02-19-08 Worksession CC/HRA/PC
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL/HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY/PLANNING COMMISSION
WORKSESSION MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Worksession of City
Council/HRA/Planning Commission
February 19, 2008
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Members
Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Sue Sandahl; Fred Wroge; and
Bill Kilian.
HRA Members
Present: Sue Sandahl, Chair; Martin Kirsch; Joan Helmberger; David Gepner
(arrived 5:45 p.m.); and Doris Rubenstein.
Planning Commission
Members Present: Gordon Hanson, Chair; Catherine Peloquin; Maureen Scaglia; and Rick
Jabs.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; John Stark, Interim Community
Development Director; Karen Barton, Community Development Manager;
and Cheryl Krumholz, Recording Secretary.
Item #1 DISCUSSION WITH CORRIDOR HOUSING INITIATIVE REGARDING DRAFT
DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES NO. 33/HRA MEMO NO. 5)
Interim Community Development Director Stark stated the City of Richfield was selected to
participate in the Corridor Housing Initiative (CHI) process that was undertaken by Hennepin
Special Worksession Minutes -2- February 19, 2008
County. The purpose of CHI is to work with residents and developers to create development
strategies that meet community desires while remaining financially feasible. In the case of
Richfield’s involvement, three specific sites were studied as part of the CHI process:
?
76th Street and Lyndale Avenue
?
77th Street and Pleasant Avenue
?
72nd Street and Penn Avenue
A total of eight community meetings have been held during the past several months with
the goal of creating development strategies for these sites. A set of Development Guidelines has
now been drafted for each of these sites based on the participation of community members, design
consultants and developers.
Interim Community Development Director Stark continued that the three sites were selected
because either development was City-controlled (77th Street/Pleasant Avenue is the current
garage site) or developer interest (76th Street/Lyndale Avenue and 72nd Street/Penn Avenue.)
Gretchen Nicholls, CHI representative, discussed the Development Guidelines for each
site, including development options providing opportunities and challenges.
Community testimony was invited and provided by:
?
Tom Madsen, 7026 Morgan Avenue, spoke in support of the CHI process.
?
Camillo DeSantis, 6508 Newton Avenue, spoke in support of the CHI process.
?
Lisa LaDue, Partnership Academy representative, spoke in support of the CHI process
as a potential developer of one of the sites.
Barbara Raye, CHI representative, stated the majority of the participants would recommend
the process be used again. Elected officials guide the community but the process provided a
sharing of ideas and concerns from residents.
Council Member Wroge stated he was impressed with the process and it appears the
outcome is agreement of the potential development of two of the three sites. The neighborhood
appears concerned with the proposed development of the 72nd Street and Penn Avenue site,
including too much being on the site and the discussion of having tax incremented financing (TIF)
assistance when this is green space.
Council Member Wroge continued that a conscientious, good decision on development
needs to be made with the reality being that sometimes you can’t have what you want.
HRA Commissioner Rubenstein stated she agreed with Council Member Wroge’s
comments, including concerns regarding TIF use. She said the summaries of previous meetings
by CHI were accurate.
Planning Commission Member Hanson suggested the process be framed so some ideas
are more realistic.
HRA Commissioner Kirsch spoke in support of the process and that it was a good
demonstration of the difficult decisions made by the City Council and HRA.
Mayor Goettel spoke of being an affordable housing advocate, inclusionary zoning and the
need for “move-up” housing.
Special Worksession Minutes -3- February 19, 2008
Council Member Wroge stated the City Council is elected to represent the people, not to do
their own thing. He added that it appears the process contradicted what the neighborhood wanted.
Ms. Nicholls stated that CHI does not control or promote the sites but rather facilitates
dialogue as a neutral party. She added that there was confusion with the 72nd Street and Penn
Avenue site because a development proposal was underway at the same time.
Council Member Kilian stated that Richfield is a planning community. What gets on a site is
what somebody is willing to build there with the potential of great disappointment for some.
Ms. Nicholls said what the neighborhood wants, as well as the broader constituency, needs
to be considered.
Interim Community Development Director Stark stated that City staff provided information
as requested but took a backseat because this was a community driven process.
Council Member Kilian left at 6:30 p.m.
Item #2 DISCUSSION WITH PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING REGARDING 72ND
STREET AND PENN AVENUE COUNCIL MEMO NO. 34/HRA MEMO NO. 6)
Interim Community Development Director Stark stated that Project for Pride in Living (PPL)
is in the process of purchasing a vacant parcel at the intersection of 72nd Street and Penn Avenue,
currently owned by B’Nai Emet Synagogue Cemetery. PPL is proposing to develop the land with
affordable multi-family housing and a new school for the Partnership Academy. As part of the
Corridor Housing Initiative, PPL has met with community and neighborhood members to discuss
the proposed project and has received mixed feedback.
Chris Wilson, PPL representative, discussed the proposed development concept as a
Center for Living and Learning, with three components: school, housing, and family resources
center. He explained the housing and resource center components.
Lisa LaDue, Partnership Academy representative, discussed the school component.
HRA Commissioner Rubenstein asked about the relationship in living in the rental housing
with attending the school.
Mr. Wilson responded that it is anticipated renters will be interested in the school but fair
housing practices apply.
Council Member Rosenberg left at 6:43 p.m.
HRA Commissioner Rubenstein asked about the services to be provided and the school
serving as a centralized location.
Ms. LaDue explained the services provided and that there is an overabundance for the
need and coordination of those services.
Mayor Goettel stated that many services are already provided.
Special Worksession Minutes
-4-
February 19, 2008
Ms. LaDue stated that Partnership Academy at Assumption Church opened in 2002 and
enrollment has doubled since then. Primarily the Latino population attends the school with
Spanish being the primary language and English learning classes provided.
Council Member Wroge asked PPL if they have done a school/housing project previously.
Mr. Wilson responded no; there is only one national model in Los Angeles that has had
positive outcomes. PPL has done rental housing.
Planning Commission Member Jabs left at 6:47 p.m.
Council Member Wroge asked about PPL being the financial arm for the school.
Mr. Wilson responded no; the financial aspect is separate with PPL handling the affordable
housing and resource center and Partnership Academy having their own financing.
Ms. LaDue stated that Partnership Academy has their own financing and is following the
process legally as a way to own property.
Council Member Wroge discussed concerns regarding creating a sense of a segregated
area, the 72nd Street and Penn Avenue property being non-taxable, and the school's need for
leaving Assumption Church which would then create a vacancy there.
Ms. LaDue explained that additional resources are provided so more space is needed,
there are not enough classrooms for the growth the parents want. The attendance by primarily
Latino students was unintended but growth has increased due to word of mouth and the presence
of siblings.
Bob Hall, 7309 Oliver Avenue, asked questions regarding conducting a demographic study
showing where the Hispanic community is located in Richfield, traffic projections, parking,
playground space, and a gymnasium.
Betty Gustafson, Richfield resident, expressed concern regarding parking.
Due to lack of time, Mayor Goettel requested PPL and Partnership Academy address these
comments with residents in the City Hall lobby.
I ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:56 p.m.
f!J~~
Cheryl Kru holz
Recording Secretary
Date Approved: March ll. 2008