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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 10, 2017 Page 4 Application. Since the Applicant has requested that Council directly consider the updates 1 contained in the Revised Application, a draft resolution has been prepared for Council 2 consideration. The draft resolution addresses, in particular, the continued request for a 3 Comprehensive Plan amendment and a PUD. Based on Staff review of the Planning Commission 4 actions to date and the Revised Application, Staff concludes that certain of the concerns 5 documented in the staff report with regard to the original application remain in the Revised Plan. 6 Based on consultation with the City Attorney, Staff advises that the Council has significant 7 discretion in determining whether a Comprehensive Plan amendment and a PUD as requested in 8 the Revised Application are appropriate for the health, safety and welfare of St. Anthony. It is 9 Staff’s opinion they are not. Staff has prepared a draft resolution for Council consideration, with 10 recommended findings, to deny the Comprehensive Plan amendment and the PUD. These 11 findings may be modified to reach a different conclusion during Council deliberations. 12 13 City Manager Casey recommended the project site appears to be a good candidate for a 14 Technical Assistance Panel (“TAP”). The TAP process is a service offered by the Urban Land 15 Institute to consider a prospective project and offer alternatives that meet the interests of all 16 interested parties. If Council directs Staff, inquiries could be made as to the availability and 17 timing of a TAP for this project site. 18 19 Mayor Faust noted this is not a public hearing but the developer will be asked to speak, followed 20 by any public comments. Mayor Faust reminded everyone this is a single project application 21 brought by the developer. The affordable housing components do not stand alone. Mayor Faust 22 has a strong desire to see affordable housing in this community and specifically on this site. 23 Council’s duty is to look at the entire PUD and make a reasonable, rational, and well considered 24 decision on whether this proposal matches our community’s vision. The project as a whole will 25 be considered this evening. There has been criticism by the developer of City Staff, including the 26 threat of litigation. Mayor Faust stated the Council has full confidence of City Staff and their role 27 is to strive for a fair and equitable process, remain in a neutral role and not pre-judge an 28 application. Staff can’t design the project for the developer and Staff doesn’t vote. Mayor Faust 29 stated he has full confidence that Staff did this throughout the process. 30 31 Ms. Traci Thomas, Vice President of The Village LLC, noted The Village LLC owns over 15 32 acres in the City of St. Anthony Village. She reviewed the initial vision for the land included in 33 the Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Thomas provided a PowerPoint presentation showing their plan. 34 She quoted Mayor’s comments from the 2/14/17 EAW public hearing. The revised proposal 35 includes a reduction to 40 units per acre on the 2501 Lowry Avenue site, dropping the unit count 36 to 97 (the number of homes that were in Lowry Grove) on the 2401 Lowry Avenue site as 37 replacement housing, reduced heights of buildings, additional storm water storage, increased 38 connectivity and access with internal roads and trails, and additional parking. Ms. Thomas stated 39 the changes were made in good faith thinking the Council would have a discussion about the 40 project rather than just saying no after another hurdle presented was met. The 2401 Lowry 41 Avenue site meets the Comprehensive Plan guidance and Alan Arthur, President and CEO of 42 AEON, will later note he is willing to meet the 40 units per acre as well. 43 44 4