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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_98Jul1CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING , , MINUTES OF JULY 1, 1998 ~ ~'•" "' • Mayor Gehrz convened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. PRESENT Gehrz, Gibson Talbot, Hustad, Jacobs, and Kuettel. Also present was Hoyt, Asleson and Knutson. COMMUNITY FORUM There was no one wishing to take advantage of the community forum. MINUTES OF JUNE 24, 1998 Minutes were approved by unanimous consent with two minor corrections. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED Councilmember Hustad moved approval of the following consent agenda. The motion passed unanimously. 1. Cancellation of the July 8, 1998 city council meeting 2. Reappointment of Clem Kurhajetz and AI Hernandez to the Fire Department POLICY AGENDA REPORT ON THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MASTER PLAN AND LAND USE PLANNING PRINCIPLES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA WOMEN'S SOCCER STADIUM Mayor Gehrz and Councilmember Hustad gave background information regarding the city's contact with the University of Minnesota and the proposed women's soccer stadium. This contact included three meetings of a city task force with University officials. At the last task force meeting, University officials announced that the stadium issue would be considered on the July 9, 1998 Regent's agenda. This is proceeding despite written assurances from President Yudof that the matter would not be considered in July. The city's planning consultant, John Shardlow, gave his analysis of the planning issues associated with the stadium. His points were as follows: • The site of the proposed women's soccer stadium is located within the corporate limits of Falcon Heights and owned by the University of Minnesota. However, the • State Constitution grants exclusive land use (zoning) authority to the University. • The University developed a Campus Master Plan in 1996. The University used a good process to develop the plan that involved members of the community, including representation from Falcon Heights. The University Regents directed City Council Minutes July 1, 1998 Page 2 ~~ ~`" ~" • that this plan be used to direct future development of the campus "in accordance with the four planning principles and that the policies, procedures, and strategies therein v~ill be the basis for all future master planning decisions." • The Campus Master Plan states that the current use of the subject property as soccer fields shall be continued. The plan states "The fields should be preserved and their role in recreational sports acknowledged." The plan also shows, graphically, the long term build out of the St. Paul campus. There are no buildings shown on the soccer field site. Clearly, a soccer stadium on this site is not in conformance with the University's Campus Master Plan. • The placement of a stadium directly adjacent to residential homes is not appropriate. A survey of park and recreation directors throughout the metropolitan area shows that intensive recreational uses are not permitted right next to residential areas. A national check of ordinances throughout the country shows that virtually without exception, facilities of this type are to be located well away from residential neighborhoods. • Two other site related concerns include lack of parking on or near the site and noise problems. The sound information submitted by the University was found to • be insufficient to determine the noise impact of the stadium by an independent engineer who specializes in noise studies. The engineer states that, in his opinion, there is a very good chance that the stadium will be found in violation of the State's noise standards. • In conclusion, Shardlow reiterated that the proposed stadium is inconsistent with the provisions of the Campus Master Plan and that it is not a suitable use of the land at the proposed location. McKinley Boston, Vice President of Student Athletics at the University, promised to report the concerns of the community to the appropriate University officials. Jane Prince, legislative aide to St. Paul Councilmember Jay Benanav, reported that the City of St. Paul is actively pursuing soccer sites and is interested in pursuing a shared soccer venue with University and Ramsey County. Mayor Norm Coleman of St. Paul supports Falcon Heights' wish to slow the building process and consider other available sites (a letter from Mayor Colemand was submitted into the record.) Ted Kellogg, representing the 1666 Coffman Condominium homeowner's association, presented a petition of 116 residents in opposition to the proposed stadium. He commended Planner Shardlow's report and expressed his hope that the University reconsiders this location for the stadium. • Robert Hudec, representing the University-Grove homeowner's association, presented a petition of 111 residents in opposition to the proposed stadium. He stated that the University's rigid criteria for a new stadium will prevent them from seriously considering other sites. The University feels that it must build the stadium immediately