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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/06/15 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes City council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota June 15, 2020 1. Call to order Mayor Spano called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 1a. Pledge of allegiance 1b. Roll call Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Rachel Harris, Larry Kraft, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog Councilmember absent: Anne Mavity Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Director of Community Development (Ms. Barton), CIO (Mr. Pires), Senior Planner (Mr. Walther); Planner (Ms. Kramer), Senior Accountant (Ms. Monson), Senior Management Analyst (Ms. Solano), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas) Guests: David Mol, Redpath; David Anderson, Frauenshuh; John Fanning, Bremer Bank 2. Presentations 2a. Comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019 Mr. Mol presented the 2019 audit report. He noted 4 areas of review including: financial statements, internal controls, legal compliance and governance. Mr. Mol stated a clean opinion was found for the city’s 2019 financial statements, while the city received the award of excellence for the 36th year in a row. Mr. Mol stated there was one item of financial adjustment related to the valuation of a property at Highway 7, near the SWLRT. This item was finalized at the end of the 2019, and resolved before the audit, but needed to be recorded as income in 2019 and was not. An adjustment was made and there are no longer any issues associated with this. Mr. Mol stated no items of non-compliance were noted, nor were there any issues with financial statements. He added there were no difficulties conducting the audit, even during the pandemic, and no disagreements with management. Mayor Spano asked if there have been changes in the way leases are reported . Mr. Mol responded there are leases on both sides of the transaction and this new standard shows financing the acquisition of equipment, which must now be reported as an asset. Councilmember Brausen stated he has seen 7 of these reports now as a councilmember, and this is the first time he has seen any type of irregularity. He stated he appreciates the wonderful job staff does and thanked them for their good business practices. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -2- June 15, 2020 3. Approval of minutes 3a. LBAE minutes of April 27, 2020 It was moved by Councilmember Kraft, seconded by Councilmember Harris, to approve the LBAE meeting minutes of April 27, 2020 as presented. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mavity absent). 3b. City council meeting minutes of May 18, 2020 Councilmember Kraft noted on the bottom of page 14 it should read…“he is focusing on just the key pieces and noted he is not taking any position whatsoever on the development itself. He stated that the essence of the complaint is that there was a conflict of interest and a violation of 2.09. He added the charter is clear on what must be done, if there is a conflict of interest it must be disclosed before an action is taken and that has happened with the recusal of Councilmember Mavity. He further added the second piece is about a violation of 2.09. He stated he is satisfied with the staff’s statements and the investigations made to date, including his own review of every email involved and that saw nothing abnormal and a violation of 2.09 did not happen.” It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Kraft, to approve the May 18, 2020 meeting minutes as amended. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mavity absent). 4. Approval of agenda and items on consent calendar 4a. Adopt Resolution No. 20-087 and Resolution No. 20-088 approving the final plans and specifications and authorizing bidding documents for Southeast Bikeways (4018-2000) and restricting parking on segments of Wooddale Avenue 4b. Adopt Resolution No. 20-089 and Resolution No. 20-090 approving the final plans and specifications and authorizing bidding documents for Dakota South Bikeways (4019-2000) and restricting parking on segments of Dakota Avenue 4c. Adopt Ordinance No. 2587-20 establishing the South Cedar Trails Homeowners Association Housing Improvement Area, approve summary, and authorize publication • Adopt Resolution No. 20-091 to impose fees • Authorize execution of contract for private development and any other related documents, by the mayor and city manager, between the city and the South Cedar Trails Homeowners Association, in a form consistent with the terms of the ordinance and resolution 4d. Adopt Resolution No. 20-092 approving the second amendment to the preliminary development agreement between the EDA, city, and Sherman Associates relative to the Beltline Blvd Station Redevelopment Site DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -3- June 15, 2020 4e. Adopt Resolution No. 20-093 accepting work and authorizing final payment in the amount of $67,109.65 for project no. 4018-1000 pavement management (Area 6) with Northdale Construction Company, Contract No. 47-18 4f. Adopt Resolution No. 20-094 authorizing the city’s participation in local performance measurement program 4g. Accept for filing planning commission minutes of May 20, 2020 It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Harris, to approve the agenda as presented and items listed on the consent calendar; and to waive reading of all resolutions and ordinances. