02-22-05 Worksession
HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY/CITY COUNCil/PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Concurrent Worksession of
HRA/City Council/Planning Commission
February 22, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 5:34 p.m.
Council Members
Present:
HRA Members
Present:
HRA Members
Not Present:
Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Susan Rosenberg; Fred Wrage; Bill Kilian; and Sue
Sandahl.
Martin Kirsch; Kristal Stokes; Sue Sandahl; and Joan Heimberger.
Thomas Harms, Chair.
Planning Commission
Members Present: Gordon Hanson; Greg Van Sickle; Maureen Scaglia; Donna Drummond;
Jeffrey Karr; and Kim Houle.
Planning Commission
Members Not Present: Jeffrey Walz; Kyle Hartnett; and David Schneider.
Staff Present:
Steve Devich, Acting City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director;
Bruce Palmborg, Community Development Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety
Director; John Stark, Assistant Community Development Director; and Cheryl
Krumholz, Recording Secretary.
Item #1
Assistant Community Development Director Stark reviewed the history of the Cedar Corridor
concept site plan from 2000 to the present.
Michelle Mongeon, JLG Architects, explained the creation of a vision for the site with
compatible uses. She added details still need to be discussed.
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February 22, 2005
Mr. Stark said the City Council an.d,HRA have approved the broad concept plan but that it
continues to be C9nC€lpJ~al and fluid. The plan needs to be uniquely Richfield and well landscaped.
Ryan Companies,does nottellRictifieltlw,hat the plants, but Rn::hfieldfells Ryan.
Michael Schroeder, Westwood Profes'sicmat Services, Inc., discussed the essential elements
needed and more Clet9ils on the site pl~n. ' ,
'". ML. Stark explained the prC?s.and cons of the newest concept plan asjdeotiftecj by staff's
internal Design Review Adviso"ry Committee. The architecture of th,e building has broad ,elements
that need to be pr,e..sented to Ry,an:
Mr. Stark asked the City Council if staff is proc.eeding in the right 'direction with this Cedar
Point site plan and.if it sQouldbe presented to RYan. L,and. use .approvals are next. Site plans
prepared by RyclO'fIiJl J"-e. pr,e~eDted toJheCityC9l,ll}cil ~ndwJI,1 be compared to tonight's plao with
explanation~ forchar'1ges.-N~ighb9rhoQd meetings will be coriductea. Redevelopment and
transportation go h;;ind-in-hand in' projects like this because one drives the other.
Council Member Wroge asked if the greenwaY is essenti911y 17th Avenue and if Cedar
Avenue will not exist.
Mr. Stark said yes. The nE':lW brigge and rar,nps,at66th Street/Cedar Avenue eliminates Cedar
Avenue.
Council Member Wroge asked about access to TClft Park and traffic being forced on to
neighborhoqd.stre~ts. '
Mr. Stark explained the acCess points to the park which should feel like extensions of the park
with'the landscaped parkway.
HRA Commissiol1er Heimberger said she liked the overall view but expressed concern
regarding a traffic jam to get in and Ol,lt of the parking lot re,sulHng in increased residential traffic.
, Public Works Director Eastlingexplaine,d that WSB consultant, reviewed the site and is
confident traffic to and from the site can beadequ;;itely handled.
Mr. Stark' added_ access points and how they operate willcoiitrol, traffic.
HRA Commissioner Heimberger asked about access to the site by south Minneapolis
residents. ' , ".
PublicWorks Director Eastling explained thelllain access'points, including a secondary plan.
H RA C.ommissicmer, Stoke.s 'askeq ,aboyt the nqi~~ barrier to.cations.
.Mr.'Stark explained the sOL,me! experts have not agreed on the location, but the preferred
10caHon is etos,er to .the 'source. " ,
Public Works Director Eastling ,stated what riois'e is to be blockee! - freeway and ai,rport.
There is no W;;iIlJhpt will affect low frequency noise. '
Maureen Sca,glia, PlanningcollJmissioneJ Member, asked about loading dock areas.
Mr. Starkexpl;;iined the docks are along 77th Street and Target has a policy that loading
docks are not visible.
Ms. Scaglia askeaabbut the multi-housing parking.
Mr. Stark stated the parking would most likely be underground. Visitor parking is on the
surface with tenant parking below.
Council Member Kilianstat.ed he liked the landscaping for the huge parking lot and the rear of
Homepepot and Targetag,ainst the freeway because it was ne'ighborhood-friendly.
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February 22, 2005
Council Member Kilian asked about regulations for a liquor store's proximity to the Mount
Calvary School, if the City's liquor store relocates.
Mr. Stark explained no rules for municipal liquor stores are needed because the City controls
the stores. There are regulations for the proximity of retail.
Council Member Rosenberg expressed agreement with Council Member Kilian regarding the
building orientation which may provide an opportunity for public art.
Mr. Schroeder stated Target has certain parameters but they do not disagree with this pattern.
Council Member Wroge asked about the staging of the development.
Mr. Stark explained Phase I of the project to the eastside of 17th Avenue. The greenway is
uncertain in this Phase. It appears to m,ake the most sense to do it with Home Depot and Target but
there are huge funding questions.
Acting City Manager Devich said it is a City Council decision on the ranges of the public
contribution for funding shortfalls.
Council Member Kilian asked if the homes on the westside of 17th Avenue would be taken for
the greenway.
Mr. Stark said yes.
Council Member Sandahl said if the greenway concept is moved forward, the area may be
more attractive for another developer for the housing portion.
Mr. Schroeder said it sets the bar higher for what is expected to be built there.
Council Member Wroge asked about the soundproofing of the new
condominiums/townhomes; if it wasneyvbuildings but with the same olg airport noise problem.
Mr. Stark explained the inside insulation from airport noise is fixable but it depends on what
developer is willing to pay. The outside noise is fixed by the type of housing and density. It is
anticipated young professionals will live in the area.
Council Member Wroge said the City is losing more families with this development and he
wants to see the Citydo more forJamilies.
Mr. Stark said that is a valid concern.
Council Member Sandahl said when the new runway is operational, there will be a better idea
of the noise issues.
Acting City Manager Devich explained the City Council needs to address the Cedar Avenue
municipal liquor store location or relocation because of the bridge work and new intersection at 17 1/2
Street with a median.
The City Council consensus was that this Cedar Corridor concept plan is proceeding in the
right direction.
Mayor Kirsch asked that a timeline on the project be provided to the City Council.
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:25 p.m.
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February 22, 2005
Date Approved: March 21, 2005
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Cheryl Krl:imhol;z: . .
Recording Secretary