This transcript is from a **Bloomington Planning Commission** meeting. Please note that while the City Council appoints the Commission, the Commissioners themselves are volunteer residents (such as Commissioners Abdi, Cook, and Goolsbee) whose names are not all in your provided City Council list. I have matched the City Staff and City Council names where applicable. [00:00] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Evening and welcome to the March 9th meeting of the Bloomington Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is made up of seven volunteer residents appointed by the City Council. The Commission advises the City Council on development proposals, development standards, long-range planning, and transportation issues. Our work is informed by the city's Comprehensive Plan, various district plans, and the City Code. For some items, the Commission makes a recommendation with the City Council having the final decision-making authority. In other cases, the Planning Commission can approve or deny an application subject to an appeal to the City Council. For each item, there will be a staff report, an opportunity for the applicant to present, then time for any member of the public to provide testimony. Our first order of business tonight is the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand as you are able. (All recite the Pledge of Allegiance) [00:01] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** And I'd like to begin with an overview of how to provide remote testimony. Planning Manager, Nick Johnson? [00:01] **Nick Johnson (Planning Manager):** Chair, Commissioners, good evening. We have a couple of public hearings tonight, and if anybody watching at home would like to testify remotely, they certainly can. What you would do is call the phone number on the screen and then enter in the access code. We will patch you through during the public hearing portion of the meeting. We will have this number on the screen during those public hearings. [00:02] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you. The first item is a public hearing for a privately initiated city code amendment. That item has been withdrawn by the applicant and may be resubmitted in a different form at a later date. The second item is another public hearing. It is the Bloomington Central Station Master Sign Plan, and we have a planner who has the presentation. [00:02] **Mike (City Planner):** Okay, great. Good evening, Planning Commissioners. We'll be talking about Bloomington Central Station specifically, a Master Sign Plan. We've seen various developments through the Planning Commission and City Council over the years, and this one's a little bit different. No new buildings are proposed tonight, but it really relates to a coordinated signage plan for the whole planned development. I have an aerial image of the existing conditions on screen here. The blue line on the screen is for the Light Rail Blue Line. [00:04] **Mike (City Planner):** This is a site that's under construction, including a grocery building. Just to orient the Commission, we have the Hyatt Regency Hotel just to the north of the park, Indigo Apartments, and Finley Apartments. We have Reflections Condominiums, which Commissioner Cook is very familiar with, Health Partners in the lower center portion of the site, and then in the southwest portion, we have a parking structure. [00:06] **Mike (City Planner):** The Master Sign Plan is an alternative to the traditional sign permit. It allows the city to consider signs that aren't quite compliant with standard city code, allowing some flexibility. Most of the signs you see on this image are existing and code-compliant (Indigo, Finley, Health Partners). No signage is being proposed for Reflections; it's not the developer's property. However, the developer feels specific signage is important for the viability of the development to bring people into the site beyond what we could approve through a standard permit. [00:08] **Mike (City Planner):** On the left, we have a proposed monument sign for two locations: American Boulevard and East Old Shakopee Road. This requires flexibility because the overall mass of the sign is beyond the eight-foot limit and larger than the 100-square-foot limitation. The developer chose a Master Sign Plan rather than a variance. We feel this development meets the findings for a Master Sign Plan. The overall amount of signage is a fraction of what City Hall allows, but they're proposing a couple of signs that don't quite meet the standard. That is our recommendation. [00:10] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you. Questions for staff? I do have one question. On the map of the area, the signs that are proposed are on the perimeter part of the sign plan, correct? [00:10] **Mike (City Planner):** That's correct. Some signs related to the Carbon 31 building would be adjacent to private streets, while the monument signs would be along public streets. [00:11] **Commissioner Gottesman:** Thank you, Chair. I'm looking at the placement of these large signs. Are there any concerns around obstruction of visibility at the corners for both pedestrians and cars? [00:11] **Mike (City Planner):** Commissioner, that's always a concern. To address potential issues, we have setback standards that still apply. Signs must be outside public easements and we have "clear view triangle" standards where the sign cannot be within a certain measured