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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 02-14 EDAM REGULAR SESSION MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION FEBRUARY 14, 2022 VIA ZOOM 1. CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Economic Development Authority (EDA) met in a Regular Session called to order by President Mike Elliott at 9:06 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL President Mike Elliott and Commissioners Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence- Anderson, and Dan Ryan were present. Also present were Executive Director Reggie Edwards, Community Development Director Meg Beekman, and City Clerk Barb Suciu. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Commissioner Graves moved and President Elliott seconded to approve the Agenda and Consent Agenda, and the following item was approved: 3a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. January 24, 2022—Regular Session Motion passed unanimously. 4. COMMISSION CONSIDERATION ITEMS 4a. RESOLUTION NO. 2022-07 APPROVING A PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH ALATUS, LLC, PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING, LLC AND RESURRECTING FAITH WORLD MINISTRIES Executive Director Reggie Edwards introduced the item and invited Community Development Director Meg Beekman to make the Staff report. Community Development Director Meg Beekman stated the development team presented their concept plan to the City Council at their January 24,2022 meeting and shared how the community engagement process has shaped the development plan. The Pilot Site is compromised of EDA- owned parcels within the Opportunity Site. The area is approximately 15 acres, and it is currently 2/14/22 -1- largely vacant. The land use guidance is for transit-oriented development and mixed commercial use. Ms. Beekman stated since 2007, several development concepts have been considered, but for various reasons, none have moved forward. On February 20, 2018, the City Council heard proposals from two developers regarding concepts for the Opportunity Site. After meeting with each development team, hearing their vision for the site, and reviewing the proposed concepts,the City Council directed staff to move forward with drafting a Preliminary Development Agreement (PDA) with Alatus, LLC. Ms. Beekman explained in April of 2019, the Agreement was renewed. As part of the PDA, the City took the lead on the overall master planning work for the Opportunity Site, and Alatus began to focus on implementing an initial development that aligned with the City's vision for the area. Ms. Beekman noted the City engaged with Bolton&Menk consulting and began a comprehensive small area plan for the Opportunity Site in collaboration with Alatus. In June 2021, the City Council adopted an Opportunity Site Master Plan Infrastructure Framework, setting the overall vision for the area and outlining for major areas of the overall plan: a transportation and access network, parks and open space network, a land-use plan, and a stormwater plan. Ms. Beekman stated once the current phase of community engagement is completed,the work will be incorporated into an Opportunity Site implementation phase, which will complete the Opportunity Site master planning work. She added a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is in the process of being developed. Ms. Beekman added over the last two years, Alatus has participated in community engagement efforts that altered and shaped their development concept. They expanded the development team to include Project for Pride in Living and Resurrecting World Faith Ministries to take on various aspects of the concept. Collectively, they are working with the Citizen's Advisory Taskforce. Ms. Beekman stated the project team includes Alatus, Project for Pride in Living, Resurrecting Faith World Ministries, Design by Melo, and BKV Group. The Pilot Site Development Plan includes around 750 units, one-third being market-rate units, one-third being mixed-income units, and one-third being more deeply affordable units. The Pilot Site will also include an event center, childcare center, mental health, and therapy suites, barbershop and small business suites, EDA- controlled entrepreneurial incubator, public plaza, flex street, and a regional park, in partnership with the Three Rivers Park District. Ms. Beekman explained the Preliminary Development Agreement is a document that covers the 15 acres. The PDA can be terminated by either party if the other party is not fulfilling its obligations under the agreement. A PDA provides a developer with exclusive rights to a site while they complete their due diligence, financing, and land use entitlement process. These agreements are necessary for developers to show they have site control as they put together financing applications. 2/14/22 -2- Ms. Beekman added the PDA would outline the responsibilities of each party and the development team will reimburse the City for any costs associated with the project. The PDA would expire on October 30, 2022, so the development team would have to deliver on their roles before that date. Ms. Beekman stated the role and responsibilities of the developer are to complete engagement efforts and negotiation of a CBA, conduct market, traffic, and environmental studies, conduct and participate in public engagement, secure financing, prepare a land-use application addressing specific topic areas, complete land use approvals for the development, and negotiate purchase and development agreements with the City and EDA. She noted the document in question is not a purchase agreement for the land. Ms.Beekman added the City's role and responsibilities include identifying the entitlement process, identifying sources of public financing, and coordinating with the developer to pursue grants as available. Ms. Beekman stated the next steps in the project are to engage with community partners, host a series of community-wide events, collaborate with the Citizen Advisory Taskforce on negotiating the CBA, continue to develop site plan in collaboration with the Citizen Advisory Taskforce, complete environmental review and open for a public comment period in February or March, develop entrepreneurial incubator implementation plan,conduct a formal land-use review with the Planning Commission and City Council in May or June, and negotiate a development agreement in May or June. Commissioner Ryan stated the EDA has received a previous road map of the plan of action as well as the timeline of different housing components. He noted the plan is very important to the future of the City, and he has had concerns about the level of affordable housing included in the plans. The EDA has to either accept or reject the package. Some members of the EDA want more deeply affordable housing, but he is concerned about the long-term effects of additional affordable housing in Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Ryan asked if the affordable housing component is inherent with the development partners. Ms. Beekman stated when putting together a project of such complexity, it is always a balancing act of competing interests. The project has to be financially feasible, but it also has to be something the community wants and needs and something the EDA is willing to sell their land for. Ms. Beekman explained the project is being presented as a whole. The product before the Economic Development Authority is a result of years of community engagement, and the developer has put together a team that can deliver as many elements of the community input as possible. If there are elements that the Council is not interested in,then the development team can continue to adjust the plan. Commissioner Ryan thanked Ms. Beekman for her comments and noted challenging potential projects can only make them better. He explained he has voted for every affordable housing project that Staff has brought forth to the Council because they have been in line with the 2/14/22 -3- Metropolitan Council's transit-oriented goals. The Council needs to make sure the proposed project brings forth the most economic leverage for the City in both the present time and the future. Commissioner Ryan explained he believes that they have infused too much affordable housing into the plan. He noted he cannot be the sole creator of a plan, but the rest of the Council, the public, and stakeholders need to provide input to the plan. Commissioner Graves thanked Ms. Beekman for her presentation and the comments of Commissioner Ryan. She stated she would not present the exact plan as the Pilot Site stands, but she explained she understands there is room to adjust some details. She noted she would not want to move forward without discussing the results of the CBA. She added she was ready to make a motion and to move forward with the process. Commissioner Graves moved and President Elliott seconded to adopt RESOLUTION No. 2022- 07 approving a Preliminary Development Agreement with Alatus, LLC President Elliott stated the Council will need to continue to work on the matter. Motion passed unanimously. 5. ADJOURNMENT President Elliott moved and Commissioner Butler seconded to adjourn the Economic Development Authority meeting at 9:36 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned,being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. Attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of an Economic Development Authority Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on February 14, 2022. 2. That said meeting was held under due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its Fe. . : 0- Regular Session. Barbara Suciu, City Clerk / Mike Elliott, Mayor 2/14/22 -4-