04-06-2009 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION April 6, 2009 APPROVED 41 Community resident Robert Bening, 6788 E Shadow Lake Drive, remarked that the cost 42 of improvements to the lake should be to those living on it, not city residents as a whole. 43 The matter will be considered at the regular council meeting on April 13, 2009. Council 44 Members/Mayor Bergeson and Reinert noted that they live on the lake and asked that city 45 attorney advice be sought on whether or not they should vote on the matter. Council 46 Member O'Donnell added that he's not on the lake but near it and is a member of the area 47 homeowner's association that owns an out lot so he would also like the attorney's advice 48 on the appropriateness of voting on the matter. The city clerk was directed to obtain a 49 city attorney opinion. 50 2. Comprehensive Plan Update 51 a. Affordable Housing - Economic Development Coordinator Divine 52 reviewed her written report that responds to the council's request to review possible 53 ordinance language that could provide ways for affordable housing to be distributed 54 throughout residential districts throughout the city. She reports on ways to encourage 55 affordable housing as part of new development; it is important to recall that the Met 56 Council's requirement is for land use planning that could accommodate affordable units. 57 The city's draft Comprehensive Plan currently outlines strategies the city can use to 58 promote affordable housing (see Housing Plan) as well as identifying innovations, 59 expansion opportunities and growth areas for high density and mixed use development 60 (see Affordable Housing section). The Land Use Plan encourages better site design and 61 resource conservation using the same types of incentives that are used to encourage 62 affordable housing. In the area of ordinances as they relate to and can promote affordable 63 housing, Ms. Divine reported that she has identified some cities that promote affordable 64 housing through their code but no city that mandates it. The planned unit development 65 (PUD) tool can be effective because it takes a holistic approach to attain identified public 66 values. A density bonus is a common tool within that practice. Staff is recommending 67 that affordable housing be incorporated into the city's PUD ordinance rather than looking 68 at a"stand alone" ordinance. If the PUD approach is elected, the council should take 69 adequate time to review potential incentives. 70 Council comments: Density bonuses have been discussed by the council but using that 71 across the board would seem to take the approach too far; the city's goal is to provide real 72 affordability but this could end up being a demonstration project with little real impact; 73 what is being presented moves down the right path but the idea isn't that all high density 74 would be affordable either. 75 Community Development Director Grochala said that staff will begin working on 76 ordinance amendments once the Plan is submitted to the Met Council (the city has 9 77 months after adoption to implement ordinance changes). He is asking if the council's 78 concerns are being addressed so that the Plan can move forward. 79 b. Planning & Zoning Public Hearing - Community Development Director 80 Grochala explained that there will be a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning 2