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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-06-03-2021 Special CC Minutes - Approved Approved CITY OF CENTERVILLE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 3, 2021 6:30 p.m. Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City of Centerville held a Special City Council meeting on June 3, 2021. COUNCIL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER Mayor D. Love called the special meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor D. Love Council Member Steve King Council Member Russ Koski Council Member Michelle Lakso Council Member Darrin Mosher ABSENT: None. STAFF: City Administrator Mark Statz II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Love provided an opportunity for others to add or delete any items. Mayor Love added X.1. Council/Administrator Announcements as it was not completed at the last meeting. Motion by Council Member King, seconded by Council Member Koski, to Approve the Agenda as Amended. A roll-call vote was taken. Mayor Love and Council Members King, Koski, Lakso & Mosher voted in favor. Motion carried. IV. APPOINTMENTS/PRESENTATIONS 1. None V. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. None. VI. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES 1. None. City of Centerville Special Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 VII. CONSENT AGENDA 1. None. VIII. OLD BUSINESS 1. Belleville Landing Apartments a. Resolution 21-009 Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Commercial to Residential) b. Ordinance 21-0XX Rezoning (B-2 Main Street Commercial to R-3 High Density Residential) c. Conditional Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development d. Site Plan Review Administrator Statz presented the request of Apollo Development, Inc. to construct a 4-story, 103- unit apartment building on Lot 2, Block 2, Rehbein Commercial, which is currently zoned B-2 (Main Street Commercial) and would require a rezone to R-3 (High Density, Residential). This would require a Comprehensive Plan amendment and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Planned Unit Development. Our Ordinances require all lots zoned R-3 require a PUD. Included in the packet is a staff report. A public hearing was held on April 26, 2021. The Planning and Zoning Commission had a special meeting and voted 5-2. The City Council’s Public Hearing had been closed before technical difficulties. Chris Harchanco, Apollo Development, presented the slideshow about a luxury apartment building that contains a community center, fitness center, tall ceilings, and lots of natural light. The developer feels it is in a good location near I-35. They are not seeking any city contributions. Administrator Statz confirmed the first floor is parking and the 3 stories above contain the apartments. Park ing is at grade and the highwater level of ponds did not allow tuck under parking and 3 stories above. Administrator Statz stated this was the easier path for now until we get further details. He looked at the landscaping on the site plan and confirmed there would be trees and shrubs around the perimeter per Centerville ordinances. He also noted there would be quite a bit of landscaping around development. Mayor Love clarified that “up” on the site plan is North. Council Member Mosher questioned if it would be feasible to shrink the garage space down 2 or 3 feet. Mr. Harchanco stated it was too early to determine but is in the works. Administrator Statz showed what the apartment building would look like from a height perspective. The City Assessor analyzed and found the taxable value on the apartment complex as it is proposed. He questioned the Assessor and developer to compare it to a commercial property. He stated there was good communication between the two and he feels the Assessor completed a fair assessment. He heard comments that raised questions regarding an increase in police and fire response and there was an in-depth analysis of that as well. It was estimated that the public safety Page 2 of 6 City of Centerville Special Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 cost would be approximately $24,000 dollars. He noted that looking at this from a tax revenue standpoint, there is lucrative tax revenue from this development. In the packet, the Police and Fire Chief gave their opinion on the development and saw no concern with the apartment building. Recess and Reconvene Mayor Love requested a 5-minute recess to attempt to regain the sound for this meeting. The meeting reconvened at 6:56 p.m. Mr. Clint Blaser, Halvorson and Blaser Company, provided information on their experience with projects similar to this project. He stated that they have managed over 4,000 units and own property in Forest Lake and New Prague. Council Member Lakso requested a verbal summary of their philosophy. Mr. Blaser simply stated his philosophy is to treat people how they want to be treated. He also stated he would not take on a property that his family could not be a part of. He takes drug and high crime properties and turns them around. He also has a multitude of experience on the property management side of things. Council Member King wondered why the developer had not taken any soil boring samples and thinks it would have been important to do so prior to Council consideration. Mr. Harchanco stated that since this property was on farmland, it would not necessarily need soil samples. Council Member King expressed his concerns with the height of the apartment building. Mr. Harchanco stated the 106 units is key for bank approval. The 106 unit minimum is at the low end of the unit total. Mr. Jon Rausch spoke to further clarify some information. He has been marketing land for 50 years and in his experience the only reason developers go high is if it is not feasible to go horizontal. It is also about demographics, traffic, how many people are within the property, and etc. Council Member King wonders why the development of the apartment building is taking up commercial property when there is currently so little of it. Council Member Koski compared this project to a different 3.4-acre commercial parcel of land in Lino Lakes. His thought was that the city would stand to gain more tax revenue with a commercial property than with a residential one. Council Member Lakso wondered if there was ever a plan to create an exit off 35W to Main Street. Administrator Statz replied that with the current wetlands, it would be difficult. Council Member Mosher stated that he has lived in the community since 1994 and wondered if there had been any other offers on this property. Mr. Jon Rausch stated that Kwik Trip looked at it a few years ago but nobody has made any legitimate offers. He explained it is very rare to have three (3) developments going on at the same time. He reiterated the big question remains what is the return investment, noting more homes equal more density and more density drives retail and