The City of Apple Valley Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Karen Edgeton at 7:00 p.m.

Members Present: Karen Edgeton, John Bergman, Tom Melander, Jim Hadley, Tim Burke, Frank Blundetto, Jeannine Churchill

Members Absent: None

Staff Present: Consulting Engineer Keith Gordon, City Attorney Sharon Hills, Assistant Planner Kathy Bodmer, Assistant Planner Margaret Milton, City Planner Tom Lovelace, Community Development Director Rick Kelley

Community Development Director Rick Kelley indicated that the petitioner of item 5A, Target Corporation, has requested a continuance until the next meeting.

Chair Edgeton opened the public hearing and declared it continued until the next meeting.

Assistant Planner Kathy Bodmer introduced the item. She identified additional documents distributed to the Planning Commissioners: a letter from Hydrologist Pat Lynch, staff recommendation, and a Letter of Support that includes one new name. Bodmer stated the reduction of roadway width in a redevelopment area such as this is preferred to minimize drainage and environmental impacts by reducing the hard surface area.

Bodmer reviewed the public hearing comments and staff's responses. She identified properties served by septic systems. City services are not available to the homes on Embry Path, but are available to most of the other homes in the area. There was some discussion of how septic systems are monitored, as well as the definition of septic system failure.

Edgeton asked if the situation of Embry Way becoming a public street has been resolved satisfactorily. Bodmer responded that if the neighbors adjacent to the street portion refuse to sign the plat, the City would need to determine whether it is willing to through a condemnation process. Melander asked about the cost impact to homeowners if the street is dedicated. Bodmer stated that only people immediately adjacent to the public roadway who are gaining benefit would be assessed. Consulting Engineer Keith Gordon clarified that only the portion adjacent to the new development would become a public street under this scenario.

Gordon showed a graphic that identified properties in Farquar Lake Watershed with potential development or redevelopment. He described the drainage patterns and impacts from the properties. Properties adjacent to the lake would affect bounce on Farquar by about one-quarter inch. The net effect of all redevelopment adds one-half inch to the top level of the bounce in a 100-year storm. The impact of the Shackelford development on Long Lake is projected to be 1/20-1/30 inch. Gordon said that some people feel the widening of Pilot Knob Road had an effect on the lake, but that he doesn't feel it has had much of an effect. Melander asked about the pump capacity. Gordon answered capacity is 1 ½ inches per day. The pumped water eventually drains to the newly created lake by the Camas gravel pit on 160^th Street. He closed by stating that development was anticipated when the lift stations and storm system were designed.

The petitioner Bob Shackelford read a letter from Kathryn Fernholz into the record. Ms. Fernholz is a forester, acting as a consultant to Mr. Shackelford. Shackelford also projected several photos of Embry Way and Pilot Knob Road.

Edgeton said the biggest benefit she sees is removing two drives from Pilot Knob Road and city snow removal on the public street portion of Embry Way.

Hadley asked what would change if Embry Way became a city street. Gordon answered that the city would salt and sand the roadway. Kelley added that the City would also wing back piles of snow at the intersections to improve visibility.

Bergman asked if a raingarden provides a greater benefit to residents or runoff from the street. Gordon said it protects both, water from roads and yards would collect there.

Shackelford presented for the record a Police history of accidents in the area and additional letters from Carey V. Smith, William Jorde, Stu and Fran Doerner, and Dick and Jan Boumeester.

Gram Cameron of Elkwood Drive asked if he would have to help pay if Embry Way became a public street. He also said he lived here in the 1970 and remembers Long Lake to be very different from the photo that was shown.

Heather Sharp of Cannon Falls stated she drives 60 miles to work at Northwest Airlines. She encouraged the Commission to approve the project so there would be more homes available, so she could be closer to work.

Assistant Planner Margaret Milton described the project.

Hadley expressed concern about dressing up the north elevation since it faces a major roadway in 140^th Street.

Jack Grotkin of R. J. Ryan, the petitioner, stated the longest area of plain wall on that north elevation is 20 feet, and that there are jogs in the wall that don't show up well on paper. He said they could put some shrubs on the north also.

Dr. Kathy Ranzinger, owner of the proposed building, said the northern space is the dog kennel area and it was designed with minimal openings predominantly for sound barrier purposes. She stated she is also concerned about the look of the building and is open to installing portal windows or something to that effect to dress up the appearance of the north side.

Gordon clarified that the City will install the sidewalk and assess each property owner along the way.

City Planner Tom Lovelace introduced the item. He noted the applicant has responded to the concerns outlined in the staff report and has submitted revised plans reflecting those changes. Lovelace stated the applicant has agreed to adhere to the Natural Resource Coordinator's requests. He showed overheads demonstrating the revisions to the elevations. Windows were added on the west side, painted concrete block was replaced with brick for the trash enclosure, and brick became the primary building material.

Edgeton asked if there was anything to be done to minimize the overhead doors. Lovelace answered that the Commission could recommend that the color of the overhead doors blend in with the brick.

Edgeton also asked if there was enough room for deliveries behind the building, given the traffic path. Lovelace responded that there was enough room, that parking spaces on the service road would be signed for employee parking to further minimize activity in that area.

Gene Pedersen of New Century, the applicant, stated they can blend the color of the overhead doors or use a non-reflective glass door so they would look more like a window than a door. The glass door idea would have to be approved by the tenant as there may be a security issue.

Assistant Planner Margaret Milton reviewed the original plan. She then showed a revised plan that addresses staff's concerns.

Gordon stated the potential cost of a future road to the south would be worked out between the buyer and seller so the City would only have to assess the developer.

Edgeton asked about the density of the project. Milton said there are 13 units on 6 acres.

Hadley asked if 138^th Street would be dead-ended again, and Milton replied affirmatively.

Steve Nelson of Bridgeland Development, the petitioner, stated they are trying to be good neighbors. The driveway from the southern property would be relocated so that it would be only on the owner's property. The road would be negotiated without assessment to the southern property owner.

Edgeton asked about grading issues. Milton said a grading plan was not submitted with the sketch plan. Milton noted that Lot 1 of Block 2 would not be developed until 138^th Street was extended because of the temporary turnaround to be located on that Lot 1.

Edgeton stated she would like staff to sit down with adjacent property owners to discuss future development.

Hadley said he thought the City didn't like cul-de-sacs. Gordon answered that when a cul-de-sac is basically the only way to develop a property, the City doesn't have a problem using them.

Blundetto stated he thought it was a good plan.

Melander asked if the owners to the east want to leave their property as is, will leaving Lot 1 of Block 2 undeveloped indefinitely affect whether development occurs. Nelson replied that he did not know the answer to that right now, but he doesn't think so.

Blundetto stated that his family has found a house in Eagan, so this may be his last meeting. The closing is scheduled for March 2^nd. Edgeton thanked him for his many years of service on the Planning Commission.