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HRA 01/06/2011 - 30012CITY OF FRIDLEY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 2011 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Commers called the HRA Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: MEMBERS PRESENT: William Holm Pat Gabel Larry Commers Stephen Eggert John Meyer NONMEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director Scott Hickok, Community Development Director Julie Jones, Planning Manager Becky Kiernan, Accountant ACTION ITEMS: 1. Approval of Expenditures MOTION by Commissioner Holm to approve the expenditures as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Gabel. Chairperson Commers asked about the administrative costs and if it was carried over to the next year. Becky Kiernan, Accountant, said that the rest of the information was listed on the back page. Commissioner Holm asked about the demolition expenses and if it included both properties. Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director, answered yes. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2. Approval of December 2, 2010 Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Gabel to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3. Approval of Resolution Designating Official Depositories Paul Botin, HRA Assistant Executive Director, said that annually the City and HRA designate an official bank. Wells Fargo has been the official bank for the both the City and HRA for a number of years. They are responsive, easy to work with and flexible with investment management. Staff recommends approval of the resolution designating Wells Fargo as the official depository for the Authority. MOTION by Commissioner Eggert to approve the Resolution Designating Official Depositories. Seconded by Commissioner Gabel. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4. Approval of Proposed Transit Oriented Overlay District Zoning Text Amendment Julie Jones, Planning Manager, said that HRA owns property within proposed TOD boundaries. HRA review authority is written into proposed code, making your approval of the text important. HRA has invested much into the proposed TOD area in the past. The goal of the TOD District is to create a multi-modal connection from Northstar to commercial area on 57�'. Ms. Jones said that Fridley has a unique TYansit TIF district. The goal is to create appealing pedestrian/bike connections for 1,448 housing units within half mile of the train station and connections to 50 businesses within 1 mile of the train station. Ms. Jones said that since December 2009 Fridley, along with Anoka County, received a SHIP grant. Anoka County selected East River Road for a corridor design study. The purpose of the TOD District is to ensure that new development supports multi-modal access in the TOD area, promote life-cycle housing by creating a place where you could live without a car, and create a "Northstar" neighborhood identity. Ms. Jones said that allowances for reduced setbacks and less parking will make the redevelopment more attractive. The TOD boundary stays within '/Z mile of train station south to the 57th Avenue commercial area. This includes property the HRA owns on University Avenue and the entire Transit TIF District. Ms. Jones said that the proposed code is an overlay district. Developers will need to submit a plan that must meet basic design criteria, but permitted uses are subject to approval. HRA will be part of a 60-day review. Other features of the Proposed Code include a streetscape theme that is controlled by City, a relaxation of setback/screening requirements for outdoor dining areas, weekly open-air markets allowed by a SUP and additional TA for Hyde Park. Ms. Jones said that the Comprehensive Plan action step for permitted use the TA# 11-03 will supersede the S-1 permitted use. The S-1 code language needs other updates to make it more like the R-1 code. 400 notices were mailed to residents and on January 19 the public hearing will be held at the Planning Commission meeting and on February 7`h the public hearing will be held at the City Council meeting. Commissioner Gabel asked how the development would handle snow falls and where the parking would be when it snows. Ms. Jones said that the storm water treatment and snow storage are usually in the same place but that would be evaluated on a case by case basis. There will be no street parking but side street parking will be designated in the boulevard. Each development will have different accommodations and they will be very conscious of snow storage and parking in the Hyde Park neighborhood because that is a problem in that area. Most households have more than one vehicle so pazking could be a problem. Commissioner Eggert asked how snow would be removed from the sidewalks. Ms. Jones said that staff has had a lot of discussion about snow removal. This will be a challenge in designing sidewalks and will be addressed on a case by case basis. Currently there is nothing in the code as to where to store snow or how much space should be allocated for snow storage. Many developments may have to truck off snow. Commissioner Eggert asked what would happen if residents piled snow up on the sidewalk. Ms. Jones said there are regulations in place and fines can be accessed if homeowners put