other retail drives additional retail. Page 3 of 6 City of Centerville Special Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 Council Member King reminded everyone that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended to zone the parcel as commercial in the Comprehensive Plan. He believes it is best suited for commercial and should stay that way because people want places to go instead of bringing more people into Centerville. He noted citizens have spoken in prior times regarding this same issue and they feel it is not just about money but rather what the people want. He wondered if City Council could revisit the 2005 Comprehensive Plan. He also does not want to sacrifice commercial property just because an apartment complex would fit there. Council Member Koski stated that this has been the most difficult decision to date. He really listened to the residents and they are concerned about the height of the building and think it would stand out and not a compliment the City. Also, the Planning and Zoning Commission looked at the facts, the tools we have for land use, and compared them with our goals. Economic development is our top priority and turning commercial property into residential does not promote our goals. He noted most residents feel we have other needs, amenities, and businesses that would make better use of that property. Council Member Lakso agreed with the Planning and Zoning Commission in recommending this apartment building. She also liked the idea of housing diversity and that the proposed apartment building is surrounded by other housing projects. She noted this is a $27 million project with no City offset. Residents have mentioned that the sellers are an extension of residential property and want a voice too. She stated property taxes in Centerville are high and the only thing that would decrease taxes would be more people and more things. Mayor Love indicated he is in favor of this project and his job as an elected official is to make the best financial decision for the people of Centerville. He reiterated that members of the Planning and Zoning Commission passed it and recommended it for our City. He noted the City has a case study in place for both public safety departments and have not had to hire a new police officer. Mayor Love noted the Fire Department states the building is not too tall and has a sprinkler system so it is not an issue from a fire standpoint. Also, the majority of people who are against this project are not residents of Centerville, which does not negate their opinions but if we lose this project, it could go up in Lino Lakes and there is no guarantee that it would not be built across the street from the bank, which would still impact Centerville with not tax revenue to the City. Motion by Council Member Love, seconded by Council Member, Lakso to Adopt Resolution 21-009 Amending the Comprehensive Plan. A roll-call vote was taken. Mayor Love, Council Members Lakso, Mosher voted in favor. Council Members Koski and King voted against. Motion failed. Administrator Statz stated that due to the motion of amending the Comprehensive Plan amendment it would be recommended to deny all other motions related to the item. Motion by Council Member Lakso, seconded by Council Member King, to Deny the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Commercial to Residential), Rezoning (B-2 Main Street Commercial to R-3 High Density Residential), Conditional Use Permit for a Planned Unit Development, and Site Plan Review for Belleville Landing. A roll-call vote was taken. Mayor Love and Council Members King, Koski, Lakso & Mosher voted in favor. Motion carried. Page 4 of 6 City of Centerville Special Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 IX. NEW BUSINESS 1. None X. COUNCIL/ADMINISTRATOR ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. Administrator’s Report Administrator Statz stated that his report was contained in the packet and that he would be happy to answer any questions that Council may have. He noted there is an informal meeting on June 9, 2021, with staff at 5 p.m. and the Planning and Zoning Commission is rescheduled for Tuesday, June 8, 2021, to discuss a proposed trucking facility. 2. Council Reports a. Lakso - i. Parks and Recreation Committee – Council Member Lakso stated that Music in the Park will be every Tuesday evening, commencing June 22, 2021. All of the gardens have been adopted. Main Street Market will begin in July with 12 vendors already. ii. Anoka County Fire Protection Council – No report was given. b. Koski – Council Member Koski stated that the items on the agenda this evening lead him to be very torn with his decision this evening, but he is taken into consideration resident voices. i. Planning & Zoning Commission – No report was given. ii. Fire Steering Committee – Council Member Koski stated that the Committee discussed contracting for public safety services and Administrative services with SBM (Spring Lake Park, Blaine and Moundsview). He stated that the Committee would be voting on the contract for services on July 15, 2021. c. King – Council Member King thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. He offered an opportunity to have the audience to contact him via phone rather than email. He stated that he would like to discuss population 5,000 a goal or something off to the side and start looking at properties and ideas for the future. i. Economic Development Authority – No report was given. d. Mosher – i. Economic Development Authority – No report was given. ii. Police Governing Board – No report was given. Page 5 of 6 City of Centerville Special Council Meeting Minutes June 3, 2021 e. Love – Mayor Love stated that he had an opportunity to attend the Fete des Lacs meeting earlier in the week and that there are volunteer opportunities available through the Fete des Lacs website if anyone is interested. i. Police Governing Board – No report ii. Fire Steering Committee – Spoke about having both meetings (Police & Fire) on T.V. for transparency. iii. North Metro Telecommunications Commission – Mayor Love stated that 2020 Audit was presented, the Commission has a strong financial position and that they are narrowing down closed captioning options. He stated that they are open to the public and that the first quarter franchise fees and PEG fees from Comcast. He thanked their staff for operating the video equipment this evening. iv. Other Mayor Reports – Mayor Love stated that he had the opportunity to attend the Memorial Day Celebration at the American Legion and spoke on behalf of Centerville and other local dignitary. He stated that he is very grateful for those that have given their lives for the opportunities we all have. XI. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Council Member Koski and seconded by Council Member King to Adjourned the Special City Council meeting of June 3, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted by City Clerk, Teresa Bender Page 6 of 6