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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-09-13 PC Work Session Minutes Approved: September 4, 2013 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2013 6:30 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Chair Clayton Larson called to order the Planning Commission Work Session meeting at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present were: Chair Clayton Larson, Commissioners Angela Hames, Andrew Holewa, and Roberta Thompson. Absent: Commissioners Samuel Scott, Janet Stodola (Alternate) and Clayton Zimmerman. Also present were: City Planner Meagan Beekman. APPROVAL OF AGENDA JANUARY 9, 2013 Chair Larson stated the agenda will stand as amended, removing Item 3 Approval of Minutes and adding Item 6B Staff Comments. APPROVAL OF MINUTES This item was removed from the agenda. PLANNING CASES None. UNFINISHED AND NEW BUSINESS A.2013 Work Plan Discussion City Planner Beekman stated the City Council has asked the Planning Commission to join them for a joint work session discussion at their March 18, 2013, meeting to discuss a work plan for 2013. The discussion will include 2013 projects and zoning code amendments to work on. To assist in that discussion, Staff would like the Planning Commission to provide input to Staff on topics that might be addressed at the March 18 meeting. While the Council will make the final ARDENHILLS PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 20132 determination as to the goals and priorities for the coming year, it will be useful for them to have input from the Planning Commission on these items. 2013 Work Plan City Planner Beekman indicated the Planning Com Applications, Zoning Code Amendments, and other planning related projects takes up the vast are filled with these items, and Planning Staff spends most of their time preparing and evaluating these projects to be brought before the Planning Commission. The majority of the Planning Commission work plan is dedicated to continuing the work of evaluating and providing recommendations on land use applications that come before the City. TCAAP Development City Planner Beekman commented as you are aware the City and Ramsey County have entered into a joint powers agreement to purchase and remediate the TCAAP site. As part of that agreement, Ramsey County is responsible for the purchase of the property and the cost and management of the remediation, which is anticipated to take 30 months. The work would be completed by Bolander & Sons. The City is responsible for completing an AUAR and a Master Plan for the site. The City is contractually obligated to complete this work within 24 months. The City is in the process of preparing an RFP in an effort to hire a consulting team to assist with this process; however, it is anticipated that this project will take a considerable amount of Staff time. The Planning Commission will also be asked to participate and provide input, though the specific planning process has not yet been identified. City Planner Beekman explained the master planning process will also include a regulatory component that requires the City to create detailed zoning for the TCAAP property. Because it is no longer anticipated that the City will be working with a single master developer, the existing zoning on the property is not sufficient. Part of this work will also include a review of the existing zoning and subdivision ordinances to ensure that everything is in order in anticipation for development on the TCAAP site. Until a scope of work with the consulting team is completed, it will not be known what specific zoning review and update tasks will be necessary or whether to City or consultant will be responsible for them. Planning Commission and City Council Training Opportunities City Planner Beekman reported as part of the 2012 goals, there was discussion about training opportunities for Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners regarding land use planning and the law. City Planner Beekman stated the League of MN Cities offers an e-learning land use series as part of their loss control program. All of the Planning Commissioners and Councilmembers were signed up to participate. To date there are still some that have not completed the course. The League, which provides liability insurance to Arden Hills, has found that cities that have Commissioners and Councilmembers who are educated about land use law and make sound rulings are less likely to be sued, or to lose lawsuits when they are filed. The website-based ARDENHILLS PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 20133 training is designed to make land use decisions less confusing, and will help cities avoid expensive land use claims and lawsuits. If you have not taken the online course, please do so. City Planner Beekman noted Government Training Services (GTS) also offers land use planning courses. Additional information regarding dates and locations for that series will be emailed out to the City Council and Planning Commission as they are made available by GTS. These courses are designed for Councilmembers and Planning Commissioners, and are typically offered in full and half day sessions throughout the Twin Cities. The courses are very well done and provide a wealth of information regarding land use fundamentals. Planning Commissioners are required to participate in at least one of the GTS courses during their term in order to be appointed to a subsequent term. Chair Larson opened the floor to Commissioner comments. Commissioner Holewa questioned when