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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-14-WS �- DEN HILLS Approved: October 27, 2014 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 15,2014 5:00 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Pro-Tem Holmes called to order the City Council Work Session meeting at 5:04 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant (arrived at 5:39 p.m.); Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung, and Ed Werner Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Public Works Director Terry Maurer; Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher; City Planner Ryan Streff; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; and City Clerk Amy Dietl 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Workshop with Gateway Planning • Review of Chapters 1-5 • Present Chapters 6-7, 9-11 Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that tonight's meeting is the second workshop with Brad Lonberger, Gateway Planning. She encouraged the Councilmembers to discuss elements of Chapters 1-5 with Mr. Lonberger. She indicated that the remaining draft chapters, with the exception of Chapter 8 (Street Design Standards)will be presented as well. Chapter 6—Building and Site Development Standards Chapter 7—Building Design Standards Chapter 9—Open Space Standards Chapter 10— Streetscape and Landscape Standards Chapter 11 — Sign Standards Attachments Community Development Director Hutmacher explained that Chapter 6 is the longest and most detailed of these chapters as it addresses building and site development standards. Consequently, staff has spent the most time reviewing Chapter 6 of the draft document, and less time so far has ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION— SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 2 been spent reviewing the remaining chapters. She stated that she anticipated that further revisions will be necessary throughout the document. Brad Lonberger, Gateway Planning, requested additional feedback from the Council on Chapters 1 through 5. Mayor Pro-Tem Holmes expressed concern with how staff would merge the City's current code with the TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC). Mr. Lonberger reported that he was working through this issue with the City and the Joint Development Authority (JDA). He explained it was permissible for the City to have a redevelopment code for this specific area. Community Development Director Hutmacher commented that anything in TCAAP not covered in the TRC code would revert back to the original City Code. Mayor Pro-Tem Holmes requested further clarification on what the build-to zone would be. Mr. Lonberger explained that he would address this matter in his presentation. He then provided the Council with a detailed presentation on Chapters 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. He reported that the term "build-to" referred to builders "building to" specific setbacks and guidelines. He requested comment from the Council on Chapter 6. Discussion ensued regarding how the build-to ranges would work as the site develops. Mayor Pro-Tem Holmes feared that the build-to ranges were too stringent and did not offer enough flexibility. Mr. Lonberger reported that it was quite common for Town Center areas to have build-to requirements to ensure the site develops in a manner that closely follows the City's vision. Mayor Grant arrived at the meeting at 5:39 p.m. Councilmember Holden asked if the roads would have curb cuts in the pedestrian friendly or pedestrian priority areas along the spine road. Mr. Lonberger stated that the preference would be to have no curb cuts given the level of traffic along the spine road. He anticipated that the number of driveways in the Town Center would also be minimized. Mayor Grant questioned if the density would be controlled by the proposed setbacks. Mr. Lonberger indicated that this was a tool that could be used to assist with controlling density. Community Development Director Hutmacher reviewed how setbacks would be used to achieve a number of things in various zoning districts, such as walkability, increased green space, or improved parking. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 3 Mayor Grant inquired what communities have been developed with similar setbacks as was being proposed for the Town Center District. Mr. Lonberger indicated that he would provide the Council with a list of communities. Councilmember Holden believed that this would be helpful as she was having a hard time visualizing the proposed setbacks and how it would impact storefronts, sidewalks and pedestrian access. Councilmember Holmes expressed concern with the proposed residential setbacks. Mr. Lonberger reviewed the proposed residential area setbacks in detail with the Council. Councilmember Holden feared that if alley ways were created that a sense of community within the neighborhoods would be lost. Community Development Director Hutmacher anticipated that resident lot widths in the Neighborhood Districts would primarily be at least 50 feet to allow for front loading garages with setbacks to allow for parking on the driveway. Councilmember Holden questioned how snow storage would be addressed in the Town Center. Public Works Director Maurer stated that larger snow falls would have to be removed from the area and could perhaps be brought to AHATS. He commented that the County would be responsible for removing snow from the spine road. Mayor Grant did not want to see canvas awnings in the Town Center area. Mr. Lonberger reported that the awning material can be greater defined within the code. Councilmember Holmes asked if buildings would be four or five stories within TCAAP. Mr. Lonberger reviewed the proposed building heights for the Town Center and for the retail area along the highway. Councilmember Holmes suggested that the guidelines for the Flex Office District along the highway be more detailed, as was proposed in the Town Center area. Community Development Director Hutmacher anticipated that this would be further addressed after the proper configuration of this area was determined. She stated that staff had spoken with Mr. Lonberger regarding the comments received from the last Council work session. Councilmember Holden was hopeful that the City's needs would be met through the development of the site and not just the County's goals. Councilmember McClung wanted to see quality residential development on the site as this will help play a role in the jobs that will be created. