05-01-24 PZ Agenda PacketHOPKINS PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
AGENDA
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
6:30 pm
THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
UNTIL THE START OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ADOPT AGENDA
III. COMMUNITY COMMENT
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. 2024-03 – 9451 Excelsior Blvd – Depot Coffeehouse – Comprehensive Plan Amendment
VI. OLD BUSINESS
1. Presentation: Continued Comprehensive Plan Implementation Status Update
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Community Outreach Discussion
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
IX. ADJOURN
CITY OF HOPKINS
P&Z Report 2024-03
To: Planning and Zoning Commission Members
From: Ryan Krzos, City Planner
Date: May 1, 2024
Subject: 9451 Excelsior Boulevard – Hopkins Depot – Comprehensive Plan
Amendment.
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Following a public hearing, MOTION TO: Approve Planning & Zoning Resolution
2024-09 Recommending the City Council Approve a Resolution Amending the
Comprehensive Plan to assign the Commerce and Employment Future Land Use
Designation for 9451 Excelsior Boulevard.
OVERVIEW
The City on behalf of the property owner, the Metropolitan Council, requests a
Comprehensive Plan Amendment for 9451 Excelsior Boulevard, the parcel containing
the Depot Coffeehouse. The site does not have an assigned Future Land Use
classification by the Comprehensive Plan. The request would assign the Commerce and
Employment Future Land Use Category to the property. No modifications to the site or
use are proposed. Based on the findings in this report, staff recommends approval of
the request.
BACKGROUND
A detailed history of the Depot property was included in the Staff Report for the recently
approved rezoning request.
At the April 16, 2024 City Council meeting, a second reading of the Ordinance
Amending the Zoning Map to assign the MX-S zone to the property was approved,
effectuating the rezoning. The rezoning was necessary to facilitate an update to the
City’s permit to occupy the space for the Depot Coffeehouse. A condition of that zoning
approval was to formally amend the Comprehensive Plan with the corresponding
Commerce and Employment future land use designation.
Community Engagement and Comment
The Comprehensive Plan Amendment procedure requires a public hearing. The City
published notice of this public hearing in the official paper and mailed notices directly to
property owners and residents within 500 feet of the subject property. As of the writing
of this report, the City has not received any comments on this item. Additionally, the
process for amending the Comprehensive Plan requires that the City notify adjoining
Planning & Development
and affected jurisdictions and provide those administrations an opportunity to provide
comments. Staff notified the Cities of St Louis Park and Edina, and the Minnesota
Department of Transportation. None of the entities provided comment on this request.
Staff will provide an update to the Planning and Zoning Commission on all public
comments received during the public hearing.
ANALYSIS
The Hopkins Comprehensive Plan establishes the vision and policies that govern a
number of issues including the use and development of land in the city. The
comprehensive plan is intended to be general and flexible, to be applicable across a
wide range of circumstances. As such, the plan recognizes that from time to time formal
amendments to the Plan may be necessary to address changing conditions,
development proposals, new information, and other factors.
Legal Authority
Decisions on Comprehensive Plan Amendments are considered a legislative action.
When considering a legislative action, the City is establishing policy to regulate the
types of uses and/or structures. Under the law, the City has wide flexibility to create
standards that will ensure the type of development it desires; however, these
regulations must be reasonable and supported by a rational basis relating to promoting
the public health, safety, and welfare.
Criterion Evaluation
The sole stated criterion for amending the Comprehensive Plan is whether said
amendment appropriately addresses a changing condition, a development proposal,
new information, or other factors. In this case, staff finds that the amendment is
warranted to correct the typical practice of not assigning a category to public rights-of-
way. In this case, since more activities and uses occur on the site than transportation, it
is necessary to have guidance from the Comprehensive Plan. The existing uses and
characteristics of the site are consistent with the Commerce and Employment future
land use category. Commerce and Employment areas are envisioned as being
contemporary auto-oriented development supporting regional and interstate commerce.
Uses in commerce and employment corridors is expected to include a mix of
commercial, office, service, medical, research and technology uses. Secondary uses
may include retail and office/showroom uses. A characteristic of the commerce and
employment district is high visibility and excellent vehicle access.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Vote to approve a Comprehensive Plan amendment for 9451 Excelsior
Boulevard. By voting to recommend approval, consideration of a Resolution
approving the Comprehensive Plan Amendment will be scheduled for the May 7,
2024 City Council meeting. Approval of the Amendment by the Metropolitan
Council is also required.