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mavity absent). 5. Boards and commissions 5a. Appointment of representatives to boards and commissions Councilmember Brausen stated he was on the sub-committee and attested to the strength of the applicants. For those not selected, he apologized for not being able to appoint all. He also thanked Jim Leitner for his time on the ESC, noting he was not reappointed. Councilmember Rog hoped going forward folks not appointed can find meaningful opportunities to engage with the community. Councilmember Kraft agreed and stated he is interested in how to leverage more for those not selected, adding he too was at one time not selected for a commission, and now serves on the city council. Councilmember Harris added to those not appointed to a commission and living in Ward 3, Lenox neighborhood does not have a neighborhood association, and there is an opportunity for someone to start one here, if interested . It was moved by Councilmember Rog, seconded by Councilmember Kraft, to appoint the representatives to the boards and commissions as listed in exhibit A. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mavity absent). 6. Public hearings – none 7. Requests, petitions, and communications from the public – none 8. Resolutions, ordinances, motions and discussion items 8a. Union Park Flats redevelopment Resolution No. 20-095, Resolution No. 20-096, and Resolution No. 20-097 DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -4- June 15, 2020 Ms. Kramer presented the staff report. Councilmember Harris stated there have been 4 different designs of this development with various iterations, noting the last time she studied the project was when the 3 rd design was proposed. She asked if the building height eliminated the sloped roof design. Ms. Kramer stated at that point, the development was a 68-unit proposal and was 4 stories. She stated based on neighborhood and staff feedback, the 4th story was removed and the height brought down to 35 feet, which is now the current design and the maximum height allowed by the existing zoning district. Councilmember Harris stated the land price is a factor in the number of units the developer can build. She asked what the variables are. Ms. Kramer stated staff was not involved in negotiations on buying or selling land or financial requirements and noted Mr. Wilson from PPL could discuss this. Mr. Wilson stated PPL is paying the appraised value for the site. He added when they negotiated with the church, a 3rd party appraiser opinion was retained. He added it is true if more units were built on the site, the per unit cost does go down, but added that has not been a significant driver and the cost of the land was determined by the 3rd party appraiser. Councilmember Rog asked for clarification on PPL vs. an affiliate of PPL noted in the staff report. Mr. Wilson stated the affiliate notation is done as a legal formality, an LLC, which protects the larger entity. It’s a standard way of approaching real estate. He stated the LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of PPL. Public Comments John Basill, 6208 Oxford St., stated there are folks that want this site to be left a parking lot and those that want it 12 stories. The majority favor whatever is best for everyone, and that is a good thing. He stated these people are hard-working residents that voted for the council. They rent, lease and have a mortgage, they volunteer extensively at Meadowbrook, Perspectives, PPL and the school district. They are folks supporting more affordable housing. Mr. Basill continued, noting that for affordable housing, Elmwood has been the leader and done more for affordable housing than the rest of the community combined. Nearly 50% of the housing units are affordable and no neighborhood has done more than Elmwood. He stated they are willing to accept the right development and the right size, and their willingness for change should not be taken advantage of . Many should ask not what more Elmwood can do, but what their neighborhoods can do. Mr. Basill stated there has been no compromise from 80-60 units, adding the $2 million the church is being paid is a half million dollars too much. He stated the sale is inflated. He thought that for the first totally affordable housing project in St. Louis Park, approving this would be a mistake. He stated tonight – approve it – but with the condition the applicant goes back and brings a project on July 6 that genuinely complies DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -5- June 15, 2020 with the comp plan approved by the council 9 months ago. He stated the