Planning Commission - 09/11/2000 - Workshop APPROVED WORKSHOP MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 6:00 p.m., CITY CENTER
Council Chambers
8080 Mitchell Road
BOARD MEMBERS: Ken Brooks, Kenneth E. Clinton, Frantz
Corneille, Randy Foote, Vicki Koenig,
Kathy Nelson, Susan Stock, Ray Stoelting
STAFF MEMBERS: Krista Flemming, Planner I
Stu Fox, Manager of Parks and Natural
Resources
Mike Franzen, City Planner
Alan Gray, City Engineer
Scott Kipp, Senior Planner
Leslie Stovring, Environmental Coordinator
Donald Uram, Community
Development/Financial Services Director
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Ray Stoelting opened the meeting at 6 p.m. Present: Chair Corneille,
Commissioners Brooks, Foote (arrived at 6:40 p.m.), Stoelting, and Stock. Staff: Gray,
Fox, Franzen.
II. WORKSHOP TOPICS
A. Livable Communities—Presentation by David Lindahl
David Lindahl, HRA Manager presented a staff report on Livable Communities. In the
mid 90's there was legislation requiring suburbs to create affordable housing that was
vetoed by Governor Carlson. Instead, the Livable Communities Act was approved by the
legislature, which is a voluntary housing program which the City has participated in since
1996. The City goal for ownership housing 30% of ownership housing built between
1996-2010 would be affordable or 1,575 unit. Since 1996, 438 units have been built that
qualified as affordable. The rental housing goal is for 20% of all rental housing built
between 1996 and 2010 be affordable top persons with incomes below 50% of the
median for the metro area. The goal through 2000 is 100 units, and the City has built 146
affordable rental units. The third goal is to provide a certain amount of funding to
affordable housing projects, which the City has met. Eden Prairie has committed about
3.7 million in Tax Increment and CDBG to 5 projects since 1996. Goal 4, is to maintain
25% of the total housing in Eden Prairie as rental. Goal 5 has to do with life cycle
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
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housing mix, multi-family versus single family. 54% of all the housing approved in the
last five years is multi-family. Goal 6 is to support high-density housing. This relates to
the Met Council's policy to fit as much growth over for the next twenty years (330,000
households) as possible in the current service. The current MUSA will not accommodate
all the anticipated growth, which is contributing to the urban sprawl. They want Eden
Prairie to maintain 2 units per acre on single family and 10 units per acre for multi-
family.
David Lindahl said there was some concern for the ownership goal. The last opportunity
for affordable ownership may be within the southwest metro transit development area.
They are considering a multi-family development with units selling at$130-$220,000.
That would be a good site for that type of housing. It would be very difficult to convert
from low to high density in southwest Eden Prairie.
Nelson asked about goal 2, referencing ownership housing. She asked about the number
of bedrooms in the units and whether it would be suitable for families.
Lindahl said it would not be suitable for large families, it was primarily one to two
bedrooms.
Nelson asked about the affordable rental projects and the number of units.
Lindahl said two of the last four projects were townhouse developments and to qualify
for MHFA financing there were required to design them for families. These were
primarily 3 and 4 bedrooms; both were 32 units. The senior development has less need
for larger units.
Corneille asked for clarification of goals 2 and 4.
Lindahl said for goal 2 that 20% of total rental units expected to be built would be
affordable. Goal 4 maintains a proportion of 25% rental. Goal 2 has to do with affordable
rental housing; goal 4 has to do with 25% of all housing being rental.
Corneille said the city is ahead on goal 2, it is difficult to go back; he asked whether there
was any trade-off in the goals or whether they need to be addressed individually.
Lindahl said the Metro Council has been generally flexible about the goals, so it is
possible to negotiate trade-off.
Nelson, Stoelting, Corneille, Stock, and Clinton
Stock asked about goal number 1. It doesn't look like the city has met its goal.
Lindahl said it was based on what they thought they could achieve; 5250 are the total
ownership units expected to be built between 1996 and 2010, 1,575 units would be
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
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affordable. They still need to do about 1,000 units and it may be difficult to achieve that
goal because of rising home values.
Corneille asked about the percentage ahead of schedule, 54% when 43% was the target.
Lindahl said 54% of all projects approved have been multifamily in the five years.
Corneille asked whether that would present a problem.
Lindahl said no, that most of the remaining land left for development is guided for single
family. The amount of multi family approved in the last five years has been exceptional.
Stoelting inquired about the relationship of goal 1 and 2 to individuals. At 1700 units
there are a lot of individuals looking for homeownerships. He asked what number is
anticipated for ownership housing.
