04-24-06 Worksession
CITY COUNCIL/HOUSING AND
REDEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY/ PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special Concurrent Worksession of City
Council/HRAlPlanning Commission
April 24, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 6:02 p.m.
Council Members
Present: Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Bill Kilian; and Sue Sandahl.
Council Members
Not Present: Susan Rosenberg; and Fred Wrage.
HRA Members
Present: Sue Sandahl, Chair; Martin Kirsch; Donna Drummond; David Gepner; and
Joan Heimberger.
Planning Commission
Members Present: Gordon Hanson; David Schneider; Maureen Scaglia; Greg Van Sickle; Eric
Mayo; and Jeffrey Walz (arrived at 6:24 p.m.).
Planning Commission
Members Not Present: Jeffrey Karr; and Kyle Hartnett.
Staff Present:
Steve Devich, City Manager/Executive Director; Patrick Smith, Community
Development Manager; Tom Foley, Transportation Engineer; Bruce
Nordquist, Housing and Redevelopment Manager; and Cheryl Krumholz,
Recording Secretary.
Item #1
Housing and Redevelopment Manager Nordquist introduced the University of Minnesota
Capstone Workshop students: Christian Rummelhoff, Elizabeth Steranko, Jason Schmidt and
Stephanie Erickson. He reviewed the background related to previous meetings and open houses.
Special Worksession Minutes
-2-
April 24, 2006
Mr. Rummelhoff discussed the existing conditions in the Penn Avenue Corridor, including
market area, trade area, business inventory, aesthetics of signage, green space, setbacks and
building materials, parking and accessibility.
Ms. Erickson discussed the visioning process including feedback and results of the two open
houses, Visions 1, 2 & 3 for the corridor, and most appropriatelleast appropriate land uses, housing,
mixed use, commercial, office.
Mr. Schmidt discussed the final vision including general improvements, identity, pedestrian-
friendly, burying utility lines, signage, shared parking areas, improved transit stops.
Ms. Steranko continued discussion of the final vision including gateway Penn Avenue/62nd
Street, node Penn Avenue/66th Street, commercial use, public use housing.
Mr. Schmidt discussed the next steps including focus on gateway and nodes, establish
neighborhood group with affordable housing and business interests, financing options, benefit
taxpayers. He continued that after discussions with Ehlers & Associates, financial options included a
Business Improvement District, Best Buy Housing Fund, housing revenue bonds, commercial
rehabilitation loans and grants. Hoisington Koegler Inc. should be continuing with the Penn Avenue
study.
Mr. Schmidt acknowledged the assistance provided by others.
Mr. Schmidt explained how a Business Improvement District or commercial rehabilitation
program could be created and monitored.
HRA Commissioner Drummond questioned why the study ends at 67th Street/Penn Avenue
since commercial use extends further south. In the future, this area could be included. She also
questioned a street design of one lane, plus a turn lane, to permit a larger right of way for sidewalks
and green space.
Council Member Kilian discussed the "road diet" plan being considered by the Transportation
Commission which changes the number of lanes to get more green space.
Transportation Engineer Foley explained traffic forecasts for the Penn Avenue corridor. The
City is working with the County to increase landscaping along County roads.
Ms. Steranko explained the Penn Avenue/67th Street area has a residential nature so it
appeared more feasible to concentrate on the area to the north.
Housing and Redevelopment Manager Nordquist said many concepts were discussed by the
students with the primary objective of determining a name for the area. Penn Crossings appears to
be the name. He acknowledged the efforts of the students.
Housing and Redevelopment Manager Nordquist clarified that the HRA will be taking action in
the future to consider Hoisington Koegler continuing with the Penn Avenue study.
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Recording Secretary
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:50 p.m.
Date Approved: Mav 23. 2006