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03.24.2025 CC Item MinutesCity Council Minutes – March 24, 2025 3 Mayor Ryan explained the message she sent about the considered legislation and stated she was concerned since it removed local authority and control for zoning and development. She explained that they are trying to address the affordable housing crisis in the State, but it limited the city’s land use and zoning authority. She requested that residents read the legislation and contact their legislators to express their opposition. She read different sections of the resolution. Councilmember von Oven asked how long before the legislature decided on the information. Mayor Ryan answered that it was near term and was being discussed with the committee this week. Councilmember von Oven moved, Councilmember Schubert seconded that the Chanhassen City Council adopts Resolution 2025-XX: A Resolution Supporting Retention of City Zoning Authority. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. 2. Ordinance XXX: Density Bonuses Amendment Mayor Ryan said she would like the City Council to consider tabling this item and bringing it to a work session on April 14th. She said that they had not had enough discussions about the impact of the density bonuses. It would return to the City Council meeting on April 24th. Councilmember McDonald moved, Councilmember Kimber seconded that the Chanhassen City Council table Ordinance XXX: Density Bonuses Amendment. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. 3. Consider Preliminary Plat, Alteration Permit, and Land Disturbance and Tree Removal Contract for Pleasant View Pointe (Project 25-02) Eric Maass, Community Development Director, reviewed the community engagement for Project 25-02. He explained the two options presented at the City Council work session. He discussed the Preliminary Plat Review completed at the Planning Commission. He explained the Preliminary Plat Proposal and discussed why the Nez Perce Connection was warranted. He reviewed the landscaping plan and discussed the tree removal deadlines because of the Northern Long-Eared Bat. Charlie Howley, Public Works Director/City Engineer, discussed information related to public streets and sidewalks. He requested feedback on whether they should install public sidewalks within the right-of-way. He explained the benefits of including a sidewalk within the subdivision but noted that the adjacent neighborhoods did not have sidewalks. He said that lot four would have a large sidewalk for snow removal. City Council Minutes – March 24, 2025 4 Mr. Maass commented that they discussed a portion of lot four being converted to an outlot because of maintenance concerns, but the developer preferred that it be a drainage and utility easement so they could maintain the largest lot size possible. Mr. Howley reviewed the water and sanitary sewer utility plan. He provided an overview of the existing conditions of the flow of stormwater and the two wetlands on site. He explained the proposed conditions, noting that Wetland One was deemed incidental and was proposed to be filled. He said that Wetland Two would be partially preserved and would be incorporated into stormwater best management practice. He summarized the process of considering the wetland impacts and described how the application included required alternatives. He reviewed the construction of the wetland option and how the staff provided direction to the developer. He presented a concept of the constructed wetland. He explained that the City Council needed to make a decision approving the WAP and noted that the Water Resources staff noted that it was not a clear-cut decision. Mr. Howley summarized the storm sewer utility plan and said the developer was working with the staff to ensure the downstream properties would not be impacted. Paul Robinson, Rachel Development, presented images to show examples of the homes to be built in the project. He showed pre-plat information for Pleasant View Pointe and described the drainage for the property. He reviewed the pre-plat lot sizes for the north side and the south side of Pleasant View Pointe. He responded to the staff's comments, specifically discussing the possible sidewalk. He said he understood the principle of installing sidewalks, but said they would prefer no sidewalk to align with surrounding neighborhoods. He discussed the historic remnant wetland and showed images from the 1992 grading permit to fill the pond. He reviewed additional images to explain the concept of the constructed wetland. Mayor Ryan recognized the large group in attendance. She asked the City Council’s thoughts on the road connection. She said she wanted to make sure there was an understanding that the road would connect. She asked for feedback about the sidewalks and the stormwater pond. Councilmember Kimber said he was in favor of the road connection. He asked Mr. Maass to outline where the project road would start on Peaceful Lane, since there would be wood clearing and large trucks going through there to work on the filtration area. He asked if there would be curb and gutter for the Peaceful Lane portion of the project. Mr. Maass asked if Councilmember Kimber was referring to the portion that would connect to Pleasant View Road. Councilmember Kimber said that the road was already deteriorated and it would get worse with heavy equipment. Mr. Maass answered that the developer would connect Peaceful Lane to Pleasant View Road. The city would have to provide some monetary credit to help extend the road beyond the plat since some of the property is beyond their ownership. City Council Minutes – March 24, 2025 5 Councilmember Kimber asked about the south sides