council is in a position of power to make this a good project for all, and that is real equity . Jason Ranrude, 5628 W 39th St., stated he is in opposition to the project as presented. He added the Elmwood neighborhood is not being listened to and 3 stories is too high. He would like to comprise with 2 stories. The 60 units, density, and traffic are too much on this neighborhood, and he is concerned about the young children and those who drive through the neighborhood at high speeds. He added the 100% affordable housing is not fair and should include other incomes also, and there is need for more compromise. He stated during COVID it is difficult to get everyone’s voice. He stated residents of Elmwood spend a lot of money on their homes to remodel and stay in St. Louis Park, adding this project is not good long-term, and he hopes the council will listen to their voices. Joan Litke, 6025 Goodrich Ave., stated she lives 2 blocks from the development in a home built in 1902. She stated they have put their blood, sweat and tears into this home and council needs to approve a better project . She stated the developer needs to come back with a different proposal, with underground parking, and make it less dense to fit the size and scope of the neighborhood. She stated the project is ugly, looks visually isolating and is closed off. She added there will be no way for neighbors to engage the folks living there, they will be jam-packed into an ugly building, and it does not seem fair to the folks living there. She stated the project seems to be rushed and it needs to be scaled down. JW Starret, 5825 Goodrich Ave., stated he appreciates the council and staff time and PPL engagement with the neighborhood. He stated all have heard the concerns of the neighbors, but he wished there was more time to work on this. He stated the church has not budged an inch and not worked on the process, adding it would be helpful if they would. He stated he wants to make sure this fits the neighborhood. He added Elmwood is a diverse area and will see over 2,000 new apartments, and people want to build the best project so it’s equitable for all and fits into the neighborhood. He stated they need to solve the density issues and if PPL goes back and revises the plan, they will have lots of support from Elmwood. John Gleason, 5801 Goodrich Ave., stated he supports diversity and equity along with affordable housing and has volunteered at PPL for years. He stated he voted for Councilmembers Mavity and Kraft and Mohamed and is happy with his votes. He stated the council is not being asked to vote against affordable housing, they are just being asked to modify the project to create more equitable housing. He stated racial covenants dominated Minnekada Vista, and Meadowbrook Manor was segregated with substandard housing. He added St. Louis Park has white neighborhoods and neighborhoods of color, and he thinks it is still segregated in St. Louis Park. He added there are 11 neighborhoods in St. Louis Park and only one other than Elmwood ha s affordable housing in it. He asked the council to make changes and approve a better project for Elmwood. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -6- June 15, 2020 Barb Patterson, 4326 Wooddale Ave., stated she is advocating for the PPL project, and is glad the city is partnering with them. She approves of the green construction and added PPL has been responsive and revised the plan 3 times. She stated there is a desperate need for affordable housing and this provides for that, adding it will be close to grocery, parks and in a walkable area. She is proud the city works for affordable housing and urged the council to approve the project. Jonna Kosalko, 3770 Colorado Ave. S., thanked the council for taking comment. She stated she works in housing and knows affordability is critical to the city and this area, and crucial for this side of town, which is close to transit . However, she is concerned about the side facing Brunswick Avenue and hoped they would create a townhome style here which would be helpful to existing neighbors and create a friendlier feel. She supports the density, but wishes it was less dense. She asked that additional discussion and consideration be made for the streetscape, density and parking and that it creates a harmonious plan with the rest of the neighborhood. Christel Chong, Oxford Street, pointed out concerns related to the 2040 comp plan which has already set goals and priorities, land goals for residential areas, and a buffer between different users. She has concerns there is no buffer between single-family homes and the project and stated there is a need for something that fits better within the neighborhood. Dale Tatarek, 5826 Cambridge St., stated he’s lived 28 years in Elmwood, and is active in the neighborhood. He stated his main concern is around size and scope. He stated he sees this project in a commercial area with 50 units and thinks PPL should downsize the plans. He stated Elmwood is a historic area and the plans need to fit into the neighborhood and preserve that history. Alex