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Mainstreet Task Force• September 20, 1984 Jeanne Eddy Hopkins Zoning & Planning Commission Hopkins City Hall 1010 First Street South Hopkins, MN 55343 Dear Jeanne, The Hopkins Mainstreet Task Force has met with representatives of the Walser Corporation to two occassions to discuss their proposal to construct a new auto dealership on their property at the East end of downtown. In addition, a special sub - committee has met to address the Walser proposal. The site adjacent to County Road 18 was previously occupied by Youngstedt Auto Service Center, and the Waterbed Galary. The proposed project and the site location present a number of concerns for Downtown. 1. The proposed use of the property is inconsistant with the 1981 Downtown Plan which called for Hotel /Office redevelopment. 2. The site is in a highly visible location, with essentially 3 exposed frontages (Northside - Excelsior Avenue; Eastside - County Road 18; Southside - County Road 3). This makes the design and use of this property critical for the image of downtown. 3. The Excelsior Avenue exposure presents special problems. Ex- celsior Avenue is the "Main Street" of Hopkins and ideally should be an active pedestrian oriented, attractive frontage. By neces- sity this will be the auto access point for the dealership, and the location of the buildings service garage entrances. 4. The proposed development is a tight fit on the site, requiring virtually all the site for building and car storage yet the high level of visual exposure dictates that substantial landscaping be required. 5. Signage and lighting needs to be consistant with the Main Street Design guidelines. 6. While the Task Force did not attempt to review the proposed pro - ject from a zoning ordinance perspective.it was discussed that the proposed project would require variances. The Walser representatives, their contractor and landscape architects have made great efforts to respond to the above concerns. The plan presented to the Main - street Task Force at its' meeting 9/13/84 was found to be acceptable and has our support with the one stipulation - that the Mainstreet Design Committee be given • Jeanne Eddy Page 2 a chance to review and approve the final design of site signage and Dick Showquist representing the Walser organization agreed. In particular, the Task Force was concerned with the treatment of the ground mounted signs identifying the entrance to the site. The Walser representatives agreed to develop a design for the signs which was made from the materials used in the construction of the building brick, stone, steel or other "natural materials" and not back - lighted plastic. Other features have been incorporated into the plan presented to the Task Force on 9/13/84 to respond to the Task Force concerns. Landscaping of the site was increased on the site in general and at the Excelsior Avenue frontage in particu- lar. In addition the Service Department garage doors were placed off center from the access driveways so that the garage doors could be more effectively screened from view by the Excelsior Avenue landscaping. While the proposed use of the Walser property is still not consistant with the 1981 Downtown Plan, the Task Force felt the Walser proposal would be a substantial improvement over the current condition. In addition, the proposed dealership would be a major regional adver- tiser for Hopkins and an additional quality retailer for Hopkins. I hope you and the rest of the Zoning and Planning Commission will find these com- ments helpful. If you have any questions feel free to give me a call or stop by. • Sincerely, Kevin Locke Hopkins Mainstreet 935 -8115 • 3 s MAINSTREET TASK FORCE MINUTES AUGUST 30, 1984 ATTENDANCE: Dick Showquist, Nelson Berg, Kerrigan, Ritchie, Redepenning, B. Nelson, Hanlon, Lavin, Bursch, McDonald, Mayor Miller, Genellie, Drinkwine. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1) Presentation by Dick Showquist on Concept proposals for Walser Property. 2) Budget assessment 3) Slate of Board nominees . ACTION TAKEN: ITEM #1: After extensive discussion, it was the general consensus of those present that there is a basic willingness for a new car dealership at the Walser site, contingent on the following: A) Interior and perimeter landscaping be addressed.more intensely. B) That required variences be addressed: explaining what and why particular variences would be needed, what solutions /alternatives could be incorporated into the site plan to minimize or resolve varience requests. C) That the ratio of building to parking be more in line with ordinance requirements. D) That the visual image of a sea /spanse of asphalt be reduced through either elevation /terracing, landscaping, etc. ITEM #2: The budget needs to be submitted to the Board for approval, after which the CCDC Board would submit the budget to