MINNETONKA PLANNING COMMISSION Feb. 15, 2018 Brief Description Action Requested Concept plan review for Solbekken Villas, a residential development at 5740 and 5750 Shady Oak Road. Discuss concept plan with the applicant. No formal action required. Background The combined properties at 5740 and 5750 Shady Oak Road are generally known as the Music Barn site. The roughly 2.2-acre site is currently zoned planned unit development (PUD) and guided medium-density residential. It contains at least two distinctive features: (1) the existing Music Barn building; and (2) a steep, wooded slope. In 2015, the city approved a proposal to redevelop the site. As approved, Shelter Corporation would construct a three-story, 27-unit apartment building. The existing barn would be used as community gathering space and incorporated into the new building. All of the apartments would meet the Metropolitan Council s affordable housing guidelines. The city understood that the project, which would be financed in part through the sale of tax credits, would not begin until financing was available. In 2017, Shelter Corporation notified the city that, due to significant devaluation of housing tax credits, the affordable housing project was no longer financial feasible. The 2015 site and building plan approvals are now expired, but the rezoning and approved master development plan remain in place. Current Concept Great Oaks Development has submitted a new concept plan for the combined 5740/5750 Shady Oak Road properties. The plan contemplates removal of all of the existing buildings and construction of 15 new homes three detached townhomes and twelve condominium units contained with three condo buildings. This concept would likely require: (1) repealing and replacing the existing master development plan; and (2) approval of final site and building plans. Key Issues City staff has identified the following considerations for any development of the subject properties: Site Access: Hennepin County has jurisdictional control of access to Shady Oak Road. Both county and city engineers would need to evaluate the access location suggested by a formal development application. Site Impact: Utility access, tree preservation, grading and drainage must be evaluated. A portion of the combined site would be regulated by the city s steep slope ordinance. As part of a formal application, staff would conduct a thorough site impact analysis.
Meeting of Feb. 15, 2018 Page 2 Subject: Solbekken Villas, 5740 and 5750 Shady Oak Road Review Process The Concept Plan Review process includes the following: Neighborhood Meeting. Great Oaks held a neighborhood meeting on Feb. 8, 2017. Roughly, 12 area residents attended the meeting. Residents had the following questions: o Where are the second floor unit mechanicals located? o Any regrading of the hill? o Will the barn remain? o Will a setback variance be needed? PUD? o Where do visitors park? o How does one get from the garage to a unit? o Will there be an association? o Which way do the decks face? o What is the landscaping plan? o Where is the Edina project located? o How does the grade work from north to south on the site? o Has the south setback for the building and parking been considered? Planning Commission Concept Plan Review. The planning commission Concept Plan Review is intended as a follow-up to the neighborhood meeting. The objective of this meeting is to identify major issues and challenges in order to inform the subsequent review and discussion. The meeting will include a presentation by the property owner of conceptual sketches and ideas, but not detailed engineering plans. No staff recommendations are provided, the public is invited to offer comments, and planning commissioners are afforded the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback without any formal motions or votes. City Council Concept Plan Review. The city council Concept Plan Review is intended as a follow-up to the planning commission meeting and would follow the same format as the planning commission Concept Plan Review. No staff recommendations are provided, the public is invited to offer comments, and council members are afforded the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback without any formal motions or votes. Staff Recommendation Staff recommends the planning commission provide comment and feedback on the identified key issues and others the planning commission deems appropriate. The discussion is intended to assist the applicant with future direction that may lead to the preparation of more detailed development plans. Originator: Susan Thomas, AICP, Assistant City Planner Through: Loren Gordon, AICP, City Planner
