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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/10/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - Environment & Sustainability Commission - Regular Official minutes Environment & sustainability commission St. Louis Park, Minnesota 10/9/2024 1. Call to order – 6:30 p.m. 1a. Roll call Members present: Chair Eric Zweber, Vice Chair Abigail Oppegaard, Shaina Ashare, Marisa Bayer, Tatiana Giraldo, Ryan Griffin, Andrew Willette, Dave Wilsey Members absent: Ramil Goonetilleke, Sasha Shahidi, Paul Zeigle Staff present: Emily Ziring, Sustainability Manager; Gary Morrison, zoning administrator Guests: Michael Hennen, resident; Nancy Rose, resident 2. Approval of minutes – Sept. 4, 2024 – The minutes were approved unanimously as presented with 2 abstentions. 3. Business 3a. Discuss expanding neighborhood housing options with Gary Morrison, zoning administrator Mr. Morrison presented an overview of the neighborhood housing options zoning project. Commissioner Griffin asked what percentage of lots are legally non-conforming. Mr. Morrison stated there are many lots that don’t meet today’s minimum lot size or lot width requirements, for example, all the 40-foot-wide lots, but there is a provision in the code that states they are legally conforming if they meet two-thirds of the code requirement. Commissioner Wilsey asked if impervious surface restrictions are yet in effect. Mr. Morrison stated there is not an overall impervious surface maximum at this time, however, other code requirements apply that limit the size various improvements, such as maximum ground floor area for buildings and setbacks. Commissioner Griffin asked when this proposal goes to council for approval. Mr. Morrison stated council has already seen this in study session a couple times. He added they also acknowledge residents will want to comment on this. He stated it will go to the Planning Commission in January, and then to council afterwards for the first reading in February and then for a second reading later in February. He added there will also be another public meeting in December before it goes to Planning Commission, and that the timeline could change depending on input from the community. Commissioner Bayer asked about narrow lots and allowing more than one unit within the N-1 zone, and if there will be height restrictions. Mr. Morrison stated the N-1 district Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 9, 2024 is proposed to allow up to 3 units per lot, and that the height restrictions are proposed to be the same as they are today no matter if they are a single unit or multiple units. Commissioner Bayer asked if the ESC is supportive of these changes, how could the ESC show support for this. Ms. Ziring stated that if the commission authors and votes to approve it, a memo could be attached to a written report to council. Ms. Ziring asked if there are changes to parking if there are multiple units. Mr. Morrison stated no, changes proposed are not proposed for the multiple-family uses. Commissioner Wilsey asked if the intent with a duplex and triplex, does it have to be in a single structure or can it be multiple structures on a lot. Mr. Morrison stated we currently allow ADUs separate from the principal dwelling, however, the proposed zoning includes another option called courtyard cottages, which allow for detached units around a courtyard. Ms. Ziring asked about height restrictions and not changing those. Mr. Morrison stated 30 feet easily accommodates a two-story home, and possibly a 2.5 story depending on ceiling heights. He stated some homes have approached that maximum, and noted it is challenging to have it any lower than 30 feet for a two-story home especially when the first floor is located several feet above the grade. Commissioner Giraldo asked about affordability options with duplexes and if they are able to be purchased, or if condominiums will be available for purchase vs. renting, especially if downsizing. Mr. Morrison stated that zoning cannot determine whether buildings are owned or rented. Zoning can create housing options and create opportunities for duplexes to be owner occupied in one unit, then rent out the other unit. He added the twin home option is also available where there are two owners. Commissioner Oppegaard asked if there are any regulations around pervious pavers. Mr. Morrison stated they are encouraged for driveways and that pervious pavers would not be allowed as exemptions in the required pervious space. Commissioner Giraldo asked if there will be accommodations made for water conservation. Mr. Morrison stated that zoning does encourage native and drought tolerant species and credits are given for using those in landscaping. Commissioner Griffin asked how St. Louis Park’s zoning compares to Minneapolis or Saint Paul. Mr. Morrison stated St. Louis Park looks more for comparison to cities of similar size, like Bloomington or Richfield, which do similar things. He stated the 60% impervious restriction is fairly common. Commissioner Giraldo asked about the school district and if any boundaries might be changed if density changed. Mr. Morrison stated the school boundaries will not be impacted, and there is a school district representative on the Planning Commission that represents their concerns. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 9, 2024 Commissioner Griffin asked if tree preservation will be required. Mr. Morrison stated that is one reason there is 60% maximum impervious surface requirement included in the code. He added it is difficult to have owners keep a certain amount of trees on their private property, but the council recently adopted a heritage tree preservation ordinance. Ms. Ziring noted there is more information on the city website regarding expanding housing options that the commissioners can review. 