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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 03/05/2013 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013 CITY CENTER 5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOMS 6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher Wickstrom, Kathy Nelson, and Ron Case CITY STAFF: City Manager Rick Getschow, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen, Public Works Director Robert Ellis, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters Workshop - Heritage Room H Council Members Case and Nelson were absent. I. GREEN MIDMARKET NEIGHBORHOOD Presentation Planning Intern Farveh Makhssous, Economic Development Director David Lindahl, Housing & Community Services Manager Molly Koivumaki and Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah gave a presentation on the proposed green mid-market neighborhood development. Jeremiah said this project was included in the strategic plan for housing and economic development that the City Council approved in 2012. The goal of the project is to create a green mid-market neighborhood by employing best practices to achieve a model for sustainable and livable communities. The project location is an 8-acre remnant from construction of Highway 212 at the southwest corner of County Road 4 and Scenic Heights Road. During the strategic planning process, the City Council discussed purchasing this parcel, issuing an RFP for the development, and selling the parcel to the developer with the best design as determined by the City. Jeremiah said the parcel is currently valued at $950,000, which could come from the economic development fund or other sources. Economic development fund dollars are currently allocated to other projects that have longer timelines. The intent would be to replace the economic development funds used for purchase of the land by reselling the land to a chosen developer. A subsidy could be requested. Jeremiah said developer eligibility requirements are categorized into minimum and desirable criteria and will include: • Demonstrated knowledge or implementation of green design standards in neighborhood and building design with other creative design experience desirable • Demonstrated experience developing housing with mid-market housing experience desirable; experience with commercial if proposed for the corner • Proven ability to obtain financing with grants and gap financing experience desirable • Proven ability to work with City staff and adjacent neighborhoods City Council Workshop Minutes March 5,2013 Page 2 Jeremiah said that although green measures will be required in the design, LEED certification will not be required. Makhssous outlined the green development criteria that will be encouraged in proposals: Smart Location and Linkage • Location • Cycling facilities • Job and housing proximity Neighborhood Pattern and Design • Walkable streets • Compact development • Neighborhood connections • Parking and transportation demand • Community participation Green Infrastructure and Buildings • Green construction techniques • Energy efficiency and conservation • Energy production and distribution • Water efficiency and conservation • Stormwater and wastewater management • Green building process • Heat islands • Recycling and reuse • Light pollution Koivumaki reviewed the criteria for mid-market housing: • Housing options at costs affordable to households that fall between 80% and 120% of area median income ($82,300) • Home prices should range between $240,000 and $360,000 Jeremiah said other options such as neighborhood commercial and multi-generational housing will be considered. Developers must also include information on how they plan to include community participation in the process before and during development. Jeremiah also reviewed "exit strategies," in the event the development does not work out. She said the City has the option to reject all proposals if no qualified developers submit proposals, if designs are not acceptable, or if proposed subsidies are too high. The City may also choose not to execute sale of the property to the developer if the development does not receive City approval or if the development does not receive financing. Jeremiah said next steps include: the RFP will be released in early March if property information is available from MNDOT, then a pre-proposal meeting would be held and proposals would be due by April 8 at the earliest. In that case, Staff would be ready to present a developer and contingent purchase agreement for City Council consideration at their May 21 or June 4 meeting. The exact schedule will be determined by MNDOTs release of the property documents. City Council Workshop Minutes March 5,2013 Page 3 Discussion Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked what the density of the neighborhood would be. Jeremiah said it is expected to be about the same as the surrounding neighborhood, which is zoned Single Family—9.5. If all of the new units are single family, the site will accommodate about 25 to 30 homes. Jeremiah asked if the Council was open to the idea of modifying the RFP to allow consideration of some attached housing at the corner with single-family adjacent to the existing neighborhood. The Council was open to that modification to the RFP. Council Member Aho said some of the criteria, such as reuse of treated wastewater, do not seem feasible. Jeremiah agreed that not all of the suggested criteria will be possible, which is why staff is not pursuing LEED certification. She said the goal is for developers to incorporate as many green features as possible. Council Member Aho said he hopes the criteria are not so stringent that they scare away developers. Butcher Wickstrom said she thinks this kind of neighborhood is the future. She would like to see as many criteria incorporated as possible. Jeremiah said four developers have already expressed interest. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she would like as little time as possible between the City's purchase of the property and the sale to the developer. She also wants the adjoining neighborhoods brought into the process early. She also asked how the developer will be held to actually accomplishing what they propose. Jeremiah said the purchase agreement and developer's agreement would be contingent on that. Aho asked why the land cannot be sold directly from MnDOT to the developer. Jeremiah said direct sale to the developer was considered,but the City would have to pass an ordinance to guide the development and time has been an issue. Jeremiah said developers might be reluctant to purchase land zoned for green development in case they might not be able to meet the requirements. If the City purchases the land, the City can control the process. Aho also asked why we are doing this type of"model" development, when the City is already 98 percent built out. Lindahl said the neighborhood could serve as model for redevelopment. Jeremiah said this neighborhood will create diversity in housing and provide green living opportunities, and possibly lifecycle housing, all of which are goals of the Comprehensive and strategic plans. Butcher Wickstrom said the Council has talked a lot about encouraging innovation, and this is one way of putting that into action. She said the benefits outweigh the risks. Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she wants to be clear that the City is not becoming land developers. It would be preferable if purchase by the City could be delayed until after responses to the RFP are received so we know a developer can be found. Open Podium - Council Chamber II. OPEN PODIUM Stacy Bettison said she is a resident of the neighborhood near the United Health Group site on Shady Oak Road. She said she is concerned about the design of the southern segment of Shady Oak Road, and would like assurance that it will match the design of the northern segment and not the portion that lies in Minnetonka. She said the neighborhood has not been involved in the process lately. She said they have asked for an air quality baseline,but have not heard back on that. Deb Spalbeck also addressed the Council on concerns about the UHG development. She said Eden Prairie is benefitting from the City Council Workshop Minutes March 5,2013 Page 4 presence of UHG,but she does not think the neighborhood should have to shoulder the entire burden. III. ADJOURNMENT