Meeting of Feb. 15, 2018 Page 3 Subject: Solbekken Villas, 5740 and 5750 Shady Oak Road Making versus Applying Law ADDITIONAL INFORMATION When creating, adopting and amending land use plans and zoning ordinances, a city is making law by exercising so-called legislative authority. The council sits as a body of elected representatives to make plans and laws (ordinances) for an entire community to advance health, safety, and welfare. When acting legislatively, the council has broad discretion and will be afforded considerable deference by any reviewing court. In contrast, when applying existing plans and laws, a city council is exercising so-called quasi-judicial authority. The limited task is to determine the facts associated with a particular request, and then apply those facts to the relevant law. A city council has less discretion when acting quasi-judicially, and a reviewing court will examine whether the city council applied rules already in place to the facts before it. 1 Next Steps Formal Application. If the property owner chooses to file a formal application, notification of the application would be mailed to area property owners. Property owners are encouraged to view plans and provide feedback via the city s website. Through recent website updates: (1) staff can provide residents with ongoing project updates, (2) residents can follow projects they are particularly interested in by signing up for automatic notification of project updates; (3) residents may provide project feedback on project; and (4) and staff can review resident comments. Planning Commission Review. The planning commission would hold an official public hearing on the formal application and would subsequently recommend action to the city council. City Council Action. Based on input from the planning commission, professional staff and general public, the city council would take final action. Roles and Responsibilities Applicants. Applicants are responsible for providing clear, complete and timely information throughout the review process. They are expected to be accessible to both the city and to the public, and to respect the integrity of the public process. Public. Neighbors and the general public will be encouraged and enabled to participate in the review process to the extent they are interested. However, effective public participation involves shared responsibilities. While the city has an obligation to provide information and feedback opportunities, interested residents are expected to accept the responsibility to educate themselves about the project and review process, to provide constructive, timely and germane feedback, and to stay informed and involved throughout the entire process. 1 League of Minnesota Cities. Planning and Zoning 101 (Saint Paul, 2017), 2.
Meeting of Feb. 15, 2018 Page 4 Subject: Solbekken Villas, 5740 and 5750 Shady Oak Road Planning Commission. The planning commission hosts the primary forum for public input and provides clear and definitive recommendations to the city council. To serve in that role, the commission identifies and attempts to resolve development issues and concerns prior to the council s consideration by carefully balancing the interests of applicants, neighbors, and the general public. City Council. As the ultimate decision maker, the city council must be in a position to equitably and consistently weigh all input from their staff, the general public, planning commissioners, applicants and other advisors. Accordingly, council members traditionally keep an open mind until all the facts are received. The council ensures that residents have an opportunity to effectively participate in the process. City Staff. City staff is neither an advocate for the public nor the applicant. Rather, staff provides professional advice and recommendations to all interested parties, including the city council, planning commission, applicant and residents. Staff advocates for its professional position, not a project. Staff recommendations consider neighborhood concerns, but necessarily reflect professional standards, legal requirements and broader community interests.
BREN RD E BIMINI DR LONE LAKE RDG POMPANO DR SANIBEL DR SHADY OAK RD Subject Properties FELTL LN BREN RD W ABBOTT LN VISTA DR BREN RD Location Map Project: Solbekken Villas Address: 5740 and 5750 Shady Oak Rd ± This map is for illustrative purposes only.
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WATERS EDGE SMETANA CIR. COUNTY LA. FELTL Zoning ZONING DOUGLYNN BIMINI B-1 B-2 B-3 LONE LAKE RIDGE SANIBEL I-1 PID POMPANO PURD PUD RD. R-1 R-1 PURD R-2 RD. NO. BREN RD. R-2 PURD R-3 R-3 PURD R-4 R-4 PURD R-5 BREN RD. E.
WATERS EDGE SMETANA CIR. COUNTY LA. FELTL DOUGLYNN BIMINI 2030 Land Use 2030_LU Low Density Residential LONE LAKE RIDGE SANIBEL Medium Density Residential High Density Residential POMPANO Office Commercial RD. Service Commercial Mixed Use RD. NO. RD. Industrial Institutional BREN Open Space Parks Right of Way Lakes BREN RD. E.
WATERS EDGE SMETANA CIR. COUNTY LA. FELTL DOUGLYNN SANIBEL BIMINI POMPANO NOTIFICATION AREA USED LONE LAKE RIDGE RD. RD. NO. RD. BREN BREN RD. E. Legend City Boundary Parcels