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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 05-08 HCMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BRWKLINN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION MAY 8, 1979 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Plummer at 7:38 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Plummer, Commissioners Williams, Cilke, Haroldson, Hastings, Duenow and Weitzel. Also present were Councilmember Bill Fignar and Administrative Assistant Brad Hoffman. Commissioner Turner was excused. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4 -10 -79 Commissioner Haroldson noted that he was present at that meeting and that his name should be included with those Commissioners listed as present. Motion by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Duenow to approve the minutes of the April 10, 1979 Housing Commission meeting as corrected. The motion passed unanimously. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS A brief discussion was held relative to the experiences of the Commissioners at the Housing Commission booth at Kaleidoscope. Commissioner Hastings noted the interest of several individuals in Brooklyn Center's housing maintenance ordinance. BRW PRESENTATION Chairman Plummer introduced Mr. John McNamara from BRW who was present to discuss the housing element of. the City's Comprehensive Plan with the Housing Commission. Mr. McNamara gave a brief background on the development of the Comprehensive Plan and the Critical Areas Plan for Brooklyn Center. He noted that BRW was under con- tract to develop those plans for the City and that he anticipated the plans would be done in the middle of the summer. He also noted the housing element would serve as a chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. -Mr.- McNamara then reviewed the draft housing plan for the City_of Brooklyn Center'a Comprehensive Plan. In reviewing the different types of housing in Brooklyn Center, Councilmember Fignar inquired if the 23% for multiple family units was significantly different from that of the rest of the metropolitan area. Mr. McNamara indicated that as a percentage of total housing units, it is slightly low in comparison with other suburbs. He noted that could be accounted for because Brooklyn Center devel- oped during a period of time when home ownership was at its peak. Commissioner Hastings inquired as to where the major deterioration homes existed. Mr. McNamara indicated that in the southeast neighborhood there is a great deal of minor deter- ioration and he also noted that homes with minor deterioration often accelerate to major deterioration. A brief discussion then ensued relative to the amount of land available for residen- tial development. Mr. McNamara indicated that if the remaining land were developed to its maximum, Brooklyn Center could anticipate an additional 1,200 residential units. Mr. McNamara indicated that there were three major points that need to be 5 -8 -79 -1- considered when dealing with Brooklyn Center's housing. First, the major deteriora- tion in housing is occurring currently in the southeast neighborhood. He indicated that that area will need immediate attention to keep it from becoming blighted. Second, he indicated that the majority of the housing built in Brooklyn Center was done within the same time frame. He noted that presently the housing stock is in good condition, however, problems are going to occur in the future and that it will occur at the same time. Third, he noted that there are approximately 240 acres of undeveloped land remaining in Brooklyn Center. He suggested that planning control should be. strengthened to encourage planned unit developments where appropriate. Mr. McNamara then reviewed the objectives and the policies of the housing element for the Comprehensive Plan. He noted that Brooklyn Center was a matured city. He indicated that the Metropolitan Council projections for the number of households in Brooklyn Center were 11,000 for 1980; 12,400 for 1990; and 12,800 for the year 2000. Commissioner Hastings inquired as to the appropriate type of housing in the southeast neighborhood. Mr. McNamara indicated that because of the smaller lot sizes, it would be his suggestion that the City acquire and encourage the construction of duplexes and that townhouses should be considered where enough land was available to construct a minimum of f- ifteen units. In discussing neighborhood preservation and rehabilitation programs, Mr. McNamara reviewed a number of programs which would help the City of Brooklyn Center deal with its future problems in this area. He recommended seven programs to be considered by the City. First, he recommended an exterior maintenance assistance program to promote exterior rehabilitation and maintenance of residential structures in older neighborhoods to help improve the neighborhood image. Potential funding for an exterior maintenance assistance program could come from Community Development, the resources of a nonprofit neighborhood housing development corporation, a special HUD demonstration grant or possibly a revenue bond sale. Second, he recommended III a rehabilitation loan and grant program to offer homeowners low interest options for rehabilitating and repairing their homes. Funding for this activity could come from Community Development Block Grant funds or revenue bond sales. The Secretary indicated that monies for this activity could also come from the HRA levy. Third, he recommended Section 312 rehabilitation loan programs. 312 loans provide low interest financial assistance to property owners in designated neighborhood strategy areas for repairs and improvements needed to bring residential property into com- pliance with local housing and building codes. Section 312 loans may be made only to property owners whose property is located within a neighborhood strategy area or an urban homesteading target area. There are no income limits set for the 312 program, although low and moderate income residents are to receive preference. Fourth, he described a section 8 rental assistance housing program to provide -low and moderate income rental opportunities in existing and newly constructed conven- tional rental housing. Fifth, he described a new housing development program to acquire and demolish residential structures that have deteriorated to the point that they are economically unfit for rehabilitation, and to provide that land for new housing development at reduced cost as an incentive to scattered site, low in- come housing development. He noted that cleared properties would be sold to private developers and individuals at fair market value or to a potential nonprofit develop- ment corporation at below market rates to construct new housing in accordance with the described design and development criteria that are compatible with the surround- ing neighborhood. Potential funding of this activity would come from Community Development Block Grant funds or from a municipal property acquisition fund estab- lished by the Council through the HRA. Sixth, he recommended an urban homestead program to promote home ownership in conjunction with rehabilitation of seriously deteriorated properties that are not beyond economical repair. This program would give perspective home buyers with more time than money the opportunity to acquire a home requiring significant rehabilitation for very low cost. This program is essentially the same as the dollar home program in Minneapolis. The funding for 5 -8 -79 -2- this program would come from Community Development funds and HRA funds. Seventh, the City would continue with its involvement with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency in providing grants ixulu _Lochs for rehabilitation work throughout the City. Councilmember Fignar inquired if Section 235 financing was still available. Mr. McNamara indicated that it would be but that it is being significantly revised. He further indicated that the City should contemplate the use of 235 in the future. The discussion then turned to the development of Brooklyn Boulevard. Mr. McNamara indicated that it would not be advisable to allow Brooklyn Boulevard to become a strip commercial development. He indicated that Brooklyn Center is still in a good position to deal with the problem provided that it plans for it. He indicated that there should be three shopping nodes along Brooklyn Boulevard. The first would be located at the present Brookdale site, the second at the intersection of 63rd Avenue North and Brooklyn Boulevard, and the third at 69th Avenue North and Brooklyn Boulevard. The other areas would be developed with mid density housing and office space areas. A brief discussion then ensued relative to the proposed Comprehensive Plan and Mr. McNamara indicated that he would be available to the Housing Commission at future dates. RECESS The Brooklyn Center Housing Commission recessed at 8:50 p.m. and reconvened at 9:00 p.m. HOUSING INSPECTION ORDINANCE Chairman Plummer introduced the next agenda item by requesting each of the Commis- sioners to express their preference for either the St. Louis Park plan or the Minneapolis plan for housing inspections. Each of the Commissioners indicated that they preferred the St. Louis Park plan which required mandatory compliance as opposed to the consumer awareness approach of the City of Minneapolis. Commissioner Hastings indicated that she felt that the corrections mandated under the inspection should be worked out between the buyer and seller. Commissioner Haroldson indicated that he felt that we again should ask for citizen input. A brief discussion then ensued relative to the citizen input process. Councilmember Fignar indicated that he felt that the City in establishing such a program would have to develop a time limit for the repairs to homes. Commissioner Cilke indicated that he was concerned with the wide range of inspection fees under the Minneapolis program and that there would need to be some controls placed upon the program. Commissioner Haroldson recommended that we try to combine the best of_the two _programs. Following that discussion, Chairman Plummer requested that the staff develop some guidelines for -a housing inspection ordinance to be considered at the next Commission meeting. Councilmember Fignar indicated that he feels that this is the Commission's number one priority at the present time. Motion by Commis- sioner Haroldson and seconded by Commissioner Williams to request the staff to develop guidelines for a housing inspection ordinance in Brooklyn Center based upon the Com- missioners comments. The motion passed unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS Councilmember Fignar briefly discussed the Brookdale Ten apartment situation. He noted the problems that the City has had getting the owner to bring the•building into compliance. He also added that the Brookdale Ten rental license would be the subject of a discussion at the May 21, 1979 City Council meeting. He also indicated that the City has signed the area around Ewing Square for no parking along France Avenue. A brief discussion ensued and Chairman Plummer indicated that she would like to see one side open to parking along France Avenue. 5 -8 -79 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Hastings and seconded by Commissioner Cilke to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 9:47 p.m. Chairman