CC_Minutes_2011_0509 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,May 09,2011 Page 10 Chair Boerigter clarified that he was not suggesting that staff was leaning toward a re- strictive regulating map, since it had yet to be presented; noting his concern was specific criteria for new urbanism design fit the potential uses; opining that if the regulating map prevented certain designs, would it hinder the market from moving forward. Mayor Roe concurred with Chair Boerigter that attention needed to be given to that valid concern. Councilmember McGehee concurred with Chair Boerigter; but disagreed with the City Council majority when stating that the City didn't own the land; and clarified that the City did control the zoning. While Councilmember McGehee recognized that past Coun- cil majorities had arbitrarily decided on mixed use designation for the Twin Lakes are; her interpretation of its definition in the new zoning code had a potential to be in conflict and not fit. Councilmember McGehee opined that retail jobs are not good jobs and that retail was an expensive thing to host; and recognized that Roseville already hosted more retail than any other city in the State of MN; and noted the lack of willingness by Rose- dale in sharing the costs, such as for additional police patrols. Councilmember McGehee opined that the City needed to be aware of its tax base and consider living wage jobs, not retail jobs. Councilmember McGehee noted that the residents had supported and de- served parks and other amenities, and unless the City was to raise taxes, it needed to posi- tion itself moving into the future to consider the tax base and how to increase it with infill development that would facilitate budgetary needs, not through parking lots and lower paying jobs. Councilmember McGehee opined that high-end housing should occur in Twin Lakes, such as on the Meritex property, with development and connection of parks, pathways, and walkways through existing businesses, and taking advantage of Langton Lake. Councilmember McGehee opined that additional multi-family housing was not needed right now, but more townhomes and condominiums. Councilmember McGehee suggested creation of an Economic Development Commission in addition to the Planning Commission to evaluate development proposals and whether those proposals met needs currently unmet in the community and serving to significantly increase the city's tax ca- pacity. Commissioner Boguszewski suggested, given the varying opinions of individual Coun- cilmembers, that the regulating map needed to be flexible enough to move in multiple di- rections as the market directed; and multiple uses on that broad site be compatible with common themes in order to work together. Councilmember Johnson suggested that there had been substantial progress made, under the guidance of the City Council and administration of Community Development Direc- tor Trudgeon, in developing the Twin Lakes infrastructure and in cleaning up contamina- tion to make the area ready for development. Councilmember Johnson noted that, in moving forward, the City Council needed to be good steward of the properties under- going changes, but driven by the free market. Councilmember Johnson personally sup-