the City Council for approval. Timing, however is a problem with the first Council meeting on September 4th and the Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on September 20th. Also with three current vacancies on the Board and three additional Boardmembers completing their Board terms as of September 20th, the commitment and approval of the Budget should come from a full slate of CCDC Boardmembers. Because of the timing involved, it was decided to submit the budget at the Council meeting of the 4th of September, since initial approval by the Board had been given at the Planning Meeting of August 6th. The budget would also be reviewed and approved at the Annual Stockholders meeting on September 20th. ITEM #3: The slate of Board nominees, being developed through the Nominations Committee would be submitted to the Board for approval at their next meeting. • MEETING ADJOURNED. MAINSTREET TASK FORCE MINUTES i SEPTEMBER 6, 1984 ATTENDANCE: Lavin, Genneillie, Ritchie, Kerrigan, Richardson, B'. Nelson, Locke, Showquist, Craig, Jim Zahn - Ryan Const., Chuck Klinefelter Landscape Architect, and Drinkwine. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1) Budget 2) Committee Reports 3) Presentation by Dick Showquist for Walser Property. ACTION TAKEN: ITEM #1: Budget was approved by Council contingent upon a statement of Goals, Objectives, and Performance Measures of the Budget be developed and presented at the next Council Meeting of September 18th. All com- mittees, sub - committees, etc. are to meet and compile a workplan before next Thursday (Sept. 13th.). Monitoring should be done per activity - number of business recruitment contacts made, number of brochures sent out, attendance at meetings, etc. ITEM #2: HMP Report: Mailing, list is being compiled by HMP members through contact with each business regarding ownership of the business, building, etc. List will be put into the Ahlstrom's computer. No other reports given. ITEM #3: Dick Showquist.introduced Chuck Klinefelter, Landscape Architect to the group. Klinefelter reviewed the revised site plans with respect to the new and additional landscaping. After extensive discussion, it was the general consensus of those present that Showquist should revise the site plan as follows: 1) Have a rendering done as viewed from Excelsior Ave. 2) Relocated the service entrance driveway to the east of its present location, the entrance would then be facing part of the building wall rather than to the service garage door. 3) Lighting should be described and indicated on the site plan. 4) Signage - the number, type and size of signs should be described and indicated on the site plan. Signage should take into consider- ation sign ordinance and Design Standards. 5) Interior landscaping must be worked into site plan - not-just beefing up perimeter landscaping. Consideration will be given for snow removal difficulties with interior lot landscaping. Meeting adjourned. • N MAINSTREET TASK FORCE • MINUTES SEPTEMBER 13, 1984 ATTENDANCE: Thomassen, McDonald, Bursch, Hanlon, Kerrigan, B. Nelson, Redepenning, Richardson, Mayor Miller, Locke, Drinkwine, Dick Showquist, Jim Zahn, Chuck Klinefelter, Jerry Wing - General Manager of Walser Chrysler- Plymouth. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1) HMP Report 2) Membership Drive 3) Design Committee Report 4) Economic Development Committee Report 5) Goals, Objectives and Performance Measures for Budget 6) Presentation by Dick Showquist ACTION TAKEN: • ITEM # 1 -4: HMP - reported that Wolverines would be playing at the Chistmas Ball; the mailing list is still being compiled; promotion of the Specialty Block: the Architect is not ready to release infor- mation yet - is having the model professionally photographed. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE - Hanlon is working on this. DESIGN COMMITTEE - Thomassen reported that the committee is not actively meeting; the awnings for Redepennings building improvement should be coming in next week. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE - Last meeting worked on workplan for Goals and Objectives, plans to review RFP at the next meeting. ITEM #5: Changes made by committees were submitted to Richardson and Locke for incorporation into final draft form for submittal to City Council. (See Attached.) ITEM #6: Showquist presented a revised site plan of Walser Property. After review of addressed concerns from the meeting of September 6th., Bursch moved and Richardson seconded the motion to accept the site plan as proposed with the following changes: that the two illuminated directional signs with Excelsior Avenue exposure be replaced with signs in conformance with the design standards: use of natural materials - wood, stone, brick substantial metal, and that the signs be illuminated by flood or splash lights. With al.l ayes the motion passed. 0 Meeting adjourned.