Laserfiche WebLink
Item No: 05A <br />Meeting Date: July 21, 2021 <br />Type of Business: Planning Cases <br />Planning Case: N/A <br />City of Mounds View Staff Report <br />To: Planning Commission <br />From: Jon Sevald, Community Development Director <br />Item Title/Subject: Concept Plan Review: Skyline, 4889 Old Highway 8 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Introduction: <br />MWF Properties has submitted a concept plan for a 120-unit senior (55+) apartment building. <br />The building will be four stories above underground parking, and consist of one, two, and three <br />bedroom units. The project will be affordable housing, with income limits of 50% of the Average <br />Median Income (AMI). Maximum rents and income limits varies based on household size, and <br />the number of bedrooms. For example, in Ramsey County, a three-person household with two- <br />bedrooms, has an income limit of $47,250, and a maximum gross rent of $1,181 per month. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />A Concept Plan Review is intended to solicit comments from the Planning Commission and City <br />Council, to assist the Developer in site planning. A Concept Plan does not have the detail <br />expected for a formal Development Review. The expectation is for individual members of the <br />Commission/Council to provide opinions. There is no formal action or Resolution. All opinions <br />are non-binding. <br /> <br />After Concept Plan Review, the Developer intends to submit an application for; (1) Rezoning <br />from Industrial (I-1) and Highway Business (B-3), to Planned Unit Development (PUD); (2) <br />Subdivision; and (3) Development Review. <br /> <br />Additionally, the City intends to amend the 2020 Comprehensive Plan (after it’s adopted) to <br />increase the maximum density for properties guided as Mixed Use, from 30-units per acre, to <br />50-units per acre. The proposed project has a density of 34-units per acre. For comparison, <br />Gray Stone Flats has a density of 31 units per acre, and Bel Rae is at 45 units per acre. <br /> <br />Recent Project History: <br />The Skyline Motel was built in 1953, and was prominently visible from Interstate 35W , across <br />from the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP). Throughout the years, the Motel <br />experienced numerous police calls, Fire Code violations, and was a priority redevelopment site <br />for the City. <br /> <br />In 2018, a developer proposed a 61-unit apartment (affordable housing), with social service <br />offices. The project was not awarded Housing Tax Credits from the state. Thus, the developer <br />requested that the City assume the purchase agreement. In December 2018, the Mounds View <br />Economic Development Authority (EDA) purchased the motel for $1,332,271. The City <br />removed the motel and marketed the property for redevelopment. In 2019, a developer <br />proposed a hotel on the Skyline site and an office building on the adjacent vacant Bauer <br />Welding property (project was not financially feasible). In 2020, the City considered four <br />proposals; an assisted living facility; affordable apartments; and two separate self-storage <br />proposals. The EDA directed the first two developers to work together (Augusta Development <br />and MWF Properties). Augusta backed out of the project in spring 2020, due to lack of market <br />demand for assisted living. <br /> <br />In April 2021, the EDA and MWF Properties entered into a Preliminary Development <br />Agreement, including; (1) a 96-unit apartment building and (2) a 120-unit senior (55+) apartment