Fracassi, 6220 Oxford St., stated the height and elevation of the project and plans were not documented accurately. He stated the hill is not documented in the plans and therefore the building will be higher than stated at 45 feet . He added there should also be consideration for the shadow study. He stated he supports the project but has concerns about the height. Tom Larson, 3751 Brunswick Ave., stated this development disrespects the city’s land use plan, adding this should be a medium-density project, and should include underground parking with appropriate materials. He asked that the developer come back with a new proposal. Ken Isham-Schopf, 9416 Frederick Ave., stated he and his wife are supportive of affordable housing at this location, adding he knows neighborhoods are under various threats and everyone is facing changes, but housing is a basic need that must be offered to all. Mitchell Aldrich, 6016 Oxford St., stated he is concerned about height and the project is too massive to be next to our homes. He stated Brunswick and 37th Avenue should be used as a point of reference, the height to the peak of the roof at the corner house, and DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -7- June 15, 2020 in flat peak roofs. He discussed the traffic analysis, details of the proposed change for the alleyway, including changes to traffic patterns and flow. He added an additional comment period should be given to Elmwood residents along with a question and answer. Douglas Kotowski, 3921 Yosemite Ave. S., stated he is in opposition to the project and has concerns about the impacts of traffic in his neighborhood. He stated it is an unsafe situation now with traffic, density and population, and he is not excited about investing in this for the future. He added he is a proponent of affordable housing, and with a few changes, this would be a more acceptable project, would reduce traffic flow and density, and maintain the architecture of the neighborhood. He added he hopes the council makes the right decision. Shannon Sackrison, 6215 Oxford St., echoed what has been said, adding this should be two stories only and conserve the historic integrity of the area. She added the size needs to be reduced to 40-50 units, and the 3rd design plan was much better. She supports the project, but not the design where it is right now. Sue Budd, 3204 Hillsboro, stated she supports the plan, adding she works with Isaiah in St. Louis Park which focuses on racial equity. She stated they are proud of their city, which has been a leader in equity, community policing, and diversity, adding it is wonderful to lead in these areas. She wants to see the project move ahead, especially with SWLRT. She noted there are some areas for concern, but to delay this further does not display much integrity in the process. She hopes it moves forward and thanked the council for their work. Heather Simonette, 6232 Oxford St., stated there has not been a 100% affordable project in St. Louis Park for over 30 years, adding it is not equitable for residents. She stated people living in affordable housing deserve the same housing as those in homes, noting the project should not overpower the neighborhood. She stated the design is appropriate. Mike Ritter, 6319 Oxford St., asked the council to please slow down and work with the community to build a better project. He asked why they are ignoring the comp plan and land use studies and added they are not helping affordable housing; they are just meeting a quota. He stated they are treating people like numbers and not folks with needs, and it feels like the city is subsidizing a church and paying for their renovations. Eric Halverson, 5819 Goodrich Ave., stated he lives two blocks from the site and is not in favor of the size of the building. He stated it should be brought down to 2 stories and 40 units with parking underground. He added Elmwood is a leader in diversity within all of St. Louis Park and thanked the council for their leadership. Carol Cacka, 6220 Oxford St., asked for a balance on the project and to direct PPL to bring back a new proposal. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -8- June 15, 2020 Denise Eng, 3850 Alabama, expressed her unqualified support for the project. She called for the neighbors to be empathetic, stating many folks need help and a foothold. She stated she has lived in the area for 32 years, many things have changed, but everyone survived and a good neighborhood has been created . She has talked with neighbors, most are neutral or supportive, but are not vocal about it . She added the church has concerns about its own survival adding this was the first church in St. Louis Park, and it has provided much to the community, to the arts, and other areas and it is well within its rights to worry about its own survival, especially as it contributes to the community, and makes the area a more welcoming place. She added the project can be done in Elmwood and it will not have a hugely significant impact. She stated the neighborhood can be welcoming and open to people. Carrie Gleason, 