HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWkspMin_07Jul11Workshop of the Falcon Heights City Council
July 11, 2007
Members present: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Harris, Lindstrom, and Talbot, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser, Zoning and Planning Director Jones.
Members absent: Council member Kuettel. Others present: Eric Hagen, Paula and Jason Richter, and Alice Hausman.
Mayor Gehrz began the workshop at 7:15 p.m.
Administrator Miller began by stating the Comp Plan Steering Committee (CPSC) had 12 meetings, then city staff and the mayor met with business owners, the plan was viewed by the various
city commissions, and all these groups had given input to the draft plan staff was composing. He added the Met Council’s projections are required to be met in the plan, which led to
the Larpenteur Corridor presentation by Deb Jones.
Jones presented the audience with the results of the comp plan steering committee process, along with stating that with the Met Council’s projection of 200 additional housing units needed
in FH by 2030 the most feasble areas to place those dwellings would be along Larpenteur Avenue. She stressed that those areas along Larpenteur would only be redeveloped if the owners
allowed it, and although they are goals, the City has no authority if properties want to remain the same. She added it was the committee’s wish the TIES building and Hollywood Court
would be preserved. She added the areas along Cleveland Avenue would remain recreational, with state and city-owned property nested there.
Mayor Gehrz pondered that if the golf course would be sold, it would make nice property for upper-scale homes, and perhaps an underlying zoning of R-1 should be placed on the golf course
property. Jones said that anything can have an underlying zoning, but that doesn’t fulfill the Met Council’s requirements. She added that the more housing is spread out, the more money
it takes for infrastructure, so they could potentially be high-value, but they would be high cost.
A discussion commenced on payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT). Hausman and the council discussed tweaking the LGA formula to compensate for non-taxed properties.
Council member Harris stated the City needs another building like 1666 – high-density housing and a tax base for the City. Jones replied 1666 has 92 units on 6.5 acres, so it’s not
as dense as people may think. Harris stated there are many developments that look like the SE corner and she liked something that had more personality. In addition, the council said
that future developments would preferably have height and lighting restrictions.
Administrator Miller said that the draft plan would go before the Planning Commission and then before the Council.
Hausman asked about the new Bell Museum and the plans for potential sidewalks along that stretch of Larpenteur. She added that she would work hard on including money in the bonding
bill for moving the old schoolhouse.
Council member Harris asked if the goals of the city commissions should be included in the comp plan. Staff will include them.
The workshop was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk