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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes August 28 , 2017 Page 9 own visioning session emphasized affordable housing, emphasized Lowry Grove as a target for 1 density, a target for seniors, the street face should be developed with density and the City would 2 embrace the new residents. The entire site will be significantly more feasible if the requested 3 density is approved to maximize the affordability for the 110 affordable units. The City of St. 4 Anthony Village was a silent partner in the settlement. A partnership of all parties is necessary to 5 make this project successful. 6 7 Ms. Traci Thomas introduced Jack Cann from Housing Justice Center. They represented the 8 Lowry Grove Resident’s Association in the lawsuit against The Villa ge. The settlement 9 agreement is fair, beneficial to all parties to the lawsuit and to the St. Anthony community. The 10 City’s Comp Plan said the City would do but the City never lifted a finger to help the displaced 11 residents. The resident’s association supports all the proposals before the Commission this 12 evening. Mr. Cann reviewed the emails submitted from residents and noted the majority of 13 comments expressed the need for the City to guarantee adequate affordable housing. He stated 14 the settlement depends on City’s approval of all aspects of the proposal. Mr. Cann cited a study 15 of policies pertaining to affordable housing. The presentation to the City explained the 16 importance of TIF. He stated there is essentially no difference between 40 and 48 units an acre. 17 It’s a difference that doesn’t make a difference. 18 19 Ms. Traci Thomas closed by saying she respectfully disagrees with staff’s recommendation to 20 deny approval of the Comp Plan amendment increasing the density. She asked that the Planning 21 Commissioners no t rely on outdated guidelines but look to the future. She requested the Planning 22 Commission approve the Comp Plan amendment to increase the density to 48 units per acre and 23 recommend approval of the Comp Plan amendment to change 2401 Kenzie Terrace land use 24 from Commercial to High Density Residential and recommend tabling consideration of the 25 preliminary PUD and preliminary plat. She will return with revisions she is sure everyone will be 26 comfortable with. 27 28 Chair Gondorchin stated there is a Spanish translator present at the meeting this evening. He will 29 take comments in the order received. There will be no time limitation per speaker but requested 30 speakers try to stay on the topic. 31 32 Ms. Monique Dubos, 2601 Kenzie Terrace, stated she is glad there is an agreement on affordable 33 housing but disheartened that it is conditional upon the proposal. She stated there has been a lot 34 of planning on this project. She noted the comparison was made to the Kenzington Terrace 35 development many times and she feels this development will dwarf the Kenzington 36 development. She believes the Kenzington is an eyesore. She does not see how the traffic will 37 not be impacted by the new project. She delivered a set of petition signatures (from 816 people) 38 from St. Anthony residents and ne ighbors. She read the petition which was signed online as well 39 as by canvassing the neighborhood. The petition asks for density to be no more than 25 units per 40 acre and buildings be no higher than 3 residential stories. 41 42 Ms. Carol Weiler, 2312 St. Anthony Pkwy, commented on building design, height, scale and 43 materials. She asked if the model presented was to scale and the response was yes. Ms. Weiler 44 noted there are homes to the south of Bremer Bank. Most of the homes which bordered Lowry 45 Grove are single story. For 70 years, the tallest thing in the neighborhood were the tall oaks 46 9