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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015/05/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session JIf St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA MAY 11, 2015 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano. Councilmembers absent: None. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Hannemng), Director of Engmeenng (Ms. Heiser), Director of Inspections (Mr. Hoffman), Planning/Zoning Supervisor (Ms. McMonigal), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther), Associate Planner (Mr. Kelley), Economic Development Coordinator (Mr Hunt), Housing Supervisor(Ms. Schnitker), and Recording Secretary(Ms. Hughes). Guest: Mr. Chris Velasco (Place). 1. Future Study Session Agenda Planning—May 18 & 26, 2015 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed special study session agenda for May 18th and the proposed study session agenda for May 26tH Councilmember Sanger referenced the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission 2015 Work Plan and noted there was no mention of working on keeping the park restrooms open or increasing recycling efforts in the parks It was the consensus of the City Council to request that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission add these items to their 2015 Work Plan. 2. Place Concept Plan and Preliminary Development Agreement Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report and introduced Mr. Chris Velasco, President of Place. Mr. Kelley presented the proposed concept plan elements that include 200 affordable units at 60% AMI and 100 market rate units, as well as an E-Generation component of 15,000 square feet that includes the digester, and other commercial and retail space, structured parking, and green space. Mr. Velasco presented an axonometric diagram of the site and described key components of the site and noted that the buildings are higher in order to accommodate all the planned components on the site. He stated they feel that the increased height of the buildings would work at this location and there would be no shadowing issues and the increased height allows them to include a one-acre green space on the site. He added they are currently doing a feasibility study on whether to include a hotel as part of the project Councilmember Hallfin asked what entity would ultimately own this land and asked if property taxes would be payable. Mr. Velasco replied that Place would be the nonprofit owner of the site and will pay property taxes. He added that Stantec is also a partner/owner, Shaw Lundquist is the general contractor and also a partner/owner, and architect Garth Rockcastle is an owner. Study Session Minutes -2- May 11, 2015 Councilmember Sanger supported the environmental and sustainability emphasis contained in the project and also liked that the project includes three and four bedroom units and also agreed with the analysis that this location could support taller buildings. She felt the 60% affordable units was too high and would not support it. She asked how much of the TIF request is attnbutable to the creation of affordable units. She also requested information about the size of the units and rental rates and questioned whether there was sufficient parking available. She asked if Place would move forward with the project even if the Wooddale station and/or light rail is not built and asked if the project would move forward if the Xenwood underpass is not built. Mr. Velasco replied that Place intends to go through with the project even in the absence of the Wooddale station but would change the configuration of the site and not have a hotel. He added that Place would continue with the project in the absence of the Xenwood underpass as well Councilmember Brausen stated he was excited about the project and supported the affordability mix and wondered if there might be room for some units at 50% AMI or 40% AMI. He felt there was adequate parking planned for the site especially given the proximity of the train station. He also spoke in favor of the environmentally sustainable concepts planned in the project and the urban forest. Councilmember Mavity stated she continues to be enthusiastic about this project She referenced a statement in the staff report indicating that the EDA previously directed staff to secure the McGarvey property on behalf of Place and clanfied for the record that her vote was not intended on behalf of Place but rather to secure the property in order to have a cohesive vision for the entire site. She spoke in favor of the green aspects and felt the mix of units was exactly what Council has been asking for She questioned who the controlling partners would be and stated she was willing to give direction to staff to move forward with the Development Agreement but was worried about tying up the project for too long if the developer does not have the capacity to make all these partners come together. She requested an update about the neighborhood process. Mr. Hunt advised that the Development Agreement would be in place through the end of the year and can be extended by mutual request if the parties choose. Mr. Velasco stated the next step includes the neighborhood input process and advised it is their intent to engage the public in the broadest possible sense. Councilmember Mavity stated she wanted to make sure that the developer is not being given direction to have a bland building that looks like every other building and to make sure the City is doing its part to ensure this is a project with more "Wow" factor Councilmember Spano supported moving forward with the Development Agreement. He agreed with Councilmember Mavity's comments about the design of the building and was okay with the increased height. He stated this is a unique project and it will be important to find the nght hotelier for this site and one that is not averse to some nsk. He added he was concerned about all the traffic in this area. Councilmember Hallfin pointed out that Council has previously made statements about building materials on various projects and felt that if Council does not like what it is seeing on these projects then Council needs to change the City Code, adding that developers are building their projects based on current City Code. He supported the affordability component, was happy to see a hotel planned for the site, and was okay with the increased height of the buildings. Study Session Minutes -3- May 11, 2015 Councilmember Sanger requested further information about the partnership structure. Mr Velasco advised that Place never sells any of their projects and they are long-term stewards of everything they create in order to maintain the highest ideals. He added that Place would not manage the hotel but would own the hotel. Councilmember Sanger stated she has been receiving a significant number of phone calls and emails from residents who are concerned that the City has too much going on at one time, especially too many apartment projects, and many residents have asked for a City-wide town hall meeting about this issue. Councilmember Lindberg spoke in favor of the project and stated he would like to have a conversation about what the City might look like in ten or fifteen years if there is a drastic swing in the housing market. It was the consensus of the City Council to pursue the development plan proposed by Place. It was also the consensus of the City Council to consider the Preliminary Development Agreement at an upcoming EDA and City Council meeting. 