10-10 Joint CC and PC Work Session --� CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
itin- n.in rionicumn Special Joint City Council and Planning
Commission .Work Session
October 10, 2017
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by Mayor Elliott at 6:00 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Pat Elliott, Mayor; Edwina Garcia; Michael Howard; Maria Regan Gonzalez;
Present: and Simon Trautmann.
PC Members Sean Hayford Oleary and Allysen Hoberg.
Present:
PC Members Erin Vrieze Daniels, Chair; Dan Kitzberger; Bryan Pynn; Susan Rosenberg;
Absent: and Gordon Vizecky.
Staff Present: Steve Devich, City Manager; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney; John Stark,
Community Development Director; Melissa Poehlman, Assistant Community
Development Director; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; and Jared Voto,
Executive Aide/Analyst.
Item #1 494 CORRIDOR PLAN
City Manager Devich briefly introduced the topic.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman presented on the 1-494 Corridor Land
Use Plan, including giving background on the relationship between the Comprehensive Plan and
Zoning Code. She discussed the history of the 1-494 Plan, developed in 2005, with a vision for the
plan of mixed use in the area. Lastly, she provided four options the Council could consider related to
the current application: (1) deny based on current plan language (default); (2) interpret current plan
differently and find no conflict; (3) amend comprehensive plan to remove language that conflicts; or
(4)deny based on a desire to study further(moratorium).
Community Development Director Stark provided another alternative that the applicant chose
to withdraw or put their plan on hold to give time to the city to study the area.
City Attorney Tietjen discussed the option of a moratorium, not to exceed 12 months, if there
was a desire to study the area further.
City Manager Devich discussed the current uses in the area and potential likelihood of uses to
change, or not change, in the future.
Special joint Council&PC Work Session Minutes -2- October 10,2017
Council Member Garcia discussed the mentality of past city councils toward development and
keeping Richfield a bedroom community. She sees potential for this corridor with its vision and the
potential for a large hotel with a ballroom. She stated diversification brings in more economic
opportunity.
Council Member Regan Gonzalez shared her thoughts on the vision of the plan and agrees
the area is poised for opportunities. She asked staff what were the city's options if the application was
denied.
Community Development Director Stark discussed studying the area when the 77th Street
Underpass project was secured. Public Works Director Asher responded with the status of the 77th
Street Underpass and finalizing an agreement with MnDOT. Community Development Director Stark
mentioned to know what to expect in terms of traffic generation after the underpass is open is
important for retailers and other businesses; they base decisions on traffic counts.
Council Members and Commissioners discussed the vision of the corridor, the Comprehensive
Plan, and the current reality of the area and what has developed in the area in the ten-plus years
since the corridor plan was created.
Council Member Trautmann commented on the ability to build larger in this area without
disrupting residential neighbors, and that there are not many places in Richfield like this area.
City staff discussed if they were to study this area to bring additional information to the Council
and Commission it would likely be two components: a transportation study to understand the area
after the 77th Street Underpass and discussions with retail and hotel consultants about what they look
for an if these sites are, or are not, ideal locations.
Council Member Garcia invited Dan Haugen from the Adler Graduate School to speak. Mr.
Haugen read a letter to the Council about the merits of the proposed sale of their building.
Community Development Director Stark concluded by asking if the general consensus was
opposed to a moratorium. The Council generally agreed they were opposed to a moratorium.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:55 p.m.
Date Approved: October 24, 2017
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Jared V o - --Steven L. Devich
Executive Aide/Analyst City Manager