Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-07-14Joint Development Authority Monday; April 7, 2014 Arden Hills City Council Chambers 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: Jill Hutmacher, (Arden Hills); Heather Worthington, (Ramsey County) Roll call taken. Approval of agenda. The agenda was approved as presented by a consensus of the Commission. Approval of February 3, 2014 minutes. The minutes were approved as presented by a consensus of the Commission. Public Inquiries/Informational David Cmiel, 1861 West Highway 96, expressed concern regarding the lighting along Highway 96. He encouraged the JDA to consider how this corridor would look as traffic approached the TCAAP development. He hoped the JDA would want an upscale look and feel to Highway 96. Chair Sand thanked Mr. Cmiel for his comments. Consent Agenda None Old Business None Public Hearing None New Business Infrastructure Request for Proposals Heather Worthington stated the City and Ramsey County were working together to complete a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an infrastructure study that will consider roadways, utilities, surface water management, platting and grading. Ramsey County will be the lead agency for the contract which will include analysis and preliminary design for the Spine Road and other infrastructure. City utilities will be included in the study, and the City will be asked to enter into a cost-sharing agreement for its portion of the contract. Staff expects that the RFP will be released in early April, and a consultant will be selected by mid-May. Commissioner Grant asked if the City were to replace the lights along Highway 96, if this expense would be reimbursed at a future date by the JDA or County. Ms. Worthington stated this would have to be discussed with MnDOT. She reported the County would be consulting with the City of Arden Hills during this project. She commented that the infrastructure study would not be complete by the time the 1-35W/Highway 96 interchange is designed, but as part of that work, the County will do a detailed analysis of lighting and other amenities at the street level. Metropolitan Council Grant Opportunities Development Director Hutmacher explained the 1995 Livable Communities Act (LCA) provides funding for local communities to invest in economic revitalization, affordable housing initiatives, and development or redevelopment that connects different land uses and transportation. The funding is administered by the Metropolitan Council and is available to cities that have negotiated long-term affordable and lifecycle housing goals through a Housing Action Plan (HAP). She stated under the LCA, the Met Council makes grant and loan awards from three accounts: Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA) — Cleans up brownfields for redevelopment, job creation and affordable housing. Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) — Supports development and redevelopment that links housing, jobs and services while demonstrating efficient and cost-effective use of land and infrastructure. Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA) — Produces and preserves affordable housing choices for households with lows to moderate incomes. Ms. Worthington explained the Met Council awards TBRA grants in the spring and fall. It is expected that $2.5 million will be available in each of the spring and fall of 2014 funding cycles. The average TBRA award is approximately $200,000, and 25% of available funds are reserved for projects outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Eligible expenses include soil remediation, soil vapor remediation, and ground and surface water cleanup. Ms. Worthington commented these TBRA dollars could be utilized to further improve sub -grade conditions at County Road H where there is currently a large infiltration gallery that may become problematic for installation of related roadway improvements. Because the grant dollars must result in development within three years of the award, this application has been pushed out until near the end of the remediation project timeline. She anticipated the County would apply for these dollars in November to allow for adequate time for redevelopment to occur within the three-year window. Commissioner Grant questioned if the County had reviewed the City's Housing Action Plan. Commissioner Huffman did not believe the County had reviewed this information. Development Director Hutmacher explained the Housing Action Plan was the City's Housing Chapter within the Comprehensive Plan. She noted there were additional goals related to 1 affordable and life -cycle housing. These were adopted by Resolution by the Council in 2010 and covered the years 2011-2020. She estimated the City had a goal range of 188-270 units of affordable housing and a higher number of life -cycle units. Commissioner Grant inquired if the County was considering applying for any other type of Metropolitan Council funding. Ms. Worthington stated the TBRA was the most applicable for the TCAAP site. She believed the LCDA funding was also a viable option for TCAAP, but the County has not yet discussed this option. She noted the application deadline for the LCDA grants was May 15t Commissioner Huffman asked if the City was required to