3. The Shoreham (formerly Encore) Development Mr. Kelley presented the staff report and advised that the City of Minneapolis has informed City staff it would not support connecting France Avenue to West 31st Street in the Minneapolis ROW due to the concerns of Minneapolis property owners regarding traffic and the adjacent property owner's long-term interest in asking the City of Minneapolis to vacate their ROW so they can use it for redevelopment. He discussed three reconstruction options and indicated that staff recommends pursuing Option #3 as further explained in the staff report Councilmember Sanger stated that all of the feedback she has received does not support connecting France Avenue and noted that residents are supportive of connecting this area by multi-use trail. She felt it was meaningless to connect up to West 3151 Street and there was nothing to be gained by the connection and her preference and the preference of residents was to not make this connection to West 31st Street and rather connect the area with a multi-use trail. It was the consensus of the City Council to not support the connection of France Avenue to West 315t Street. 4. Southwest LRT Update Ms. McMonigal presented the staff report and stated that the most significant cost-cutting measure impacting St. Louis Park is the CP rail swap, which would mean the SPO would not have to build the southerly connector and would keep the switching wye with access to the all stations on the north side. Louisiana Avenue station would be on the berm that the rail bed is on. Councilmember Mavity stated it was her understanding that in order to have the trains use the switching wye, these trains will travel over and back up across Wooddale Avenue and it will be necessary to keep the double tracks at Wooddale to accommodate the switching. Ms McMonigal concurred. Mavity stated that it was a deal breaker for her in terms of safety and congestion. Study Session Minutes -4- May 11, 2015 Councilmember Sanger agreed with Councilmember Mavity and stated the City should expect to receive questions from the community about what the deletion of the CP rail swap means in terms of a possible reroute. Council Members indicated it did not re-raise the question of reroute, and Mr. Harmening pointed out that the railroad has not agreed to the "S" curve movement and that is why the railroad refused the reroute. Council continued its discussion regarding options for reducing costs of the Southwest LRT project. Councilmember Spano discussed the recent CMC meeting and items being considered by the SPO for cutting the project budget. Mr. Harmening acknowledged Council's concerns about the impact of deleting the CP rail swap from the standpoint of functionality and impacts of freight rail on Wooddale Avenue and the Wooddale Avenue station. Councilmember Lindberg asked if municipal consent would again be required. Councilmember Spano stated that Mark Fuhrmann explained to the CMC that a substantial alteration to the route or stations would tngger the need for municipal consent in the affected city and Mr. Fuhrmann described any substantial derivation in honzontal or vertical alignment or removal or relocation of a station as tnggenng another municipal consent vote 5. Renewable Energy Power Purchasing Agreement Mr. Hoffman presented the staff report and explained that Xcel Energy has launched a community solar garden program to increase production of renewable energy and allows subscribers to purchase renewable energy and receive an energy rebate. He stated that community solar garden developers have expressed an interest in the City and there would be no initial cost to the City. It was the consensus of the City Council to support the use of renewable solar electncal energy through a power purchasing agreement to offset a portion of the electrical consumption of the City's operations. It was also the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to proceed with developing a Request for Proposal for a renewable energy power purchasing agreement. 6. Update on T.H. 100 Traffic Issues (Verbal) Ms. Heiser advised that most complaints received by City staff have to do with traffic cutting through the neighborhoods and stated that the City has stepped up speed enforcement activities and has been rotating speed boards in the neighborhoods. She stated Mn/DOT has adjusted the signal timing at Ottawa and Minnetonka Boulevard and Ottawa and Highway 7 and 25 as well as at Louisiana Avenue to address backups and the City has added temporary stop signs at 27`h and Toledo and 27th and Raleigh as well as at 28th and Quentin and 28th and Raleigh. Councilmember Spano expressed concern about the frontage road entrance at Barry in the mornings. Study Session Minutes -5- May 11, 2015 Ms. Heiser advised that the Barry Road ramp from northbound T.H. 100 would be closing for 30 days starting in June after school gets out for the summer. She reported that staff held an emergency meeting with Police, Fire, and Mn/DOT officials to discuss the City's public safety concerns; in addition, a meeting was held with the contractor last week and they have agreed to develop access roads for police and fire access. She reviewed a request for no parking on one side of the street on Quentin from 26th to 28th and stated that staff will be asking residents for feedback on this request and will not take any action until after schools are done for the summer She advised that staff is also monitoring the backups on Louisiana Avenue and whether to consider no parking on Louisiana from Minnetonka Boulevard to the railroad bridge, adding that staff would request feedback from residents before instituting any temporary parking ban. She stated that staff has seen additional cut-through in the Brookside neighborhood and has added stop signs by the Spanish Immersion School. She added that staff has also considered putting traffic barrels in the middle of the intersection on Vernon which is intended to calm traffic, adding that staff will reach out to the neighborhood before installing any traffic barrels. Mr. Harmening advised that staff would be meeting with Mr. Scott McBnde of Mn/DOT next week and noted that the City has asked for a modeling study to be done in anticipation of Highway 7 being shut down. Communications/Meeting Check-In (Verbal) Mr. Harmening presented a brochure regarding the summer concerts. He also presented an informational brochure that homeowners receive at the time of their water meter replacement Mayor Jacobs congratulated Mr. Harmening on his 20 years of service with the City. Councilmember Brausen referenced the three annual reports and work plans contained in the agenda and asked if Council wants to meet with the Commissions. Mayor Jacobs stated that the City Council has previously held an informal gathenng to meet with all of the Commissions and suggested doing the same this year. Mayor Jacobs adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m. Written reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 7. Housing Authority (HA) 2014 Annual Report and 2015 Work Plan 8. Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission 2014 Annual Report& 2015 Work Plan 9. Planning Commission 2014 Annual Report and 2015 Work Plan 10. Water Meter Replacement Project Update 11. Municipal State Aid System Revisions �I / � �� ‘11'i /, /14_1 �� A Meliss. Kennedy, ity Clerk Jeff Jac )or