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04-30-1984 SpecialCITY OF RICHFIELD SPECIAL MEETING CITY COUNCIL, .HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION & PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY, APRIL 30, 1984 • _ 7:00 •P.M. The concurrent meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Hamilton. I. Consideration of Legion Lake development concerning housing and park improvements. City Manager Cartwright summarized the April 2, 1984 meeting of the Council, HRA and commissions concerning Legion Lake park and housing development proposals. ~He said that staff was to report back on a park master plan timetable for Legion Lake and also the potential for modifications to the PADA housing project at Legion Lake. ~ . The City Manager reported that additional engineering information would be necessary for the Bark planning effort. The required engineering information includes: topography;. a boundary survey; the impact on water plant lime pits; storm sewer retention information; and, the need for soil samples. It - is recommended that a proposal be obtained from the University of Minnesota to coordinate a park planning effort to conclude by __ December 3-1-,- 1-484-.- -- -- _. - __ --- _ With regard to housing, Mr .. Cartwright indicated that the City had obtained bonding authority for a ~4 million housing pro,jeet along Portland Avenue. This bonding authority has a deadline for a definite intention to proceed of September 1, 1984. He also noted that there is flexibility in the plan for use at other sites. Mr. Cartwright- noted that the HRA priorities for housing are: (1) to provide 30-units of housing at Portland and 10-units at Rae Drive; (2) 30-units at the Portland site only; and, (3) 10- units at Rae Drive only. The alternatives as identified by the City Manager for the policy makers are: proceed with the housing development project; delay the housing project and proceed with the park master-plan; or, consider a limited housing development on Rae Drive. The-.City Manager recommended the following: complete the park master-plan for Legion Lake by December. 31, 1984; delay any consideration of housing on Portland Avenue until after that time; and, to continue to examine the feasibility of a smaller housing pro~eet at Rae Drive. Questions followed concerning the location of 10-units of housing on Rae Drive, and it was noted that the 10-units include the two units now under construction by Hennepin County Vo-Tech. Discussion followed concerning the impact of losing the bonding authority for the whole housing development, and whether it is possible for the project to still proceed at a future time. Mr. Dennis Kraft said that Richfield would again have to compete for the bonding authority, and noted that the continued availability of housing bonds is presently being debated by Congress. Mayor Hamilton said that he didn't think the housing on Portland should proceed until a Legion Lake park study is complete. HRA Commissioner Luettinger asked if there would be any penalty if the authority is turned back now,~regarding ' future competition for bonding authority. Mr. Kraft said there would probably not be a penalty if the City is straightforward in communicating with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Discussion followed concerning the size of units, and the traffic impact for housing on Rae Drive. HRA Chairman Tom Harms asked what additional feasibility work would have to be done for the Rae Drive project. Mr. Kraft said it would be necessary to determine the amount of local contribution necessary for the project to proceed, and from what sources that local contribution would come. Councilman Kirsch said he concurs with the recommendation of the City Manager, especially regarding the need for a park study at Legion Lake. Councilman Ludeman also stated that housing should not proceed until the Legion Lake study is complete. Mark Sandahl, Community Services Commission, said that there is a need for a comprehensive park plan for Legion Lake first. HRA Commissioner Luettinger said he believed the City housing efforts might be better directed to work on scattered- site housing, particularly on~under-utilized lots around the City. At this time, Mayor Hamilton opened the meeting for comment _ from the citizens. Mrs. Ann Burkhardt, 921 Rae Drive, said she is concerned about the size of the duplexes being built along 6bth Street. Her husband, Mr. Ed Burkhardt, said there is a need for a thorough explanation of the housing project that might be built at Rae Drive. Mr. James Howard, g15 Rae Drive, said he is also concerned about the size of the new buildings, and the impact on the neighborhood. He asked about guarantees for owner-occupancy of the housing. .Mr. Bruce Palmborg, of the Community Development staff, said that the intention is to provide opportunities for mgderate- income families. The City would be able to recapture at least a portion of it's subsidy upon resale of the property, but he didn't know whether there would always be a guarantee of owner- occupancy of the dwellings. Mr. Don Jacobson, who lives across from Legion Lake, reiterated his opposition to the housing project, and referred to a letter he had written to Mayor Hamilton. A copy was provided for the City records. Mr. Robert Vessel, 642$ 5th Avenue, said he believes Legion Lake should be left the way it is, because traffic is already bad in the area. Legion Lake should be maintained as open space. Mr. Wesley Borgerson, 6401 5th Avenue, said the Legion Lake area had never been intended for housing, and should always be a park area. He said the City should not subsidize housing p'rajects, and expressed concerns about how the University of Minnesota study might be conducted. Mr. Murphy, who lives near Legion Lake, said he doesn~t think a housing project should go a-head. At the time he bought his home, he was told Legion Lake would remain a park area. ' HRA Chairman Tom Harms commented that the Council and advisory groups attempt to act together and coordinate their work for the