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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-15-2023APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting February 15, 2023 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 ______________________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Chair Rundle at 6:30 p.m. for February 15, 2023. ______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Roll Call Members Present: Commissioners Curtis, Farmer, French, Munson, Rundle, and Stevenson. Absent and Excused: Commissioner Nelson. Councilmembers Present: Mayor Hull, Councilmembers Cermak, Gunn, Lindstrom and Meehlhause Also Present: Community Development Director Jon Sevald and City Administrator Nyle Zikmund Index to Minutes Page Planned Unit Development Discussion 2 Approval of Minutes 5 _____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Special Order of Business None. 4. Citizens Requests and Comments on Items Not on the Agenda None. Mounds View Planning Commission February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 2 ________________________________________________________________________ 5. Planning Cases None. 6. Other Planning Activity A. Planned Unit Development Discussion with City Council Community Development Director Sevald stated Planned Unit Developments (PUD) are intended to provide flexibility from City Code requirements, in exchange for creating a more desirable project than what would be built otherwise. The PUD ordinance includes many requirements, but ultimately allows the City Council discretion of what deviations from the City Code to allow. In Staff’s opinion, PUD’s are being overused when it would be more appropriate to amend the City Code to allow every development to benefit from higher density, smaller lots, and higher architectural and landscape standards than is currently required (without a PUD). Community Development Director Sevald reported; if the Council’s intent is to promote affordable housing (e.g. less than the median $302,000 house, $275,000 townhouse), then there is a fine-line, “give & take” between taking higher standards (architecture & open space), and giving deviations from the City Code (higher density and lesser setbacks). The goal of this discussion between the City Council and Planning Commission, is to have a high-level discussion of what the Council & Commission values, and how development can contribute toward those values (and vision). Councilmember Gunn questioned what the alternative was to a PUD. Community Development Director Sevald stated this would be straight zoning. Councilmember Gunn asked if PUD’s stay with the property. Community Development Director Sevald reported this was the case, noting the PUD would stay with the property forever. Further discussion ensued regarding how PUD’s can be amended and revoked as a CUP. Councilmember Lindstrom stated with the limited amount of space left to develop, he did not support moving away from the current model. Commissioner Munson questioned when the PUD zoning language was written. Community Development Director Sevald estimated this occurred in 1988. Commissioner Munson supported the PUD language being rewritten. Community Development Director Sevald questioned if there was anything the Commission or Council would change with the Boulevard or Bel Rae developments. Staff commented on how these developments were accessed. Mounds View Planning Commission February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 3 ________________________________________________________________________ The Commission and Council discussed these developments in further detail. The consensus of the group was that there were no concerns with either of these projects. Community Development Director Sevald inquired if the Commission or Council had comments on the Gray Stone Flats development. The only concerns with this development were the exterior colors. Councilmember Meehlhause stated he has heard INH enjoyed working with the City on this project. Community Development Director Sevald questioned if the City should consider putting a limit on building height. He anticipated the City would be considering a PUD for town homes. Councilmember Lindstrom stated he would like to see projects other than apartment complexes along Mounds View Boulevard. Commissioner Curtis indicated he would like to see future multi-family projects along Mounds View Boulevard having some form of retail included. Councilmember Gunn commented on how the City has to have more people in order to support more retail and restaurants in the community. Community Development Director Sevald commented on how the cost for commercial development was higher than residential development, which made it more difficult in the suburbs. Commissioner Munson stated Mounds View was not as walkable as other communities which may make it difficult to successfully develop mixed use projects. Councilmember Lindstrom discussed how people’s patterns have changed since COVID and how people liked staying closer to home. Councilmember Gunn stated she would not rule mixed use out as an option, but anticipated the City would have work to do on its trail and transportation system before this type of development could occur. Community Development Director Sevald indicated the City may have to consider how badly it would like to see mixed use developments, and if the City would be willing to subsidize these commercial spaces if they were not able to find or maintain tenants. Commissioner Farmer discussed how newer mixed use developments in the suburbs might happen gradually over time, and might not look