Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/06/2002 EDAC Minutes 1 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES DATE: Thursday, June 6, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Juni, T. Vacha, F. Chase, J. Schwartz, R. Jensen, K. Hansmann, D.Gorowsky, J. Milbauer MEMBERS ABSENT: B. Hicks OTHERS PRESENT: M. Divine, M. Grochala, D. Carlson GENERAL/MINUTES Minutes of May 2, 2002 were approved. UPDATES Spirit Hills Commercial: Ms. Divine stated that Glenn Rehbein had pulled out of the commercial project at Birch Street and Hodgson Road. Rockey Goertz will be proceeding with the development, and will be submitting a new plan. Mr. Gorowsky asked if there would be an access from Birch. Mr. Grochala responded the access would be off an extension of Ware Road, which will eventually extend all the way to Hodgson Road. Quan Technology: Ms. Divine stated this project was building 13,000 square feet on two acres in the Apollo Business Park, on the last freeway spot. They are submitting in July. Reconstruction of Hodgson Road: Mr. Grochala stated that the city has been dealing with the county for approximately two years regarding Hodgson from Lake Drive to County Road J. Turnback funds were available for its reconstruction, and it originally would have been constructed this year. The County plan was 120 feet of ROW, 84-foot curb to curb, four lanes with a divided median. After discussion with the city, the county compromised to 100 feet of ROW, with 68-foot curb to curb, and eliminating the median between Birch and J, but having a center turn lane instead. The speed limit would have to be dropped to 45 mph if the center median was eliminated. The county went through a “context sensitive design” process with the city and residents, and the residents weren’t able to agree to the county’s compromise. The count y has stated the city’s proposed design is unacceptable. The compromise design is on the table, but it requires city approval, otherwise the county will abandon the project. The county would still reconstruct the bridge and put signals at Birch and 2 Hodgson, but at the original county standards. Conversations since indicate the county may not even be willing to do the compromise design, but would spend the money elsewhere. Mr. Jensen asked who wouldn’t want this road. Mr. Grochala said north of Birch it is mainly the speed limit issue, south of Birch some houses would become closer to the ROW, and a business on J may have a building removed. If the full median goes in, there are a lot of driveway access issues. Mr. Jensen stated this road had to be done. Ms. Schwartz stated it was free money that was being passed up. Mr. Grochala stated this project won’t come back until the city requests it from the county, and then the city will have to share in the cost. Ms. Carlson said in some areas the proposed road didn’t meet the city’s comprehensive plan. Mr. Chase stated that political bodies and residents should not be designing roads, it should be left to the experts. Mr. Vacha stated the county has policy for that reason. Mr. Grochala noted that is the county engineer’s position, he has to sign off on the plan. Ms. Carlson said the county’s plan would cost the city an access onto the Miller farm property. Mr. Grochala said that will be an issue with or without the road project. What clouds the issue with residents is that each county has different standards, speed limits, and methods for paying for the improvements, and the residents wonder why one county can have it one way, and another can’t. Ms. Carlson said there are economic issues for people along the road, because their wells and septics are near the ROW. Mr. Grochala stated if the wells or septic are in the ROW, they get new ones at county expense. He added that we need to extend utilities in the southwest corner, and this could be done at the county’s expense if this project was done. This is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed. Ms. Schwartz stated that if you live on a major road, you run the risk of being acquired, and you will be compensated. The city has an excellent commercial redevelopment opportunity at Hodgson and J. Ms. Carlson said her position is if they don’t reach an agreement they will lose the opportunity to get the compromise. The council hasn’t seen what the county has been willing to accept. Mr. Grochala stated it would be going back to a council work session. Ms. Schwartz moved to recommend the city give strong consideration to approving the county’s compromise plan of 100 feet ROW. Ms. Hansmann seconded the motion. Mr. Jensen asked how many buildings would be removed with the original county plan. Mr. Grochala stated six; in the compromise plan one building is removed. Mr. Jensen said that Hodgson and J needed redeveloping and it was an opportunity to remove those buildings. Mr. Grochala stated there are property owners interested, and the county obtaining ROW would facilitate redevelopment. Mr. Juni stated the message EDAC wants to send is “don’t be shortsighted, don’t lose this “ Motion passed with Mr. Jensen voting no. Mr. Jensen explained his vote by stating he is in favor of the road being built to the original county standards, not to the compromised standards. 