3b. Commission Administration • Review and discuss Sept. study session with council Chair Zweber explained the city council meeting he attended related to advisory boards and commissions and noted the ESC was prepared. He added there were few questions on the role of ESC from the council, noting they seem to understand the duties of the ESC, especially as compared to other advisory boards and commissions. Commissioner Bayer added the lack of questions from the city council to the ESC seemed to mean that the council is aware of the scope of the work of the commission. She stated there was no great takeaway from the conversation at all. Chair Zweber added the other boards and commissions shared similar concerns as the ESC about communication with the council. Ms. Ziring stated the relationship between the council and boards and commissions will likely be as it was prior to the pandemic. Chair Zweber agreed. Commissioner Griffin added that the meeting seemed anti-climactic, especially given how long they waited to start, but noted it was interesting hearing from the other commissions and the work they are doing. Commissioner Bayer noted the ESC is very functional, but the question about how the commission advises council needs to be looked at again, adding that the ESC will need more direction on how to be more advisory to the council. • Brainstorm ideas for 2025 workplan Chair Zweber stated new commission members will not be appointed by the November meeting, so the ESC will be looking to do a retreat in January 2025 to discuss the workplan. He noted it would be best to do this when the new commissioners are on board. Ms. Ziring added that the follow-up meeting with council to discuss priority setting for advisory boards and commissions that was supposed to happen in November likely will not occur until January or February, so the commission needs to feel comfortable creating their workplan in the absence of that information from council. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 9, 2024 Commissioners shared their ideas for the 2025 workplan. Commissioner Bayer proposed to add the topic of mobility and safe streets to the 2025 workplan. Commissioner Wilsey asked how the council perceives the ESC—whether they are advisory or not. He stated the ESC should look at the things coming up on the council agenda and then explore those items through the ESC lens while looking at council priorities so as to support and complement the council’s existing process. Commissioner Wilsey added he would like to explore policy ideas around e-bike safety. Commissioner Giraldo also noted that adding more open houses and more education for residents to understand energy projects would be helpful. Commissioner Bayer noted the ESC should continue with regular events and tabling. Commissioner Ashare also noted tabling at school fairs would be a good venue. Commissioner Griffin noted electrical tools, vehicles, and equipment showcases have been a great idea and added he would like to participate in one. Commissioner Oppegaard noted this really only attracts folks who already understand and support electrification, so it might not necessarily be as appropriate for everyone. Commissioner Bayer stated a collaboration with Erik’s Bike Shop and demonstrations with e-bikes might be an idea for an event. Chair Zweber stated he would like to review the Climate Action Plan in 2025 for any updates and changes before it is updated in the future. He stated he would like to review it at the same time as the comprehensive plan is under development. • Discuss canceling November monthly meeting Chair Zweber noted support of the zoning changes might be a topic for discussion in November. Commissioner Wilette stated he would like to see a very general document in support of the residential zoning changes. Chair Zweber added he is not happy with the tree preservation ordinance not being applied to single-family homes and he would prefer to remove that exemption. Commissioners Willette, Griffin and Bayer will work on a draft memo to council on the zoning changes. Commissioner Bayer made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Giraldo, to establish a workgroup to write a memo in general support of the neighborhood housing options zoning changes with considerations to climate impact of such changes and with Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 9, 2024 Commissioners Wilette, Griffin, Bayer, and Wilsey to work on it. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Ziring stated Nov. 18 will likely be the new commissioner appointment date, with orientation around then and an effective start date of new commissioners being Dec. 1. She suggested a break in November from the regularly scheduled ESC meeting. Chair Zweber made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Bayer to cancel the November 2024 ESC meeting. The motion passed unanimously. • Choose date for January retreat The commissioners decided the retreat will tentatively be held on January 12, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Westwood Hills Nature Center. 4. Staff updates Ms. Ziring updated the commission on the following items: • EECBG project for garage doors • Operating and capital budget for 2025 and grant funding • Working on outreach in Aquila and Texa-Tonka neighborhoods – environmental justice zones • Benchmarking analysis and 5-year trends • Direct pay process – reimbursement for clean energy projects • MPCA electric vehicle charging project 5. Work plan update 5a. Expand our outreach – events work group update – none. 5b. Share our voice – state policy summary Ms. Ziring noted the city is also working on legislative priorities for 2025. 5c. Measure our progress – Staff and volunteer reports. Ms. Ziring talked through metrics around program engagement for the third quarter and stated that she will send them as a follow-up via email. 6. Environmental justice and current events open discussion – none. 7. Upcoming/proposed events • Nov. 21, 6 p.m., Electrify Everything MN workshop at The Rec Center banquet room 8. Adjournment – 8:10 p.m. Environmental & Sustainability Commission Oct. 9, 2024 ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Emily Ziring, liaison Eric Zweber, chair member