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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/09/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionOfficial minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, MN Sept. 9, 2024 The meeting convened at 7:41 p.m. Council members present: Paul Baudhuin, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, Lynette Dumalag, and Margaret Rog Council members absent: Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Council Member Tim Brausen Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), community development director (Ms. Barton), economic development manager (Mr. Hunt), zoning administrator (Mr. Morrison), housing supervisor (Ms. Olson), planning manager (Mr. Walther) Discussion items. 1. Housing and community development system kick-off. Karen Barton introduced the system and provided an overview of topics to be presented as discussion items, presentations, or written reports in the coming weeks. 2. Community development year in review. Ms. Barton introduced the item, and several staff presented. Council Member Budd asked whether the Met Council guidelines give the city new goals. Mr. Walther stated that the process isn’t that far along yet, but yes, they will. So far, they have only shared preliminary projections for population, households and employment. Steady growth is projected in St. Louis Park; over the next 20 years, the population is projected to grow by 20% to around 59,000 people. We expect to receive housing goals from Met Council in 2025. Council Member Budd asked about the 4d properties indicated in the staff report, and if they are eligible for the state program. Ms. Olson stated to be eligible for the state program, there needs to be a requirement for affordability and a government financial contribution. She added the cost to the city is minimal, but units are committed to being affordable for a minimum of five years. Council Member Rog asked about the Kids in the Park program and noted they have heard from 20-30 families, adding a question about the wait list status. Ms. Olson stated the waiting list had just opened and there are about 50 families on the list so far. She added the program has grown from nine to 30 families since 2017 and this year had the most applications received, while in years past, they had struggled to get applications. Council Member Rog asked if the “Bring it Home” program will be opened like other voucher programs. Ms. Olson stated yes, in general the program is built to mirror the housing voucher program. She added it will have a separate waiting list because the applicant must remain in the community with the “Bring it Home” program. Docusign Envelope ID: A632B403-A090-4124-85C4-152C913282E4 Study session minutes -2- Sept. 9, 2024 Council Member Rog asked about Kids in the Park program outcomes that were received in the past and noted this would be helpful as talking points. 3. Zoning code updates. Mr. Morrison presented the staff report. He stated the policy considerations are as follows and the council will be asked for their feedback: • Do the proposed changes to the zoning code align with the city’s strategic priorities and the 2040 comprehensive plan, goals and strategies • Does the city council support the housing types identified in each of the proposed housing types zoning code proposed districts • Does the city council support initiating an amendment to the 2040 comprehensive plan to increase density allowed in low-density residential land-use category to be consistent with the density needed for the housing types and lot sizes proposed in the N1 neighborhood districts Council Member Rog asked about lot depth. Mr. Morrison stated there is no change related to the ordinance. Mr. Walther stated there is no depth requirement, adding the goal is to not disrupt existing blocks. Council Member Budd asked whether there is a maximum number of low-rise apartment units. Mr. Morrison stated the density is defined by lot size and the density set in the comprehensive plan. He stated as an example, one plan was recently approved on Cedar Lake Road that had 32 units and that had very large and deep lots compared to lots on Minnetonka Boulevard. Council Member Rog asked how tall the building height limit is. Mr. Morrison stated it is about 30 feet tall. Council Member Rog asked about the increase in 10 feet, adding it sounds like a large amount. Mr. Walther stated that is not a change, as the current R-4 zoning district allows 40 feet, so that was carried forward to the new district to be consistent. Mr. Walther stated the heights go from 30 feet in N-1 to 40 feet in N-2 and then to 75 feet in N-3. Council Member Rog asked about outlier homes within the city. Mr. Morrison stated staff tried to identify those, so they will not be zoned N3 or N4, or create any non-conformities. Council Member Dumalag noted the parking lot by the tennis courts on the northeast corner of Belt Line Blvd and Monterey Dr and stated that would be proposed N4. Mr. Walther stated this was correct. He added the city owns that area entirely and it is not privately owned. He also noted the parcel is currently zoned RC high density residence district, so that is consistent with the proposed N4 district. Council Member Rog noted that in an area of Ward 1, there is a preponderance of daycares that are licensed and not licensed, and a lot of traffic and conflict with neighbors. She stated she wonders how this will all play out and added she has concerns about allowing daycares in conventional neighborhoods. She asked if daycares and group daycares would be limited within a particular area and if there is interest in looking at that based on traffic and other concerns. Docusign Envelope ID: A632B403-A090-4124-85C4-152C913282E4 Study session minutes -3- Sept. 9, 2024 Mr. Morrison stated the code could include standards for daycares in these settings. Mr. Walther