the joint meeting with the Council would begin on th March 18. City Planner Beekman anticipated the meeting would begin at 5:00 p.m. Commissioner Holewa requested further information on the TCAAP property. City Planner Beekman indicated Ramsey County would own all 430 acres of the TCAAP site. The plan would be for Ramsey County to be paid back through land sales, while the City would be paid back through land use application and building fees. She noted Ramsey County would be constructing the spine road connecting County Road H with Highway 96. She reported trunk utilities would service the site and would be the responsibility of the City. Chair Larson recommended the City work diligently to recover all of its planning expenses through future fees. City Planner Beekmanestimated that the City would spend approximately $1,000 per acre in planning for the TCAAP property. Commissioner Hames asked if another elementary school would be added to the TCAAP property. City Planner Beekman stated a new elementary school was not being planned by the school district. Further discussion ensued regarding the redevelopment of the TCAAP property and the Planning Commissions role. Commissioner Thompson asked what portion of the previous Master Plan would be used by the City. City Planner Beekman explained the Ryan master plan would be used in its entirety but would be revised by staff based on current market trends. ARDENHILLS PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 20134 Chair Larson suggested the plan be flexible to allow the housing developments to follow market demands. He then discussed his experience with commercial development throughout the country. Commissioner Thompson questioned if the City was marketing the property. City Planner Beekman stated the County was already marketing the property to developers. She then discussed the Joint Development Authority (JDA) that would be created by the City and Ramsey County. Commissioner Hames recommended the property be renamed in the near future. The Commission then discussed the future zoning regulations and planning for the TCAAP property. Commissioner Holewa was in favor of having zoning regulations in place to provide guidance, while not dictating every function of a development. City Planner Beekman discussed several zoning code types and methods of approaching the regulations for TCAAP. She explained a form based code could be selected that would have diagrams and visuals within the code. Commissioner Hames suggested future development plans submitted to the City have visuals for the Commission to review. She found this very helpful when being asked to review and approve plans. Commissioner Thompson agreed. City Planner Beekman discussed the 2013 work plan in further detail. She noted the parks and open space plan for the City would need to be considered this year. Lastly, she encouraged the Commission members to seek individuals interested in serving on the Planning Commission. REPORTS A.Report from the City Council City Planner Beekman updated the Planning Commission on City Council activities including approval of a Joint Powers Agreement for the purchase of the TCAAP property between the City and Ramsey County at their November 26, 2012 Regular Meeting. As part of the agreement, Ramsey County will purchase the TCAAP site from the General Services Administration and oversee the remediation of the property. The remediation is anticipated to take 30 months. The City will be responsible for completing an AUAR, Master Plan, and creating a regulatory framework for the property. December 17, 2012, Special Meeting The City Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the Arden Village Development Agreement. As part of the request for the amendment, Arden Village has converted the 55-unit affordable apartment building into a 60-unit market rate apartment building ARDENHILLS PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 20135 with 4 affordable units. The conversion necessitated a number of minor interior modifications, which included fewer 3 bedroom units and more 1 bedroom units. Additional underground parking was provided, and the footprint was modified slightly. Arden Village is anticipating beginning site work in February. Arden Village was originally approved by the City in March 2010. The City Council unanimously approved Planning Case 202-019 for a Master and Final PUD at 1201 County Road E to allow the former Holiday Inn to convert into an apartment building. The City Council reduced the number of units from 75 to 74. The City Council also required the developer to complete their portion of the western shared access. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval for this planning case at the November 28, 2012, Special Meeting. The developer anticipates beginning work on the project in February. The City Council accepted the B-2 District Implementation Plan as presented by Bolton & Menk, and adopted Resolution 2012-054 ordering the Feasibility Report for the B-2 District and authorizing staff to enter into a contract with Bolton & Menk for completion of the Feasibility Report. The Feasibility Report, along with preliminary engineering, is anticipated to be completed by mid summer. B.Staff Comments City Planner Beekman updated the Commission on the City website improvements. There was discussion on the new agenda system versus paper packets. ADJOURN Commissioner Thompson moved, seconded by Commissioner Hames, to adjourn the January 9, 2013, Planning Commission Work Session Meeting at 7:58 p.m. The motion carried unanimously (4-0).