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Home My WebLink About12-12-16-SWS illl III -4�HILLS Approved: February 13, 2017 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 12, 2016 6:00 P.M. - ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the City Council Work Session at 6:00 p.m. Present: Mayor David Grant, Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave McClung and Jonathan Wicklund Absent: None Also present: Interim City Administrator Sue Iverson, Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer Andy Brotzler, Interim City Planner Eric Zweber, Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers & Associates and City Clerk Julie Hanson 1. AGENDA ITEMS A. TCAAP TRC Interim City Planner Zweber stated the TCAAP Comprehensive Plan Amendment, the Regulating Plan Amendment and the TCAAP Redevelopment Plan (TRC) Amendment (PC-16- 025) are Item 8C of the December 12, 2016 Regular City Council Meeting Agenda. He explained the Work Session would provide the City Council an opportunity to discuss the TRC and the Planning Commission Public Hearing prior to the Regular City Council meeting. Mayor Grant asked for comments from the Council on the park agreement. Councilmember Holden questioned if the developer has agreed to put in a water fountain. She understood these were a big expense to maintain. Mayor Grant reported this item along with the other park amenities were discussed by staff and the developer. He explained a water fountain would be installed. Councilmember Holmes requested the TRC state a full sized adult soccer field would be constructed within the Creek Park. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—DECEMBER 12, 2016 2 Stacie Kvilvang, Ehlers &Associates, stated she would make this minor change. Mayor Grant requested comment on the Town Center park shelter. Ms. Kvilvang discussed the proposed open air pavilion for Town Center park and noted how the language would be changed within the agreement. Councilmember Holmes understood the Creek park had space for 45 vehicles. She questioned if the Hill park would have parking and agreements. Ms. Kvilvang reported the Hill park would not have any off-street parking. Councilmember McClung appreciated the amount of work staff and the developer have put into the TRC. Mayor Grant asked for comments from the Council on the option agreement for the Civic property. He explained he supported the two-year timeline. Councilmember Holmes supported the option agreement and stated she had no amendments. Councilmember McClung believed the option agreement would assist in keeping the Council moving along on this project. Mayor Grant suggested the Council create a task force or subcommittee to work on the Civic property. Hearing no further comments from the Council he recommended the discussion shift to the TRC. Councilmember Holden stated there was nothing specific she didn't like within the plan. Her concern was with the lack of due diligence on the Council's part to see what will and won't work in the plan. She wanted to see the Town Center succeed where numerous other developments have failed. She expressed concern with the underground parking and high level of senior housing. She feared how the Town Center would be vibrant with the proposed number of senior housing units. She questioned what amenities would be offered in the smaller apartment complex. She questioned how this complex would remain sustainable without an amenity package. She understood the developer had done his due diligence, but believed the City had not. Councilmember Wicklund believed Councilmember Holden had raised several good questions. He wondered how the senior housing would be connected to the retail portion of the development. Bob Lux, Alatus, commented on the amount of retail that would be located in the Town Center. He stated he had no concerns with the level of activity from the seniors that would be living within the Town Center. He saw the seniors as a stabilizer for the mall area. Councilmember Holden stated the City had no idea how many senior units would be located in the Town Center. She stated she would rather see brownstones within Town Center versus an institutional style senior building. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—DECEMBER 12, 2016 3 Mr. Lux estimated there would be 300 seniors living within the Town Center. Councilmember Wicklund questioned if the City conducted any research on the original TRC. Councilmember Holmes stated a plan was given to the City by the County with the Hill, Creek and a Town Center. She explained the Council then began their work from that plan. Councilmember Holden understood a number of cities were surveyed by Arden Hills' staff regarding apartment sizes. She recommended the senior apartment sizes comply with the multi- family numbers in the event that these senior apartments were to go away. She expressed frustration again, that the City had not done its due diligence. She then reviewed senior apartment sizes for complexes around Arden Hills and did not understand why the City was proposing such small unit sizes. Councilmember McClung stated he was comfortable with the plan as is. Councilmember Wicklund supported collaborative thinking and asked how the City should complete its due diligence. Councilmember Holden commented she would have liked to have seen the City contact St. Louis Park and other cities that have tried to create a Town Center to see what went right and what went wrong within their development. She wanted Arden Hills to learn from their mistakes. Councilmember McClung believed staff and the City has done a great deal of research in order to draft the TRC. He thanked staff for their efforts and did not appreciate the implication that staff had not done enough. Mayor Grant understood Councilmember Holden's concerns regarding senior unit sizes and did not believe simply adding the City's minimums to the TRC would impact the senior housing units. He understood these units would be market driven. Mr. Lux commented on the range of unit sizes for independent seniors, memory care and assisted living. He anticipated the units would vary and requested the Council be cautious in changing these requirements. He stated he was comfortable with the independent living size requirements. Mayor Grant encouraged the Council to consider if 300 senior units was too high for the Town Center and consider how this would impact the vibrancy of the downtown are. B. 2017-2018 Joint Development Authority (JDA) Interviews and Appointments Discussion Interim City Administrator and Finance and Administrative Services Director Iverson explained the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City and Ramsey County for the redevelopment of TCAAP was approved by the City Council in late 2012. The JPA calls for the establishment of a Joint Development Authority(JDA)to implement the TCAAP Master Plan and to oversee the redevelopment process and activities. ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—DECEMBER 12, 2016 4 Interim City Administrator and Finance and Administrative Services Director Iverson stated the JDA Board is comprised of two members from the City Council, two members from the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, and one citizen from Arden Hills to be appointed by the City Council. This citizen appointee will be the Chair of the JDA Board and the appointment will be for a two-year term.New appointments are needed for 2017-2018 as current terms expire. For discussion purposes, a list of current JDA appointments is as follows: Joint Development Authority Chair: David Sand Commissioner: David Grant Commissioner: Brenda Holden Interim City Administrator and Finance and Administrative Services Director Iverson indicated the City Council directed staff to advertise for the JDA Chair and to set the interview date as December 13, 2016, starting at 6 p.m. The formal appointments will be held at the Special City Council Meeting on December 19, 2016 with terms starting in January of 2017. Staff requested input from the Council regarding the process for interviews and appointments. There was Council consensus to hold 45 minute interviews for the JDA candidates. 2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES None. ADJOURN Mayor Grant adjourned the City Council Work Session at 6:55 p.m. J Hanson avid Grant C Clerk Mayor It' ---A 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: 1. TCAAP TRC 2. 2017-2018 Joint Development Authority (JDA) Chair Interviews and Appointments Discussion Requested Date: 12/12/16 Requested time: 6:00 pm Open meeting X Closed meeting Signature of person(s) making request: &4;1"S�- 12 9 / 16 Mayor or Council Member Date Council Member Date -This section to be completed by City staff- Date received:�1 Date meeting to be held: 12/12/16 Time of meeting: 6:00 pm Location: City Hall All necessary posting and notices have been completed. 4� cv/t� A-C-1 (tLf"� � a`"/ l / n tur I Si e 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.ei.arden-hills.mn.us