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 4 Mr. Lonberger reviewed Chapters 7, 9, 10, and 11 of the code with the Council. Councilmember Holden requested that staff investigate the window/glass section further to see if there was language that would recommend window material be selected that would reduce the impact on migrating birds. Mr. Lonberger stated that he would research this matter further. Councilmember Holden recommended that this portion of the code address building color. She wanted to see the development of this site done well without tacky or trendy colored buildings. She recommended that an area near the Highway 96 entrance be designated as pedestrian friendly as this would be the entrance for current Arden Hills' residents into the TCAAP site. Mr. Lonberger understood the Council's concerns and also noted that EIFS would not be allowed within TCAAP. Councilmember Holden suggested that the number of drive thru bays be reconsidered. Mayor Grant commented that current code allowed for only one auto-oriented bay. Councilmember McClung recommended that Council and staff be thinking long-term for this site with the zoning and guidelines for TCAAP. Mr. Lonberger understood this concern as the property would be developed in phases. Councilmember Holden inquired if structured parking was anticipated for the development. Community Development Director Hutmacher reported that this issue would need to be investigated further by staff. She discussed the tremendous expense for underground parking structures. Councilmember McClung did not believe the City would dictate if developers did or did not put in structured parking. Councilmember Holden recommended that staff address within the Code who would be responsible for clearing the residential sidewalks. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that a Home Owners Association (HOA) may have to be created for these new neighborhoods to address the maintenance of the sidewalks. This was the direction Pulte chose for their new development. Discussion ensued regarding the proposed density per acre for TCAAP. Councilmember Holmes believed that seven units per acre were too much. She suggested that one to four units be allowed per acre. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 5 Councilmember Holden asked when additional information from the Parks Commission would be available. She indicated that this would be good information for the Council to have when making decisions on the zoning code. Councilmember Holmes inquired why the City would be requiring developers to place balconies on multi-family residential buildings. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that this was a sign of high quality design and would provide variation to the building. Councilmember Holden suggested that staff speak with local developers regarding this matter in order to gain additional feedback on the balcony situation. Discussion returned to the sidewalk width in the Town Center. Councilmember Holden did not believe that a five or six foot sidewalk would work in this area, especially considering room would be needed for snow storage in the winter months and dining space in the summer months. Councilmember Holmes wanted to see the sign code closely examined as the City has had issues with signs. Mayor Grant suggested that LED lights be addressed within the TRC sign code. He stated that he was anti-streaming or movement signs as well. Mr. Lonberger stated that the code could address the level of foot candle intensity for LED's. Councilmember Holden asked who would own thero ert zoned Civic. p p Y Mr. Lonber er indicated that this roe would be used for water treatment and was being g property rtY g viewed as an open space. Community Development Director Hutmacher anticipated that park and recreation spaces would be owned by the City. Councilmember Holden recommended that staff more closely define the landscaping requirements in the residential neighborhoods within the TRC. Mayor Grant discussed the length of the current zoning document. He appreciated the detail provided by staff. Councilmember Holden stated that she would like additional information on how Neighborhood Transition property would be developed. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated that staff would review this zoning district further and provide the Council with additional information at a future meeting. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 6 Mr. Lonberger added that as the Master Planning process was wrapping up, staff would be able to provide the Council with more visuals. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES Councilmember McClung stated that the Ramsey County League of Local Government would be holding their State of the Water Program on September 25th at 6:00 p.m. Councilmember Holmes discussed the upcoming State of the City meetings. She requested that the Council assign the discussion topics. The Council decided on assignments of meeting topics. Councilmember McClung indicated that he could attend the evening State of the City,but would not be able to attend the day session. Mayor Grant requested that staff create slides showing the cleanup of the TCAAP site for the State of the City meetings. City Administrator Klaers provided the Council with the 2015 draft budget and noted that it would be brought back for approval at the September 291h Council meeting. He discussed an upcoming emergency management training exercise that would be held in New Brighton. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council work session at 8:12 p.m. Amy Dietl 0 David Grant City Clerk Mayor