City Council - 03/20/2012 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012 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, Economic
Development Manager David Lindahl, Housing & Community Services Manager Molly Koivumaki,
City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Workshop - Heritage Room H
Council Member Nelson joined the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
I. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah presented a PowerPoint reviewing the
current housing and economic development strategic plan and exploring possible
directions for the new strategic plan. Jeremiah noted that the current plan, which was
adopted in 2005, was a collaborative interdepartmental effort that included City Council
input. The plan was revisited in 2008 and in 2010.
Jeremiah said many of the projects in the 2005 plan were in the Major Center Area
(MCA). High priority projects identified in the plan included:
• Major Center Area Wayfinding Signage
• MCA Park Designation
• MCA Local Street Construction/Realignments
• MCA Streetscape
• MCA Public Art
• And MCA Mixed Use Redevelopment with Structural Parking
A number of projects related to wayfinding have been implemented. Some will be carried
out in conjunction with future streetscape projects. Jeremiah said staff is seeking the City
Council's input on future of public/private cost sharing for these improvements.
Jeremiah said the 2005 land use vision for the future included a park at Lake Idlewild if
redevelopment occurs and higher density development in the Town Center Area. The
transportation plan called for creation of a more grid-like pattern in the MCA. Jeremiah
said more grants are available today for transportation projects of this type, and staff is
looking into these funding sources.
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March 20, 2012
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Jeremiah said Council could consider moving in a more assertive direction in relation to
public art. So far, one piece of public art has been installed in the MCA—at Windsor
Plaza. Windsor Plaza is also an example of the type of vertical, mixed-use development
envisioned in the 2005 plan. Other redevelopment projects include:
• The old Physical Electronics building was renovated and is now the Superior Office
Building
• The old Best Buy site is now SuperValu East
• Some improvements have been made to the Chestnut apartments
Jeremiah also reviewed the status of medium and lower priority projects from the 2005
strategic plan. Medium Priority projects included:
• Golden Triangle Neighborhood Park Site and Trail Connections
• Viking Training Facility
• Edendale Housing Improvements
• Truth-in-Housing (Point of Sale Inspections)
• Neighborhood Service Areas in SW and NW Eden Prairie
Edendale housing improvements have been completed and a Council Workshop is
planned on a proposed Truth-in-Housing ordinance. The future of the Viking Training
Facility has been uncertain, but discussions surrounding it have been renewed.
Some possible priorities identified by staff for 2012 —2017 include:
• Southwest LRT
• Housing Initiatives
• Other economic development
Southwest LRT initiatives include:
• Business Strategy Update - 2012
• DEIS Comment Period— Summer 2012
• Alternatives Analyses for the Town Center Alignment and Potential Operation and
Maintenance Facilities Site—2012
• Town Center Stormwater Analysis —2012
• Community Engagement Grant Activities —2012
• Potential Corridor Development Initiative (CDI) Grant for Town Center Business
Development—2012
• Potential Grant for TOD Ordinance—2012
• Preliminary Engineering Municipal Consent—First half of 2013
• Final EIS/Final Engineering—2012-2014
• Construction—2014-2018
David Lindahl reviewed other possible economic development initiatives for 2012-2017,
which include:
0 Shady Oak Bridge Reconstruction
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March 20, 2012
Page 3
• GTA Land Use and Transportation Analysis Update
• Continuing to support business expansion
• Possible redevelopment of the Ace Daycare site
• Co-location of an office spaceibusiness incubator
Lindahl said the City held a realtors forum in 2011. It was well received, and the event
will be held bi-annually. The City will also be reviewing options for the City Center
building, since C.H. Robinson is expected not to renew their lease, which expires in
2014.
Molly Koivumaki noted that a number of affordable homeownership programs have been
developed. The First Time Homebuyer Loan program provides deferred loans with no
interest. The Housing Improvement Area program allows for properties to be assessed
for the costs of improvements. The Homeowner Association Improvement Grant is a
matching grant program that promotes housing improvements for moderate-and low-
income owners.
Presbyterian Homes is expected to begin construction on its Eden Prairie Senior Living
site in 2013. It will have a total of 716 units, including 127 affordable units. It has been
awarded a$848,300 LCDA grant from the Metropolitan Council.
II. MITCHELL CROSSING 2012
Jeremiah said this site (known as Mitchell Crossing), located just north of the Buca di
Beppo restaurant on Mitchell Road, is key to helping the City meet the affordable
housing goals set by the Metropolitan Council. The plan approved for the site in 2006
includes affordable housing units that would accommodate seniors, singles, young adults
and service professionals. She said the site is not close to residential neighborhoods that
might object to affordable housing being located near them.
Mayor Tyra-Lukens asked what happens if a City decides not to sign on to the affordable
housing goals set by the Met Council. Jeremiah said the City would not be eligible to
receive grant money from Met Council. Council Member Case asked if there is any way
to manipulate the price point on affordability, such as going with a higher density and
letting go of the Met Council grants. Jeremiah said that TIF and CDBG would not be
available in that situation. Economic Development Manager David Lindahl said there are
pending LRT grant applications that could be jeopardized if the City formally opts out of
the Met Council's affordable housing goals.
Eden Prairie resident and developer, Scott Carlston, said he has purchased the Mitchell
Crossing site and is putting together an investment group to build housing on the site. He
said he feels the market will not support the plan that was approved in 2006, and he needs
to build market rate apartments. He said the problem with affordable housing is that"it
goes on the title for 15 years." He said he expects the monthly rent on the apartments to
be between $800 and $2,000. Jeremiah noted that the site is within walking distance of a
planned LRT station, and would be eligible for grants but would need to include some
affordable units. She said historically, developers of sites with affordable components
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March 20, 2012
Page 4
have been made whole through various financing methods. Carlston reiterated that he
feels it would be a problem for"that to be on the deed for 15 years." Lindahl said he has
not experienced this being a problem on other similar projects. Carlston said if he is
required to pursue TIF, it will delay the project. He said he plans to "be in the ground in
June." Lindahl said the TIF approval process typically runs concurrent with the planning
approval process, and would not likely cause a delay in the project. Case said he is
comfortable with the idea of this project not having affordable. Aho said he would be
okay with it not having affordable units as long as it includes smaller units that are
market rate (but still relatively affordable because of their size).
City Manager Rick Getschow said it sounds as if Carlston is interested in increasing
density and taking the affordability element out of the Mitchell Crossing project. He said
the next Council Workshop is scheduled to be a continuation of this meeting's discussion
of the strategic plan for housing and economic development, and that the City Council
will have the opportunity to discuss its affordable housing philosophy in more detail if
they wish.
Open Podium - Council Chamber
III. OPEN PODIUM (6:30)
IV. ADJOURNMENT