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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 06/18/2013 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM TUESDAY,JUNE 18, 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 Nelson and Case were absent. I. GREEN MID-MARKET NEIGHBORHOOD Project Manager Molly Koivumaki said four proposal were received in response to the City's RFP for the Green, Mid-market Neighborhood Development project. The following teams responded with proposals: • Scenic Prairie—Lakewest Development • Eden Gardens —Homestead Partners • Gladstone— Kraus-Anderson & Melrose Development • EP8 —Whitten Associates The proposals were reviewed by the staff Development Review Committee (DRC), which determined that three of the proposals met the minimum qualifications of the RFP: Scenic Prairie, Eden Gardens, and Gladstone. These three teams were interviewed in June. Koivumaki and Planning Intern Farveh Makhssous reviewed features of each of the three proposals under consideration. Scenic Prairie • Number of Units - 37 • Attached Housing Component—No • Commercial Component—No • Price Range - $260,000 to $340,000 • Unit Size— 1,800 to 2,800 sf • Ability to Obtain Grants —Yes • Timeline— October 2013-October 2016 • Sustainable Neighborhood Checklist—Yes • Community Participation Process —Yes • Willing to Collaborate with Hennepin Tech—Yes City Council Workshop Minutes June 18, 2013 Page 2 Koivumaki said the Scenic Prairie team has not selected a builder or architect yet. She said the City had an issue with this developer in the past, and the team was questioned about this. The project calls for full access from Scenic Heights and Thatcher Road. Other streets will be private and maintained by a homeowners association. The proposal features bay homes with staggered siting,back-facing garages and front porches that face green space. A multi- use common area includes a pool with a club house. Rain gardens are also incorporated in the landscaping. Street lights powered by a wind turbine and solar panels are proposed. The pond area will be no-mow. Makhssous noted that this proposal scored highest on the sustainability checklist. Jeremiah said some of the sidewalks appear to dead-end, which was also noted by the DRC in their review. Eden Gardens • Number of Units - 36 • Attached Housing Component—No • Commercial Component—No • Price Range - $240,000 to $3450,000 • Unit Size— 1,600 to 2,300 sf • Ability to Obtain Grants —Unknown • Timeline— September 2013-Summer 2014 • Sustainable Neighborhood Checklist—Yes • Community Participation Process —Yes • Willing to Collaborate with Hennepin Tech—Yes This proposal calls for full access from Scenic Heights, with private alleys and garages in the rear of units. Some units may have front loading garages. Onsite stormwater management and rain gardens are proposed. Porches would face communal green space. Eight "multigeneration" units with separate access are included in the concept design. This proposal received the second highest score on the sustalnability checklist. Mahkssous noted that the design is lacking in green structures and buildings compared to the other two proposal. The team was told they would have to improve the green neighborhood component if they are selected. Jeremiah noted that the City has worked with this builder on other project with positive results. Gladstone • Number of Units —20 single-family units • Attached Housing Component—Senior Housing (70-80 units in two-story rentalihalf of the units affordable at 50% of AMI) • Commercial Component—No • Price Range - $350,000 for single family • Unit Size—3000 single family footprint • Ability to Obtain Grants —Unknown • Timeline—July 2014 —May 2016 • Sustainable Neighborhood Checklist—Yes • Community Participation Process —Yes • Willing to Collaborate with Hennepin Tech—Yes City Council Workshop Minutes June 18, 2013 Page 3 Jeremiah said the Gladstone team has not named a builder,but it is likely it would be Kraus- Anderson. This proposal includes some detached garages, designed so that a mother-in-law apartment could be added overhead. The common space is designed specifically to draw people together. The developer is exploring use of district geothermal heating and cooling, and each house will have rain storage. Koivumaki said the proposed senior housing is two stories, with a total of 70 to 80 units —half of them affordable. She said the senior rentals could be converted to assisted living units as the residents age. The communal space includes a community workshop and gathering space. This proposal received the fewest points on the sustainability checklist. Jeremiah said this concept has the best chance of receiving a Livable Communities Grant because it includes affordable senior housing. She would encourage the developer to bulk up the green elements. Koivumaki noted that the project teams are being allowed to respond to comments made by the DRC, and the proposals are being modified in some instances. Subsidies Jeremiah said all of these concepts are preliminary. Staff is not making a strong recommendation for any of the proposals since each has pros and cons. Staff is looking for feedback from the City Council on how they would like to proceed. She said several types of subsidies have been discussed, including: • Grants (with the City as the applicant) • Pooled TIF • Waiving fees (park dedication fees, building permit fees) • Other Considerations —Including the City holding the land until individual lots sell or 429 assessment Jeremiah said she would not recommend the City hold the land until the lots sell. The 429 assessment on public infrastructure presents a timing issue. Aho asked what types of grants are available. Jeremiah said an $850,000 Livable Communities Grant for site prep is a possibility;however, staff did not receive a strong positive response to this inquiry since some of the proposals lack affordable units. Discussion Mayor Tyra-Lukens said she is not keen on relinquishing building fees, though she might consider park dedication fees. She likes the senior housing component of the Gladstone proposal. She likes the layout of Scenic Prairie because it seems open and inviting, and the staggered siting is attractive. She said the Eden Gardens concept looks traditional and a bit cookie-cutter. She said the streetscape is not as interesting as the other proposals. Aho asked if the Gladstone team has asked the neighbors how they feel about the senior housing component. Aho said he is concerned about the density of a couple of the proposals compared to the adjacent neighborhoods. He also feels the Eden Gardens proposal is a somewhat cookie-cutter. He also questioned whether or not the developers can really build homes in the price ranges stated in their proposals. He is not in favor of relinquishing either building permit fees or park dedication fees. City Council Workshop Minutes June 18, 2013 Page 4 Butcher Wickstrom said she likes the unique features proposed in the concept plans. She feels this type of neighborhood is a harbinger of what we will be seeing in the near future. She said she would like to help encourage this development, possibly with pooled TIF. Tyra- Lukens said she really hopes the City can get something going with this proposed neighborhood. She is glad that commercial is not being proposed since the neighbors spoke out against it. Butcher Wickstrom said she likes the senior housing component,but suggested breaking it up into smaller buildings rather than one sprawling structure. Butcher Wickstrom also likes the idea of having alleys with garages, since they can serve an informal gathering place for residents. Jeremiah said staff will double back with the two Council Members who were not able to attend the workshop tonight. Getschow said he feels it is important to get all five Council Members together for a discussion of the project. Aho asked for details on how sale of the property would work, since it is currently owned by MnDOT. He said he is not comfortable with the City purchasing the property. Jeremiah said MnDOT is giving the City the latitude it needs regarding timing. The City would be able to purchase the property contingent on a developer agreeing purchase it from the City. The City would be also able to release the property if the project does not go through. Open Podium - Council Chamber II. OPEN PODIUM III. ADJOURNMENT