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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 COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP MINUTES SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 PAGE 2 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 COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP MINUTES SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 PAGE 3 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. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP MINUTES SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 PAGE 4 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. COMMUNITY PLANNING BOARD WORKSHOP MINUTES SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 PAGE 5 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.