HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005/07/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session CTY F OFFICIAL MINUTES
T. CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
RK July 11, 2005
The meeting convened at 7:10 p.m.
Councilmembers present: John Basill, Sue Santa, Sally Velick, Paul Omodt, Sue Sanger and
Mayor Jeff Jacobs.
Staff present: City Manager(Mr. Harmening); Planner(Mr. Fulton); Planning and Zoning
Supervisor(Ms. McMonigal); Community Development Director(Mr. Locke); Assistant Zoning
Administrator(Mr. Morrisson); and City Clerk (Ms. Reichert).
1. Zoning Code Issues Related to Housing Summit
Planning Commissioners Claudia Johnston-Madison, Carl Roberts and Lynne Carper were
present at the meeting.
Staff presented some possible zoning code changes that would facilitate the expansion of single
family homes in the city. Council considered changes to front, side and corner lot setbacks to
clear up inconsistencies in the current zoning ordinance.
Council also discussed the issue of subdivision of parcels which consist of more than one
underlying platted lot. Confusion exists as to whether a parcel with underlying lots can be split
without replatting or subdividing.
Councilmembers discussed different scenarios and the impact subdivision of larger lots may
have on neighborhoods.
Mayor Jacobs suggested that requirements similar to a CUP approval be put in place to allow
council discretion in their decision to allow or not allow the subdivision.
Councilmember Basill suggested there be restrictions and architectural standards to retain the
character of the neighborhoods.
Councilmember Sanger was opposed to any subdivision of large lots in the city unless the
resulting lots were in compliance with the current zoning requirements.
Mayor Jacobs commented that some subdivisions would allow for the kind of move-up housing
the residents of the community are asking for. He was in generally in favor and thought council
should build latitude for approval or denial into the application process.
Planning Commissioner Johnston-Madison believed that staff could come up with design
standards and an approval process that council would be satisfied with.
Ms. McMonigal offered to do more research to identify the number and character of properties
which are affected. Staff will return at a future date with more information.
Planning Commissioner Robertson asked council to explain the rationale they had used for a
change to the zoning code which would further restrict development of cluster housing in the
Study Session Minutes -2- July 11, 2005
city's residential zoning districts. He expressed concern that council may not be delineating
between the terms "cluster housing"and "townhomes".
Mr. Harmening explained that the intent of the new ordinance is to provide levels of control the
city needs to guide development, and that the intent is to use this new restriction to allow for
time to look at new provisions that can better control how cluster and townhome developments
occur in the city.
Ms. McMonigal stated that staff intends to hold additional discussions with the council on this
issue in the future.
Staff requested that council consider combining Comp Plan and Zoning applications with
PUC/CUP/PlatNariance applications. The zoning ordinance currently requires that a comp plan
or zoning amendment process must be completed prior to accepting application for other zoning
approvals related to the development. Combining the processes would allow for review of the
specific development project at the time of comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning.
Council and staff to place specific conditions on the development project at the time of the comp
plan and rezoning approval, giving us more control over use and other project specifics.
Following discussion, council agreed that this change would allow them more discretion and
directed staff to move forward with the change.
2. Whistle Quiet Zones
Brian Shorten of SRF was in attendance and presented an overview of changes to federal rules
regulating the blowing of whistles at crossings.
Following the presentation Mr. Rardin asked council if they wished to consider implementing
Whistle Quiet Zones in St. Louis Park, as was recommended by the St. Louis Park Railroad
Advisory Task Force.
Mayor Jacobs was concerned about the high cost of implementing the WQZ's. He believed the
$4 million could more wisely be spent on other projects. He also questioned the wisdom of
spending the initial $40,000 for the assessment if the city had no resources to fully implement the
WQZ's.
Councilmembers Santa and Sanger felt that we should at least move forward with the initial
assessment as recommended by the task force. Councilmember Sanger specifically wanted to
understand the technical issues with implementation before decisions were made.
Councilmember Basill asked if there was latitude to undertake portions of the WQZ
recommendations, or if the city was bound to complete all of the recommendatins or none.
Mr. Shorten responded that any partial projects undertaken would need to be .5 miles long each.
Council directed staff to move forward with an initial feasibility study concentrating on the
technical aspects of implementing the WQZ's. Following the technical study, a public process
will be designed regarding implementation.
Study Session Minutes -3- July 11, 2005
3. Novartis Update
Staff reviewed with the council Novartis Nutrition Corporation's options to expand or relocate
its local operations and receive feedback on the EDA/City efforts to retain and expand the
company's facility in St. Louis Park. Sid Inman of Ehler's and Associates was present a the
meeting.
Mr. Hunt provided options for economic develoment packages we could put on the table for
Novartis and asked permission to pursue grants from the State of MN.
Councilmembers agreed that retaining Novartis Corporation in St. Louis Park was very
important and placed their full support behind staff's efforts as they prepared an incentive
package for presentation.
Mr. Rardin added that there would be opportunity for improvements to the city's stormwater
system if proposed modifications were made to Novartis' existing plant.
Mr. Harmening informed the council that a meeting with Novartis officials would take place on
August 3`d. More information was to follow.
4. Excess Public Land Update
Staff provided council with an update on the status of the process for considering the possible
sale of excess property in St. Louis Park.
Councilmember Sanger requested that council receive the technical information they had
requested prior to the public hearing.
Mr. Harmening and Mr. Locke suggested that a study session be held to present to the council
the analysis of field work, title work, historical data, as well as summary of resident input from
meetings and correspondence. The refined sale process and design guidelines will also be
discussed. At that meeting the standard study session protocol would be observed.
A subsequent city council meeting would be held and televised to allow members of the public to
comment on the proposed sale of property.
4. Cable Television Update—Transfer of Franchise
Mr. Pires met with council to provide a bnef update on the cable,television franchise transfer and
status of the negotiations. A public hearing will be called for August 15th.
6. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.
•
ty Clerk Mayor �1