06-21 Concurrent CC, HRA, and PC Work Session
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
ConcurrentCity Council, Housing and
Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission Work Session
June 21, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The work session was called to order by HRA Chair Supple at 5:45 p.m. in the Bartholomew
Room.
Council Members
Present: Maria Regan Gonzalez, Mayor; Mary Supple, Ben Whalen and Sean Hayford
Oleary and Simon Trautmann
Council Members
Absent: None
HRA Members Mary Supple, Chair; Maria Regan Gonzalez; Sue Sandahl and Lee Ohnesorge
Present:
HRA Members
Absent: Erin Vrieze Daniels
PC Members
Present: Kathryn Quam, Chair and Brendan Kennealy;
PC Members
Absent: Brian Pynn; Brett Stursa; Susan Rosenberg and Jim Rudolph
Staff Present: Katie Rodriguez, City Manager; John Stark, HRA Executive
Director/Community Development Director; Melissa Poehlman, Assistant
Community Development Director; and LaTonia DuBois, Administrative
Assistant.
Others Present: Amy Gudmestad, MICC; Ben Lentz MICC; Bob Cunningham, Inland
Development Partners; Daniel Oberpriller, Northbay; Michael Stoddard, DJR
Architecture.
Item #1 INTRODUCTION AND PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION OF FUTURE PLANS FOR THE
MINNESOTA INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY.
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Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman gave background information about
Minnesota Independence College and Community (MICC) and introduced Amy Gudmestad and Bob
Cunningham.
Bob Cunningham explained he is part of the development team for the MICC and Bumpy Lane
development.
Amy Gudmestad explained who MICC is, what the program offers, history and success of the
program and how the program continues to grow and the need for more space to extend the program.
Amy Gudmestad spoke of partnerships with MICC and local businesses. Amy Gudmestad expressed
gratitude and the benefits of being located in Richfield, the assistance offered by Richfield Police and
Fire departments and invited policy makers to visit MICC for a tour.
Bob Cunningham explained the development currently envisioned and shared a power point of
the development concept, explained the housing units would be available to students, graduates and
all residents of Richfield at affordable or low income rates. Requested feedback on the vision, if it is
an appropriate land use and hopes of a future resolution of support from the Housing and
Redevelopment Authority and City Council to apply for various funding mechanisms and requested
assistance of City staff to assist the development team with offering affordable and low income
housing options.
Council Member Whalen inquired about the current location within the Colony Apartments.
Amy Gudmestad explained that this development would be in addition to the space used at the
Colony Apartments, but fewer units at the Colony Apartments would be occupied by MICC.
Commissioner Ohnesorge inquired about the number of graduates for the current year.
Planning Chair Quam asked if all units would be affordable and how many would be available
to the community outside of MICC.
Bob Cunningham explained the goal is to have all units at low income or affordable levels and
the mix of MICC members and graduates and other community members would be about 50/50.
Chair Supple inquired about unit sizes.
Bob Cunningham explained current unit size visions.
Council Member Trautmann inquired about how many units would be ADA Accessible and if
there would be any tax revenue from the non-profit organization that would own the property.
Bob Cunningham stated that the development team would be asking for Tax Increment
Financing and mentioned that they would have more than the minimum requirement of Accessible
units, but more programing is yet to come.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez supported the proposal overall and encouraged MICC to reach out to
get Best Buy involved with the program. Spoke of the opportunity to be an example by building
partnership with local businesses and MICC.
Council Member Hayford Oleary commented on the land use and inquired about if this
would be a tax base development and concerns with the project and the residential units in the area.
Chair Supple inquired about parking.
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June 21, 2021
Bob Cunningham stated the current plan is to have all surface parking, but that they would
be looking into the possibilities of having underground parking as well.
Council Member Whalen shared that he would like to see units affordable at 30% Area
Median Income and a variety of affordability levels and would also like to see the design on the
building incorporate business partnerships.
Planning Chair Quam inquired about zoning changes and potential Comp Plan changes.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman explained current zoning and
possible changes that would be required in the future.
Item #2 DISCUSSION OF A NEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR THE PROPERTY AT
TH
101 66 STREET EAST (SITE OF THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED EMI
DEVELOPOMENT).
Community Development Director Stark reminded policy makers of the history of the
development site and recommended the development team to hold neighborhood meetings, and
introduced Michael Stoddard, DJR Architecture and Daniel Oberpriller, Northbay Company.
Michael Stoddard shared the proposed development plans for a mixed use building with
commercial space.
Daniel Oberpriller provided further building design information, access points and parking
information for the proposed development. Daniel Oberpriller informed staff and policy makers that
they have closed on the property, spoke of the sustainability of the building, informed staff and policy
makers they would be seeking Tax Increment Financing and would offer 20% of units at 60% of the
Area Median Income.
Council Member Hayford Oleary inquired about traffic on 66th Street.
Assistant Community Development Director Poehlman explained the engineering department
and Hennepin County would review the proposal and evaluate any traffic concerns.
Council member Hayford Oleary mentioned concerns around the building height and the
preference to lower the building height, lighting concerns with the parking ramp and potential noise
and lighting on the balcony.
Daniel Oberpriller explained.
Planning Chair Quam inquired about the six story portion of the building and the location to the
houses on Stevens Avenue.
Daniel Oberpriller explained there are no houses directly across from the six story portion of
the building.
Assistant Community Development Director explained the lot directly across from the six story
portion of the building is a retaining pond and a home would not be developed at that location.
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June 21, 2021
Planning Chair Quam inquired about the main entrance and exit and inquired about how the
lighting may affect homes and mentioned it would be more desirable to spread out units on top of the
one story commercial space to reduce the six story portion.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez mentioned concerns around the building height.
Council Member Whalen also inquired about including residential units above the commercial
space and the oddity of having a single story portion of a building that also has six stories.
Council Member Trautmann stated concerns about lighting from the entrance.
Mayor Regan Gonzalez stated the benefits of having a community meeting regarding the
development and thanked residents for their comments and attendance.
Chair Supple inquired about green space on the lot.
Michael Stoddard explained landscaping plans and opportunities.
Chair Supple inquired about parking ratio
Daniel Oberpriller shared the proposed parking ratio.
Chair Supple echoed the desire to reduce the six story portion of the development.
Council Member Whalen stated he would like to know what the neighbors think about the
proposal and other building height designs.
Chair Supple inquired about accessibility.
Michael Stoddard shared the accessibility plans.
Community Development Stark shared what the next steps and requirements would be.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:44 p.m.
Date Approved: July 19, 2021
Maria Regan Gonzalez
Mayor
LaTonia DuBois Katie Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant City Manager