like previous mixed use developments. Community Development Director Sevald questioned if the Commission and the Council supported smaller lot sizes in order to create more affordable housing. He commented on how the Council must balance the number of affordable housing units with the need for market rate units and single family homes. Mounds View Planning Commission February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 4 ________________________________________________________________________ Councilmember Gunn supported smaller lots in order to offer more affordable housing in Mounds View. Councilmember Gunn asked if the City allowed accessory dwelling units. Community Development Director Sevald discussed how City Code addressed ADU’s. He questioned how the Council and Commission felt about ADU’s or tiny homes. Chair Rundle stated he supported tiny homes, but he was uncertain where they should be located in Mounds View. Councilmember Gunn feared that if the City did not allow tiny homes, that the City would be limiting who could move into the community. Commissioner Curtis suggested the City consider locating tiny homes on vacant lots in Mounds View. He supported the City being mindful of existing residents and the quiet enjoyment of their property, while also making it easier for developers to bring tiny homes into the community. City Administrator Zikmund stated Belden River Estates may be a good location for tiny homes. Commissioner Farmer agreed that zoning would assist with allowing tiny homes in the community. He understood this was an emerging market and he could support a cluster of tiny homes in Mounds View. Councilmember Lindstrom stated it was his understanding tiny homes would range in price from $200,000 to $250,000, which was not exactly affordable. Councilmember Gunn explained she was not advocating for tiny homes in back yards, but she did support a tiny home neighborhood on vacant lots in the community. Jamie Stolpestad, Yard Homes representative, introduced himself to the Council and Commission noting his company manufactures compact dwellings used as ADU’s. He reported there were 50 cities, counties and townships in Minnesota that allow ADU’s. He explained some of these communities allow for clustered developments or cottage home parks. He stated an overlay district was created for these communities. He commented the biggest pressure for ADU’s was for the senior population. Councilmember Curtis stated he would like to see potential zoning language from staff on how the City should regulate ADU’s. Community Development Director Sevald thanked the Council and Commission for their feedback on this topic. Mounds View Planning Commission February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 5 ________________________________________________________________________ 7. Approval of Minutes January 18, 2023. MOTION/SECOND: Commissioner Stevenson/Commissioner Curtis. To approve the Minutes of the January 18, 2023 regular Planning Commission meetings as presented. Ayes – 6 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 8. Reports A. Upcoming Planning Cases & Activity Community Development Director Sevald stated he had no upcoming Planning Cases at this time. B. Staff Updates Community Development Director Sevald provided the Commission with an update from staff. He reported staff has been working to update its permitting software. City Administrator Zikmund updated the Commission on the potential Community Center expansion. He explained staff has met with local legislators in order to draft bills for bonding from the State. He stated the goal would be to get in the governors bonding for 2024. He indicated the City was considering a local sales tax to assist with funding the Community Center expansion. He reported a mailing would be sent to residents with specific information regarding the local sales tax and why this was needed for the Community Center. He explained six community meetings were scheduled in order to invite the public in to learn more about the project. City Administrator Zikmund discussed the recently approved agreement with the Rice Creek Watershed District regarding maintenance of the City’s ditches. He commented further on how the City would be working to restore its stormwater ponds and ditches. C. Council Updates Council Member Meehlhause provided the Planning Commission with an update from the City Council. He discussed how local legislators support the Community Center expansion and the regional impact this facility would have on the community. He noted the City has met with the National Sports Center to ensure that the City’s efforts were not taking away from their facility. He reported the Council recently approved a Human Dignity Task Force. Mounds View Planning Commission February 15, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 6 ________________________________________________________________________ D. Planning Commissioner Reports Commissioner French reported this would be his last Planning Commission meeting. He explained he would be moving out of Mounds View. Commissioner Curtis commented on how effective the new stop sign has been in his neighborhood. 9. Next Planning Commission Meeting: A. Wednesday, March 1, 2023 B. Wednesday, March 15, 2023 ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. Adjournment There being no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair Rundle adjourned the meeting at 8:38 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________________ Respectfully submitted, Jon Sevald Community Development Director Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial