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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 03-26 PCM1 1 1 MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION MARCH 26, 2009 CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission meeting was called to order by Chair Rahn at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Chair Sean Rahn and Commissioners Stan Leino and Michael Parks were present. Also present were Secretary to the Planning Commission/Planning and Zoning Specialist Ronald Warren, Community Development Specialist Tom Bublitz, Director Business and Development Gary Eitel, City Councilmember Mark Yelich, Housing Commission Members Steve Landis, Kathie Amdahl, Kris Lawrence Anderson, Judy Thorbus and Planning Commission Recording Secretary Rebecca Crass. Planning Commissioner Kara Kuykendall and Della Young were absent and excused. CHAIR'S EXPLANATION Chair Rahn explained the Planning Commission's role as an advisory body. One of the Commission's functions is to hold public hearings. In the matters concerned in these hearings, the Commission makes recomn`iendations to the City Council. The City Council makes all final decisions in these matters. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE JOINT MEETING WITH HOUSING COMMISSION, WITH CONTINUED REVIEW AND DISCUSSION Mr. Warren explained that tonight's meeting is the second meeting to discuss the Comprehensive plan with both Commissions. Re stated that the Planning Commission had discussed the Comprehensive Plan in early February and Commissioner Parks had suggested that another joint meeting with the Housing Commission take place. He added that the City is within the six month review time of the Comprehensive Plan and it has been sent to the various agencies, adjoining communities, MnDOT and the Watershed Commission. No comments have been received from these agencies and the six month review period will end the end of April. Mr. Warren added that the Planning Commission held a public hearing on February 26, 2009 and will hold an additional meeting the end of April with recommendation to the City Council by early May 2009 so the updated! Comprehensive Plan can be forwarded to the Met Council for review in early June 2009. Chair Rahn suggested that Commissioner Landis go over his comments regarding the Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Landis stated that he appreciates the opportunity to review the Comprehensive Plan with the Planning Commission and summarized their comments and suggestions for data to Page 1 3 -26 -09 be included in the updated Comprehensive Plan following their review. Mr. Landis reviewed the following topics: Brookdale Area Opportunity Site Brooklyn Boulevard Corridor Humboldt Square Shopping Center 57 and Lynda le Avenues Transportation Plan Housing Plan Park System Plan Commissioner Parks stated that he appreciates the efforts made by the Housing Commission to review the Comprehensive Plan and submit their comments. He asked for further clarification on the comments made by the Housing Commission as to whether the intent was to refine the Comprehensive Plan or add new language. Commissioner Landis responded that their comments include both additional language and also refinement of some verbiage. There was discussion among the Commission Members regarding the ability of the City to be able to develop particular areas for commercial or residential uses based on what is market driven and desirable. Mr. Warren cautioned against designating an area in the Comprehensive Plan in a particular way that might hinder certain types of development taking place in the future. Chair Rahn asked for clarification regarding the Housing Commission's comments on adding high density housing along Brooklyn Boulevard to replace single family residential homes. Commissioner Landis responded that it might be desirable to add higher quality low income, smaller buildings along Brooklyn Boulevard to make use of the transit system. He added that you could add green strip and buffering along such a use and create a slower moving street where there could be more pedestrian traffic and a different use of Brooklyn Boulevard. Mr. Warren pointed out that it will be very difficult to transition Brooklyn Boulevard into a slow moving street since it is a County road which is a minor arterial road and will probably not change. Commissioner Landis responded that the city should consider shifting the paradigm and no longer consider Brooklyn Boulevard as a necessary viaduct but rather shift traffic to other roadways to create more pleasant pedestrian and shopping experiences. Commissioner Parks stated that it is interesting that Highway 100 does dump traffic onto Brooklyn Boulevard but the traffic counts go up after you get past Brooklyn Boulevard. Brooklyn Boulevard may not be suitable for an increase in the projected levels of traffic but Highway 100 may be suitable. He added that it may be important to address the future of Brooklyn Boulevard to keep traffic off the residential streets in the future. Commissioner Judy Thorbus stated that she does not agree with the need for additional green strip and lighting along Brooklyn Boulevard since the cost to maintain the area would ultimately be placed on the taxpayers. She feels that energy costs will be seeing a dramatic increase and it would be expensive to maintain the lighting. Page 2 3 -26 -09 1 1 1 1 1 1 Chair Rahn suggested that the Housing Commission's comments be further discussed by the Planning Commission when a full Commission is in attendance. Commissioner Parks stated that he has already incorporated the Housing Commission's comments with his written review for the Planning Commission and he would like to review them at tonight's meeting. Chair Rahn stated that implementation of a Truth in Housing Ordinance could be expensive for the City and asked why the Housing Commission feels so strongly about discussing a Truth in Housing Ordinance. Commissioner Landis responded that the city consists primarily of 1st time homebuyers and it is important to get inside the houses prior to them being sold to verify the condition and level of work that needs to be done to bring them up to code which would create better quality homes. Councilmember Yelich stated that he was at a League of Cities Conference and stated that some cities are now incorporating hole energy audits as part of the Truth in Housing inspections. Brett Hildreth stated that there �re pros and cons to a Truth in Housing program and one con is that it can be harder to sell a home. Commissioner Amdahl stated that she feels that a lot of houses sold in Brooklyn Center are bought because of the appeal of a `fixer upper' and that a Truth in Housing program would remove those types of homes from the market. Commissioner Landis stated that they would no longer be `fixer uppers' but rather would be updated and improved. Commissioner Parks passed oui copies and reviewed his written suggested revisions to the City's Comprehensive Plan. Commissioner Leino arrived at 8:32 p.m. There was further discussion among the Housing Commission and Planning Commission regarding comments and revisions to the Comprehensive Plan update. Chair Rahn thanked the Housing Commission for their time and input to the Comprehensive Plan update and stated he appreciated their participation in the review process. OTHER BUSINESS There was no other business. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:02 p.m. Recorded and transcribed by: Rebecca Crass Page 3 3 -26 -09