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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/23/06 Special Meeting . . . Planning Commission Minutes Special Meeting August 23, 2006 1. Call to Order Chair Rotty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Rotty, Johnson, Larson Members Absent: Barker, Fitzloff Also Present: Lee Smick, City Planner; Tony Wippler, Assistant City Planner; Randy Distad, Parks and Recreation Director 2. Approval of Minutes a) August 8, 2006 MOTION by Johnson, second by Larson to approve the August 8, 2006 minutes. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 3. Public Hearings a) Variance to Minimum Lot Width - 3782 220th Street West Applicant: Gerald Graham Mr. Graham is requesting a 27 ft. variance to the lot width requirement in an R-2 district. His lot is 33 ft. wide along Ash Street. He is proposing to build a house and split the lot. He meets the lot size requirement. The neighbor to the south has requested that Mr. Graham install a privacy fence at the rear of the lot. Mr. Graham stated he is proposing a chain link fence for 300 ft. to the east. He was puzzled about the request for a privacy fence to the south. He suggested the neighbor to the south put up a privacy fence themselves or they could negotiate the 99 ft. of fence and the cost. MOTION by Johnson, second by Larson to close the public hearing. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. MOTION by Larson, second by Johnson to approve the 27 ft. wide lot width variance for a minimum lot width requirement for an R-2 district. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. 4. Discussion a) Fairhill Concept Plan Applicant: Newland Communities Newland Communities gave an update on the progress of the Fairhill development. In October they should have available the master concept plan as well as the fIrst phase preliminary plat. The concept plan was presented in June and was approved by the Planning Commission and City Council. Currently they are working on the design for 195th Street. Newland presented drawings on the layout of the development and the features in each area. Planning Commission Special Minutes August 23,2006 Page 2 Out of 1,000 acres, 740 acres will be developed consisting of2300 lots at an average of3.1 units per acre. . Commissioner Larson noted there a lot of easements going through parks. He asked if that is included in the count of actual parkland. Parks and Recreation Director Distad replied in Vermillion River Crossing there is a gas pipeline easement through the development. Staffhas said ifthe developer puts in a trail that runs parallel with the easement they will receive park dedication credit for where the trail goes in the easement. In this situation there is a 10ft. wide trail through the gas line easement through Fairhill. As a 12 ft. width would be needed on either side of the trail, the developer would receive park dedication credit for the 12 ft. wide width all through the pipeline easement. This amounts to 2.5 acres. Parks and Recreation Director Distad explained the main thing the Parks and Recreation Commission wants is a large community park. It would be ideal to connect it to the greenway. The Parks and Recreation Commission would like a 55-acre park ifthere was a way to shrink the residential area. They will continue to work with the developer on this. There is a strong need to develop a community center and athletic fields. In the original community center study it encompassed the entire area of 195th Street and Diamond Path for a community center, 4-field youth baseball complex and 5 full-size soccer fields. The idea was to keep the space between 195th Street and Diamond Path for a community park. This was a concept plan developed as part ofthe community center study. . Mr. Randy Oswald, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair, stated the community has one opportunity to develop their park system the right way. The school district currently provides 80% ofthe facility needs for the City. Normally it is 50-50. This is an opportunity to balance that out. Commissioner Johnson noted the total park dedication is 92 acres. North Creek would be an extra 20 acres. He wanted to know how much acreage Newland has to have and how much they are willing to give. The larger park to the north appeared to be a bigger asset. Parks and Recreation Director Distad noted the central park would remain as a park because of the steep slope. He emphasized a 55-acre park is critical to the community. He asked if Diamond Path did not go through, what would happen to the North Creek area. Ms. Krista Fleming, with Newland, explained originally they had units in that area and showed Diamond Path did not go through. After listening to comments that Diamond Path was needed, Newland looked at whether units can be built in that area. There is not a lot of development potential in that area. There could be community gardens, a dog park, a trail head, etc. Newland feels this area needs to be a community park to enhance the overall area. There are opportunities to put trails through the area or a golf course. Newland has to plan how