01/17/2001 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION JANUARY 17, 2001 to help secure the property. Staff noted there are currently no Design Standards on the Tagg property. Council Member O'Donnell expressed concern about doing the project in pieces and ending up with something that is not the vision of the City. He stated he wants to see a plan that makes good economic sense for everyone and can be supported by the market. The City Engineer stated staff needs direction regarding the $450,000 grant and moving forward with the project. Staff also needs direction regarding the Design Standards. Council Member Reinert asked if it is more important for citizens to have a place to live or to have a community center for citizens to go. Council Member O'Donnell stated he believes it is more important to have a place for the community to go to. Council Member Reinert expressed frustration regarding the proje ted the project does not fit. Mayor Bergeson stated the project is to provide a gatheri cycle housing within the City. It was the City's inte one central place within the City. Council Member O'Donnell asked if t $1.5 million grant. Staff and the million in grant money. so provide life ensity housing in ssible if the City had obtained the project was possible with the $1.5 Mrs. Tagg stated the Cilop the Tagg land to get what they want. The City will receive a tax the property. Council Member Dto ~ d she does not like having strings attached to the grant. The housing will not sup art the commercial development. She stated she would like to see commercial development on the Tagg property. More City services will be needed if there is more housing. Commercial/industrial success depends on the visibility from the freeway. She stated everything is up in the air and there are too many unknowns. She stated she does not want the City to fail. Council Member Carlson stated staff would like to develop the City owned parcel from the grant. She expressed concern regarding the number of units on the land but indicated the housing should be on City land. She asked if it is possible to have the Design Standards relate to commercial development only on the Tagg property. She expressed concern regarding access, the YMCA, and other factors relating to the project. Staff advised the Metropolitan Council has always liked the mix of housing within the project. She stated the City should tell them if no housing units are planned for the Tagg