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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-09-10-WS x--ARZEN HILLS Approved: August 3 0, 2010 CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AUGUST 9,2010 5:30 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Stan Harpstead called to order the City Council Work Session meeting at 5:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Stan Harpstead; Council Members David Grant, Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, and David McClung. - Absent: None. Also present: City Administrator, Patrick Klaers; Finance Director, Susan Iverson; Public Works Director, Terry Maurer; and City Planner, Meagan Beekman. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Councilmember Grant moved and Councilmember Holden seconded a motion to approve the meeting agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously(5-0). 1. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS Councilmember Grant thanked staff for all the work to remove thistle within the flower gardens on County Road 96. He was hopeful the City's water truck would be able to keep up with watering the gardens. Councilmember Holden requested additional information on the PACE program. 2. AGENDA ITEMS A. Presbyterian Homes Concept Review and LibrM Discussion City Planner Beekman indicated that one of the goals of tonight's discussion was to focus on options for keeping the Arden Hills Library, within Arden Hills. One possibility is to locate the library within a newly redeveloped Presbyterian Homes site on Lake Johanna Boulevard. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORD SESSION—AUGUST 91, 2010 2 2. A Presbyterian Homes Concept Review and Library Discussion City Planner Beekman stated Presbyterian Homes has come to the City with a cone t plan that will be reviewed this evening. A formal proposal will come before the City in October. Comments provided this evening will be passed along to the Library Board and developer. John Mehrkens, Senior Housing Partners, stated the plans thus far have been done quickly to p q y meet the tight deadline. He reiterated this was merely a concept plan for the site on Lake Johanna p Boulevard and the plan has been in the works for the three past th ears. p �' Pam Betz, project developer for Senior Housing Partners, provided the Council with a handout and reviewed the project details. The plan shows a redistribution of a number of units on the site currently to increase the function of the building. The new site would have 36 memory care units, a town center element, centralized dining, a wellness center, and community room. The library would be in this area as well, near the main entrance to the building, as it would have the greatest exposure. Mr. Mehrkens indicated the building would be n completed i phases to eliminate the need to p relocate any residents. He explained the redevelopment opportunity did provide a viable option for the library relocation. The function and ability to share spaces has been reviewed for the main campus as this would add great value to the community. Mr. Mehrkens stated the Library was seeking -6,000 square feet. He reviewed the location and space available within the site plan. A bistro cafe and coffee she would be in close proximity to p p ty the library. An additional 1,500 square feet would be set aside for community/rental space, along p � g with an atrium area. - Councilmember Holden indicated the applicant would need several waivers through the PUD process and questioned what the height of the building would be. She explained that she would not be comfortable with proceeding with the library if she was not comfortable with this plan. Ward Isaacson, Pope Architects explained the buildingwould be three stories on one side four , stories on the other, and the height would be 45 feet. The existing structure was five stories in height. Councilmember Holden commented that the 2030 Comprehensive Plan has the triangle parcel p g identified as neighborhood business and the proposed Brownstone use would not fit. She indicated the residents in this area were protective of this area. Councilmember Grant indicated the site on Lake .Johanna Boulevard would now have four access points. He felt the alignment of the brownstones would create a better intersection in this area. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 9, 2010 3 2.A Presbyterian Homes Concept Review and Library Discussion Councilmember Holden asked if Presbyterian Homes had spoken with Ramsey County regarding the concept plan. Mr. Mehrkens indicated Presbyterian Homes had not yet reviewed the plans with Ramsey County. Councilmember Holmes questioned if the 6,000 square feet was adequate. - Mr. Mehrkens felt that the space was well designed with additional amenities nearby and would be adequate. He added that the location at Presbyterian Homes would be more cost effective than the library relocating to New Brighton. The estimates for construction costs were just under $900,000, including furniture, fixtures and equipment. Councilmember Holmes asked if the site would be rented or leased to the Ramsey County Library system. She understood that New Brighton would be charging the Library $1 per year for the next 20 years. Mr. Mehrkens explained the building would be owned by Presbyterian Homes and leased by the Ramsey County Library on a 20 year lease. He indicated utilities and common area maintenance (CAM) fees would be passed on to the library, but that Presbyterian Homes would not be charging market rental rates. Mayor Harpstead requested further information on TIF funds available to the City for the project. Mark Ruff, Ehlers & Associates, indicated the City could not pay for operational expenses for the Library. The City could assist Presbyterian Homes with TIF by putting certain requirements in an agreement requiring specific amenities. Another issue, in order to use TIF the existing buildings would have to meet certain sub-standard requirements. He indicated the agreements could be negotiated between the City and Presbyterian Homes with conditions for approval Councilmember Holmes questioned if a Library at Presbyterian Homes would serve Mounds View as well. Susan Nemitz, Ramsey County Library Director, stated this site would serve south Arden Hills and New Brighton. Mayor Harpstead asked Ms. Nemitz for further comments on the concept plan. Ms. Nemitz felt the concept plan was a legitimate proposal and would be considered by the Library Board. The space met the required specifications. The site was further south than originally envisioned. Mayor Harpstead questioned if Presbyterian Homes had a preliminary assessed value for the new facility, once construction was complete. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 9, 2010 4 2.A Presbyterian Homes Concept Review and Library Discussion - Mr. Mehrkens estimated the current amount to be $8 million, excluding the building that would remain on site. He indicated the new numbers for the 152 rental units would be valued at $15 million and the 42 brownstone units would be valued at $6.3 million. The new estimated market value of the site would be $21.3 million. Further details of a TIF district were discussed. Mayor Harpstead questioned if Presbyterian Homes would be seeking tax exempt bonds for this project as this has been done in the past. _ Mr. Mehrkens indicated that they likely would. Councilmember Holmes asked when the Library portion of the site would be completed. Mr. Mehrkens felt the construction would begin in the Spring of 2011 and anticipated the Library to be operational in 12— 13 months. Ms. Nemitz stated this may be an issue, and she would be speaking to the County Board about this timeline. Councilmember Holmes asked if the current Library would remain open through the construction period. Ms. Nemitz stated the plan as it has been prepared would be to sell the current building in Arden Hills to assist with the expense of the new construction. Councilmember McClung thanked Presbyterian Homes for providing Council with the presentation this evening. He indicated there were many aspects he was in favor of, but did have some concerns with the development proposal in the triangle. He questioned how this would proceed and if the neighborhood would be addressed with the concept plan. Ms. Betz noted Presbyterian Homes did want to reach out to the neighborhood and planned to approach each neighborhood individually. This would allow the residents the time to concentrate and focus on issues with the development before final plans were brought back to the City in October. Mr. Mehrkens stated three separate neighborhood meetings were planned. Mayor Harpstead encouraged Presbyterian Homes to be in contact with staff to have a contact person on record. City Administrator Klaers questioned what the City should expect at the upcoming County Library Meeting. Ms. Nemitz stated she would like to bring the concept plan to the Board along with the information discussed this evening. She noted she has arranged a meeting with key County staff to review this information as well. After these meetings, she could report back to the City Council. ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—AUGUST 9, 2010 5 2.A Presbyterian Homes Concept Review and Library Discussion Couneilmember Grant requested further information on operating costs along with 3-1) renderings of the site. Mayor Harpstead indicated he did not have any concern with the plans proceeding, recognizing g g g that future negotiations would have to take place. He encouraged Presbyterian Homes to move - forward as the new development would enhance the community. Councilmember Holden suggested Presbyterian Homes reevaluate the triangle portion of the property. Mr. Mebrkens thanked the Council for their input and stated he would continue to work out the details on the project. ADJOURN Mayor Harpstead adjourned the City Council work Sess' n meeting 6:44 p.m. :. t Patrick Klaers -/-/Stan H stea City Administrator Mayor