05-24-2017 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MAY 24, 2017 property owners. The City Planner stated that he will modify the statement to address the rezoning option. The City Planner asked if there was interest in changing the City's past approach to development of more affordable housing. Torkelson stated that he is very supportive of adding more affordable housing, but the City needs to be smart about how to do it. Keis stated that he does not want the City to become the mecca of affordable housing since there is already quite a bit. The City Administrator stated that over the years the City has done many things to preserve the existing affordable housing, but not added to it with the exception of senior housing. Torkelson asked if the Council was opposed more so to high density in general, or actual affordable housing. Fischer stated that the City has had the opinion that Little Canada provides more affordable housing than most other cities, and it should be spread out among all cities before Little Canada has to add more. He asked if there are numbers to support that Little Canada actually has more affordable housing than other cities. The City Planner stated that there is data because the City has used the information to push back at the numbers of affordable housing that the Met Council has wanted us to add. He added the housing choices that adults will make in the future is unpredictable. The City Planner stated that single family parcel development is the next topic. He noted that the Sculley property is still guided for low density residential since there did not seem to be much interest in deviating from that. He stated the Heinel property is a truck farm, and guided low density residential south of the power lines and commercial/industrial on the north side of the lines up to County Road D. He reported that the Planning Commission discussed changing the north side to multi -family residential, and possibly allowing a creative residential use on the south side. The City Planner stated development of city -owned parcels is the next topic, and there was a balance of opinions between the City totally staying out of purchasing property and being strategic about the purchases. The City Planner stated that next is housing stock conditions and maintenance. He reported that the Planning Commission was supportive of having maintenance codes to help prevent properties from becoming so deteriorated that the City would have to step in. The City Administrator stated that there was also discussion about the housing improvement loan programs. Torkelson stated he was also supportive of having more maintenance codes. Montour stated that he prefers an approach where the City works with the property owner versus just giving a ticket because the house needs something fixed. The City Administrator stated that typically, the bigger issues in the City are the yard conditions and outdoor storage versus the structures themselves. 2