HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997/09/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Y Minutes
jrifSAOU°IFS City Council Study Session
RK September 22, 1997
7:00 p.m.
The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m.
Present at the meeting were Councilmembers Beverly Flanagan, Ron Latz, Jim Brimeyer, Robert
Young, Sue Sanger, Jeff Jacobs and Mayor Gail Dorfman.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Meyer); Deputy City Manager(Ms. Kutzler); Director of
Community Development (Mr. Harmening); Public Works Director (Mr. Rardin);
Superintendent of Engineering (Mr. Moore); Parks and Recreation Director (Mr. Gears);
Economic Development Coordinator(Mr. Anderson); and City Clerk (Ms. Larsen).
1. Excelsior Boulevard - Safety West of Highway 100
Mr. Rardin updated Council on safety improvements completed and presented a plan for
proposed median islands on Excelsior Boulevard from Trunk Highway 100 to the Methodist
Hospital entrance.
IIIMr. Moore stated that he had spoken with Mr. Grube of Hennepin County regarding costs and
design of the project. Mr. Grube had indicated that this project would not significantly increase
the safety of pedestrians and therefore would not consider this as a Hennepin County project.
Mayor Dorfman asked how we can develop a list of what is safe for pedestrians, i.e., speed
bumps, medians, cross-walks, etc. Mr. Rardin said that there were too many variables and that
each situation needed to be addressed so that the best concept could be applied.
Councilmember Flanagan expressed concern that medians may be unsafe because they encourage
folks to cross mid-block. Councilmember Sanger asked if traffic speed became slower because
of medians. Mr. Rardin responded that the median would offer a"safe haven"to pedestrians
crossing mid-block and that medians may have a slowing effect, but it would require extensive
testing to prove that.
Mr. Rardin asked if Council felt staff should go beyond the concept plan if the city would have to
bear the entire cost. Councilmember Sanger asked if it was the county's final decision not to
assist in funding the project. Concern for businesses along the stretch of roadway that may lose
left turn access was also expressed.
Council directed staff to continue to develop this proposal and to contact neighbors and
businesses in the affected area.
1
2. Preliminary TIF Application - Highway 7 and Louisiana Ave S
Council considered a Preliminary Tax Increment Financing application from Randy McKay of
Frauenshuh Companies for a proposed 45,000 sq. ft. three-story medical office building at the
NW corner of Hwy 7 and Louisiana Ave S. Staff asked Council to consider if this project has
merit from a land use perspective; if the TIF policies can clearly be met is the Council willing to
consider providing Tax Increment assistance to the project; and, is the redevelopment of this site
a priority for the City.
Randy McKay gave a presentation of the proposed development to Council. He indicated that he
was confident of the leasibility of space and that the entire project would utilize private land. He
stated that he would entertain the idea of offering relocation space to Excelsior Boulevard
businesses. He and his associates pointed out the favorable climate in St. Louis Park for this type
of development. He also indicated a willingness to utilize livable communities concepts in the
design.
Councilmember Sanger asked if a cap on the amount of TIF offered be placed if problems on the
site occur like they did at the Recreation Center. Mr. Anderson replied that that could become
part of the agreement. She also expressed concern that a commercial development would take up
valuable space needed to meet the Met Council housing goals for St. Louis Park.
Councilmember Brimeyer expressed concern that this project was not as dense or mixed as he
would like to see. He asked if a charrette process for redevelopment of the entire four corners
should be considered. Mayor Dorfman agreed that we should not focus on 1 parcel and that the
entire area needed unifying elements. She also felt a charrette process would be valuable.
Mr. Harmening stated that if a charrette process were to take place, there would be a significant
impact on staff and their ability to carry on with work already in progress. The City would need
to build in the capacity to take on this very significant project.
Council also discussed the petition recently submitted by a group of individuals in regard to
development of the land located in the redevelopment district which is currently used as soccer
fields. Mr. Harmening had met with the neighbors recently and felt that they were not opposed
to considering some development on the site.
Mr. Harmening suggested that the next step would be a preliminary development agreement.
Mayor Dorfman suggested a less structured approach. Mr. McKay requested that Council
provide him with clear direction as to whether the development group should continue their
proposed plans for the site.
Mr. Harmening indicated that he would research options for a charrette process and that staff
would return to the next study session with an outline for that process.
3. Use of Property at 7100-02 Excelsior Blvd
2
Janet Jeremiah informed Council that the future land use of property located at 7100-7102
Excelsior Boulevard has become an issue due to a recent application for a rezoning and that
Council will need to formally act in the near future. Staff is preparing a denial of Nader Noory
Shokry's request to rezone the area to allow the construction of a medical office building on the
site. It is staff's belief that the site would be better utilized zoned residential. There is also a
discrepancy that staff believes to be an error which shows the land designated as R-50 rather than
R-30 on the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map.
Mr. Jeremiah also outlined a brief history of the site and how the potential existence of
environmental hazards may affect financing options for a developer
Mr. Noory Shokry addressed Council and asked that they consider this request for rezoning so
that he can develop the property.
Tom Harmening said that the City Attorney concurs that the original intent of the City was to
zone this parcel as R-30 and that the R-50 designation was probably an error made by an intern
in preparation of the map. All other City records indicate that the R-30 designation applies to
this parcel. He informed Council that he would be bringing this to a regular City Council
meeting in the very near future.
4. Use of Soccer Field Property -Bass Lake/Belt Line Blvd
Staff approached Council with a variety of potential long-term uses for the City's property at the
northeast corner of 36th Street and Beltline Boulevard. Mr. Gears indicated that some potential
uses for the property which had been considered were a domed recreational facility, and the
possible use of a portion of the property for compensating floodplain storage which would allow
for more development in the industrial development west of Beltline Boulevard. Housing has
also been considered as an option.
Mr. Gears indicated that a Gym Space Task Force Study had occurred which showed a clear lack
of available indoor gym space in St. Louis Park. Councilmember Jacobs, also a member of that
Task Force, concurred.
Ms. Jeremiah stated that a domed facility placed on this site would not be consistent with
standards set in the comprehensive plan and ordinance code and that approval of this use would
open the door for other uses of this type in St. Louis Park. She stated that in her opinion, the best
use for this site would be housing.
Mayor Dorfman asked if the Task Force had considered other communities or if this study had
been done with St. Louis Park as the focus. Mr. Gears replied that the study was for St. Louis
Park only, but that numerous options had been explored such as private/public partnerships.
3
Councilmember Sanger said that she felt housing was a good option for the site with perhaps a
part of the site being used for floodplain water storage to allow for increased development at the
Beltline Industrial Park. Councilmember Brimeyer agreed with Councilmember Sanger's
assessment.
5. Communications
Mr. Meyer updated the Council on the following issues: the upcoming Employee Recognition
Dinner, a neighborhood meeting regarding the Hutchinson Spur development, progress made in
removing the Golden site from the superfund list and the closing of Bernie's grocery store.
Councilmember Brimeyer stated that he had noted a payment to Peak Staffing on the last vendor
claim list. He said that he was part owner of the company and had not been aware that City staff
was utlizing their services. Mr. Meyer agreed to look into the ramifications of this possible
conflict of interest.
Following brief discussion a motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember Jacobs and
seconded by Councilmember Sanger. The meetin. adjourned at 9:35 p.m.
/ 1
Gail Dorfman, Mayor /
Recording Secretary
4