to pay for 195th Street. If they do not know if Diamond Path will be going in for 10-15 years, how do they plan on putting up the funds needed for Diamond Path today? Newland's proposal is . Planning Commission Special Minutes August 23, 2006 Page 3 . there are opportunities to keep it preserved for the right-of-way or if Diamond Path does not go through, it could be a park. City Planner Smick stated they need to look at Diamond Path and determine how critical it is for the City. It will relieve traffic from Pilot Knob and TH3. Commissioner Larson suggested abandoning Diamond Path at 195th Street. Give up the Diamond Path corridor for a 55-acre park. Staffnoted these questions need to be answered to assist the developer. Commissioner Johnson asked ifthe roundabout is on TH3. Staff would like to bring in MnDOT to show the Planning Commission information on roundabouts. Roundabouts are proposed throughout the development. Commissioner Johnson explained it is one thing if it is a lifestyle and you are used to it. He was not sure about placing a roundabout on TH3. In the inner part of the development as a unique feature is fine. . The Parks and Recreation Commission and the Planning Commission will be touring the site in a couple weeks. Newland would like to work with the Parks and Recreation Commission and determine if the community center area could work with 45 acres instead of 55 acres, could there be three soccer fields instead of five, they would like to try to find a middle point. They are also accommodating other aspects of recreation that are important to help the community. Commissioner Larson stated he would be willing to work with higher densities for more park acreage if that is needed. Newland also has to look at what is realistic for the market. Commissioner Larson agreed the Diamond Path issue could be worked out. He would be willing to compromise with the Diamond Path corridor. He asked if grading will take place this year. Newland stated grading will not take place this year. They are on track for MarchlApril2007 grading. Newland will also have a workshop with the Council, possibly in September. They are looking at doing cooperative funding for TH3 improvements in October. Master planning and public meetings will be held October - January. Construction would begin on the site and 195th Street in Marchi April 2007. 195th Street will take 1 ~ years to construct. They are looking at a grand opening in the fall of 2008. Commissioner Larson asked about the development on the southeast comer, where the orchards are, as far as what will happen with the road going into the development. Newland will have a neighborhood meeting once they submit an application. Newland has heard a road needs to be there because eventually it will not have a connection to TH3, they have heard it should not be there because it is part of Empire Township and not Farmington. This should be coordinated between the City and Empire. It does not make or break Newland's development. The road is shown for circulation purposes. Commissioner Larson stated if the road is included, he recommended closing the TH3 connection. . Planning Commission Special Minutes August 23,2006 Page 4 Chair Rotty felt this will be a nice addition to the community. It brings different types of housing and commercial. It will also bring a very necessary east-west road, 195th Street, to TH3. However, it will put a greater impact on TH3. The City needs to do something about TH3 as it is a busy road now and we need to look at the safety. The City and Empire and anyone else with an interest in the road needs to address this issue. Regarding phasing of the project, the first phase will be in the Fairhill Village area, the second phase will be the Ridgetop neighborhood and add access points to TH3, the third phase will be in the orchard area, the fourth phase will be more in the North Creek area and some of the woodlands. The park dedication would be in the first phase. There will be 7-8 phases with a build out of 10-12 years. Chair Rotty urged staff to continue to negotiate with Newland on the park dedication. He asked how much right-of-way is being dedicated for the widening ofTH3. Ms. Fleming stated from the centerline they have to provide 80-95 ft. that would accommodate a four-lane highway. Chair Rotty asked ifthis will be enough for TH3 to be widened in the future. Ms. Fleming noted the figure came from MnDOT. Chair Rotty stated the roundabouts could work if it makes the road safer. The access to 194th Street by the orchards, he was not ready to say it does not need to be put in. Chair Rotty asked if Newland has had discussions with the school district for a school in this area. Ms. Fleming stated they have had a number of discussions. They had looked at an elementary school in the southwest corner. At this point, nothing has been finalized. Newland is currently looking at that area as residential. They are not sure ifthere will be a school on this site or not. 5. Adjourn MOTION by Johnson, second by Larson to adjourn. APIF, MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ~~~Jr7u4 t'ynthia Muller Executive Assistant Approved . . .