CC MINUTES 09122017 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017 Page 6 1 buildings is very dark and more likely to be similar to buildings in downtown Minneapolis not in 2 St. Anthony. She urged Council to consider the guidelines when considering the project. She is 3 not against developing the land but how it will be done is important. She would like shorter 4 buildings, more trees and greenspace. She stated St. Anthony could become a model to the 5 Country on how problems are addressed. 7 Ms. Susan Cox, 27`h Avenue NE, stated her yard backs up to the Kenzington. She is not opposed 8 to the higher density. She pointed out Lowry Grove is currently zoned single family which is 20- 9 25 units per acre. She has concerns with the water management aspect of the developer's plan 10 and believes the City needs to plan for more than the typical rainfall. The developer said the 11 traffic will not be impacted. She urged the Council to reject the developer's request for Tax 12 Increment Financing, thinking they should not need financial assistance. She stated she wants 13 any development in that area to include affordable housing and does not think the current 14 proposal is the only option to be considered. 15 16 Ms. Andrea Boss, 31" Avenue NE, read a letter from Mary Jackson of 3605 37`h Avenue NE. 17 She asked that a special election be held to fill the vacant Council seat. She does not want the 18 Council to use the appointment option. Ms. Boss agreed a special election would be the most 19 transparent way to fill the seat. 20 21 Mr. Perry Thorvig, 3112 Townview, agreed two years is too long to have an interim 22 appointment. He also agreed a special election should be held. Mr. Thorvig asked if the 23 developer would be making a presentation and would the public be given the same amount of 24 time for feedback and comments. Mr. Thorvig commented on the Planning Commission 25 Meeting, feeling that residents missed a couple of components of the Lowry Grove plan, i.e., 26 Letter of Proposed Development requiring the City to approve and provide for the settlement. He 27 noted the letter references Tax Increment Financing and he saw the preliminary request for Tax 28 Increment Financing from the developer for $20.5 million. He stated the developer stated the 29 project would not proceed without Tax Increment Financing but this was not included in the staff 30 report. He referenced another letter dated August 15` stating the terms of the settlement were 31 confidential. It did not give the details of the global resolution. He does not feel this is a fair and 32 open process, noting the City of St. Anthony was not part of the settlement negotiations until 33 now when the Council is told they must approve. He stated it is time for the Council to take 34 control of this project. He requested Council follow the Planning Commission's recommendation 35 for denial of the proposal. 36 37 Ms. Susan Guthrie, 2616 Pahl Avenue, expressed her concern on flooding. They were present at 38 the 1998 flooding mitigation project and flooding continues on the streets with high rainfalls. 39 She described the flooding in the past, thinking the numbers used do not reflect the current 40 rainfall patterns as many residents have had water in their basement. She noted the developer 41 cannot add water to the already flooding problems and she does not believe Lowry Grove can 42 manage their own water. She stated she had called the Mississippi Watershed and asked if they 43 were involved in this project and was told they are not, were willing to help, but have not been 44 asked. She noted that Ms. Rothstein and Mr. Hubmer are not City employees. They are contract 45 employees from WSB. She stated she does not know how many hours they work on St. Anthony 46 business and suggested more resources be put on the project on behalf of the City. She requested