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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-06-14 Joint Development Authority Monday,January 6, 2014 Arden Hills City Council Charnbers Minutes 5:30 pm Present: Joint Development Authority: Chair David Sand, Commissioner Blake Huffman, Commissioner Brenda Holden, Commissioner David Grant, Commissioner Rafael Ortega Also present: Patrick Klaers,Jill Hutmacher, (Arden Hills); Heather Worthington, (Ramsey County) Roll call taken. Approval of agenda. Motion by Commissioner Grant seconded by Commissioner Huffman. Motion carried. Approval of December 2, 2013 minutes. Motion by Commissioner Ortega seconded by Commissioner Holden. Motion carried. Public Inquiries/Informational Lyle Salmela, 1480 Arden Vista Court, Arden Hills, provided written copy of his comments which he had also emailed to Commissioners. He feels this is the (best start to the three master plans with which he has been involved. Mr. Salmela inquired about building footprints and the number of stories proposed for different areas. He felt that the areas proposed for open space, parks, and wetlands were good, but voiced concerns regar(ling surface water infiltration and the need for basement sealing. He supports Mayor Grant's; and Councilmember McClung's concerns about the roundabout at County Road H and has s;uggestions for how the roundabout could be used as an attractive entry feature. He would like to see more discussion of transit and the potential for a transit hub. Gregg Larson, 3377 Snelling Avenue North, offered three suggestions for review of the TCAAP Master Plan and focusing on the big picture: 1) Is there sufficient road connectivity to ensure marketability and a viable and vibrant outcome? 2) Does tl-ie concept allocate uses that are compatible with the surrounding sites, particularly for the residential on the south side? 3) Does this site plan generate excitement? He thinks so, and as someone who has been involved since the beginning, he feels that this is consistent with what they have heard from residents since the Vento plan. Consent Agenda None Old Business None Public Hearing None New Business Energy Recommendations Kate Knuth and Mark Seeley presented information on the ineed for a comprehensive, long- term energy strategy for the TCAAP site. Mark Seeley presented information about climate change. He believes the trends are real and will become more amplified as we move into the future, so it is important that we consider their implications as we move forward with development. Dr. Seeley suggested that wind velocity may have changed over the years which may make wind turbine technology more feasible. New instruments(:an collect finer wind measurements than was possible in the past. Dr. Seeley noted that there are the dominant climate trend changes throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Climatologists are documenting similar changes around the world. Kate Knuth presented information on the need for a comprehensive, long-term energy strategy for the TCAAP site. She discussed energy resilience, drought recovery, and durable infrastructure with regard to climate impacts. She noted four major trends in the changing energy system: 1) increasing efficiency; 2)thinking about r(�newables; 3) thinking about how energy is financed; and 4) energy being generated in a more distributive fashion. Ms. Knuth noted that solar energy competes on cost with new natural gas generation now. Renewable growth is forecasted at 70% renewables by 2030. Ms. Knuth stated that in the future, energy will be generated closer to where it will be used to maximize efficiency, facilitate smart land use, harness local energy opportunities, build resilient infrastructure, and plan with a long-term horizon. Ms. Knuth suggestion action steps including 1) creating a T(.AAP energy and resilience framework to complement the master planning process; and 2) appointing a TCAAP energy and resilience working group. Commissioner Huffman thanked the presenters and stated that he loved the framework provided. He felt an energy plan would be a good idea. Commissioner Grant noted that an energy plan is not only 1�he right thing to do, it can also be a selling point for the site. Commissioner Ortega asked for staff's recommendation on how to move this issue forward. Commissioner Grant asked about organizational issues related to the Master Plan and how the energy plan would fit with that. Commissioner Ortega stated he believes we don't need to imake a decision now; we can ask staff to bring more information and give us ideas how to prioceed. Ms. Knuth mentioned that having an advisory group working on these issues makes sense in the context of the next steps for the energy framework. Commissioner Ortega is sensitive to the issue the Mayor raised; as the JDA has moved forward, we have tried to work to a common goal. He wants to make sure the County and City representatives agree on the process. Chair Sand expressed his concern that JDA would direct staff to do something without being clear about its intentions. Commissioner Holden said this should go to the City first sirice it may change how the City thinks about the Master Plan. Review of Draft TCAAP Master Plan Development Director Hutmacher reviewed information presented to