2. Vote to recommend denial of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment request. A
Resolution approving the Comprehensive Plan Amendment would be scheduled
for consideration by the City Council at the May 1, 2024 meeting with a
recommendation to deny. Should the Planning and Zoning Commission consider
this option, it must also identify specific findings that support this alternative.
3. Continue for further information. If the City finds that further information is
needed, the item may be continued.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• P&Z Resolution 2024-09
• Current Zoning Map
• Current Future Land Use Map
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNNESOTA
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2024-09
A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A RESOLUTION
AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ESTABLISH THE COMMERCE AND
EMPLOYMENT FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 9451 EXCELSIOR BOULEVARD
WHEREAS, The City, on behalf of the property owner the Metropolitan Council,
has requested a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to assign the Commerce and
Employment future land use designation for the property at 9451 Excelsior Boulevard
with PID: 19-117-21-31-0002; and,
WHEREAS, this property is legally described in Exhibit A; and,
WHEREAS, the procedural history of the application is as follows:
1. That the above stated application was initiated by the City; and,
2. That the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission, pursuant to published and
mailed notice, held a public hearing on the application and reviewed such
application on May 1, 2024 and all persons present were given an opportunity
to be heard; and,
3. That written comments and analysis of City staff were considered; and,
WHEREAS, staff recommended approval of the above stated application based
on the findings outlined in Planning and Zoning Report 2024-03 dated May 1, 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning & Zoning Commission
of the City of Hopkins hereby recommends the City Council approve a resolution
amending the Comprehensive Plan to assign the Commerce and Employment future
land use category to the property with PID 19-117-21-31-0002, subject to approval by
the Metropolitan Council.
Adopted this 1st day of May 2024.
______________________________
Andrew Wright, Chair
Proposed as Commerce and Employment
Exhibit A
Legal Description of Subject Parcel
That part of the Southwest Quarter of Section 19, Township 117, Range 2, Hennepin
County, Minnesota, bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the Southerly line of Excelsior Road (now Excelsior Boulevard),
as said Road was established prior to the widening and improvement thereof (1978),
distant 71.6 feet Northwesterly, measured at right angles, from said original main track
center line; thence Southwesterly parallel with said center line a distance of 302.47 feet;
thence Southwesterly along a straight line a distance of 636.8 feet to a point on the East
line of Washington Avenue, distant 50 feet Northwesterly, measured at right angles,
from said original main track center line; thence Southerly along said East line of
Washington Avenue a distance of 58 feet, more or less, to a point distant 15 feet
Northwesterly, measured at right angles, from the center line of Chicago and North
Western Transportation Company (formerly Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway
Company) connecting track ICC No. 9, as said track is now located; thence
Northeasterly parallel with the center line of said connecting track (and the continuation
thereof to the center line of the Westbound main track of the Chicago Milwaukee, St.
Paul and Pacific Railroad Company) a distance of 830 feet, more or less, to a point
opposite the point of switch for said connecting track (at said last described main track
center line); thence Southeasterly radial to the last described course a distance of 3
feet, more or less, to a point distant 50 feet Southeasterly, measured at right angles,
from said original (Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway Company) main track center line;
thence Northeasterly parallel with said original main track center line a distance of 430
feet, more or less, to a point on the Southerly line of said Excelsior Road; thence
Westerly along said Southerly line of Excelsior Road a distance of 315 feet, more or
less, to the point of beginning.
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Planning and Zoning Commission Members
From: Ryan Krzos, City Planner
Date: May 1, 2024
Subject: Continued Comprehensive Plan Implementation Status Update
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE
Staff will continue presenting an overview and status update of the Implementation
Section of the Comprehensive Plan for educational purposes.
INFORMATION
The Comprehensive Plan states the City’s current policy position on a number of issues
including land use, housing, transportation, the environment, parks and utilities. It
describes how Hopkins is likely to change and helps guide recommendations made by
Hopkins boards and commissions to the City Council. In order to be meaningful to the
city, the Comprehensive Plan must be implemented. The plan includes an
implementation section which covers some of the main tools and approaches to
advance the vision of the plan, and lists several implementation steps. The
implementation steps are not meant to be exhaustive; however, it highlights specific
ways in which the plan should be implemented, and some of the lead priorities (over
and above regular city operations). To date, the city has made tangible progress on a
number of the identified action steps. Staff will present and provide an update on those
steps during the meeting.
FUTURE ACTION
While this presentation is meant for educational purposes, the Planning and Zoning
Commission will participate in formulation of City policies identified by the Plan. To cite
one example, a sustainable building policy will be developed this year, which is listed as
a specific action step.
Planning & Development