betterment of the community. Ms. Carol Morius said housing would bring in more children, and this would increase community costs. She said that the schools may have to open another elementary school as it is. Bob Johnson, 6432 5th Avenue South, said the City doesn~t have to use State and Federal money, and that it is a gain to all tax payers if the money is not spent. _ ____ _ __ _ Betsy Asher, 7120 Morgan Avenue, a member of the Community Services Commission, said the master park plan should be completed first. She also noted that it is hard For young people to buy a home, and many people don't realize how much it costs for young families to try to move to Richfield. Jim Howard, Rae Drive, said that he thinks citizens are looking for an opportunity for input in advance of project approvals, especially regarding new housing units along 66th Street.. _ Dave Dunham, Chairman of the Community Services Commission, said that the commission would be taking a long-term view of park development at Legion Lake, and will get input from the. immediate neighborhood and other citizens during that process. Councilman Lindeman said that the~Capital Improvement Program is now before the Planning Commission, and noted that other parks, such as Jefferson and Madison Park, are not on the 5 year capital improvement program. He said he thought they should be improved before Legion Lake is developed. '- Wes Borgerson said he thought it important that the impact of additional school age children be considered before approving any housing project. Dan Anderson, Community Services Commission, said he thinks something should be done with Legion Lake, because it is important resource for the City. Mr. Richard Morius, 5th Avenue, asked about whether any Environmental Impact Statement had been prepared for the housing project, and whether the impact of airport noise had been considered. Mr. Vern Knutson, 6509 5th Avenue, noted that there is alot of wildlife in this area., which might be lost if Legion Lake is developed. Carl Cornell, 6835 11th Avenue, asked whether the money might be better used for existing housing. Mr. Dennis Kraft said that the requirement for any local contribution makes it too expensive to be used for scattered site housing improvements. HRA Chairman Tom Harms said that he thought the Portland Avenue housing development was a good idea. He said some improvements have City-wide implications which go beyond the neighborhood impact. In this case, the neighbors have convinced him that more study ,is needed, and he said this information would be shared at another meeting. Mr. Murphy said he believed low-income housing will create the same problems for Richfield as have occurred in the core city. .EIRA Commissioner Don Hassenstab said he believed it good that there have been these joint meetings of the commissions and the neighbors. He reviewed his records on the history of -this matter and noted that a 1981 study had commented on housing potential at Legion Lake, and in 1}82 the Planning Commission and HRA proceeded without discussing the matter together. He said a meeting should have been held earlier to avoid the problems that have come up recently. City Manager Cartwright said that based on the information presented, it would be.staff~s intention to bring a proposal for the University of Minnesota study to the City Council for authorization to proceed. Councilman Bunee asked for a copy of the Setter Leach study, and Councilman Ludeman noted that the study had included school sites as well as a review of the Legion Lake project. Chairman Tom Harms noted there was a need to study the Rae Drive project, then respond to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency with regard to the City's intentions. A Housing and Redevelopment Authority motion was made by Ludeman, seconded by Luettinger to discontinue consideration of the Portland Avenue housing project. It-was moved by ~- Hassenstab, seconded by Helmberger to amend the motion to delay consideration of the Portland Avenue housing project only until the park master-plan study is complete. On the amendment, Hassenstab, Helmberger and Harms voted aye. Ludeman and •Luettinger voted no. Amendment passed. For the vote on the main motion, all voted aye. of on carried. 1 Commissioner Luettinger referred to a Legion Lake plan that had bean done in the 1960'x, and suggested that it might be good to leave the area in a natural state. 1 Discussion followed concerning necessary City Council actions, and Mr. Wes Borgerson asked whether other firms had been considered to do the study besides the University of Minnesota. Community Services Director Don Fondriek said that the University of Minnesota would. provide a wider range of talent and time available for the study, at a low cost to the City. Councilman Ludeman said that the City Council may wish to take action this evening, and City Attorney LeFevere suggested an appropriate motion would be to direct staff to pursue the park study. Motion by Kirsch, seconded by Priebe, to direct-the City Manager to continue to work to complete the park study for Legion Lake by December 31 ,. 1984. All voted aye (Mayor Hamilton was absent). Motion carried. Mr. Bob Jensen of the Planning Commission suggested that the groups work together on the park planning effort for Legion Lake. Chairman Tom Harms suggested the HRA take action regarding Rae Drive to continue to study the feasibility of housing at this site . -- - -- --- - - -- - - - --- ---- - - - ------ - Motion by Helmberger, seconded by Luettinger, to continue the feasibility study of the Rae Drive alternative for housing development and~that the feasibility study be brought back to the HRA and•the neighbors be notified of the meeting. All voted aye. Motion carried. The concurrent meeting of the City Council, HRA, Planning Commission and Community Services Commission was adjourned. (A recess was held at this time). It was announced that the HRA and City Council would meet after the 10 minute recess. Date Approved 2 June 18, 1984 J n Helm erger ecretary homas E. Harms a rman