in order to be City Council Minutes July 1, 1998 • Page 3 ~~ ~,r ';~ in compliance with Title IX criteria. Hudec stated his belief that the federal government would be unlikely to sanction the University for not building immediately given that the funds for the stadium have been raised. Scott Hamilton, representing homeowners in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood, read a statement of opposition to the stadium that was passed by the District 12 Community Council. He also presented a petition of 124 residents in the immediate area in opposition to the stadium. The neighbors are concerned about negative secondary impacts such as noise and parking congestion. Mary Jo McGuire, District 54A State Representative, representing Falcon Heights, stated that she supports the University and women's soccer stadium, but not at the proposed location. She stated that the University did a poor job of involving the community in the planning of the stadium and that she supports having the final location decision delayed. McGuire stated that the University may have land use control over the area but the legislature has future funding authority. Alice Hausman, District 60A State Representative, representing the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul, noted that parking is a real concern for her constituents, as there is no additional parking proposed for the stadium. She is also concerned about the • volume of future stadium use. Given that soccer is afast-growing sport, there will be pressure to hold more than the planned eight to eleven games per year. Janice Rettman, District 3 Ramsey County Commissioner representing Falcon Heights, expressed her concerns about the impact of the stadium on the livability in the University-Grove and 1666 Coffman neighborhoods. Rettman stated that county staff will share knowledge of other potential site with the city. However, this site should be rejected. Councilmember Gibson Talbot read the following statement from District 54 State Senator John Marty, representing Falcon Heights: "A women's soccer team will be a very high quality competitive team and deserves to be planned for growth, because it should grow and will grow. "How can a facility like this be planned without showers? If it is not a major competition team then it wouldn't make sense to build a stadium at all. This stadium makes it clear that it is a top competitive team so all the additional things like showers should be part of it. The team deserves it and it is a waste of 52 million not to build it so it can be a full service, active stadium with room to grow. "How can you plan for no growth in the sport including spectators? The 12 year olds of today play more soccer than any other sport and when they are 18 they'll go to soccer • games before they go to baseball and football games because that is what they grew up with. Planning a stadium with no future growth in parking and seating is not reasonable and a poor use of S2 million. City Council Minutes July 1, 1998 • Page 4 "Given the popularity of soccer and the cry for soccer field throughout the metro area, why are you planning on limiting the use to 10 games per year? It is not a good use of public money to build a stadium in the metro area and then use it for only eight to ten games a year when there are so many others who want to use it and will push to use it and pay to use it. "Do you really anticipate that given the enthusiasm for soccer that in the next ten years there will not be a men's soccer team at the U of M that will need space? The trends are so clear and the demand for this men's team will come up as other sports lose popularity. Saying 'no' will be difficult and not respond to changing personal sports tastes." Gibson Talbot concluded Marty's statement by noting that Senator Mary is disappointed with the way the city and the community have been handled by the University, which is a powerful, independent organization, during this process. Councilmember Hustad stated that if the University could harness the energy of the people in the audience toward finding an appropriate site for the stadium, a great site could be found. Councilmember Gibson Talbot stated that the appropriate course of action is clear: the University should slow the process, use the talent of the people in the audience toward finding a better site, and soccer will thrive. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 98-17, REQUESTING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA BOARD OF REGENTS REMOVE THE CLEVELAND AVENUE SITE AS A SITE FOR A WOMEN'S SOCCER STADIUM AND THAT THE BOARD OF REGENTS FOLLOW THE MASTER PLAN DOCUMENT IN MAKING LAND USE DECISIONS Councilmember Jacobs read the proposed resolution into the record. Councilmember Kuettel moved adoption of Resolution 98-17, requesting that the University of Minnesota Board of Regents remove the Cleveland Avenue site as a site for a women's soccer stadium and that the Board of Regents follow the Master Plan document in making land use decisions. The motion passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. • Carla Asleson Recording Secretary Susan L. Gerhz, Mayor