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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 22, 2026 CC Workshop Agenda PacketCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS City Council Workshop City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA July 22, 2026 6:00 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER: B. ROLL CALL: GUSTAFSON____ MAY___ MIELKE___ MOGEN ___ WASSENBERG___ STAFF PRESENT: LINEHAN___ C. POLICY ITEMS: 1. Visioning Exercise for Future Redevelopment of 1407 Larpenteur Avenue West (Get Pressed) (6:00 p.m.) D. ADJOURNMENT: DISCLAIMER: City Council Workshops are held monthly as an opportunity for Council Members to discuss policy topics in greater detail prior to a formal meeting where a public hearing may be held and/or action may be taken. Members of the public that would like to make a comment or ask questions about an item on the agenda for an upcoming workshop should send them to mail@falconheights.org prior to the meeting. Alternatively, time is regularly allotted for public comment during Regular City Council Meetings (typically 2nd and 4th Wednesdays) during the Community Forum. BLANK PAGE  REQUEST FOR ACTION City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota __________________________ Item Visioning Exercise for Future Redevelopment of 1407 Larpenteur Avenue West (Get Pressed) Description Purpose The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the City Council to the Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) program, who at the recommendation of our Met Council District Representative Peter Lindstrom has offered to assist the city, and to guide a visioning discussion on potential future uses for the recently acquired property at 1407 Larpenteur Avenue West (Get Pressed). The workshop will help define redevelopment goals, understand environmental conditions, and identify next steps toward an eventual Request for Proposals (RFP). Background The City of Falcon Heights acquired 1407 Larpenteur Avenue West to address long‑standing concerns regarding the property’s condition, environmental uncertainty, and redevelopment potential. The site meets the definition of a brownfield, meaning its reuse may be complicated by the actual or potential presence of contaminants. Environmental due diligence conducted through the MPCA’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment Grant in 2024 identified the following contaminants on the site, confirming the need for cleanup planning prior to redevelopment: • PCE – Perchloroethylene (also called tetrachloroethylene), a solvent commonly used in dry-cleaning. • TCE – Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent often associated with degreasing. • Lead – A heavy metal • GRO – Gasoline Range Organics, petroleum hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling-point range. • DRO – Diesel Range Organics, petroleum hydrocarbons in the diesel/fuel-oil boiling-point range. Past MPCA review for an earlier redevelopment proposal for 10-12 market-rate townhomes indicated that the site would require removal of four Meeting Date July 22, 2026 Agenda Item C1 Attachment Presentation Submitted By Jack Linehan, City Administrator contamination “hot spots,” clean‑fill separation, and vapor mitigation measures. Future reuse will require a site‑specific Response Action Plan (RAP) and may depend on developer‑led cleanup strategies supported by state, regional, or federal grants. Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) TAB is a nationally funded U.S. EPA program providing free, community-tailored assistance to local governments and tribes as they plan brownfield reuse. Kansas State University serves as the TAB provider for EPA Regions 5–8, including Minnesota. TAB’s services include: • Strategic planning and reuse visioning • Economic feasibility and market impact analysis • Community outreach support • Identification of funding sources and grant strategy development • Assistance with EPA brownfield grant applications • Support in identifying brownfield sites and aligning them with community goals Kristin Prososki of KSU TAB will be present at the meeting lead the Council through a visioning exercise designed to clarify redevelopment priorities and constraints for the site. Workshop Scope and Discussion The workshop will focus on several components for shaping a redevelopment strategy: 1. Future Land Use and City Priorities Council will be asked to identify determining factors for future reuse, including: • Meeting identified community needs • Compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods • Economic development benefits • Cost recovery and long-term fiscal sustainability 2. Environmental Considerations TAB will outline key due-diligence steps—Phase I and Phase II assessments, cleanup requirements, and future RAP needs—to help the Council understand how environmental conditions shape feasible reuse options. 