take any other action prior to receiving a Met Council grant. Development Director Hutmacher did not believe the City had to secure 200 units of affordable housing prior to receiving Livable Communities Act funding. She saw the HAP as a policy for the City to have in place that would guide future housing decisions. Commissioner Huffman questioned if the 200 units of affordable housing was within a single development or for the entire City. Commissioner Holden reported this was the requirement for the entire City. She noted the City's count may have to be adjusted due to a recent development in the City. Development Director Hutmacher stated this was the case, as four affordable housing units were being constructed at Arden Village apartments. She commented that the City would also have to investigate if any of the E Street flat units were considered affordable. Mayor Grant stated it was important to understand the goals and objectives of the City within the HAP. Ms. Worthington understood stating the numbers from the Met Council were goals and not requirements as a participant in the Livable Communities Program. Chair Sand asked if Met Council's TBRA and LCDA programs required affordable and life -cycle housing. Development Director Hutmacher reported the programs have requirements, and to be eligible to apply for the grant funds, the City must have an HAP. She noted Arden Hills does have an HAP in place. She further reviewed how the grants were scored by the Met Council with the JDA. Commissioner Holden stated that TIF is often used as a funding source for affordable housing. She did not anticipate that TIF would be offered by the City for TCAAP. She believed the grants from the Met Council would greatly benefit the City and the County with the redevelopment of the TCAAP site. Chair Sand agreed the County should apply for the TBRA grant. He understood that this grant would be applied for in November. He asked if the County would be applying for the LCDA grant this year. Ms. Worthington reported the County or City would be applying for the LCDA grant by May 15Y of this year. This way, if the grant were not approved in 2014, the County or City could reapply in May of 2015. Commissioner Grant stated TCAAP would have an additional 1,500 housing units based upon the Master Plan. He questioned what this would mean to the Met Council, along with their goals and expectations. Commissioner Holden asked how the grants would be shared between the City and County. Development Director Hutmacher commented within the grant application, the City and County would have to specify how the funds would be spent. The funds would then have to be expended accordingly. She anticipated staff would be further reviewing how the funds could be used over the next three years. She noted the City could reapply for the these grants in the future. Commissioner Huffman supported the grants being applied for. Chair Sand reported the City's HAP was available on the City website for further review by any of the JDA members. Mayor Grant questioned which entity would be applying for the LCDA and TBRA grants. Ms. Worthington explained the County would be applying for the TBRA grant due to the fact this related more to cleanup efforts. The City would then be applying for the LCDA grant as it related to planning and development. Development Director's Report Development Director Hutmacher reviewed the City Council's work session meeting schedule and proposed discussion topics. She invited Commissioners to attend these meetings. Administrative Director's Report Administrative Director Worthington presented the February/March activity report. She explained a great deal of material has been removed from the site and Building #502 would be demolished in April. She discussed the numerous items that have been found and photographed on the TCAAP site. She encouraged the JDA members to checkout the County's Flicker feed. Potential Development Opportunities Administrative Director Worthington provided a verbal report to the Authority regarding potential development_ opportunities for the TCAAP site. She commented that interest in the site was growing as demolition continues. There was a great deal of interest in the commercial and residential real estate market. The County has a serious proposal for a portion of the thumb, which would bring a small corporate campus to the site. The proposed development would be a $38 million investment in the TCAAP site and would create 500 jobs. Chair Sand questioned the size of the proposed development in the thumb. Ms. Worthington reported the proposal would use approximately 25 acres of the 43 acres within the thumb. Commissioner Updates Commissioner Holden stated she attended a meeting in St. Paul recently and after speaking with attendees regarding TCAAP, she believed that there would be consumer demand for private open space. Commissioner Grant questioned when the telephone poles would be removed from the site. Ms. Worthington reported the soil around each of the poles had to be tested. This made the removal of the poles much more complicated than just pulling them out. Future Meeting Schedule The next meeting will be Monday, May 5, 2014, at Arden Hills City Hall. Meeting adjourned at 6:18 pm. Approved/ S� z�/ y David B. Sand, Chair Date