HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 draft minutesCITY OF LAKEVILLE
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
September 22, 2022 Chair Witte called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was given.
Members Present: Chair Jeff Witte, Vice Chair Jenna Majorowicz, Scott Einck, Brooks Lillehei, Patrick Kaluza, Christine Zimmer, Patty Zuzek
Members Absent: Karl Drotning. Ex-Officio Melissa Field
Staff Present: Daryl Morey, Planning Director; Frank Dempsey, Associate Planner; Zach Johnson, City Engineer; Tina Morrow, Recording Secretary
3. Approval of the Meeting Minutes
The September 8, 2022 Planning Commission meeting minutes were approved as presented.
4. Announcements
Agenda Item 6, Panda Express CUP, stipulation #7 added to the September 14, 2022 planning report at the recommendation of Engineering staff.
5. City of Lakeville City Engineer Zach Johnson presented the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). He reviewed the objectives of the CIP and indicated that the CIP’s components include future transportation, utilities, environmental resources, parks and recreation, facilities, equipment and technology for the years 2023-2027. The project descriptions, locations, revenues and expenditures are included in the CIP. Mr. Johnson reviewed the CIP map and explained the reconstruction projects and the specific year that project will be completed. He highlighted several road construction, parks and recreation, and utility projects that will be completed in the next five years. Mr. Johnson stated that staff has reviewed the 2023-2027 CIP and finds it to be consistent with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and therefore recommends approval as presented. Mr. Johnson stated that the 2023-2027 CIP public hearing will be held at the October 3rd City Council meeting. He stated the CIP is a city-wide initiative and he thanked various departments for their contributions and efforts. Chair Witte asked for comments from the Planning Commission. Discussion point included:
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, September 22, 2022 Page 2
• The Planning Commission commented on the work that goes into preparing the CIP and results in significant savings to taxpayers.
Motion was made by Lillehei, seconded by Majorowicz to recommend to City Council adoption of the 2023-2027 Capital Improvement Plan as presented.
Ayes: Zuzek, Kaluza, Lillehei, Witte, Majorowicz, Zimmer, Einck
Nays: 0
6. Panda Express Inc. Chair Witte opened the public hearing to consider the application of Panda Express Inc. for a conditional use permit to allow the construction of a convenience restaurant with a drive-through service window in the Timbercrest at Lakeville PUD. Eric Abeln from Heights Venture Architects, LLP presented a brief overview of the request. Mr. Abeln described the concept of the traditional Chinese architecture proposed for the building exterior and the exterior building materials used. He commented on the decorative fence that city staff recommends along the west side of the drive-through and offered an alternative solution of bollards placed every 15 feet for the required drive-through service lane separation. Associate Planner Frank Dempsey presented the planning report. Mr. Dempsey stated that the applicant has submitted a conditional use permit application to allow the construction of a convenience restaurant on Lot 2, Block 1, Timbercrest at Lakeville 8th Addition at the northwest corner of Kenrick Avenue and 185th Street. He stated the proposed restaurant will have seating for 48 and a dual lane drive through that accommodates at least 18 vehicles. The planned hours of operation for this restaurant are 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sunday through Friday and 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on Saturday. Driveway access, drive-through and parking requirements are discussed in the September 14, 2022 planning report. Mr. Dempsey outlined the exterior building finish materials, landscaping, and off-street parking, which comply with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Dempsey clarified that staff is recommending stipulation #7 be added to the September 14, 2022 planning report to read as follows:
Stipulation #7. Prior to release of a building permit, a security for erosion control and
landscaping must be submitted.
Planning Department staff recommends approval of the Panda Express conditional use permit, subject to the 7 stipulations listed in the September 14, 2022 planning report, as amended, and approval of the Findings of Fact dated September 22, 2022
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, September 22, 2022 Page 3
Chair Witte opened the hearing to the public for comment.
There were no comments from the audience.
Motion was made by Lillehei, seconded by Majorowicz to close the public hearing at 6:31 p.m.