Lindahl said in ownership housing, about 2.7 people, for multifamily, about 2. Rental
projects are less at around 1.8. Goal 2 is, affordable housing, primarily 3 bedrooms to
accommodate large families. Most units are one bedroom in the Eden Shores
development.
Stoelting said it seems weighted more toward ownership; he asked whether this was a
concerted decision by council.
Lindahl said the Met Council set goals with the City input. The problem with meeting the
goal is values are increasing so quickly because of market conditions. They looked at the
market and said 30% was reasonable.
Nelson inquired about lower cost housing and whether anyone was making sure that it
was quality housing.
Lindahl said they would not compromise the quality of development. It will be the same
standard. He said he had a comment from a resident asking why developers were making
it so nice if it will be affordable. Bear Creek filled it up quickly. There have been a
number of evictions. There is a new management company.
Stoelting asked about negative connotations if goals are not achieved.
Lindahl said the worst case might be if the legislature feels communities are not making
genuine efforts to achieve their goals, that would be a reason for them to reconsider
mandating housing. Locally as long as Council knows they are trying we should be fine.
Clinton asked whether affordable wages for affordable housing was considered.
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Lindahl said yes that a study was done in 1995b using average wage information from the
state and matching the jobs to housing in Eden Prairie. The City's housing matched up
well except for very low paying jobs.
B. Parks and Open Space—Presentation by Stu Fox
Stuart Fox presented a report on parks and open space. The guide plan process beginning
in 1986 and was completed in 1988. The comp plan looks at the entire community to find
out what current and future needs are including recreational desires. A community survey
and current inventory was done. The plan is about 260 pages. The map shows current
park and open space. City park land is the most common, then regional parks such as
Hennepin Park Reserves, then State or Federal parks, and the US Fish and Wildlife.
There are quasi-public areas included such as school districts; Round Lake Park High
School shares facility. Homeowners Associations have areas set aside as common
ground. Lastly, the trails and sidewalks. Currently there are almost 100 miles of 8 foot
trails. Dashed lines are proposed as future trails. Most trails are along the major collector
or arterial roads. The red lines are sidewalks, 5 feet wide. There are 110 miles of total
sidewalks; the pedestrian traffic is not really for bikes.
He showed a map with service areas. As an example, Pioneer Park behind the senior
center needs to have service area within a 1/2 mile radius. For a wintertime facility, this is
looking at a mile radius, area drawing people in the wintertime. Full coverage in the city
except the area of Riley Creek, Big Woods and Prairie Bluff conservation area. It does
not have a neighborhood park because there is very little need until a PUD is in place.
There is an area that will be developed soon. For mini-parks, 1/4 mile service areas, the
city has five. There are 22 neighborhood parks, 1 community playfield, and a large area
serving specialized need. 5 community parks. 25-100 acres serve communities and
beyond. For the trails and sidewalks, the only thing they have dropped are snowmobile
and equestrian trails. The equestrian part has shifted to Riley Lake Park, and is a riding
arena. Cash Park Fees is a formula to get land or cash for development of the park
system. They are close to the top for what they get. This is not out of line for 10%; most
is selling for$70-90,000 per acre. It is a way to finance improvements.
Stoelting asked where cash park fees went.
Fox said into acquisition of open space. It is around $2 million right now.
Stoelting asked whether there was an area targeted to add to open space.
Uram said when new development runs out, cash park fees dry up. The rest is provided
by general fund, taxes or other revenue sources.
Fox said the city needs to acquire one more neighborhood park and may take land or
cash. It is to the point where development will decrease. In the long run the city will rely
on the general fund.
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2000
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Stoelting asked about recreational trends of city and whether there was a change in needs.
Fox said another survey would be coming in for upgrade of a plan. As the population gets
older, there may be a need for fewer softball, baseball, soccer fields and more trails or
golf.
Foote asked whether the survey would be handled the same way as the previous year.
Fox said yes; it would be based upon the percentage of population, a computerized
survey, and a facilitator.
Uram said there would be three phases; a firm from New York will complete a statistical
sample of Eden Prairie. After it is complete, the survey will go out to the general
population.
Stock asked about the old railroad track and whether it would be part of the city's plan.
Fox said it was still owned by Hennepin Lake rail transit. It was leased to Hennepin Park
reserve; they operate and maintain it. The corridor is 120 feet wide and about 3 1/2 miles
long in Eden Prairie; it goes all the way into Minneapolis.
Stock inquired how the city decides to take land or cash.
Fox said generally the city takes cash. Land would have to be significant to build on for
the city to get a return. Mostly the lands are wetlands or not developable.
Nelson asked how the city would make up for missing water activities Round Lake Park.
Fox said hopefully activities at Round Lake would be back next summer.
III. ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Clinton, second by Stoelting to adjourn. The workshop adjourned at 7:00 p.m.