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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-14-WS lt WREN HILLS Approved: February 10, 2014 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING JANUARY 13,2014 ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the special City Council work session at 9:13 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung, and Ed Werner Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; City Planner Ryan Streff; and City Clerk Amy Died 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. Multi-Family Design Standards I Associate Planner Bachler reported that the multi-family dwelling design standards were approved by the Council in September of 2012. Included in these standards are requirements for minimum unit sizes. At the Council work session on January 22, 2013,the Council requested that staff review the City's minimum unit size standards for multi-family dwelling units. Currently, the standards require multi-family dwelling units to be a minimum of 600 square feet, with an additional 100 square feet required for each bedroom. The Council expressed concern that the standards could permit multi-bedroom units that do not provide adequate floor area per resident. Associate Planner Bachler explained that staff has collected information from seven cities in the metro region that have adopted similar minimum unit size standards for multi-family dwelling units. The cities include New Brighton, Blaine, White Bear Lake, Maplewood, Fridley, Coon Rapids and Bloomington. An analysis was completed comparing the average square footage required per unit in these cities with Arden Hills' standards. Staff also looked at ten multi-family development projects that have been recently completed or that are under construction in outer- ring suburban communities to evaluate the average sizes currently being built. He reviewed the location of these projects and provided the Council with a summary on the data collected from these projects, along with the minimum size standards for the dwelling units. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 13, 2014 2 Associate Planner Bachler stated that based on the analysis, staff is requesting further direction from the Council on the following questions: 1.) Should the City increase the minimum area required for three-bedroom units in multi- family developments? 2.) Should the City also consider increasing the minimum additional area required for each additional bedroom? 3.) Should the City consider any other changes to the minimum area required for other units? Councilmember Holden supported the existing standards for efficiency and one bedroom units. However, she would like to see the two bedroom and three bedroom standards more closely match the sizes of those found in the study. She recommended that two bedroom units be a minimum of 1,000 square feet and three bedroom units be a minimum 1,300 square feet. Mayor Grant stated that changes made to this document would impact the TCAAP development. He does not want to see three bedroom units at 900 square feet. He indicated that he could support two bedroom apartments at a minimum of 950 square feet. Councilmember Holmes commented that the City was above the market and average size for efficiency units. She supported the City's one bedroom size standards. Mayor Grant questioned if the efficiency units should be decreased to 550 square feet and the one bedroom units decreased to 650 square feet. Councilmember Holden did not agree with Mayor Grant's suggestion. City Administrator Klaers commented that another option would be to have the efficiency units at 550 square feet, one bedroom units at 700 square feet, and two bedroom units at 950 square feet. Councilmember Holden asked if apartment complexes were required to be constructed under a PUD and if so, if the minimum size standards could be adjusted. Associate Planner Bac ler stated that this is the case in the B-2 District, and that any flexibility requested on the minimum size standards would need to be approved by the City Council. Mayor Grant inquired if staff wanted to do further research on current developments prior to making changes to the d,-sign standards. Associate Planner Ba hler stated that enough information had been collected on current developments to make c anges. Councilmember Holden questioned the age of the "new" apartment complexes. Associate Planner Bac ler reported that the apartment units under this category are generally less than five years old. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—JANUARY 13, 2014 3 Discussion ensued regarding the units within the E Street Flats apartment complex. Councilmember McClung questioned how the City will respond if the market trends shift and apartment unit sizes decrease in the future. City Administrator HIaers discussed the market standards at this time and stated that the ordinance can be amended if the market changes. Mayor Grant summarized the comments made thus far by the Council and noted there was agreement to have the minimum size of the efficiency units be 550 square feet, one bedroom units were to be no less than 700 square feet, two bedroom units were to be no less than 950 square feet and three bedroom units were to be no less than 1,200 square feet. The Council agreed to have each additional bedroom require an additional 150 square feet. Councilmember Holden stated that she wanted to see the three bedroom units be no less than 1,300 square feet. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmember McClung indicated that Ramsey County has requested the Council support their bonding request for TCAAP. He found this to be appropriate; however he has an issue with the timing, as the County's bonding request has already been submitted to the State. He questioned why the City is just considering this request tonight, when it should have been delivered to Ramsey County sooner so that it could be included with the formal legislative bonding request. He recommended that the County do better to meet deadlines so the City can show its support for lobbying efforts. Councilmember Holden stated that the Chair of the Ramsey County Board only recently met with the Governor regarding this matter. Councilmember McClung commented that may be the case, however, a number of cities in the metro area had approved resolutions of support and Arden Hills had done nothing. He wanted to see the City acting as a partner to Ramsey County as the bonding for transportation would impact the entire region. Councilmember Werner provided comment on the number of work session meetings held in 2013. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the special City Council work sessi at 9:5Xp . Amy Died David Grant City Clerk Mayor 'It' ---4 EN HILLS Request for Special City Council Work Session A special meeting may be called by the Mayor or by any two Councilmembers. Reason for meeting: Multi-Family Design Standards Requested Date: 1/13/14 Requested time: Immediately following the regular City Council meeting. Open meeting X Closed meeting Signaturdbf person(s) making request: t _ , Mayor or Councilmember Date Councilmember Date -This section to be completed by City staff- Date received: A / / :f `-i Date meeting to be held: 1/13/14 Time of meeting: Immediately following the regular City Council meeting. Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. Signature of City Clerk Date City of Arden Hills * 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills,MN * 55112-5743 Phone 651.792.7800 * Fax 651.634.5137 www.ci.arden-hills.mn.us