12-20-2016 "� PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
December 20, 2016
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on Tuesday,
December 20, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. in the Raspberry Room of Hopkins City Hall.
Present were Commission Members Laura L. Daly, Kristin Hanneman, Brian Hunke, Matthew
McNeil, Gary Newhouse, and James Warden. Commissioner Emily Wallace-Jackson was
absent. Also present was City Planner Jason Lindahl.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Hunke called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ADOPT AGENDA
Commissioner Newhouse moved, Commissioner McNeil seconded, to adopt the agenda. The
motion was approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA— PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS—none.
CONSENT AGENDA
.-.
Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Newhouse seconded, to approve the minutes of
the November 29, 2016, regular meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Southwest Light Rail Transit Operation and Maintenance Facility(Planning Application 16-
22-SP)
Planner Jason Lindahl summarized the application for the Planning & Zoning Commission. The
Southwest Light Rail Transit Office of Metropolitan Transit requests site plan approval and a
fence setback variance. This request will also require administrative subdivision, street vacation
and right-of-way dedication approvals prior to receiving a building permit. Those applications
are on hold until the applicant can fully acquire the properties and provide a final legal
description for the consolidated parcel. These approvals will allow the applicant to redevelop the
four existing properties located at 1600 - Sth Street South, 544 - 16th Avenue South, 610 - 16th
Avenue South and 1515 - 6th Street South into one lot that will contain the operations and
maintenance facility for the Southwest LRT line between Eden Prairie and Downtown
Minneapolis. Staff recommends approval of the site plan and fence setback variance
applications and will continue to work with the applicant on the remaining applications.
The Commission asked questions about exterior lighting, the amount and design of off-street
parking and the proposed fence. Planner Lindahl stated the applicant's exterior lighting plan
� does not meet the City's lighting standards but was designed under the Federal Transit
Authority's design requirements. Staff will work with the applicant to resolve these conflicts to
the extent possible. Planner Lindahl also explained the site meets the City's minimum off-street
parking standards,but the Commission could request the applicant consider a proof of parking
design instead of constructing all the parking. Planner Lindahl stated that City staff and the
^ applicant had spent a considerable amount of time negotiating the fence design and believed it
was the best possible combination of mitigation characteristics. Commissioner McNeil asked if
the applicant could install boulevard trees to help minimize the visual impact from the street.
The applicant replied they would consider it if there is adequate room in the boulevard.
Tats Tanaka, Operation and Maintenance Facility Design Lead, presented an overview of the
facility to the Commission and thanked staff for their work on the project.
Chairman Hunke opened the public hearing at 7:45 p.m. Lisa Moe with Stuart Companies came
forward with concerns about external impact from the Operation and Maintenance Facility on the
Greenfield, Deer Ridge and Raspberry Woods apartment properties. Assistant Director far
Design and Land Use for the LRT project Ryan Kronzer stated that his office is aware of these
issues and is working with Stuart Companies through the Environmental Impact Statement
process to address these concerns. Commissioner Warden moved, Commissioner Hanneman
seconded, to close the public hearing. The motion was approved unanimously. The public
hearing closed at 7:57 p.m.
Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adopt Planning& Zoning
Resolution 2016-15, recommending the City Council approve the site plan for the Southwest
Light Rail Transit Operation and Maintenance Facility, subject to the conditions. The motion
was approved 4-2 with Warden and Newhouse voting against.
-- Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Daly seconded, to adopt Planning&Zoning
Resolution 2016-16, recommending the City Council approve a fence setback variance for the
Southwest Light Rail Transit Operation and Maintenance Facility, subject to the conditions. The
motion was approved 5-1 with Newhouse voting against.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
During the announcements, Mr. Lindahl informed the Commission that the City Council was
considering a moratorium on pawn shops, currency exchange businesses and coin dealers at their
meeting later this same night. Staff will update the Commission on this item during the January
meeting. Planner Lindahl also asked the Commission about rescheduling the January meeting so
the Commission could attend a workshop hosted by the Nine Mile Watershed District. The
consensus of the Commission was to reschedule the meeting.
ADJOURN
Commissioner Newhouse moved, Commissioner McNeil seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The
motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
/`�
Respe tfully subm'tted,
, �� _x: �
^. / '
Jas'on Lindahl, City Planner