5801 Goodrich Ave., stated Elmwood already has over 400 units of AMI, over half of which are affordable, and the city council red lined this area. She stated the council would not do that in Minnekahda Vista or Lake Forest. She stated the council protects the white affluent areas, adding this development is the lowest quality in the last 20 years. She stated the council needs to stop the systematic segregation in the city, adding they are not paying attention to the data. She stated they are not asking council to kill the project, but rather to ask the developer to take neighborhood recommendations and make equitable projects in all areas of the city. Kirsten Brekke Albright, 8607 Westmoreland Ln., stated she is a member of the St. Louis Park housing team and is concerned about housing issues here, and the lack of affordable options in St. Louis Park to address this crisis does not reflect the city’s vision of inclusion. She stated PPL has tried by redesigning the project, they have a commitment to the community, and she encouraged the council to approve the project. David Johnston, 3204 Hillsboro Ave. S., stated he supports the project, adding PPL has a proven track record and are industry experts. Councilmember Mohamed asked staff about the claims of affordable housing in Elmwood as it stands right now, and what that looks like. Ms. Barton stated she will get the specific data for the council for Elmwood but noted that housing overall in the city is about 50% rental, at 60% AMI. Mr. Walther indicated he had no data to add; however, the city’s inclusionary housing policy requires new development to include units at affordable levels, so areas that have had more new development since the policy was adopted will naturally have more new affordable units. Councilmember Kraft asked if the hill on the property is accurately represented on the height and shadow studies. Ms. Kramer stated the hill is considered for both. Councilmember Kraft asked PPL about 100% affordable housing developments as he had heard concerns that they don’t work well. Mr. Wilson stated the project is a mixed project, with an affordability range of 30% to 80% AMI. He stated the average income in DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -9- June 15, 2020 St. Louis Park is $71,000. In terms of household income, it is incorrect to characterize this project at only the lower end of the scale. Councilmember Kraft asked PPL if they looked at a design that was 2 stories on Brunswick and 4 stories on the other side and questioned why that would not work. Mr. Wilson said it averaged out, but there was opposition for having 4 stories, so they went down to 3 stories and lost the pitched roof, because it was clear there was no support for a transitional type building. Councilmember Kraft stated he read all the comments from the neighborhood and took time to visit the area. He thanked staff and the planning commission for information provided and all comments from the residents. He stated there were 6 key concerns that he heard: density, height, parking, traffic, aesthetics, and concerns about the concentration of affordable housing. He addressed each item below: o On density with 50 units per acre, he sees 3 issues: inconsistency with the comp plan, inconsistency with prior land use guidance and this is the last development parcel on Elmwood that abuts single-family housing land. o He stated this being the last parcel is not an issue, but that it abuts single-family housing is important to consider especially in project design – and he wants to see that considered. He added on prior land use guidance for Elmwood, it makes sense to look at this, but it’s from 2003 and has diminishing influence. The parcel of land is just outside the area of study and it talks about transit -oriented development; however, much has changed here in the past 17 years. As it relates to inconsistency with the 2040 comp plan, this is the most relevant as it was just adopted last year. In the plan, this parcel was adopted as civic use, not as medium or high-density and is on the boundary of a medium and high-density residential area. Though you can infer it should be medium density from the shape of the boundaries there is no commitment to this in the plan. So medium density caps it at 30 units per acre. He noted within the same chapter of the comp plan is a discussion showing this parcel is on the edge of the priority redevelopment area Wooddale LRT stop, making this applicable. From page 5- 127 of the comp plan, he noted the guidelines for transit-oriented development indicate density of 50-125 units per acre are appropriate and as this parcel is on the edge, being at the lower end of the guidelines seems more appropriate. He stated the net result on density for him, is there should be a compelling reason for anything over 30 units per acre to be approved, but what is proposed is what is reasonably expected within the comp plan. o He noted on height as proposed, it meets the requirements of the zoning district. It is not higher than the church and is compatible with buildings and homes in the area. However, he still appreciates the comments from those living in Elmwood in homes immediately adjacent to the project. It’s a significant change, but it seems the developer has made accommodations by reducing to 3 stories and creating a setback from Brunswick. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -10- June 15, 2020 o He stated on parking, 90 spaces yield 1.5:1 spaces per unit which is below code, but appropriate for transit-oriented development. He stated parking is expensive and takes away from other uses. He also noted an amendment to the code on parking in this area will be reviewed soon. o On traffic, he appreciated concerns, but stated the analysis of an additional 43 trips per day would likely be even less with the 60 units, so he does not find this to be an issue. o On aesthetics, he stated he trusts staff’s analysis that the building materials fit well into the neighborhood. He stated the proposed use seems more appropriate than the existing parking lot on site today. o On concentration of affordable housing, he stated this is a mixed development project and averages in the 50-60% range. Also, on the comment about Elmwood having an overly large concentration of affordable housing than elsewhere in the city; Elmwood’s concentration is about 50%, but St. Louis Park’s percentage of affordable rental housing is also about 50%. So, he does not see an overly large concentration of affordable housing in Elmwood. He stated other parts in the city might need to do better. o On crime, he stated the data does not support the concern, the perception or fear might be there, but there is no data to support it. o He stated that to net all of these issues, the key question is, is there a compelling reason for density over 30 units per acre and he stated yes, there is, adding that PPL did a good job of explaining them. o He stated one of the things that brought him and his wife to St. Louis Park is the strength of diversity and that was key to his campaign platform. He added this is diversity of race and income level and one way to get that is to have diversity of housing alternatives. o He stated there is a huge need for affordable housing and within St. L ouis Park, 429 units by 2030 is the goal, but there is a long way to go still. o He stated he was happy to see the green building code and focus on solar and added he would like to know if the developer does not get the grant on this, because he would like to see solar on it. o He stated in this moment we are in a deep examination, arising from the murder of George Floyd, and the attention it has placed on the systemic racism and inequality within our society. One of the most basic inequality issues is affordable housing and other than health and family - it doesn’t get much more fundamental to life than having an affordable place to live. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -11- June 15, 2020 o He quoted an email he received, “we are in the midst of a pandemic where black people make up 14% nationally but are experiencing one-third of the deaths from coronavirus. Hispanics and the indigenous communities are also bearing the worst of unemployment and death in the current crisis. Lack of safe and affordable housing is becoming a statistic of marginalized communities and the affordable housing needs of these communities deserve to be a priority.” o He stated there are concerns and oppositions from the community from people he knows and respects. He thinks the concerns which he has heard, have been accommodated as well as they can be by PPL and in the end, it seems like a reasonable compromise and he plans to support it. Councilmember Harris stated the Elmwood neighborhood had some perceptions their input did not matter. She stated going forward, we need to be conscious of neighborhood engagement and not speak to anything as definitive until we engage folks. She noted the project design facing Brunswick needs to reflect a transition zone. She added she was fond of the April design which had the gradation of height and got taller towards the multifamily housing. She encouraged the softer transition toward Brunswick and direct access to the outside also. She noted a need to find balance, and stated the city needs affordable, generational housing for people in all stages of life, and to make housing accessible for various levels of income. She stated she would like to see edits to the façade, increased access to the outside, and additional features like townhomes on the Brunswick side of the project, adding she will approve it. Ms. Kramer noted the ground floor units on Brunswick are all walk-outs which have patios. Councilmember Harris stated parking in winter snow in Minnesota can be an issue. She asked if there could be negotiation with the church for off-street parking when there is 3 inches or more of snow on the street. Ms. Wilson stated while there is no formal agreement with the church, this idea about shared parking has been d iscussed. Councilmember Brausen thanked all the residents for their input. He stated while