stated group daycares are allowed in low-density residential areas today, but only as an accessory use to a school or a church. There are many of those that operate already, but this was a proposal from planning commission to consider allowing group daycares as a principal use. This does not refer to the in-home family daycares, but to commercial buildings that house daycares. He stated family daycares in residences are allowed as a home occupation. Mr. Morrison stated family daycares are limited to 14 children by the State of Minnesota. Council Member Baudhuin asked if the state requirements are sufficient for the city. Mr. Walther stated there are very few concerns around family daycares that are licensed. Mr. Walther stated this will now go back to planning commission and bring it back to council as part of the broader package. Council Member Rog stated she would still like to discuss group homes. Mr. Morrison stated there can be as many as six residents per dwelling unit. Mr. Walther stated the city does not have control over state-licensed group daycares. Mr. Morrison stated for non-state licensed group homes, the city does attach standards to the use including a distancing requirement from any other groups home and within 300 feet of commercial property. Mr. Morrison stated the next step will be to look at the process for adopting the ordinance. Council Member Dumalag asked if staff could provide illustrations or photo examples of the buildings to better understand the maximum size of housing types that would be allowed N1 zone. Mr. Walther stated the examples staff shown during the community engagement process are of typical buildings in these categories, and not at the maximum. He noted the maximum sizes of buildings allowed is not changing, but the housing types within that building envelope are changing. He added that staff would try to have more examples to illustrate the potential buildings at future meetings. Council Member Baudhuin stated he is in favor of all three policy questions. He asked if staff has looked at any other cities that did a similar zone change and if that impacted property values with bigger developments. He also asked if this is a realistic fear. Mr. Morrison stated the city has reviewed the pace of change in other communities and the changes will be very slow. Mr. Walther indicated that similar research he has reviewed in the past that were specific to all- affordable apartment buildings has not shown a negative impact to property values surrounding the development. He also noted the Elmwood neighborhood has allowed duplexes for decades and it remains a highly desirable neighborhood with stable property values. Council Member Rog stated she has big concerns around corporate ownership of properties in the community and creating conditions for more of that to happen with these changes. She stated she wants to do everything to prevent that and has heard concerns from residents on this also. There are concerns about this and she does not want to blindly walk into a decision. She also wants to look at what policies can be put into place to avoid corporate ownership of properties. Docusign Envelope ID: A632B403-A090-4124-85C4-152C913282E4 Study session minutes -4- Sept. 9, 2024 Mr. Walther stated there will be a written report to update council later in this series of study session topics to report the changes since this topic was last discussed. Council Member Budd asked for a discussion of this topic, rather than a written report. Ms. Keller stated staff is tracking the question of corporate ownership and council directed staff to add this as a discussion topic only if it grows more than 10% and it has not reached that level. Council Member Rog stated she has had residents tell her there are a certain number of rentals on their street and it conflicts with staff information and asked why that is. Council Member Budd stated she has also had this happen with residents. Ms. Barton stated rental properties are required to be licensed by the city and if there is concern, these properties are investigated and any residents that have concerns should contact city staff. Council Member Budd stated she also supports all three policy questions. Council Member Dumalag stated she also supports all three policy questions. Council Member Rog asked about adding more diverse types of housing, more condominiums and patio homes. She asked if there are ways with this new zoning to be more proactive and encourage certain types of housing in certain areas. Mr. Walther stated staff has worked on this issue and stated courtyard cottages and condominiums tend to be for sale products versus rentals. He stated we put greater emphasis on diversity of housing so there is more opportunity for this to occur. Council Member Budd asked about the state proposals to change regulations and their potential impacts on the city’s efforts for diversity in housing. Mr. Walther stated all the efforts staff has made to calibrate our regulations to better fit in with the community would be wiped clean and more housing types and larger sized buildings would be allowed without conditions. He added a lot of city control and authority would be eliminated. Council Member Rog stated she will also support the three policy questions. Council Member Farris stated that she will support the three policy questions as well. Written Reports. 4. Redevelopment proposal for 5401 Gamble Drive. 5. Revised 2025 budget and levy increase. Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) Ms. Keller stated related to the MnDOT project, staff will craft a report with questions and an open house will be scheduled for Sept. 25. This item will next come before council on Oct. 7, 2024. Docusign Envelope ID: A632B403-A090-4124-85C4-152C913282E4 Study session minutes -5- Sept. 9, 2024 The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: A632B403-A090-4124-85C4-152C913282E4