HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-24-2018 Workshop MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA
JANUARY 24, 2018
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a workshop meeting of the City Council
of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 24th day of January, 2018 in
the Conference Room of the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in
said City.
Mayor John Keis called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following
members of the City Council were present at roll call:
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator
Assoc. Planner/Code Enf.
City Planner
Planning Commissioner
Planning Commissioner
Planning Commissioner
City Clerk
Resident
Mr. John Keis
Mr. Tom Fischer
Mr. Rick Montour
Mr. Mike McGraw
Mr. Christian Torkelson
(arrived 6:53pm)
Mr. Joel Hanson
Ms. Jessica Jagoe
Mr. Steve Grittman
Mr. Nick Sandell
Ms. Dawn Kulousek
Mr. Eric Thorson
Ms. Heidi Heller
Ms. Nicole George
Mayor Keis stated that the purpose of this evening's workshop is to discuss the
Comprehensive Plan Update and the upcoming open house.
COMPREHENSIVE The City Planner stated that the open house for the Comprehensive Plan will be
PLAN UPDATE on Monday, January 29 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. He stated that about 75% of
the housing in Little Canada is considered affordable at the 80% median income
level. He reported that Little Canada has a higher percentage of affordable
housing than Ramsey County as a whole.
The City Planner explained that a draft of the Comprehensive Plan will be ready
for public hearings in March. He stated that redevelopment has been an
important topic, and the Council discussion can direct future land uses, which is
helpful to developers who are approaching the City in the future. The City
Planner reviewed various options for redevelopment of multiple properties. He
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JANUARY 24, 2018
explained that the maps show the existing land uses with overlays on top
showing examples of future redevelopment in targeted areas.
The City Planner reviewed the Rice Street and Demont Avenue area
redevelopment concepts. On the corners of Rice and Demont, there could be
commercial or office use, and multi -family high-density and medium density
housing on the south side of Demont. He noted that this discussion is strictly
about the possible future land uses. Thorson stated that he does not see a desire
for people to live on Rice Street unless it is lower income, since he feels it is
really a commercial area. Fischer stated he would rather see commercial or
industrial uses on Rice Street versus higher end housing. Sandell suggested that
maybe the higher end housing is needed in order to draw other types of uses.
McGraw stated that he feels that Rice Street is a thoroughfare more than a
destination. There was consensus for office campus type uses, but Keis noted
that is probably an unlikely development. He stated that Rice Street as a whole
has to be looked at.
The City Planner reviewed redevelopment options for the truck farm area along
County Road D. He suggested that industrial warehouse could be along County
Road D and medium -density housing south of that. Thorson stated that overall
the plans presented make sense. Torkelson asked if uses with truck traffic
should really be encouraged on the County Road D site since they have to drive
though residential areas on both Centerville Road and Edgerton Street to get
there. There was not support to extend the industrial area to meet the south
boundary of the adjacent Slumberland properties. There was consensus that
lower intense manufacturing uses could be considered.
Montour stated that another aspect to consider as part of the Comprehensive
Plan is to grow jobs, and some of this redevelopment would be increasing job
counts.
The City Planner stated that he will modify some of the drawings for the open
house based on the ideas that were not supported.
There being no further business, the workshop was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.
Jo T. Keis, Mayor
Attest: , ,o. 2- /
Joel Ha on, City Administrator
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