it is hard to balance both sides on this, and while there has been much change in Elmwood recently, he doesn’t view this as bad change at all. He stated once trees grow larger that will help, noting often this is in the eye of the beholder . He added the council is in the business of looking to the future, and this will provide living spaces to 60 families. He stated housing is a basic human right, and we must do better to create more affordable housing in our city. The owner of the property, the church, is looking for affordable housing here, and the owners do have rights as to what they want on their property. He stated he will support this. Councilmember Mohamed thanked staff and PPL and all those who worked on this project and the residents for their input as well . She stated she walked around the area, noting it was great to see the neighborhood, and added segregation of St. Louis Park is an issue and she agrees with not putting all affordable housing in one neighborhood. She added we do want more mixture of income in St. Louis Park but there is also a DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -12- June 15, 2020 concern about home ownership. She stated it is not rental or affordable home ownership, it is an “and” thing, and even as she sits here as a council member, she cannot afford to buy a home in St. Louis Park and can’t even afford to rent in some areas of the city. She stated when we push for home ownership that is a focus on people of color building their wealth. Councilmember Mohamed added about aesthetics, and not fitting with the neighborhood character, considering everything going on with racial inequities currently, she asked everyone to be very cognizant of this. She stated this is a Minnesota nice way to say we don’t want certain people here; we are leaving out people of color here. This is 100% affordable housing, and this has not been available in St. Louis Park for the last 30 years. She stated when looking at aesthetics, we need to look deeper, to see who we are leaving out and not speak for all persons of color. She stated when she is looking for a house, she is not looking for aesthetics, she is looking to put a roof over her family, stating this is her main concern. She stated aesthetics is a luxury item, and quality of life is different than aesthetics. She stated she is disappointed some affordable housing was lost, but as this moves forward, it will set a precedent . She stated she is in full agreement of the proposal. Councilmember Rog added she supports this project. She noted the recent experience with the residents related to the Wooddale bike path project and that residents were opposed and then when an alternative plan was created, residents returned to wanting the original plan. She stated Elmwood folks preferred the April 24th design, and maybe that is worth exploring. Councilmember Rog noted she also heard some things tonight that concerned her. She heard that people threaten to move from Elmwood, she heard the church is greedy, she heard about pockets of poverty, and heard support for affordable housing “but, but, but…” She encouraged people to reflect themselves, and how the city got to what it is with such a lack of affordable housing. She added there is a desperate need for folks to have a roof over their heads. She noted with parking, she is in support of reducing this, adding that car-sharing should be looked at for those who don’t own a car. Mayor Spano stated he heard many comments from folks about parking, number of units, building height, and the 2040 comp plan. He stated this project does align with the comp plan and several goals were identified in the project including, multi-modal, safety, scale, walkable streets, proximity to LRT, density, buffer between higher density and existing family homes, transition, housing goals, family units, minimized displacement, and no threat to NOAH around the project. He added it provides affordable housing for various income levels, green features, preserves existing assets to the community with the church in one of the oldest historical neighborhoods in St. Louis Park. Mayor Spano stated he will support this project and agrees with Councilmember Kraft’s comments. He stated he has concerns about the traffic and would like a deeper analysis of this and development around the light rail station . He added the density has moved down with PPL’s latest design, and he understands this is not where some want the DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -13- June 15, 2020 project to be, but he appreciates the efforts of PPL. He stated the parking will be underground and the affordability has multiple layers and will be for caregivers, teachers, social workers, and they all deserve good quality housing as well. Mayor Spano added for many in Elmwood who feel unfairly treated, this is a growing city and that will not stop and will only accelerate. He stated this is a better project with engagement, but change is always hard. He acknowledged the project is not perfect, that change is hard, and not everyone will be happy with it, but again he will support this. It was moved by Councilmember Brausen, seconded by Councilmember Rog, to adopt Resolution No. 20-095, approving the amendment to the 2040 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Plan Map, as well as related figures, tables and text; and to adopt Resolution No. 20-096, approving the preliminary and final plat for Unity Village Apartments; and to adopt Resolution No. 20-097, rescinding resolutions 6996 and 87- 135 relating to property located at 6027 West 37 th Street and 3700 Alabama Ave.; and to approve the first reading of ordinance adding section 36-268-PUD 17 to the zoning code and amending the zoning map from R-3 two-family residence to PUD 17, and set the second reading for July 6, 2020. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mavity absent). 8b. Bremer Bank conditional use permit (CUP) Resolution No. 20-098 Ms. Kramer presented the staff report. Councilmember Harris noted she tried to attend the May 13, 2020 meeting; however, she was unable to participate. She stated the development company did not reach out to answer her questions and there has not been strong engagement from developers with residents or with council. She encouraged them to step it up. Councilmember Harris questioned why Bremer wants to move from one side of Knollwood Mall to the other. Mr. Walther stated their current lease is nearing its end, and they need larger space. Additionally, this area would allow them to be in a stand- alone location, and to use their own branding. Councilmember Harris asked if the driveways line up from the bank to Knollwood. Ms. Kramer stated yes there is almost perfect alignment. Councilmember Harris asked if Bremer will use solar or wind power at the new site given the city’s climate action plan specifications. Councilmember Harris stated some residents are sad about losing Knollwood Liquor and the Papa Murphy’s Pizza at this location. She asked if there is an opportunity for those two businesses to relocate. Ms. Kramer stated she has not heard from the current owner on their plans. Mr. Walther stated staff would be willing to work with these businesses to help find new locations for them. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -14- June 15, 2020 Councilmember Brausen stated this is his bank, and he will have to drive farther now to get there. He stated he is generally not in favor of a drive-thru, given the climate crisis. However, given COVID, drive-thrus may need to remain. He added the city does need to require green building aspects for commercial buildings. He stated, however, he will support this development. Councilmember Kraft asked the developer about solar energy and if it would be included on the building. Mr. Anderson stated it is not planned, but they would continue to evaluate this. Mr. Fanning stated Bremer participates in a program to purchase power and energy off the grid, which then applies to buildings. He stated they will look at this program for this development also. Councilmember Kraft encouraged that they do so. Councilmember Harris asked about the timeline for redevelopment. Mr. Anderson apologized for not connecting earlier with Councilmember Harris stating he was not aware she had reached out. He stated the timeline is still being finalized and relates to the plans of the current businesses on the property and when they will be moving . Councilmember Harris encouraged the developers to look at solar or wind power and to participate in order to reduce dependence on coal. She stated the sooner businesses know about this we can all be better neighbors to each other. Mayor Spano added he appreciates Bremer participates in the purchasing program for sustainability but stressed they can do more on this and should consider looking at more options. He added the building design looks like there is a large amount of glass and noted the use of trees and plantings can help to reduce energy use on the site. He encouraged them to pursue this as well. It was moved by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Mohamed, to adopt Resolution No. 20-098, approving the conditional use permit subject to the conditions recommended by staff. The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mavity absent). 9. Communications Councilmember Brausen stated he will attend the National League of Cities public safety and crime discussion this week and will report back to council. Mayor Spano stated he will also be there for the discussion on police. Councilmember Rog noted the Common Sound Music Festival which will be held June 24 -28, 2020 will be virtual this year. She stated it is a 5-day event and proceeds support many good causes. Mayor Spano stated he spoke yesterday at a Wat Prom event, related to fund raising in this time of COVID. He asked folks to remember them for donations. DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5 City council meeting -15- June 15, 2020 10. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:51 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: AF779358-B474-46AC-B7A6-03CFD7BE24B5