09-11-07 Special
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY/CITY COUNCil/PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Meeting of HRA/City
Council/Planning Commission
September 11, 2007
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:35 p.m.
Council Members
Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Bill Kilian; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; and Fred
Wroge.
HRA Members
Present: Sue Sandahl; Marty Kirsch; and Joan Heimberger.
HRA Members
Not Present: David Gepner; and Donna Drummond.
Planning Commission
Members Present: Gordon Hanson.
Planning Commission
Members Not Present: Jeffrey Karr; David Schneider; Maureen Scaglia; Greg Van Sickle; Eric Mayo;
Jeffrey Walz; Rick Jabs; and Dennis Schuller.
Staff Present:
Steve Devich, City ManagerlExecutive Director; Bruce Palmborg, Community
Development Director; Patrick Smith, Community Development Manager;
John Stark, Housing and Redevelopment Manager/Assistant Community
Development Director; Christine Costello, Community Development
Specialist; Vanessa Haight, Housing Specialist; and Cheryl Krumholz,
Recording Secretary.
Item #1
Housing and Redevelopment Manager/Assistant Community Development Director Stark
stated the City of Richfield has been selected to participate in the Corridor Housing Initiative (CHI) to
provide planning assistance on three development sites: 76th Street/Lynda Ie Avenue; 77th
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September 11, 2007
Street/Pleasant Avenue; and 72nd Street/Penn Avenue (Cemetery site). He explained the funding
sources which does not include any City funding except staff support.
Gretchen Nicholls, Center for Neighborhoods, and Barbara Raye, Center for Policy Planning
and Performance, discussed the purpose of CHI, intended outcomes and planning process to
promote innovation, equity and sustainability at the neighborhood and community level. The value
and impact of the realistic sustainability of a development are determined in advance through
workshops and dialogue with the community.
Mayor Goettel questioned how neighborhood participation is obtained.
Ms. Nicholls discussed the outreach strategy, including having community members helping to
spread the word. Churches will be included.
Mayor Goettel asked how it is determined which developers are included.
Ms. Nicholls explained there would be a focus group of previous developers in the City but it
depends on conversations at workshops and feed back from staff and City officials.
Mayor Goettel stated there should be a broader business community outreach beyond
Chamber of Commerce members and local businesses looking to expand in Richfield should be
included.
Council Member Wroge questioned how the current trend in housing and developers' interest
is handled.
Ms. Nicholls stated the market is always relevant and market shift opportunities are
considered. Developers are seeking a good community match with a welcoming environment.
Council Member Kilian expressed concern that with the Comprehensive Plan update
underway, the City could be going in several directions simultaneously and that this initiative needs to
be closely monitored and coordinated.
Planning Commission Chair Hanson said the Comprehensive Plan is not complete but it is
fairly late in the process.
Council Member Kilian added that he liked the financial component of the CHI.
Ms. Nicholls stated the CHI intent is not to duplicate or undermine current efforts but rather to
build upon it.
Council Member Wroge said the Comp Plan takes into consideration the ideal, not realistic,
development options.
Council Member Rosenberg asked about the inclusion of human services and transportation
issues as components of the CHI planning.
Ms. Nicholls said they are included.
Council Member Rosenberg asked about successful projects by CHI.
Ms Nicholls discussed projects in Minneapolis and that some initial development had to be re-
evaluated.
Council Member Rosenberg stated Richfield has a history of development and she did not
want the community to go through development "trauma" again. There needs to be an environment
of acceptance for residents, not just developers.
Council Member Kilian said it's not that no change will happen but what are the impacts.
Planning Commission Chair Hanson asked about who mostly attended workshops - those
who do or do not want change.
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September 11, 2007
Ms. Raye said there's a mix and through dialogue, a middle ground is tried to be reached.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority Commissioner Kirsch said this process can be helpful
because often times, officials are accused of having made up their mind beforehand.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:09 p.m.
Date Approved: October 15, 2007
(l~~
Cheryl K umhol ~
Recording Secretary