3. Community Engagement TAB will discuss potential engagement approaches, ranging from informational sessions to feedback-driven concept reviews. The City will need to determine its desired level of engagement prior to initiating an RFP. 4. Developer Recruitment and RFP Preparation TAB will review best practices for assembling an RFP, including: • Providing environmental reports, zoning information, and infrastructure details • Sharing engagement outcomes • Developing a transparent selection process • Initiating early conversations with development partners to build momentum Direction Sought from Council Staff seeks preliminary guidance from the Council on the following: 1. Preferred redevelopment outcomes (community benefit, tax base considerations, neighborhood compatibility). 2. Level and type of community engagement to be included prior to or during an RFP process. 3. Expectations for an RFP, including desired developer qualifications, project evaluation criteria, and timeline. 4. Willingness to pursue grant funding, including MPCA, DEED, Met Council TBRA, or Ramsey County Environmental Response Fund resources. Input from this workshop will be used to develop a redevelopment plan, which staff and TAB aim to provide to Council review later this year. Budget Impact N/A Attachment(s) - Presentation from TAB Action(s) Requested No formal action is requested at this time. Staff requests Council discussion and feedback to help shape redevelopment goals and next steps for the 1407 Larpenteur property. Work Session - July 22, 2026 Kristin Prososki, Assistant Regional Director Technical Assistance to Brownfields – Kansas State University 1407 Larpenteur Avenue West (Get Pressed) Redevelopment ksutab.org Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) •Nationally funding program by U.S. EPA •Technical assistance for communities and tribes revitalizing communities through brownfields redevelopment •Services provided are free and tailored to meet specific needs Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) TAB Service Providers University of Connecticut EPA Region 1 New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) EPA Regions 2 & 4 Mid-Atlantic TAB EPA Region 3 Kansas State University – EPA Regions 5, 6, 7 & 8 Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) EPA Regions 9 & 10 KSU – ITEP – ANTHC – Tribal TAB KSU TAB Services and Resources TAB providers can fill gaps and help support overall project goals. ▪Help identifying your community’s brownfields ▪Strategic planning and reuse visioning ▪Solar and Green Energy Strategies ▪Economic feasibility and Market Impact/Analysis ▪Community outreach and input ▪Educational workshops ▪Help identify funding sources ▪EPA Brownfields Grants-strategy development and application reviews Brownfield Basics Brownfield Definition: “…real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” MPCA Brownfield Program Voluntary program to address liability concerns and provide technical oversight https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/brownfield-redevelopment-guidance Due Diligence Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment Grant program completed testing in 2024 and found PCE, TCE, lead, GRO, and DRO. MPCA review for a past proposal required removal of four hot spots, appropriate clean fill separation, and vapor mitigation systems. Future reuse would have a site and reuse-specific Response Action Plan (RAP) Common environmental due diligence: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment •Historic records review •Site walk through Phase II Environmental Site Assessment •Soil, groundwater, and vapor sampling Response Action Plan •Site and reuse-specific cleanup plan Brownfield Grant Resources •Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grants •Met Council Livable Communities Environmental Site Investigation and Cleanup •Ramsey County Environmental Response Fund Note on timing: Typically compete best once developer is on board Potential Future Uses •Zoning and future land use plans •Current plans (Comprehensive Plan, corridor plans, etc.) •Market information (if needed) •What are deciding factors for City? •Meeting a community need? •Compatibility with the neighborhood? •Economic development outcomes? •Cost recovery? Community Engagement •Review any recent engagement regarding the area and/or site •Identify opportunities for outreach/engagement •Varies by project: •Informational and Q&A session •Define possible future uses and seek feedback •Provide reuse concepts for feedback •Open house for proposals Potential Developers •Request for Proposals process •Provide all information from City’s recent efforts: •Environmental reports •Zoning/future land use •Infrastructure and other relevant information too •Outcomes of any community engagement •Process for selection, including any expected future engagement •Can be helpful to begin discussing the expected RFP with partners to gain traction early Discussion Points •Important factors for future reuse (meeting a community need, economic benefits, etc.) •Community engagement •Request for Proposal process Contact Info Kristin Prososki Assistant Regional Director KSU Technical Assistance to Brownfields Program kp3@ksu.edu 507-340-5799 ksutab.orgThis project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (41-84066501) to Kansas State University. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.