snow on plowed sidewalks. Commissioner Gabel asked that the permitted and excluded items be more specific in the description. She also asked what the heaviest use was in an M2 district. Ms. Jones said industrial, manufacturing or warehousing, not outdoors. A trucking terminal would be an M3 district. Anything that would fall in the warehousing/manufacturing category would be an M2 district. Commissioner Gabel said the description needs to be a little more specific. She was concerned with the design criteria in adding a new piece of building onto an existing building and thought that may not look very good. Ms. Jones said that the new criteria would only apply to the new part of the building and the old building would be okay as is. Commissioner Gabel said that she just wanted it to look nice from the front and having new and old buildings connected may not look the best. Ms. Jones said that all of those sites are built to capacity as to what the site can contain for setbacks and parking. Commissioner Gabel asked what the maximum height was. Ms. Jones said that the restriction is in underlying building areas; except for the Hyde Park area which is 45 feet. Commissioner Gabel said that the Hyde Park zoning requirements are from the 70/80's era. That azea has some wonderful opportunities and needs to be included. Good development may drive out the bad things in the area. She is looking forward to changes in that area and this will be the best thing we can do for that area. Commissioner Meyer asked how difficult it would be to change the zoning; like shopping to non-shopping. Ms. Jones said that the way the TOD is written, if a site wanted to change to a development of office/residential/shopping and restaurant they can come up with a plan and it would not have to be rezoned. The plan would have to meet the design criteria presented tonight. The plan would then have to be approved by the Planning Committee/HRA and Council. Chairperson Commers said that this gives City Council authority to approve permitted use. The plan would not be bound by any underlying zoning. Ms. Jones said it would still need to meet the design criteria of the TOD district. An example would be the Cub site, they already have a plan in place and this doesn't change that because the plan is already in place. Scott Hickok, Community Development Director, said this will eliminate the need to go through a planning unit development rezoning process. This is predicated on the master plan with setbacks built in; unless they wanted to contradict something like the 15' setback. Chairperson Commers asked if a big parcel was up for development and someone came in with a plan that is different than what we want, like Medtronic, then what do we do. Mr. Hickok said a rezoning decision would be made and Council would make that decision. This doesn't say someone can't go thru the PUD process but Council still makes the ultimate decision. Commissioner Meyer asked if the TOD took second place to the City Council. Mr. Hickok said that Council has the ultimate authority to make decisions. This provides opportunity for future development process. Chairperson Commers asked what it meant that mix use doesn't require a SUP. Ms. Jones said that in the C2 and C3 commercial zoning district, mix use is only okay with a SUP; now it will be will be considered as part of the TOD redevelopment plan. Commissioner Eggert asked if someone wanted to build a football field and is able to purchase the property and meet the design requirements if it would be turned down. Ms. Jones said that proposals are looked at based on merits and looking at the design criteria it would be difficult for a football field to meet the criteria. Keep in mind that not anything can be proposed as there are minimum requirements that have to be met. Staff is confident that the design criteria will protect the city to get viable �proposals. Chairperson Commers asked what would happen if a multimillion dollar project came forward that the city supported but didn't meet the TOD requirements. Mr. Hickok said that Council would look at the underlying zoning, rezoning options are always on the table. Council and developers have the opportunity to bring nice things to Fridley. Chairperson Commers asked if the current Columbia Area project would meet the TOD requirements. Mr. Hickok said it wouldn't in regards to the lighting/landscaping and positioning on the site. If the scenario was for the reuse of the site it would be fine but may have to go back to the base zoning. Commissioner Holm asked if a current site of heavy industrial had a desire to expand operation causing more truck traffic and overnight storage if it would be restricted by the TOD. Ms. Jones said if it is restricted in zoning where they are currently, they couldn't expand in current zoning and nothing would change in that regard. Mr. Hickok said that even if they intensify and have more trucks, the 50% storage doesn't allow anything over 12' in height which would eliminate the trucks. Commissioner Holm said that he liked the idea of reduced set back potential for more intense housing closer to the sidewalks. He thought that it may look odd with different setbacks and was concerned about the transition. He asked how the development would go from where it is today to where it will