Voice vote was taken on the motion. Ayes – unanimous
Chair Witte asked for comments from the Planning Commission. Discussion points included:
• Commissioner Majorowicz expressed her concerns regarding traffic congestion and circulation issues caused by vehicle stacking for the Raising Canes restaurant drive-through backing up into the shared driveway from Kenrick Avenue, which adversely impacts access to the Target parking lot. She asked if there will be any modifications to any of the existing entrances as part of the Panda Express project. Mr. Dempsey explained that Panda Express and Raising Canes will share an existing driveway access and that a separate driveway access is proposed for Panda Express. He stated there are no other driveway access modifications proposed with the Panda Express CUP.
• Commissioner Lillehei asked for clarification on the site plan and stated he is also concerned about the drive-through stacking issues at Raising Canes and potentially at Panda Express. Mr. Abeln stated that during peak times, if drive-through traffic backs into the shared driveway access from Kenrick Avenue, Panda Express could block off the direct access to their drive-through lanes, thus forcing drive-through traffic to enter via the shared driveway access with Raising Canes and circulate through the Panda Express parking lot to, in effect, provide more drive-through stacking on their site.
• Discussed having the proposed Panda Express driveway access as exit-only.
• Director Morey explained staff’s recommendation regarding the decorative fence. Regarding the Raising Canes drive-through stacking issues, a lot of the problems stem from how store management handles peak demand. Mr. Morey stated that the Raising Canes CUP was approved with a stipulation that both of their drive-through lanes be open if stacking reaches the shared driveway access from Kenrick Avenue. This requirement was initially not passed down from the corporate office to store management and City staff had to make the store manager aware of the stipulation. He stated that staff will meet with the Raising Canes manager to once again to discuss the drive-through stacking issues. Mr. Morey pointed out that Panda Express drive-through demand should not be considered the same as Raising Canes and that their drive-through stacking meets Zoning Ordinance requirements. He also stated that if the Panda Express driveway access is changed to exit only, entrance to the Panda Express site would be exclusively through the shared access with Raising Canes and if there are drive-through stacking backups at Raising Canes it will negatively impact access to the Panda Express site.
• Commissioner Majorowicz stated she thinks adding another convenience food restaurant with a drive-through will compound the stacking issues, increase congestion at the entrance off of Kenrick Avenue, and increase the possibility of vehicle accidents.
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, September 22, 2022 Page 4
• Commissioner Zimmer asked how long it typically takes Panda Express to process a drive-through order. Mr. Abeln responded that it typically takes 2-4 minutes. He stated the stacking space for 19 cars is very good for Panda Express. He also pointed out that the parking spaces on the south side of the site will be used for drive-through orders that take longer than this timeframe. Mr. Abeln suggested that both Raising Canes and Panda Express could block off direct access to their respective drive-throughs to force drive-through stacking internally through their sites during peak demand, effectively doubling their stacking space during peak demand.
• Chair Witte suggested tabling the Panda Express CUP to the October 6, 2022 Planning Commission meeting to allow staff to review vehicle access, traffic safety, and possible site layout alternatives to improve the vehicle stacking situation on the shared driveway from Kenrick Avenue. Mr. Morey mentioned the application deadline date is October 6th so the deadline would need to be extended to address the stacking issues. He also stated that staff could add the convenience food drive-through stacking requirements to the next annual Zoning Ordinance update as both Raising Canes and Panda Express meet current Zoning Ordinance requirements. Chair Witte asked for a voice vote on tabling the Panda Express CUP. It was unanimous.
• Mr. Abeln described the decals on the west side of the building exterior and their purpose. Commissioner Lillehei asked if the decals are considered signage. Mr. Dempsey stated the lettering would be considered signage subject to the signage for the building as allowed by the Zoning Ordinance.
Motion was made by Zuzek, seconded by Majorowicz to table the Panda Express Inc. conditional use permit to the October 6, 2022 Planning Commission meeting.
Ayes: Kaluza, Lillehei, Witte, Majorowicz, Zimmer, Einck, Zuzek
Nays: 0
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tina Morrow, Recording Secretary