3 Metropolitan Council Population forecasts Ms. Divine passed out the new Metropolitan Council forecasts, and the city draft comprehensive plan forecasts. Mr. Grochala stated the new Met Council has Lino Lakes at 8,800 households in 2020, the city has the comp plan at 7,575 households in 2020. The Met Council staff has stated there are several issues, mainly that the city’s comp plan is inconsistent with the metrowide growth forecasts and system plans. The Met Council is not willing to approve the comp plan because of this. Also, the comp plan has residential net density at 2.8 units/acre, the Met Council has not approved a plan with densities of less than 3 per acre. Also, the city does not have enough medium density housing on the plan, we need to add 27-60 acres. The city has no high density designated anywhere. Mr. Grochala said the council is going to have to deal with its forecast and the 147 new homes/year limit. At 8,800 households, the city would add approximately 185 units instead of 147, which is still lower than what the city has been averaging. Staff will put options together on how to address the issues. The Met Council is taking a stronger stance on these issues. Mr. Milbauer stated the comp plan needs to get approved. He stated Lino Lakes is not an affordable housing market, and it could eventually force a lawsuit against the city. Mr. Chase said the original task force was trying to limit sprawl, and ended up counting bodies, which was not the intent. There is a need for affordable housing and you can increase households without ruining the environment. Mr. Grochala asked what the city wants, is it the quantity or the quality of development that is important. He said if we have to add more medium density housing, where would we do it? Forty acres added on 33 square miles is irrelevant. He noted the two sites at Birch and Hodgson and at Hodgson and J, where developers are saying is more commercial area zoned than will ever work in the market. These areas could become mixed use with smaller neighborhood retail. Carving out some of this commercial for medium density could also facilitate the development of these areas. Ms. Schwartz stated that for every $1,000 that a house goes up in value, 30,000 people are priced out of it. Affordable housing is a spur for economic development. Mr. Gorowsky said the city has been reluctant to give up any commercial property. However, these couple sites would accomplish goals of affordable housing. Mr. Grochala said it doesn’t matter what the zoning map says, if it won’t develop. Mr. Milbauer agreed these two instances make sense and could help get the comp plan passed. Ms. Schwartz moved to recommend the City Council strongly consider allocating portions of the commercial areas on Hodgson and Birch (Miller farm), and on Birch and County Road J intersection to be medium or high density residential. Mr. Milbauer seconded the motion. Ms. Schwartz pointed out that EDAC has a past motion that it would not support a net loss of commercial/industrial land. Mr. Milbauer noted the motion is a compromise to getting the comp plan approved and is based on what the market is saying. Ms. Carlson noted that the tax benefit to the city may be just as great with multi-family since the change in tax laws. Motion passed unanimously. 4 Mr. Milbauer stated he would like to see the city council give strong consideration to the Met Council recommendations for amending the comp plan, and if the city has to add 30 houses, it should be done. Mr. Grochala stated it’s likely even the medium density homes in Lino Lakes will not be affordable. Ms. Carlson said she has attended meetings regarding “inclusionary” housing, which is mixing affordable units in market rate neighborhoods. Mr. Milbauer moved that the council give strong consideration to the Metropolitan Council recommendations regarding amending the comp plan in the areas of housing units, affordable housing and density. Ms. Schwartz seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Hodgson Road/Lake Drive property Members discussed the uses for the property that is zoned General Business. It has numerous limitations to development. Several developers have asked about high density residential or assisted living uses on the site. Since the city owns it, covenants could be put on the site regarding use. It was decided to consider having the appraisal done separately for commercial and residential. Meeting adjourned. 5