12-0402023 JDA Agenda Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Wicklund stated the JDA would need to have discussions surrounding density, land use, affordability and other issues. He suggested the JDA begin this discussion with a focus on density. Commissioner Frethem reported less than 40 acres of the site would be six units per acre or above. Mr. Duval reported this was the case. Director Collins requested further comment on how many stories the buildings would be in Town Center. Mr. Lux explained the north side of Town Center could have buildings 10 stories high, which would allow for 100 units per acre. He stated the reality was that the ability to do suburban high rises was non-existent right now due to construction costs. He indicated the Town Center would be predominantly five to seven stories and the multi-family buildings in the Southwest Neighborhood would be three stories. Commissioner Monson requested further information regarding the Town Center South area. Mr. Duval discussed the plans for the Town Center South. Commissioner Fabel stated he would like to know how this density proposal compared with other developments that were completed recently in the metro area. Mr. Lux stated the uniqueness of TCAAP was the mix of housing unit types that could be constructed. He commented on a project he was completing in Hopkins that included four buildings. He reported there was a minor expansion of the density within the TCAAP development to the Southwest Neighborhood. He described the benefits of clustering density in the Town Center in order to make the area more walkable. Mr. Shaver commented on a development he was working on in Minnetonka stating more density was being brought in for walkability purposes. Mr. Stutz indicated he was seeing a trend towards smaller single family lots, which increased the density for singly family residential developments. He discussed how affordability factors worked into the equation for single family housing. Commissioner Fabel inquired if this development was more or less dense than other developments in the metro area. Mr. Lux stated this development was unique because it had all housing types which made it difficult to compare to other developments in the metro area. Commissioner Monson asked questions surrounding lot size and wondered if lot sizes would be reduced to assist with affordability. Mr. Stutz commented on a development he was completing in Lakeville that had only 35 foot wide lots. He discussed how a mixture of housing types, styles and sizes were being proposed for this development. Chair Wicklund requested the conversation shift to the land use modifications. Commissioner Frethem stated she has heard that people do not want the development to be too cookie cutter with everything the same. She indicated she appreciated the proposed plans from the developer. She asked that the developers speak to further to the commercial market and the reduced amount of flex commercial space. Mr. Shaver reported one of the limitations