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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/05/2001 EDAC Minutes 1 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, April 5, 2001 MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Juni, T. Vacha, J. Schwartz, J. Milbauer, F. Chase, K. Hansmann, R. Jensen MEMBERS ABSENT: D. Gorowsky OTHERS PRESENT: J. Bergeson, D. Carlson, J. O’Donnell, J. Reinert, R. Rafferty, M. Divine, B. Wessel GENERAL/MINUTES The March 1, 2001 minutes were approved. DELLWOOD LLC/TARGET UPDATE Mr. Wessel showed members the revised Target site plan, which includes a Kohl’s department store and several retail pads. He explained the attempt was being made to incorporate some of the architectural elements of the Town Center, including some brick and metal roof detailing. Bill Wittrock with RSP will work with Target and Kohl’s to integrate some sort of architectural expression in both buildings. The city will be purchasing the “orphan” piece north of the Apollo Drive. It can be kept as an entrance into the center, or sell it to Ryan Companies and consolidate it into the retail area. It was appraised originally at $4.25/SF. Ryan is paying Rehbein $2.50/SF for the Target site. Ms. Divine updated the members regarding the Village. The development team is working on a development agreement for the city-owned land. They will be asking for exclusive rights for a period of time. The LCDA applications are due in May. The YMCA facilities committee is continuing to work on the preliminary site plan, to estimate the amount of land needed for full buildout in the future. Darrell Silverness, the YMCA director for this project is leaving his position, and Pat Riemersma, the executive director of the Shoreview YMCA will take over his position, 2 and a full-time program coordinator will be hired. Mr. Milbauer added that the YMCA realizes the land they might need was designated for sale by the city, and understands appropriate arrangements will need to be made for any extra land they may need. Ms. Carlson mentioned the Centerville mayor is interested in ways the two cities can work together. Ms. Divine said discussions with Centerville and Circle Pines have been ongoing regarding participating in the YMCA construction. Mr. Wessel stated that every developer asks for a subsidy to kick start development. The economic feasibility study will be presented to Council on April 18. Every project will be reviewed within the context of that study. EDAC/COUNCIL DISCUSSION RE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES Mr. Chase stated that EDAC’s task was to look through the draft Comprehensive Plan and bring forth questions and issues. Ms. Carlson noted that the addition of the words “low and moderate” as a description of the majority of residential housing in Lino Lakes meant that there was a shortage of life cycle housing, not necessarily housing that meets the goals of the Livable Communities affordability . The other point of changing it relates to the Springsted conclusion that the city had a net property tax burden based on residential development based on the goals of the Comp Plan and the city can offset some of the tax burden by pursuing higher priced homes, as well as life cycle housing. She described higher value homes as above $180,000. Neighboring communities are building housing up to $1 million, so Lino Lakes should be able to do it also. Mr. Chase said he believed the Comp Plan task force intent was to have a mix, but overall, the housing would pay for itself in services. Mr. Milbauer said there is some high value housing in Lino Lakes in the Pheasant Hills area. Ms. Divine asked if the items crossed out of the draft Comp Plan, including the scattering of higher density housing throughout the community were reflected in the land use map changes. Ms. Carlson said one area was removed by 35E because Hugo is building higher density in that area. Mr. Reinert added that North Oaks on the north border is adding 300-400 units. Ms. Schwartz said the market demand is there in Hugo. Mr. Wessel stated that developers, including Target, have concerns about future growth, and are concerns about caps on development. Uncertainty about residential development is one justification for subsidy, because they feel the market is premature. The Town Center project is conceived as a mixed use, and the question is whether it will be exempt from the cap on housing. Mr. Chase said EDAC discussed the Village as the perfect place for high density housing. What will work is driven by economics. If public officials dictate density, and phasing, it makes the project more difficult. Mr. O’Donnell said the council agrees and wants to keep the end vision in mind. There will be spikes in development, but growth will be managed over 20 years to get to the end goal. Ms. Carlson said all councilmembers agree that the Village housing phasing can’t be dictated. The total number of the units in the Village could be built all at once, but stay with the