triangle at driveways or streets. [00:12] **Commissioner Abdi:** Thank you, Chair. Just to clarify for the folks watching at home, is it one particular developer building this entire site, or are we having different developers who will comply with the Master Sign Plan? [00:12] **Mike (City Planner):** Commissioner Abdi, that's a great question. It could be the master developer, McGough, who is developing Carbon 31, or they might transact with a different party for a future phase. However, the Master Sign Plan applies to the entire development. If a future entity wanted to do something not in alignment with this plan, they would have to seek a revision before you. [00:13] **Commissioner Abdi:** That makes sense. Is wayfinding included in the calculations? [00:13] **Mike (City Planner):** In the Master Sign Plan, there are details on wayfinding. I like to think of signage at this scale in layers. The top layer is the flexibility for large monument signs for outward visibility. Below that, you have monument signs for individual sites and wayfinding signs directing people to different locations. [00:14] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Other questions for staff? Would the applicant like to speak? [00:14] **Ryan Simpson (Architect for Developer):** Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Ryan Simpson, representing the architect for the developer. The developer is also here. No real presentation to make; Mike did a wonderful job. We're just here to answer questions. [00:15] **Commissioner Cook:** Thank you. As tenants change, sometimes the signage looks different—fonts or colors change. Is there a plan to make sure consistency is maintained as tenants turn over? [00:15] **Ryan Simpson:** The intent of the Master Sign Plan is that within the larger development, there remains consistency even if there's turnover with tenants. [00:16] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Considering this is a Master Sign Plan, do you anticipate eventually requesting additional monument-type signs beyond these big ones? [00:16] **Ryan Simpson:** No. Part of the purpose was to forecast and anticipate where we may need future flexibility. Right now, there are only two of those larger ones envisioned. [00:17] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you. This item is a public hearing, so I will open the public hearing. Is there anyone in the chambers who would like to speak? Do we have anyone online? [00:17] **Staff:** We have no one on the line. [00:17] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Seeing no one, I would entertain a motion to close the public hearing. [00:17] **Commissioner:** So moved. [00:17] **Commissioner:** Second. [00:18] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** All those in favor say aye. (Ayes). The public hearing is closed. Discussion among the Commission? [00:18] **Commissioner Abdi:** I'm in support. The site is huge enough that it definitely would benefit from a master plan. [00:19] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** I'm a little bit unsure. This is our dense urban walkable area, and yet we're approving signage that is auto-oriented. I'm just unsure how these will eventually fit in when it's fully developed. That's where I'm wrestling with scale. [00:19] **Commissioner McGovern:** I think Bloomington Central Station is always going to have an uphill battle because there's very little through traffic compared to 50th and France. Having these auto-oriented signs to get people off the street and into the neighborhood may be warranted because you're trying to get people into a neighborhood they wouldn't naturally drive through. [00:20] **Commissioner Cook:** I have to agree. It gives clarity as to where you are. Regarding the height, 18 feet is huge—that's a two-story building. But I think about the signs at the Mall of America; they are attractive and within the scale of that development. I can support these. [00:21] **Commissioner Abdi:** Plus, we have a beautiful park there. Unless I know there is a park, I won't know because it's tucked in. If signage brings more visibility to the park and the coffee shop, I'm for it. Is that a public park? [00:22] **Mike (City Planner):** It is privately owned but publicly accessible. We work with the owner to celebrate the park as much as we can. [00:23] **Commissioner Goolsbee:** One question—the sign will be lit. Are there any concerns around light pollution for the residences? [00:23] **Mike (City Planner):** Bloomington is one of the only cities in the metro that actually inspects sign brightness. We go out at night with a "nits meter." Adjacent to residential, the brightness allowance is much lower. We will check. [00:24] **Commissioner Cook:** In Case PL2023-5, having been able to make the required findings, I move to recommend City Council approve the Bloomington Central Station Master Sign Plan subject to the conditions attached to the staff report. [00:24] **Commissioner:** Second. [00:25] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** All those in favor say aye. (Ayes). The motion passes. This item will appear on the March 20th City Council meeting. Item three is a study item: the introduction of our new Port Authority Administrator. Nick Johnson? [00:25] **Nick Johnson (Planning Manager):** Chair, Commissioners, today we want to introduce Holly Masek, the new Port Authority Administrator. She is in her third week with Bloomington. [00:26] **Holly