the City Council on December 26, 2013. She reviewed the amount of parks, traiils, and open space in the draft master plan and how that compared to the rest of the City sas a percentage of total land and open space acres per person basis. Information on the projected number of jobs, residential densities, connections to County Road I, flex business areas;, and mixed use development was also provided. Commissioner Huffman was excited to see the creativity and liked the balance between housing and business. He referenced the ICIC Study which showed Oat commercial property provided positive net revenue to municipalities. He stated that the uise of environmental water features were exciting and saw some comparisons to Denver to red(Ewelopment projects that the JDA visited in Denver. Huffman was excited about the economiic development and the housing. Commissioner Ortega said that it was just a year ago that the County Board voted to purchase the property; they were pleasantly surprised, and more tha n happy with what was presented in the Master Plan. Ortega requested a list of all the issues raiised by the City Council. Development Director Hutmacher deferred the question tc)Commissioner Grant, Commissioner Holden or City Administrator Klaers as she was unable to attend the December 26, 2013, City Council work session. Commissioner Grant noted that the City Council wants the (public to weigh in at the January 22, 2014 TCAAP Open House. Commissioner Holden clarified that there were actually un(Jefined issues that the Council wanted to monitor and clarify. City Administrator Klaers noted that the City Council's questions were open-ended, and that there were areas that needed further discussion. In terms cif the roundabout, location, alternatives to a roundabout, size/operation of the roundakout were raised. The City Council did not voice strong opposition, but wanted to hear what tlhe public had to say about it. Chair Sand noted a project in Normal, IL by Hoerr-Schudt involving a roundabout incorporating a water filtration feature in the middle of the roundabout. It's called "Uptown Normal, IL". Commissioner Holden stated that she was the only Councilmember in favor of the roundabout, and she had a concern about traffic levels, public educatiori about how to use them. Commissioner Grant commented that with only two major access points, and two connections to County Road I, both major access points become critical -to the development. He needs to be sold on a roundabout being able to handle traffic and be accepted by those who would want to live there. The marketability of the project is a concern for him. If the roundabout is not appropriate, does not carry the necessary load, or causes iricreased accidents, it will limit the access to the property. He felt that this is something we n(�ed to continue to study. Chair Sand commented that he has not heard any commemts at meetings he's attended that address the impact of residential sector on the school system. He asked how the planners are handling this and whether kids are inhibited from getting tc)the Turtle Lake School without a County Road I connection? He wants to make sure it gets addressed in the plan. Commissioner Grant said that on a periodic basis, the regional administrators, school board and mayors get together and share information. He has shared the TCAAP plan process with the School Board, and will be giving the School Board an updatf?. The initial comment from the Board was that TCAAP was a net positive for the District. H e believed there is capacity in the District to accommodate new students due to some recent downsizing of their facilities. Chair Sand commented that connectivity within the site is vvell defined, but additional work could be done on connectivity to the rest of the City. He was also concerned about the size of the central community park facility and the footprint of the band shelter/amphitheater. Commissioner Holden expressed concern about the wetland feature and that it will look like a drainage ditch instead of a water feature. She expressed cconcerns about maintenance. City Administrator Klaers said that the intention is that the wetland feature is a positive amenity. The consultants will need to show how it will work. Commissioner Grant noted that no water crossed Highway 10. The Town and Hill neighborhoods can drain to this area, and there is about a 20 foot elevation difference; essentially all of this drains northerly into Rice Creek. This its why the water feature is there, and it's naturally designed to drain into this area. He wouldl envision that there is a spillover right before Rice Creek,to accommodate water at certain elevations. He felt it needs to be a water feature and not a swamp. Development Director's Report Development Director Hutmacher stated that the next TCAAP Open House would be held on Wednesday,January 22, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Ramsey County Public Works Facility. Administrative Director's Report Administrative Director Worthington presented the December activity report. Commissioner Updates None Future Meeting Schedule The next meeting will be Monday, February 3, 2014, at ArdE°n Hills City Hall. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm., Z Approved C2 �-��L> 7 .20 David B. Sand, Chair DatV