbing their property in the West Mainstreet Overlay district but find it difficult to meet off-street parking standards. Staff feels this could be alleviated by adjustments to off-street parking zoning standards. Downtown has district parking facilities such as lots and ramps, so individual businesses are not required to meet parking requirements. Staff feels Second Street South between 6' and 7' Avenues has the same challenge and has included this area in the proposed text amendment that would provide off-street parking requirement reductions in exchange for adjacent on -street parking, proximity to transit services and bike parking provided on site. Commission/staff comments included: Is 5 -bike requirement per parking spot? Doesn't seem to alleviate the property owner's burden. What are property owners required and what do they feel they need? Commission should consider whether proposal is proportionate to alleviate on -street parking requirements. Idea is to bridge the gap and be one tool in parking regulations. We have universal parking standards, but are trying to customize to Hopkins with exemptions to fulfill goals of pedestrian/bicycle use. Seems counter-productive to future plan for area. Chair Hunke opened the public hearing at 8:21 p.m. Barbara Zadeh, owner of 1605 Mainstreet and former KFC building, appeared before the Commission. She stated that a year ago she lost tenant and found they don't have adequate off-street parking for a new tenant—need 12-17 spaces for current standards. She stated she was pleased proximity to transit is being considered because that is a reason they chose Hopkins. She questioned 5 percent credit, in her case less than one space, and would like 25 percent. She said the amendment will help her, but won't solve her problem, and she favors a public parking lot and more credit. In response to a question, she stated they have area for 3 space and an ADA loading area. A total of 6 may be realized if a shared parking agreement is reached. Paul Pokorny appeared before the Commission; he stated the biggest challenge for him in selling is the parking—needs 12-20 spaces. He has no spaces at this time. He said the amendment would go a long way to allowing development of his site. The Commission discussed increasing the percentages for credit and allocating credit on a case by case basis, making the bike rack ratio 5 to 1 and increasing the percentage for proximity to transit. In response to whether Second Avenue South could be separated and approved tonight and the west end of Mainstreet be dealt with later, Mr. Lindahl stated Mr. Porkomy doesn't have urgency now and the issue is the same for both areas—off-street parking in areas that are having difficulty attaining it. In response to Mr. Lindahl, the Commissioners stated they were in consensus on the following issues: One-for-one on -street parking credit; 10 percent for transit; 5 bike racks for 1 stall; 5 percent for bike racks; and, when a fraction is produced, round up to next whole number. Commissioner Goeman moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to close the public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously. The hearing closed at 9:23 p.m. Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adopt with adjustments discussed, Planning Commission Resolution 2017-06, recommending the City Council approve an ordinance amending Sections 550.01 the City Code related to zoning standards for Off -Street Parking and, to reiterate, for transit from 5 to 10 percent and for transit or bicycling where a fraction is produced, the number be rounded up to the next whole number. The motion was approved unanimously. Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, October 24, 2017 — Page 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Lindahl updated the Planning & Zoning Commission on the following item: 1. 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update—Cultivate Hopkins The last meeting in September focused on the built environment, specifically on redevelopment and what types of places are desired, so that staff can adopt policies to create them. The next meeting on November 8 will focus on the natural environment and sustainability planning. Commissioners who attended the last meeting enjoyed the meeting, reported there was a lot of participation and great discussion. They felt they got insights about specific neighborhoods on a micro level and the places and types of redevelopment that are desired. ADJOURN Commissioner Warden moved, Commissioner Goeman seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.