Masek (Port Authority Administrator):** Thank you. Good evening, Commissioners. I joined most recently from Rochester, Minnesota. Prior to that, I worked in Boston for a real estate firm and the Boston Redevelopment Authority. In 2022, the HRA and Port Authority completed an assessment to optimize their strengths. The HRA will focus on single-family homes and small residential, while the Port Authority will actively support business expansion, retention, and placemaking citywide. [00:28] **Holly Masek:** Our work plan includes strategic planning and supporting the World Expo bid should it come to Bloomington. Development projects include the Mall of America water park, American Square, and Bloomington Central Station. Our placemaking will work on beautifying the rest of the city, including a South Loop community garden and hometown poetry. [00:30] **Commissioner Goolsbee:** I’m excited about the expansion. Have you had any thoughts about the Lyndale Avenue corridor and what could be done to revitalize that area? [00:31] **Holly Masek:** I personally don't have thoughts yet, but I will connect with Alejandra Pelinka (Director of Creative Placemaking) and bring that back to you. [00:31] **Commissioner Cook:** I second the desire for Lyndale. We should be thinking bold. Also, please continue the tradition of being different. Differentiate us from other suburbs. Be willing to say no if something is not bold enough. [00:32] **Holly Masek:** Thank you. I hope to learn more about your definition of "different." [00:33] **Commissioner Abdi:** Welcome. I live near American Boulevard. We have big box stores but not many small walkable businesses. Let's focus on neighborhood services. Also, why is it called the "Port Authority" when we don't have a beach? [00:34] **Nick Johnson (Planning Manager):** State law sets up entities cities can have. Because Bloomington is on a navigable river—the Minnesota River—we are eligible to have a Port Authority. A Port Authority has certain powers under state law that an HRA or EDA does not. It’s highly advantageous. [00:35] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you. Item four is an update on the 98th and I-35W corridor. Kirk Roberts? [00:36] **Kirk Roberts (Traffic and Transportation Engineer):** Good evening. I'm Kirk Roberts. I'm accompanied by Brian Nemeth, our consultant lead. 98th Street is a key interchange and has become an important transit hub. In the 90s, a design was developed that would have eliminated the transit station for a large cloverleaf. We want to find a design that handles traffic without eliminating a well-used transit station. [00:38] **Kirk Roberts:** The Orange Line opened recently, and 98th Street is a significant transfer point. We've developed a study to improve safety for all users—pedestrians, bikes, and transit. [00:40] **Brian Nemeth (Consultant):** Thank you. We want to improve safety and comfort for people "rolling"—wheelchairs, scooters, and skateboards. We’ve had a number of bicycle crashes at Dupont and 98th. Through our engagement on "Let’s Talk Bloomington," we had 750 visitors and 90 people engaged. Key takeaways were preferences to eliminate high-speed right-turn curves and increase pedestrian space. [00:42] **Brian Nemeth:** We are looking at two corridor concepts. Concept one involves adding a pedestrian crossing at Humboldt and a ten-foot wide trail on the south side of 98th. Concept two looks at keeping two lanes on Old Shakopee Road but signalizing the right turn to provide a protected pedestrian crossing. Long-term, we are looking at replacing the bridge, which MnDOT says has about 20 years left. [00:45] **Commissioner Cook:** One recommendation of the Lyndale retrofit was a pedestrian bridge over 98th from the transit center. Is that still on the table? [00:46] **Brian Nemeth:** We are looking at alignments, but the grades, private properties, and the railroad make it difficult. [00:47] **Commissioner Cook:** Don't stop thinking about that. As a former user of that station, it's dangerous to cross 98th. I like the idea of slowing people down. [00:48] **Commissioner Abdi:** I love the community engagement. Do you expect any private land taking? [00:49] **Kirk Roberts:** Depending on the configuration, there could be some minor takings of residential backyards to get the trail in and allow for snow storage. Taking private property is something we do very carefully and transparently. [00:50] **Commissioner Goolsbee:** If we put a trail in backyards, would the project include screening or fencing? [00:51] **Kirk Roberts:** Yes, we are required to make them "whole." Like the Normandale Boulevard project, that included retaining walls and fences so people didn't just have to look at a giant arterial. [00:52] **Commissioner Goolsbee:** One more thing—could we consider a "pedestrian head start" or advanced green for pedestrians at these signals? [00:53] **Kirk Roberts:** Good feedback. We will explore that with the County. We will be back with a staff-recommended concept later. [00:54] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you. Our last item is the Planning Commission update. [00:55] **Nick Johnson (Planning Manager):** Your next meeting is March 23rd. We have one item: a conditional use permit for a pet services facility at 511 West 98th Street. The April 13th meeting currently has no items. [00:56] **Chair Dwayne Lowman:** Seeing no further business, we are adjourned. Thank you.