IV. 1. Minutes of the May 22, 2018, Planning & Zoning Commission UNOFFICIAL
Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, May 22, 2018 – Page 1
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES
May 22, 2018
A regular meeting of the Hopkins Planning & Zoning Commission was held on May 22, 2018, at
6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Hopkins City Hall. Present were Commission Members Brian
Hunke, Laura Daly, Kristin Hanneman, Matthew McNeil, Emily Wallace-Jackson and James
Warden. Commissioner Elizabeth Goeman was absent. Also present was City Planner Jason
Lindahl.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Hunke called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ADOPT AGENDA
Commissioner Hanneman moved, Commissioner Warden seconded, to adopt the agenda. The
motion was approved unanimously.
OPEN AGENDA – PUBLIC COMMENTS/CONCERNS – None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Commissioner Warden moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to approve the minutes of the
April 24, 2018, regular meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Planning Application 2018-06-CUP for 2 East Saint Albans Road. City Planner Jason Lindahl
presented the conditional use permit application for a special purpose fence from Justin and
Jocelyn Miller. The subject property is located at 2 East Saint Albans in the Bell Grove
neighborhood north of Minnetonka Boulevard and east of Hopkins Crossroad. Should the City
approve the CUP, the applicant would be allowed to construct a 6-foot fence along their eastern
property line that fronts along Atwater Street. The City’s fence regulations limit fences in yards
abutting public rights-of-way to 4-feet. According to the applicant, they need a 6-foot high
fence for screening from Atwater Street and the security of their children and pet and will
comply with all other construction, openness and maintenance standards for residential fences.
Staff recommends approval of this request.
After general discussion from the Commission, Chairman Hunke opened the public hearing.
With no one coming forward to speak, Commissioner Warden moved and Commissioner
Hanneman seconded to close the public hearing. All voted in favor and the public hearing was
closed.
Commissioner McNeil moved and Commissioner Daly seconded to adopt Planning Resolution
2018-03, recommending the City Council approve a conditional use permit allowing a 6-foot
high Special Purpose Fence along the eastern property line of 2 East Saint Albans Road.
Planner Lindahl noted this item would move on to the City Council with a recommendation for
approval on June 5th.
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Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, May 22, 2018 – Page 2
2. Planning Application 2018-05-AMD RZ SUB & PUD for Sanctuary at Oak Ridge. City Planner
Jason Lindahl presented this item to the Commission. The applicant, Anderson Engineering,
requests various applications to allow development of a 4 lot single-family subdivision. The
subject property is owned by Janet Griffing and located south of Oak Ridge Golf Course, north
of Highway 7, west of the Oak Ridge condominium building and east of the Eisenhower
Community Center. The site is currently guided and zoned for high density residential
development similar to the adjacent Oak Ridge Place building and received approval for a 4-
story 27 unit building in 2007. According to the applicant, development of the site under the
2007 approvals is complicated by its relatively small size, rectangular shape, topography, limited
access and location abutting a wetland. In March of this year, the Planning & Zoning
Commission and City Council reviewed and generally supported a concept plan for this
development subject to approval by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the applicant’s
participation in a planned unit development agreement, and reaching an agreement with the
neighboring Oak Ridge Place HOA on maintenance of shared amenities. Staff recommends
approval of this request.
Mr. Lindahl stated there had been substantial public interest in this project from the neighboring
Oak Ridge Place condominium building and city staff had several meetings and phone calls with
Marles Frankman who serves as President of the Oak Ridge Place Condominium Association.
Mr. Lindahl called the Commission’s attention to a letter and petition from the Oak Ridge Place
Condominium Association stating their concerns and opposition to the proposed development.
Mr. Lindahl noted that the City requires the applicant to host a neighborhood meeting to explain
the project, answer questions and take any comments. That meeting occurred in Room 209 of
the Eisenhower Community Center on Monday, May 14th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. Mr. Lindahl
stated he attended the meeting as an observer and the developer’s notes from this meeting along
with a comment letter from the Oak Ridge Place HOA were attached to the staff report. In
general, the neighbors are concerned about the type of housing, construction process, access,
parking, wetland, homeowners’ association documents, storm water management and the
proposed pedestrian trail. The developer addressed many of these questions during the
neighborhood meeting and agreed to continue to work with the neighbors to address their
concerns.
After some general discussion and questions to city staff, Chairman Hunke opened the public
hearing. First to speak was Daniel Greenstein, Attorney for the Oak Ridge Place Condominium
Homeowners Association. Mr. Greenstein reviewed the HOA’s concerns detailed in their letter
and there petition opposing the development. Next, Marles Frankman President of the Oak
Ridge Place HOA addressed the Commission and echoed the concerns detailed in their letter
and petition. Several other residents of Oak Ridge Place addressed the Commission reiterating
the concerns detailed in their letter and opposition to the development. Commission Warden
moved and Commissioner Daly seconded to close the public hearing. All voted in favor and the
motion to close the public hearing was approved.
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Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, May 22, 2018 – Page 3
The Planning & Zoning Commission briefly discussed tabling the item to allow more time for
the applicant and the Oak Ridge Place HOA to work toward consensus on their concerns.
Hearing no support for that motion, Commissioner Hunke asked for a motion to approve the
recommendation from staff. Commissioner McNeil moved, Commissioner Daly seconded a
motion to adopt Planning & Zoning Resolution 2018-04, recommending the City Council
approve the following applications, subject to conditions
• Comprehensive plan amendment from High Density Residential to Low Density Residential
• Rezoning from R-5, High Density Residential to R-1D, Single Family Low Density with a
Planned Unit Development (PUD)
• Subdivision approval of both preliminary and final plats
• Execution of a Planned Unit Development Agreement
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4-2 to recommend the City Council approve these
requests. Commissioners Daly and Warden voted against the motion because they thought the
application and Oak Ridge Place HOA needed more time to work through their concerns.
OLD BUSINESS – None.
NEW BUSINESS – None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
During the announcements, Mr. Lindahl updated the Planning & Zoning Commission on the
following items:
• The City Council approved the first reading of a moratorium ordinance on the Auto Repair &
Auto Sales Uses item during their April 17 meeting and approval of the second reading is
expected during the May 1 meeting. If approved, a moratorium of up to one year would be
placed on auto repair and auto sales uses.
• May 24 - Boards & Commissions Recognition Dinner.
• May 22 – next scheduled Planning Commission Meeting and the Annual Meeting, which will
include Election of Officers for the next year.
• June 2 – Artery Grand Opening and Comp Plan Open House.
• Cultivate Hopkins – 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update. City Planner Jason Lindahl informed
the Commission that the Cultivate Hopkins advisory committee continues its work on the
Comprehensive Plan. The first Implementation meeting on April 11 focused on Built and
Natural Environment and the second Implementation meeting on May 9 will focus on Social
and Economic Environment. The Comp Plan Open House will take place on June 2 during the
Artery Grand Opening. The full Comprehensive Plan will come before the Planning
Commission during the June 26 meeting. The City Council is expected to review the draft of the
Comprehensive Plan during the July 17 meeting after the recommendation of the Planning
Commission. After review by the Council, a 6-month comment period from the surrounding
community begins. Final submittal of the Comprehensive Plan will be first quarter of 2019.
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Minutes of the Planning & Zoning Commission, May 22, 2018 – Page 4
ADJOURN
Commissioner Goeman moved, Commissioner Hanneman seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The
motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jason Lindahl