of the lots and the additional mitigation efforts. He asked if mitigation efforts could happen that would protect the tree line. Mr. Howley answered that their intent was the trees would stay. He was referring to an additional storm sewer pipe, which would not impact trees. Councilmember Kimber said it was a creative solution for the wetland. He asked how much of the current pond functioned as runoff. He asked if there were concerns with the pond going dry. Mr. Howley said that they were not protecting the property as is, but that the whole area would act as a stormwater best management practice. He said that the complete system would function as one. Councilmember Von Oven asked if he should be concerned that there was only marginal alignment with the intent of the City Code and WCA rules and if it would set a precedent. Mr. Howley answered that there was enough gray area around the wetland, so it was unique and did not set a precedent for other developments. Mayor Ryan asked about confidence in the solution. Mr. Howley responded that the department could get behind the constructed wetland. There were no concerns about how it would function as a facility. He said that there was enough gray area. Councilmember Schubert asked if the watershed district could step in and bring about concerns. Mr. Howley answered that the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Administrator had been a part of the discussions. He said that there could maybe be a regulatory issue, but they would most likely have heard about this information. He said it was the developer’s responsibility to get the permit from the Watershed District. Councilmember McDonald said that sidewalks did not fit in with the characteristics of the area. He thought it was an undue burden to place on a homeowner to clear a quarter mile of sidewalk. He was glad that the street would come through and that they would connect neighborhoods. Councilmember Von Oven agreed that the sidewalks were not a good fit. Mayor Ryan asked how the drainage would be collected. She asked if there would be any other additional measures on the south and east side of the property. Mr. Howley answered that the trees on the east side of the property would stay, so the grade would remain. He said that the wetland was lower, so it could not flow in a different direction. He explained that the developer would maintain a flow path to get the water to go north along the property line. He said that there would be low points so the water could be picked up by inlet structures. He explained how there would be ability to do grading on the south side that would not impact the trees. He said that there would be less water going through the trees than before. Mayor Ryan asked about the traffic, speed, and the impact for neighbors with the road construction. She asked about opportunities to utilize road design to slow traffic. Mr. Howley City Council Minutes – March 24, 2025 6 responded that there would be an opportunity to use traffic control measures, but they had not been discussed so far. He said that they could ask the developer to consider traffic controlling measures and where it would be appropriate to do so. He discussed the geometry of the intersection with the road connection and how they could utilize stop signs. He did not know what the current solution would be for the road connection. Mayor Ryan said that Lieutenant Stahn was present. She acknowledged that the extension was important, but there would be an opportunity to manage cut-through traffic and speeds as people move through Nez Perce. She voiced support for the wetland. She thanked residents for attending the City Council meeting and appreciation for the large volume of emails and phone calls about this project. She said if there were new questions that the residents had about the project, they would welcome the feedback. Christine Hiscock, 6370 Pleasant View Cove, asked if there would be more water coming into the pond on Powers Boulevard. She asked about the total volume, rather than the discharge rates. She was concerned since her property was impacted by the flow of water during heavy rainfall situations. Mr. Howley said that a stormwater design had to consider water quality, the rate of water discharge, and volume. He said more water would be generated by the development since they were adding roofs and driveways. He said that Chanhassen had clay soil, so there would be more water that would leave the development, but it would not be going at a faster rate. There would be a steady flow, but it might last longer. He said that they wanted to do a project at the channel in discussion, but they needed an easement. Ms. Hiscock asked if the water volume could be observed and if the city could do anything to make the holding ponds larger, if there was more of an impact than predicted. Ed Szalapski, 850 Pleasant View Road, presented a map of the proposed improvements to Pleasant View Road. He said that six places did not meet the criteria for the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. He said that Pleasant View Road was dangerous, and they needed help to control the speeds. Councilmember Kimber moved, Councilmember Von Oven seconded that the Chanhassen City Council approves the requested preliminary plat, wetland alteration permit for the subdivision on Pleasant View Road subject to the conditions of approval and adopts the attached Findings of Fact and Decision and approves the land disturbance and tree removal contract. All voted in favor, and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0. COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS. None. ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS. None.