Comp Plan goals. The total number of 3 houses built would be spread out over a period of years, so the goal for 35% multi-family would be maintained long term and single family homes could be built. Mr. Bergeson said some flexibility must be maintained. Goals need to be adapted to the real marketplace. Ms. Carlson said council had not reached agreement regarding exempting the housing in the Village from the overall total number of houses long term, but do agree it needs to be built as it comes. Mr. Milbauer said it’s nice to have an ideal, but it must be adaptable, guidelines rather than standards. Mr. Reinert said it’s what they did on the north side. How close are they looking at it and trying to mold into the whole plan. Mr. Wessel said Ryan has been very responsive to the architectural design issues. That’s a lot different than the Village. The north will be an automobile based commercial center. Mr. Bergeson said he wishes there were something halfway between guidelines and standards. He believes in the Target situation, the guideline concept is working. In the Village the city has negotiating tools. With guidelines they only have to do what is within the building code. Mr. Rafferty said flexibility gets stretched. The city has limited areas of development and the city has to stick with guidelines, with some flexibility. P&Z spent many hours looking at standards, and if it’s watered down, why waste the time. Mr. Milbauer said builders won’t build because it costs more. Ms. Hansmann said flexibility is necessary because business has to be profitable. If a commercial development comes in where multi-family housing is planned, maybe it should be considered. The freeway is the gateway to the city and where the commercial needs to be. Multi-housing is important, her employees can’t live in this community. Ms. Schwartz introduced the statement “flexible guideline standards that do not impact the integrity of the intent and promotes positive economic development.” Mr. O’Donnell said he agrees with flexibility with consistency. The city wants a place where it flows, where families can come and it’s inviting. Mr. Reinert said he’s hearing no extreme viewpoint. He doesn’t like high density housing, but realizes some is needed. Mr. Chase said he thought the standards were going to zoning because some people didn’t want to negotiate. Once it is in zoning, it ties the hands of the council. Mr. Rafferty said developers start with less with the minimum. Mr. Chase said the Target project wouldn’t have gone in if the standards were in place. Mr. Bergeson said the design guidelines should not be the same level of law as the zoning ordinance because the ordinance is specific regarding setbacks, etc. To make an exception is a technical variance. The guidelines shouldn’t have the same legal limitations so when an exception is appropriate we don’t have to meet the legal standard. Mr. Wessel said prospects are concerned about housing caps. They look at their future market. Mr. O’Donnell said Lino Lakes is in the top ten of growing communities. Mr. Wessel said it’s perception. It’s not where the city has been, it’s were it is going. Mr. Wessel said the TND standards in the Village have been as asset, because it creates a market on the cutting edge. The ambivalence, the lack of direction regarding the Comp 4 Plan, that has been a problem. The sense of developers is this is a premature market. The question is does the city want this project or want to wait. Mr. Chase said many restrictions, including the lakes and freeways, are detriments to development. The growth needs to be in the areas where the city wants commercial development. Mr. Rafferty asked what the city could do to put a carrot out to jump start quality development. Mr. Bergeson said the number one problem is perception of anti-growth, while it should be that there are opportunities for housing and commercial development. Mr. Jensen said getting the Comp Plan approved would help. Mr. Juni said he believed the Target project could change perception. Ms. Schwartz said she was concerned that a housing cap will not help ensure diversity. Mr. Chase said the management of 147 homes/year and diversity will have to be handled later. OTHER ISSUES Mr. Wessel said the Rehbein land adjacent to the proposed elementary school is zoned LI. The council is going through review of the land use map in regard to requests from landowners. Rehbein is considering requesting that land be rezoned for commercial. Another inquiry is on the athletic complex on the southeast of Birch and Centerville Rd. Prior to the city buying it, 20 acres was zoned commercial, but that was taken out. The question is whether the city is willing to look at some commercial on that site, as originally talked about. They may have to be addressed after the Comp Plan is approved. Mr. Bergeson asked if the inquiries can be put into a memo. Mr. Chase asked members to submit any suggested changes to the draft Comp Plan to Ms. Divine. Meeting adjourned, 8:45 a.m.