be in the future. Ms. Jones said that there are exceptions for single family individual lots and thinks overtime the neighborhood could change. Commissioner Gabel asked what would happen if residential areas wanted to build closer to the street. Ms. Jones said that the allowance doesn't apply to single families' homes that would not be allowed. Mr. Hickok said that as we move closer, build garages and larger units it will have an impact on the neighborhood. Commissioner Holm asked if any preliminary comments were heard from owners. Ms. Jones said that there were a few calls today; people are confused as there is a lot going on. Commissioner Meyer asked who would maintain the boulevards and who would take care of the show removal. He said that the 15' setback will not be the answer. When you drive in northeast Minneapolis, houses are close to the sidewalk with varying degrees of disrepair and repair. The look is untidy and un-kept. This may create an unfortunate development in Fridley and create an untidy mess for our city. Chairperson Commers asked what staff was looking for tonight, if they were looking for an approval. Ms. Jones said that staff will come back with an update at the February meeting. 5. Approval of Lease Extension for Sikh Society Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director, said that the Sikh Society has requested a two month extension to their existing lease for 5831 University Avenue. The challenging weather has caused delays in the renovation of their new worship space in Bloomington. The Sikh Society has been a very good tenant and the extension coincides with end date of other lease. The only change to existing lease is the ending date. Staff recommends approval of a motion formally extending the lease agreement through February 28, 2011. MOTION by Commissioner Holm to approve the Lease Extension for Sikh Society. Seconded by Commissioner Meyer. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 6. Approval of Contract for Home Remodeling Demonstration Program Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director, reviewed the following schedule: Pre-remodel open house: January g`n Mid-remodel open house: February 26 & 27 Finished open houses: Starting March 27tn Mr. Bolin said that staff recommends approval of agreement with Lennox Builders to complete work necessary for the 1-Level Living Home Remodeling Demonstration project as proposed Commissioner Meyer asked about the accelerated payment schedule. Mr. Bolin said that there will be a 10% holdback with every payment and staff will be tracking the work as it proceeds. Commissioner Meyer asked if the 10% is a standard hold back. Mr. Bolin said that this is a different project where the Authority is functioning more like a homeowner working with a small contactor doing a remodel on a very tight budget. Commissioner Eggert thought staff is doing a great job at keeping costs down; with a budget of $60,000 there is a lot of value being added to the home. Commissioner Ga6e1 asked if the house on Mississippi was paid on a similar schedule. Mr. Bolin answered yes. MOTION by Commissioner Eggert to approve the Contract for Home Remodeling Demonstration Program. Seconded by Commissioner Gabel. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 7. Approval of Housing Replacement Program: Phase VI Paul Bolin, HRA Executive Assistant Director, said that last month Authority approved an amended and restated plan for the HRP. Restated Housing Plan streamlines addition of Phases (homes) to the program. Homes can be added by HRA Resolution, provided the parcels meet required criteria. Once in program, Authority is able to collect increment for 15 years on improvements. Mr. Bolin said that the Phase VI Parcels are: Address 1 434 Li�erty Street 2 4757 2nd Street 3 831 Mississippi 5t PIN 03-30-24-31-0077 2b-30-2432-Oa91 14-30-24-14-0080 Lot Size Status 90x150 Va�ant Structure 74x131 Vacant Structure 75x128 Vacant Structure Avquisition Cost $65,717 $81,303 $127,500 Sta.ff recommends approval of the resolution approving Phase VI of the Housing Replacement Program. MOTION by Commissioner Gabel to approve the Housing Replacement Program Phase VI. Seconded by Commissioner Eggert. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 1. Preliminary 2011 Budget Becky Kiernan, Accountant, reviewed the preliminary 2011 HRA Budget. 2. Housing Loan Program Update Paul Bolin, HRA Assistant Executive Director, said that two loans were closed in December making a total of 21 year to date. There were no remodeling advisor visits for December so there is still a total of 17 year to date. Other Updates: Columbia Arena — City Council approved items for this project. Rezoning did happen as part of the earlier proposal. Faulkner Project is taking shape and is starting to look like a building. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Commissioner Gabel to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Holm. UPON VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON COMMERS DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 9:30 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, �C��,%.� Krista Monsrud, Recording Secretary CITY OF FRIDLEY SIGN-IN SHEET HOUSING 8� REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Name and Address Agenda Item of Interest