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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-24-15-WS �` I�DE`N HILLS Approved: April 27, 2015 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FEBRUARY 24, 2015 6:00 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the special City Council work session at 6:01 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes (via telephone), Dave McClung, and Robert Woodburn Absent: None Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Director of Finance and Administrative Services Sue Iverson; Public Works Director Terry Maurer; Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher; City Planner Ryan Streff; City Attorney Joel Jamnik; JDA Attorney Mike Norton; and City Clerk Amy Dietl 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. City Administrator Contract Amendment City Administrator Klaers explained that he has been considering his options and dates for retirement. He indicated that this topic was discussed with the Personnel Committee. He suggested to the Personnel Committee a reduced work schedule (30 hours per week) for the next 12 months that would allow him to continue to work on the TCAAP project while phasing into retirement. He indicated that, per direction from the Personnel Committee, the City Attorney has drafted an addendum to his employment agreement. He requested further comment from the Personnel Committee and the Council. Mayor Grant reported that it was the recommendation of the Personnel Committee to move forward with the reduced work schedule for City Administrator Klaers. He believed that the City would benefit by allowing City Administrator Klaers to remain on staff through the further development of TCAAP as well as having him here while the City transitions to a new City Administrator next year. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 24, 2015 2 Councilmember Holden agreed stating that the City did not have the time or resources available right now to train in a new City Administrator. She supported the proposed flex hour schedule for the City Administrator. City Administrator Klaers indicated that either party would be able to cancel the addendum to his employment agreement with 30 days notice if the new schedule was not working. Councilmember Woodburn asked if the 10 hour reduction in the work week would allow for his work to still be completed. Mayor Grant anticipated that some work may have to be delegated. He believed that 2016 would be a better time to make a transition in the City Administrator position. Councilmember McClung was willing to support the new work schedule for the City Administrator, but he expressed concern in regard to tasks that may potentially fall through the cracks. Councilmember Woodburn supported the recommendation of the Personnel Committee. Mayor Grant suggested that this matter be brought back to the Council for formal approval at the next regular City Council meeting. B. TCAAP Community Development Director Hutmacher explained that the complete final draft of the TCAAP Redevelopment Code (TRC) was presented to the City Council on February 2, 2015. Since that meeting, staff and consultants have made additional edits for clarity. More extensive changes have been made to Chapter 7 related to fagade composition and exterior materials based on City Council direction on February 2, 2015. A red-lined copy showing only changes since February 2, 2015, was included in the agenda packet. Clean copies of individual chapters were also included in the City Council packets for inclusion in the Council's green binders. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that the City Council has requested additional information on the remaining policy updates or analyses that remain to be completed prior to TCAAP development. She reviewed this work to be done and schedule with the Council and requested questions or comments. Mayor Grant questioned if staff had any further information on the Fit Test. Community Development Director Hutmacher indicated that staff met with the County yesterday to discuss the Fit Test. Public Works Director Maurer commented that City staff asked the County to clarify what is involved in a Fit Test. This information would be presented to the Council on March 91h by Ramsey County and/or their consultants. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 24, 2015 3 Mayor Grant noted that the Council was still going to be finishing the TRC, without feeling constrained by the County. He stated that he believed that it would benefit the City and the County to come to an agreement on the goals for TCAAP in terms of jobs and housing values. He proposed that the Council begin reviewing the TRC at this time and provide direction to staff. Councilmember Holden wanted to see the TCAAP development integrated into the City and not have TCAAP stand alone as a separate development within the City. She requested that TCAAP be referred to as a development area and not a community. Councilmember Holden discussed the Campus Commercial Zoning District (page seven) and asked for clarification on the definition of"alteration" on page ten. Councilmember McClung noted that he was still not supportive of the JDA process, but understood that it was the system being followed. He suggested that the City be cognizant of how the AHATS property will relate to the TCAAP site now and in the future. Further discussion ensued regarding the JDA approval process and how parking would be addressed with respect to the 10%rule. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that language to Item E on page 17 stating: "up to 10% of total spaces" could be added. Councilmember Woodburn requested that the parking distance be reconsidered. He believed that 1,320 feet as listed on page 17 was too far to have people walk from a parking stall. City Administrator Klaers commented that City Code currently allows for 800 feet. Councilmember Holden recommended that this number be changed to 1,000 feet. Councilmember McClung asked when the JDA would be dissolved. He wanted to be ensured that the JDA would formally end after its purpose was served. JDA Attorney Norton reported that there would be no need for the JDA once all of the land was sold and initially developed. Councilmember Holden questioned the definition of professional offices and if the TRC was going to allow individuals to have studios or hair salons in their home. Community Development Director Hutmacher stated that artist/workshops were allowed within the TRC. She provided further comment on the home occupation and personal services language. City Attorney Jamnik suggested that this portion of the TRC be cross-referenced to the Arden Hills Code (AHC). Councilmember Holden discussed the height and the stacking of housing units for Triplexes and Quads (page 32). ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 24, 2015 4 Councilmember Holmes requested that pawn shops not be allowed in TCAAP as they are not allowed in the rest of Arden Hills. Mayor Grant supported this suggestion. Councilmember Holmes recommended that the TRC include language that would allow for an outdoor theater, as well as an indoor theater. Further discussion ensued regard the definition of theater and how this amenity would fit into the Town Center. There was Council consensus to allow a playhouse-type theater as an accessory use in the Town Center. Councilmember Holden commented on the language regarding car sales. She did not want to see car sales within TCAAP. She also questioned if the language within the TRC would allow Bethel to further expand into TCAAP. Mayor Grant discussed office/warehouse space and noted that he did not want to see TCAAP become a warehouse distribution hub. Community Development Director Hutmacher provided comment on the differences between high-tech and med-tech office/warehouse uses. Councilmember Holden discussed Table 6-1 Parking Ratios (page 38) and the location of garages (page 40). Councilmember Holden suggested that the language regarding church copulas be reviewed and clarified. She requested further clarification on how the term "phasing" was being defined by the TRC. JDA Attorney Norton read the language regarding phasing within the TRC to the Council. Councilmember Holden questioned if parking lots would have to be screened on all sides. Community Development Director Hutmacher reviewed the language within the TRC noting that parking lots would have to be screened on all sides if surrounded by streets. Councilmember Holden inquired if added flexibility should be written into the Flex Office Zoning District regarding building height. Councilmember McClung supported added flexibility so long as the space remained office and not warehouse. Community Development Director Hutmacher suggested that allowing a building height of 65 feet in the Flex Office Zoning District if 75% of the square footage is used for office space. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 24, 2015 5 The Council supported this recommendation. Mayor Grant was in favor of striking stucco from the list of primary building materials. He stated that he could support it as a secondary or accent material. Councilmember McClung stated that he also does not care for stucco. Councilmember Woodburn stated that he believed that stucco is a very sound building material. He also indicated that it can provide variety in housing aesthetics. After further discussion, a consensus of the Council was reached to allow stucco only as a secondary or accent building material. Councilmember Holden requested further review on the appropriate types of street trees within the TRC. Public Works Director Maurer noted that staff would review this section further and stated that this matter would be addressed within the Public Works Design Manual. Councilmember Holden discussed the location of benches and bike racks (page 93). Councilmember Holden requested that staff review the sign code language to encourage sign sharing. She also wanted to see developers encouraged to build single family homes versus townhomes. Community Development Director Hutmacher discussed the proposed types of housing products for the Creek and Hill Neighborhoods and noted that several detached townhome units may be built. She commented that these units would look like single family homes. She believed that the market would dictate this issue and noted that the RFP could be drafted to encourage different types of housing products. Councilmember McClung stated that he did not believe that the townhome issue would be a concern because the current housing market was not calling for this type of housing at this time. As such, he would not preclude townhouses from being built. Councilmember Woodburn agreed with Councilmember McClung. He asked what the market trends for housing in the metro area are at this time. Mayor Grant suggested that housing colors have parameters, or City approved colors. Community Development Director Hutmacher anticipated that Home Owners Associations (HOA's) would regulate housing colors. The Council requested that a color palette be developed then turned their discussion to clear height and warehouse distribution uses. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—FEBRUARY 24, 2015 6 Community Development Director Hutmacher reviewed the language within the TRC that would discourage warehousing. She noted that dock doors would be limited, and Class A finishes would be required on buildings. Councilmember Holden supported the clear height being set at 24 feet with a required office percentage of 30%. Councilmember McClung agreed with this suggestion. Councilmember Woodburn also agreed. Mayor Grant did not want to see a large distribution center on TCAAP. He feared how the surrounding residential would be impacted if this were to occur. He requested that the Council discuss the stormwater management options for TCAAP. He questioned if the County or the City would be responsible for the management of stormwater. Public Works Director Maurer commented that it would be the City's obligation to complete the stormwater management system. He noted that these costs may be able to be assessed back to the developers. However, the City would have the responsibility of the long-term maintenance costs. City Administrator Klaers discussed the joint powers agreement noting that there was a distinct difference between stormwater management and the stormwater feature. Councilmember Holden believed further discussion needed to be held regarding the Council's vision for the stormwater feature and that a statement on this vision should be in the TRC. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES City Administrator Klaers stated that the Council had said that they did not want the County to start working on the Fit Test until after they had completed their work on the TRC and Land Use Plan. He asked if the Council supported the County moving forward with the Fit Test at this time. The Council was in agreement with the County conducting a Fit Test. Mayor Grant acknowledged that additional changes to the TRC may be needed after the Fit Test was complete. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the special City Council work session at 9:52 p.m. kl�l � Amy Dietl David Grant City Clerk Mayor It' --AEN 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: 1. City Administrator Contract Amendment 2. TCAAP Requested Date: 2/24/15 Requested time: 6:00—9:00 PM Open meeting X Closed meeting Signature of person(s) making request: 2/ 19 15 Mayor or Council Member Date Council Member Date -This section to be completed by City staff- Date received: / / Date meeting to be held: 2/24/15 Time of meeting: 6:00—9:00 PM Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. Signature of Ci 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